Summer...around the corner

We've had a beautiful weather week. The sun has been bright and the skies have been mostly clear. And I had a breath of fresh air today...a friend came to visit! I called her this morning to see if she had ideas on how to get adhesive off the inside of my silverware drawer. She had some ideas, then we got talking about what we were planning on doing today. It was decided that she and her four kiddos would come to our house. Very Fun! It's been a long time since we've done that and our kids played well together and we were able to do some fun school stuff. (I'll tell you about that in a minute.) After she left, I realized how refreshing it was to spend a few hours with her, talk about things that concern us--or what just down right makes us laugh, and let the kids play. So, friend, thanks for coming over today!

She introduced me to "mini office lapbooks". They are lapbooks that contain all sorts of information that serve as reference materials to your children. It's sort of like a "Trapper Keeper" from the '80's or an office cubicle. It can stand up and help focus your child in his studies and it can serve as a wealth of information. For example, my kindergartner's mini office lapbooks will consist of one math and probably two for reading. This website, www.busyteacherscafe.com is terrific and were my friend got most of her printables (free, I might add). In one of her mini reading offices, she has:

• Alphabet chart
• all kinds of phonics charts--blends, vowels, digraphs, etc.
• chart of the months
• days of the week
• color words
• and on it goes :)
  

I'm having a blast with lapbooks and so are my kids. I'm even getting friends excited about lapbooking. So fun. When I'm finished compiling the girls' mini offices, I give you a peek.

Grandma's Cinnamon Raisin Bread

It's been so long since I've posted a recipe, you all probably thought I'd stopped cooking altogether. I found this recipe for Cinnamon Raisin Bread and it is scrumptious!! I checked out the book, America's Best Bread Machine Baking Recipes, from our local library.

Grandma's Cinnamon Raisin Bread
1 1/4 c. water
1 egg
1/4 cup skim milk powder
1 1/4 t. salt
2 T. packed brown sugar
2 T. butter
3 3/4 c. bread flour
1 t. cinnamon
3/4 t. bread machine yeast
3/4 c. raisins

1. Measure all ingredients except raisins into baking pan in order recommended by the manufacturer. Insert pan into bread machine.
2. Select dough cycle.
3. Add raisins at "add ingredients" signal.
4. When finished, dump out onto lightly sprayed counter. Shape into loaf and put in lightly sprayed loaf pan.
5. Place in cold oven. Set oven temp. to 350 degrees. Set timer for 25-30 minutes.
Enjoy!

Oh Blog, my Blog

How do I miss thee?

Actually I really do miss blogging. I miss the creativity it spurned in my little fluffy brain. I've got lots to tell you...like tonight I went to the Olive Garden with some friends and had a marvelous time! It's been ages since I went out and had fun. :) I do get out of the house, but mainly when I have something to do. Not just because. And that was needed and very fun. After Olive Garden we went to Panera and played cards. Really, we did. The Olive Garden apparently had hundreds of people waiting for a seat (okay, I saw 5 people, but whatever). So, we went across the street and played cards at Panera. Salad at the Garden and a bagel at Panera. How could I resist?

Now, with garlic breath, I have to tell you that my bank card was used fraudulently...how dare they? Cruel, dark world. Thankfully the bank caught it right away, and I mean right away. They were on the horn to me bright and early Sunday morning while my hair was still dripping wet from the shower. Card is shut down with another being issued soon. kind of a hassle, but all things considered, I'm thankful.

The Lord is bringing some fun opportunities my way. A neat opportunity to help a good friend with curriculum choices for her kids. She is going to homeschool next year and we might do unit studies sort of together. We live in different states, but our kids are around the same ages/grades. So I'm thinking that what I plan for my girls may work for her kids. I love this kind of stuff and could devote thousands of hours working on it. But when would I blog? or sleep for that matter?

Also, some babysitting opportunities have popped up. I am planning on doing some for the summer, but will really have to evaluate for the school year. It's difficult to homeschool with my own little toddler, but adding others to the mix...hmm...i'm not sure about that.

Well, I've got to work out for like a long time tomorrow from all the stuff I ate today. I'd better get to bed. You all take care now. And come back real soon. And lastly, thanks for all the sweet comments on my last post. :)

Tales from the Scales

I emailed a friend today and thought I'd share it here. I'm sharing it because it will give you, my sweet readers a little peek into why I haven't been blogging often. I also share it because it described my frustration with the scales and why reinvent a good piece. Here you go:

"Yes, there is some business about the body thinking it's starving and hanging on to every fat cell. I keep telling my body that there is NO famine here. There will be food each day (Lord willing), so go ahead and let yesterday's fat go.

My body isn't listening.

So, like you, even though I can feel muscles forming, the scales are not going down. As a result, I threw the scales out into the back yard. That act alone might have burnt off one pound--now we'll never know.

I'm working out at Curves these days. They offer a terrific 30 minute work-out. And let me tell you, I sweat. They also measure and weigh you once a month. My measuring last month (which was the end of my first month) showed that I did lose inches and my body mass index went down 4 whole points. Those two facts alone were worth rejoicing. The scale showed that I'd gained a pound (curse the scale, and it's way too heavy to throw out their back door.) Don't worry, they said. The important thing is that you are losing inches and look at that bmi number. blah, blah, blah. Listen sister, they don't put your bmi number on your driver's license.

Anyway, I'm going to go eat my protein so my muscles can rebuild and realize there is no famine in Egypt."

Now before you push the comment button (and please do, push it) I really do know that it is good to lose inches and for your bmi to go down. I'm glad about that, really I am. seriously, really. Just to show you how glad, I'll go get the scales from the backyard. looks kinda trashy anyway--out there with the couch and car up on cinder blocks. The scales out there really clutters the place.

Officially 6

Our sweet little girl is growing up! She turned 6 the end of April. She has enjoyed her birthday to the fullest and had been counting down since her older sister's birthday in February. We had a wonderful family celebration complete with her choice of supper, cake and ice cream.

The morning of her birthday she exclaimed, "I'm officially 6!"

Just popping in...

I just have to pop in and say that I miss blogging!! I have great thoughts and ideas running through my head--just no time to blog. Even Marissa (who likes to visit my blog) was quite surprised to see my last post was the middle of April.

We are busy with school and home stuff and I'm looking forward to having some time to write soon.
Hope you are all doing well. Please don't stop dropping in. I love visitors. I know I'm not being a very good hostess at the moment, but do drop by again. In fact, come on over and let's sit and chat. See ya soon. :)