Thankful Thursday- March 1

I am linking up with Theresa at Red Oak Lane today for her Thankful Thursday link-up.  Come over and share something for which you are grateful for today.

Every week, I enjoy writing this post..  I enjoy reading the gratitude-filled posts of others.  Many times, these individuals, amidst trials and suffering, find much to thank God for.  It is inspiring.

This week, I am especially thankful for my kids' creativity.  This past week, Kiddo #4 made a Powerpoint presentation summarizing our science lesson on bears from that day.  I was really impressed, that at her age, she had the knowledge and interest to do this.  I am grateful to my older sons, who took the time to teach their sister some of the basics of Power Point.

Kiddos #2 and #3 make presentations almost daily.  They incorporate school work, make "family game night" entertainment or just make something fun to end our evenings.  The animations and effects are amazing.  I cannot even begin to figure out how they do it!  :-)

And, of course, I cannot forget Kiddo #1, who, when he isn't baking us a delicious pastry in the kitchen, is building and flying monstrous aircraft.  That kid can turn anything into an airplane!  :-)

I am so glad that our home and homeschool is a place where their creativity is not squashed, but encouraged and cherished.

Look! What we did! Wednesday

Today, we made a Lenten craft I found over at Oriental Trading.  I was pleasantly surprised with the number of Christian crafts they have available.

I read on a friend's blog today something that struck me about the season of Lent.  It said, "Lent is a time to sacrifice, repent, and reflect. It’s not a time to indulge in Cadburry Creme Eggs and fill our homes with colorful bunnies."  So true.  She also said that this Easter, we should focus on the Lamb, not the bunnies.  Well said.  :-)  There are 50 days between Easter and Pentecost.  We are given 10 more days of the Easter season than we are of Lent.  Those days can be filled with candy, merriment, Easter crafts, etc.  But, in the meantime during Lent, I am really trying in our home to have our focus be on our own 40 days in the desert and prepare ourselves spiritually for Christ's Redeeming Gift to all of us.

The kids enjoyed doing the craft today.  :-)  I hope everyone is having a meaningful Lenten season!

Linking up with Theresa today at Red Oak Lane for Look What we did Wednesday.  Come over and share something special you did today!  :-)

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- February 28

It is Tuesday again and time to share a delicious recipe!    :-)

This week, I am sharing my crockpot Spaghetti Monterey recipe.  It is a meatless recipe, that even my "meat and potatoes" husband really enjoys!

 I usually double this recipe for my family.  But, if you have a smaller family, the recipe below should be fine.

 4 oz. spaghetti, broken in pieces

 1 egg

 1 cup sour cream

 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

 1/8 tsp. crushed garlic

 3 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

 1 10 oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

 1/2 (6 oz.) can French fried onions

 Cook spaghetti

 In large bowl, mix sour cream, grated cheese and garlic.  After beating egg, transfer to large bowl

 and blend together.  Put in greased crockpot. 

 Mix cooked and drained spaghetti, 2 cups cheese, thawed spinach and half of fried onions.  Stir until

 just blended.

 Low for 6-8 hours (I do a bit less), high 3-4.  In last 30 minutes, turn to high and add rest of cheese and

 onions to top.  You can also put in the regular oven at 350 degrees if you don't have a crockpot. Enjoy!  :-)

Link up a favorite recipe of yours!  If you can, link back to this post so that others can come join us, as well.  :-)  I am looking forward to trying all of these new, delicious recipes.

I finally made a button!  :-)

Make Life Meaningful Monday- February 27

This past Friday, I surprised the kiddos with a visit to a local garden center.  We purchased seed, potting soil and planters.  I let them each pick out flowers that we can eventually transplant outside, but I also got some vegetables.  My husband always has a wonderful vegetable (and flower) garden every year, but I thought it would be neat to approach it from a homeschooling mother's perspective.  What does that mean, you ask?  :-)

I found 4 clear containers that wonton soup comes in and thought it would be neat to plant carrots in them so the kids can actually watch the formation of the carrot itself; something that is not ordinarily witnessed or observed.  We can chart how fast the carrot grows and how big it actually gets.  Of course, we can eventually enjoy eating  them!  :-)

The kids thought this an awesome idea and very enthusiastically planted both their carrot seeds and their flower seeds.  I did some extra flowers and vegetables, too. 

I will post updates as to how our plants are faring!  Doing a special project with my kids made it a meaningful day!

"God also said: 'See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food.'"-- Genesis 1:29-30

I am linking up today with Michelle at Changed by the Maker for her "Making Life Meaningful Monday" meme.  Come over and share how your life is more meaningful today because of something special  :-)

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up February 24

The weeks just continue to fly by!  :-)

In my life/homeschool this week:
This past Friday, we visited the Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia.  It is always a fun, hands-on experience.  Where else can you walk through a giant heart and ride on a 350-ton locomotive?  :-) You can see the rest of the photos here.

Sunday, hubby, Kiddo #1 and I went to visit his grandmother in the hospital.  While we were there, Kiddo #4 helped my parents make 10 pounds of meatballs!  She is learning well!  :-)

Monday, President's Day, the kiddos got to spend some time with their dad and have their music lessons, as I had a doctor's appointment.

Tuesday was "Fat Tuesday," "Mardi Gras" or "Carnevale" in Italian.  After our school work and bowling, the kids decided to bake some delicious cookies to indulge in after dinner.  :-)

They are really enjoying their homeschool bowling league.  You can see pics of them all bowling here.  It is always fun and they are really getting good!

I am continuing to host the weekly link-up entitled "Try a New Recipe Tuesday."  You can see all of the delicious recipes that were linked up here.  Come join us next week with your favorite recipe.  I look forward to trying some new ones!  :-)

Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.  We began a beautiful new Lenten-long project called a "Kind Words Cross."  You can see the rest of our photos and read about it here. 

We also are doing a good deeds or sacrifice jar.  Each time one of my children does a good deed or makes a sacrifice for someone, they put a bean in the jar.  It is my hope that the jar will be filled with beans by the end of Lent and maybe, just maybe, there will be jelly beans in their place on Easter Sunday.  ;-)

Thursday was an uneventful regular school day, catching up with biology review for Kiddos 1 & 2, math, talking about Lent and working on our Lent books. (more details about this and our special reading and activities next week)

There were some haircuts in the afternoon and I just had to photograph my handsome guys afterwards.  :-)

I'm hoping on Friday, to give my kids another fun surprise.  I'll post about it next week!  :-)

What's working: I have found that hands-on lessons with frequent changes of subject or approach keep their attention and makes learning fun.  Fun learning = real learning.  :-)

What I'm reading: A Mother's Rule of Life, Imitation of Christ.

Who I'm praying for: my husband's grandmother.  She is like another grandmother to me.  She fell last week and the hospital said that she fractured her pelvis.  The doctor at the rehab they sent her to only 3 days later found 6 fractures in all (the hospital overlooked 5!) and kidney damage from the pain medication administered to her at the hospital.   This is a very active woman, who even at 86, lives alone, drives, goes to lunch with her best friend everyday, etc.  Please keep her in your prayers, as well.

A quote or photo to share:  "The world admires only spectacular sacrifice, because it does not realize the value of sacrifice that is hidden and silent."--St. Josemaria Escriva

Here is a photo of Kiddo #4 helping me make french toast for our "breakfast for dinner" night on Saturday.  :-)

I am linking up with Homeschool Mother's Journal and Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.  Come over and share about your week!

Thankful Thursday- February 23

I am happy to be linking up today with Theresa at Red Oak Lane.  Come over and share something for which you are thankful today.  :-)

I am thankful that our local bowling alley offers a homeschool bowling program.  My children have been participating for a couple of years now and they not only have met a lot of friends, they have greatly improved on their skills.  They are honestly getting really good!  :-)

I am grateful that my children think of each other and get snacks ready ahead of time

and bring markers/crayons and paper to entertain one's self with when not bowling.

Tuesday afternoons are definitely fun (and tiring!) 

"I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live."-- Ecclesiastes 3:12

Look! What we did!--Ash Wednesday

I am happy to be linking up today with Theresa at Red Oak Lane for her weekly Look! What we did!  linkup.  Come over and share something special you did with your family today.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.  We will be doing a lot of special activities, readings, crafts and meditations to get ourselves ready for Holy Week and Easter, but we started our Lenten Journey today with the making of a giant cross on the basement door.

Each time one of the children says a kind word to someone, they will be able to add a flower to the cross.  It is my hope, that by Easter Sunday, the cross will be filled with beautiful Easter lillies and will become a beautiful sign of Christ's Resurrection!