Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up June 28

A fun summer week here at the Home to 4 Kiddos.  :-)

Last Friday, Kiddo #4 and I spent a special afternoon together.  I wrote all about it here where you can also see more photos.

On Saturday, Kiddo #1 took a regular box and made an airplane out of it that he intends to fly.  He even installed a propeller and motor!  This boy can make ANYTHING into a working airplane!  :-)

Kiddo #4 made us all a treat, Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies, which I shared on this week's Try a New Recipe Tuesday.  If you would like to see the recipe or all of the others that were shared, you can click here.

There were also fun badminton games

and the AMAZING Super Moon

Kiddo #3 made us a presentation on the Dumbo movie.  He recorded the audio of the entire film and then took his own photos and made his own animations/illustrations on Power Point to go along with it.  Just brilliant and quite entertaining.  :-)

They have even swam everyday always being able to get in their time before the daily thunderstorms...

On Thursday, Kiddo #4 made a pillow for Kiddo #1 in her sewing class.  It was his birthday last month and she wanted to make sure that she made him something special, even if it was belated.  :-)

I also would like to thank the staff at Teacher Certification Degrees dot com for selecting my blog for inclusion on their "Top 100 Homeschool Blogs." list.

It was a wonderful week for which I am grateful.

A quote to share:  "There are two educations.  One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live."-- John Adams

"....(Every child) should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice."--Noah Webster

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 and T.G.I.F. Linky Party

Wordless Wednesday- June 26

Last week, Kiddo #4 and I had an afternoon of just she and I.  It was SO much fun.  We went to the mall, had some lunch in the food court, rode on the merry go round, shopped the "sales" and got her new sandals and a few summer outfits and ended our time with bringing home some cinnamon pretzels for she and her brothers.  Very special time indeed.  :-)

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- June 25

It is time for another wonderful week of sharing recipes!  :-)

My daughter's creation this week was Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies.  They were so fluffy and soft and really delicious.  As usual, they didn't last long around here.  :-)

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cups peanut butter chips (optional.  Kiddo omitted these)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Combine the flour and baking soda in a medium bowl.

Beat the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.  Beat in the sour cream, egg, water and vanilla until well blended.  Gradually add the flour mixture.  Beat until well blended.

Stir in the chips.  Drop by rounded tablespoonful 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.  Bake for 12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.  Cool the cookies on the sheets for 1 minute.  Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.  Enjoy!  :-)

Here are this week's features:

Peanut Butter Fudge @ Tots and Me

Strawberry Cloud Cake @ Sweets for the Sweet

Lemon Cinnamon Cookies (and lots of others!) @ A Net in Time Schooling

My Signature Biscuit Cinnamon Rolls @ 1-Minute Bible Love Notes

Chicken Piccata @ Rediscovering Lost Arts from our Mothers

If you are on Facebook, come like our new Facebook page!  It can be found at http://www.facebook.com/Hometo4Kiddos .  Thanks SO much!  :-)

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 andAll My Bloggy Friends and Hearts for Home Blog Hop and Foodie Friends Friday

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up June 21

We at the Home to 4 Kiddos are saying a great big "Welcome" to summer today!  :-)

It has been another good week and I am happy to share it with you.

Sunday was Father's Day.  It was a wonderful day.   You can see more photos from Father's day here and you can see Kiddo's recipe for the cake below (and all of the other recipes that were shared on "Try a New Recipe Tuesday" here.).

On Monday, Kiddo #4 had her last homeschool sewing class of the year.  She continued working on her dress.  She will join an afternoon class for the summer until her regular class resumes.

Tuesday, we were excited to see that 3 baby groundhogs were born under our shed..  I had figured since we had seen a male and female about, that it was only a matter of time until we saw the babies.  Yes, we have already taken precautionary measures to protect our garden, but the kids were SO excited to see the babies.  How can one not be touched in even a small way by such innocent enthusiasm?  They have looked up so much information already and want to do a lapbook/research project on groundhogs.  Gotta love it!  :-)  I'm sure to have many more photos in the next few days.

On Wednesday, Kiddo #4 surprised everyone with some of her delicious Snickerdoodle cookies.  The house smelled SO good!

On Thursday morning, the kiddos and I went to a local township park and played badminton.  It was SO much fun.  And, I was pretty proud of myself for keeping up with them, lol.  They also ran the track before we headed home for lunch.

Kiddo #4 finished her dress in sewing on Thursday afternoon.  It is just SO adorable, isn't it?  She is looking forward to wearing it to church on Sunday.  She really demonstrated not only skill, but patience and diligence, because it took a little bit longer than expected, but she attended the extra class to get it done.

I am hoping to find something special to do with the Kiddos to celebrate the first day of Summer on Friday.  I will be sure to let you know next week!  :-)  Hope you have a wonderful weekend with your family!  God bless!

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 and T.G.I.F. Linky Party

Wordless Wednesday- June 19

Some photos from Father's Day-- including breakfast that the kiddos made, our badminton game, Kiddo #4's special cake and a desk that hubby bought for me!  Too cool for me to get a gift on Father's day, lol!   :-)  He and the kids are going to refinish it to match our bedroom set.

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- June 18

It is Tuesday again, and time for another week of wonderful recipe sharing!  :-)  My children and I enjoy reading (and trying!) your recipes.

Kiddo #4 made the most amazing cake for Father's Day.  She even spelled "Happy Father's Day" on it with chocolate chips!  :-)  It was so moist and delicious.  I know you will enjoy it, as well.

Kiddo #4's Chocolate Father's Day Cake (adapted from Betty Crocker's Cookbook 1969)

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla

Heat  oven to 350 degrees F.  Prepare baking pan with non-stick spray.  Measure all ingredients into large mixing bowl.  Blend 1/2 minute on low, scraping bowl constantly.

Beat 3 minutes on high speed, scraping occasionally.  Pour into pan(s).

Bake oblong 35-40 minutes, layers 30-35 or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool.

Frosting
1/3 cup soft butter or margarine
3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons milk

and then enjoy it with Daddy and Pop-Pop.  ;-)

And now for today's features.

Peach Mango Cocktail @ Williamette Valley Wonder Woman

Snickerdoodle Cookies from Saving in Nevada

Chocolate Ice Cream @ A Bright and Beautiful Life

Cheddar Mac and Bacon Casserole @ Judy H-J's Thoughts

Perfect Whole Wheat Sugar-Free Southern Cornbread @ Mama Economics

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 andAll My Bloggy Friends and Hearts for Home Blog Hop and Foodie Friends Friday