Small Success Thursday: Meals, Valentines, and Basic Household Upkeep that Shouldn't be so Difficult

With a full schedule and busy life - every small success adds up!

1.  I made three meals that my ENTIRE family loved this week. This is big. My kids always eat their food but they are vocal about whether it is a favorite or not (as is my husband). Every single person devoured these meals quickly and asked for seconds or thirds. That is a win in my book!  (They were Tacos, Pork Chops w/ Potatoes Au Gratin and Sauteed Apples/Onions, and Chicken Spaghetti Alfredo w/ salad.)

Give me more yummy food!!!!

2.  I remembered to print out some Valentines for the kids to sign yesterday. My goodness it is painful to watch a 4 and 6 year old sign their name so many times. I'm glad we didn't wait until today or there is no way they'd be done in time for our two parties tomorrow!

Sigh.  Yes I know Rafael is writing the "wrong" way.  It is a work in progress folks.

3.  I swept. Don't laugh, this is a big deal. It is my least favorite chore and hasn't happened in an embarrassingly long time. 

What are your small successes for the week?

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Co-op Science: Air is a Substance

After our last lesson on Solids, Liquids, and Gasses, we went a bit more in depth into Gas - specifically air.  It is such an abstract concept for young kids so it is important to explore it a bit more before moving on.  Again, these lessons are for kids K-2nd grade.

Air is a Substance Co-op Class

Book

Air is All Around You by Franklyn Branley

Air Takes Up Space

Stuff a paper towel in the bottom of a class and submerge in water.  Bring back up and the paper towel is dry!  Why?  Because the air in the glass is already taking up space and there is no room for water!  If you repeat the experiment and tilt the glass - the air is able to escape in the form of bubbles, and there is room for water to enter the glass.  Then of course the paper towel is wet!  They all enjoyed repeating this experiment themselves!

Insert balloon into "empty" water bottle.  Try to blow it up and it won't!  Why?  The water bottle is already full of air!  There is no room to add more air to the balloon inside the water bottle!  We then poked a hole in the bottom of the bottle; allowing air to escape.  Then of course there was room to inflate the balloon since as it filled up with air, the air already in the bottle could escape out the hole in the bottom.

Air Has Weight

1 deflated and 1 inflated balloon on my homemade scale proves that the air inside the balloon has weight.  The kids were shocked to see this as they had insisted that the air around them doesn't feel heavy like a solid or liquid does!

Journals

Of course, the kids journaled what they observed during the demonstrations.

Thanks for reading!

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Week in Review Feb. 8 - Spring Semester Week #4

Enjoying the Snowy Weather!

In My Life This Week

It was a nice lazy week around here.  It snowed a couple of days so we hibernated in our cozy little house and enjoyed relaxing, learning, and playing together.

In Our Homeschool

Phonics - Digraphs (th, wh) and Consonant Clusters (ng, st, nt)
Math - MEP Year 1 - Lessons 31-34
Grammar - First Language Lessons - Lessons 16-20
Handwriting - continuing to learn how to write vowels in cursive
Literature - Betsy Tacy
Rafael Language Arts - Language Lessons for Little Ones - Lessons 26-37
Rafael Math - MEP Reception - Lesson 11
Rafael Literature - Harry the Dirty Dog, Harry and the Lady Next Door, No Roses for Harry, Harry by the Sea
Geography - Australia - Colors of Australia
History - Expansion - Apples to Oregon, Going West
Science - BFSU A-3: Air is a Substance
Nature Study - January Nature Study Grid from Handbook of Nature Study Blog

Around Town

Monday - We went to our local theater to see a play of Stuart Little.  The kids loved the book so they were pretty excited to see this!

Tuesday - Co-op Science class - BFSU A-3 - Air is a Substance

Wednesday - Weekly Homeschool Mass

Friday - Catholic Co-op Classes

My Kitchen

We made lots of comfort food this cold chilly week!  Try this Baked Potato Soup.  I promise you won't be sorry!

I'm Grateful For

Having a cozy and warm home to keep us out of the cold.

I'm Praying For

The homeless and very poor who have to deal with the harsh weather.

Things I'm Working On

Still working on my Saint Directory from last week.  It is starting to come together!

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Thanks for reading!

Favorite Food Fridays: Baked Potato Soup

This is one of our absolute favorite recipes (and so so perfect for a cold day!). The recipe is adapted a bit from my good friend Tina's and comes together in 30 minutes if you cook the bacon while baking the potatoes in the microwave.

Baked Potato Soup

2/3c butter

2/3c flour

7c milk

4 large potatoes - baked, peeled, and mashed

4 green onions, sliced

10-12 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

1c shredded cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter and stir in flour to make a roux. Cook until smooth and bubbly!  Gradually add milk while stirring until incorporated. Add potatoes and onions and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 10 minutes.  Add bacon and cheese and stir until heated through and cheese is melted.

Thanks for reading!

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Favorite Food Fridays

I had a food blog several years ago which I used as a platform to try out all the cool recipes I came across online - back when I had time to experiment!

Ever since I started homeschooling I have learned that simple and easy is better when it comes to cooking!  I'm working on putting together a personal cookbook for myself full of all our family favorites (which tend to be the quick and easy ones anyway). I'll be sharing them here on Fridays as I cook through them to double check the recipes!

I try to use real food as much as possible so you won't find a lot of "cream of" style recipes. That also means I don't shy away from real butter, bacon, etc. in my recipes!  Hope some of these are helpful for other busy homeschool moms!

Thanks for reading!

January Nature Study

We finally pulled it together these past couple of weeks to fit in some nature study time.  It has been so cold and windy (and snowy!) that it was the last thing on my to-do list.  Although I've been following the Handbook of Nature Study blog for a while now, I just recently discovered their free printable nature study grids in their monthly subscriber newsletters.  I am awful at scheduling actual structured nature study times, so this is the perfect tool for a lazy busy Charlotte Mason mom!  We just glued the grid to the kids' notebooks and used the boxes to guide our outdoor time.

January Nature Study Grid

Winter Tree Silhouette Study

Directions: Look for a tree with no leaves.  Draw the shape of the tree in your nature journal.

Bark Rubbing

Directions: Smell the bark of a tree.  Make a rubbing for your nature journal.

Evergreen Comparison

Directions: Find two evergreen trees.  Observe how they are similar.
(Neither lose their leaves in winter.  One is wider and lighter green with poky branches and needles.  The other is taller and darker green with "bark-y" branches and smooth needles.)

Pine Cone Study

Directions: Can you find a cone?  Describe it with words.
(Pointy, bendy, light brown)

Pine Needle Study

Directions: Observe tree needles.  Measure the length, count the number of needles in a bundle.
(1. Length: 10 1/2cm, Texture: Poky, # of needles: 182
2. Length: 8 1/2cm, Texture: Smooth, # of needles: 85)

Cold Weather Study

Directions: Take a friend on a nature walk.  Can you go out on a cold day and see your breath?

Thanks for reading!

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Snow Sweets

We don't get a lot of snow here in the desert southwest, so when we do, the kids get pretty excited. Not me. Snow beat me up once when I was a teenager in the form of a tobogganing accident and I have never been able to forgive it. Plus it keeps me from wearing flip flops. So yeah, not a fan.

On Tuesday, however, when I woke up to a wintry wonderland, I was uncharacteristically excited!  We have been listening to the Little House on the Prairie series in the car and one thing I have wanted to do since I was a little girl was make snow candy like at the Sugaring Off Dance in Little House in the Big Woods. 

I immediately searched Pinterest for a recipe and set out to make some. A little too much sugar for 7:30 in the morning? Perhaps. But the snow around here can't compete with the desert sun and is usually melted by noon so I wasn't taking any chances. Plus, the kids didn't seem to mind. (Shhh, don't tell anyone but we made Snow Cream too!  Both recipes below).

Snow Candy

1/4c maple syrup

1/8c sugar

Pinch of salt

Flat container of fresh snow

Heat mixed ingredients in a saucepan for 5 minutes. Let cool slightly and pour in a thin layer over the snow.  Let set and enjoy!

Snow Cream

2c Fresh snow

1/4c sugar

1/4c milk

1tsp vanilla

Mix all and enjoy!  Adjust amounts according to your desired taste and/or consistency.

Thanks for reading!

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