Memoir Monday- Happy Birthday Kiddo #1

Our oldest child was born 15 years ago today after a grueling 19 hour labor.  He was 6 weeks premature.  The first minutes and hours after his birth were so scary, as they were touch and go.  Although a healthy 7 pounds 4 ounces, he was still preemie and needed a ventilator and help to breathe.  He stopped breathing after birth and was rushed away to the NICU while they worked to resuscitate him.  I will never forget those moments. Time seemed to stand still.  It couldn't be happening to our little boy.

As I sat next to the incubator all night long, holding his little hand and watching a machine breathe for him, my heart was so full of love and fear.  I spoke and sang to him; I told him about his Snoopy nursery that was home waiting for him and I prayed.  Boy, did I pray.

That baby turned out to be a fighter, strong and determined to not only win that battle, but another that would come all too soon after his birth.  When he was 4 months old, a tumor was found and the "c" word came up often as a possibility.  When being taken from us for the surgery, he was all smiles, reaching for the nurses hair and took my heart with him into the o.r.  There was much more praying that day, as well.  Although the surgery was complicated, he didn't have cancer.  What an amazing blessing and gift.  This child was special. and has turned into a very special young man.

He is calm and even tempered.  He is incredibly handsome and looks far older than 15.  He is strong, but gentle and has amazing patience with his siblings.  He volunteers weekly for our church.  He loves Civil Air Patrol and anything having to do with aviation.  If you don't know where he is, look outside.  He is there with his camera photographing airplanes.  He will tell you its origin, its destination, the make, model and airline.  He has built and flown almost every model there is, even ones with a 6 foot wingspan.  He aces every simulator he has ever attempted and even has flown a real airplane for 45 minutes.  Give him any pile of scraps and he will create a flying entity of some sort.  He has piles of sketches, designs, ideas...  And, on top of that, boy, can he bake!  ;-)

Happy Birthday, Kiddo #1!  Dad and I love you very much and are so very proud of the young man you have become.

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 and Memoir Monday and Mondays with Countrified Hicks and Create with Joy

TOS Review- High School Prep Genius

Today I am reviewing High School Prep Genius from College Prep Genius.

This book has over 400 pages and is geared for parents and their children who are in the 7th-12th grades to help prepare them for college, their career paths and adult lives.

High School Prep Genius encourages all parents to be actively involved in the education of their child(ren). Each chapter contains Parent's "homework," as well as questions for the student to answer.  For example, one question was about how they focus on the positive or negative choices that they make.  The fact that questions such as these in personal and character development are included is important and impressive.  It really shows that the responsibility and decision making about the future needs to be handed over to the student, and that while they are still in our care, we, as parents, have an awesome responsibility to guide and advise our children while they are still young adults.

The book stresses that self-discipline, responsibility, routine and personal values are all necessary to make wise choices, not only in education, but for success in life.

From their website:

"The book features:
--College and Career Notebook
--9th-12th grade Student Timelines
--Advanced Study Tips
--7th grade Talent Searches
--Scholarship Ideas
--Key Admissions Terminology
--Extra Curricular Activity Advice
--Healthy Lifestyle Skills
--Keys to finding a Mentor
--Friend and Relationship Help
--Essay Writing Techniques
--College Admissions Guide
--Go to College for Free
and more...."

My son, who is finishing 9th grade this year, and I especially liked the section of the book that recommended setting up a "College and Career Notebook."  This gives the student/parent a sole place to record volunteer activities, extra-curriculars, books, classes, etc.  We are required by PA state law to maintain a portfolio, which includes all of this information, but now we will add college search and financial aid information to it when the time comes.

This book, which retails for $29.95, is a comprehensive work of reference for high school students and their parents.  Many "prep" books only focus on coursework needed or avenues for financial scholarships.  While this is all important and included in this text, the authors go further and realize that lessons of life and decision making need to made as a teenager transitions into adulthood.  Their value systems need to be well-established and secure and they need to have attainable goals and a plan on how to achieve them.

The book also stresses the importance of students having financial independence and money management skills before heading off to college.  What practical and important advice!

I enjoyed reading over High School Prep Genius with my son and look forward to going even more in depth with him as he gets older.

UPDATE: The author has generously offered our blog readers a $5 discount when purchasing the book when you use the code TOSCrew at checkout.  :-)

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap Up- May 17

Here we are halfway through the month of May already.  Wow :-)

Highlights of my life/our homeschool this week: On Friday, after I posted my wrap-up for last week, I came up with a fun math game for Kiddos 3 and 4.  All it took was a sheet of graph paper (I print off large square grid paper for free from the internet) and a die.  Each kiddo would roll two numbers and draw a square/rectangle with those numbers for the sides.  Then they were to calculate the perimeter and the area.  It was fun and hands on, and they were learning.  :-)

Sunday was Mother's Day.  It was a beautiful, relaxing day, filled with faith, love and family.  I wrote all about it on my Thankful Thursday post here.

On Monday, Kiddo #4 had her sewing class.  She finished her summer nightgown.  She did such an awesome job, didn't she?

On Tuesday, there was a lot of hands-on fun.  First there was "Tell Time Bingo"

then there were some matching games that I made.  Kiddos 3 and 4 worked on homonyms and contractions.  When they finished their particular set, they scrambled them up and switched.

The same with Kiddos 1 and 2, but their challenges were states/capitals and states and their abbreviations.

I made three of these sets myself. If you would like any of them, please let me know and I will be happy to email you the files.

I also hosted my "Try a New Recipe Tuesday" linkup.  Kiddo #4 made Chocolate Biscottis and they were really, really good.  You can see her recipe and photos and all of the others that were shared here.

Tuesday night, my mom and 3 of the kiddos went to a Phillies game.  My dad spent the evening with Kiddo #3, who wasn't much interested in the game, but enjoyed dinner and time with his Pop instead.  Dh and I drove the others down to the game and watched it in a restaurant next door to the stadium.  We had a nice dinner and not only got to watch the game, but could actually hear the cheers when something good would happen.  They all had an awesome time and our team won the game.  :-) It was a fun, but late evening.

So, our original plans for Wednesday had to be scrapped since the kiddos were all really tired and slept in.  But, I remembered reading that our local nature center's butterfly exhibit opened.  So, off to the nature center we went.  We were so lucky to be able to enter the exhibit and the butterflies were actually landing right on us!  I have never had one on my hand before.  What an incredible feeling-- a butterfly kiss!  :-)  We are expecting our caterpillars to arrive soon and the nature center said when it comes time, we can release them there!  :-)

We also hiked the trails, went to the bird observatory (and saw SO many different species), went to the pond and saw a frog sunning by a leaf.

I included lots more photos of this fun trip on my post on Wednesday.  You can see it here.

Thursday was a get some things done around the house kind of day.  The kids worked on their math while I worked on laundry and tidying up.  It has to get done sometime.  ;-)  We had classes at church in the late afternoon.  Next week is our last week already.  I've gotten attached to my little group.  I am trying to think of something special to do with them on the last day.

Not sure what Friday will have in store.  I'll keep you posted next week.  :-)

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 and Family Fun Friday

Thankful Thursday- May 16

I received a prayer card in the mail and wanted to share it today:

Mother's Prayer for Her Children

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of my children.

I am humbled that You thought me worthy of watching over someone who is so precious to You.  Equip me with all the wisdom, strength, and insight that I need to complete my assignment in a way that will be pleasing to You.  Show me the way that I would take even as I instruct those ones whom You have entrusted to my own.

As I commit them to Your care.  I trust You to keep them safe in all of their ways.  Grant me an increased sense of discernment to recognize the work of the enemy in my children's lives.  Give me the strength to battle against the forces that will seek to pull their heart away from You, to break their spirit and bend their will.

When I grow weary, strengthen my weary arms and renew my faith in Your ability to keep us all.  By the authority that You have given me over the lives of my children, through Christ, labor the plans of the enemy and his agenda for destroying the purposes of God in my children.  Guide my prayer life to strategically call forth the destiny of those little ones.  Help me to secure the inheritance that You have reserved for them.

But most of all, Lord, in those times when the going gets tough, remind me first that children are only part of my reward for answering Your call.  Reaffirm my worth when the world is telling me that I have no value, and let me find my validation and all that is truly worthwhile in You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.
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I am so very thankful for a wonderful Mother's Day on Sunday.  The morning started with a pancake breakfast made by Kiddo #4.  Kiddos 2 and 3 dutifully set up the table.  :-)  (Kiddo #1 was away for the weekend with his CAP Squadron and returned later on in the day)

I am thankful for the beautiful homemade pillow that Kiddo #4 made for me in her sewing class,

the gifts from Kiddo 2 and 3 and the chocolate covered strawberries from all 4 of them

and the beautiful tulips from my hubby

that we had a relaxing afternoon and that the weather finally cooperated enough to put my peas in the garden

The day ended with Kiddo #1 coming home safely after a great weekend in D.C., and we, along with my parents, shared a relaxing dinner together.  It couldn't have been a nicer day.

I am blessed.

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 , the Fontenot Four and A Sorta Fairytale

Wildlife Wednesday- May 15

We are so blessed to have a nature center in our township that has acres of outdoor space in addition to indoor exhibits.

Today, on the spur of the moment, I decided to take the kids over to see what was new since the last time we visited.

Well, we were so pleasantly surprised!  Their butterfly exhibit was open and we got to stand in there and see these beautiful creatures flying, drinking and landing all over us!  I had never had one land on me before, and it was amazing since it on my hand.  I know the kids felt the same.  I am sharing a photo of the keeper putting it on Kiddo #3's hand. :-)

We also saw a screech owl, frogs at the pond and amazing birds at the observatory.

Indoors, there were a lot of different creatures, including sliders, snakes, fish, turtles....

It was a great time!  :-)

Linking up today with:

Also 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 and A Sorta Fairytale

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- May 14

Time for another week of recipe sharing!  I am so excited and grateful about how much the linkup has grown and appreciate everyone's participation and spreading the word.  :-)  We had a record number of linkups last week, with 72.  Wow!  :-)

This week, believe it or not, Kiddo #4 made Chocolate Biscotti, and boy were they delicious!  Yes, she is only 9.  She made this recipe herself except for the in and out of the oven and the cutting because, yes, she is only 9.  ;-)  She doesn't cease to amaze me.  In addition to hounding me about wanting gymnastics lessons, she now also reminds me daily that she wants to start her own bakery...like right now....  :-)  :-)

She got this recipe from a cookbook she borrowed from the library entitled "The Kids' Holiday Baking Book."

Chocolatiest Chocolate Biscotti
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour, plus extra for the work surface and your hands
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt
1 1/4 cups sugar
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
6 ounces milk chocolate chips
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.  Stir to mix.  Sitr in the sugar.  Add the chocolate to the flour mixture.

In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with a wire whisk.  Add the vanilla and beat briefly.  With a large rubber spatula, stir the eggs into the flour mixture to form a dough.

On a lightly floured work surface, press the dough together.  It will be sticky.  Put some flour on your hands and on the work surface, but don't add any more flour to the dough.  Divide the dough in half.  With a rolling pin (Kiddo did it by hand), roll each half into a log 14 to 18 inches long.

Place the logs on the baking sheet and make sure they're not too close to each other.  Press down gently with the palm of your hand to flatten the logs.

Bake the logs for about 30 minutes, until they have risen and spread to double their original width.  They are done when they feel firm to the touch of your fingertip.  Cool  the logs on the baking sheet.

With a sharp knife, cut the baked logs diagonally into 1/4-1/2 inch think slices.  Return the biscotti to the baking sheet, a cut side down.  Bake for 15-20 minutes.  They are done when they are dry and crisp.  :-)

Enjoy!  We sure did. :-) I liked them dunked in a hot tea or hot chocolate myself.  :-)  Kiddo #1 even took some on his weekend to Washington, D.C. with the Civil Air Patrol.


Here are this week's features:

Crunchy Beef and Bean Taco Cups from Sumptuous Spoonfuls

Kentucky Hot Brown Recipe from Ben and Me

Cajun Pork Chops from Kingdom Academy Homeschool

Creme Brulee Ice Cream from ButterYum

Slow-Cooked Spicy Potatoes/Dum Aloo from At the Corner of Happy and Harried

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 and Family Fun Friday and Clever Chicks Blog Hop