Baby Powder Incident

Remember this Susan?

Astronomy: Kix Style

Overheard and photographed this morning:
"Hey Lily! Come see! What constellation? YES! crunch. crunch. crunch."

Cassiopeia!

Cygnus the Swan!

I heart homeschooling. Swoon.

Dear Jonathan

I received your package in the mail today. As you can see, it arrived none too early. I still have a bit of a drool problem. My mom can't wash my bibs fast enough to keep up with demand.


I love my new bibs. Please give your Mom a big wet kiss for me. Tell her that she is very talented, and that I get tons of compliments about my stylish bibs wherever we go!

Boy Clothes

Last September, after I found out that we were having a baby boy, I started going to rummage sales to stock up on boy clothes. Despite reassurances from my family and friends, I quickly discovered that I was right. Boy clothes are NOT as cute as girl clothes.
Take for example:

Cute right?

Wrong! My son is NOT a "Little All Star", or for that matter a "Momma's Boy", "Daddy's Little Helper", "Future MVP" or even "Little Slugger". Gus isn't a big fan of puppies (he cries), gross and scary bugs (he cries) or dinosaurs (pretty sure he would cry).

Gus told me he likes plaids, stripes and anything denim. He gets his good taste from me.

***Amended conclusion: Gus told me that he likes plaids and stripes. He gets his good taste from Auntie Kristen.

Breakfast Recipes

A friend noticed all the breakfast recipes that I have taped to the inside of one of my cabinet doors. She asked for copies. Here you go. I had been meaning to post all of them for a while now.

Oat and Applesauce Muffins

These muffins are certainly not light or delicate, but a hearty breakfast best eaten warm, the morning that you make them.

1 cup oats
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup applesauce
1 egg, beaten

Combine all ingredients. Pour batter into greased muffin tray. Bake at 375 for 20 - 25 minutes. Makes 1 dozen.


Baked Oatmeal

2 cups oats
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup applesauce
2 tbs butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon

Combine all ingredients. Spray 8x8 pan with cooking spray. Pour batter into pan. Bake at 375 for 20 - 25 minutes, or until browned. Serve with milk, raisins, and nuts. Makes 5 (2/3 cup) servings.

Wheat Pancakes

1 cup wheat flour
1 tbs sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 egg, beaten
1 - 1 1/2 cups (or more) buttermilk

Combine all ingredients. Add more buttermilk until batter reaches desired consistency. Cook pancakes on hot skillet.

Sept 11

Chris and I did not have a TV in 2001. I have never watched any news footage or extended video of the terrorist attacks of 8 years ago, until today. I sobbed. It was awful to watch. How have so many already forgotten?

Peru and Llamas

"Here it is Betsy! We found it!"

Jazz hands!

My very awesome cousin Betsy, in all her spare time in between teaching undergraduate minions and her own PhD research at Champaign-Urbana, sent my girls a care package of goodies from her trip to Peru. Thank you so much Bets. My girls loved it!

Astrogeeks

Check out the NASA Skywatch applet. Chris and I just watched the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle in the night sky. So amazingly awesome!

From the Honey Farm

Our homeschool group went to a Honey Farm this morning. Here is a picture of Claire with the empty hive boxes.

Cowhand Maude

Look who was rocking on their knees when I scooped them up after their nap yesterday! Cowhand Maude!

Poor, poor boy. The torture your sisters will put you through!

Piggy: During and After

Chris and I hosted an annual pastor's Labor Day party yesterday. We decided to roast a pig. Why not? Before putting it on the spit, Chris and I stabbed it with a meat injector (gag!) and had to drag it around in a tarp because it was too heavy to lift. It turned out great (thankfully), but it was a lot of work. I hope that everyone enjoyed the day. I know that we did!

Laura posted some pictures on her blog too.

Piggy: Before

Read Alouds

I try my best to read a few chapters of a book aloud to the big girls before bed. We are currently reading The Castle Corona. The author's prose is lovely and the vocabulary is rich. I have had to go to my dictionary (Christopher) a number of times in the middle of reading. Does anyone have suggestions for our next book? I am in the mood to travel--to India or Australia maybe? Sea voyage? Jeannette--was it The Penderwicks?

Here is what we read this summer:
Beowulf - Not a very good translation, but fun for little ears.
Tale of Despereaux - Great. I loved that my girls liked the book more than the movie!
American Stories - Entertaining short chapters
Magic Tree House Non-Fiction guides - I was sort of obsessed with these for a while.