Apparently this theme is best viewed in Firefox and IE 7 doesn’t load this theme properly ! bummer since most of my readers use IE.

I have uploaded a new “Theme” and now my site is back in business. Please comment if you have any trouble accessing/loading this site.

Now for reviews:
1. on my blogroll you will see a link for “olive plants”. If you are homeschooling I would highly recommend that you follow this blog. My friend Dawn does an excellent job helping “newbies” like myself get organized and started. I just want to say thanks for the link to the forms, Dawn! Please Keep Posting!

2. Creation Museum. Totally awesome. Must See. http://creationmuseum.org/whats-here/exhibits/
I don’t know what I was expecting. I certainly wasn’t expecting a little rusty trailer or uninsulated warehouse with some curling posters on the wall. But I also wasn’t expecting to be “Wowed” with the high quality animatronics; digital video; “awesome, interesting and really cool” planetarium (quotes from the twins during the presentation); Noah’s Ark decorated restaurant; beautifully maintained gardens; bibliophile’s dream for a bookstore; and pristine restrooms. We arrived at 10:30 am and left at 1:45 pm and I felt completely rushed. We allowed the children to keep the pace since we also had a deadline on the back end of the visit. I would recommend a full day devoted to this museum. It is completely worth the money. If your children are older, then go ahead and purchase the 2 day pass. Really.

3. KOA Louisville South. Clean. Quiet. Family Oriented. Working AC in 90+ degree weather. Good slushies (which were free with our “deal”). I actually had fun Kamping in a Kabin. The beds weren’t painful. The kids had fun. We loved the bouncing pillow, the pool, and cooking over the campfire. Rob did a great job making sure I didn’t have to do “too much work.” Thanks, my dear Prince, for making Kamping Fun!

Pardon, this site is under construction. You will likely see more changes in the days to come. There was a problem with my original layout displaying properly in IE7. Now my current layout has certain features — like my blogroll — which must be returned! So I have to find another layout or something. Rob! help!

In preparation for our field trip tomorrow to Randall Oaks Farm, we reviewed our “farm” unit. We worked throughout the day writing our books entitled, “On the farm”. R&A colored pictures and I wrote their comments about each picture. A dictated a full-blown story about the Rooster. She was creating so quickly I could hardly keep up while writing it down by hand. R also dictated stories, but not as lengthy and elaborate as her sister. A wrote upper and lowercase Pp in cursive and seemed to enjoy it. *Perhaps there is something to teaching cursive first.

We also played baseball, t-ball, and practiced our sword playing; played on the jungle gym/swing set. Total outdoor PE time 60 minutes. R still thinks she cannot skip.

Library time: 30 minutes. Class attendance was 4 total! We also checked out several books. Spent time reading in between completing sections of the Farm Books.

Lang Arts: expanded phonemic awareness through Leap Frog Word Whammer game, ABC bean bags. Spelled names and CVC words.

Explored Technology at Best Buy. A now can quote a price of an item to me: “This is ten dollars”. The price tag said $10.99. A also counted to 25 independently.

Yesterday, we played all day with friends from the neighborhood. They played “Dog” and “Baby” and ran through the sprinkler. They received their swim report cards which are now in their portfolio. I wish the outdoor temps would stay consistent so that the lake will be warm enough.

3-4 loads of laundry with twins’ help.
began research for portfolio evaluation
vacuummed family room
cooked pot roast with twins’ help
60 min language arts time
cutting, coloring
tinkertoys, dressup,
Cubbie Character Builder
Wrote, addressed, & distributed birthday party thank you notes.

1. Individual time on Reader rabbit software/ Reading text (30-45 min each)
2. handwriting practice
3. craft time: make a doll
4. practice with scissors
5. PE: horse races
6. Tinkertoys
7. dress up, kitchen area
8. singing and interpretive dance

Monday we went downtown Chicago. I packed the usual supplies: snacks, juice boxes, water, wipes. I packed extra juice boxes, since I wasn’t sure how often we’d need anything to drink.

We went to Grant Park and viewed the fountain overlooking the lake. It was breathtaking. I’m sure I’ve been there before, but this day the sun was out and the sky was blue and Lake Michigan was even bluer. On the way to the fountain, we passed the statue of Abraham Lincoln and had the twins take pictures there. I also gave a quick “history lesson” right there. and here’s the strange part of our downtown venture….

As we were wandering around the parking Garage trying to find the way of escape, I had this thought fly up my mind. “The first homeless person you see, you need to give them your extra juice box.” Ok, that’s strange, but Ok, if I see any homeless people, I’ll do that. The fleeting thought I knew had to be from the Lord. So as we turned away from Lincoln, I saw two men sitting against the wall. I knew right then, but wrestled with obeying. There’s two of them, not one. Will they be insulted, will they try to hurt me or follow my family… A million other rationalizations and excuses ensued. But I kept turning around and looking at them. Finally, I told Rob, “I have to go do something.”

I gave them each 2 juice boxes and reminded them that God will take them through the most difficult times of their life.

I am one who “never” gives homeless people anything. I’ve never felt that my investment would bring viable returns. But I do know when the Still Small Voice speaks.

This recipe is from my friend Jennifer Menting, who is a Pampered Chef Consultant.

Chocolate Satin Mint Cake

Summary: Preheat oven to 325. Spray fluted (bundt) pan with oil. Prepare filling. Prepare cake. Layer Cake batter, filling, Cake batter. Bake. Cool completely. Prepare glaze and drizzle. Yield 16 servings.

Filling:

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened.
¼ c sugar
2 Tbsp butter, softened
1 Tbsp corn starch
1 egg
2 Tbsp milk
¾ tsp peppermint extract

Cake:

1 pkg (18.25 oz) devil’s food cake mix

1 c water

1/3 c vegetable oil

3 eggs

Glaze

1/3 c light corn syrup

1/3 c whipping cream

6 square (1 oz each) semi sweet chocolate for baking, finely chopped

Drizzle

2 squares (1 oz each) white chocolate for baking

2 tsp vegetable oil

¼ tsp peppermint extract.

Preheat oven to 325. Spray fluted pan with oil.

For filling, beat cream cheese, sugar, butter and corn starch until well blended. Add egg, milk, and extract. Mix until smooth. Set aside.

For Cake, combine cake mix, water, oil and eggs. Mix according to package direction. Spread 2 cups batter evenly in pan. Spread evenly with filling. Slowly pour remaining cake batter over filling. Bake 55-65 minutes or until cake tested inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Loosen pan from edge and center of pan. Invert onto cooling rack. Cool completely. Place rack over cutting board (or cookie sheet) lined with parchment paper so that transferring the cake during the glazing is easier.

For Glaze: in saucepan, bring corn syrup and whipping cream to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly with whisk. Remove saucepan from heat. Add semi-sweet chocolate, stirring until smooth. Spread 2/3 c glaze smoothly over top and sides of cake. Freeze cake 5 minutes until glaze is almost set. Meanwhile, keep remaining glaze warm over low heat. Remove cake to serving platter. Slowly spoon remaining glaze over cake. Refrigerate until glaze is firm, about 1 hr.

For drizzle: microwave white chocolate and oil on high about 1.5 minutes or until mixture is smooth when stirred. Stir in extract. Drizzle over cake. Refrigerate 15 minutes. Remaining whipping cream can be prepared and served with cake. Yield 16 servings.

Notes: I use Ghiradelli semi sweet chocolate chips and Nestle white baking chips instead of the squares. It’s much better to bake the cake in the evening and frost the next day.

I sent the girls to the basement to play while I gathered the craft supplies. Once everything was ready, I invited them to do a craft with me.
me: Girls, do you want to do a craft now?
R: (despondently) No, I can’t until my baby dies.
me:(incredulously) Until your baby… dies?
Alexis: (almost hysterical) No! No! You can’t let your baby die! We must take care of her!

I let it go… the craft supplies will be on the table when they are ready. I went back upstairs to do some other house maintenance. When I checked on them several minutes later, the twins were still caring for the dying baby.

A: whenever she gets real sick, we can feed her.  Thanks for all your help, sissy.

Preheat oven to 350. Bake time is 45-55 min. Yield 2 loaves. Can freeze.

1/2 c butter

1 c brown sugar

1 1/4 c sugar

**Cream butter, add sugar gradually.

4 Eggs – add one at a time to sugar mixture and beat till thick and lemon colored.

**Combine the following

2 1/2 c flour

1 1/2 c oats

4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

***Add Flour mixture to egg/sugar/butter mixture alternatively with …

1 c orange juice

2 tsp flavoring (vanilla or orange)

****Stir in:

6 (very) ripe bananas, mashed

2 c chopped walnuts

2 c chocolate chips (if you used vanilla, and want a more “dessert” type bread)

Bake in greased loaf pans at 350* for 45-55 minutes.  Carefully remove from pan.