Our Magnum Opus

Adventures in Food

Last night we made homemade cornbread, baked beans (real ones that you soak the night before and flavor with bacon) and collard greens.

Now I do not have a southern bone in my body but the children do.  Their paternal grandmother is from the deep south, raised on a farm in Alabama.  Who knows if genetics play a role in food choices, but it was worth a shot.  I told the children to reach deep inside and find their southern selves to eat the collard greens.

They did enjoy the meal and the greens went over pretty well.  I was glad since collard greens are cheap, super nutritious and low calorie.

The one child who just did not like this meal?  The one who most strongly resembles the Alabama branch of the family.  Go figure.

Crawling is Out

Walking is in.

 

Overcoming

My first five children were not thumb suckers at all.  For some reason the last three are.  Dominic is six and has recently become determined to overcome this habit.  The other day he appeared dressed in full cowboy garb with a bandana over his mouth.  "Look mom, this way I can't suck my thumb!"

He quickly realized that this method wasn't feasible.

The next day he cut his thumb.  We put a bandage on it.  He looked sadly at his thumb, and then perked up.  With the bandage on he couldn't suck the thumb!  Each morning he has been faithful to put a fresh bandage on and even when he wishes he could take it off, he rallies himself, knowing that the habit is being eradicated.

Hopefully it works for him! 

Learning States and Capitals

We found this helpful online game that the children have been using to practice learning the states and capitals. The kids enjoy it. Just thought I'd share.  :)

Blog Design

How do you like my new blog banner?!  Monica, who takes care of all things pretty on the computer or in the house, put it up for me.

What Is More Charming

...than Winnie-the-Pooh for a cozy winter read aloud.

Getting Through

Christmas was exciting, afterward we have the fun of cleaning and organizing, then the dreary winter months set in.  During this time, the main focus is to plug away at our school work.  Latin conjugations, states and capitals, writing and decimals.  There is a LOT of schooling going on and it can be a tough slog.  I used to want to change course in my earlier homeschooling days, those catalogs and curriculum providers looked mighty inviting about now.  Something had to magically make this time of year easier to school in!

I discovered the answer is to stay the course.

Turn on the lights, turn up the heat, play some music and cheerfully encourage everyone in their work.  Bake blueberry muffins (that just seems like cheerful food to me), get pots of stew bubbling on the stove and make the days pleasant and productive.

If all else fails to motivate homeschool moms, ANY Virginia Seuffert talk from a past conference, should do the trick! 

Itty Bitty Duggar

You know how I admire the Duggar family.  Finally, there is news of their little one!

Little Josie gained a pound. Read the interview here!

Those Fascinating Gauls...

Two little girls in dance skirts read Asterix.  (Well, the four year old isn't actually reading.)

Dear Fellow Michiganders

It looks like we will have a mild Michigan winter.  I know this because we just got good snow tires on both vehicles for the first time ever.