Thankful Thursday- April 11

Thursday came and went last week without my Thankful post.  I promised myself that I would find the time because there is always something for which to be grateful.  If I teach my children to try to have an "attitude of gratitude," I need to try to always have one myself.  :-)

So, on this day, I am thankful for

my mom's successful cataract surgery this morning

my sons deciding on their own to clean out and vacuum the van the other day

Pets who can make you smile even when you have to do a task that would ordinarily be mundane

Fun time on the couch while we read aloud each day

A little sister who wants to surprise her big brothers with her homemade baking

What blessings are you grateful for today?


Linking up with ,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 Just the Stuff Ya Know

"Validation"- a Guest Post at TOS

I had a conversation with our family doctor the other day.  I had to call him about a question regarding a prescription for my husband, but our conversation quickly turned to other things, including my children.

I have known this doctor for more than half of my life.  My parents see him, my husband and I see him, and we wouldn’t trust our children’s health to anyone else.

To read the rest, please come visit the TOS Crew Blog, where I was honored to be asked to write a guest post.

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- April 9

It's time again for "Try a New Recipe Tuesday!"  I look forward each week to your submissions.

I have been using my pressure canner quite a bit again in the last few days.  Today, I canned fresh pineapple.  :-)

I processed the pint jars at 10 pounds of pressure for 18 minutes.  I boiled a water/sugar syrup to ladle onto the pineapple chunks in the jar. (I used a 1 to 1 ratio of cups of water and cups of sugar.

You can alter it to your personal preference)  I may just go back to the store tomorrow and pick up some more pineapple as it was on sale.

Last week's submissions were all wonderful, as usual! :-) Here are this week's features:

 Doritos Chicken Casserole from The Arrowood Zoo

Homemade Green Bean Casserole from Hammock Tracks

Homemade Soft Pretzels from The Resourceful Gals

Apple Streusel Muffins from Something Sweet, Winnie's Blog

Oatmeal Cookie Oatmeal from Ever After...My Way

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 and Mondays with Countrified Hicks and Tuesday How to Party and the Tried and True Recipe Party and Kids and Mom in the Kitchen

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up April 5

I just haven't been able to blog much this week.  :-(  But, I did want to share about our week, so I guess my slogan this week is definitely "better late than never."

Easter was wonderful.  My parents prepared a delicious dinner that we shared with each other, my aunt and uncle and my in-laws.  Kiddo #4 and I did the baking.  :-)  She was so proud to wear the skirt that she designed and sewed herself.

Easter Monday was a day off for us to enjoy with each other.  The kids played, relaxed and I took care of some necessary paperwork and of course, lots of laundry.  There is always plenty of that to go around.

Back to the grind on Tuesday.  We enjoyed our Italian lesson.  The kiddos are learning so much.  I also hosted my weekly "Try a New Recipe Tuesday."  Come by and see all of the delicious recipes that were shared, in addition to my homemade Pizzelles and Kiddo #4's Cocoa Crackles.  You can see them all here.

On Wednesday, Kiddos 1 and 2 started a new online class.

Kiddo #3 continued to make his power point presentation.  He takes all of the photographs himself, adds music and narration of the story.  I really enjoy watching them, as well as seeing how much work and effort he puts into each one.

I won a contest recently and was awarded the book "The Chicken and the Dog."  What a cute story.  Kiddo #4 read it to us all on Thursday.  Thursday concluded with our classes at church as well as Kiddo#1's Civil Air Patrol.

After our schoolwork on Friday, Kiddos #1 and 4 made us all homemade donuts and they got a much deserved time to bike ride.  We are having such beautiful weather and I wanted them to be able to take advantage of it.

We are also taking very good care of our little plants.  Yes, most of our seeds have now turned into plants.  It is wonderful to witness the process and to teach the children how to care for and nurture them.

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- April 3

Some random photos from our Easter.....

Kiddo #4 made the skirt herself!  :-)

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, Modest Mom,  Homemaking Wednesdays and Crafty Spices, Look What We Did and Do Small Things With Love and Wordless Wednesday Bloggers

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- April 2

Sorry this post is going up a bit late but I didn't go online at all over the Easter weekend and I truly enjoyed the time with my family.

My daughter and I made a few special treats for our Easter celebration.  They included my Italian Pizzelles.  You can find the recipe here.

and my daughter's Cocoa Crackles.  You can find the recipe here.

Now, onto this week's features.  Again, they were all wonderful.  I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to comment on each and every one, but being it was Holy Week, my  online time was very limited.

Better Than Caramel Popcorn from Butter, with a side of Bread

Resurrection Cookies from Loving and Learning on the High Plains

Coconut Cream Pie from Autumnfawn Lane

Really Moist Lemon Cupcakes from The Alchemist

Lemon Poppy Muffins from Campfires and Cleats

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 and Mondays with Countrified Hicks and Tuesday How to Party and the Tried and True Recipe Party and Kids and Mom in the Kitchen

Thankful Thursday- Match 28

Better late than never, I guess!  :-)  I didn't think with the baking and other Easter preparations that I was going to have time to get this done, but I thought it important to always acknowledge something for which we are thankful, no matter what, so here is my hastily assembled post.  :-)

Among many other things, today I am thankful for:

a big brother who takes the time to help a younger brother with math work

never forgetting what this week is all about

lots of fun time together dyeing eggs

a little girl who thinks nothing of making cookies for Easter completely on her own (except for the in and out of the oven part) while I was making pizzelles

What are some of your blessings this Holy Week?

Linking up with ,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 Just the Stuff Ya Know