A friend made these cookies at our ladies tea last night and cut them out with tiny Christmas cookie cutters and decorated with icing and sprinkles, they were adorable and delicious! I can't wait to try them with the boys.

The original recipe is for Santa's Whiskers cookies but she simply used the dough from that recipe to make her own cut out cookies to decorate.

Best of all, the raw dough is safe to eat because they have no Egg! My chunky monkey can eat them and the boys can eat the raw dough! (the best part)

 Easy kid-friendly recipe for slice & bake refrigerator cookies.

1 1/4 cups butter, softened (2 1/2 sticks)
1 cup sugar
4 teaspoons milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour

 In a large mixing bowl, preferably with an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add milk and vanilla, beat again and scrape bowl. With mixer on low speed, add flour one cup at a time and beat after each addition. Shape into logs approximately 2" in diameter. Roll the logs in parchment paper or plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silpat liner and give them a light spray with vegetable shortening. Unwrap logs and slice into 1/4" thick slices or roll out to cut out shapes. Place cookies on prepared cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes or until very light brown and the sides are slightly firm.

Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before transferring cookies to a wire rack. Cool completely before storing in air tight containers.

 We are sharing and discussing Christmas Cookies at The Forum on The Homeschool Lounge... come join us!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  In our home, Thanksgiving is about getting to spend time with our family -- either immediate or extended.  All of the trappings of other holidays are set aside for Thanksgiving.  There is no emphasis put on gift giving/receiving so we aren't going broke and aren't feeding the greed machine that Christmas and birthdays can easily feed.  It's in the Fall (my favorite time of year).  Here in Texas the weather is usually gorgeous.  You might want to wear long sleeves but a jacket is usually not absolutely necessary.  The young ones (and old ones if they want) can play outside without freezing or sweating.  It's just a good holiday at a good time of year.  I love it!

We have entered into a phase of our lives that makes celebrating Thanksgiving as a family challenging.  We have a son and daughter in-law that live on the west coast, a son going to school on the east coast and we are in the middle.  We have not been completely together (our immediate family) in a few years.  Last year, we were missing both of those on either coast.  It really saddens me that we no longer have the flexibility to get together like we used to.  

This year, the son on the east coast is driving in to spend Thanksgiving with us. There will be one other event added just before Thanksgiving.  I will be spending 3 or 4 days with my sister while she recovers from surgery.  So, with my east coast son and myself coming home the day before Thanksgiving, I decided I needed to get organized.

Some year, in the recent past, I wrote down a menu and a list of what I needed to do to prepare the Thanksgiving meal.  I have hung on to this list and referred to it ever since.  For a meal that is basically the same every year, it seems smart to not "reinvent the wheel" every time it rolls around.  So, I'm going to put my plan on my blog so I can refer to it even if I'm not at home.  I plan to include recipes where they are needed.

Our family has a feud every year over which Sweet Potato Casserole to make.  Danny and I like the one we picked up when we were living in Mississippi (brown suger/pecan topping), the boys like the one Danny and I both grew up with (marshmallow topping).  They are both good but since there are more boys around here than the 2 of us, we'll probably do the marshmallow topping again this year.

The Menu:

Tony Chachere's Creole Butter Turkey
Mema's Cornbread Dressing
Mom's Homemade Yeast Rolls
Janet's Sweet Potato Casserole
Emeril's Scalloped Potato
James' Favorite Green Bean Casserole
Susie's Shoe Peg Corn Salad
Cranberry Salad
Iced Tea
Chocolate Pie
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie

The Shopping List:

turkey
corn meal
eggs
milk
refrigerator (canned) biscuits
flour
margarine
sweet potatoes
brown sugar
chopped pecans
green beans
cream of chicken soup
french fried onion topping
shoe peg corn
fritos
red/green/yellow pepper
jalapeno peppers
purple onion
sharp cheddar cheese
miracle whip
sugar
cranberries
vegetable shortening
unsweetened chocolate squares
apples
cinnamon
pumpkin (fresh or canned)
evaporated milk
tea bags
ice (preferably from Sonic)



The Plan:

Monday:

Go to the grocery store
Thaw turkey if it is frozen
Clean out refrigerator -- we'll need the space on Wednesday.

Tuesday:

Cook pumpkin (this year mine is already frozen and ready to go)
Cook sweet potato

Wednesday:

Bake cornbread (2 pans)

Prepare Mema's Homemade Crust

 Triple the recipe  -- Cook 2 pie crust shells for chocolate pie
                             Prepare 3 for pumpkin pie
                             Prepare 1 for pecan pie
                             Prepare bottom and top crust for Apple pie
                             Save scraps for the kids to make crust cookies
 

Prepare Betty Crocker's chocolate pies (at least 2) refrigerate after cooling
Prepare pumpkin pies (at least 3)
Prepare apple pie (just 1)
Put together casseroles (sweet potato and scalloped potato) refrigerate
Make cranberry salad -- refrigerate
Cut veges for shoe peg corn salad
Make Tea

Thursday:

Start Turkey
Start rolls - this should be done at least 3.5 hours before eating time.
Set table
Prepare coffee so it can be turned on when needed
Put dressing ingredients together -- begin cooking about 1.5 hours before eating time
Prepare green bean casserole -- begin cooking about 1 hour before eating time
Prepare shoe peg corn salad -- refrigerate -- don't add fritos until just before serving
Turkey should be done
Bake rolls
Carve Turkey
Turn on Coffee

The boys birthdays are always extra special for me. Yep I said me, probably more so then for the birthday boy. It's a day I spend reflecting on the day of their birth, my pregnancy with them and how they are growing. Am I making each day count, am I taking every opportunity to show them how far and wide the love I have for them flows.

 Do I take the small moments to create lasting memories. Birthdays are always joyful with a tinge of sadness; they are growing up too fast. My time with them feels like sand slipping through my hands, it runs out fast.

Today is Ashton's 5th Birthday, he is my tiniest boy weighing 5 lbs less than his younger Brother Noah (2). He is my feistiest and funniest of the 4. He is precious in every way if I do say so myself! :-)

We had an early Birthday party on Sunday so that Troy could celebrate with us. Today we had our Birthday breakfast with Ashton's favorite... cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa! :-)
Find more photos like this on The Homeschool Lounge

To kick off the launch of the Homeschool Toolbar Blog a pretty nifty giveaway is underway!

 http://homeschooltoolbar.blogspot.com/

Discovery Channels Planet Earth! An $80 Value

 

 

 

 

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Award-winning actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver narrates this 11-part series. You'll be amazed by never-before-seen animal behaviors, startling views of locations captured by cameras for the first time and unprecedented high-definition production techniques.

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Entering this giveaway is super easy, visit the NEW Homeschool Toolbar Blog and enter to win!

School has been going on for 4 weeks now.  Everything is running smoothly and we are very busy.  One thing that really helps is the menu.  I've done this off and on over the years and every time I get back to it I wonder why I ever let it slide. 

I make a 4 week menu that we repeat every month.  This allows me to have one less thing to think about.  I make my grocery list from the menu each week and cook from it as well.  This also eliminates the need of pricey convenience foods for the quick lunches we so desperately need.  There are usually leftovers that we eat at lunch.  By the end of the week, there is usually a selection of leftovers that keeps everyone in the house happy.

There are some recipes that I cook in bulk and freeze so I just have to make the mess and take the time to prepare occasionally.  These are mainly the recipes that call for hamburger meat.  I will also freeze beans.  I buy the 10 lb tube of ground chuck for these meals.  One week, the "tube of meat" made 5 meatloaves.  Another week it made 4 recipes of chili.  I  made 3 recipes of taco meat out of one of the "tubes of meat".  One "tube of meat" was browned and frozen in 1 lb portions to be used with spaghetti, casseroles or whatever else I might want browned ground meat for.  I used a chuck roast to make a large batch of beef stew (I froze half).

Here is the menu as it stands now.  There are only a few meals that we eat more than once in the month.  There are occasional nights out that we either eat at a restaurant or at someone's home.
 

If you have not yet joined a Swap on The Homeschool Lounge Swap Shop, you really must! It was great fun! A HUGE thank you to my Secret Sisters for all of the sweet goodies they sent me! Elaine .... the sweet angel who took on this HUGE swap (over 75 moms) with Char (thanks ladies) sent me the most beautiful chrysanthemum... Thank you so much Elaine, I treasure you!

It is now in our front yard next to our scarecrow man. :-) A shot from the back...

I was also blessed with a lovely gift from my Secret Sister (I still do not know who she is???) Thank you my secret sister for the matching Apple orchard coupon book, recipe cards,bookmark, air freshener, menu planner, magnet, coasters and chocolates!! Thank you so much...what a treat!

Lastly, my other Secret Sister and friend in real life "Tasha" (we have been great friends for over 12 years) We worked together at The Disney Store then at The Children's Place and now we homeschool our blessings together.  She sent me another amazing package.... fall mug, fall towel, fig and blueberry fig preserves, bath gel, a beautiful fall ceramic plaque and figurine and Hershey kisses (the boys thank you for those) .

Thank you ladies... you blessed my socks off!

Thank you to all who participated and made the Autumn Swap such a great success! Thank you to Elaine and Char for your hard work and sacrifice, I know this was not an easy task! :-)

We are about to start school for the year.  One of the most important things I have to do (for my sanity) is to get schedules ready for the kids and myself.  I think I have come up with something workable.  There doesn't seem too be too much free time but who said life would be leisurely?  I will post them here for 2 reasons:  someone might be interested to see what we do at or house and if they ever get lost around here, I'll know where I can find them.

This will be the last post in the fun "Not - Back to School Blog Hop" hosted by Darcy. Its been fun Darcy, Thank You!!! This week we are to share a "Day In The Life" post. I am going to cheat and share the day in the life page from my power point hand out from the Heart Of The Matter conference.




If you are interested in tips, suggestions or help for working from home you can view the power point hand out in its entirety HERE.


 Reminder : Only 8 more days to enter The Homeschool Open House on THL! All you have to do is share your homeschool plans for the coming year and enter to win in our drawing of over $5000 in prizes!

It is that time again.  I'm finding it a little difficult to settle down and get myself ready.  With one son living in CA and another going to school in FL, I find myself more distracted than I did when they were all little and under one roof.  This year I will have 4 students.  My youngest is 6 so he will be considered a full-fledged home schooler.  I will also be teaching son #3 for his last year at home.  The other two are 13 and 8. 

This year we will participate in a Charlotte Mason co-op.  This is our 4th year to participate.  It has been a blessing in many ways.  We study Latin, Shakespeare, Art, Nature and Great Literature.  The younger 2 boys have not been old enough to participate until this year.  We are adding classes for the little brothers/sisters of the older kids as well as grandkids of some of the moms already involved.  The little kids will be studying Latin, Shakespeare, Drawing, Art/Crafts, Nature, Violin and Art Appreciation.  All of this will be done in short segments (Charlotte Mason style) so the little kids will be done in about 2.5 hours.  The older kids will be in class for 4.5 hours. 

I will be teaching a String Orchestra again this year.  This is our 4th year for this as well.  Last year, there were about 30 students involved.  I'm not sure of the final count yet this year.  There will be 3 groups meeting at 12:00 (1st year), 1:30 (2nd year) and 3:00 (3rd year and above).   I do  know that there will be 3 bass players in the 1st year group.  That's a lot of big deep instruments.  So far, there is 1 cello and 3 violins.  The other two groups should remain pretty much the same.

Other things we're going to be doing this year?  Andrew and Timothy will continue their instrument making (Luthier) lessons.  Andrew finished his mandolin and Timothy finished his violin.  Andrew has already started work on a 5 string viola.  Timothy has been learning how to rehair bows (we've had several around here for him to practice on).  He hopes to make a cello but will probably work on another violin.

Benjamin and Jonathan are working on learning the piano and will be learning violin in the co-op.  Benjamin still needs work on his reading skills.  Jonathan wants to learn about inventors.  We'll probably start off the year with a study of Benjamin Franklin.  Then, if the interest is still high, we'll study Thomas Edison. 

Timothy needs to officially start his high school career this year.  He's done a few high school level classes but this year, it's for real.  He'll be doing Alg 1, Biology, English (Gray book from LLATL), History/Geography of the Bible and the stuff from co-op.  He will be learning the bass (one of the 3) in the 1st year orchestra, playing viola in the 2nd year orchestra and cello in the 3rd year orchestra.  

Andrew is the one finishing his high school career this year.  He is going to finish the Writing Strands series, Apologia's Physics, Notgrass Government, work on clepping out of some college classes, take his SAT and do the stuff from co-op.  He will also be in the orchestra.  He's going to learn violin with the 1st year group, bass with the 2nd year group and viola with the 3rd year. 

So, what am I going to do this year?  Other than facilitate all of this activity, I will be teaching Bible class twice a week (early elementary), I have a "how to teach Bible class" session planned in a nearby town in September, teach private violin lessons, and attempt to keep my house in some sort of order. 

Now that I've written it all down, maybe I'll have the strength and courage to get it going.  Our official start date for co-op is Sept 1, for orchestra is Sept 14 and for school is probably going to be Aug 31.  Where did the summer go?

This week Darcy has asked everyone to share their Youngins! I'm going to share some great pics that my friend and fellow blogger / homeschool mom Tracy took of the boys. (Thank you Tracy)