Friday, April 11, 2008
Springtime at last!!
Wow! It was wonderful to have such beautiful weather today! After my husband came home from work, we literally all spent almost 3 hours outside. It was a lot of fun for all of us. The little ones made up their own version of red light/green light up and down the driveway that at some point, all of the kids (and my mom and I) were playing. There was the always entertaining sidewalk chalk and the hopscotches that show up all over the driveway in a variety of shapes and sizes. The kiddos all had their motorized vehicles out and were driving around the backyard. There were games of catch and long breaks on the swings. Even dad in his wheelchair came out on the back porch and enjoyed the spring air and watched as the kids played. It is now raining and it is supposed to continue into tomorrow, so I guess it was fun while it lasted!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Italiano!
The 4 kiddos started Italian lessons this week! I was so excited to find a native speaker who was willing to come to our home to teach. She was wonderful! The kids were so enthusiastic and were very eager to participate. They have been practicing their colors since the lesson and will be ready for next week.
I am happy to be able to give the kids a taste of their heritage and culture, so much of which has been lost over the years as 3 of my 4 grandparents are now gone. My mom's parents were born in Italy and her first language naturally was Italian, but by the time my generation arrived, my grandparents spoke fluent English. I can understand far more than I can speak and of course, from my Italian classes in high school, I can conjugate verbs, but not much else! My dad's parents' first language was Italian, as well, but were born here and spoke English. I think knowledge of a foreign language is great for kids, and especially at such a young age, when they absorb it like a sponge. I think, from what I have read, that they are still in the "window" for new language acquisition.
I hope their interest and desire to learn Italian continues! I loved that they told me how much fun they had. When kids have fun, they will learn and more importantly, they will remember.
Ciao and Buona Notte!
I am happy to be able to give the kids a taste of their heritage and culture, so much of which has been lost over the years as 3 of my 4 grandparents are now gone. My mom's parents were born in Italy and her first language naturally was Italian, but by the time my generation arrived, my grandparents spoke fluent English. I can understand far more than I can speak and of course, from my Italian classes in high school, I can conjugate verbs, but not much else! My dad's parents' first language was Italian, as well, but were born here and spoke English. I think knowledge of a foreign language is great for kids, and especially at such a young age, when they absorb it like a sponge. I think, from what I have read, that they are still in the "window" for new language acquisition.
I hope their interest and desire to learn Italian continues! I loved that they told me how much fun they had. When kids have fun, they will learn and more importantly, they will remember.
Ciao and Buona Notte!
Mom's Morning
I just had to share about a program that the Daughters of St. Paul offered through their Pauline Books and Media Store in Philadelphia.
It is called "Mom's Morning." It is a once a month mini-retreat for women. There is Eucharistic Adoration, faith sharing and even coffee and refreshments. Meanwhile, the children are shown a movie (this month's was the story of the Prodigal Son), introduced to the upcoming Sunday's Gospel, given activities and related crafts to do and they end with prayer and refreshments, as well.
It was so wonderful on Monday morning! After Adoration and reflection/discussion about next Sunday's Gospel reading, we prayed a decade of the Rosary and prayed for each other's spoken and unspoken intentions. I felt like a wave of peace and calm swept over me. I didn't want to leave the chapel! It was wonderful to be with like-minded moms and encouraged in our faith journey. It was just the reinvigoration I needed.
It is called "Mom's Morning." It is a once a month mini-retreat for women. There is Eucharistic Adoration, faith sharing and even coffee and refreshments. Meanwhile, the children are shown a movie (this month's was the story of the Prodigal Son), introduced to the upcoming Sunday's Gospel, given activities and related crafts to do and they end with prayer and refreshments, as well.
It was so wonderful on Monday morning! After Adoration and reflection/discussion about next Sunday's Gospel reading, we prayed a decade of the Rosary and prayed for each other's spoken and unspoken intentions. I felt like a wave of peace and calm swept over me. I didn't want to leave the chapel! It was wonderful to be with like-minded moms and encouraged in our faith journey. It was just the reinvigoration I needed.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Horseback Riding
Since January, my kiddos have been participating in horseback riding and loving every minute of it. It was organized through a local group that we belong to and the kids have learned so much. There are lessons in horsemanship every session, as well, and have included feeding, bathing and general care of the animals. Even kiddo #4 is eager and hops right on despite her young age and size. I think it is wonderful that she will not have a fear of them as she gets older. Kiddo #3, who already is absolutely crazy about animals and wants to be a veterinarian, has taken to it like a fish out of water. If you can tell from the photograph, in only his 2nd lesson, he was taken off of the security rope and was able to steer and guide the animal around obstacles himself. Not bad for a kindergartner who had no previous riding experience! :-)
Sunday, March 30, 2008
A chef among us
A few weeks ago, I took the kids to the bookstore and said that they could pick 2 books each. They were thrilled to have their choices "for keeping," as they say, as they are quite accustomed to our weekly trips to the library and having to return books.
Anyway, kiddo #2 chose a children's cookbook. I was a bit skeptical at first, but he insisted he wanted it. I have to tell you that it has been one of the best purchases I have ever made. I don't think any book has gotten used so much!
In the weeks since he brought home the book, kiddo #2 (along with his grandfather or myself) has made several of the recipes and they have actually been delicious. This morning, we baked a cookie recipe that went over especially well. The others have included "Spaghetti Pie" (absolutely delicious- I'm going to share the recipe), homemade lemonade and twice stuffed potatoes. Now we anxiously await the next choice. He goes through the book, writes down the ingredients needed and we add it to the family shopping list.
So here is the Spaghetti Pie recipe:
2 eggs
4 teaspoons olive oil
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 1/2 cups cooked spaghetti
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 pound lean ground beef or turkey (we used turkey)
2 carrots, grated
1 cup cottage cheese or part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9 or 10 inch pie plate with vegetable oil or nonstick cooking spray.
Crack the eggs into a small bowl. Then, in a large bowl, use a fork to beat together the eggs, 2 teaspoons of the oil, and Parmesan cheese until smooth. Add the spaghetti and 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce. Toss well to coat.
Turn the spaghetti mixture into the greased pie plate.
With the back of a wooden spoon, press the spaghetti over the bottom and up the side of a pie plate to form a "crust."
Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium heat. add the onion and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute 30 seconds longer. Add the ground meat and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until the meat is no longer pink. Stir in the grated carrot until well-mixed. Turn off the ehat and stir in the tomato sauce.
Spoon the cottage cheese over the bottom of the spaghetti crust. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Top with the meat sauce mixture. Cover the pie plate with aluminum foil.
Bake the pie for 20 minutes. Sprinkle the pie evenly with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Bake until the mozzarella cheese melts, about 5 minutes longer. Let the pie stand for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Enjoy! :-)
Anyway, kiddo #2 chose a children's cookbook. I was a bit skeptical at first, but he insisted he wanted it. I have to tell you that it has been one of the best purchases I have ever made. I don't think any book has gotten used so much!
In the weeks since he brought home the book, kiddo #2 (along with his grandfather or myself) has made several of the recipes and they have actually been delicious. This morning, we baked a cookie recipe that went over especially well. The others have included "Spaghetti Pie" (absolutely delicious- I'm going to share the recipe), homemade lemonade and twice stuffed potatoes. Now we anxiously await the next choice. He goes through the book, writes down the ingredients needed and we add it to the family shopping list.
So here is the Spaghetti Pie recipe:
2 eggs
4 teaspoons olive oil
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 1/2 cups cooked spaghetti
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 pound lean ground beef or turkey (we used turkey)
2 carrots, grated
1 cup cottage cheese or part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9 or 10 inch pie plate with vegetable oil or nonstick cooking spray.
Crack the eggs into a small bowl. Then, in a large bowl, use a fork to beat together the eggs, 2 teaspoons of the oil, and Parmesan cheese until smooth. Add the spaghetti and 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce. Toss well to coat.
Turn the spaghetti mixture into the greased pie plate.
With the back of a wooden spoon, press the spaghetti over the bottom and up the side of a pie plate to form a "crust."
Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium heat. add the onion and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute 30 seconds longer. Add the ground meat and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until the meat is no longer pink. Stir in the grated carrot until well-mixed. Turn off the ehat and stir in the tomato sauce.
Spoon the cottage cheese over the bottom of the spaghetti crust. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Top with the meat sauce mixture. Cover the pie plate with aluminum foil.
Bake the pie for 20 minutes. Sprinkle the pie evenly with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Bake until the mozzarella cheese melts, about 5 minutes longer. Let the pie stand for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Enjoy! :-)
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Nature Center Trip
The week before Easter, I took the kids to a local Nature Center. We had the trails practically to ourselves. They loved hiking and looking for wildlife. It was a fun day.
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