Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Minestrone and biscuits
Tuesday: Italian sandwiches
Wednesday: Fast baked fish, carrots, rice
Thursday: Oven-fried chicken, potato wedges, veggies
Friday: Pizza!
Saturday: Sausage skillet and cheese toast
Sunday: At the church!

God bless us, every one.

Katie Grace just said the sweetest bedtime prayer'

"Dear God, thank You for everything You did today. Thanks for everything You're doing right now. Thank You for everything You're going to do tomorrow. Amen."

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

Cake-in-a-Cup

I came across this on Stumble-Upon last night, and decided it would be the perfect mid-morning snack.
Chocolate Cake in 5 Minutes

Round up sugar, flour, cocoa, oil, milk, an egg, and a microwave-safe mug, and here we go!

First, you'll need to add 4 TBSP flour, 4 TBSP sugar, and 2 TBSP cocoa to the mug.


Nicholas, I TOLD you it wasn't the kind of chocolate you eat!


Crack an egg in to the mug and stir.

Then add 3 TBSP milk and 3 TBSP oil. Mix it up!

Microwave for 3 minutes on high. Send your kids up to change their clothes. Wait until it finishes rising, and then tip it out onto a plate.


Enjoy!

Election Night

When election night got started, Michael was very excited.

He had his electoral map:


We got the map and tally sheet here:
http://geomatters.com/pdf/Electoral_College.pdf

And set up a little "election station" at the computer desk:


But by 8:15, this was the scene. Two sleepy boys snuggled up on the couch.

Fleece and Tissue Paper Window Transparancies

These look lovely in your window. First, gather your materials: stiff card, something to trace circles, scissors, glue, kite or tissue paper, and fleece.

Begin by tracing and cutting out two rings. I'll admit, mine were pre-cut.


Add glue around the edge.


Add tissue or kite paper. I used white, but you probably could go with another color.


Trim the excess tissue paper. Add a thin layer of glue. Be careful, because the tissue paper tears easily!




Use the fleece to create a picture.



Nicholas's Autumn tree with falling leaves!

Katie Grace's is still a work in progress.

Circle Time! Day and Night

With daylight savings time ended and winter coming fast, Nicholas has been very aware of the differences between day and night. For our nursery rhymes this week (and maybe next) we've chosen two: Wee Willie Winkie and One Misty Moisty Morning, which you can find over in the right sidebar.

We've been really doing this up, using play silks as blankets and making little "beds".

Gathering Verse:

Candle Lighting Verse:
from Autumn Seasons of Joy
The sun, it shines so warm and bright,
It strengthens all I do.
Now let me take this bit of light
So I shine brightly too.

Circle:
Morning is come,
Night is away.
We rise with the sun to welcome the day!

I wake in the morning early,
And always the very first thing
I sit up in bed and I lift up my head
And I sing and I sing and I sing!

Traditional, with additional words from Autumn Seasons of Joy
Good morning, dear leaves,
So pretty and bright.
Good morning dear moon-
I'll see you tonight.
Good morning dear squirrels,
And birds flying free.
Good morning to you.
And good morning to me.

Lazy Mary (or other name), Will you get up,
Will you get up, Will you get up?
Lazy Mary, will you get up,
Will you get up today?
No, Mother, I won't get up,
I won't get up, I won't get up.
No, Mother, I won't get up,
I won't get up today.
We like to follow this with a tickle.

When the sun lights up the sky
I sit right up and rub my eye.
I dress myself with greatest care.
I brush my teeth and comb my hair.
Then off to story time I go
To hear the tales that I love so!
(If you wish, you could follow this with a story)

To the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush
This is the way we wash our hands, etc.
(comb our hair, brush our teeth)

Sing Raffi's You Brush Your Teeth

This is a great American folk tune.
Nelly Bly shuts her eye
When she goes to sleep.
And in the morning when she wakes
The frog begins to peep.
Hi Nellie! Ho Nellie! Won't you come with me?
I'll dance for you, I'll sing for you
The sweetest melody.

from Elisabeth Lebret's Pentatonic Songs
Said Day to Night, "I bring God's light;
What gift have you?" Night said, "The dew."
"I give bright hours," quoth Day, "And flowers!"
Said Night, "More blest, I bring sweet rest."

Time for a bath!
After the bath I try, try, try
To wipe myself 'till I'm dry, dry, dry.
Oh, what a difference it would make, make, make
If I were a dog and could shake, shake, shake!
Follow this one with a good head to toe shake!

from Autumn Seasons of Joy
The gnomes are sleeping in their homes,
Bye baby bye.
The little squirrels no more do roam,
Bye baby bye.
If gnomes and squirrels must go to bed,
You too must rest your sleepy head.
Don't make a sound, off to sleep instead,
Bye baby bye!

They call me little Sleepy Head (point to head)
I yawn at work, I yawn at play.
I yawn and yawn and yawn all day;
Them I take my sleepy yawns to bed (close eyes and lay head on hands)
That's why they call me Sleepy Head!

This little boy (girl) is going to bed (lay pointer finger in palm)
Down on the pillow he lays his head (thumb acts as pillow)
Covers himself with blankets so tight (wraps fingers around "boy")
And this is the way he sleeps all night (close eyes)
Morning comes, and he opens his eyes (open eyes)
Throws back the covers and up he flies! (open fingers)

Goodbye Verse
Merry have we met,
And merry have we been.
Merry shall we part
And merry meet again.
Goodbye! Goodbye!

Story of the World: The Bottom of the World and The Kingdom of the Franks

Last week, we visited the bottom of the world: Australia and New Zealand.

One thing that's been interesting to the children is the universality of creation stories. The one that's popped up again and again is the idea of world/island beginning on the back of a sea creature. First Sinbad the Sailor visited an island on the back of a sea monster. Then the Maori people believed their island started when a small boy caught "the biggest fish of all" that turned into an island when his older brothers hacked at it to stop it from eating them. In Michael study of Pennsylvania Native Americans, we learned the creation story about the first man and woman coming from a great turtle's back. And in Katie Grace's Celtic saints block, St. Brendan visited an island that was actually a whale.

It was a great week for reading Australian and Maori legends and folk tales. The Pumpkin Runner by Marsha Dianne Arnold was a big hit.

One highlight of the week was making moth mix. The Aborigines ate insects as a protein mix. We made "moth mix" but substituted peanuts as a protein source. Popcorn, peanuts, a tablespoon each of honey and cooking oil-- yum!

We were going to paint our faces like Maori warriors, but couldn't find the face paint. There's always tomorrow!

We left Australia and New Zealand today and move into the Frankish kingdom tomorrow. I just like the name Clovis. I've often thought if we ever get a cat, I would name it Clovis. If I ever lose my mind and we get a hamster, I would name it Grendl. But I digress.

Besides reading in Story of the World and doing dictation and map work, we'll also be looking at a great book I got from the library, Medieval Tales that Kids Can Read and Tell by Lorna MacDonald Czarnota. The kids will also have an opportunity to map out their own dynasty. Seeing how Michael is convinced that God has called him to a life of celibacy (The Talk didn't go so well), his paper should be rather short.

The other suggested activities are mostly dress up projects. Since we're already drowning in dress ups, we'll pass on making anything new, but maybe we'll dress up as Frankish Kings.

Menu Plan Monday

MONDAY: Well, it was supposed to be calzones and green beans, but we ordered subs from Ed's instead.

TUESDAY: Chunky chicken soup and rolls

WEDNESDAY: Sloppy Joe Potatoes

THURSDAY: Potato kielbasa skillet

FRIDAY: Pizza!

SATURDAY: Italian Patty Melts

SUNDAY: At the church

From my notebook...

Cheese Pretzels

1 cup warm water
1 package (2 1/4 tsp) dry yeast
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar
3 cups flour
3/4 cup grated cheese (cheddar, American, or parmesan)

Proof yeast in water. Mix in remaining ingredients, adding cheese last. Knead well and divide into 18 portions. Roll into worm shapes, alphabet letters, pretzel shapes, etc. Place on a cookie sheet. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle lightly with salt. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.

Weekend Round-Up!

Wow. It's a weekend, and I'm posting the weekend round-up. Unheard of!

In honor of Pioneer Week, I'm sharing some pioneer posts that caught me eye.

What is pioneer week, you ask? You can read about it right here at Crunchy Chicken. And while you're there, be sure to check out her easy ricotta making lesson.

The pioneer's didn't have those fancy schmancy electric appliances, but they did have the sun. Check out this solar dehydrator over at Simply Thrifty.

If you're longing for something elegant but simple to add to your sweets, you can make your own vanilla sugar, courtesy of Happy Hearts at Home.

Part of pioneer living is eating simply and seasonally. Stephany over at Naturally Simple has some great recipes for using up those green tomatoes still clinging to the vine. I'd love to try this maple-glazed barbecue chicken recipe from Carrie's Cooking as well, maybe with some of smitten kitchen's Peanut Butter Crispy Bars for desert. And if that is all too fancy for pioneer week, there's always beans, beans, beans from Large Family Logistics.

Tipnut can help you not only clean your house on the cheap, but also without all the nasty chemicals-- just like our foremothers used to do!

Growing in Grace has some great ideas for decorating your home for the season.

And if you're sitting by the fire, feeling all domestic and itching for some handwork, Sew Mama Sew has sone beautiful suggestions here and here.

Happy Pioneer Week!