Greek Theatre and a Recipe

Yesterday was our first official school day of the 2014-2015 school year!  We did our normal schedule, although I had an appointment right in the middle of the day, so even though we got it all complete, it was broken up into morning session and afternoon session.

Today was about the same.  You see when you own your own business, you have to meet clients when they are available.  So, today we did the morning session and afternoon session as well.  This actually seems to be working out pretty good.

On to what we are learning!  We are still studying Mystery of History Volume 1.  We are up to 478 - 399 BC when Greece was at its prime and they were not afraid of war, so they explored art, theatre, etc.  My boys actually understood this time period.  There are some time periods that at their young age, they have no idea what its all about. 

Anyway, we learned about how plays were sometimes played out by only 2 actors.  The actors would change their masks to show the change of characters and their moods.

Today, my boys created their own masks.  And here they are.

Yes, this one is upside down.  He wanted it that way.

And now for a recipe!

I wanted something today that was going to change up what our menu.  I am tired of the same ole same ole.  So, tonight I took a recipe and made it my own.  It's Super easy and was very good!

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Dry Ranch Dressing Mix
1/3 Cup Louisiana Hot Sauce
1/4 Cup Butter, melted
4 Chicken Breast, boneless, cut into strips

Directions:
Non-hot strips (for the boys)
Coat the chicken strips with the ranch dressing mix and place on a baking sheet covered in wrinkled up tin-foil.  Drizzle butter on chicken.  Bake for 40 minutes in an 350 degree oven.

Boneless Hot Wings

Mix the Ranch Dressing Mix with the hot sauce.  Then, coat the chicken strips with the mixture.  Place chicken on a baking sheet that has been covered with a wrinkled up piece of tin-foil.  Drizzle butter over chicken.  Bake for 40 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

I ate mine on a bed of spring mix lettuce, with black olives, and ranch dressing. 

After this picture was taken, I added french fried onions to the salad.

Everybody loved it!  I hope you do too!!!!!

Back to the grindstone

As many of you have noticed, or maybe you didn't, I have not been blogging for a while.  I was blogging about homeschooling.  We are still homeschooling, I just stink at blogging about it.  So, I am going back to what I like to do, I'm going to use this blog as my own diary of sorts and also a place to keep the recipes that are hits at the A Estate.

I hope you enjoy reading about out crazy life and that may be a recipe or two that you try and actually like.

So, today during reading with my seven year old, he's reading How Oliver Olson Changed the World.  He reads about Neil Armstrong's quote "that's one small step for man, one giant step for mankind."  He says, its a giant step for mankind, and a small step for girlkind.  LOL!  I laughed so hard.  No, he's not sexist, he's seven.  And that is just how seven year olds think.

Here is a little recipe for today.  I don't have any pictures, but maybe the next time I cook it, I will add the pics.


BUFFALO CHICKEN SANDWICHES/SALADS (hubby ate it as a salad, I ate it as a salad)
2 bottle of buffalo sauce, I used whatever I had on hand
2 Tablespoons of  ranch seasoning
4 chicken breasts


In your crockpot, pour 1 of the bottles of buffalo sauce.  Then add the ranch and stir.  Next add your chicken.  And top it off with the other buffalo sauce bottle (I actually only used 1/2 bottle here).  Cook on low 8-10 hours.

Before serving, shred chicken.

Delicious!!!!!

Enjoy!
Sherie

How history repeats itself

As we were reading history today, I was reminded that history does repeat itself.  Read this quote from Mystery of History, Volume I, Creation to the Resurrection, Lesson 24:

"Problems at home often make a country lose power against its neighbors.  That's what happened to Egypt after the reign of Tutankhamen (King Tut)."

Does this sound like America today?  Due to our leaders inability to work together and negotiate, we (the United States of America) look weak to all of our neighbors and our enemies.

These words spoke volumes to me today.  The boys and I had a lengthy discussion of how we (U.S.A) are looking very weak and how it could be solved.  They absorbed everything I said very well.  If only we can grow a whole generation of kids smart enough to know that negotiations are a good thing, and that no way does one side get everything and the other side just settles for it.  We have to have strong leaders on BOTH sides that are thick skinned enough to take one on the chin and come together to NEGOTIATE, NOT GIVE AWAY THE KINGDOM TO THE OTHER SIDE.  We have strong leaders on one side in our capital, but when it comes to strong leaders on the other side, the weak leaders are too embedded with the other side to give the strong leaders a chance.  They will in turn, call the strong leaders, that are willing to stand up to the other side, names and smear them to all of the press.  This shows weakness on their part.

If the above it too vague for you, let me clarify.  We obviously have strong leaders on the Democratic side.  But, the Republican side of the aisle is weak.  Not all are weak, only the ones that embedded with the Democratic side seem to get a say in anything.  The true strong leaders of the Republican party are not allowed to stand up for anything.  And when they do, the embedded leaders of the Republican party call them names and smear them in the press.

Therefore, until we are able to get these strong leaders in the right position, by voting the weak/embedded name calling ones out of office, we (the USA) will be considered a weak nation to other countries and to our enemies.

I love homeschooling!  How many other kids in public school, or even in private school can have a discussion with their teacher about politics or how the world views us?

I am helping to raise strong leaders for our country!

Have a great day!
Sherie

Living History

Have you ever been to a bridal shower and had to wrap somebody in toilet paper to create a dress?  Me too!  So, when I read about making mummies, this is what I pictured.  Well, when you are dealing with 7 & 8 year olds, it doesn't alway turn out the way you have pictured in your mind.  LOL!  But you know what?  We had fun, no matter what!

I love to make history come to life.  I don't remember doing this in school, EVER!  I remember history being B-O-R-I-N-G!  But, when you bring it to life it embeds history in your mind and you don't forget it (like I did).

So, off we went into the boys room and they picked out the stuffed animal they wanted to mummify.  The first animal my youngest boy wanted to mummify was a whale.  I was like, ummmm no.  That would take all of the toilet paper we have in the house.  LOL!  They then chose small animals to mummify.  Shphew!

Here are the result of the mummification of stuffed animals.

Yes, I have a mess in our office/classroom.  I'm getting ready for a yard sale, but its has rained every weekend this summer, so this stuff is just sitting there.....

Yes, it is 90 degrees outside and my youngest has on long sleeves.  I'm allowing them to pick out their own clothes these days and so we are experimenting with what matched and what doesn't.

Yes, we used A LOT of toilet paper.  But you know what?  The frugal mom in me made them pick it all up and put it in a basket and they had to use it every time the went to the bathroom until it was all gone.  LOL! 

Back to history, I LOVE how Mystery of History has an activity after every lesson.  It really brings history to life for everybody!

I hope this gives you some ideas as to how to bring history to life for your kids!

Have a GREAT day!
Sherie

First day of School

I'm a little behind in posting this.  My daughter is starting her Senior year in Public School.  Yes, I said Public School.  However, her school is a little different from your typical PS.  She is in a Technical High School, which if you were like me, you would be like, *gasp* a Technical High School?  Yea, its not like that either.  Her school you have to apply to go there in December of your 8th grade year.  Then, they inform you in April if you got in or not.  They only allow 300 kids in each year.  So, if all of the kids stayed at this school, there would 1200 students.  BUT, of the 300 per class some transfer out to other public schools, some are military families, so they transfer out.  Anyway, the senior class ends up with about 150-200 students.  Which does sound like a big number, but when the other schools are graduating 400-500 per school each year, 150-200 is s-weet!

And, they aren't learning hairdressing, or mechanics (which there is nothing wrong with those careers, I have many friends in both of those career fields and making great incomes).  No, this school has Information Technology, Nursing, EMS, and others I can't think of right now.  My daughter happens to be in the career field of Biomedical Technologies.  Her goal is to become a nurse practitioner.  She is a great student.  She is in all AP, Honors, or Dual Enrollment classes.  I am so proud of her!

A little background on her.  She went to private school until 5th grade.  Then I homeschooled her for 3 years.  Then, she went into the public school system. 

Here is a couple of pics.

Isn't she beautiful?!?

And now, this is what the rest of us did on the first day of public school.

(don't be hatin' on our scores!  LOL!)

 

After bowling, we went for pizza, and then we went to see Turbo!  It was a total blast of a day.  It turns out, we had just finished 30 days of school.  I think we may have another fun day after the next 30 days of school are accomplished.

 

Have a GREAT day!

Sherie

 

Making Models

Our Public Library offers free model making classes for kids.  I just found out about it, so we hightailed it downtown to enjoy this experience.  My boys HAD A BLAST!!!!  Here are a few pics of them creating their cars.

( Our great library assistant, helping us figure out the instructions)

They were sooooo proud of themselves!  I am proud of them too.  Coming in November, we will be going back to make Blue Angel Models.  (and word on the street says that one of the pilots may be there.  We will see about that)

Have a GREAT day!
Sherie

How Is This Comfortable?????

I mean really????  I am not complaining though.  Do you see what he is doing?  HE'S READING!!!!!  My little guy hates anything school, so when he stops and reads on his own, I am ecstatic!

To make it fair, here is my Big guy being studious! 

I love how different they are.  They may only be 13 months apart, but they are like night and day in every aspect of life.

Have a great day!
Sherie

Earth Exhibit

Only 10 libraries in the US will get this exhibit.  I am so thankful our library is one of them.  My boys LOVE the exhibit.  We go to the library at least once per week and every time we have to go check out the exhibit.  It will be on display until sometime in September.  Oh Boy!

Not only do they have these cool interactive devices, they also are having excellent lectures.  This past Tuesday, we went to a lecture about the solar system.  WOW!  The taller boy loved it!  He is going to be my science major.  The younger boy sat there and listened, but like me, half of the stuff the Astrophysicist said was wayyyyyy over his head.

There will be one lecture per week now until the exhibit is done.  I can't wait!  Some of the lectures will be about reef making, weather forecasting, etc.

Have a FAR OUT day!
Sherie

Wordless Wednesday! Thinking outside the box!!!!!

F is for Fourth!

F is for Fourth

Well, this Fourth of July was a wet soggy one.  We have a sort of tropical system (sort of because its not named, but has tropical characteristics) sitting right over the top of the Panhandle of Florida.  And this year, we actually made plans for the WHOLE weekend.  We never make plans ANY weekend, so for us to make plans is amazing.  LOL!  We were "supposed" to go to the beach on Thursday, the Florida Caverns of Friday, and have a yard sale Saturday.  But, what we ended up doing was going to the Navy Museum on Thursday, sit around on Friday because the weather was just too wet, and go to dinner at my mother in laws tonight (Saturday).  We have had a great long weekend despite the yucky weather.  Here are some pics of some crafts we did on Tuesday, and then a pic of my daughter and youngest son at the museum.

Colored rice is really easy.  1 Tablespoon of Vinegar, and food coloring, mix in 1 Cup of rice.  Then, once its the color you want, spread the rice out on parchment paper to dry.  I let mine dry over night.

I didn't know how messy it would be, so I had the boys take their shirts off.  This is one area my mom is shocked at that we school in just shorts.  I told her that sometimes the boys don't even have on shorts, sometime we homeschool in underwear, that is the beauty of homeschooling.  :-)
 

 

 Happy Birthday America!  May God Bless us all!
Sherie

B is for Boys

Back to my writing through the alphabet!

(Pic taken in hotel before Grandma's funeral 5/11/13)

What a busy couple of weeks we have had.  On Thursday, May 23rd, I was watching Fox & Friends.  They had a family on that homeschools their 12 kids.  Well............. this struck something in me that I cannot explain.  I had ALWAYS said, I could not EVER  homeschool my boys, it would just be too much.  Well, I could not stop thinking about it all day and all night.  Finally Thursday night, I prayed and asked the Lord, "if this is what you want me to do, please give me clarity."  Let me tell you, if you ask the Lord for clarity, He will give it to you if it is His will (at least He did with me).  That night it began.  I would wake up (to use the bathroom or just wake up out of a deep sleep) but then, my heart would speed up and I would start thinking.  And I could NOT go back to sleep for several hours.  I would be researching homeschooling.  Now, I am no stranger to homeschooling.  I homeschooled my daughter 5th-7th grade.  But, I still was not sure this was for me.  But, it began to get clearer and clearer.  I hesitated talking to my husband because I thought he would think I was nuts.  You see, my boys are 13 months apart in age and they are VERY competitive with each other, therefore we have fights constantly.  But, I got up the nerve to tell him what I was considering.  I about fell out because he was for it.  WOW!

A few days later, I started researching curriculum.  By the Tuesday after Memorial Day, I had ALL of the curriculum picked out for BOTH boys.  If you have ever researched curriculum, you know this is a MAJOR ordeal.  When I started homeschooling my daughter, it seemed like forever before I could settle on a curriculum.  Now, this curriculum may not work out like I planned, but it is a start.  And, that is the joy of homeschooling, you can change if its not working out for you and your student/child.  So, I would definitely say that the Lord was giving me CLARITY, wouldn't you?

On Wednesday, I ordered my youngest's Math curriculum.  He has been struggling all year with math, so I knew I wanted to get started with him ASAP.  I ordered the beginning math for him so that he can have a little more confidence in the backbone of the subject before we move on.  Again, the joys of homeschooling.  Well, the books were supposed to be in on Monday (yesterday).  So, I thought we would start today.  But, they came in on Saturday, so we got to start yesterday (Monday).

Also Saturday, while cleaning the boys room.  I came across a 3rd grade reader.  I had bought it for my daughter when she was in 3rd grade, but never used it.  So, he started it yesterday as well.  And he keeps asking for more to do (but he is my bookworm, so its not too unusual).

I feel God's had in everything.  It is AWESOME!!!!!

This past Friday, my husband said, I just want to make sure we look at the good and the bad of homeschooling and are aware of any down sides to it.  So, I googled the disadvantages of homeschooling and read a bunch of site's information.  But, every time I would read something negative, I got a calmness about me and knew God wanted me to do this.

Then, Sunday I had some doubt.  But, that day I was just cruising around on the internet and came across some blogs from homeschoolers.  They talked about having doubt and how doubt is the devils work and gave Bible verses to back it up and then some encouraging verses and all of my doubts disappeared.  Thank you Lord.  WOW!!!!!