A Recipe - Roasted Garlic Potatoes

I hope that everyone enjoyed a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for, but the biggest thing that fills my heart with gratitude (and sheer awe) is God's overwhelming, encompassing grace. There is not a day that goes by when I don't realize what a mess I am when left to my own devises, and am humbled before Him for His forgiveness and love. I am beyond thankful for Jesus' sacrifice in my place so that I can be a child of the Most High God!

I've confessed before that I don't have much when it comes to cooking skills, but here is one recipe that I've made for years, always turns out great, and I get repeat requests for at gatherings (such as Thanksgiving!), so I thought I'd share! Its easy and super yummy!

Ingredients:
4-5 pounds petite red potatoes - these can sometimes be difficult to find - you can't just use baby reds, they have to be "petite" as in, about the size of the "O" your pointer finger and thumb make when you put them together (I hope that makes sense).
1 head garlic
1 stick butter
1 TB salt
1 TB dried dillweed

Instructions:
Wash potatoes and pack (in a single layer) into the largest glass baking dish you have. Peel entire head of garlic and place cloves in between potatoes scattered randomly throughout dish. Slice stick of butter into 1/2 tablespoon slices, and place on top of potatoes, randomly throughout dish as well. Evenly sprinkle salt and dillweed over top of potatoes, garlic, and butter. Cover with tin foil. Bake at 400 degrees for 2 hours (longer is OK, too).

Try to stop salivating as the smell of delicious roasting garlic fills the house! The potatoes will come out looking blackish brown, but they're much better tasting than they look ;-) The skin will be crunchy, and the inside will be soft and delicious. The flavor can't be beat!

I'd say this recipe can feed 10-15 people.

Enjoy!

TOS Crew Review - Christian Kids Explore Chemistry

Christian Kids Explore Chemistry is a full year science course for grades 4-8, from Bright Ideas Press. It contains 30 Lessons broken down in 5 units, along with hands-on activities and experiments for each lesson.


The book is very easy to use and schedule. Each lesson is brief (about 2 pages of reading each), and there are accompanying worksheets (called Review It) the students can do to help reinforce what the lesson taught. These worksheets were generally fill-in-the-blank type questions, so they could easily be done orally for a child that does not enjoy writing or worksheets much. Following the worksheet, there is a Hands-on Activity, which range from simple experiments using basic materials that are easily found or already on hand, to simpler things such a classifying chemicals, making element cards, or word searches. Many of the Hands-on Activities are also followed by a "Think About It" section, where questions are asked about the activity and the results of the activity. After every 6 Lessons, there is a Unit Wrap-up, which is a quiz/test of all of the material covered in that Unit.

The book also contains a substantial Appendix section, which includes Answer Keys to the worksheets and quizzes, coloring pages to go along with each lesson (which is great for kids who need to be doing something with their hands while listening!), as well as a thorough resource list to delve further into topics discussed and encourage delight-directed learning.

Bright Ideas Press gave us the pleasure of choosing from several different products to review, and I purposely chose this book because I thought would challenge the children a little bit. Isaac (9) is in 4th grade, so we were on the lower age spectrum of recommended grade levels, but I thought it would be good to see how easily adaptable it would be. I also chose Chemistry because it was something new compared to the other sciences we've studied so far.

We found it very easy to complete one lesson each week, while only doing science twice a week. We did the reading and worksheets on the first day, and then the hands-on activity and any follow-up the next. The schedule was not overwhelming at all, and it was nice to be able to only have to schedule Science twice a week so that it did not become a big burden, as well as allow us room for other science explorations through the week, such as nature walks and whatnot.

As far as adapting to younger ages, I think Bright Ideas Press is correct in stating it is for Grades 4-8. (They even suggest going over the material a second year if need be). While the lessons and schedule were easy to keep pace with, the material presented is definitely complex! Chemistry is a pretty deep subject at any age (at least it was for me, lol!) and my younger ones who sat in on the lessons had a hard time grasping the concepts. Isaac was able to understand a lot of it, but it was still a challenge for him - not that challenges are bad things! I thought it was good to stretch his brain a little and try to help him understand concepts that are a little advanced.

The one complaint I heard (and had myself) was that not all of the Hands-on Acitivites were very... interesting. With a Chemistry course, I sort of expected there to be really exciting experiments - basic chemical reactions doing cool things, like making wild colors, safe explosions, etc. So the kids and I were both a little bummed when some of them were just "busywork" like word searches or classifying things, or making lists of things. Granted, there were definitely some more interesting projects, but perhaps not quite enough to hold everyone's interest.

Other than that, I think the curriculum is a great one for middle schoolers and provides an excellent foundation for a high-school level Chemistry course!

Be sure to check out the Table of Contents for the book, as well as Sample Pages to get a more in-depth look at the book and how a typical lesson looks. Also, to save families from the potential hassle of photocopying review pages, coloring pages, and quizzes to hand out to their children, they offer a Student Activity Book as well, which is a downloadable PDF with all necessary pages available to print off as many copies as needed. Definitely a time-saver, but not absolutely necessary. (For me, I love anything that makes life a little more convenient!) The main lesson book is $34.95, and the Student Activity book (optional) is $12.95.

To see what other Crew Members thought about Christian Kids Explore Chemistry as well as other Bright Ideas Press products, click on over to the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog!

Disclaimer: I was given this product specifically for the purpose of reviewing here on my blog as a member of TOS Homeschool Crew. I received no other compensation in regards to this review.

7 Quick Takes Friday - Vol. 2

Lately I've been able to dive into some really good books. I'm currently reading The Cross-Centered Life by CJ Mahaney, Brokenness, Surrender, Holiness by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, as well as The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson. Oh, such wonderful wisdom I've been gleaning from these! They don't take the place of time in the Word, of course, but they are very encouraging as well as challenging, and I recommend all of them!

Unfortunately, I failed my 1 hour glucose screening. I've failed it during 2 other pregnancies, as well, but always passed the 3 hour. Its just a big inconvenience. And honestly, I think the test is administered unrealistically. When am I ever going to consume 50g of pure glucose? If I were doing that on a regular basis, there'd definitely be something to worry about, not just my blood sugar levels! But, I do know that gestational diabetes is something to take seriously, so I resign myself to the whole procedure. I try to look at it as a "mom's morning out", only with fasting and bloodletting as part of the deal (I don't think those are included in traditional mom's mornings out, and if so, then there's just another reason I've never done one!). I do enjoy the quiet time I can spend reading, thinking, or... just enjoying quietness.

Joel is "blooming" in leaps and bounds! Reading, math, chores around the house, his whole personality! This is one thing I love about the "Better Late than Early" philosophy - seeing them come into their own, instead of be forced into a mold that might not fit. I haven't done any formal math with Joel, but he is all the time telling me things like what 8+8 is, or what 9-5 is... things he has figured out on his own! Instead of rote memorization without understanding, he actually understands these things because he's been allowed to explore them on his own and in his timing. And, it has saved us the time, frustration, and relationship break-down of trying to teach him something when his mind just wasn't ready for it. Now... it is!

Speaking of memorization, however, he does have a great knack for it! For a few weeks the bigger boys were memorizing Psalm 8... and while they were at it, Joel surprised us by knowing it, too! Here's a video of it:

I've been nesting! Its a little early, but if I've got the urge to do it, I'm going to run with it. I've gotten bedrooms organized, the hall closet cleaned out, and am in full-time planning for the first few months of new-mommyhood. Preparation is half the battle, right? I am trying not to get overwhelmed at the idea of what having 6 will bring, but instead make life simpler even now, so that the transition can go smoothly. Surely I can hope?

Along with nesting and organizing, I've gotten back on track using my Motivated Moms planner. I had fallen off the organizational wagon over the summer. Why do I ever stop?! Its so nice to have sparkling clean bathrooms with minimal work, along with other things that can easily pile up when not attended to regularly. It feels good to be back into a routine!

By the way... if you haven't heard of Seeds Family Worship CDs, you are missing out! We got the entire set of 5 CDs and we looooovvvveee them! They're not just for kids - I listen to them even when the kids aren't around! Here's the best part - we're all getting God's Word saturated in our hearts. Earlier today one of the kids hummed "He alone is the rock of my salvation..." and 3 other kids chimed in nice and loud "He is my fortress, I will never be shaken!" I can't get over the way that they're absorbing scripture. Having God's word in their hearts like that will benefit them their whole lives, I truely believe it. When we're in times of trouble or confusion, the Holy Spirit brings to mind the verses that have been tucked away, and we are comforted by the very words of God. When others are seeking, hurting, or rejoicing, we can share with them the very words of God to meet them where they are. There is no lack of benefit to memorizing scripture, and Seeds Family Worship CDs make it so easy and enjoyable!

Although it is still early, I have already gotten out my little bitty cloth diapers to take inventory. Ahhhh... if there's nothing more adorable than teeny tiny fluffy diapers! They are irresistible! And... I've actually added a few a few pink ones to the mix... just in case of course! ;-)

TOS Crew Review - Corps of Re-Discovery - Fringe Pouch Kit

Corps of Re-Discovery is a family owned company devoted to providing historical crafts and activities designed to "inspire imaginations and create memories". They provide a variety of kits which help children relive historical time periods, such as the pioneer and colonial days, the Native American lifestyle, and items Frontiersmen would have made and used.

For this review, we received a Fringe Pouch Kit. Isaac actually already had one he had made previously, so Ezra (8) was thrilled to be the tester for this kit! He opened it up and dived right in!

Here are the contents of the package - everything we needed, including a threading needle:

The instructions were easy to follow. It was a little tricky for him to line up the pieces by himself in the beginning. But once he got started on the lacing, he was off and running! To lace around the entire outside took about 30-40 minutes of concentration for him. He sometimes has trouble with sitting still and concentrating for extended periods of time, so I appreciated that this was an activity that held his interest for that long!

When it came time to do the drawstring at the top, he did need a little bit of my help. The instructions weren't as clear as I would have liked, but after some trial and error, we got it done and working correctly.

The end result is a study and functional bag, and a happy boy who is proud to have made it (pretty much) all by himself! He's already put some of his special things in it and wears it everywhere.

I really liked this kit, and loved that it was basic enough for my 8 year old to do without much intervention on my part, but also created something durable that he'll be able to play with for a long time.

Everything that Corps of Re-Discovery has on their website is something that we would enjoy making and using, or giving as gifts. In fact, (shhhh...) Isaac will be receiving their Moccasin-making kit for his birthday next month! My boys love working with their hands and creating unique crafts, especially if they have a historic meaning to them. It definitely enhances the "lifestyle of learning" that we try to promote in our homeschool, and helps brings to life the many stories we've been reading about the settling of our country!

I highly recommend taking a look at what Corps of Re-Discovery has to offer. The prices are very reasonable, and the quality of the Fringe Pouch kit we reviewed was quite nice, so I would expect the same from the rest of their products! Also, as an added benefit, I love being able to support a small, family-run business!

To see what other members of the TOS Crew thought about some of Corps of Re-Discovery's products, be sure to check out the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog!

Disclaimer: I was given this product specifically for the purpose of reviewing here on my blog as a member of TOS Homeschool Crew. I received no other compensation in regards to this review.

7 Quick Takes Friday

I apologize that my blog has been so... neglected as of late. That little thing called "real life" has been flying by at the speed of, well... life! Which means that some less important things have fallen on the back burner, for example, blogging. I have had a few things I've wanted to blog about, none being especially post worthy on their own, so I'm joining in on Conversion Diary's "7 Quick Takes Friday" to do a little recap of life at our house lately!

Judah is now 19 months old!

He is as cute as ever! His vocabulary is increasing daily, and he now answers conversational questions, such as "How are you?" and "Did you sleep well?" I have no idea if he actually knows what he's saying, because his answers are always "good" and "yes", but its adorable none-the-less. When he has no words to say, he just makes a bunch of babbling noises with some "ummmmm..." pauses thrown in. (Also super cute, except during church.) He's growing up SO fast, and I know that I'm going to blink and he'll be speaking full sentences without his little squeaky voice soon. I'm going to miss these days!

(Bananas are his favorite snack!)

He ADORES babies. He will come running when he hears or sees a baby, just to look at it, hug it, rub its head, talk to it... this is all a very good thing, considering my next point...

I am now in my 3rd trimester! I haven't blogged about this pregnancy much at all, but all is going well. Uneventful is the way my pregnancies usually are, and this one is following suit. For which I am very thankful - I don't take it for granted! We don't know the gender of this baby and won't be finding out until arrival day, but I will admit that there are small, subtle differences about this pregnancy that make me wonder... (but I don't dare say it!). The anticipation is exciting! I would love to insert a cute belly picture here, but... I don't have any. None! :-( I'll have to take some before baby actually comes!

We are starting Week 12 of Sonlight's Core 3 next week, which means we'll be 1/3 of the way through our school year! I've been really trying to stay on track because I have no clue how much the arrival of #6 is going to have me sidelined, so I'm doing as much as possible now so that we'll be able to take as long of a break as we need. Its going great! Do I still love Sonlight? Absolutely. This is by far the easiest year of homeschooling I've had, and I'm "schooling" more kids than ever before (4th grade, 3rd grade, Kindergarten, and Preschool). I attribute alot of the "easiness" to the switch to Sonlight. Yay!

Just for an update on the shoe solution - it is working! Amazingly well!! There's been ONE case of misplaced shoes. Unfortunately, that did not happen on a day we had to run errands, but the culprit was required to wear the pink flip-flops for all outside play and chores that day. And that was torture enough for him, so the infraction has not happened again! My debt of gratitude again goes out to my dear friend and her husband who came up with the idea!

Want to see my new entryway organizer? It was hand built by my very own, sweet, hardworking hubby! He knew that I had been longing for some Ikea cubbies for a while, and took it upon himself to surprise me with these - which blow Ikea's out of the water!

I LOOOOVE it! Currently, the baskets are designated for: blocks, library books, co-op supplies, and shoes. There is one empty basket right now, but that will be put into use for hats, gloves, and scarves as the weather gets cooler. It is absolutely perfect!

I've discovered a small drawback to the "color-coding" system that many large families (such as ours) implement. All of my boys have specific color plates, cups, and bowls, which makes serving meals and clean-ups super, super easy. However, Judah has now developed color confusion! Everything that is red, he calls "Nay-nay" (his name for Nathan). Yellow is "Joel". You get the picture. So I've been taking the time to be super specific about colors - pointing out "red" things and emphasizing the word "red", etc. I don't think it will cause any lasting color identification disorder, but it is kind of cute. Which is pretty much like anything Judah does. Yes, I'm biased ;-)

Lest anyone think that I've forgotten that I have 4 other children besides Judah, here are some recent pictures from a disc golf outing (a very popular activity at our house). They're getting SO big! *sigh* I tell people that's why I keep having more! ;-)

Mr. Nate!

Joel in action (he's hardly ever NOT in action!)

Ezra lining up a shot

Isaac, just being Isaac :-)
(Can I add a note and say its unbelievable to me that my firstborn will soon be 10! Yikes!)

So that's about it in a nutshell. We're busy, busy, busy, enjoying God, living life, and loving one another. What more could I ask for? I am truly blessed!

Treasures of October

From Raising Arrows:

• Parenting by the Book, Part 1
• Parenting by the Book, Part 2
• Parenting by the Book, Part 3
• They Are Not My Slaves
  

How to Provoke Your Children at Grace to You Blog

Amazing Photo at Youth Defence

The Tender-Hearted Mom at A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

From True Woman:

• Being "All There" for Your Kids
• A True Woman Chooses Joy
  

From ...to Love, Honor and Vacuum:

• Are You Called or Are You Driven?
• Do Not Despise the Day of Small Things
• Allowing Kids to Fail
  

Why I Went from Pro-Choice to Pro-Life at Conversion Diary - this is such an important audio - I think everyone needs to listen to this (perhaps not children) - but be prepared for frank discussion of the issue.

C.S. Lewis on Pride at Mandy Mom . com

From Passionate Homemaking:

• What Every Mom Needs to Know After a Bad Day
• Christian Literature for Kids Ages 0-8

A collection of excellent posts on discipline from Like Mother, Like Daughter:

• The One Method of So-Called Discipline that Doesn't Work
• Dear Aristotle, He's So Clever
• Six-to-Eleven Year Olds Need Less Patience from You
• Try This Little Secret of Mine, Instead of "Because I Said So"
  

Church and State, Part 2: Freedom, Idolatry, and Hypocrisy at Breathing Grace, a Life in Bloom

Missional Mothering at The Resurgence

Cookies or Christlikeness? at At the Well

5 Hospital Procedures that Ruin your Birth at The Stir

Let Me Submit to You at Mars Hill Blog

Balancing Academics with the Rest of Life at In the Heart of My Home