Saturday! 2.15.14
Tony took the kids skating and sledding at Erb Park. He is going to surprise them with hot cocoa and treats at the coffee shop when they are finally tired of the cold.
So... I am trying to pry myself away from the "Intervention" episodes I found on Hulu, and do some of the things that need doing. It's true, I'm a junkie-watching junkie when I'm procrastinating.
First up, is tackling this new soup recipe I've been meaning to try. It's sort of a hybrid of a couple of non-Primal recipes that I've found; I made some substitutions to make it primal-friendly. For instance, I've found that although arrowroot powder is a thickener, and is used in place of cornstarch, it can also often be used in place of white flour, in halved amounts: 1/2c arrowroot powder = 1 c white flour.
We had a big breakfast this morning, so I saved some of the bacon, and also cooked the chicken breasts this morning. The soup smells just fabulous, simmering on the stove right now. Hopefully, the kids will like it, too. Otherwise, I'm not complaining about the left-overs we'll have!
Saturday! 2.15.14
Tony took the kids skating and sledding at Erb Park. He is going to surprise them with hot cocoa and treats at the coffee shop when they are finally tired of the cold.
So... I am trying to pry myself away from the "Intervention" episodes I found on Hulu, and do some of the things that need doing. It's true, I'm a junkie-watching junkie when I'm procrastinating.
First up, is tackling this new soup recipe I've been meaning to try. It's sort of a hybrid of a couple of non-Primal recipes that I've found; I made some substitutions to make it primal-friendly. For instance, I've found that although arrowroot powder is a thickener, and is used in place of cornstarch, it can also often be used in place of white flour, in halved amounts: 1/2c arrowroot powder = 1 c white flour.
So... I am trying to pry myself away from the "Intervention" episodes I found on Hulu, and do some of the things that need doing. It's true, I'm a junkie-watching junkie when I'm procrastinating.
First up, is tackling this new soup recipe I've been meaning to try. It's sort of a hybrid of a couple of non-Primal recipes that I've found; I made some substitutions to make it primal-friendly. For instance, I've found that although arrowroot powder is a thickener, and is used in place of cornstarch, it can also often be used in place of white flour, in halved amounts: 1/2c arrowroot powder = 1 c white flour.
We had a big breakfast this morning, so I saved some of the bacon, and also cooked the chicken breasts this morning. The soup smells just fabulous, simmering on the stove right now. Hopefully, the kids will like it, too. Otherwise, I'm not complaining about the left-overs we'll have!
CREAMY CHICKEN BACON SOUP
INGREDIENTS:
*30 oz chicken broth
*1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
*1/2 cup rice
*1/2 cup grassed butter
*1/2 cup arrowroot powder
*1/2 tsp salt
*1/2 tsp pepper
*2 cups half and half
*2 cups cooked chicken
*8 slices of bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
INSTRUCTIONS:
- In a large saucepan, combine chicken broth and water. Add wild rice and onions. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 30-45 minutes (or until rice is tender).
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter, stir in arrowroot powder, salt, seasoning, and pepper. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly.
- Gradually stir in half and half with the butter/flour mixture and cook until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Add this creamy mixture back into the saucepan with the rice/broth. Add the chicken and bacon. Heat on low, stirring every once in a while, for at least a half an hour. Do not boil. The mixture will look thin, but the longer you heat the soup, the more the flavors marry and the more it will thicken. This soup is best served after gently heating for a few hours, or more, or the next day! For extra flavor, add poultry seasoning and/or bacon.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- In a large saucepan, combine chicken broth and water. Add wild rice and onions. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 30-45 minutes (or until rice is tender).
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter, stir in arrowroot powder, salt, seasoning, and pepper. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly.
- Gradually stir in half and half with the butter/flour mixture and cook until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Add this creamy mixture back into the saucepan with the rice/broth. Add the chicken and bacon. Heat on low, stirring every once in a while, for at least a half an hour. Do not boil. The mixture will look thin, but the longer you heat the soup, the more the flavors marry and the more it will thicken. This soup is best served after gently heating for a few hours, or more, or the next day! For extra flavor, add poultry seasoning and/or bacon.
On to school thoughts. We started our Ancient China unit in "Story of the World", this week. They were really into this, so much so, that I think I will look through some of the library books I checked out, and find some artsy projects to go along with the study, maybe spend an extra week here.
We enjoyed reading about the Shang Dynasty, and the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang Di. Soren reminded me that he'd seen a preview from the cartoon, "Justin Time", for an episode about Ancient China, and so we watched that, too. I was also glad to find that Soren's, "Writing With Ease" English lesson was coincidentally based on an excerpt from this "Story of the World" topic, on the same day! (Susan Wise Bauer is the author of both WWE and SOTL.)
In other academia, we continue to keep pushing ourselves with Math, and all 3 are on track to finish their course by mid-May. Gressa will probably be done prior to then. I haven't completely decided yet, but am leaning toward starting Saxon 2 with her, when she finishes 1, while waiting for the others to be finished - rather than her just being "done" with Math until the fall.
I found this on Gressa's clipboard one day! warm fuzzies!
For a short time, Ava was doing 2 math lessons per day, as we had to do some catch-up, after backing up to review vital concepts. She is more than caught up, now, which is thrilling, really, for us both. 1 lesson/day is much more manageable, and truly, I think she will retain even more.
The Saxon CD is teaching the lessons, which allows her to stop and process, whenever she hits pause. It also allows her to check her work step by step, and has been very helpful for us to review her answers together, right after working the problems, rather than days later.
When there is a concept she doesn't fully understand the first round, I flip to the Supplemental Practice section in her text and give her 5-10 of those types of problems to do. She does those until she "gets it." I will average her test grades, for her class "grade" at the end of the year. I'm not giving out grades in any of the other subjects. We simply cover all material and move on when we "get it." But Math and it's black and white-ness seems to beg for a grade, and with all of the tests throughout the year, I think it will be a good gauge of abilities, and a reward for their hard work.
Learning to write checks! His future's so bright... apparently...
It's really a great payback to see Ava's math EFFORT blossom in such a huge way! She really cares. Whether she was distracted in a classroom environment, or invested, instead, in what was happening socially... or simply not pushed enough to try her best, it doesn't matter. Now, she DOES care. She cares about doing things the right way, and is learning how she learns best. And she has lost the whole, "I stink at Math" identity/mind block, which may be the best part. Multiplying and dividing mixed numbers will likely never be her pride and joy, but wow, have we made strides.
On this topic of "caring" and "grades", it's heartwarming for me to see how effort, etc. tie in, here at home. None of the kids are asking if they got "an A" when they finish a given assignment. But they do ALL want to do it the right way, and give their best, anyway. Interesting to me... the idea that they simply WANT to do their best, but not because they are motivated by a potential "good" grade (as I, and likely many of us, were.) I think it a fabulous thing to learn early on, the idea that anything worth doing, is worth doing right. They all understand that we spend time learning something, completely, before we move on. Without even realizing it, they are accepting that things need to be done correctly before they're "done." Good Work Ethics, for the win! And, by the way, they're finding that most of the time, things don't necessarily have to be done any ONE, certain way, to be done correctly!
Sunday * 2.16.14
Ava had a Nothin' But Net basketball tournament in Fond du Lac today. Her team has been struggling all season (think: Bad News Bears), but today was such a payoff. The girls placed 3rd out of 8 teams, and even received medals. (They also lost a very close game, 26-23, which had they won, would've given them a clean sweep.)
I will truly cherish this day. The girls played their hearts out, the entire day.
They were rebounding so much better, shooting and passing better, and being more aggressive! They worked together SO well, and it really seemed that all members of the team contributed, in a big way. They had the chance to run their plays and I think this was a big confidence-builder for them. So much personal and team growth today. Good things, good things!
swish!
sibs
We get medals! Yeah!
Mini Lady Foxes ~ way to go, girls and coaches!
Sara, Elise, & Ava!
Tomorrow is Monday, my clinic work day, and the day Tony works from home. As such, the kids' school day looks a bit different on Mondays, than on other days of the week. The get a lighter day, which we make up for during the week, and I tend to give them more enrichment activities than on other days. They can typically do these things more independently. Also, on a "regular" school day, we can often run out of time for the enrichment stuff, like Art.
There is always Math and Reading, though. Always. They do need to wait until an alternate weekday to do work that is needed 1:1, with me, but they get the chance to practice so many other valuable things while I am away!
I still print out their schedules (as I do, every day), and they know that this is a list of expectations, not suggestions.
Sample Monday schedule for Soren
I am excited to see what evolves during Art class tomorrow, as I found a website that looks really fun and interesting! artforkidshub.com : There are many, brief lessons given, step-by-step in both drawing and painting.
My absence in their school world once in awhile, gives them a chance to really navigate things together, as I often assign a reading and discussion for them, as well as bible time. Also, oftentimes, Ava or Soren will be a mentor for G, with her work. They also get Minecraft time, which S and G, especially, LOVE. They have been having so much fun with that in the past few weeks, and it's really great to hear them interacting with each other while cooperating, planning, building, playing, and defending each other in their side-by-side Minecraft "worlds".
On Mondays, they have more responsibility for keeping their breaks between school tasks short, for helping make their meals, and for any other household stuff. They are truly starting to internalize the idea of managing different responsibilities: school, helping out with whatever, chores, and free time. That is a big goal of mine!
Oh! PS The soup yesterday was UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME! We will definitely be having it again, soon. And bonus... during the meal, Soren pulled out his Atlas and started to show Tony all he'd learned about China. I have 3 atlases on constant renew from the library (I wonder when they'll find me out?), so that each kiddo can page through and locate necessary maps/locations on their own, when we read and discuss geography/"Story of the World." They've really started embracing pulling out "their" atlas and finding out so much about whatever country we are studying!
Soren: "Dad, here is where the Great Wall is... and did you know it was made out of packed dirt hard as stone, 4 inches at a time, because there wasn't enough stone in the country to build it?? ...And China has SOOO many mountains! Look! ...And they grow lots of rice in China because it grows really good in the Yellow River Valley, because it's between 2 rivers and it's always wet there!!" Love! Next up, is Ancient Africa. Can't wait!
Uhh... Update.
So, unfortunately the sore throat I managed to determinedly ignore over the weekend, has quickly manifested itself into bronchitis in the past 24 hours. Shortness of breath, fatigue, and coughing. Aaaah!
It's a time of reflection and transition when your kids hold you accountable for taking care of your ill self. I mean, when they are babies, mom truly just CAN'T be sick. You push through it ALL. You ignore, and overcome all common ailments, because you are Mom. But now, today, as I'm hacking and reaching for my inhaler, Gressa looks wide-eyed at me and says,
"Mom, you are still going to work?"
Me (still trying to push through): "Well, yes, it's my work day."
"But Mom, you're sick... you should stay in bed, right...?"
OOh yeah, that's right... the extra rest and fluids that we drill in their heads as their Mom... to avoid further/worse illness... we've told them that it applies to us all, now haven't we...
Crap!
So in bed, I am. I think it might be the first time I'm actually taking care of my self entirely appropriately. Huh. Thanks, kids. I was thankful that Tony still stayed home to work here. He took the kids to the Y to play bball this afternoon, and the puppy pants has been my best bud.
This morning around 10, I did get up, to check in on everyone. The result: I put steak and mushrooms in the crock while practicing multiplication flashcards with Soren... broke up a fight between S and G about pillow cushions... insisted upon Ava that yes, she really does have to do the English lesson assigned... emptied and refilled the dishwasher... trimmed the stems of my happy heart day dozen roses... and set up this art project idea for the kids to do, if they want, when they return from the Y.
double-click to enlarge
So, I guess I've simply decided that it's nearly impossible to do the Mom-thing halfway. I'm up. I'm there. I'm Mom. That's how they see it. I suppose I wouldn't want it any other way...
Bonus: while I was in bed,
artforkidshub.com was a hit :)
On to school thoughts. We started our Ancient China unit in "Story of the World", this week. They were really into this, so much so, that I think I will look through some of the library books I checked out, and find some artsy projects to go along with the study, maybe spend an extra week here.
 |
| I found this on Gressa's clipboard one day! warm fuzzies! For a short time, Ava was doing 2 math lessons per day, as we had to do some catch-up, after backing up to review vital concepts. She is more than caught up, now, which is thrilling, really, for us both. 1 lesson/day is much more manageable, and truly, I think she will retain even more. The Saxon CD is teaching the lessons, which allows her to stop and process, whenever she hits pause. It also allows her to check her work step by step, and has been very helpful for us to review her answers together, right after working the problems, rather than days later. |
When there is a concept she doesn't fully understand the first round, I flip to the Supplemental Practice section in her text and give her 5-10 of those types of problems to do. She does those until she "gets it." I will average her test grades, for her class "grade" at the end of the year. I'm not giving out grades in any of the other subjects. We simply cover all material and move on when we "get it." But Math and it's black and white-ness seems to beg for a grade, and with all of the tests throughout the year, I think it will be a good gauge of abilities, and a reward for their hard work.
|
| Learning to write checks! His future's so bright... apparently... It's really a great payback to see Ava's math EFFORT blossom in such a huge way! She really cares. Whether she was distracted in a classroom environment, or invested, instead, in what was happening socially... or simply not pushed enough to try her best, it doesn't matter. Now, she DOES care. She cares about doing things the right way, and is learning how she learns best. And she has lost the whole, "I stink at Math" identity/mind block, which may be the best part. Multiplying and dividing mixed numbers will likely never be her pride and joy, but wow, have we made strides. |
On this topic of "caring" and "grades", it's heartwarming for me to see how effort, etc. tie in, here at home. None of the kids are asking if they got "an A" when they finish a given assignment. But they do ALL want to do it the right way, and give their best, anyway. Interesting to me... the idea that they simply WANT to do their best, but not because they are motivated by a potential "good" grade (as I, and likely many of us, were.) I think it a fabulous thing to learn early on, the idea that anything worth doing, is worth doing right. They all understand that we spend time learning something, completely, before we move on. Without even realizing it, they are accepting that things need to be done correctly before they're "done." Good Work Ethics, for the win! And, by the way, they're finding that most of the time, things don't necessarily have to be done any ONE, certain way, to be done correctly!
Ava had a Nothin' But Net basketball tournament in Fond du Lac today. Her team has been struggling all season (think: Bad News Bears), but today was such a payoff. The girls placed 3rd out of 8 teams, and even received medals. (They also lost a very close game, 26-23, which had they won, would've given them a clean sweep.)
I will truly cherish this day. The girls played their hearts out, the entire day.
They were rebounding so much better, shooting and passing better, and being more aggressive! They worked together SO well, and it really seemed that all members of the team contributed, in a big way. They had the chance to run their plays and I think this was a big confidence-builder for them. So much personal and team growth today. Good things, good things!
 |
| swish! |
 |
| sibs |
 |
| We get medals! Yeah! |
 |
| Mini Lady Foxes ~ way to go, girls and coaches! |
|
| Sara, Elise, & Ava! |
Tomorrow is Monday, my clinic work day, and the day Tony works from home. As such, the kids' school day looks a bit different on Mondays, than on other days of the week. The get a lighter day, which we make up for during the week, and I tend to give them more enrichment activities than on other days. They can typically do these things more independently. Also, on a "regular" school day, we can often run out of time for the enrichment stuff, like Art.
There is always Math and Reading, though. Always. They do need to wait until an alternate weekday to do work that is needed 1:1, with me, but they get the chance to practice so many other valuable things while I am away!
I still print out their schedules (as I do, every day), and they know that this is a list of expectations, not suggestions.
 |
Sample Monday schedule for Soren
|
I am excited to see what evolves during Art class tomorrow, as I found a website that looks really fun and interesting! artforkidshub.com : There are many, brief lessons given, step-by-step in both drawing and painting.
My absence in their school world once in awhile, gives them a chance to really navigate things together, as I often assign a reading and discussion for them, as well as bible time. Also, oftentimes, Ava or Soren will be a mentor for G, with her work. They also get Minecraft time, which S and G, especially, LOVE. They have been having so much fun with that in the past few weeks, and it's really great to hear them interacting with each other while cooperating, planning, building, playing, and defending each other in their side-by-side Minecraft "worlds".
On Mondays, they have more responsibility for keeping their breaks between school tasks short, for helping make their meals, and for any other household stuff. They are truly starting to internalize the idea of managing different responsibilities: school, helping out with whatever, chores, and free time. That is a big goal of mine!
Oh! PS The soup yesterday was UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME! We will definitely be having it again, soon. And bonus... during the meal, Soren pulled out his Atlas and started to show Tony all he'd learned about China. I have 3 atlases on constant renew from the library (I wonder when they'll find me out?), so that each kiddo can page through and locate necessary maps/locations on their own, when we read and discuss geography/"Story of the World." They've really started embracing pulling out "their" atlas and finding out so much about whatever country we are studying!
Soren: "Dad, here is where the Great Wall is... and did you know it was made out of packed dirt hard as stone, 4 inches at a time, because there wasn't enough stone in the country to build it?? ...And China has SOOO many mountains! Look! ...And they grow lots of rice in China because it grows really good in the Yellow River Valley, because it's between 2 rivers and it's always wet there!!" Love! Next up, is Ancient Africa. Can't wait!
Uhh... Update.
So, unfortunately the sore throat I managed to determinedly ignore over the weekend, has quickly manifested itself into bronchitis in the past 24 hours. Shortness of breath, fatigue, and coughing. Aaaah!
It's a time of reflection and transition when your kids hold you accountable for taking care of your ill self. I mean, when they are babies, mom truly just CAN'T be sick. You push through it ALL. You ignore, and overcome all common ailments, because you are Mom. But now, today, as I'm hacking and reaching for my inhaler, Gressa looks wide-eyed at me and says,
"Mom, you are still going to work?"
Me (still trying to push through): "Well, yes, it's my work day."
"But Mom, you're sick... you should stay in bed, right...?"
OOh yeah, that's right... the extra rest and fluids that we drill in their heads as their Mom... to avoid further/worse illness... we've told them that it applies to us all, now haven't we...
Crap!
So in bed, I am. I think it might be the first time I'm actually taking care of my self entirely appropriately. Huh. Thanks, kids. I was thankful that Tony still stayed home to work here. He took the kids to the Y to play bball this afternoon, and the puppy pants has been my best bud.
This morning around 10, I did get up, to check in on everyone. The result: I put steak and mushrooms in the crock while practicing multiplication flashcards with Soren... broke up a fight between S and G about pillow cushions... insisted upon Ava that yes, she really does have to do the English lesson assigned... emptied and refilled the dishwasher... trimmed the stems of my happy heart day dozen roses... and set up this art project idea for the kids to do, if they want, when they return from the Y.
 |
| double-click to enlarge |
So, I guess I've simply decided that it's nearly impossible to do the Mom-thing halfway. I'm up. I'm there. I'm Mom. That's how they see it. I suppose I wouldn't want it any other way...
Bonus: while I was in bed,
artforkidshub.com was a hit :)
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