Scootering and Prayers Answered

What a wonderful weekend last weekend was- beautiful weather, got to spend outside time with the kids and enjoy it and enjoy their company. We spent Saturday supporting our 4H group, stopping by their horse competition to check it out then left and went to the park for the rest of the day so our son could ride his new b-day scooter.

I pray everyday. I pursue to connect with my children on a deep level every time I spend time with them- not only to make memories that will last forever but to build that lasting deep relationship. I had such a wonderful connection moment with my daughter as we spent over an hour just talking on a park bench that day. I feel truly blessed. I love my children. It was a GREAT day.

San Diego Birthday

Quick post...last weekend we took a little vaca to San Diego to see family for our son's 7th birthday (which is really tomorrow!) We headed to the park, the zoo, to see the family and then the rain came and we spent a few days indoors just playing too! I can not believe my baby is 7!

Jordan was the 'camera' man at the zoo!

 Always got to see the polar bears- one of Jordan's fav's!

 My cuties!

 Ready to party with the family!

 Counting the money he got in his new Lego Star Wars wallet.

 He was so proud he decorated the cake all by himself!

It was a fun weekend to see family and get to celebrate with them!

Boys Birthday's, Veggie 'Chicken' & Kids Baking

I love birthday months! Well, and so do my kids of course- our son is turning 7 next week. We are headed out of town this weekend to see family for little party #1 then coming home to have little party #2 on his real birthday.

I love my son!

Jordan is one of a kind and so very special and yes all mom's think that is their kid- and its true :) He is a kid that never has a list for his birthday or christmas- is happy with anything, everything or nothing. You'd think he was shy until he opens up to you- then this singing, break-dancing incredibly smart little boy uncovers. He doesn't like new situations, new people or being the center of attention. He does best when he knows what's happening next. He loves animals and always makes sure his best doggie friend Rusty is taken care of. He loves his sister more than anything and always willing to give her half of whatever he has or give her a turn when its really his turn. He is kind-hearted. He may be 7 but sometimes I swear he's 17- smart and all grown up. He loves Star Wars and anything Lego's so that's the b-day theme he picked.

A few things I am working on for the party....a b-day banner, a star wars pillow (present) and star wars sticks for the brownies...

In our meatless journey we have splurged and let the kids have chicken nuggets a few times- I've been on the lookout for a good 'veggie' substitute that I can make. Over the weekend I tried a stuffing/spinach 'chicken' nugget- but you can use any veggie really and any shape- Balls seemed the easiest- then served with ketchup just like nuggets- they were a hit! Super easy, quick and 15 min to bake and they were done! Served with some mac n cheese and apples and it was a great meatless kids meal!

Although usually it is our son who wants to help cook and is always in the kitchen, our daughter decided to make 'french toast' cupcakes for a treat and let her brother help mix too!

It was nice to see them working hard together! As I snapped pics and supervised! :)

Basketball Pics, Family Breakfast & Greens n beans

It's Friday!! Couldn't come soon enough- this has felt like the longest week!

The kids had basketball picture day- so excited my son and hubbie got their pic taken together and it looked really good- I can't wait to get them back and frame them! I took a few right before the game..

Family Breakfast last Sunday: Chocolate muffins, Blueberry muffins, fruit smoothies and oatmeal!

Dinner of Collard Greens & Beans, mashed potatoes and Jerusalem artichokes. 

 Grilled Eggplant/Mushroom Sandwiches

Every morning the two 'buddies' snuggling!! Melts my heart.

Saturday was perfect weather, we had the best day together, taking the dogs and kids to the park, walking around, playing baseball and just relaxing together- it was a perfect day!!

Hot Dogs, Stir Fry and Chili & a quick trip!

Last week in review: A little late!
The kids and hubbie have been super sick- fevers and flu like junk- no fun. They are just starting to feel better. I headed out of town for the weekend on a short two day trip to my parents house for a little mini-vaca. After that great trip to Vegas that previous weekend, for some grocery shopping we were excited to try some of the thing we bought...a few meals we had last week...

Veggie Hot Dogs with Asperagus and Home made potato chips

Hubbie bbq'd the dogs on the grill and they turned out great! 

 Veggie Stir Fry with Rice Noodles, Kimichi and Organic Miso Soup

 Quinoa Bean Chili with Corn Bread

Quinoa was a great meat substitute- two kinds of beans and onion and tomatoes- yumm

Took a nice trip out of town, back home to spend two days at my parents house- Meatless meals weren't too hard to come by- Mexican food is always a good choice- and breakfast I found a great Hash brown meal with spinach, tomato and mushrooms and egg substitute from IHOP- oh the best! Yumm. Me with my kids two kitties (Comet & Jupiter) that my parents keep for them-

Onto this weekend...we are ready for some basketball, crafting, sewing, shopping and playing!!

Road Trip Grocery Trip

Weekend Review- The weekend started Friday since the kids have no school that day- we hung out at home, did a drive by on a house for sale then checked out clothes and shoes at Target and headed to Subway for veggie sandwiches for dinner then to our daughters basketball game- they lost but it was a great game, the kids all played very well!

Saturday we all headed to our son's game, even with being hit in the mouth, cutting his lip then hit in the nose, he still got in the game and did great. Afterwards, we picked up our co-op basket of fruits and veggies and were very excited over some yummy asparagus and pineapple and mango's and less thrilled with yet another cauliflower! Hitting recipe sites online to check out yet more options for cauliflower dishes...we have really been enjoying Indian curries, so perhaps another round of that type dish..we'll see!

Being that there is not much selection of stores or items near us we have been talking about heading to Vegas to check out Whole Foods Market and some other food stores...so on a whim we decided why not, let's go! To Vegas we went...a trip to Fry's first to look around at Electronics, then to Whole Foods Market, Greenland Market for Asian foods, had yummy Sushi, rice and vegetable noodle soup for dinner then a Boba drink for desert, a drive down the strip at night so the kids could see the casino's lit up and off to home we went- and instead of sleeping children in the back seat we got loud, singing children in the back seat- very entertaining to say the least! A great family day together.

 Showed the kids the Luxor- where hubbie and I stayed after getting married

 Awesome Asian market with the biggest selection of mushrooms you've ever seen!

 Mango drink

 Kids wanted to see Vegas lit up!

And as for Sunday....family breakfast of Apple Fritters- home made by my two favorite guys-

and after, some shopping, animal cage cleaning, laundry, and a trip to the park for some family basketball practice! Another fantastic weekend.

Cupcakes, Meals & Homeschool

Weekend Review: The weekend really started Friday when our daughter had her evening basketball game. Her team didn't win but we were proud to see her get out there more than she had in the first game- you can really tell she's starting to understand the game and become more confident in playing. Saturday morning came really early when our son had his 8am game. And again, he hasn't played much during the last few games, if at all and all of the sudden, he was a different kid this game! He was out there on the court, making baskets, passing to his team mates and didn't want to go out of the game at all! It is an amazing experience to truly see your children gain confidence, have fun doing something new. I'm proud of both my kids so much. A quick pic of our #9 :)

After the Saturday game we had a great family afternoon taking a trip to the Library then played some basketball at the park nearby and rented a movie for family movie night, 'Mr Poppers Penguins' which the whole family enjoyed. A great day.

Sunday we had family breakfast of pancakes- our daughter mixes the batter and our son loves making and flipping the pancakes. This Sunday I only had to supervise- how awesome! Then we did our 'family work' together, taking care of cleaning rooms, the animals and starting laundry. And finally it was time for some fun...art, food and cooking all in one- Rainbow cup cakes- kids had so much fun with something so simple!

A few weekend meals: Another version of Indian Cauliflower Curry over rice- we just keep getting those cauliflowers in our co-op baskets!

 And this was the best sandwich ever!! I highly recommend it! Eggplant Sandwich and a side of Plantains. Sandwich has grilled eggplant, tomatoes, fresh chopped basil, feta cheese and garlic/mayo on a toasted sub roll- to die for!!

Homeschooling

I have been reading books about other families experiences with homeschool and came across a great paragraph that was stating that this one family removed their 8th grade daughter from the public system and they wanted her to have the freedom to choose what she wanted to learn and when she was asked, she could not think of anything she was interested in. The Mother realized that with so many years in public school the daughter had become accustomed to someone else telling her what she was going to learn. The family decided to give the daughter three months of nothing- letting her take a break to de-school. Then one day, on her own the daughter came to the parents asking to study more about a subject and letting them know she was ready to learn.
I think about this story as I recall our frustration with our daughter last school year when we homeschooled and how it was like pulling teeth to try and get her to choose something to study. Our son, who had only been in a year of preschool was full of interests. Our daughter knows next year she'll be homeschooled, which she is thrilled, excited and can't wait for. So, even being a long time ahead we've started talking and making conversation about interests to pursue in schooling. I had such a proud moment the other day when she came to me and told me since she loves American Girl, and has read books about Felicity in the American Revolution time period, she would like to study and learn more about that era and everything about it- more about the American Revolution, more about girls and womens roles during that time, what their clothing was like, about Williamsburg where Felicity is from- everything. Amazed, proud, excited- Such great feelings I have- I am ready for it to be next school year already too and be home schooling my children.