A Summer of FUN, felt food, airplane races, vegan meals & river!

Sipping my coffee, reading over some inspiring blogs about simple living, gardening, homesteading and unschooling I figured it was the perfect quiet time before the day gets started to update our own family blog.

As I type, my sweet boy is standing here all geared up saying take a picture for our blog! Don't ask why there is a bicycle helmet on his back...boys! :)

Well its been two weeks and we've been busy, not going out busy just doing a lot of things together at home, taking care of our animals, doing crafts, cooking and learning how to work together in not our 'chores' but our 'family' work. We've had our ups and downs and a lot of fun too!

Crafts, Learning & Play Time

I LOVE to play with my kids! I'm not the mom who hands them an activity and goes about my business...I sit with them, draw with them, engage with them...PLAY with them!! As Mom's we get so busy, we do have to wear many hats but don't underestimate the most important one, being REALLY there for your kids, involved and engaged!

One rainy day when we couldn't get any fresh air, the kids were kind of going stir crazy...so we:
Made Drawings- the kids designed what they wanted their new rooms to look like when we move, Popped plastic Air Bags and Built Bunny Homes with Crackers, PB and sprinkles! That crazy concoction started with our son stating 'I want to experiment!' First, no pics- the kids took marshmallows and stuffed them with sprinkles to see what they would do, then did the same with a few drops of food coloring to see if it would spread.  I was all for it but did advise if they were going to 'experiment' and something exploded, they had to 'clean up'!

Paper Airplane Designing & Origami:
The kids originally made just simple airplanes and then researched online together to find how to make different designs, then they measured and charted which ones went farther/faster...and found out the design 'bullet' went the fastest and the farthest! Fun summer learning at its best!

Our daughter can never put down a great book, so one afternoon while she read, our son took over the kitchen table with his Lego's! He and I were on a mission to build a town until he got side tracked and attempted to build the largest lego person ever!

Inspired by all the Felt items out there...and since our daughter loves American Girl dolls we decided to pursue making some 'felt' food together...SUSHI it was..For these ones we took the easy way out and just hot glue gunned them instead of sewing, kids cut all the material themselves and designed them! And Mom helped with the hot glue!

A visit to Grandpa's promotes an impromptu dance party where the kids took over the camera!

Our daughter has been talking about designing her own website and pursuing finding out how to start her own cupcake/sweets website...so this day with little brother looking on, she worked on designing her logo.

While I cooked dinner...I found I had some company behind me...set up his cars town on the dog bed and was playing quietly. He smiled and told me he just wanted to be 'with' me. Those moments just melt your heart.

Meals & Cooking FUN
Two new recipes I tried this week: We are still going strong in our meatless meals and staying away from animal protein. Although we do at times have a little bit of cheese or sour cream, we are completely meat, egg and milk free.

Crockpot Falafel with Tzatiki Sauce

Too bad we started eating before I remembered to get a pic, but Sara over at Repeat Crafter Me got some good looking pics..and I've included her recipe too:

RECIPE

Now the recipe does call for an egg- we substituted it for 1/3 cup of applesauce, our staple for egg substitution.  And the sauce!? To die for...I'm kind of obsessed...I put it on a veggie sandwich later, dipped chips or crackers in it- it is sooo good!

Veggie Sushi

We made two different kinds of rolls: The first Roll was Avocado, Shitake Mushrooms, Cucumber and Carrots. The second Roll was Feta Cheese and Red Onion.

Zucchini Herb Casserole

I followed the recipe exactly from All Recipes here: RECIPE and it turned out great! Everyone loved it! Served it with a side salad and some crusty bread.

CUPCAKES!

Kids baked Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Frosting and Sprinkles for a Treat!

Puppy River Time! 
We ventured out to the river and decided to bring the new pup to see how he would like the water. He was slightly apprehensive at first but after the kids were in he wanted nothing more than to tromp in the water after them! He was too cute running in and out, then helping our son dig a hole and he even found a stick to throw around!

And as usual we have gone to the Library each week only this last week we met up with wonderful other home schoolers for some park and water play time too. It was so great to be amongst other home schooling mothers. My soul definitely needs to keep connected to these great mommy's.

What our 7yr old is reading: Our 7yr old is on a 6 week challenge: to read every day for 6 weeks until we 'start' school. We do have a chart with stickers but I don't like 'bribing'. I leave it to him- I ask him when he wants to read but he knows if he doesn't he doesn't get that sticker. At the end of the 6 weeks we plan on taking a 'YAY you did it!' family bowling trip. And even if he doesn't he still gets to go because its the effort put forth! He has been doing wonderfully so far. He is not quite at the point where he loves reading but I've noticed he does like it a lot more now that he is becoming better with it...Time and Patience I remind myself. I continue to be there and give him the support and love he needs through this challenge.

What our 12yr old is reading: This week her choice was education...HER choice!! :) My mommy heart is beaming!

Well and one for fun:

What I'm reading...yes recipes! And I've got some wonderful books on their way to the library....

We've had a ton of fun and there's only more to come. We also have some hard work ahead as we prepare for Fair for our daughter and support her as she works hard and shows next month.

Aside from cooking, crafting, friends and the library, Me and Daddy have been working hard and also starting to look for houses. Our hope is to purchase our own little homestead, by Christmas would be wonderful but we know God has a plan for us and we have to be patient and pray and see where he guides us on our journey.

Kale Chips, Magic Tricks & Homemade Puffy Paint

Its been a fun week! I have got in a lot of work and had a lot of fun with the kids on projects too!

This week we tried Kale Chips- baked with just some olive oil and salt- the kids LOVED them! What a great alternative to potato chips or some other crunchy side at lunch time. Open faced grilled cheese with tomato and mushrooms and a side of kale chips..yumm..

Kale Chips: 

Rinse, remove stems, bake on tray at 350 for up to 10 minutes until feeling crispy! Turn half way through...I had to bake mine a little longer due to having it piled up on the tray, thinking a thinner layer next time will be better!

We headed to our favorite library to catch a Kids Magic Show. There were about 30 kids that attended a 45 minute show. My shy boy sat on my feet the whole time in front of me and never engaged or raised his hand...at the end of the show I asked if he liked it and he was so excited about it he checked out a magic book at the library then we came home to find 'how to' videos for him on kids coin tricks- As I made dinner he practiced his tricks then performed for me! So glad he loved it!

Here's the YouTube link to the video: 

Coin Trick for Kids

He has 8 great, simple videos for kids- My son, age 7 was able to follow the directions and learn the trick himself.

Then we also had craft fun this week...the kids are really into the Zelda game on our old system so they wanted to make shields to go with their swords. We used a homemade puffy paint recipe to make the emblem then the kids painted their shields. They had so much fun watching it rise in the microwave! 

The Mess....

 Homemade Puffy Paint Recipe: 

1 Cup Flour

3 Tsp Baking Powder

1 Tsp Salt

A little water to get pancake batter consistency- not too runny

Food Coloring of Choice

Stick the 'paint' in a ziplock baggie and cut the very tip off, using it like an icing bag and paint your picture...Then microwave it 30-45 seconds- ours were right at 35 and there you go- all dry, hard and puffed up!!

 Painting time...

 Ready to Fight! and little pup trying to get in the pic!

Great week, and we relaxed some too! Reading, movies...and playing with the pups!

Camp,Books & Puppy Names

A week ago, last Sunday our family was driving our daughter to 4H camp, 4 hours away from home. Nerves were getting me, she had been away from home for a few one night sleep overs but nothing for this long. She was excited! I knew so many of the campers, parents and 4H staff/leaders that I completely trusted her being away for a week with them. Now if you would have asked me to send her away on '6th' grade camp with her school last year? The answer would be NO.

We made it to the camp site, checked her in.  She got a camp t-shirt and a name tag and I helped her make her bunk in her cabin then we said good byes. Our son thought it was pretty funny we saw cows up in the forest!

And on Thursday afternoon we picked her back up! Me, our puppy and son made the trip since hubbie had to work- wow was that an adventure but we made it.  She sang camp songs all the way back and talked my ear off- but I loved it and soaked up every word, minute of it and memory she shared with me.  She had an awesome experience. We got showered by huge thunder and lightening storms on the way home which made our 4 hours turn into 5 so needless to say everyone was pretty exhausted!

Nothing too exciting on the meatless meals front, we are still keeping as free as we can from animal protein.  This week a few meals we have planned:
Ravioli's and Asparagus
Potato Puffs and Mixed Veggies
Fettuccine and Red Bell Pepper Sauce with Salad and Garlic Bread
Veggie Chow Mein with Spring Rolls
Home made Veggie Pizza's

We made our weekly trip to the library and we've been discussing home school field trips and interests already...
I was so proud...I went to go look for a magazine and our son asked our daughter to help him find the animal section. I come back and I so wish I had my camera- here are my two kids in the midst of a pile of books talking about going to see Penguins and learning about Sea Life- a real discussion, no arguing, both kids having similar interests, really talking together- AMAZING :) You have to appreciate those little moments you have!! Thanking the Lord for this blessing today!!
So, amongst the fun books- they each got sea life, penguin, shark, crab, jelly fish and octopus books!
What our son is reading...

What our daughter is reading....

What I'm reading...Puppy Training and Meals!

And as for the Puppy?? I suppose there hasn't been a final, final decision made on whether to keep him...I want to although I know its bad timing with so much going on.  But I suppose we are getting closer to keeping him since the kids finally settled on a name last night after much debate...KODA.

Here's to a relaxing Sunday with the family and a hopefully not too crazy week! I'm so happy to have our daughter back and thankful for the wonderful experience she has had.

Happy 4th of July! Catching up here...Many blessings

Happy 4th All!!
It been to long, to say the least, it has been hectic around here since the last posting.  I woke up this morning, enjoying the sun rise with a cup of hot coffee while the pups wandered about the yard, my quiet before the children wake....and I thank God for my life. Through good times, bad times, hard times, I have so many blessings to be thankful for.  We've been going through our struggles lately but just as the morning sun rises each day, I know there are amazing blessings tucked in between the difficult times of every day I get to be with my amazing children, husband, family in this life.

Review since our last day of school post...We have been busy:

A birthday for our daughter in San Diego with a wonderful trip to the Wild Animal Park, visit to the ocean, trip to the mall, playing at the park and visiting with family and friends then of course the birthday celebration!

Art Fun:
Painting Rocks into animals...

Making their own 4th of July t-shirts! They did a great job!

We've also had fun making home made playdough, sewing, baking and growing crystals!

And then we've played a lot! Park days, trips to the river for water fun, spraypark at the playground...oh and inside we've had 'sumo' wars stuffing pillows under our shirts, board game fun, lots of reading and camping out inside.

Two kids, two dogs in a home made tent = trouble! But also = tons of FUN!

Weekly Library trips for books and movies and books on CD....this is what we came back this week..

What our son is reading: We found these great books to read 'together' to keep his motivation and reading skills going strong- he loves to have us read with him!

 Our daughter continues to read American Girl and just got into the Mystery series.

 As for me, the craft book is for my daughter and I, the 'Rurally Screwed' is for fun..its GREAT so far...true story of 'My Life off the Grid with the Cowboy I Love'...and the puppy/dog books? Oh boy...yes we ended up with a puppy, well a 4 1/2 month old pup boy. Is he here to stay? We don't know yet!

Puppy time! Swiss Mountain Dog, Beagle, Sharpei is what we are told, but cute, sweet and playful is what he is no matter what mixture is in there! And that makes 3 pups in this family right now!

 Pup with our Swissy, Sadie girl.

 Our jack russell loves to perch on the back of the couch...he thought he would give it a go!

Enjoying toys on the doggie bed.

To come....Today is 4th of July...husband works till 3pm, me and the kiddo's have plans to enjoy each other and play some board games, work on some festive crafts, clean up the house a bit for daddy then when we gets home have a bbq with Grandpa and go enjoy fireworks tonight. A lazy, fun family 4th!