math club

I just have to tell you about an answered prayer for us. At the end of winter quarter, we learned that we would no longer have childcare on Fridays for Ethan while the big kids and I went to co-op. We were very disappointed and prayed about it, but I could not think of any other options for us. I told the co-op directors about our situation. They were sorry to see us go, but agreed to hold our spot for when Ethan is five (our co-op has a lengthy waiting list so this was very nice of them to do that!). The big kids and I began making plans for how we could still make Fridays fun. Field trips. Picnics. Playdates. We were disappointed, but trying to make the best of it.

Then a couple of weeks later, we learned that the directors had decided to offer a co-op preschool option on a trial basis for spring quarter. Moms of the preschoolers would take turns in their room. I jumped at this opportunity! The big kids were thrilled that we can at least finish out this year. We're two weeks into spring quarter now. Things are going well. It's a little crazy balancing my time between the preschool room and my class. But I know it will get smoother as time goes on. And all three kids are loving it - so it's totally worth it!

My 'Math Club' class is going great. We do math with dice. Math with dominoes. And play lots of math games. The kids seem to really like it. And I love that it's requiring a lot less planning than my pioneer class!

We're so thankful for the way God worked this out for us. And so blessed to be able to spend time with this neat group of families.

india night

In our history studies we recently spent some time learning about India during the Moghul Dynasty. We decided that it would be fun to try some Indian food. So tonight for dinner we ate curry chicken over rice, sweet peas, and naan flatbread. Patrick found traditional Indian music online for us to listen to while we dined.

And Audrey made a sari for herself out of a sheet.

The meal received mixed reviews (the adults loved it, the kids not so much), but overall it was a fun night! Everyone agreed that we should do this again soon!

more!

Liam has lost TWO more teeth since I last posted about this topic. He's got a pretty goofy-looking grin these days! But still adorable, of course.

soup kick

I'm on a bit of a soup kick lately. Patrick and I are both trying to lose some weight and healthy soups seem to make the most sense for dinner. Here was tonight's selection. YUM!

Tuscan Kale & White Bean Soup
2 TBS EVOO
1 onion, diced
4 garlic cloves
32 oz. vegetable broth
4 c. packed chopped kale
1 can Italian diced tomatoes
1 can cannellini beans, drained
3 large carrots, chopped

Heat EVOO - add onion and garlic. Add broth, kale, tomatoes and carrots. Cover and cook 15 minutes or until kale is tender. Add beans. Heat through.

We topped ours with a little parmesean cheese. Very good and satisfying. I'd highly recommend it!

howdy partner

The big kids went to a Western-themed movie night at our church last night. They had a great time! We took Ethan out to dinner during the party and he insisted on wearing his cowboy hat too.

hillbilly wine glasses

My dear friend, who knows me and loves me, thought of me when she saw these glasses. And I LOVE them! So I think that officially makes me a hillbilly. I recently switched all my drinking glasses out for canning jars. So it's only appropriate that I have canning jar wine glasses too.

Thank you Kylie! I'm going to enjoy these very much!

time change

I am someone who LOVES the spring time change. Stay lighter longer - yes, please! I am also coming to realize that I like mini-celebrations. Lots of them. For almost anything. So, last night we celebrated the time change with a bike ride after dinner. Because it was still light out and not raining. It was lovely.

Oh - and Ethan has decided that the time change weekend is also a good time to stop napping. Today is day five of no naps and he's actually doing quite well. We're transitioning him to the idea of quiet time - otherwise known as 'afternoon alone time in your room with the door closed so Mama can regroup and not go stark-raving-mad'. Today he did a whole hour without coming out. I can live with that.

chicken soup with quinoa

I made this soup last night and it was so good I had to share the recipe!

1/2 onion, chopped
6 carrots, sliced thin
1 garlic clove
1/2 c uncooked quinoa, rinsed
4 c chicken stock
1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cooked and cut up
1 can petite diced tomatoes
salt & pepper
olive oil

Cook onion and carrot in olive oil. Stir in garlic and quinoa - cook one minute. Pour in chicken stock - raise heat and simmer 15 minutes. Add chicken and diced tomatoes. Simmer 5-10 more minutes.

So easy. And sooo yummy! Even the kids liked it. This will definitely be added to our regular rotation!

this and that

I feel like I've missed some things that I wanted to be sure got on my blog (so they'll be included in that blog book I'm going to do...someday). So here it goes. A little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Our co-op did an end of the quarter party last Friday which included a talent show. The kids immediately signed up. Liam played a song he has learned on the piano (Mary Had a Little Lamb) and Audrey re-wrote the words to go along with the "tropical" theme. They were nervous but did such a great job. I'm so proud that they did it!


The last weekend in February, the big kids came with Patrick and I to our annual bluegrass festival called Wintergrass. It was very fun! (Don't worry - Ethan had fun too. He got to spend time with Nana and Papa!) Audrey's actual birthday occurred while we were there. So in addition to the festival music, she opened her presents, we went swimming in the hotel pool, had dinner at Pagliacci Pizza and enjoyed dessert at Red Robin. She was well-celebrated!


Oh - and she loves to be sung to at the EXACT time she was born (6:02pm). So we made our way to one of the lovely Bellevue sky bridges and serenaded her!

Over the course of the weekend we listened to tons of great music. Most of it by bands you probably don't know. But you might recognize this man. Ricky Skaggs was the headliner Friday night. It was a great show! He didn't even start his set until 10:25pm. Audrey and I were tired and left early, but Liam and Patrick powered through to the end.

Oh - and one last thing. The toothfairy in this house is going broke! These two are losing teeth at an alarming rate.

Phew - I think that's it. Now I feel caught up. :)

winter wonderland

We've got snow! To say that the kids are excited would be an understatement. Ethan's response - "Mama, would you pray with me so I can thank God for the snow?"

pioneer days - weeks 6 & 7

Today was our last day of co-op for winter quarter. Boy that went fast! Last week we were gone so another teacher filled in for me. They read A Little House Birthday and Farmer Boy Birthday. Then they discussed birthdays back then and some of the possible gifts that would have been given. One idea I found was that they made items out of wood and painted them. So the kids painted little wooden bird houses to give away to someone as a gift.

This week we read Christmas in the Big Woods and then made two more gift ideas -- button necklaces and "woven" place mats.

I'm exhausted but it was a successful first quarter of co-op teaching. We're so thankful for this group and that we can be a part of it. Next quarter I'll be teaching a class I'm calling Math Club. Should be fun!