Teaching Tuesday - Week 8

It's official.  Nate is now a preschooler, not a kindergartner.  After watching him struggle, be frustrated, say he hates school, and then just sob in my arms about not be able to do his work I made the decision to stop pushing him.  He and I talked about it and you should have seen the smile on his face!  He will still do our "Life of Fred" books because he loves those and will also be able to be part of our Zootles and God's World magazine readings because he loves those.  I will then be transitioning him into the Letter of the Week  printables that I purchased last year and used with Josh.  We will then pick back up with K-5 work next year.

Josh was a thinker this past week.  On Monday, none of us were feeling "school" - the boys were super busy playing outside so Josh agreed that doing school on Friday was better.  Well, on Tuesday, he asked if he could do two days worth of work so that he wouldn't have to do school on Friday - since he was so eager, I agreed.  He completed everything and was very happy with himself.  He did ask if he could do the rest of the weeks work too so he could be done but I said no ;-)  There does need to be a balance of building concept upon concept!

We are loving using our AWANA books for Bible.  It is so fun to hear the boys say their verses and be so excited about learning the Bible.  Nate finally has his shirt and he is beyond cute! (He would NOT stand still for me!)

 Josh has stepped up recently and helped wash dishes.  I was surprised by how much he loved it and yes, it probably really is time to give these boys some chores but . . well, sometimes, it is just easier to do it myself HA!

We had a pretty quiet week last week but, I do want to wish a very special little boy a Happy SIXTH! birthday - tomorrow is his birthday and I find it hard to believe that he is growing up so fast!  I love his fun-loving, sarcastic, off the cuff sense of humor.  I love his sweet spirit and the fact that he wants to love and be loved.  I so enjoy his conversations, his quick wit, and his quirks that make him just perfect.

Make It Monday - A twist on a Recipe

Sometimes, when I read a recipe on a blog or on pinterest it registers completely differently than what it really is but that is something I don't notice until I start making it.  That happened recently with a cake recipe I made - a Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake.  It sounded so good and so different until I started making it and realized it was very similar  to a cake I LOVE - My 'famous" turtle cake.  Why change perfection?

Well, recently I came across a recipe for One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese that sounded good.  As I read it I thought that it might be a great substitute for my lack luster Goulash that I make with the twist of some cheese added.  Did you read the title of the recipe?  It has the word "CHILI" in it HA!

As I started to make it for dinner last week, I realized that it was actually chili with the addition of noodles and cheese - not goulash!  This recipe was a great jumping off point and, if you like average "joe" chili, this is an easy and quick recipe to use.  There wasn't anything wrong with it; it just didn't have any depth.

Now, my chili (which I need to make and post the recipe for!) is THE best Chili ever.  Usually when I make it, I also make spaghetti for two reasons.  1) My kids don't like chili but they love spaghetti and 2) My husband loves to put his chili on top of spaghetti.  As he and I were talking about the dinner above we both agreed that this idea would work great with my chili on the second day.  Take some leftover Chili, add some macaroni noodles and some cheese and now, instead of just Chili we would have FABULOUS Chili Mac and Cheese!

That's my twist on a recipe :-) 

Things My Kids Say

* Darryl was making our Sunday night "free for all" dinner (basically, we eat whatever we find HA); Nate said, "Dad's the baker; sometimes the baker sits down and eats with us.".  I later learned that "baker" is actually "waiter" and that on Saturday, Darryl served Nate his snack at their little table in the living room where Nate told him he was the "baker".  It all slowly started to make sense. 

* Last Sunday, Josh sang for 6 hours.  While he played, ate, walked, sat . . he just kept singing a song . .or songs. . .changing words, making up nonsense words.  I may or may not have locked myself in my bedroom to avoid insanity.

Family Fun - My Parents Retire

My parents have been in the ministry for my entire life and then some - about 43 years total.  My dad has been a pastor for that many years with over half of that time spent in their current church.  Well, he finally decided to retire as of September 1st.  This brought on some changes like the fact that my dad no longer has an office at the church.  That was sad for me because I've always had that "place" to go to when stuff was going on at church like weddings, funerals, or dinners.   It kinda makes me sad to think that my kids don't have Papa's office to go to anymore.  Instead his office is now at home - which he probably likes :-) 

He announced his retirement mid August and then, he and my mom went on a much needed vacation for two weeks.  While they were gone a party was planned as a total surprise for them.  It just "so happened" that my oldest brother, Kel, was already scheduled to preach at the church in September so they lined up the surprise with that Sunday to throw them off. 

 My oldest brother, Kel, while he was preaching Sunday morning September 7th. 

 My youngest brother Ken kinda stalling for time while my niece and her friend rolled the cake up the aisle.

 So, do you think they were surprised?  Yep :-)  Totally, 100% surprised and they were both in tears almost instantly.  Best surprise EVER!

 My niece is the little blonde in the front :-)

 Ken sharing some things about my parents and their ministry. 

 It was a packed house - so many people just love them to death!  :-) 

 Then my parents each got a turn to speak.  They really did deserve this recognition after all of their years of ministry :-)

And, as comic relief, the boys discovered the joy of blowing milk bubbles until they overflow the cup.  :-)

Weekly Menu - The one with a birthday!

As I mentioned last week, since we have a birthday to celebrate, that person gets to pick meals for their 7 days of celebration!  That makes my life easier since I don't have to "plan" :-)

Saturday - I'm going to be visiting at a campground with my mother-in-law and (step??) sister-in-laws so I'm going to leave pizza for the boys.  Pizza is a top favorite of Josh's so it will be perfect.

Sunday - Hamburgs on the grill and French Fries.  Josh is a HUGE Hamburg lover so we must have them during his birthday week!

Monday - We are heading out of town for a couple of days to celebrate Josh's birthday and, really, just for a much needed family "vacation".

Tuesday - We'll be out and about today

Wednesday - Dinner tonight will be on our way home and we are planning to meet Papa and Nana too.  It should be fun surprise for the boys!

Thursday - Tonight is our town's annual Fall Festival.  The boys get to put on their Halloween Costumes and go play games and get lots of candy.  Dinner will be simple - probably soup and Sandwiches.

Friday  - Well, my Mother-in-Law has been asking to take the boys for a few days again so I'll be dropping the boys off.  I'm thinking we will grab McDonald's on the way out of town.

What I'm Reading

I've started a new Pinterest board.  I saw the idea on another blog I read and I loved it. The new pinterest board is called:

2014 Books I've Read

I plan on posting links to all of the books I read through the rest of the year right on that little board.  Even the bad ones :-)  

For the first time since since the end of June, I read a book.  I know.  That's crazy but true.  It's posted on my new board because I already finished it.  In one day.  It felt good to just ready one day last week I still have my list of non-fiction books I need want to read but I have a hard time finding that motivation lately.  

I'm also searching for some new books for the boys.  I like to get them each 2-3 books for Christmas and I like them to be books they will want to read over and over.  Last years books were pretty successful and I'm hoping to find books as good this year!  

What we are eating - Amish Chicken

Amish Chicken
adapted from Growing Up Gabel

  This was a simple but delicious chicken dinner.  We are not huge chicken fans in this house (we would always pick pork or beef over chicken) so when I find a chicken recipe that makes my husband say, "This is the best chicken I've ever tasted" AND I agree with him - it's a keeper!  I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts that I cut in half (has anyone else noticed how thick some of those chicken breasts are???).  The meat was moist and so flavorful!  

Ingredients

• ½ cup flour
• ½ Tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 3 pounds chicken thighs

Instructions

1. Grease a jelly roll pan or other baking dish.
2. In a medium bowl combine flour and spices. Whisk well.
3. Dredge chicken in flour mixture and then place in baking dish, skin side down.
4. Bake at 375 degrees for 45-60 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Flip chicken once, half-way through cooking.