Chicken Pasta with Butternut Squash Sauce

One thing we grow in our garden each year is butternut squash. I think it is one of the best squashes ( and most versatile ) out there.

We eat a lot of squash, sometimes we just bake it or roast it. I will also make squash pie, muffins, and so much more. I think we have found a favorite way to eat it, we turn in into a sauce for pasta, and it is delicious! Even my husband loves it, and he does not like squash.

The process is actually pretty simple. You cook your squash, scrape it all out of the shell, and run it through the food processor. After you have your squash ready, dump it all in a bowl, and get your favorite spaghetti sauce out. We personally use the organic marinara sauce from Aldis. Dump one full jar of sauce into your processor, and add the same amount of processed squash. Process those two until they are well blended. That is it for the sauce. I usually do large batches that way I can freeze some of it for later use.




I start cooking my noodles while I cook my chicken. We usually use bow tie pasta, but you can use any type of pasta you like.

Cut up a full chicken breast into bite sized pieces.  Drizzle your chicken with olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin. Fully cook, toss it with your pasta, and add your sauce.



Enjoy!

January Meal Plan

Welcome 2018! With the start of the new year, I decided to start meal planning again. Things were a little crazy last year, and it was just one thing that I kept not sticking to, so I stopped. With the new year starting, I decided to go ahead and start again.

January 2018

1/1 - 1/7
Monday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Beef burgers, home made fries, and veggies
Dinner - Chicken pasta with squash sauce

Tuesday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Pancakes and fruit
Dinner - Meatloaf, potatoes, and veggies

Wednesday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Spaghetti and veggies
Dinner - Egg casserole and fruit

Thursday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Sandwiches and veggies/dip
Dinner - Omelettes and fruit

Friday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Left overs
Dinner - Skillet lasagna and veggies

Saturday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Chicken fingers, carrots, and strawberries
Dinner - Pancakes, eggs, and fruit

Sunday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Dinner - Cheesy hash brown casserole and veggies

1/8 - 1/14
Monday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Sandwiches and veggies/dip
Dinner - Spaghetti and veggies

Tuesday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Eggs, toast, and fruit
Dinner - Chili

Wednesday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Sandwiches and fruit
Dinner - Breakfast burritos and fruit

Thursday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Ravoli and veggies
Dinner - Shredded roast sandwiches and veggies

Friday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Left overs
Dinner - Chicken sandwiches and veggies

Saturday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Hot dogs, cottage cheese, and veggies
Dinner - Spaghetti and salad

Sunday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Hot ham and cheese sandwiches, and veggies
Dinner - Chicken tacos, rice, and beans

1/15 - 1/21
Monday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Broccoli tortellini alfredo
Dinner - Cheese burger chowder and salad

Tuesday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Sandwiches and veggies/dip
Dinner - Roasted turkey and veggies

Wednesday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Turkey noodle soup
Dinner - Turkey and noodles over mashed potatoes

Thursday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Eggs, toast, and fruit
Dinner - Turkey pot pie

Friday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Left overs
Dinner - Shredded BBQ pork sandwiches, creamed corn, and salad

Saturday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Cheese quesadillas or BBQ pork cheese quesadillas, and salad
Dinner - Chicken taquitos, rice and bean

Sunday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Cheese quesadillas, rice and, beans
Dinner - Sausage, beans, and potatoes

1/22 - 1/28
Monday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Spaghetti and salad
Dinner - Chicken breast, cheesy potatoes, and veggies

Tuesday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Eggs, toast and fruit
Dinner - Meatball subs and salad

Wednesday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - French toast and fruit
Dinner - Shredded roast beef sandwiches, home made fries, and veggies

Thursday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Home made mac and cheese and veggies
Dinner - Ham. potatoes, and veggies

Friday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Left overs
Dinner - Cheesy garlic potatoes ( with added ham ), and veggies

Saturday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Ham salad, or ham sandwiches and veggies/dip
Dinner - Ham and potato chowder

Sunday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Pizza
Dinner - Chicken tacos, beans, and rice

1/29 - 1/31
Monday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Eggs, toast, and fruit
Dinner - Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and veggies

Tuesday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Hot dogs, cottage cheese, and veggies/dip
Dinner - Skillet lasagna and salad

Wednesday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, toast, or yogurt, with fruit
Lunch - Sandwiches, cottage cheese, and veggies/dip
Dinner - Grilled cheese and tomato soup

Survival Skills Class - Fire starting

I would like to start this post by talking a little bit about my son. Alexzander is eleven years old, he is in sixth grade. He has recently gotten really into learning about survival skills, wanting to hunt, fish and the like.

Since we home school, I thought it would be beneficial to him, to make this one of his classes. I have been trying to decide what to do for him, and finally decided to use a collective of information, and just make my own  classes. At this time, I am unsure of how many classes this will run. Most likely it will be several posts over the course of a few months,  as long as he is enjoying the class.

I also plan on posting pictures, and other comments as he does classes. Just to show his progress.

I will be including links to all resources we use, video links, book links, product links, and much more.

Books we have already bought -
https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Explorer-Guide-Justin-Miles/dp/1770856188/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1512445693&sr=8-7&keywords=survival+kids

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Survival-Guide-Kids-Colson/dp/1770856196/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512445693&sr=8-1&keywords=survival+kids


Week 1 lesson plans.

Start off by taking this quiz about how long you would survive in the wild.  Discuss the results.

This week we are going to learn about the importance of being able to start a fire.

The very first thing you should talk about is fire safety.

Secondly, teach your student to make a fire, without the use of matches or a lighter.
( Items needed for this can be mostly found around your yard. You will need a pocket knife for this. )
Practice these skills.

Learn about starting a fire, even when it is wet. You can practice this skill if you want. This is a skill that will be practiced later of for us. We want him to master the art of regular fire starting first.


Make some fire starters. Be sure to try them out!

We are ending each class with a video about true survival stories.
This classes video.

A Month of Thanksgiving Days 28,29 and 30

I am thankful for the busy days. We have been busy with normal life stuff. The kids have had friends over, events to go to, and just things that keep our days full.
I am thankful for the busy, it shows me how blessed our lives are.

I added the 30th to this day as well. I feel like it was a good ending point for my month of thanksgiving.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 27

I am thankful for a fridge, and cupboards full of food. I am thankful that I do not have pick between paying bills or feeding my children. I know that so many people struggle to take care of daily needs, and so many children ( and adults ) go hungry every single day. I am thankful that not only am I able to take care of my family, but we can bless others.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 25 and 26

I am combining these two days. We have been working on decorating our house for Christmas over the last couple days. I am very thankful for this time spent together. I am thankful for the traditions we have with our children. I am thankful for all the pretty decorations, the twinkling lights, the beautiful ornaments, and all the joy these things bring my family.

I am thankful for stories under the Christmas tree. I am thankful for family movie nights, illuminated by the lights from the tree. I am thankful for the anticipation

that builds each day as the kids wait for their presents. I am thankful I can buy them presents. I am thankful for this season.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 24

I am thankful for time spent with my Mom and my sister. I am thankful for our shopping trips, the fun we have, and the memories made.

I am thankful for our weirdness, for our play bickering, and for all the time we have together.

I am thankful for our trips to hobby lobby, for trying new foods, seeing new stores, and just getting out.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 23

I am posting this a day late. After a full day of family fun, a big dinner, and lots of cooking, it slipped my mind last night.

I am thankful for family. I am thankful for traditions. We celebrated Thanksgiving last night. We had a big family dinner, and enjoyed each other's company.

I am thankful we have the ability to enjoy this holiday. I am thankful for the meal we shared. I am thankful for the traditions we continue.

I am thankful that I can start teaching my kids how to make the dishes we eat each year. I am thankful they are willing, and wanting to help.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 22

I am thankful for late night baking. I am thankful I have a husband that will make a last minute run to the store for me, when I realize the first crust did not turn out right, and I need stuff to make one more pie.
I am thankful I have a family to spend thanksgiving with, a family that I will gladly stay up late for, and bake pies.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 21

I am thankful for the sweet giggles of my children while they play together. I am thankful for their imaginations, and for their creativity. I am thankful for the time we spend together.
We have a large collection of board games here, and I love spending time with my family, making memories, and playing games.

I am thankful for these times we share.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 20

I am thankful for the last warm days of fall. We got to enjoy some much needed outside today after running errands.

With Kairi have Cold Urticaria ( she is literally allergic to being cold ), winter can be a very long and boring time for her. We try to get out and enjoy all the warm days we can before the cold hits, and she does not get to play outside for awhile.

Today was a nice day, we got out, did some errands, went to the bakery, and ended our time with a trip to the playscape. The kids got to play, we all enjoyed being out, and I am thankful for that time.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 18 and 19

Amelia has been sick this weekend that is why I didn't post last night. She came down with something Thursday night, and has been pretty sick over the weekend.

Today she is feeling much better. I would like to focus on that today.

I am thankful I have access to and education about alternative medication. I thankful I have ways to help my baby feel better when she is sick.

At the same time, I am thankful for modern medicine, there is a need for both of these things.

I am thankful I have the right to choose which I want to use, and at times, the ability to use both.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 17

I am thankful for the little things.
I am thankful for a a warm house on a cold night.
I am thankful for a church that takes the time to feed hungry people in our community, and likes to share the leftovers with families in the church.
I am thankful for same day appointments when my kids are not feeling well.
I am thankful for a hot bath to soak in at the end of a long day.
I am thankful for all the little things in life.

The little things in life can stack up quickly, and be a giant blessing.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 16

I am thankful for fun, family friendly events put on by our town.
We took the kids to living windows. For those that do not know what it is, it is a Christmas themed event, where all the stores downtown have living Christmas scenes in their windows. They have food, treats, crafts, and more.
My kids love going down to it each year, and I enjoy the family time.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 15

I am thankful for warm  cars, hot chocolate, and a warm house.
My eight year old daughter, Kairi,  has a rare allergy that causes her to break out in hives when she is cold. It does not even have to be that cold for her to react.
We tried to go outside and play today. It was actually not that bad out, it was about fifty degrees, so I thought we would go to the local playscape, and get some outside time in.
By the time we got there, the wind had picked up, and it was a very cold wind. Even though Kairi had on warm clothes, we forgot to bring her face mask, and after fifteen minutes she was breaking out pretty badly.
Even though the kids were disappointed that we did not get to stay long, everyone cheered up at the idea of going home to a nice glass of hot chocolate, and since my car's heater seems to work on over drive, Kairi was nice and warm when we got home.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 14

I am thankful that I was taught how to cook and bake. I am thankful I have those abilities, and I can use them to take care of my family.

I do a lot of cooking and baking. We are a health conscious family, and we do our best to avoid products that we know are full of ingredients that are not good for us. It can be hard to find treats, bread, and other items that fall in line with what we want to eat, and what we do not. It is made easier by the fact that I can make those items myself.

My kids and husband are pretty thankful for the abilities I have as well.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 13

I am thankful for my pets. I really look at them as part of our family. We have two cats, and one dog. They are all rescues.

Cookie is a cat that just showed up at our house one day. She hung out all summer long, we even called the shelter, they tried to catch her once, but she got away from them. After that I told Chris that if she as still hanging around our house come winter, I was letting her in. I am so glad she picked us. I love her to pieces. She is sweet, good with the kids, loves to snuggle, and is my cat  100%

Charlie is our dog. Chris found him at the local shelter a couple years ago. My dog ( Max ), whom I had for years, died. I had been looking for a new dog. I wanted another Golden Retriever, like Max. After searching shelters for months, I had all but given up. Chris found Charlie, who is a Shi Tzu. I was not looking for a small dog, but since I could not find what I wanted, I though it was only right o let Chris pick a dog. He has a Shi Tzu when he was a child, and he wanted another. So we adopted Charlie. Funny part, he picked me as his favorite human. He is a good boy, the kids adore him, and he fits into our family well.

Raven is our other cat. We adopted her several years ago from a friend. She had been passed around to a couple homes, and was needing somewhere that could be her forever home. She loves attention. Chris is a favorite person. She is also a naughty cat, who likes to leave presents ( AKA headless mice in the laundry ) around the house for us, knock glasses of water of tables, and string my yarn all over the living room. She is the boss of both Charlie and Cookie, but super loving to all the kids.

I love all my furbabies, they are a blessing to us.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 12

I am sitting here in a nice quiet house, watching television, while I crochet. I have been knitting and crocheting for several years now. I am thankful the talents I have. I am able to make beautiful gifts for my friends and family, and even make some money doing something I enjoy.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 11

Today is Veterans Day, I am very thankful for every man and women that has served. Without your sacrifices, we would not live in the great nation that we do. Without all you have given, my freedoms would not be what they are. I am grateful for you.

Thank you for you sacrifices, for you time, for your service.  

A Month of Thanksgiving Day Nine and Ten

I am a day late again, I did not even realize that I did not write last night until I sat down to write tonight. I have a good reason though, I spent last night hanging out with a friend of mine. We had coffee, talked, shopped, and just had fun!

That is what I would like to write about for these two days, I am thankful for my friends.

I have some amazing friends, and I love each and every one of you. My friends are always there to lift my spirits, make me laugh, help me de-stress when I need a break, listen when I need to talk, give advice when advice is needed, and so much more.

To my friends that are near, and those who are my online friends that I have never met, you are all special to me! I am thankful for you.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day Eight

I have already written about my husband, and my children, so today I would like to focus on the rest of my family.

I am very thankful for my parents. They taught me what I needed to know in order to be the wife, mother, and person that I am today. Without that knowledge, my life would not be what it is today. They took the time to teach me life skills, things that I am now passing down to my children. I have a close relationship with both my mother and my father, I am lucky to have them.

I am thankful for my inlaws, they are great with my kids, and have done a lot over the years to help Chris and I.

I am thankful for brother and sister ( even though they can be crazy ;) ). They both mean a lot to me, and I love them very much.

I am thankful for my niece, and my nephews, I love watching them grow up. I know one day they will do great things!

I am thankful for all members of my family, wither they are direct relatives or more extended. I love you all.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day Seven

I am thankful for a warm house, filled with numerous possessions that make my life better. I am thankful that on days I am feeling worn out, grumpy, and needing a break, that I have a place that I can relax, watch some television, and try to unwind.
I am thankful that I can lounge on the couch, wrap up in a cozy blanket, and just do nothing. Some days it is very needed.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day Six

I am thankful that we have a house full of books. Literacy is something that is very important to me. If you research some literacy facts they may shock you. Here are just a few.

34% of children entering Kindergarten lack the basic skills needs to learn to read.
65% of fourth graders read below their grade level.
Students who lose reading ability over the summer rarely catch back up.

( read more here )

I know that reading is a very important skills for children, and adults alike to have. I am incredibly thankful that I have the ability to give my children access to books every single day. Not only do we have several book shelves full, but we also have access to libraries, online libraries, and more.

I strongly encourage the love of books in our home.

A Month Of Thanksgiving Day Five

I would like to write about my church today. We attend Living Word Fellowship in Knoxville, IA. It is a great church, that has something for everyone.
Today was the all church Thanksgiving dinner. This is a dinner that is held every year, it is a time to get together, enjoy great food, and the fellowship of everyone in the church. I love this dinner, it is one of my favorite things that our church does.
We have a Pastor that really cares about his church. He and his wife are wonderful people, and my family really loves them.
I am thankful we attend a church that takes the time to do things for it's members. The kids love going to all the classes they have.
Alexzander moved up to youth group this year, and he was very excited about it. The youth group at our church is very involved with the teens that attend. Not only do they teach them important lessons about God, but they also teach them compassion, friendship, community involvement, responsibility, and so much more. It is headed up by a couple that has a passion for teenagers, they are truly a blessing to those kids.
The girls are all in children's church. We are blessed with a children's minister that is very involved with the kids. She loves them with her whole heart. She teaches them what it means to be a Christian, how to show other children God's love, lessons in friendship, and so much more. She makes class so much fun for the kids, they love being there.
In whole our church is a great place to be. I am thankful for everyone there.

A month of Thanksgiving Day Three and Four

I missed writing yesterday. I got busy doing things with my kids and by the time I realized I didn't post, it was late. So, I am combining yesterday and today's post into one.
I am going to focus on my children today, I am very thankful for them, they keep me very busy (hence missing a post ), and fulfill my life in ways the can't be described.

I have one son, Alexander, 11 years old. He is a lively boy, who loves video games, fishing, reading, playing with him friends, and is super excited to learn to hunt. He started youth group at church this year, and loves it. Being the only boy, we are often asked how he handles all his sisters. My answer is always the same, he is lucky to be the only boy, he will always have his own room, does not have to share his toys, and will grow up with a great understanding of women.  He is learning coding this year, because he wants to design games when he is older.




My oldest daughter is Destiny, she is ten years old. She is a beautiful girl, who tends to be on the dramatic side. She loves art, animals, donuts, reading, and so much more. She loves going to kids camp, learning about God, and riding horse while she is there. We love everything about her, she is wild, fun, artistic, fashionable, and overall a wonderful child. She wants to be an artist when she grows up.



Next up is Kairi, she is eight years old. Kairi is the child that challenges me the most. She is stubborn, yet sweet. She knows what she likes, and there is little you can do to change her mind. At the same time, she is sweet, loving, compassionate, and kind. She loves going to children's church. She wants to be friends with everyone. She strongly believe in unicorns, and mermaids.  She likes to color, read stories, play pretend, and be outside.




Next up is Amelia, she is six years old. She is my rainbow baby. ( For those who do not know, that means she is a child born after a miscarriage, still birth, or loss of a child. ) She is the happiest kid you will meet. She loves everyone. We get comments often about how friendly she is. Amelia likes to be involved in everything you are doing, always wants to help. She loves to play with friends, make believe, color, and more. She loves going to children's church, and singing with the other kids.


My baby is Cassandra, she is three years old. She is a mama's girl, shy, and sweet. She loves to cuddle, read books, color, play barbies, and pretend. She has just started coming out of her shell a bit over the last couple months. Before hand, she would not dare talk to someone she did not know, she would cry if we tried to take her to her class at church, and she really just wanted to be home, with her family. In the last few months, she has really started trying to make friends with other kids, she lives to go to her class now ( music is her favorite part ), and she even enjoys her class at home school group. She does not like it when I call her my baby, she says, " I not a baby, I a totter ( toddler )." No matter what she says, she will always be my baby girl.


Each of my kids are amazing in their own ways, and I know they are going to do amazing things in their lives.

                                                                  

A month of Thanksgiving - Day Two

Today I want to write about my husband. I am incredibly thankful for him. He works hard, providing enough that I can stay home, and take care of our kids. He is a very hands on father, he is involved in their home school lessons, he takes part in home school group when he can, he helps with projects, plays with them, teaches them things, and is just over all a great father. He does his fair share in the house, never leaving me to do all the house work.

I am lucky to have him as a husband, and the kids are lucky to have him as a father.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day One

Thanksgiving is approaching fast, I like to use the month of November to reflect on everything I have to be thankful for.

Today I would like to focus on home schooling. I am very thankful we have the ability to home school. It is the best choice for us, and we are very grateful we live in a place that allows us to teach our kids freely, the way we feel fit.

Homeschooling the kids means we have the chance to not only teach them the things we feel they need to know, but also expand on the courses they really enjoy. We can help to shape them to be the best they can be.

We have the chance to really help them in classes they struggle in and not worry about what grade of level they are doing. At the same time, if they are excelling at a class we can let them go above their current grade or level, without issue.
                          

K - 2nd Read Aloud Program Part 1

Course Description: This read aloud program  is for  K - 2nd grade students, it can be used for younger or older students, based on their reading level.  Links are included for multiple activities.
It is designed that the teacher or parent reads the stories to the children. If you have a child that is a good reader, they can read the story to you. Personally, we do a mix of both.

Supplies : Being a home schooling parent of many children, I know that it can get expensive quick. This is why I am writing my own reading program for the year. You can buy the book if you want, I buy the books because I have several students that will be reading them, I collect classic novels, and we just like having them around.
If you are looking to cut costs, several of these books can be found for free online, or you can get them at your local library.

Other supplies needed will be -

Printer
Internet Connection
Crayons/Colored Pencils
Folder to keep projects if you want
Glue
Pencils
Some art supplies if you do all the links and projects

Book List A Bear Called Paddington
More About Paddington
Paddington Helps Out
Frog and Toad Storybook Treasury
Make Way for Ducklings
Curious George ( stories to share )


Paddington Collection ( A Bear Called Paddington, More About Paddington, Paddington Helps Out )
We are using this unit study. You can use this as much, or as little as you want. Pick and choice some activities.

Extra Activities Watch the Paddington movie.
Eat some orange marmalade.
Do some Paddington activities.Frog and Storybook Treasury
- Frog and Toad Are FriendsI could not find a free unit study for this collection of stories. I am linking worksheets that go along with it in place of a unity study. Use as many or as few as you would like.
Do this sheet the first three stories
Do this page after Spring
Color page
Fill out a friendship chart
Use this sheet after reading A Swim
Do this sheet after A Lost Button
After reading The Letter, have your student write a letter to someone.
Do this test after reading all the stories


-Frog and Toad Together We are using this study guide.

-Frog and Toad All Year We are using this unit study.

-Days with Frog and Toad We are using this unit study.

Extra Activities -
Watch Frog and Toad ( try youtube )
Spend some time learning more about frogs and toads
Make a frog craft
Make puppets


Make Way for Ducklings We are using this unit study.

Extra Activities - Pick some activities.
Curious George ( stories to share ) We are not using unit studies for this book. Instead I will link activities for each. We are also watching the video of each story.
There is also no extra activities linked, since each story will already have many things to pick from. Pick as many or as few as you like.

Curious George and the Firefighters
Color this page
Visit a fire station
Make a fire safety plan
Red more stories on firefighters
Watch the cartoon episode that matches this story.
Retell the story sheet

-Curious George at the Aquarium
What makes you curious sheet
Retell the story sheet
Learn more about penguins
Learn more about aquariums
Color a penguin

-Curious George Dinosaur Discovery
Watch the cartoon episode that matches this story
Do a dinosaur puzzle
Retell the story sheet
Learn more about dinosaurs
Learn more about fossils

- Curious George First Day of School
Color this page
Watch the cartoon episode that matches this story
Draw George
Retell the story sheet
Watch videos about different schools ( youtube has some interesting ones )

- Curious George and the Pizza Party
Make your own pizzas
Watch the cartoon episode that matches this story
Make a pizza craft
Retell the story sheet
Do a pizza madlibs
- Curious George at the Baseball Game Watch the cartoon episode that matches this story
Learn more about baseball
Play baseball
Retell the story sheet
Color a page


- Curious George at the Parade
Make a design for a parade float
Watch the cartoon episode that matches this story
Retell the story sheet
Learn more about the history of parades
Color this picture

- Curious George Plants a Tree
Plant a tree
Learn more about how trees grow
Watch the cartoon episode that matches this story
Retell the story sheet
Make a tree craft ( this is pretty open ended, if you need inspiration, try pinterest )

Fifth Grade Reading Guide

Fifth Grade Reading Guide

Course Description: This reading guide is for students in the fith grade, it can be used for younger or older students, based on their reading level.  This course includes links to study guides, or unit studies for each book. It also includes links or ideas for extra activities, which are completely optional, we do them as extra credit.

Supplies : Being a home schooling parent of many children, I know that it can get expensive quick. This is why I am writing my own reading program for the year. You can buy the book if you want, I buy the books because I have several students that will be reading them, I collect classic novels, and we just like having them around.
If you are looking to cut costs, several of these books can be found for free online, or you can get them at your local library.

Other supplies needed will be -
Pencils

Printer
Internet Connection
Crayons/Colored Pencils
Binder ( I like to print the unit studies out ahead of time and keep them in a binder )

Book List
The Little Princess
Pollyana
Caddie Woodlawn
Call of the Wild
The Hobbit
James and the Giant Peach
Charlie and the Choclate Factory
White Fang
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz



The Little Princess
We are using this study guide.

Extra activities
Write a book report.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.
Have your student make up their own story.


Pollyana - I could not find a free study guide for this book. Instead you student will have a chapter summary page to fill out after each chapter, and some sheets to do after the book is finished.

Fill out this chapter summary sheet after each chapter.
Have your student use these sheets to review the book after they have read it.( You do not need to do all of them. We are only using page 3 -4 )

Extra activities
Write a book report.
Read more Pollyana books.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.

Caddie Woodlawn
We are using this unit study.


Extra activities
Write a book report.
Read more Caddie Woodlawn books.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.


Call of the Wild
We are using this study guide.

Extra activities
Write a book report.
Have your student draw a picture of Buck.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.   

The Hobbit
Use The Hobbit section of this study guide.

Extra activities
Write a book report.
Eat like a Hobbit.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.

James and the Giant Peach
We are using this unit study.

Extra activities
Write a book report.
Have your student draw a picture about the book.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.


Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
We are using this unit study.

Extra activities
Write a book report.
Make some candy.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.
Watch both movies, decide which is more like the book.
Read Charlie and the Glass Elevator.


White Fang
We are using this study guide.


Extra activities
Write a book report.
Learn about wolves, and dogs that are half wolf. 
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
We are using this study guide.


Extra activities
Write a book report.
Pick a favorite character and write a report on them.
Write a book report. After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.
Read more in the Oz series.

Sixth Grade Reading Guide

Sixth Grade Reading Guide
Course Description: This reading guide is for students in the sixth grade, it can be used for younger or older students, based on their reading level.  This course includes links to study guides, or unit studies for each book. It also includes links to extra activities, which are completely optional, we do them as extra credit.

Supplies : Being a home schooling parent of many children, I know that it can get expensive quick. This is why I am writing my own reading program for the year. You can buy the book if you want, I buy the books because I have several students that will be reading them, I collect classic novels, and we just like having them around.
If you are looking to cut costs, several of these books can be found for free online, or you can get them at your local library.

Other supplies needed will be -
Pencils

Printer
Internet Connection
Crayons/Colored Pencils
Binder ( I like to print the unit studies out ahead of time and keep them in a binder )


Book List -
Lord of the Rings   
The Secret Garden
Old Yeller
Holes
Hatchet
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
Where the Red Fern Grows
Lassie- Come Home
A Wrinkle in Time Trilogy
To Build a Fire
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Chronicles of Narnia

Lord of the Rings
We are using this study guide. My students read The Hobbit in 5th grade, so we will skip that section of the study guide. If you student has not yet read The Hobbit. I would highly recommend doing that section of this study as well.

Have your student write a book report.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
After reading the books, watch the movie,fill out this sheet
While watching the movie, have a feast fit for a Hobbit.
Spend time on this site.






The Secret Garden
We are using this study guide.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
After reading the book, watch the movie, discuss the differences.
Have your student draw their own secret garden.

Old Yeller
We are using this study guide.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.   
After reading the book, watch the movie,fill out this sheet.

Holes
We are using this study guide.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
After reading the book, watch the movie,fill out this sheet
Hatchet
We are using this study guide.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
After reading the book, watch the movie ( The movie is called A Cry in the Wild ), fill out this sheet.
Write your own survival manual. Include how you would survive after a crash, and what you would hope to find in a rescue pack.

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
We are using this study guide.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
After reading the book, watch the movie, fill out this sheet.
Discuss the importance of not judging others on appearance.

Where the Red Fern Grows
We are using this study guide.


Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
After reading the book, watch the movie, fill out this sheet.
Lassie Come - Home I could not find a free study guide for this book. Instead you student will have a chapter summary page to fill out after each chapter, and some sheets to do after the book is finished.

Fill out this chapter summary sheet after each chapter.
Have your student use these sheets to review the book after they have read it.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
After reading the book, watch the movie, fill out this sheet.


A Wrinkle in Time ( Triology ) 
Use this study guide with A Wrinkle in Time.
Use this study guide with A Wind in the Door.
Use this study guide with A Swiftly Tilting Planet.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
This book has not yet been made into a movie, it appears that one will be released in 2018. You can always do a watch and compare later.
There are two books that have been added to this series in recent years. Have your student read Many Waters and An Acceptable Time.

To Build a Fire We are using this study guide.

Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
Watch the short film, fill out this sheet.
Read other short stories by Jack London.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
We are using this study guide.
Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
Watch the movie fill out this sheet.
Do this worksheet.


The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
We are using this study guide.


Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
Watch the movie, fill out this sheet.
The Chronicles of NarniaSince this is actually seven books, we are not using an actual study guide like most of the other books. Instead I am linking a couple unit studies, and recommending filling out character sheets, and chapter summaries.  

Free Unit study
Free Unit Study
Extra Activities -
Write a book report.
Watch the movie, fill out this sheet.
Spend time on this site.

Eggless Almond Cookies

Our church had VBS this past week. I signed up to make cookies each of the three nights it was going on.

When day two rolled around I quickly realized I have no eggs, and no regular flour. I really did not want to load all seven of the kids that were running around my house into the car and go to the store, so I decided I would see what I could kind online that did not require either. Most of what I found was sugar cookies, and I quickly realized I had no vanilla or baking powder left either.

I decided to get inventive, I have created several of my own cookie recipes over the years, so why not just make something with what I had on hand.

The result of my experiment turned out in the best almond cookie I have had. It is so soft and chewy. The sugar topping is a nice sweet touch, these cookies will leave you wanting more.

Ingredients -
1/2 cup butter ( softened )
1/2 sugar
2 tbs milk
2 tsp almond extract
1/4 + 1/8 tsp baking soda
2 cups cake flour

Sugar for decorating.

Preheat oven to 350.

Using an electric mixer, mix the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add milk and almond extract and beat until well mixed.

In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Slowly add 1/2 cup at a time, while beating the mixture on low.



Make small balls ( think ping pong ) and place them on a cookie sheet. ( I like to make cookies on my baking stone ). Use a fork to gently flatten ( not completely flat ). You can use whatever sugar you want for decorating. Since this was for VBS, I used a red sprinkles. Top each cookie with just a little sugar.



Bake for 10 - 12 minutes, or until cookies are slightly golden brown. Enjoy!!

New post, life update

It has been awhile since I posted here, I started a few posts, never finished, and eventually deleted them. I have had ideas on what to post, but I have lacked the drive to actually sit down to write them out.

Life has been interested in the Walters' house for the last year. I have not been posting about it much here, but we have been dealing with some health issues with our oldest child.

Alexzander turned eleven in April, for several years now he has been dealing with stomach issues from an unknown cause. He also has been slowly falling off the growth chart. At eleven years old he is 57lbs and 4' 11".  We have been on the roller coaster path of trying to find a cause.

Alexzander was not a small baby, he was 8lbs 5 oz, 20". He stayed on a good growing path for the first few years of his life, but as he reached about the age of five, we started noticing that every other kids his age was much bigger. We tried to not put much thought into it, we did ask at a doctor appointment, and we were reassured that he was growing still, just slowly. He would probably just be a late bloomer.

It was around this time that he also started complaining about stomach pain at different times. Years would go on, he would go from diarrhea to constipation, very random bouts of this, have some time being fine, and the cycle would start all over again. I asked about it and we never really got anywhere.

As time went on, the stomach aches got worse, and he started to get the point that he was almost off the growth chart. This was around the same time that he also started getting strep, all the time. Eventually they decided it was the best choice to remove his tonsils, they told me that it would stop the strep, and it may help him grow. He has not had strep since, but it did nothing to help his growth, or his stomach pain.

Things came to a boiling point when he was almost ten. His stomach pain was almost daily, he was not growing, and the lack of growth was starting to really bother him. I took him once again, but this time I was pushy with the doctors, I told them that something was not right, and they needed to figure out why this was happening.

We started with Celiac testing, and removal of gluten from his diet. Celiac test came back normal and removing the gluten did not help him at all. Next they moved to dairy testing, and removing all dairy from his diet. Once again, test came back normal and removing dairy did not help.

At this point the doctors here finally decided it was time to send him on, they sent him to a Ped GI, we had an initial appointment where they ran some blood tests, and tested his stool. They were looking for a range of things, including Celiac ( just to be sure ), inflammation, parasites and more. Everything came back normal. The GI was very concerned about the pain, and his growth. Before we moved on with more testing, he wanted to send him to the Endocrologist.

At our first appointment with the Endocrologist they did a growth plate test ( xray of the hand to see what age his bones say he is ). His bone age test came back at 7.5, we knew that Alexzander was small for his age but I will admit that I was not expecting it to come back that he was that small.
That same day they ran a growth hormone test. They warned me ahead of time that it is not uncommon for this first test to come back at normal, even if he has a problem. The reason for this is because of the way your body release the hormones during the day, it only peaks at certain times. Anyway, without getting into the complicated medical side of this all, his first test came back normal.

The next step is a more complicated test that will give us a full look at this hormone levels. They told us that we needed to wait six months, see if he grew an inch, and if not they would run the test. Since he was eleven already, I told them that waiting was not something we wanted to do. If we do not catch this soon, he may never reach the growth he is suppose to. The doctor told me that reason for the wait is insurance.

After several phone calls, I got the go ahead from our insurance to get this test without waiting for six months. We will be going in June 13th, should have results in about two weeks after the test. I am hoping for answers, and soon. It has been a long road already.

I do not relish the thought of Alexzander having a disorder. I do not want to give him shots every day. I do not want him to be scared anymore. I do want answers and I do want my boy to grow.

None of this gives us answers to his stomach problems. At this point, we have put the other testing on hold. We want to get one issue addressed at a time. I told the doctors that I wanted to wait before we did anything else because stressing the child out with test after test is only going to make whatever is wrong, worse. We have decided to try and treat his issues with diet changes and we are seeing a lot of results already.

I plan on writing out what changes we are making in another post. At this point, I just want to get through this next test and go from there.

It is Time to Love Our Fellow Man

I think that everyone knows that we are living in a very broken world filled to the brim with a lot of broken people. While I know that no one person can save the world, I do know that if every single person did just a little more, we could make our world such a better place.

All it takes is a quick stop on face book and you can find people in need, angry people, sad people, lonely people. People angry about politics, people angry about their work, people angry about their home life. Sad people, people who feel unwanted, unneeded and unloved. Lonely people, people desperate for anyone to notice them, need them, love them, give them a simple gesture of human kindness.

I see so many people blaming all the world's problems on this politician, that politician, this law, that law, this program or that program. When what we need to all be doing is taking a deep look inside ourselves and saying what can "I" do to help. How can "I" change my community, how "I" help my fellow mankind?

Honestly, the answer is so simple. No, you can not save everyone, no you can not change the lives of everyone but you can help someone and that help could mean everything to that person. You can reach out.

If someone is hungry, feed them. Programs are wonderful, if you yourself can not send someone a meal, donate your money to a program, volunteer your time or make food to bring to a program. If you can make someone a meal, make enough for them to either eat with your family or eat with them. Not only would you be feeding their body but you can feed their need for interaction. Show them love, kindness and respect. Never judge why they are in a needy place, just reach out and help.

If someone needs clothing, dress them. Almost every single person I know can afford to let go of some clothing. I know for a fact that in my household, we have extra and we are bagging stuff up for donation. Instead of goodwill or a thrift shop, give directly to a needy family, call your local churches and see if they know someone they can give it to, take it to a homeless shelter or a food pantry.

If someone needs a hug, hug them. I recently stopped at the table of a complete stranger and I hugged them. They were crying, alone at a coffee shop table. My heart ached for them, so I took the time and I sat with them, I did my best to offer comfort, compassion and I gave them a big hug. They thanked my over and over again. The words they said as I left, stuck with me. "Thank you for noticing and stopping. Most people would have just walked by." What a sad truth that is, most people would just walk by. We have to stop walking by, we need to stop and notice the pain all around us. Stop and notice when people just need someone to stop and notice them.

Home Schooling in the Raw - Why we home school year round

Several years ago, Chris and I made the choice to home school our children year round. We decided this when Alexzander ( who is now almost 11 and in 5th grade ) was starting second grade, we noticed that we were spending far to much time at the beginning of the school year, repeating and relearning everything he forgot over the summer. It was time consuming for us and frustrating for him.

Since that year, we have been schooling on a year round schedule. We start our new year the Tuesday after Labor Day. We take two weeks off each season. Generally, our breaks go like this, two weeks off around Thanksgiving, two weeks off around Christmas, two weeks off around Easter and two weeks off around the 4th of July. We do have some assignments during their breaks, generally they have a special reading assignment that earns them prizes for completely, a fun craft or project during those weeks and any make up work they still have.

Our summer school months ( June - beginning of next school year ) are different than the rest of the school year. We have a lighter work load, focus strongly on summer reading programs ( we do two from local libraries and I even printed my own last year )  and outdoor lessons. They generally have a couple work sheets a week that keep them on track with what they have learned and prep them for the next school year.  We take lots of field trips, family get aways ( it is so easy to do educational stuff on the road ) and camping trips. They help us in our garden, we take part in local events and just take learning where ever we can.

                                                     

No longer doing meal planning

Just making a quick post to let everyone know that for the time being, I am not going meal planning. We have not been sticking to the plan anyway and I am just not wanting to do it.

There will be several more posts coming very soon, including more homeschooling in the raw and some about the current things going on in our day to day lives.

Home Schooling in the Raw - Teaching Charity

My oldest two kids are Destiny ( age 9, 4th grade ) and Alexzander ( age 10, 5th grade ). My husband and I wanted to take the time to teach them the importance of giving and charity work. Both of them have helped in the past at different volunteer projects but we wanted them to have a more hands on lesson.

We sat down as a family and decided that they should run their own fundraiser for a local charity. After some discussion, they picked The Marion County Humane Society.  They have spent a lot of time out there, playing with the kitties and petting the dogs. We actually adopted our dog, Charlie, from the shelter two years ago.

( The day we brought Charlie home. ) 

                                             

After picking what charity they wanted to help, they set to work with how they would reach their goals. Destiny is an aspiring artist and she wanted to use her skills to help. Her goal is $500 and she is making that money by selling hand painted mugs ( custom greeting cards coming soon! ).

                                                 
                                                 

She has sold many mugs and they are inching their way closer to their money goal!! She is doing an amazing job.

Alexzander is enjoying learn to bake, that is how he wanted to particiapate in the fundraiser. He made a list of items and each time someone donates something from their list, he bakes them a batch of chocolate chip cookies or banana bread.

His list - 

3 large bags of dog food ( Goal met!! ) 

3 small bags of dog ( only need 1 more to meet their goal ) 

5 bags of cat food ( only need 3 more to meet their goal ) 

3 tubs of cat litter

5 boxes of cat treats ( only need 4 more to meet their goal ) 

5 boxes of dog treats ( 1 more needed to meet their goal ) 

3 toy bones

3 squeaky toys

                                                   

They have already made several donations and their items list is slowly being completed! They have done a wonderful job so far and we are extremely proud of them! They were even featured in our local news paper.
                                                 

I made them a facebook page, you can follow their progress here.

Meat Shredder Review

I recently had the chance to review these meat shredders, we do a lot of shredded roast beef sandwiches and shredded chicken sandwiches. Usually, I shred with a fork and it can take some time to do it this way. These little shredders cut my time nearly in half and they do a much better job.

These meat shredders fit on your hand, with just a small amount of effort, you can shred your meat without problem. The shredders are made of a thicker plastic material, I have used them several times now without issue. I have read that others have had problems with the tips breaking but I think the only way that would happen would be if your meat was not cooked to the point of being ready to shred.

Clean up in a breeze, a quick wipe and rinse is all it took.I would recommend these to anyone that makes a lot of shredded meat!

****I did receive this item at a discounted rate, in exchange for an honest review. ****

February Meal Plan Part 2

Feb 11th - 18th
Sunday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Chicken fries, tater tots and fruit
Dinner - Sandwiches, veggies and dip


Monday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Turkey and veggie soup
Dinner - Shredded beef sandwiches and veggies


Tuesday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Mac and cheese and broccoli
Dinner - Cheesy, ham eggs and fruit

Wednesday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Sandwiches, string cheese and fruit
Dinner - Cheesy beef burgers, home made fries and veggies


Thursday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Spaghetti and meatsauce
Dinner - Grilled cheese and tomato soup

Friday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Mac and cheese and broccoli
Dinner - Chicken tacos, rice and beans


Saturday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Chicken fries, tater tots and veggies/dip
Dinner - Skillet lasagna and salad


Feb 19th - 25th
Sunday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Turkey wrap ups and veggies/dip
Dinner - Creamy tomato pasta and salad


Monday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Tuna sandwiches and veggies and dip
Dinner - Beef and noodles and veggies


Tuesday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Creamy spinach tortellini
Dinner - Meatball subs and veggies

Wednesday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Sandwiches and veggies/dip
Dinner - Cheeseburger casserole and veggies


Thursday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Eggs, toast and fruit
Dinner - Meatball sub casserole and veggies

Friday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Dinner - Cheesy pasta and salad

Saturday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Pizza and salad
Dinner - Spaghetti and meat sauce, garlic toast and salad

Feb 26th - 28th
Sunday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Pancakes and fruit
Dinner - Tacos, rice and refried beans


Monday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Sandwiches and veggies/dip
Dinner - Meatloaf, potatoes and corn

Tuesday
Breakfast - Yogurt, oatmeal or cereal and fruit
Lunch - Eggs, toast and fruit
Dinner - Chicken, potatoes and veggies