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.

Teaching Tuesday - Week 7

Things shifted a little bit this week and it was kind of interesting to see.

1) Josh discovered that he loves to do his school/seat work first thing in the morning.  His words to me were, "I don't love school so if I get my work done first thing, I can play the rest of the day."

2) Nate is not loving school.  His words:  "My arms hurt, my feet hurt, my hand is broken, my pencil doesn't work, my mind keeps thinking on other things. .. " and so on.

3) We finished our first "Life of Fred" book and are waiting on the next one to arrive.  The boys actually miss Fred and his adventures!

So, how does this all impact us at school this week and in the coming weeks?

1) I have no problem with Josh (or Nate) doing their seat work anytime during the day.  This work consists of their basic math pages, their handwriting page and, right now, their phonics worksheets.  I'm available to answer any questions but, thanks to routine, they understand the basics of each of the pages.  This is actually the concept of "workboxes" except without the boxes.  Instead I just have their pages stacked together, ready to be done.   As of right now, we still gather most days at the table around 1:00 to do our Life of Fred work, Science and Social Studies readings and to review their AWANA verses.

2) Nate is only four.  I started him with the K-5 material because he and Josh like to do the same stuff.  Last year when he did basic pre-school stuff he gave me the same excuses so, obviously, he just doesn't like doing the work!  I'm not forcing it - especially the handwriting.  I am "making" him do school each day even though he begs not to because I know that he needs to sit down and do something.  With that said, it's ok if he doesn't do everything on every page.  He can do K-5 next year too :-)

3) Because we finished Life of Fred on Monday, the boys had a lighter school load the rest of the week, which is fine.

I keep telling myself I want to add more creative fun activities but, so far, I haven't.  The boys have been playing outside for hours and hours each day.  The weather is perfect - cool but sunny - for outside play and I'd rather them enjoy that right now.  It won't be long and it will be snowy and cold  and they will NEED some fun inside activities, crafts and games to break up the day.  I guess I should plan for THOSE things and be ready.

In science this week we started learning about Ants.  Call me crazy but I'm thinking an ant farm would be something they would enjoy.  They have also been begging for a small fish tank and Glow in the Dark fish.  (yes, they are real).  Both might make some good Christmas Gifts and provide some fun entertainment for the winter HA!

Make It Monday - Birthday Board

I saw an idea several years ago over at Secrets of a Super Mommy for a Birthday Board to celebrate the entire week before a persons birthday.  Now, I love birthdays and really want to make them a fun time for the birthday person so, needless to say, this idea is something I would like to incorporate into our family. 

Here's another example - this one is from How Does She.

Lets keep it real - this project has been on my goal list since January.  I finally got to work on my project list mid-September and now, the start of the first family birthday "week" begins on Thursday and my board is not done!  Instead of beating myself up about it or slapping together something last minute, I'm giving myself the freedom to let this idea grow.  What I have accomplished is the following:

1) I search Pinterest for ideas for what I could use each day as something special; complied my favorites; made a project list.
2) The birthday Pillowcase has been ordered and received - ready to go on the birthday persons pillow at some point during the week.
3) Josh's birthday shirt has been ordered.  (Hopefully it arrives in time . .. I was sure I ordered it with plenty of time but was told it won't ship until Wednesday . . Uuugg!!)
4) This time, I've planned the meals but I've picked Josh's favorite things - Tacos, Hot Dogs, Burgers, plus we'll eat out a few times.

I really want to make the true birthday board really awesome - make it out of wood, and add fun things ot it . . .my new goal is to start with the full thing with Darryl's birthday so the boys can "watch and learn" and then look forward to the whole thing next year for their birthdays!