1. Enchiladas, lettuce, fresh salsa
2. Mushroom Burgers w/ blue cheese mayonnaise, veggies
3. Pea Soup, bread
4. Chicken Wings, veggies, apples
5. Pork Chops, salad w/ apples, pecans and dried cranberries
6. Chili, corn bread
05 December 2011
21 November 2011
19 November 2011
Parent Teacher Conference: A Personal Reflection
1. School overall has been going well. We have been making progress and reading lots of books. The girls and I went through a very hard time the first few weeks (months?), but we have worked it mostly out. I had some pivotal epiphanies about my daughters, how they are very different from each other and how differently they learn. Its tricky, this homeschooling thing we do.
2. I, as teacher, have done a few things differently this year. Namely. planning out our lessons and ordering books from the library on weekends. Planning takes me about an hour to finish. That hour of time saves me hours of time throughout the week. I also make a very strident effort to only focus on teaching during the morning. I try to not open my computer, turn off my phone and pretend that my home is calm, clean and organized until lunchtime. By noon, the bulk of our lessons are done (math, English, Latin and piano) and the afternoon/ evening is housework, pleasure reading, science and history.
3. I need to start specifically spending more time with Gus and Isabel. Not schooling them, but consciously sitting down and playing with them and reading picture books. They are not completely ignored during the day, but I feel like my focus is only on the big girls. I should come up with a few activities that would be special and enjoyable for them to do during the hectic morning hours.
4. I, as mother and wife, have also done a few things differently this year. I've been better about meal planning and preparation. I want to further reduce the number of times I go grocery shopping every month (it is such a chore now--I never used to mind doing it!) I've had a better system to get laundry done in a timely manner. I have also been regularly running again since school started after a lazy summer off (3 times a week, usually in the afternoon during Netflix time). I am a better person when I work out. It seems paradoxical, adding yet another thing to my schedule to help me stay organized, focused and sane, but it works.
5. The pace of our lives is busier than it has ever been. I'm not sure why this year seems so drastically different. We have something on the calendar almost every day. Its crazy, but there isn't really anything we can cut out. I can feel my heart quicken every time I flip the calendar to peek at our already packed December.
6. I'm tired right now. Keeping this pace is exhausting. I need to specifically plan more 4 day school weeks and time away from [insert large, all-encompassing motion] all of this.
2. I, as teacher, have done a few things differently this year. Namely. planning out our lessons and ordering books from the library on weekends. Planning takes me about an hour to finish. That hour of time saves me hours of time throughout the week. I also make a very strident effort to only focus on teaching during the morning. I try to not open my computer, turn off my phone and pretend that my home is calm, clean and organized until lunchtime. By noon, the bulk of our lessons are done (math, English, Latin and piano) and the afternoon/ evening is housework, pleasure reading, science and history.
3. I need to start specifically spending more time with Gus and Isabel. Not schooling them, but consciously sitting down and playing with them and reading picture books. They are not completely ignored during the day, but I feel like my focus is only on the big girls. I should come up with a few activities that would be special and enjoyable for them to do during the hectic morning hours.
4. I, as mother and wife, have also done a few things differently this year. I've been better about meal planning and preparation. I want to further reduce the number of times I go grocery shopping every month (it is such a chore now--I never used to mind doing it!) I've had a better system to get laundry done in a timely manner. I have also been regularly running again since school started after a lazy summer off (3 times a week, usually in the afternoon during Netflix time). I am a better person when I work out. It seems paradoxical, adding yet another thing to my schedule to help me stay organized, focused and sane, but it works.
5. The pace of our lives is busier than it has ever been. I'm not sure why this year seems so drastically different. We have something on the calendar almost every day. Its crazy, but there isn't really anything we can cut out. I can feel my heart quicken every time I flip the calendar to peek at our already packed December.
6. I'm tired right now. Keeping this pace is exhausting. I need to specifically plan more 4 day school weeks and time away from [insert large, all-encompassing motion] all of this.
18 November 2011
Art Project: Abstract Watercolor
I led a group of homeschool friends in this art project today. I think that these watercolor paintings turned out fantastic! Fantastic enough to overpower the cuteness that is my Bon Appetit bunting (a la Lauren). Love my cute kitchen!
Sweaty
My fellow patrons at Jo-Ann Fabrics this past Wednesday were all super-seamstresses. The kind of women (like Jan or Gail) who could make something gorgeous on their sewing machines while simultaneously sleeping. These women intimidate me. They make my armpits sweaty while I wait 14 deep at the cutting counter. They look at my cart filled with beginner notions and cotton cloth and judge me (I know that you do it Jan!).
On top of my insecurities, my four children were with me. They were being very, very good, but it was the middle of the day on a Wednesday. I was getting the "what are your obviously healthy, school-aged children doing home in the middle of the day" look. I was getting the "are those all her children?" look and the "she's one of those people" look.
I finally made it to the cutting table after 10 or 15 minutes of waiting and constantly being stared at by the judgmental-sewers. I was sure that they all had noticed the sweat rings developing on my dark shirt. I needed help picking out interfacing. The woman working, a effortlessly hip youth named Elisha, looked at me like I was from Planet Have-Too-Many-Kids-Moron. "I'm new here. I don't know anything. You're going to have to ask my manager, Diane. She's back in Yarn."
ARGH!
My kids were starting to lose it at this point. "Are we almost done?" I was irritated and ready to be done myself. I thought that this entire errand would take 10 or 15 minutes. However, unbeknownst to me, everyone in the metro-Milwaukee area was buying crafties at Jo-Ann Fabrics on this particular Wednesday. Gus bit Isabel out of frustration (how is that even possible?) and the girls started arguing about something stupid, like which fabric was prettier. I think I said BE QUIET! in a mean, quiet voice for the gazillionth time.
I found Diane. She told me which interfacing I needed. I got back into the monsterously long line for the cutting counter, and the sweat started really dripping because of my areobic activity pushing the cart in circles around this place. I asked myself "why is the heat up so friggin' high in this choatic, disorganized craft store????" And then we made eye contact. A skirt-wearing woman got in line behind me.
"I had four children too. They are such a blessing. This is my youngest. The time goes so fast. You really have to treasure these moments."
Grrrr.
Elisha cut my stupid interfacing. I proceeded to the check-out where my children were immediately drawn to the impulse candy section like insects to a bug-zapper. I think that the entire event may have actually transpired in slow-motion like I remember it.
"Geeeettt aaaawaaayy froooomm thaaat stuuuffff!"
"Moooommmm, caaan weee geeet theeeeeseeee?"
[Candy spills all over the floor. Judgemental-sewer rolls eyes and looks on disapprovingly. My armpits gush.]
On top of my insecurities, my four children were with me. They were being very, very good, but it was the middle of the day on a Wednesday. I was getting the "what are your obviously healthy, school-aged children doing home in the middle of the day" look. I was getting the "are those all her children?" look and the "she's one of those people" look.
I finally made it to the cutting table after 10 or 15 minutes of waiting and constantly being stared at by the judgmental-sewers. I was sure that they all had noticed the sweat rings developing on my dark shirt. I needed help picking out interfacing. The woman working, a effortlessly hip youth named Elisha, looked at me like I was from Planet Have-Too-Many-Kids-Moron. "I'm new here. I don't know anything. You're going to have to ask my manager, Diane. She's back in Yarn."
ARGH!
My kids were starting to lose it at this point. "Are we almost done?" I was irritated and ready to be done myself. I thought that this entire errand would take 10 or 15 minutes. However, unbeknownst to me, everyone in the metro-Milwaukee area was buying crafties at Jo-Ann Fabrics on this particular Wednesday. Gus bit Isabel out of frustration (how is that even possible?) and the girls started arguing about something stupid, like which fabric was prettier. I think I said BE QUIET! in a mean, quiet voice for the gazillionth time.
I found Diane. She told me which interfacing I needed. I got back into the monsterously long line for the cutting counter, and the sweat started really dripping because of my areobic activity pushing the cart in circles around this place. I asked myself "why is the heat up so friggin' high in this choatic, disorganized craft store????" And then we made eye contact. A skirt-wearing woman got in line behind me.
"I had four children too. They are such a blessing. This is my youngest. The time goes so fast. You really have to treasure these moments."
Grrrr.
Elisha cut my stupid interfacing. I proceeded to the check-out where my children were immediately drawn to the impulse candy section like insects to a bug-zapper. I think that the entire event may have actually transpired in slow-motion like I remember it.
"Geeeettt aaaawaaayy froooomm thaaat stuuuffff!"
"Moooommmm, caaan weee geeet theeeeeseeee?"
[Candy spills all over the floor. Judgemental-sewer rolls eyes and looks on disapprovingly. My armpits gush.]
10 November 2011
Braatens
Our good friends the Braatens came to visit two weeks ago. We had a pretty fabulous time. 
We didn't do much outside of our normal routine. We got our kids
dressed and fed. We made a trip to the library and read books on the
couch. We went to the park. Lauren and I made, and cleaned up dinner. Our time together was familial and good.
We are so thankful for friends who like to laugh, talk late into the night, do crafts, and raid the Trick-or-Treat stash with us after the kids are all tucked into bed.
But most importantly, we are thankful for such lovely, wise and Lutheran friends. They are friends that comfort and counsel, and know just what to say because they get it. They get what matters to us most. Our friendship is a blessing.
07 November 2011
Meal Plan Monday
In an effort to be more efficient, I've decided to try grocery shopping and meal planning for two weeks instead of one. Eventually I'd like to stretch the time period to 3 or 4 weeks. I'll see how it goes.
1. Lentil Soup, bread
2. Macaroni and Cheese, apples and salad (Pam Anderson is awesome)
3. Italian Wedding Soup, bread
4. Reuben sandwiches
5. Cheddar Bacon Ale Dip, homemade pretzels, veggies
6. Smoked Pork Steaks, BBQ sauce, roasted brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes
7. Hamburgers with onion jam, salad
8. Chicken Parmesan, salad
9. Split Pea Soup, bread
10. Fish, baked french fries, coleslaw
11. Angel Chicken, brown rice, veggies
12. Enchiladas, salsa, shredded lettuce, cilantro
13.Onion Soup, bread, fruit, veggies
14. Pot Roast, potatoes, carrots, green beans
1. Lentil Soup, bread
2. Macaroni and Cheese, apples and salad (Pam Anderson is awesome)
3. Italian Wedding Soup, bread
4. Reuben sandwiches
5. Cheddar Bacon Ale Dip, homemade pretzels, veggies
6. Smoked Pork Steaks, BBQ sauce, roasted brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes
7. Hamburgers with onion jam, salad
8. Chicken Parmesan, salad
9. Split Pea Soup, bread
10. Fish, baked french fries, coleslaw
11. Angel Chicken, brown rice, veggies
12. Enchiladas, salsa, shredded lettuce, cilantro
13.Onion Soup, bread, fruit, veggies
14. Pot Roast, potatoes, carrots, green beans
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