Try a New Recipe Tuesday

I look forward each week to what new and delicious recipes will be linked up!  :-)  This week I am sharing  my recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

On Sunday, our faith sharing group had a pot-luck dinner to celebrate the end of our Lenten journey together.  We were each to bring a dinner and dessert item to share.  The kiddos helped with making the chocolate chip cookies to share with their friends.  :-)

Lisa's Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/4 cup shortening

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla (I increase it to two)

1 egg

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3/4 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup coconut (optional)

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Cream shortening, butter and sugars.  Mix in egg and vanilla.  Mix well.  Stir in dry ingredients, then oatmeal, then coconut and chips.  Place teaspoon size balls on greased baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Looking forward to see what you all link-up this week!  :-)

Make Life Meaningful Monday- April 2

There are so many things that make everyday meaningful; many which can be easily overlooked due to the "busyness" of the life we all lead.  I find that very sad.  How many priceless smiles, questions or beautiful parts of nature do we miss?  I have been trying to make a real effort to look for and appreciate each and every one of these special moments, whether they be working on an airplane

playing an educational animal game

practicing phonics

or mastering more baseball statistics

With this attitude, even everyday tasks like making baked eggplant become even more special

and I can appreciate the beauty of the moon and our little plants growing....

Linking up today with Michelle at Changed by the Maker for Make Life Meaningful Monday.

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up March 30

In my life/homeschool this week: On Friday, the kiddos and I headed to the library.  The librarians were so helpful in assisting each of the them in what they wanted to find.  I know there are lots of fun and informative power point presentations to come!  :-)  We also learned that the library offers all kinds of programs to homeschoolers and are hosting a Mad Science Chemistry program next month.  We are looking to it!  :-)

On Monday, the kiddos had their music lessons and Kiddos 1 and 2 had their biweekly dissection lab.  This session they worked on the yellow perch.

Tuesday, after our school work was completed, we headed to bowling.  Two of them hit triple figures this week.  :-)

We also read the classic "Tale of the Three Trees."  It is a special book whose message never grows old, especially as this Lenten season comes to a close...

I posted my reflections on this year's Lenten Journey, our Kind Words Cross and Good Deeds Beans here. 

On Wednesday, everyone started coming down with coughs and colds, so it was off to the couch for school (isn't homeschooling grand?)  :-)  But, we have been able to enjoy watching a live webcam of an eagle tending to her eggs and seeing them once they have hatched!  It has been such an incredible experience and we are so grateful to be able to watch it and grow in appreciation of God's beautiful creation.  You can read about it and see more photos of the eaglets here.

There were still lots of sniffles and sneezes on Thursday, so we continued to do a lighter load, some still on the couch.  Kiddo #4 attended her sewing class.  She begun a tote bag.  Last week, Pop-Pop helped her finish the final hem on her pajama bottoms.  They came out really cute.  :-)

We were able to do some volunteer work at church in the afternoon and make it to classes there after that. 

Not sure what Friday will bring, but I will certainly post about it soon..  :-)

What I'm reading: continuing Lenten reading with the kiddos and am looking forward to starting "31 Days to Clean-- having a Martha House the Mary Way" with an online reading group after Easter.

What's working: flexibility, catering to each child's strengths/interests, hands-on activities

What's cooking: I posted my recipe for Chocolate Chip Pound Cake here.  There were lots of other recipes linked up, as well.

A quote or photo to share:  I found these especially apropo as our freedom of religion and conscience goes before the Supreme Court this week:

"Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it. "--Albert Einstein

"In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place."--Mahatma Gandhi

Another one of Kiddo #1's awesome moon shots.  :-)

I am linking up with week with Homeschool Mother's Journal and Weekly Wrap-up.  Come share about your week.  :-)

 

Thankful Thursday- March 29

This week the kiddos and I are grateful in a whole new way for God's creation.  We have been watching the Decorah Eagles (has anyone else been watching?) via live webcam almost non-stop since Friday, when the estimated her eggs would begin to hatch.

We have been amazed at how incredibly gentle this large, magnificent bird has been in so many ways-- whether it be sitting on her eggs, gently turning them at precise intervals and shielding them from the high winds that she obviously was up against the other night.  What is also incredible is her unending patience.  That has most astounded the kiddos.  :-) 

Even though eagles are not known to be kind and gentle birds, this large creature, once her eggs begun to hatch, could situate herself on top of them just enough to keep them warm and protected, but not enough to harm or suffocate them.  Isn't God's creation incredible?  Her mate keeps unending watch from a nearby branch and brings her and the eaglets food.

Yesterday, the first egg hatched and it has been quite a sight to see.

(forgive me if the photos are a little grainy.  I took them of the computer screen as it was all unfolding before our eyes!)  :-)

We have learned so much from this experience and are very grateful to have been able to witness it first-hand.

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

Try a New Recipe Tuesday

Today I am going to be sharing my recipe for Chocolate Chip Pound Cake.  I will also include the frosting recipe.  It is just as good without the frosting.  We have also made it just sprinkled with some Confectioners' Sugar.  :-)

Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
1 cup butter (2 sticks) softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla (I use a bit more)
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup milk
1 cup chocolate chips

Peanut butter and chocolate frosting
1/3 cup peanut butter
rest of the bag of chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease and flour bundt pan or use non-stick spray containing flour.  In large mixing bowl, beat butter with sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. 

Mix flour, baking soda and powder together.  Add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning with beginning and ending with flour.  Be sure to beat until the flour totally disappears before adding milk and vice versa.  Fold in one cup chocolate chips. 

Bake for 65 minutes or until lightly brown with toothpick coming out clean after being inserting in the center of the cake.

For frosting:  combine chocolate chips and peanut butter.  Microwave on 50% power for 2 minutes; remove and stir until smooth; spoon over cake.  Enjoy!  :-)

Now it's your turn!  :-)  I look forward each week to the new different and delicious recipes to try! 

I am also linking up with Kidz in the Kitchen today!

Make Life Meaningful Monday

Since we are almost 3/4 of the way through our Lenten Journey, I thought it would be a good time to examine how our Lent has become more meaningful this year.

Our Kind Words Cross is filling up.  As you remember from this post, the kiddos are putting an Easter lily on the cross each time they say something kind.  I am hoping that they will see how their kind words to one another (and to the grownups, too!) can bloom into something beautiful by Easter Sunday.  I have also found that they have really gotten into the habit of saying kind things to one another.  Sometimes, they aren't even realizing that they are doing it.  That makes a mom's heart smile!

Their Good Deeds Jar is also getting there.  Each time they make a sacrifice or go out of their way to do something for someone, they can add a bean to the jar.  On Easter Sunday, all of those beans just may become jelly beans.  ;-)

My children did choose some things to give up for Lent, but I have also tried to stress that "doing" something is just as important during this penitential season.  For example, we have tried to attend the Stations of the Cross devotions at our church each Friday.  We are doing the extra kind sacrifices and saying extra kind things and reading books that have us focusing on the true meaning of the season and bringing us closer to God and His Word. 

As we head into the last two weeks of Lent, I hope that your journey has been a meaningful one so far!

I am linking up today with Michelle at Changed by the Maker for her "Make Life Meaningful Monday."

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up March 23

It seems like I was just typing up this post for last week!  Between the warm weather and so much going on, the time really is flying by!  :-)  Spring fever is definitely hitting us all, but we are plugging away at getting our work done.

I also want to take a moment to thank all of you that emailed or commented with concern about Kiddo #2 after he collapsed last week.  My husband and I have heartfelt gratitude for all of the prayers.  There aren't words to express how happy we are that Kiddo's condition is treatable.  He will be monitored closely by his cardiologist at CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia), who was very thorough and took a lot of time with us.

In my life/homeschool this week:  Friday night was an awesome family type of night with clay and bead making, etc.  You can read all about it here and see some photos.

On Saturday, Kiddo #1 enjoyed taking out his new plane that was all finished up last week.

Kiddo #2 made up some awesome powerpoint slides to reinforce multiplication facts with Kiddos #3 and 4

On Sunday, after Church, Kiddo #4 helped me bake some cookies since her dad and I had our weekly faith sharing meeting that night.  Being a part of that group has been such a tremendous blessing to my husband and I.  We are so lucky to have found such a devout and vibrant church family.

Monday was the feast day of St. Joseph.  St. Patrick's Day gets the most press, lol, but how can we forget about St. Joseph?  The kiddos made their dad a card, as the saint is truly an example and patron to husbands and fathers.  As I wrote on the front of the card: "St. Joseph was given the daunting task of being the husband to the woman chosen to be the mother of the Messiah, and the foster father of the Christ Child.  He was a man of faith who had to grapple greatly with the profound mysteries of the divine conception, virgin birth and the Incarnation of the Son of God, and the incredible challenges of protecting and raising Jesus admist the threats on His life from the moment of His birth and beyond.  What an amazing example for fathers and husbands of strength, dignity, hard-work, love, obedience and faith."

Monday afternoon had everyone having their respective music lessons.

On Tuesday, after our academics were all done, the kiddos had their weekly bowling league.  I enjoy seeing their skills improve each week.  This past weekend, hubby and I purchased soil for our garden and on Tuesday afternoon after bowling, the kids emptied all 10 bags and leveled it all out!  They did such a great job.  We were so proud of them.  After that, we took the van to the car wash where the kids vacuumed it all out.  I posted all about it here with some more photos.

I also posted by weekly recipe linkup on Tuesday.  To see all of the delicious submissions or to add one of your own, you can click here.

On Wednesday, we took a much needed mental-health day and went to the commissary and exchange to get some food and clothing shopping done.  The kids were very helpful and we all enjoyed having lunch together on the base, as well.  :-)

Other than the regular academics, Thursday had Kiddo #4 taking her sewing lesson.  Her pajamas are almost finished.  She came right home and started working on her second hem.  She wants to wear them Friday night, for sure!

What is working: Especially with the weather getting so warm, the outside activities, like the gardening, are just what the teacher orders for happy and eager students.  They will gladly get their work done if they are able to be outside, do a fun, but productive task, to use their bottled-up spring-fever energy!  :-)

What we're reading: We are continuing with our Lenten journey books, which are very good. 

Who I'm praying for: We have friends who have lost their jobs, have illnesses or have family members with medical problems.  I also continue to pray that our right to freedom of religion and conscience will be preserved.  I could not forget all of the children we saw at the hospital when there last week.  It is a very humbling experience walking those halls and seeing children with terminal illnesses or chronic problems.  You never leave a place like that without being changed.....

A quote or photo to share:  There are several AWESOME ones I have to share this week:

 "Can the liberties of a nation be sure when we remove their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people, that these liberties are a gift from God?-- Thomas Jefferson

"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."-- Thomas Jefferson

"Every step we take towards making the State our Caretaker of our lives, by that much we move toward making the State our Master."--Dwight D. Eisenhower

"The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers."
Thomas Jefferson

I am linking up today with the Homeschool Mother's Journal and Weekly Wrap-Up.  Come over and share about your week!  :-)