Category: General Family News

Well, it was pouring rain outside. And inside my little Mara was so sick she hardly got off the couch all day.

Since I had made a ham over the weekend, I decided to make it a cooking day. . . I made Ham and Potato Soup for lunch (and another dinner meal later in the week).

For dinner I made a pasta salad with chopped ham, tomatoes, cucumbers, grated carrots and ranch dressing. Unfortunately, I had to cook the pasta twice–since the first time I was changing a diaper while the timer rang and I overcooked the pasta to the point that it was mush! I will eat (almost) anything. But that pasta was nasty. People that know will be proud of me: I threw it away and started over. And yes, for me, that IS an accomplishment.

In the crockpot I made a ham/lentil soup for weekday lunches for the kids and me. I also chopped ham for Garlic Potatoes & Ham later in the week. (At the end of the week when the rain lets up, we’ll also have Honey Mustard Chicken on the grill. I love summer! and I love that Daniel is happy to grill dinner for me any night I ask!)

And finally since I had two cups of grated carrots leftover (thanks to my amazing cuisinart food processor!!!), I decided to make Carrot Muffins with cream cheese frosting. I’d never made this recipe before, but I was looking for something other than a cake, since that sounds soo unhealthy. I’m not sure the muffins were really any healthier though.

The muffins themselves were very good, but they were not too sweet and somehow (Daniel & I agreed) that the super-sweet cream cheese frosting didn’t really complement them. Even Mara said it was too much and asked if I could scape the frosting off hers! I think I would make them next time without the frosting. 🙂

At the end of the day I went to let the dogs out–in the rain–and discovered a praying mantis on the inside of our screen door! Praying mantises are among the most intricate, complicated insects. They are another reflection to me of God’s [transcendent] creative genius. I caught the little guy in a vase and rubber-banded a lightweight cloth over the top.

I can’t wait to show the kids in the morning! I love learning! and watching the children learn! I can hardly keep myself from going to Micah’s room and waking him up so he can see it! . . .

I recently came across this article on “10 Ways to Make Your Homeschool Day Run Smoothly.”

I was tempted to re-post the entire article! It is definitely worth reading. Some of the thoughts may seem obvious, but as I look over this list, I’m thinking that homeschool frustrations (for me) may frequently link back to one of these areas, whether that’s my failure to have school planned adequately (or activities for littles planned!), or spending time on the computer or the phone during school time, or something so simple as my attitude: not smiling!

I’m posting this primarily as a reminder to myself. And maybe it will be helpful to other homeschool moms too! I hope you will take a moment to click on the link and read some tips from a seasoned homeschool mom!

Conversation is never quite the same once you have small children. This morning I was awakened by my two girls bursting into my room.
Carissa, 2, exclaims: “Mommeeeeee!! I had yucky stuff in my nose, and I just TAKED it out!”
She flung her arm outward, demonstrating. I tried not to wonder where the “stuff” was now.
“It’s called BURGERS!” Mara explained.
“It’s not burgers!” I said groggily, barely awake.
“Well, that’s what YOU guys call it,” Mara shrugged.
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Then at lunch, Micah pushes out his chair and sprints toward the stairs.
I call after him. “Micah, why are you out of your chair?”
He turns, looking like he’s in a hurry. “I have to go POOP!”
“Well, when you’re done, don’t shout down the stairs–David is sleeping. We will come up and wipe you!” I promise.
“Okay!” he agrees. “Just listen for the SPLASH and you will know I pooped. I hope it’s a BIG splash–like KAH-SHHHHHHH!”
Daniel and I just look at each other and shake our heads.