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!!!!!

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

Mystery of History Update

Adding to our timeline!

WE are learning so much during History every day.  Yes, I said we.  There are some things, ok most things, in history I do not remember learning in school. 

 

Yes, I remember learning about the Sumerians and the Tower of Babel.  I remember learning about the Tower of Babel in Sunday School and church.  But, I do not remember learning about the Epic of Gilgamesh. 

 

I found the pictures for our timeline on the internet.  Just a simple Google search and Bam!  It was done.

 

FREE resources, that's what I'm talking about!  LOL!  You  can find so much on the internet.

 

How do you come up with the items for your timeline?  Did you buy the pre-printed pack?  Or do you create your own?  We have a mix of it all.

 

Have a Great day!
Sherie

Florida Caverns

We took a trip to the Florida Caverns in Marianna FL.  If you don't know where that is, well its about a 2 hour drive from Pensacola.  We got up early, because it has rained every single weekend this summer in NW Florida.  And almost ever single weekday too.  According to the National Weather  Center, this is the 2nd wettest summer ever recorded (the 1st was last summer, but I don't remember it being this wet.  I think we got all of our rainfall in 1 weekend last year.  This year we are getting rained on every day)

Anyway, back to my story.  We headed out on a beautiful sunny Saturday and got there at the perfect time.  It hadn't got too hot yet.  So, we went into the little gift shop and paid for our tour.  And this is what we saw:

 (I don't remember what any of the formations are called except this one ^.  Its called the wedding cake.  Can you see it?)

(My beautiful children!)

 

WOW!  If you EVER have the chance to go see this gorgeous wonder of nature, DO IT!  You will not regret it!

 

Would you believe that as soon as we walked out of the caverns, it was thundering.  We barely made it to our car before it started downpouring.  And it rained ALL THE WAY HOME!  UGH!  Florida is no longer known as the sunshine state.  :-(

 

Have a great day!

Sherie

History update

I have decided to use my blog as a daily journal entry of how our homeschool year is going.  Some may get tired of my entries.  I'm hoping it will be inspiration to others.

I am a very, very, very frugal person.  Honestly, my husband and I are so frugal, its scary.  We have worked through the Dave Ramsey program a few years ago, and learned to live on less.  Yes, we are pretty much debt free.  Our only debt is our motorcoach and our home.  And after a budget meeting last week, we have a plan to get both of those paid off in the next 5 years.  WHOO HOO!  I'm so excited about that!

After all of that explanation, I am finding more and more ways to NOT spend money homeschooling.  So, today's post is about building a ziggurat.  We learned about how the Sumerians built Ziggurats and this was the beginning of building pyramids. It was also around the same time frame that the people built the Tower of Babel.  And when the Lord created multiple languages.

So, after reading our Mystery of History book, the boys created their very own Ziggurat.  I was expecting them to build a much bigger building together, but they each created miniature version of the Ziggurat.  LOL!  Its amazing how we get an image in our head and then things turn out completely different than what we had imagined.  Here is their creations:

(This is little guy's creation.  He says, look mom its scary because it has an eye.  LOL!)

Mistery of History

Wow what we have learned!  I am learning right along with my boys.  Yes, I may have heard of some of the stories, but others I have not heard of at all.  It is AWESOME!!!!!!

Since my last update, we have of course learned about creation.  And of course we learned about Adam and Eve, and their sons.  But, then we learned about Jubal and Tubal-Cain.  You know, I think I have read that part of the Bible many times, but it has NEVER stuck!  I had no idea who these two characters were. 

Then we learned about the Ice Age.  We did a little experiment, but it didn't last long enough for me to take pictures, so maybe another time.  The experiment was "how long can you stand the cold?"  Its August in Florida, right?  So, it is HOT as hades outside, right?  Well, this experiment was to take ice and place it on your belly and see how long you could stand it.  Well, my boys couldn't even last long enough for me to get my camera.  LOL!  We did this outside, I was thinking since it was hot, they would last longer.  NOPE!  The said it burned.  Go figure!  I didn't try it, so I still have no idea.

Anyway, how have you explained the Ice Age?  Have you done any cool experiments about this time period?

God Bless you all!
Sherie