This actually happened earlier in the summer, but I was reminded of it tonight; it is too funny not to share. We had been to friends in Mississippi for the weekend, and had driven all day. We got back into town and went to Jason's Deli for supper. I am not sure why but it seems like every time we go there, someone comments on our family(in a positive way!)
So while we are all eating dinner and can I just say we were looking mighty rough after being in the car all day, this man comes up to Jon and says, "Can I just shake your hand?" Jon shakes his hand and the man starts this speech. I can only remember bits and pieces, but he told Jon that he had a great family and he was happy to see us. Now this is the part that I remember...He says, "You know how you see the Grand Canyon and you say, "This is magnificent! Well, this(and he waves his hand over the table) is magnificent!"
It was really sweet, but I really had a hard time not giggling....and here is the funny part. We leave and as we are getting in the van, I ask Jon, "So have you ever thought of us as magnificent as the Grand Canyon?" His answer: Maybe as a giant pit of stuff!!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Thank Goodness for Pink and Blue
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
First Day of Co-op Pictures
We actually started school a couple of weeks ago, but since we didn't take first day of school pictures, I grabbed my camera and took some Tuesday morning for the first day of co-op. Some of you may be wondering what a homeschool co-op is and what we do there. Co-ops vary widely. Some are more enrichment and some are more academic. We are a part of Brazos Classical Academy and are an academic co-op. My kids all take 3-4 classes with a variety of teachers. I teach a 9th and 10th grade logic class and work in the nursery one hour.
Anne Michal takes Logic, Apologia Biology, Henle latin and a speech and worldview class. Elizabeth is in Logic, Apologia General Science, Second Form Latin, and IEW writing. Jack and Emma are in the same class and have Exploring Creation with Astronomy, Memory, IEW Writing, and PE. Creed is in Preschool and Janey Kate is in the nursery. I am very pleased with the instruction my kids receive there, and they love being part of a co-op and have some really neat friends!
My bookends...Anne Michal and Janey Kate. ...9th grade and life 101.
Elizabeth...7th grade.
Emma...4th grade.
Jack...3rd grade
Creed...preschool
sigh....when did they all get so big...
Anne Michal takes Logic, Apologia Biology, Henle latin and a speech and worldview class. Elizabeth is in Logic, Apologia General Science, Second Form Latin, and IEW writing. Jack and Emma are in the same class and have Exploring Creation with Astronomy, Memory, IEW Writing, and PE. Creed is in Preschool and Janey Kate is in the nursery. I am very pleased with the instruction my kids receive there, and they love being part of a co-op and have some really neat friends!
My bookends...Anne Michal and Janey Kate. ...9th grade and life 101.
Elizabeth...7th grade.
Emma...4th grade.
Jack...3rd grade
Creed...preschool
sigh....when did they all get so big...
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Enjoying some cooler weather
We woke up to some cooler air and had a high in the low to mid 90's today. I think I actually shivered this morning getting in the van to go to co-op. We went to the park after co-op, came home, and the kids went back out to play. Amazing what a difference 10 degrees can make.
Creed playing on the swing.
I grew up playing "house." My kids play "home." I don't know why, but that cracks me up. It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue to say, "Wanna play home?"
Even Janey Kate got some outdoor time.
Creed playing on the swing.
I grew up playing "house." My kids play "home." I don't know why, but that cracks me up. It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue to say, "Wanna play home?"
Even Janey Kate got some outdoor time.
Monday, September 5, 2011
August 2011 Book Log
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A Taste for Death by P.D. James
Revenger by Rory Clements
In the Woods by Tana French
Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs
The Black Tower by P.D. James
Unnatural Causes by P.D. James
Death of an Expert Witness by P.D. James
Shroud for a Nightingale by P.D. James
Life is a Miracle by Wendell Berry
The Consequences of Ideas by R.C. Sproul
Whose Justice? Which Rationality? by Alasdair MacIntyre
Lament for a Son by Nicholas Wolterstorff
Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson
Habakkuk by James Bruckner
Habakkuk by O. Palmer Robertson
Habakkuk by David Baker
The Expectant Prophet by John Currid
Licensed to Kill by Brian Hedges
A Taste for Death by P.D. James
Revenger by Rory Clements
In the Woods by Tana French
Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs
The Black Tower by P.D. James
Unnatural Causes by P.D. James
Death of an Expert Witness by P.D. James
Shroud for a Nightingale by P.D. James
Life is a Miracle by Wendell Berry
The Consequences of Ideas by R.C. Sproul
Whose Justice? Which Rationality? by Alasdair MacIntyre
Lament for a Son by Nicholas Wolterstorff
Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson
Habakkuk by James Bruckner
Habakkuk by O. Palmer Robertson
Habakkuk by David Baker
The Expectant Prophet by John Currid
Licensed to Kill by Brian Hedges
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
How My veggie-hating Boys Eat Veggies
Jack and Creed are not veggie lovers. Jack has expanded his horizons lately and will choke down a green bean or two as well as a piece or two of raw broccoli or carrot. Creed will claw at his tongue until every single piece is out of his mouth if any vegetable touches his lips except in two ways...
First up is the green smoothie. Almost every single day for lunch my crew eats homemade bread with freshly ground peanut butter from Kroger or HEB along with a green smoothie. Elizabeth is our master smoothie maker though she does have Anne Michal in training to be her backup person. The ingredient list is most often about half a blender of spinach fairly well packed down, 1-2 bananas, a handful of strawberries,3/4 a quart of homemade plain yogurt and a touch of sugar or honey. Occasionally they add some protein powder. This has been lunch for almost a month now, and they still cheer over hearing it is what is for lunch. Total win-win situation as it is a very well-balanced lunch!
The second is one of their favorite meals. We had it last night, and I thought I'd share it with y'all. it is from one of my favorite cookbooks, Family feats for $75 a week, by Mary Ostyn of the blog Owlhaven. She has more kids than I do so I know she at least knows a thing or two about feeding a crew! I don't think I have made anything from this cookbook that isn't good. There is a wide variety including a lot of ethnic foods. So, yeah, the recipe....Thai Wraps.I am not sure how Thai it really is, but it sure is good!
1 pound of romaine lettuce, swiss chard, or fresh spinach separated into individual leaves.
2 carrots, peeled
1 onion, peeled
3 cloves of garlic
1 rib of celery
1/2 cup minced fresh vegetable of your choice(tomato, cucumber, or celery...I use celery and mince it really really fine because I have a bunch of celery haters)
1 T olive oil (if using ground turkey)
2 pounds ground beef or 1 of turkey and one of beef...I can get away with 1 1/2 pounds for all of us
1/4 cup fish sauce or soy sauce ( I use soy or ...ahem...bragg's liquid aminos)
1-2 cups leftover rice (optional ( i usually add)
Wash your lettuce and set aside.
Shred carrots(I just dice them.) Chop onion and garlic, slice celery, and mince any other vegetable that you desire. (if your family loves veggies and you aren't trying to just get them to eat a few like me then you could add extra and a wide variety. You can also add leftover scrambled eggs.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add beef and cook until browned.
Once meat is cooked through, remove it from pan using a slotted spoon. Add chopped, sliced, and minced veggies to skillet and cook in remaining oil over medium heat until soft, 5-7 minutes, stirring a few times. I like to add a bit of sesame oil at this point as it really ups the flavor and my people seem to love sesame oil.
Return to pan and mix with vegetables. Add fish or soy sauce. Add rice if using (if you have 6 kids I suggest you do ;-) ) Cook over medium heat a few more minutes, stirring until ingredients are well mixed and heated through. Serve by wrapping lettuce leaves around several tablespoons of the meat recipe.
Creed actually eats his in a tortilla, but he actually eats the carrots and celery and even knows they are in there!!! Jack eats his in either a tortilla or lettuce but if he eats it in a tortilla he adds lettuce! I guess this makes it a mexasian meal but it gets the job done!!! I actually ate mine last night on a big plate full of lettuce like a salad and it was so yummy!
Let me know how you like it if you give it a try!
P.S. Creed asked what was for supper and when I told him said, "And smoothies??? We haven't had them from a long time ago." They missed them at lunch today as we didn't have yogurt ready.
First up is the green smoothie. Almost every single day for lunch my crew eats homemade bread with freshly ground peanut butter from Kroger or HEB along with a green smoothie. Elizabeth is our master smoothie maker though she does have Anne Michal in training to be her backup person. The ingredient list is most often about half a blender of spinach fairly well packed down, 1-2 bananas, a handful of strawberries,3/4 a quart of homemade plain yogurt and a touch of sugar or honey. Occasionally they add some protein powder. This has been lunch for almost a month now, and they still cheer over hearing it is what is for lunch. Total win-win situation as it is a very well-balanced lunch!
The second is one of their favorite meals. We had it last night, and I thought I'd share it with y'all. it is from one of my favorite cookbooks, Family feats for $75 a week, by Mary Ostyn of the blog Owlhaven. She has more kids than I do so I know she at least knows a thing or two about feeding a crew! I don't think I have made anything from this cookbook that isn't good. There is a wide variety including a lot of ethnic foods. So, yeah, the recipe....Thai Wraps.I am not sure how Thai it really is, but it sure is good!
1 pound of romaine lettuce, swiss chard, or fresh spinach separated into individual leaves.
2 carrots, peeled
1 onion, peeled
3 cloves of garlic
1 rib of celery
1/2 cup minced fresh vegetable of your choice(tomato, cucumber, or celery...I use celery and mince it really really fine because I have a bunch of celery haters)
1 T olive oil (if using ground turkey)
2 pounds ground beef or 1 of turkey and one of beef...I can get away with 1 1/2 pounds for all of us
1/4 cup fish sauce or soy sauce ( I use soy or ...ahem...bragg's liquid aminos)
1-2 cups leftover rice (optional ( i usually add)
Wash your lettuce and set aside.
Shred carrots(I just dice them.) Chop onion and garlic, slice celery, and mince any other vegetable that you desire. (if your family loves veggies and you aren't trying to just get them to eat a few like me then you could add extra and a wide variety. You can also add leftover scrambled eggs.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add beef and cook until browned.
Once meat is cooked through, remove it from pan using a slotted spoon. Add chopped, sliced, and minced veggies to skillet and cook in remaining oil over medium heat until soft, 5-7 minutes, stirring a few times. I like to add a bit of sesame oil at this point as it really ups the flavor and my people seem to love sesame oil.
Return to pan and mix with vegetables. Add fish or soy sauce. Add rice if using (if you have 6 kids I suggest you do ;-) ) Cook over medium heat a few more minutes, stirring until ingredients are well mixed and heated through. Serve by wrapping lettuce leaves around several tablespoons of the meat recipe.
Creed actually eats his in a tortilla, but he actually eats the carrots and celery and even knows they are in there!!! Jack eats his in either a tortilla or lettuce but if he eats it in a tortilla he adds lettuce! I guess this makes it a mexasian meal but it gets the job done!!! I actually ate mine last night on a big plate full of lettuce like a salad and it was so yummy!
Let me know how you like it if you give it a try!
P.S. Creed asked what was for supper and when I told him said, "And smoothies??? We haven't had them from a long time ago." They missed them at lunch today as we didn't have yogurt ready.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Reset Button
Last Monday was the first day of school in the Anderson house. In the past, we have schooled through most of the summer. We did this because we needed to make up for time off in the school year, for the daily structure, and simply because it can be too hot here to do anything but school and go to the pool! We decided we really needed a break this year so we took off a good 2 months. It was nice to just be relaxed, a bit lazy, and flexible. The kids had plenty of freedom to play together, be with friends, and be creative!
I found myself dreading starting back to school. It was so nice to be laid back and not have to wear my teacher hat along with all my other regular hats. The kids didn't have to wear their student hats and other than their regular chores could just "be."
I am not one to ever really even say homeschooling is hard. It has its challenges just like anything else does, though some are certainly unique to homeschooling. It can be a bit of a juggle between homeschooling, taking care of the house, cooking, and running kids around along with everything else. Many times kids handle difficulties they encounter in their schooling differently with ol' mom than they would with a regular teacher. Plus home can have a lot of distractions and it can be hard to want to sit and do your school work when you have lots of fun toys around. Hey, it can be hard to want to teach school when you have a lot of fun toys around!
So all that to say, that I really didn't have a good attitude about the new school year. I was thinking a sabbatical from the whole teaching gig might be nice. The big kids could all go to school and Creed and Janey Kate and I would hang out playing, reading books, doing puzzles, and going to the park and story hour. I'd relive those golden days when Anne Michal and Elizabeth were chubby cheeked, golden hair little girls. In my mind at least, those were stress-free days.
I wasn't the only one with a bad attitude, but then we all know mom can really set the tone for the house...good or bad. About the fourth day, we got into a bit of a groove. Those of us that needed to resign ourselves to certain things were starting to do so and everything was getting done! I was sitting on the couch watching Creed and Janey Kate playing and enjoying listening to Creed's chatter as he pretended in his play. It was like a reset button was hit at that moment, and I was reminded at that moment that homeschooling is worth every bit of the hardships for what we gain. The hardships are mere bumps and the rewards are mountains.
I once again gave thanks for the opportunity to spend my days with my kids. To facilitate their education, train them, and foster their relationships with each other. I am so grateful that my big kids are there all day to offer hugs and kisses to the little ones, to take time out to read them a story or build an awesome train track. I am grateful that Anne Michal and Elizabeth can be study buddies and Anne Michal can take her sister under her wing and help her with her challenging new subjects. I am grateful that Jack and Emma can sit at the table together and giggle while while doing their spelling. I pray I can always see the blessings over the difficulties.
I found myself dreading starting back to school. It was so nice to be laid back and not have to wear my teacher hat along with all my other regular hats. The kids didn't have to wear their student hats and other than their regular chores could just "be."
I am not one to ever really even say homeschooling is hard. It has its challenges just like anything else does, though some are certainly unique to homeschooling. It can be a bit of a juggle between homeschooling, taking care of the house, cooking, and running kids around along with everything else. Many times kids handle difficulties they encounter in their schooling differently with ol' mom than they would with a regular teacher. Plus home can have a lot of distractions and it can be hard to want to sit and do your school work when you have lots of fun toys around. Hey, it can be hard to want to teach school when you have a lot of fun toys around!
So all that to say, that I really didn't have a good attitude about the new school year. I was thinking a sabbatical from the whole teaching gig might be nice. The big kids could all go to school and Creed and Janey Kate and I would hang out playing, reading books, doing puzzles, and going to the park and story hour. I'd relive those golden days when Anne Michal and Elizabeth were chubby cheeked, golden hair little girls. In my mind at least, those were stress-free days.
I wasn't the only one with a bad attitude, but then we all know mom can really set the tone for the house...good or bad. About the fourth day, we got into a bit of a groove. Those of us that needed to resign ourselves to certain things were starting to do so and everything was getting done! I was sitting on the couch watching Creed and Janey Kate playing and enjoying listening to Creed's chatter as he pretended in his play. It was like a reset button was hit at that moment, and I was reminded at that moment that homeschooling is worth every bit of the hardships for what we gain. The hardships are mere bumps and the rewards are mountains.
I once again gave thanks for the opportunity to spend my days with my kids. To facilitate their education, train them, and foster their relationships with each other. I am so grateful that my big kids are there all day to offer hugs and kisses to the little ones, to take time out to read them a story or build an awesome train track. I am grateful that Anne Michal and Elizabeth can be study buddies and Anne Michal can take her sister under her wing and help her with her challenging new subjects. I am grateful that Jack and Emma can sit at the table together and giggle while while doing their spelling. I pray I can always see the blessings over the difficulties.
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