The "school" year comes to a close

I breathe a deep sigh of relief as the year comes to a close for us.  It's been a tough one.  Between food allergies and trying to teach 2 kids, it's been interesting to say the least!  All of the focus on health, the cooking, and the lost sleep as a result of reactions was draining, and made it very difficult to stay on task this year.  But -- we did it!!!  


I had really thought we'd love it, but in reality, I will be very happy when someone purchases our copy of Winterpromise American Story 1 off the trading post online.   I wound up really disliking it.  Many of the books were way over Lilli's head to the point of tears of frustration (and I was the one reading them out loud, not her!) and the whole thing left a lot to be desired.  We wound up having a really great time studying American history this year despite it though!  We snuggled up in my bed every night and read oodles of books, reliving everything from Columbus' journey, to Squanto and the Pilgrims, to a great escape of a Native American girl from another tribe, to a family's journey the revolutionary war, and more.  We had a blast!  And being able to go relive so man of these stories in real life around here in VA made it all the better.  We can't wait to go to MA and see more!

Mickade did a TON of work this year in math.  We got a little behind our goals with all the moving last year, so he had some extra do this year, and he did great.  We started with Math Mammoth which, quite honestly, brought tears, so we moved to the ever-popular Singapore Math 3A.  He had a few holes so we backtracked to 2B, moving through it quickly, then back into 3A.  He did great with the work, but, quite honestly, the way this program teaches math was too spiral for him and we had tears on a daily basis.  I pushed and pushed him through it, when I finally decided this was NOT the vision I had for homeschooling.  Never once did I picture us screaming and crying every day when math came out, nor was it EVER this way before us.  I'm not sure why it took so long for the lightbulb to go off in my head, but it finally did and we made one more change, this time to Math-U-See.  It is mastery based, and different from other curricula in that it focuses on one thing each year.  I put Mickade in Gamma, which is multiplication, and he took off!  It has been absolutely fantastic for him.  He watches a dvd lesson, then does worksheets until he understands it. The program has a whole set of unit blocks that goes with it, and they are used to help the child quite literally see math.  He loves it (well, "loves" may be a strong word, but I can say we have not had fighting and tears since we switched.)  Because he had background in multiplication but the old program didn't really allow him to get mastery, we were able to go through most of the year's work quite quickly.  Out of 30 lessons, we are now on 24 I think, and he will finish it up over the summer.  The way it's set up is great, because there are 3 pages for each lesson that focus on the new material, then 3 more that include that plus systematic review of everything from the past. The system makes it easy to customize to each child, since we can do less of the worksheets on topics he gets quickly, and more on the ones he doesn't.  There is even a worksheet generator on the website if you need still more.  Long story short, he took his first standardized test since VA requires them, and though I don't have the results yet, he kicked butt in math. :)  A little hard work goes a long way!

Lillian did great this year.  We tend to keep things laid back in K and 1.  Lillian is a go-getter though, and even though I had started her with Rightstart Math, she had to have workbooks like Mickade, so she wound up completing Singapore Math 1A & most of 1B, all on her own.  Seriously.  I barely discussed and answer with her at all.  I've learned this year that she is very independent (well, I knew that, but not in regard to learning lol) and hardly wants me in the equation at all!  I'm making some curriculum changes for next year, even from what I used with Mickade at this age.  I still really like First Language Lessons, but I can tell already she is going to fight me all the way with too much mom-lead work.  Since I don't really like Singapore Math, Lillian will move on to Math Mammoth 2 in the fall, since it is an excellent program similar in rigor to Singapore but written to the student, so she can retain her independence and use me when needed!  That girl will argue something to death, and never admit she was wrong.  She "doesn't need" me to teach her.  If she makes a mistake, she finds a way to back out of it as if she knew the real answer, she just wrote that one for fun.  Ah, these will be interesting times with her! 

Summer is here though, and so is the fun!  Our neighborhood is jumping with new kids, they are out playing all the time, and they have a few weeks of camp starting tomorrow (read: mommy vacation time.)  We're going to spend most of our time hanging out and having fun this summer, but I'll be slipping in Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry, Pre-Level, over the summer.  They've been asking for chemistry and this actually looks FUN, so who am I to deny them?  I've never seen a chemistry book explain things to kids in such an amazing way, maybe my kids will have a chance at making it through college chemistry if they need it to achieve their dreams!

Jamestown Settlement

Jamestown Settlement is a wonderful place to go with your family.  Aside from a great indoor museum, they have recreated the Powhatan camp (where Pocahontas lived) and Jamestown...it literally brings history alive.  We have a blast there.  Homeschool week was our second time there, and everyone still loved it.  They had classes for the kids as well.  I'm going to include photos from both of our visits.  We read Pocohantas' biography, and this was like stepping into the story.  Magical!

Learning about Powhatan life

Map of the settlers' route to Jamestown

In a Powhatan home

scraping deer hide

grinding corn

playing native games

 

 

Trying on armor in the Jamestown settlement

learning about weapons

Mickade gets put to work!

Down below in one of the life-size ship models

Homeschool Week in the Colonial Triangle

The first week of March was full of fun for us!  We've been studying early American History this year, and had the opportunity to go to special programs and have discounted rates at Jamestown Settlement, Yorktown Victory Center, and Colonial Williamsburg.  It was fantastic!  All of our reading literally came to life.

Colonial Williamsburg 

blacksmith

silversmith

A much needed break for Mom

At the wagon wheel maker's

'

The Millinery....clothing shop.

 

We got a behind the scenes tour of the horses and carts, called "Bits and Bridles."  The kids learned a little bit about the animals kept here, what types they breed, and got to see the carts up close and the horses in the stables (which was their favorite part.)  They have old breed working horses, and rare sheep and chickens.

 

Look at the size of that wheel!

The Barber....who actually makes wigs.  Mickade is checking out the different hair options (goat, horse, human....)

Enjoying a cup of drinking chocolate after a tour of the coffee shop

Enjoying some Colonial games

After missing several times, Lucy decided this game was best played up close.

Setting the table for Mr. Powell (Lucy boldly decided Mr Powell's seat was hers.)

I'd like to note that all the shops, etc in Williamsburg are actual working workshops.  The blacksmith makes the nails, etc that restore the buildings....the wagon wheels are used on real wagons...they make their own dresses at the millinery....the shoemaker makes the shoes they wear (and it take 8-12 hours per pair, mind you!)  It's an excellent experience and I highly recommend it!

Priceless

This evening before bath:

Me: "Quick, run upstairs, the tub is still running!"
Mickade and Lilli: "Ok!"


Lucy looks at me, all serious.
"The tub is running, mama?"
Me: "Yes, the water is running."
Lucy: "The tub is running? They need to go get it!  They need to get the tub and put it back in the corner!"

I heart being a mom.

Just a Quick One Today....

Happy Birthday, Lucy

This one deserves a replay.

Lawn Reform at Home

After our ginormous water bills last summer and the crispy grass we have to show for it, we knew we had to make some changes, but what exactly?  Then I came across this great website called lawnreform.org.  It was exactly what I was looking for!  We waste so much time, energy, and water on grass that isn't meant to be grown where we plant it.  Sure it looks nice, after you dump tons of chemicals on it and clean drinking water on it...lots of water.  Lots and lots of water.  So this week, we started phase 1 of Operation Lawn Reform.

First, on a nice tease of a nice day, I mapped out in the front yard where we wanted to make a bed, and dug a border around it.

Then this weekend, Stephen and Mickade worked hard.  We got bricks that match our house, and they lined the beds with bricks.  Then they also laid cardboard over the whole bed to kill the grass beneath. (The Lasagna Method) This is a great method, because once it's done it's job, it disintegrates under the mulch and becomes compost.  We're already recycling!  They covered all the cardboard with mulch, and it looks fantastic.  In another month or so we should be able to start planting our new plants.  Plants which will be native lovers of full sun and require little to no watering.  The plants will enhance the landscape and be SO MUCH MORE beautiful and interesting than boring old grass.  They will also attract butterflies and other helpful insects, while providing habitats for other small creatures.  Way better than grass, don't you think????

Pinewood Derby '11

Today was Mickade's cub scout pack's annual Pinewood Derby.  He and Stephen have spent weeks and weeks preparing for this day!  For the derby, the scouts each have a car kit that includes a block of wood and the wheels and axles...the literally carve out their own cars.  They carved, sanded, ground, polished, painted, waxed...and were finally ready. 

Mickade's car is in the middle lane "Future Car"

They were sooo nervous and excited this morning, but never fear!  Mickade's car came in 2nd for his den (so out of about 20 boys)!!!!!!  He won an awesome trophy.





His car then raced in the pack's finals for bigger trophies, and he was SO CLOSE!!!  4th place!  Overall a very successful and fun day!

For the Non-Believers...

This is Mickade's back after TWO Baked Lay's BBQ Potato Chips.  Yes, two.  The seasonings are high in salicylates.

This is after a 20 minute bath in epsom salts. The sulfates in the magnesium sulfate help the body clear out the toxins.  Amazing, huh?

One Fish, Two Fish

More baking adventures today!  It's really hard to get anything else done when you have to cook this much...but...luckily I love cooking and my family loves the results.  Today, I attempted cheese crackers for the second time.  I was also armed with a perfectly cute, teeny-weeny goldfish cookie cutter!!  So precious!  Now my little one can be just like everyone else, with little fishy crackers.  Boy was she excited! "Mama, you make goldfish crackers for me?!" she said over and over with squeals of joy.  She also enjoyed "helping" me make them (all you moms out there know that when a 2 year old helps, they tend to do just the opposite lol!).

4 ounces Cheddar Cheese (I've heard Daiya cheese is great too!)
3 Tbs. Butter, softened (or your preferred substitute if dairy-free)
2/3 cup Rice Flour
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Xanthan Gum (use 3/4 tsp. guar gum for corn-free)
1/2 tsp Corn-Free Baking Powder (I used less than a 1/4 tsp baking soda with the rest cream of tartar)
1/4 tsp. Baking Soda
3 Tbs. Milk (or dairy-free substitute)

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.  I use a baking stone, but if you use a metal pan be sure to grease it.
2. Mix all ingredients together except milk in mixing bowl with electric mixer (I use a countertop Kitchenaid) until crumby, then add milk.
3. Flour your smooth surface, and roll dough 1/8 inch thick (I just got these great rings for my rolling pin to make even dough!) and use teeny goldfish cutter until you use all the dough up!
   
4. Sprinkle with salt if desired, and cook about 10 minutes until getting golden brown on top.  Err on the side of overcooking, or they will not have the crisp of a cracker.
5. Serve to smiling little people!

Oh and hey, our kids can have fun too!  Next time I'm going to make some with natural dyes so we can have rainbow fish, too, without all the yucky stuff!

Oreo's....gluten free!

Our homeschool co-op had plans for a potluck today (which, incidentally, has now been snowed out), and I panicked.  All of our food restrictions lately make group eating situations just awful.  Will my kids be able to have any?  It's really awful to sit by and deny your kids food, especially when it may be something as simple and healthy as fruit salad.  So, I started searching and brainstorming.  I figured chicken and rice soup would be a perfect crockpot meal, so that was an easy one.  But I needed a new dessert!!  But what???  Then I found it.  Oreos!!!!  I took the original recipe from Smitten Kitchen and adapted it for our tastes and needs...fantastic!

Homemade Oreos

Gluten-free Oreos

For the chocolate wafers:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (For gluten-free, I used an all-purpose flour mix...details below)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa (I used both Hershey's and Ghirardelli)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) spectrum palm shortening
1 large egg
A few tablespoons of water to obtain a slightly wet consistency.  If it's too dry and doughy, the cookies won't cook thin enough.

Wheat flour Oreos

For the filling:
1/2 cup Spectrum palm oil shortening2 cups powdered sugar (I made ours in the Vitamix, using tapioca starch instead of cornstarch since M can't have corn)
1/4-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In electric mixer, mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt, and sugar.  Add the shortening, and then the egg. Thoroughly mix (wheat version will make nice ball of dough, gf will be slightly wetter).
3. Roll rounded teaspoons of dough in your hands into little balls and place on cookie sheet (I use baking stones, otherwise you may want to line with parchment paper).  Place on cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Flatten dough with bottom of glass or your fingers. Bake for 8 minutes for wheat, 10 minutes for gluten-free.  Let sit for a couple minutes then place cookies on cooling rack until cool.
4. For the cream filling, mix shortening at low speed, gradually adding in sugar and vanilla. Mix on high for a couple more minutes until cream is light and fluffy.
5. To make the best cookies you've ever tasted, put the cream in a pastry bag with a large round tip (or in a strong ziplock bag with the corner cut off) and squeeze about a teaspoon glob of cream onto one cooke, then place another one of similar size (I know I still have to work on uniform sizes for my cookies lol!) on top, pressing together lightly. 

All-Purpose Gluten-Free Flour
3 cups brown rice flour (I make my own in my Vitamix, much cheaper and I never run out!)
1 cup potato starch
1/2 cup tapioca starch

This recipe could easily  be adapted for other food allergy needs...different flour mixes,egg-free, etc.

I'm going to confess....the gluten-free ones taste more like Oreos than the wheat ones!!!  The wheat ones come out a little softer, whereas the gluten-free ones have that familiar crunch.  So delicious!!!!

2/18/11...I just edited this recipe.  I made it dairy-free and it's even better than before.  The cream is just like oreos now!

Even Unicorns Need Spa Days

 

Lucy had her hair cut Friday and was inspired.

A Lot Can Happen in 30 Days

At the beginning of this year I decided my resolution was to get back into shape.  After 3 babies and our last move (during which I somehow gained almost 10lbs) and the food allergy baking (because, of course, how do you know if things are coming out good if you don't eat half the batch taste them along the way?), I needed to do something.  My ab muscles were, uh, missing.  My rear end had gone south.  I wasn't totally sure how I was going to accomplish this until one of the shopping blogs I subscribe to posted a link to Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred.  It was only $7.99.  I read the reviews, and was completely intrigued.  I saw before and after photos on blogs and was blown away.  Could that really happen in only 30 days????


So I ordered it and set forth on my journey.  It was a tough workout, but the kind of tough that makes you feel awesome about yourself for getting through afterward.  Sure, it was hard to walk up the stairs sometimes, but as I started to see things like calf muscles starting to cut through, I was motivated.  I have been sore in one capacity or another for 30 days...but I like it!  I was truly determined.  I did the workout each and every day for 30 days straight, even if it meant working out at 10pm when  everyone was finally asleep and the kitchen was picked up.  I had to do this, for myself, for once.

And it was worth it.  I know I posted my clothed photos on Facebook, but it seems I've motivated so many of my friends to try it today, I thought I'd just go all out and put myself fully out there.  If I can inspire a few of my friends to get healthy, it will be worth it!

I was totally out of shape for me when I started.  My before photo is a bit, um, embarrassing, but the after makes it worth it.  I'll come out of hiding here and give you the real deal.  In just 30 days, 25 minutes a day...less than 3 hours a week...I lost 3 1/2 inches off my waist and reduced my body fat percentage down 5% and into an acceptable range.  Other places saw modest circumference reduction, but huge changes in composition.  I'm much more solid.

 

My before photos are a little embarrassing, but I really feel like you need to see them to understand.  I mean, I have visible abs (and if you  were to feel my abs, you can actually feel the ridges of the 6-pack just aching to come through).    You can see the outline of definition in my thigh muscles.  You can't tell in these photos, but I even have calf definition starting to peek through. The best part of the whole regimen, though, was I started to see changes in only 5 days.  No joke.  My waist melted away that first week, I think I lost 2 inches in that first week alone.  Freaking A-mazing.  If you decide to try this, please take photos and measurements of yourself before you start.  I totally had a freakout at the end of each week when the scale didn't move...and then I looked at my new photos compared to my first ones, and read measurements...and knew I was on the right track.

I did a little dance last night when I was finished, so excited for having completed the 30 days.  I'm  not quite ready for bikini season yet, but luckily I have time....and Jillian Michael's 6 Week 6 Pack on the counter waiting to be started!

Healthy Chocolate Fix!

I just made this recipe for the first time!  While it's certainly not as decadent as a traditional recipe, it will do the trick.  Of course, my currently baking batch is full of semi-sweet and white chocolate chips, so that probably ups the rich factor.  Also, I'm considering making it with butter one time too and seeing if that makes it a tad more decadent.  But really, using black beans instead of flour not only makes it gluten-free, but makes it chock full of protein, fiber, and  nutrients! (I wonder if this means it's ok to eat the whole pan?)

Black Bean Brownies

1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained (I used 2 cups of black beans I had prepared myself)
3 eggs
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup cocoa powder (this could easily be upped)
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Conversation between Stephen and Lucy

This morning, before leaving for work (where he often sleeps, remember):

Stephen: Lucy, did you sleep in  my bed last night?

(She did, of course, sleep in our bed.)

Lucy: No...your bed is on your boat.

Bahahahahahaha!!!!

More Mickade's Finds

Bringing back Mickade's fun videos!

Food Allergy Update

I didn't realize how long it's been since I've updated. We've had a lot of breakthroughs the past few months! We are now a low-salicylate family, and much, much happier. We are still working out the kinks and testing out foods, but we are healthier!!!

Lucy had the most dramatic change after removing salicylates. She went from a volatile, screaming, moody child who had tantrums for 30 min or more and locked herself in closets to cry to a calm, normal 2 year old who I am more than happy to take shopping with me. She has gone from pooping 1-2 times a week to pooping 1-2 times a DAY! And no crying when it's time to go. Just a simple "Mama I need to go pooooop!" and a run to the bathroom. It really is a miracle. I no longer supplement her with oral magnesium regularly. I do still give her epsom salt baths, but that is to make sure she maintains good mag levels in her body in general and because they are an excellent salicylate neutralizer. They can literally turn a reaction around. I do try to give her molybdenum and zinc regularly though as they are good for salicylate issues, as well as methyl B12.

The other big surprise, is we have gotten rid of Mickade's eczema for the first time in his whole life! Since he was a few months old, we have been battling his eczema. He used to be so itchy as a toddler that I literally scratched his arms for him as he drifted asleep. He is now eczema-free!!!! It turns out he is super sensitive to salicylates as well, but for him it seems to show up more in his skin. However, we are now noticing it affects his mood as well. He had some ketchup at lunch the other day for the first time in 3 months, and within 30 minutes he had itchy welts, and we also noticed he became very angry for the rest of the day. Mean, glaring looks, yelling, etc. Kind of scary, really.

It's been hard living without so many of our favorite foods, but we are managing. We have been able to add golden delicious apples back into our diet, as they are the variety with the lowest amount of salicylates. It is limiting, though, and I feel we turn to baked goods more often because we can eat so few fruits. At the moment, we are ok with peeled pears, bananas, golden delicious apples, limes, lemons, and mangoes for sure. We still need to retest grapefruit and watermelon, I'm not sure about our first go-round. We eat peas, green beans, carrots, onions, iceberg lettuce, celery, and asparagus. The kids can get away with lemon-lime soda and rootbeer for a treat, but something like orange soda can create a bad reaction. Not that we ever had soda often, but just for a glimpse of our life. We also cannot have tea, except chamomile. Coffee is high in salicylates but luckily I've been able to get away with that one! I still keep Lucy mostly gluten free, so that's another hitch in our eating but we make do.

I bake a LOT and it shows on my hips LOL but I've been working on that one. Luckily she is not direly reactive to gluten so if she has a little here or there we are ok. I'm hopeful since her reaction level to that is so low that she will outgrow it. At any rate, I prepare almost all of our food from scratch, so spend a lot of time in the kitchen (which is now never clean lol). This week I made 2 batches of granola bars, 2 different kinds of rice krispy treats, pumpkin bread, and plan to make pear jelly and nutrigrain bars this afternoon. In addition, I want to make a big batch of tomato-free "tomato" sauce. Yes, you read that right lol! We've been missing tomato sauce so, so, so very much. We've eaten sauceless pizza and been without any of our favorite Italian dishes since the middle of October. No chili either, which as many of you may know is Mickade's all-time favorite. He can eat his weight in chili. I tried out a new recipe last night and it was the answer to our prayers!!!! It sounds weird but it's delicious! It can be found here.