Dec. 7, 2005 - Baking in a winter wonderland

awwww... okay, its not exactly snowing or anything, but it was reeeeeeeally really cold in here!  We have got to get plastic on our windows!!

Anyway, Abyni started off our school day by reading about when the Angels told the shepherds about baby Jesus.  She is just so thrilled with the story each day ~ and loves getting to be the teacher for a bit:)  Then we read Romans 12:9-21 and discussed what those verses had to say about love and how we can apply them to our lives.  The kids all copied down two of the verses from those and we hung them on our "love" bulletin board.

We watched chapter two of "Mega Math" and LOVE it.  Kainan and Jaedinwere just flying through three digit addition problems, even with 4 or 5 numbers added together!  Sprite and Paris are a little slower on the big rows of bnumbers, but doing really well on double digit addition ~ even with "carrying"... it is awesome.  So much easier.

Paris and Abyni mixed up sugar cookies for the HS elementary CHristmas Party on Friday. 

Byn's Sugar Cookies

Mix together well:

2 sticks butter

1 cup shortening

2 cups of sugar

Add:

6 eggs

3 tsp vanilla

Dry Ingredients (separately)

5 cups white flour

2 cups wheat flour

2 tsp baking soda

4 tsp cream of tartar

Mix with wet ingredients.

Chill dough over night in fridge.

Roll 1/4 inch thick & cut

Bake for 6-8 minutes at 425

do not overbake!

They will be making home made frosting tomorrow:

1 bag powdered sugar

1 tsp cream of tartar

1 stick margarine (mix together)

Gradually add up to 3/4 cup of HOT milk until desired consitency

I made a batch of "Po Pie" (ground beef, green beans, cream of mushroom soup mixed together topped with mashed potatoes and shredded cheese, baked until cheese is melted and bubbly:) for supper... its one of the family favorites, its easy and cheap!

We did a good solid morning of school, then after lunch, Kainan (who isn't feeling well) took an audio book (The Fourth WIseman) upstairs to listen to it and rest... that's the last we've seen of him.  THe other kids did their reading and baking/chores. 

I whipped up a couple of sample "gingerbread" graham cracker houses for Fridays party as well.  I tried to make them somewhat wimple since it will be ages 9-11 making them.  I think it will be fun to do and see what the kids create with their candy houses:)

I moved the dryer vent inside to help with the heat.  Now the windows are steamy, but at least its not wasting all the heat straight outside.  Dh is going to put plastic on the windows when he gets home tomorrow night ~ since he has a staple gun, it will go sooo much quicker than me trying to do it!

Thats all for now, I'm going to join the kids for the rest of teh Cosby Show!