Our Homeschool Curriculum- Ethan

 This year I have 2 third grader, a second grader, and a pre-k student at home, plus a young four year old who is not ready for any real structured learning. This is my fourth year home-schooling, but this year I am adding my son who is totally different than my girls. Should be interesting. For our curriculum choices I tried to follow The Well Trained Mind author's suggestions as close as possible and added some extras in as I saw fit. So the following few posts will be about what I am using this year and with who. Enjoy!

       (Notice the upside-side down laundry basket with the watering can? That was what he was doing when I caught him for some pictures. Waterin' Mama's flowers for her:) What a helper!)

      

 For Ethan, I am using Bob Jones Footsteps for 4's program which is good but VERY geared towards classrooms. I have so far had to really tweak the lessons. Not sure if we will continue this all year. I have a Sonlight Pre-K Instructer's guide and all the books that I used with my daughter, but I just feel it would be a good fit with Ethan. If the Bob Jones doesn't work out lesson wise, I could just use the Footsteps for Fours workbooks and make up my own type of lesson to go with the workbook page and read him some Sonlight readers. He also works in those big pre-k books found at Walmart and Kumon workbooks, especially those with cutting and pasting. We are also working through The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading but Jesse Wise. What a wonderfully easy book to follow. Very scripted and all planned for me! All I have to do is open and read. This is sort of review for Ethan as he already knows his letter sounds from the Leap Frog Letter Factory. Pus we have a book basket that I read to him out of at least once a day, but typically I read about three to four books to him. One my choice than a few that he wants me to read. 

 Here is a picture of what he is using: 

When Ethan saw his school books and me taking pictures of them, he threw his kitten up there to be in the picture as well. Precious was more interested in the biscuits on the table than her fifteen minutes of fame;)

I love this little boy!!!

                                                             

I will post updates of our school year hopefully once a week! 

Terri

Mother's Day Muffin Madness!

 Today is a day devoted to Mothers. 

           Here is a little picture of my day. We all woke up early and decided to work on making muffins. We chose to different kinds to try. The first was an amazing Triple Chocolate Chunk muffin that is just like Whole Foods, just less expensive, which is always good;) I will do a post on these muffins soon and share with you all.
          The other muffin was a Strawberry and Cream Muffin. These were delicious. The children all got to put their little hands to work. Some cut the fresh berries up, and others maybe just stirred ingredients together, but all got to help make Mama her breakfast. The Recipe for these muffins are below. I will say about my muffins, we may have overfilled the muffin pans, as little ones tend to do, but despite their size the were still fantastic.
           After breakfast and a quick call to my Mama, we headed off to church. When church was over, Ethan needed a haircut, and yes even on Mother's Day, Mama has work to do in the upkeep of her children. Of course, since the haircut place is across the parking lot from the $ Store, a visit in there was justified. My kiddos love that store! Home again with a nice pan of Lasagna waiting from my husband who knows this is one of my favorite dinners, complete with fresh bread from store bought dough. He's a keeper. We watched an American Girl movie and after some stories read by Mama, we headed off to bed.
            I hope all you other mothers out there had a wonderful day with your families! 

                                                      Strawberries and Cream Muffins

Makes about 12 to 14 regular size muffins, or about 6 jumbo muffins.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup butter
1  1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. almond extract
2 large eggs
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 and 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup fresh ripe strawberries chopped into very small pieces

4 oz. cream cheese, very soft
1 and 1/2 Tbsp. of liquid from one whole egg that's been beaten lightly
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract


Put paper liners in the cups of your muffin pan, or use nonstick baking spray very liberally.

Cut up the berries and put aside.

In a small bowl, mix together  the cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar, the 1 and 1/2 Tbsp. beaten egg, and 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract. Mix until most of the lumps are gone. Set aside, but don't chill it.

Melt the butter in a sauce pan on low heat. 

Add the vanilla extract, almond extract, and the milk into the butter, stirring to combine. Cool until the mixture is just warm, then whisk in the eggs.

Thoroughly combine with a whisk, in a large mixing bowl, the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

 Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour all of the butter, milk, and egg mixture into the dry ingredients, blending just until combined. Don't overmix. It's okay if a few little flour streaks are still evident.

 Using a portion scoop or spoon, fill each muffin cup barely half full. Scatter a few pieces of strawberry on top of each one. Using a small spoon, dab a generous teaspoonful or so of the cream cheese mixture on top of the berries.

 On top of that, add on another tablespoon or two of the muffin batter.

 On top of that, add a few more pieces of strawberry. Push them in just slightly. If they're well visible at this point, they'll still be visible after the muffins have baked (and they won't melt away and disappear)!

Sprinkle the tops of the unbaked muffins very generously with coarse sugar for a nice sparkle.
  Bake the muffins for about 15 to 18 minutes, until they're light golden on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. The middle of the cupcake should be kind of firm when lightly pressed with a finger. Check on the muffins early, and if they're browning too fast, lightly cover the pan with a sheet of foil.

Let the muffins cool in the pan, on a rack, for a couple of minutes, then carefully remove them from the pan to cool the rest of the way on the rack.

ENJOY!!!

To My Daughters

My beautiful Isabella,
You are now 8 years old and are becoming so grown up. You delight me daily with your wisdom and comedy. Ever since the nurse laid you in my arms on the night you were born, you have held my heart. You make me want to be a better person. I hope your life is all that you dream it will be and I know you will do great things! Keep smiling and not caring about what other people think. Keep using you talents for God and He will bless you! I love you precious girl. Love, Mom


My dreamer Briona,
Close to 9, you have only lived with me for 2 years, but it seems like forever. I missed so many milestones with you, your first steps and words. I will be there for so many more though. Watching you learn to ride your bike, helping you with your drivers test, your first love and your first heartbreak. I will be there for you and don't ever fell you can't talk to me! Stay true to God and put Him first and you will lead a happy life! I love you!







My Little One, Kyrstin,
You have so much joy in your little body! You are always singing with a constant song in your heart! I can not believe you are 4 already! You have come so far since you came to us and I am so proud of all you accomplishments. I hope you always march to your own drum beat and never quit shining. I love you!

Happy birthday my precious girls!!

A Rainy Night = A Muddy Day

This morning around 5 a.m. it felt like the house was going to fall apart (our house is big and brick, so it would take a lot) from the thunder and hail outside. Power went out and all that good stuff. The power came on in a couple hours and the day went on.
We are on Spring Break here from home schooling to enjoy the first week of spring like weather! The kids and I went out and looked for signs that spring is here to stay and here is what we found:

A robin out by the trees

buds on our lilac bush

tulips coming up.

While we were hunting for spring, our two dogs, Caesar (white shihpoo) and Bear (chocolate lab) were also having a good time as you can see! They were running and jumping through the mud puddle in our driveway. They both had a bath and are now clean, until tomorrow:

I hope all of you are enjoying Spring and the renewal of life!

Get to Know Me

Welcome!
I am starting this blog to make new friends, connect to old ones, and to share some of my experiences with you!
A little about me... I am 29, (30 this year) yikes:). I am married to a wonderful man and awesome father. We have been blessed with a son, Ethan. I came into the marriage with a daughter, Isabella. Since our marriage and birth of our son, we have added three more girls to the family. They are my brother's children who we are legal guardians of. They will be with us longterm. Briona, Anne, and Kyrstin! Each day is an adventure in our home.



Come back again and see what we have been up to!