Try a New Recipe Tuesday- January 22

Wow!  What an awesome turnout there was for last week's linkup!  It was the most I've ever had.  :-)  I hope this week's will be just as successful.

I am sharing my Shipwreck Casserole.  It is a relatively easy recipe and a good hearty meal for these cold winter evenings.

1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion chopped
5-6 large potatoes, sliced or cubed
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 can baked beans
1/2 cup tomato soup

Cook beef, season to taste and put in baking dish.
Sprinkle a layer of onion.  Make 3 layers of potatoes, cheese, beans and soup

Cover tightly and bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.

Enjoy!  :-)


Linking up with the Gathering Spot, Kids in the Kitchen, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows,Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday,NOBH, Judy H-J's Thoughts, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things, Modest Mom, Full Plate Thursday and Melt in your Mouth Monday and Show Off Friday and Tuesday's Table and Look What We Did and Titus 2sday,  Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Crafty Spices, Better Mom,Create with Joy, Thursday's Treasures, Tasty Thursdays and Wonderful Food Wednesday

Memoir Monday- January 21

I am happy to be linking up with my friend Chris from Campfires and Cleats for her first Memoir Monday.

I never really gave it much thought that our blogs are truly a memoir. "Through the alchemy of writing about the self, you emerge.  I might say, by writing memoir you become yourself." writes author Elaine Orr.  Elaine continues to say that "There are 'views' of yourself and your place in the world that you have not gotten yet and you will never get from the mirror or the photograph.  You can get them on the page, in memoir."

I know if I were asked about "writing my memoir," even just a few years ago I would have laughed.  What stories would I tell?  Who would be interested in reading them?  It would seem daunting and overwhelming task.

I tell my children when they free write like I do on the blog, do not think of writing "rules;" write from the heart; think of things that have happened that you want to remember and share.  Special moments.  Describe them so you will never forget.  How I wish I had my blog from when my children were small.  There are so many of those precious, once in a lifetime moments that I know I have forgotten that could have been preserved by my written word and photographs.

Like a rare mild day in January watching my older boys play a game of football

or my younger two making beautiful creations in the driveway

These are the fleeting moments, the ones that when remembered and shared, make the meat of a memoir; and that memoir, coupled with what we hold in our hearts and minds, will allow those memories to be cherished and remembered for a lifetime....

Also Linking up with:  On, in and around Mondays in addition to Wisdom Wednesday, Living Well Wednesday, Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Modest Mom, Crazy Mama, Homemaking Wednesdays and Raising Mighty Arrows and Titus 2sday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up January 18

I'm a bit late in getting this post up, but I guess it's better late than never!  :-)

Yesterday (Friday) was one of those school days that I know I wish came everyday (where lightbulbs are just going off left and right and the kids are enthusiastic and cooperative).  But, I'll start with the beginning of the week and work up to Friday, lol.  :-)

Monday was our back to the grind day after our fun week in Washington, D.C.  You read all about it here and see more photos.

On Tuesday, it was another day of getting back into the kiddos' various subjects.  Kiddo #1 made a solar eclipse as well as a solar viewing box as part of his Astronomy studies.

I hosted my weekly linkup, "Try a New Recipe Tuesday" and this week has had 50 recipes shared so far.  Wow!  :-)  You can see my homemade hot chocolate recipe, as well as the others here.

On Wednesday, Kiddos 3 and 4 got to practice "shopping" and counting change with a new math game I found, as well as all of us attending a wonderful program at our local library.  It was on the history of the Lenape Indians here in Pennsylvania.  It was a great, hands-on program.  I shared a lot of photos about it here.

Kiddos 1 and 2 also had their new semester begin with their online class.  It is the same teacher they had last term and they liked him a lot.

On Thursday, Kiddo #1 watched a chemistry series on video that I found to supplement his studies.  He said it was "awesome," so I guess that's a good thing.  :-)

Friday was a great day.  One of those "I wish everyday were like today" type of days.  The kids' lightbulbs were going off all day like with Kiddo #3 and his fraction "pizzas:"

Kiddo #4 made some more of her "bead works" with her Perler Beads.  This weekend, she has graduated to three dimensional ones.  That kid is so creative!  :-)

Hope everyone had a great week, as well!  Glad I was finally able to get this post done and up!

Linking up today with:  Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, NOBH, Show-Off Friday, Learn and Link and It's a Wrap, Friendship Friday and Friday Connection

Wordless Wednesday/Thankful Thursday- January 16/17

Yes, it's been a busy couple of days, so I'm combining posts.  :-)  I've never been very wordless anyway, lol.

The first photos are from Tuesday and Wednesday, with Kiddo #1 making a solar eclipse as part of his astronomy study.  Thought it was too cool not to share.  He also made a solar viewing box, but since we have had clouds and rain yesterday and today, he hasn't been able to use it yet.  Maybe in a few days.  :-)  The others are of a game I have with money cards.  The kiddos go "shopping" and have to buy their items with the correct change.

The rest of the photos are from a homeschool program at the library.  I am very grateful that such wonderful programs are offered and at no cost.  The kids got to learn in a hands-on way about the history of the Lenape Indians that live here in Pennsylvania.  The kiddos knew quite a few of the children that were there, so that was a bonus, as well.  :-)

Linking up with: Judy H-J's Thoughts, Mama to 4 Blessings, Create with Joy, NOBH, Musings from a Stay at Home Mom, Tina's Wordless Wednesday,Judy @ CoffeeJitters and Wordless Wednesday at Wordless and  Living Well Wednesday, Favorite Things, Modest Mom,  Homemaking Wednesdays and Crafty Spices,Lisa at The Army Chap's Wife, NOBH,Miscellany Monday, Raising Homemakers and Modest Mom and Raising Mighty Arrows,, Spilled Milkshake,Crafty Spices,  Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, and Field Trip Friday and Just the Stuff Ya Know

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- January 15

What a great blog hop we had last week!  So many delicious recipes were shared.  Can't wait to see what we will have this week.  :-)

This week, I am sharing our homemade hot chocolate recipe.  It is quite tasty and the kiddos and I had a good time making it for some Christmas presents.  In a ribbon-tied baggie, it fit perfectly inside a festive mug.

Ingredients
1 1/3 cups powdered milk
1/8 cup cocoa
1/3 cup sugar
mini marshmallows (optional)

Directions
Mix the ingredients together and store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
When you are ready to use, scoop out 1/2 cup of the mix and place in an empty 12-ounce mug.  Fill the mug the rest of the way up with boiling water, but leave room for a few marshmallows!  Or, if you prefer, add whipped cream.  Enjoy.
:-)

Linking up with the Gathering Spot, Kids in the Kitchen, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows,Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday,NOBH, Judy H-J's Thoughts, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things, Modest Mom, Full Plate Thursday and Melt in your Mouth Monday and Show Off Friday and Tuesday's Table and Look What We Did and Titus 2sday,  Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Crafty Spices, Better Mom,Create with Joy, Thursday's Treasures, Tasty Thursdays and Wonderful Food Wednesday

Make Life Meaningful Monday- January 14

Well, it is back to the grind for this crew, after a fun and educational week in Washington, D.C.

We took a moment to discuss the Feast of the Epiphany, which took place on January 6th.  We were getting ready to leave on our trip, so we didn't get to do our special activities, which include hanging a special sign over each door, asking God's blessing upon our home and everyone who enters.

The numbers are for the year and the letters come from the Latin Christus mansionem benedicat, which means Christ bless this house.  The letters also stand for the names of the Magi who came to adore Christ, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.  This tradition dates back over five hundred years and begun in Germany.  After a service at the churches on Three Kings Day (January 6th) the children go from house to house to gather offerings for children in poor countries. They are dressed as the three kings and carry sticks with stars on the top. At the homes they sing songs and recite messages of Christmas. At each house they paint the letters "20+C+M+B+__" 

Kiddo #2 did some work on giant squid, something that has always interested him and correlates well with his work this year in Oceanography.  He read a book that he chose at the Smithsonian in addition to some activities I found on their website.  He also made a power point presentation summarizing the book.  I can't wait to see it.  :-)

Kiddo #1 completed some Chemistry assignments in addition to more work in his aviation notebook.

Kiddos #3 and 4 worked on their science, which included a lapbook assignment on rhinos.  Kiddo #4 happily returned to sewing class, as well.

Of course, the day included math and some history, as well.  It wasn't so bad getting back into the swing of things! (especially when you can read a chapter with a cat cuddled on your lap!)  :-)

Linking up with:  On, in and around Mondays in addition to Wisdom Wednesday, Living Well Wednesday, Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Modest Mom, Crazy Mama, Homemaking Wednesdays and Raising Mighty Arrows and Titus 2sday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-up January 11

Ok, I have to admit that it is too cool that I can compose this post while riding on a train!  We are headed home as I type from our adventure in Washington, D.C.  :-)

I hope everyone had a great week.  We certainly did.

Monday was our travel day down.  We were certainly blessed that the hotel had a pool, so that is right where the kiddos found themselves on Monday evening.

On Tuesday, we were off to the National Zoo.  There aren't enough synonyms of amazing for me to adequately describe it.  It is certainly my favorite zoo and was a huge hit with my children.  I wrote all about it and shared more pictures here.

On Wednesday, we visited the Udvar-Hazy center of the National Air and Space Museum.  For those who aren't familiar, it is the second location for the Air & Space museum, since the first location on the mall was literally running out of space for very large aircraft, such as the Concorde, and most impressively, the Space Shuttle Discovery.  There is something surreal about standing under a craft that flew over 150 million miles in space.  You can see more pics and read all about it here.

Thursday found us on the National Mall visiting several of the Smithsonian buildings including the Air and Space Museum, the Natural History Museum and the American History museum.

My children learned about the principles of flight in an hands-on way

They saw dinosaurs, sea creatures and mammals

They got to visit a learning laboratory

and followed the development of transportation in America

Ok, we're still not on the train, as I had to pack up the computer and help get everyone and all of their "stuff" off it in some semblance of order, lol.  :-)

The day ended with them getting me into the pool.  It was fun, especially the part with my 14 year old piggy-backing me!

On Friday, we headed home.  We made sure to get a photo with our driver from the week, who inspired me quite a bit and reminded me of my own roots and the struggles of my grandparents and great-grandparents when they immigrated to this country.  This gentleman, whose wife and children are still overseas, is working for the transportation company while trying to earn another graduate degree.  He has been in this country for 3 years and speaks English better than most native-born citizens.  It is his sixth language.  He was friendly, funny and personable and always had something fun or kind to say to my children.  He hopes to be able to send for his own family this year.  I pray that he does.

I hope you had a great week, as well!  :-)

Linking up today with:  Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, NOBH, Show-Off Friday, Learn and Link and It's a Wrap, Friendship Friday and Field Trip Friday and Friday Connection.