Month: November 2015

I promised some Thanksgiving crafts and here they are! Before I start a learning theme I check out books from the library. C seems to do much better if he’s being read the story behind a theme, sees pictures, then puts it into action. I’m 99% sure he’s a visual learner ;). The KCLS app is a lifesaver. Usually, I am able to use that app while I’m nursing Zelie to sleep at night and plan out all the books I’ll need for school the next couple weeks then put holds on them. Seriously, install the app, it’s amazing. I knew Thanksgiving books, like most of the holiday books would go fast, as in, if I wanted them in time for Thanksgiving I needed to put hold on them several weeks ahead of time. Thankfully (get it? haha!) I was able to do just that!

C is quite receptive to informational books that are well above his “level of comprehension”. I used a chapter reader to explain the history behind the first Thanksgiving.

Using this picture, I decided to make Indian “headbands” and Pilgrim “hats”. Remember, I’m explaining US history to a 3.5 year old ;). We split up the crafts over two days.

There was a tad confusion over wether these were “headbands” or “masks” . C was pretty sure it needed to cover his eyes.

I gave up my super control freak reigns and let C assemble the Pilgrim hat completely on his own, even though he ripped the first couple attempts (on accident)

Other than the history based crafts, we did several turkey crafts! It was very fun!

 

Other than learning all about Thanksgiving, and purging the house, and prepping for Christmas, I’ve been trying to get the littles into as much sunshine as these gray days will allow. We’ve been geocaching up a storm- again, another app that has saved my bacon as far as planning out the week goes. The other day we found an AMAZING leaf pile while out geocaching, aka “treasure hunting”!

Love these little people. They truly make my world go round. Watching them grow up is so incredibly bittersweet, but I’ve never been more thankful for anything in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving! Cheers!

This is hands down, one of my favorite dishes. Husband loves it too, but I’m not going to pretend it’s the kid’s favorite ;). They don’t dislike it, but I mean, common, it’s brussels sprouts- can’t say I was a fan at that age. However, we believe in the “you must at least try it first” policy so usually the littles eat the meat at least and that’s good enough for me! I just love the combination of the kielbasa and sprouts, the meat becomes a little crispy and the sprouts soften right up without becoming mushy…YUM! I hope you get a chance to try it!

 

Ingredients: 

one large kielbasa link. Approx. 2 cups chopped

six-ish cups of diced brussels sprout (I get the big back from Costco and use the whole thing)

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup diced garlic (more if you’d like. Personally, I think there can never be enough garlic)

half an onion diced

salt and pepper

 

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients on a half sheet cookie sheet and toss
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, tossing occasionally
3. Switch oven to broil at 500 degrees and cook an additional 5 minutes or until tops of sprouts are crispy
4. Serve!

A tad reluctant, but toughing it out to earn a pumpkin muffin!

 

Cheers!

Hello! It’s a dreary and cold Monday morning, not surprising due to the season, but it sure does feel colder than last year. In fact, it snowed yesterday! The first snow of the season is always so magical. I peeked out the window in the morning, shrieked like a little girl and dragged Husband and the kids outside. It was a nice snow, big fat fluffy flakes, and although it didn’t stick or last more than an hour, it was so much fun. C was pretty sure that it meant it was Christmas and was slightly irritated that he wasn’t going to get his presents. I reminded him  other things happen first, like Thanksgiving and getting our Christmas tree. To which he responded, “Oh I know mom! We go get our tree, then it will be Christmas! Then I get my presents!” Oops. Days, months, and time in general is still something we are working on in our schooling. To be fair, it’s a difficult concept.

Speaking of schooling, I recently gutted all my school supplies, throughly organizing and condensing everything. It’s actually fairly embarrassing to discover how much stuff you have, you know? I feel like I don’t use nearly enough of the supplies and materials I’ve been hoarding 🙁 That is going to change though with this new operating system, I can stream line activities and accomplish more in one school session.

I wanted a system that was all in one, moveable, and open enough where I could see EVERYTHING, rather than having to unbury things, or guess at where something was. Mobility was important to me because I have been getting frustrated walking back and forth to three different places in the house and then back to the table just to complete one project with the kids. Now, that is not a problem anymore.

With Thanksgiving coming, I have all sorts of Thanksgiving themed homeschooling coming up for the kids. I’m trying to place some extra emphasis on it this year because Caidoc seems very eager to just skip right to Christmas and getting presents. This schooling supplies purge was one of those projects to help put some light on Thanksgiving for all of us, not just Caidoc. I’ve been organizing each room of the house during November and WOW, it has been such a valuable lesson! Nothing makes you NOT want to spend money on junk for Christmas like having to sort everything you have! We’ve been making so many trips to donations, and throwing things out that it makes me feel so embarrassed for how much stuff we’ve acquired and just don’t use. What a waste! Like that great book, The Joy of Less said, “have nothing in your house that you do not find beautiful or useful”. Such a helpful reminder, because I have lots of things I find “okay” and “I’ll probably use someday”. Ridiculous!

Anyways, we’ve done a good job of cutting the fat and I think it’s made an impression on Caidoc too. I’ve had him go through his toys and books and find things to donate. He enjoys it, particularly if he understands WHY he’s doing it.

Well, I’m pushing my luck with the kiddos, they’ve been playing happily but I hear a storm brewing so I’d better go. But before I do, a quick peek at a Thanksgiving craft we did this morning,

 

cute little turkeys, made by my cute little turkeys ;)!

 

Happy Monday all! Cheers!