School

This is the time of year that my kids and I both fight the "end of they year" shut down.  We all know that there is work to do but none of us really love doing it!

I always have a goal to be done by May 15th.  I do this for multiple reasons.  One, it gives us 4 weeks before Connections is actually done so if we have a project to finish or a lesson to do, we have plenty of time to do it.  Two, by May 15th the weather is nice and no one likes to do school once the weather is nice.  Three, if we are going to homeschool, we want to benefit from being able to be done before regular school is done!

The boys each have projects to finish.  Josh has a Social Studies project, a Michigan History Project, a Science Project and a paper to write.  (Honestly, I'd like to skip the paper - but we won't)  Nate has 5 reading journals to do, a paper to write, and a Michigan History project.  (The Reading Journals are my nemesis - total 100% busy work that are worthless but, again, we will do them and that paper, I'd throw it in the garbage too HA!) Plus they have lessons to still complete. 

Next week we have testing 4 days in a row where we have to travel to Grand Rapids to waste time and money (on gas!)  I'm not a fan of state testing so it kind of irks me that we have to do it but, again, it's required so we do it. 

So, the boys know that next week, in the afternoons, we are hoping to focus on projects and wrap them up since doing regular lessons won't happen due to testing.  Then we will hit lessons hard to wrap things up!

The boys are both asking to not do Connections Academy next year - they have said they are tired of doing everything on the computer and, honestly, so am I.  BUT, I still haven't made a decision.  I'm looking at a couple different curriculum options and then will show them to my husband and see what he thinks.  I know that he likes Connections because they track and grade things so he knows they are right on track.  So we will see!

Family Favorites - Chicken Enchilada Casserole

This recipe goes way back!  I used to go to dinner at a friends house every Wednesday night years ago while at my first teaching job.  This was often on the table and was a true favorite.  Needless to say, I brought this recipe with me when I moved away and got married.  It remained a staple in our house for years but at some point got pushed to the back of the file and, when I changed recipe files, I never printed it and added to my new system.  Well, I was looking through my old recipe file the other day I came across this one and tried it again.  It was as tasty as I remembered and brought back that "old casserole" feeling. 

I did cut this recipe in half for our family and it turned out perfectly fine.  Even with cutting it in half, I still used almost the whole can of enchilada sauce just because we like it :-)  I also do not put green pepper in it just because it is not my favorite flavor. 

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Cheri Maiuri

10 corn tortillas

1 can chicken broth

6 cups bite size pieces of cooked chicken or turkey

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped green pepper                      1 can enchilada sauce

1 teaspoon garlic salt                               1 can black olives, chopped

Chili powder to taste                               ¾ cup taco chips, crushed

1 can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

1 can cream of chicken soup, undiluted

8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter a 9x13 baking dish.  Reserve ½ cur chicken broth.  Cut tortillas into 1” strips; dip into remaining broth to moisten.  Layer in dish, half each of the tortillas, chicken pieces, onion and green peppers.  Repeat layers.  Sprinkle with garlic salt and chili powder.  In bowl, stir soups together until blended.  Spoon over contents in dish.  Sprinkle with cheese, spoon on enchilada sauce.  Pour reserved ½ cup chicken broth over all.  Top with black olives and taco chips.  Bake 30-40 minutes.

Easter Weekend

We had a wonderful, fun, relaxing Easter Weekend. 

On Friday my mom arrived mid-afternoon which gave me a chance to run out and do some errands and the laundry!  We then attended the Good Friday Service at our church. 

Saturday Nate and I headed out for some Easter Egg Hunts.

 Our first stop was First Baptist Church in Lowell.  They always start with a short Easter service for the kids with songs and a telling of the Easter Story.  Then we head outside to hunt eggs. 

 Our second stop was at the local Ball Fields.  The kids cleaned up the field pretty quickly! 

 Nate with all of  his "loot".  You might notice I'm missing a kid.  Well, Josh decided on Saturday morning he didn't really feel like going on egg hunts.  Apparently they are "boring" now.  He stayed home with Nana.  

 After dinner we decorated Easter Eggs. 

Sunday started with church.  It was a great Easter Service with a great message and lots of music! 

 The boys with their Easter Baskets. 

 Such handsome young men!  So, total mom fail on Easter - I picked up the boys Easter clothes a month ago.  Nate tried his stuff on but Josh just never did.  I left early on Easter morning to get to choir practice.  When the family arrived, Josh had on his nice new shirt and a pair of his jogging pants.  Why?  Both pairs of shorts were too small!  Oops!  Next time I guess he had better try stuff on! 

 My crazy boys acting like rabbits. 

 Lunch is served! 

 Getting ready for the Easter Egg Hunt

 All the boys!  

Searching for the eggs. 

Go through their loot!  

I made an amazing purchase on Amazon this year.  I bought eggs already filled with little trinkets.  For real.  I didn't have to stuff them, I didn't have to snap them together (ok a few of them had come lose but most had not).  There were fun little toys like a tiny Rubik cube, a slinky, and a maze.  It made my life so much easier this year!! 

Sunday Worship - You Saved the Day

This is one of my all time favorite Easter Songs.  Such a powerful set of words!

Our Week in Photos #15

Finally!  I feel like between lack of photos and lack of time on Friday evening I haven't been able to get this post up the last few weeks!  So, here's a look back!

 This was actually over a week ago.  We had been out running errands; when we got home I told the boys they didn't have to do regular school work IF they played a board game together.  They happily agreed and played "No Stress Chess" . . .for well over an hour.  Yes, the never ending chess game! 

 This guy is fitting right in!  Dash is a great addition to our family. 

This happened on Sunday.  Yep.  A Snow storm.  We ended up with a good 3-4 very wet inches of snow by the time it was done. 

 

We FINALLY made it to a field trip with our online school.  It was the annual bowling trip in April.  Josh's teacher showed up as a surprise because she LOVES him.  He is her favorite (she tells me that all the time).  She's had a tough year and told us that if it wasn't for Josh, she wouldn't have made it through the year - he brings her joy every time she talks to him.  That's pretty special.  

 Dash has finally warmed up to Darryl.  As with any rescue dog, you don't always know their backgrounds.  We have figured out that Dash had someone in his life - an adult male most likely - that wasn't nice to him so he is a little standoffish with men (and adults in general).  He adores the kids - all kids.  Darryl was super patient with Dash, treated him with kindness, and now, he loves sitting with him.  

On Wednesday both boys had to see the dentist to have a baby tooth pulled that was refusing to fall out.  

Friday night we attended our Good Friday service.  My mom is also here for the weekend!  I'm looking forward to the holiday weekend.  Next week we are looking at mostly school :-)  

Good Friday

Today we observe Good Friday.  It's the day we remember what Jesus did for us.  It wasn't the end of the story though.  

When I was looking for a verse to share, I found this "schedule" and found it slightly thought provoking.  We can easily get lost in the hours and minutes of the day but maybe taking a moment to think through what Jesus went through on Crucifixion day is something we should do - it's sobering. 

Weekly Menu - a Day Early

Welcome to another week of menu planning!!!  Nothing super exciting just trying to remember to plan :-)

Friday - Tacos.  We have a Good Friday Service to attend so I want dinner quick and easy

Saturday - My mom will be here and she likes to treat us so I think we are going out for Chicken Dinner (aka as KFC!)

Sunday - Easter!  Ham, Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans, Jello Salad, Coleslaw and Crescent Rolls. 

Monday - Ham and Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans, and Salad

Tuesday - Cheesy Broccoli Soup and Leftover Ham, Crescents, Salad

Wednesday - BBQ Cups and Fries

Thursday - Grammy's Swiss Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Corn and Salad

And a Recap from last week:

Friday - Eat out - and that's just what Darryl and I did :-)

Saturday - Dinner at my mom's - and that's what we did!

Sunday - At my mom's - well, we had to come home Saturday night due to the weather forecast BUT there was enough dinner left over from Saturday that we are eating leftovers thanks to my mom!

Monday - Chicken Brunch Ring - Nope :-) I ended up making Sloppy Joes.  We run in different directions on Monday so making something we can eat in shifts is good.

Tuesday - Chicken Enchilada Casserole - Nope :-)  I didn't feel like cooking HA!  Well, at least not making a casserole.  I just made Spaghetti and heated up leftover Sloppy Joes.

Wednesday - We were going to eat out but we ate out on Monday for lunch so instead, I made Chicken Enchilada Casserole :-)