It has been about 10 years since our last formal family picture. Tonight we all got dressed up and drove one hour to our church to have another one made. Then they wanted $170 for 8 5 x7s. That's more then $40 per sheet! We just cannot afford that! Of course, now I have to get everyone all dressed up again and drive an hour in the other direction to Penneys. With my coupon at Penneys, I can get 52 portraits for $7.95. Or, I can pay $3.95 per sheet. Either way, $170 nets me a ton more photos. The problem is, we probably won't get around to doing it. I thought maybe if I posted about it on my blog I would have some accountability to actually getting the job done.
You can eliminate the raisins to save money. This recipe is for the microwave — and our own variation from the book Microwave Gourmet by Barbara Kafka which I highly recommend. My husband wants me to mention that our microwave is higher power (newer), so he does only heats the butter for 1 minute, the spices for 2-3 minutes, and the rice for 2-3 minutes before the broth is added. After the broth is added, he stays with the time below. Serves 8. We also often add precooked meat from our freezer, thawed, when we add the broth.
Curried Rice Pilaf
4 Tbsp unsalted butter (or non dairy substitute)
2 Tbsp Curry Powder
3/4 C Chopped Onion
1/4 C Raisins
5 Cloves garlic smashed, peeled and sliced
2 C Basmati or Carolina rice
3 C Chicken Broth
1 C Frozen Peas, defrosted under warm running water in a sieve
Salt
Pepper
Heat butter in a 2 quart microwaveable dish, uncovered, at 100% for 2 minutes. Stir in curry, onions, raisins, and garlic. Cook, uncovered, at 100% for 5 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat. Cook, uncovered for and cook for 5 minutes more. Pour broth over all. Stir. Tightly cover with microwaveable plastic wrap. Cook at 100% for 16 minutes. Remove from microwave. Uncover and stir in peas. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.
Time gets away from me. I cannot believe it has been so long since I posted. I have been super tired lately, and that coupled with our first weeks of school have not boded well for my blog. Bear with me :)
It is 10:20 a.m. on our second day of school; and I finally have everyone sitting down and diligently addressing their Bible assignments. Wow! What a different morning this has been...
Please help me name my new book with a great, catchy interesting title that says everything it needs to say.
I had originally titled my book Turning It Up A Notch! Using Audio Files in Your Homeschool. However, my editor stated to me that her first thought was "Oh, no! That is exactly what I do NOT need!" Because the title conveys volume :).
So, I would like to come up with a title without negative connotations; which still conveys the idea of benefitting from audio books. Some suggestions have been:
Turn Learning Up A Notch (Using Audio Files in Your Homeschool)
Listening to Learn (Using Audio Files in Your Homeschool)
What else can you think of? Please leave me a comment and brainstorm with me!!!! Tell me what you think.
I cannot believe it is Friday already! I had blog posts for each day this week, but time just got away from me. I am sure you can't possibly relate . Anyway, we are headed out today for a two week vacation visiting relatives in Indiana and Ohio. The trip promises to be fun, although I am sure I will be missing my husband.
Hope you are all having a great Friday!
If I find time later today, I will add a show and tell Friday and share pictures of our Gluten Free pizza...
Jonathan was taking pictures of the hair cut for me, and decided to take pictures of my flowers while he was at it. This is just one pot, probably the best looking of the bunch. I have discovered though, that I water my flowers much more diligently when half the pots have vegetables in them -- I actually want those veggies to be edible! I also updated my Mother's Day post about planting the flowers -- adding tons of pictures. So, you can see the finished product here, and then go back and see lots of pics of the kids planting the pots.
We were so thrilled to go to Ohio a couple weeks ago and meet my new niece and nephew. Here is the only picture I got of the whole week! Lots of cousins, with my sister.
Jun. 20, 2008 - Show and Tell Friday -- Planting A Tree
My Cub Scout Plants A Tree
We are just getting started on the Cub Scout journey. Jonathan officially became a wolf on June 1st; but he participated with his new den for a few activities in May. Here are some pictures of the Arbor Day event. The den planted a tree outside the local public school. Three of the den members are homeschooled, the others all attend this school.
Just a quick note that I am at the homeschool convention in Virginia; having a wonderful mini-vacation with my husband. I will be back to blogging in a few days.
Yep! You guessed it: Our first Spring picnic in Virginia! We joined several other homeschool families (and lots of preschoolers too!) at a local gem of a park about 30 minutes to the South, with a nice play area and a stream and open fields. We spent the day meeting new folks ( we didn't know many people in the group we were joining), playing with new friends, (Clara especially enjoyed her time with another girl her age...), eating, and poking sticks in the stream. I am hoping to find some rain boots so we can walk in the stream when we go back. I was told yesterday by a reliable source that the stream has leeches, so I wasn't too keen on letting the kids in with that knowledge. If you enjoyed my Show and Tell post; check out the other posts at Canada Girl's Blog.
We had a wonderful celebration of Christ's resurrection this Sunday, beginning with our Last Suppr Celebration, and culminating in a celebration feast of Barbeque Ribs, Corn on the Cob, Corn Pones, Salad, Potatoes and Carrots after an excellent Sunday celebration at our church. Here is our newest family photo:
And here are a few more photos for grandparents, aunts and uncles to enjoy:
This Weekend's Big Family Project
Remember how last weekend, we painted the sunroom? Well, this weekend we painted our kitchen and dining area. It is on the same paint strip as the dark brown we used on the sunroom; and it is actually darker then it looks in this picture. Now all we have to do is get Blinds for this set of windows and those in the sunroom. I am thinking about getting blinds like these. I like the 2" slats, but we cannot afford the real wood version. That window is 60" across! What do you think? This weekend, my oldest daughter got to help paint instead of helping babysit! She was very diligent and did a great job. We are so glad to have children who are such a big help!
Mar. 14, 2008 - Celebrating Life - This is my Party Post!
Celebrating Life!
Welcome to My Blog! This is my Party Post! I decided to jump in at the last minute after a terribly busy week. I am Amy B, also known as ltjewel. I am a stay-at-home Mama to four; and we have had two birthdays this week! So, we really have been partying here.
What is a party? That has been my pondering for the past few days. I have been having the Great Birthday Party Debate. To host a "friends" party for my son's seventh birthday or not? I could not, and have not decided. On the one hand, he loves attending the birthday parties of his friends. He has a lot of fun picking out a gift for them, attending the party, and coming home with a loot bag. On the other hand, I want a celebration focused on the person and the family, not on the gifts and gets. How to balance the two? What exactly is a party?
A Party is... A Celebration of Life! Whatever we are living, whatever we are experiencing right now; can be celebrated in party form. A party doesn't need gifts, food, or decorations -- a party needs people ready to celebrate! Sometimes a party is small, celebrating an intimate family event like when your child loses her first tooth and you have a little celebration. Sometimes, a party is huge -- like graduation. But always, a party is about LIFE.
That idea makes me think of this from God's Word: John 1:1-4
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men." We are starting our Celebration of Christ's Life this week as we get ready for Easter and start our Beyond The Tomb study. It seems we really are in party mode over here!
While you are here, be sure to sign up for my Blog Party Giveaway! Leave a comment on at least *two* posts and mention the Ultimate Blog Party, and you will be entered automatically! I will be drawing a name on March 18th. I will be giving away something really cool -- Five PaperbackSwap credits by gift certificate! You will have to join PSB for free to use your credits, but you can use them and get five free books! You can read all about PaperbackSwap here.
I hope you will check out my new Meme about Mothering! I would love to have some people join me. I want to encourage us Moms to really LOVE what we do. Sometimes life as a Mom gets really, really discouraging. Especially on Mondays. So what better time for a pick-me-up?
I thought I would share a few pictures from our Birthday celebration last night. My oldest son turned seven years old. He started out the day by picking breakfast -- race car waffles by Eggo. He also picked lunch, Bacon sandwhiches, and supper -- eating out at Famous Dave's. We don't always eat out on birthdays, but Thursday night is our normal eating out night, so we let him choose. He got out of all chores for the day, didn't have to do school, and got to use the It's Your Special Day plate all day. Finally, we wrapped up our celebration with presents and a Jet Fighter cake on Star Wars plates. I believe it was a good day. Happy Birthday precious boy!
Did you notice I left off the d??? I didn't notice, not a single member of my family present at the party noticed, but my sister sure did notice when she saw my blog. Got a good laugh out of that one!!!
The bottom line is; We try not to insist on parent-led learning or gravitate toward child-led learning. We try instead to focus on God-led learning and ask for His input and perspective on every aspect of our home school. That way, when others fuss about what Dan and I are doing and make me second guess our decisions -- I can go back to our decision process and find God's fingerprints, reminding me that this is His way.
Joshua
Peter
together in the regular nursery (Joshua on the Right)
. Anyway, we are headed out today for a two week vacation visiting relatives in Indiana and Ohio. The trip promises to be fun, although I am sure I will be missing my husband.
Three of the den members are homeschooled, the others all attend this school.
This weekend, my oldest daughter got to help paint instead of helping babysit! She was very diligent and did a great job. We are so glad to have children who are such a big help! 
