Nope, My Kids Don't 'Fit In'

This is in response to some comments I read on a homeschooling blog.

The commenter stated "I could always tell the homeschooled kids in our church...they never fit in."

So, here is my response to the comment:

Dear Commenter,

I'm so glad you took the opportunity to judge the members of your church and what you consider to be proper socialization.

I homeschool my children, and I have to agree with you...no, they don't fit in.

Unlike many kids I know, they are completely confident in having meaningful conversation with adults, as well as children.  They don't shrug their shoulders when asked a question. 

Also, unlike many other kids, they aren't bound by expectations to only play with or have friendships with children exclusively in their grade or age group.  They have older friends and younger friends.  They are tolerant of younger siblings, not exclusive.

They aren't embarrassed to be seen with their parents or grandparents.  On the contrary, they are proud of their elders and will more than likely introduce you to them.

They would never bully an elderly woman who would be their bus monitor. (If you haven't seen that story on the news...sorry, but you must be living under a rock.  It was horrible the things those kids said to that woman, reducing her to tears.) 

They wear what they want to wear, wear their hair the way they like it and don't worry about what other people think. 

They don't think it is 'uncool' nor un-Constitutional to proclaim their love of Jesus Christ.

They love to learn new things.  They think Latin is cool.

So, Commenter, I guess I have to agree with you.  My homeschooled kids most definately do NOT fit in.

And I don't consider that to be a bad thing at all.

Sincerely,
A.H.

What's For Dinner

I don't know about you all but if I don't plan out weekly menus, I tend to overspend in the grocery store AND get so overwhelmed in the grocery store that I just grab processed convenient stuff because I just can't get inspired.

So, if you are like me and are looking for inspiration, here is a peek at my meal plans:

1. Butterflied Grilled Chickens with grilled zucchini and quinoa salad. 

(Butterfly a whole chicken by cutting up either side of its spine with shears, cutting out the backbone and pressing the chicken flat to ensure even cooking.  I marinate mine in soy sauce, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic.)  The quinoa salad includes mushrooms, green onions and fresh cucumber, and it is dressed in a lemony olive oil dressing.

2. Spanish Omlette (aka 'tortilla') and Spinach Salad

Spanish Omlette is merely frozen O'Brien potatoes and onions stir fried in olive oil till tender, then add about 6 beaten eggs into the pan, stir til it starts to 'set'.  Place the whole pan in the oven at a high temp til the top is set too. 

3. Pan Seared Catfish with homemade coleslaw and German potato salad.  LOVE German potato salad. Bacon makes everything wonderful. 

4.  Homemade Hamburger Helper. 

I despise the boxed stuff, but this is so easy to make from scratch, why bother with the boxed stuff?? I use macaroni pasta, ground turkey, tomato sauce, chopped bacon and cheddar cheese to make a Cheeseburger version.

5.  Grilled Pork Chops with sweet potatoes and broccoli. 

I love to glaze chops near the end of cooking with orange marmalade or peach preserves thinned with a little soy sauce. The sweet potatoes get steamed in the microwave til tender and are whipped with butter and cinnamon sugar. (BAD...I know.)  The broccoli gets stirfried in a pan with olive oil and garlic.

What about you? What is your favorite summer meal? How do you find inspiration for your family's meals?

Peachy Bread Pudding

I made the most fabulous bread pudding yesterday with King's Hawaiian Bread. 

Here is the recipe!

One loaf King's Hawaiian Bread, torn into chunks
1 regular sized can of peaches in syrup, drained and crushed by hand
2 cups half and half
3eggs
1/3 c brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp each almond extract and rum flavoring
1 tablespoon butter, melted

Place chunks of bread into an 8x8 buttered baking dish.  Mix the rest of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and pour over bread.  Push any dry bread chunks down into the half and half mixture. Let sit about 10 minutes.  Place baking dish inside a 9x13 pan and fill the larger pan with 1 inch of water.  Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes, or until top looks dry and 'set'.

Glaze for top:

2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup white sugar
splash of milk

Heat in sauce pan just until sugar dissolves.  Pour over hot bread pudding and let cool.

Tastes like the most succulent peach cobbler known to man.

Enjoy!

Home Summer Day Camp 2012

You may be asking yourself..."Self? What do homeschoolers do for summer camp?  Homeschoolers with frugal mommas?" 

I'm so glad  you asked.

While I am sure my kids would love day camp, I can't justify the expense.  So, here is my plan for one week this Summer...Day Camp At Home.  After morning devotions and a trip to the 'mess hall', we have a schedule for the week.

Monday:  Swimming Day.  Plan a day at the local pool/lake, complete with picnic lunch.  Try out some new swimming techniques.  If I can talk my brother into it, a kayaking lesson may be in the works.

Tuesday:  Board Game Day!  Get out all those board games and have a ball playing them. Card games also. 

Wednesday:  Cooking Day!  They will learn all about different cooking techniques and I will have all the ingredients for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for camp style cooking..and guess who will be doing the cooking?  Yep.  My little campers! 

Thursday:  Hiking/ Nature Journal Day.  Cruise to a local state park with our nature journals and colored pencils, magnifying glasses and a camera.

Friday:  Messy Science Day. I have a few science kits stocked away for a rainy day.  We will get those out and have fun with them, along with some messy science experiments from the Internetz.

Each evening will end with a camp fire and family time.

What about you?  Ever done a Day Camp at home? Any ideas to share?

I Give Up.

During my son's piano lessons my daughter and I usually watch television in the den of the instructors home.  That is where we got hooked on 'The Chew'.  I have to say...I love this show.

Anyway, the theme this week was Mother's Day, and in accordance with that, Clinton Kelly pulled three moms from the audience to perform style 'Mom Makeovers'.

As with all makeovers, there is the depressing 'before' shot. 

One mom was dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans.  "This is a look that says 'I GIVE UP.'" spouts Clinton.

I looked down at what I was wearing.  Teeshirt and cut off jeans, flip flops to round out the whole ensemble.

Then the big reveal.  Mom comes out looking faboo in some cute wedge shoes and a colorful frock.

Me: "Well Lauren...does my look say "I give up?"

Lauren: (rolling her eyes) "She's a MOM.  Why does she need to look all 'fancy' when she is cleaning toilets?"

Me: (Thinking to Self...my goodness she is soooo my child..) "I like the way you think.  I think I'll keep you around."

Still...part of me longs for those cute clothes.  Even if only the Tidy Bowl Man can appreciate it.

Mathemagician

(Warning: Shameless Mama bragging to ensue...)

That moment in homeschooling that I have dreaded has arrived...my son is smarter than me.  Or at least better in math than I am.

The following conversation occured during our math lesson a few days ago:

Me: Okay...there are three steps to solving this problem.  First you...

Will:  240!

ME: Heh heh...no, it's not 240.  See, first you have to multiply this. Then you...

Will:  It's 240 Mom.

Me: Okay, it's not 240.  When you multiply this by this, add the square root of this and divide by this and this (not the actual problem, but you get the picture)...the answer is....well...240.

Will: I told you!

Me: Yes you did, didn't you? (Thinking the whole time 'how in the heck did he do that in his HEAD? He is his father's child. )


Then we had the discussion about why it is important to work algebra problems step by step and SHOW YOUR WORK.  To which he rolled his eyes.

 I know son...I know.

*Forgot to mention this tidbit...this is my kid who struggled in math in public school for 4 years.  Homeschooling rocks!

History Reading List 2012-2013 : Lewis and Clark

I am so excited about studying Lewis and Clark next year!  Such an adventure. 

"The Captains' Dog" is written from the point of view of the dog that accompanied them on their journey.  I think it will be an interesting twist.

Of course, we will take time to read up on Sacagewea...

We love us some National Geographic in our house.  What better than a DVD all about the expedition?

We also have the DVD "America: The Story of Us" that we will watch.

For science, what better than to focus on a nature study of sorts?  I think it meshes nicely with the history lesson.