April Preschool

This week was a pretty standard week - probably one of the first weeks like this we've had in well over a month.  It went well because I was prepared and that is the key!

On Monday we FINALLY started lesson "D". I feel like we have been really dragging our feet on getting through lessons so I'm starting to push a little harder.  Josh is more than capable of completing the lessons and Nate, well, he does some but really, he doesn't start preschool until next fall at the earliest so if he walks away to play, that is ok.

 The boys both worked hard on their lessons today.  Don't you love the "war paint" on the face?  Keeping it real - they colored each others faces while I was in the shower. Oops :-)  At least it was washable marker!

 Our Bible story today was about God creating Adam and Eve so, after reading our story, we used play dough to make people.  My kids love play dough so they had lots of fun!

 I found What to Expect through Pinterest and it had a great link for some inside games.  We played bulls eye and the boys had a blast.  They had to roll the ball and try to get it into the middle square.  We noticed that Nate seems to have a natural ability when it comes to athletics . .. he hit the middle box on one of his first tries.  It took Josh and I about 20 HA!

 In the afternoon, we work on a theme study and right now we are studying plants and flowers.  This was a fun little craft I found over at 1st grade fantabulous.  The boys had a lot of fun creating these as we reviewed the (simple) parts of the plant.

 Through Pinterest, I found this great link to be able to pick up this diagram of the parts of the plant for FREE.  It was a great visual to use with our plant craft.

Tuesday was another great day - we really are enjoying our new schedule.

 Working on our daily lessons (Rising Rock Stars Preschool) - from 1+1+1=1.  Also, we do flashcards every day - today Josh was showing Nate the flashcards and making him do them.  He loves to be the teacher and usually tells Nate the answer first :-)

 Here, Josh is explaining a worksheet to Nate - I think this is about the time Nate got up and went into the other room to play (hehehe)

To continue on with our plant theme, today we planted grass seed.  Even though I've seen this idea years ago, I found it over at Mamaha and that the idea of "Plant Pals" was very cute.

 The finished plants.  These are now sitting in our window sill and I will post photos if when the grass grows.

Our PE time today was . .. Gymnastics!  Yes!  Today was the boys first lesson - aren't they the cutest gymnasts every???  We couldn't go in and watch them yet but I look forward to week 4 of class when the parents get to watch.  The funny part is that through the week Josh would say things that we had never heard - he told Darryl how he needed to breath when he was out of breath from chasing the boys and he even made Darryl do exercises with him one evening.  He is a SPONGE and picks up every single thing he sees.

Wednesday was another fun day - with a field trip included :-)

 One of our lessons today was cutting out our verse.  The boys love to use scissors . . .. you can see that we have two different levels of cutting right now by the photo below HA!  Nate is still working on that skill ;-)

Our field trip was to an awesome little Children's Museum in the next town over.  It is totally free but has so much awesome stuff including the cock-pit of a real airplane that the boys can fly.  There is a video that simulates flying over the city - the boys loved it.  We will go back without a doubt!

On Thursday, we finished up our "Lesson D", went out to lunch and the grocery store.  That kept us plenty busy.

Finally, on Friday, I did have lessons planned but, I needed to make food for a birthday party on Saturday, pack us all for the weekend (and the boys for a longer stay at Papa and Nana's) and do a pick up around the house so, instead, the boys helped me clean (their choice) and they helped me make some of the food.  In the afternoon they colored pictures for Papa's birthday.  Oh, and did this:

What is this?  They went "camping" and set up their bed in the kitchen on the floor.  These crazy kids HA!

We really had a great week.  I know I said I would share some of my new organizational ideas this week but then I remembered that the boys would be gone next week so I would need something for our Preschool post :-)  Next week I'll share all of that fun, behind the scenes, stuff :-)

April Pinterest Goals

So, instead of picking new ideas this month, I'm going back through the previous "Too Cute" and Pinterest Goals and picking out the things I have not completed that I still want to get done. 

This project is the only one left from February's Too Cute post.  The others I either completed or decided I didn't want to do after all. 

I have three ideas from March that I want to finish up.  Now, there are a couple of others on there that are in the works, and WILL get done soon which is why they aren't on this list. 

Now, on to the Pinterest List

And that is only from March YIKES!  I actually have the supplies for three of the items above; I just need to do them :-)

The good news is that my February list was basically done.  I'm still working on organizing the car but I haven't found the perfect solution for me :-) 

Hopefully I can wrap up these last few ideas and pick out some new ones in May :-)

Food Friday - Maple Glazed Ham

Maple Glazed Ham 
adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

I knew I wanted to make a ham for Easter so I went searching for a different recipe.  I've made it in the crock pot before but was 100% happy with how it turned out.  This recipe was sooooo good.  I did make some changes to it which I'll share at the end of this post. 

Note: this recipe calls for a large oven bag.

Ingredients

• 1 (7- to 10-pound) spiral, sliced ham
• 1 (12-ounce) jar apple jelly
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 3 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
• 1 cinnamon stick, broken into rough pieces
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

Directions

1. Remove ham from the original packaging and throw away the glaze packet and the plastic disk that covers the bone. Place the ham in the large oven bag and tie closed. Cut four slits (about 2 inches each) in the top of the bag. Transfer the bagged ham to a roasting pan and let it sit at room temperature for about 1 1/2 hours.
2. Heat the oven to 300 degrees and bake the ham for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours (until the internal temperature of the ham is about 110 degrees). About an hour into baking, start making the glaze by combining the jelly, 1/2 cup brown sugar, maple syrup, whole-grain mustard, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat to low, simmering, until the mixture is very thick and syrupy, about 45 minutes. Stir often while it simmers (it should reduce to about 1/3 cup). Off the heat, whisk in the butter.
3. Combine the remaining brown sugar and dry mustard together in a small bowl. Remove the ham from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes. While it rests, increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees. Carefully cut open the oven bag and let it fall to the bottom of the ham so the entire ham is exposed. Using a pastry brush, paint the glaze onto the top and sides of the ham. Carefully press the sugar mixture onto the outside of the ham with your hands. Return the ham to the oven and bake until it is dark brown and caramelized, 14-16 minutes.
4. Let the ham sit for 15 minutes before carving.

So, here is what I did differently: 
1) I did not read that I should put it in the oven bag and let it sit for a few hours so I just pulled it out of the fridge and let it sit on the counter in it's packaging.  

2) I could not find Apple Jelly so I just used some of my homemade peach syrup and it worked fine.  I think you could chose any sweet Jelly/Jam and it would work. 

3) I did not want to buy whole-grain mustard so I just used dijon that I had on hand. 

4) Again, I did not want to buy cinnamon sticks so I just added about 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to the mixture. 

5)  Finally - that 2 tablespoons of butter?  I have no idea why it is listed and can't find it anywhere in the instructions, can you?? 

It really was supper yummy and I will use this recipe again!
 

Weekly Menu

We stuck pretty close to our plan last week - granted, it was an "easy" week.  We did not eat out on Saturday though, and, when I made the soup and salad on Saturday to eat on Sunday, well it tasted and smelled so good that we ate it on Saturday night instead :-)  Then on Sunday, I just made Pancakes and Sausage after church and we had leftover soup and rolls for dinner.  Also, instead of making the hashbrown casserole to go with the pork chops, I had a half block of Velvetta left from making the soup so I made "homemade" Mac and Cheese and served it with Applesauce.

We have another busy week coming up - April always seems busy, I think because it is starting to feel like spring so we do more things instead of sticking around home.

Thursday - It is grocery store day and I really hate cooking after going to the store.  So, to keep it easy, We will have Spaghetti and Garlic Bread.

Friday - Darryl has the weekend off so we like to have an at home date.  The kids will have . .. something they love (Spaghetti again?  They LOVE it!) and we'll order in.

Saturday  and Sunday - We'll be celebrating my Dad's 70th birthday with the family so we'll be eating with them.  A big Steak cookout is planned for Saturday and I'm not sure what we are doing on Sunday - I'm sure my mom will plan dinner.  I'm going to taking food for the cookout.  I plan on making that Marinated Cherry Tomato Salad (I'll have to take a photo so I can post it - a great summer salad!), Baked Beans (I think), and maybe that Lime Jell-O Salad.

Monday - I'm enjoying one last "kidless" break before I start babysitting again so my kids are staying with my parents for a few days.  Tonight my husband is going to bring up some Popeye's Chicken for us - he has been telling me about it forever but the only location is in . . .well, not a nice area.  I'll have mashed potatoes, gravy on hand and I think he is also going to bring home some coleslaw.

Tuesday  - The last time the kids were gone, we were going to grill steaks but, well, it was snowing.  Let's try again!  Tonight we'll grill steaks, and have sweet potatoes and garlic bread.  OH, and I get to scrapbook all day (which is part of the reason the kids are staying at my parents!) I'm so excited - Barb feeds us so well doing the day :-)

Wednesday - We are going out to dinner :-)  We always have to do that at least once when the kids are gone :-)

Thursday - I usually save Thursday for the next week's post but, we are picking the kids up today and I won't be shopping until Friday - I'm sure we will just get Taco Bell or McDonald's for dinner today :-)

I'm not really planning to do any baking this week since we'll be gone and kidless.  If we get a treat, we like to run up to McDonald's for Frappe's or order Milkshakes to go from Big Boy.  :-)

I think I might actually have to start cooking again next week . . .things slow down a little until June :-)

April Too Cute Goals

You can check out March Goals HERE

Here are the things I'm hoping to get made this coming month!

I really love this idea and think it would look awesome hanging on a wall.  I'm not 100% sure where I am going to hang it - thinking it needs to go on our family photo wall.

We have a vacation planned in June so I really want to get this seltbelt pillows made for the boys.  They really are pretty easy so it shouldn't take long.

Library Bags!  This will be a great Art Project this month!

This is something I want to experiment with this month - I even have a photo all picked out to use too!

Love this wreath and want to make it to put up by the end of May for the summer :-)

One of my April Goals is to make one thing for our Birthday "Board" - this won't be on the board but it is a great banner that I want to have to use for all birthdays!

 Another easy thing to make so I can use it for quick things to iron for crafting.

I love these and want at least one for the playroom :-)


That's all for this month (which is more than enough!)

Too Cute Not To Toot

Most likely you have heard me mention that we love the beach and that I want to eventually do a beach cottage feel in our living room.  Needless to say, when I saw this idea from Fabulous Homeblog for artwork using sand from your favorite beach.  I will be doing this when we go to the beach this summer!

Staying with the beach theme - I'm always on the lookout for a good bathing suit wrap for wearing to the beach - but, even more so for wearing in a hotel from the room to the pool.  I like this tutorial and might actually try it to see if it works.  Check it out at brit co.

I have done a quilt and feel pretty confident that I could complete this project - a quilted bathmat. I love this idea from The Girl who Quilts.

This idea from Spinning our Webb - One day at a time is a fantastic storage idea.  My kids straw cups and water bottles take up HUGE storage space in my cabinets.  So, now I'm trying to think of a perfect place to use this idea since I have no doors in my kitchen . . .

I love this idea from Adventures in Crafting for making your own card holder.  I would love to have something like this sitting OUT on my desk so I can quickly grab a card that I need and get it in the mail.

Happy Crafting!