Science Fun!

Today, I decided to try something different.  Have I mentioned that I get completely bored to death if we do the same thing for too long.  We've been studying Science using Apologia's Flying Creature of the Fifth Day for quite some time now.  Well, today I decided to pull out our other science book and learn about something new.  So, I found where we left off in our Pandia Press R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey Earth & Space book and proceeded to learn all about the ratio of land to water on our planet.  First, the kids came up with their hypothesis and filled out the graph on their lab sheets.

Next, they took turns tossing the globe (removed from the stand) back and forth to see how many times their right index finger landed on land or water.  We were supposed to use a blow up globe, but we didn't have one handy.  So...we took a chance and were VERY careful not to drop our globe.  Hey, sometimes you have to improvise.  The kids loved this part.

Let's see, that's one for land, then another, then water, then land.  Oddly enough, we seemed to hit land more than water.  Go figure.  So we throw the globe twenty times, recording our findings as we go.  Haley did an awesome job at keeping track.

Lastly, we filled out a graph showing our findings, and then one showing the correct ratio of land to water.  In comparing their hypothesis to the answer, Adam got it right.  Haley was close, and Ryan was a bit off.  This was a fun way to learn about land versus water.  Much more exciting than just reading about it in a textbook.  If you like fun, hands on science, you're sure to enjoy R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey.   If you'd like to try out any of their awesome products, you can download several lessons to try them before you buy them. 

WFMW - Freezer Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Who doesn't love fresh baked cookies?  I know everyone in my family enjoys them a little too much.  However, being a homeschool mom of three active kids, and being involved in a few too many outside activities, I rarely find the time to bake them.  So...what's the solution you ask?  Freezer cookies!  You've heard of freezer meals, so why not do it for desserts as well?  What I like best about these cookies is that they are semi healthy due to the addition of oatmeal and whole wheat flour, but also they're not so overly sweet.  Don't get me wrong, they are yummy, but not as sweet as a regular chocolate chip cookie.  They do however satisfy my chocolate craving.  Want the recipe?

Freezer Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups quick rolled oats
1 6 oz. package semisweet chocolate chips

Combine both types of flour and add in baking soda.  Add butter and shortening and beat for 30 seconds.  Add both sugars, beat until fluffy.  Stir in oats and chocolate chips.  Combine well and roll into one inch balls.
Makes approximately 72 cookies.  Place on waxed paper lined cookie sheets and flash freeze.  When frozen, transfer to a ziploc freezer bag and store in freezer.

To bake, simply pull as many as you'd like out of the freezer, heat your oven to 375 degrees, place frozen cookie balls on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes. 

 Voila!  Its that simple.  Yummy fresh baked goodness without the hassle.  These really work for our family!  To see more great Works For Me Wednesday tips be sure to visit We Are That Family.

Fall Fun at Little River Farms!

Sorry for not posting yesterday.  It was a crazy day at the Crow house.  Just didn't have time to sit down and do anything yesterday.  Do you ever have those days?

Today my homeschool group had our annual fall event at Little River Farms.  Aside from the fact that I had to get up and out way too early, it was a great day.  Here are some of the highlights...

The gang's all here...well a bunch of us anyway.

Haley & Ryan with the donkey.

Goats!  

Hedgehog...isn't she cute?

Chinchillas are SO soft!

Buddy the umbrella cockatoo was so loud!

The boys loved the bearded dragons!

Turkey time.

Ryan, aka The Turkey Whisperer.  This female turkey would walk right up to him and talk to him through the fence.  It was the funniest thing!

Check out this chicken's hairdo!  His name is Tina...Tina Turner that is. LOL

In addition to all of the cool animals at the farm, we also got to go on a hay ride, some kids went on pony rides (for an extra charge), we had a picnic lunch and they played on the playground.  

Lastly, the kids had a stick horse (or buffalo as the case may be) race.  Not quite sure who won, but they sure had fun and they ran off some energy for the ride home.  BONUS!  

Now we're home, tired, dirty and listening to the thunder roll.  Literally... now if we could just get some rain to go with the thunder.  Its been so dry here.  Hope your day was as good as ours.

Family Photos...

Today I've been trying to go through all of the clothes that my kids have outgrown and decide what it worthy of being sold on Ebay, sold at a yard sale, or donated.  I sold a bunch of the boy's things last year,  but still have a ton left.  In going through picture on my computer trying to locate the long lost photos I took of said clothing, I ran across so many pictures that were simply too cute not to share.  Enjoy...

 Yep, caught them red handed!  This basket held all their diapers and the box of wipes.  They loved to take them out through them everywhere and then get in and play.  Aren't they cute?  They were one in this picture.

 Adam is about 4 years old in both of these pictures.  I think Haley must have taken both of them.  Too funny!

Who says boys can't wear bows?  I think Ryan looks so cute with his bow.  He liked it because it was red which is his favorite color.  He was four here, and somehow I don't think he'd pose for me now with a bow on his head.

Ryan riding his cow.  Giddy up moo cow!

Cow girl Haley, age 4 riding her horse.  

Nothing like a little cat nap!

Amazing what you find in junk drawers, isn't it?

 

Am I cute or what?

The terrible twosome cute in the act of destruction!  Boy Ryan looks guilty.

You've seen all the family fishing photos...this is how it started.

We start reading early at our house!

Caught in the act yet again...

Haley at the beginning of her bow modeling for mommy career.

Come on Haley...let me lick your face!!!  I promise not to slobber too much.

 

Haley showing off her extreme sense of fashion.

Ryan striking a pose.  Love the boots!

Um...fashion police time!  I think Adam likes her shoes.

 

Oh the things you do for your big sister...poor Adam.

Hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane as much as I did.  Its amazing how many photos I have stored on my computer.  I really need to get them printed and stuck in albums where we can enjoy them.

Week in Review - We Stayed Home for a Change!

This week I made an effort to stay home for a change.  It seems like we have gotten so incredibly busy over the past few weeks.  We're always running here, running there...  So, aside from the activities that we had to do, we stayed home.

Monday, Haley had her choir class, and the boys and I went shopping for shoes for her at Target.  We also got some really cool glow in the dark spider web stuff to hang on our porch for Halloween.  We live in a huge neighborhood and get tons of kids, so everyone tends to go all out when decorating.  Haley had a friend over for a bit that afternoon after choir, and then Monday night Haley had girl scouts and the rest of us had play practice.  The play is starting to look better as all of us get more comfortable with out roles.  Maybe, just maybe I will be able to do this.

Tuesday we stayed home all day and worked on schoolwork and chores.  That night we had play practice once again.

Wednesday was another day at home with schoolwork and chores, then off to dinner with my in-laws at a barbeque restaurant we've been going to since before Glen and I were married.  Its always so weird to see my kids playing out front of the restaurant when I remember my nieces when they were that age playing there.  We used to meet Glen's grandparents, his dad and step mother, his sister and two nieces, and the girls other grandfather there every week.  Now, both Glen's grandfather and Papa as we called the girls' other grandfather are gone, his sister moved away, but the tradition of going to the barbeque place still remains.

Thursday...you guessed it, stayed home all day until play practice that night.  We worked on our New World Explorers unit study in the afternoon.  The kids had great fun practicing their new knot tying skills.

Friday morning we got some school work done, then it was off to a friends house for lunch.  When the kids were younger we all used to have weekly playdates on Fridays.  Now, all the kids are school age, and with the exception of my kids, all are in school.  That afternoon I tried my hand at some new recipes.  Haley and I made homemade meatballs to freeze for use in various recipes, and then we made a meatloaf to put in the freezer for another day.  Haley enjoyed getting her hands yucky making the meatloaf!

We also made homemade granola to use in homemade granola bars that I finished up this morning.  It was actually simple to do and made the whole house smell yummy.  The boys helped me make a batch of freezer chocolate chip oatmeal cookies to bake another day.  Now we have a gallon size freezer bag full of yummy cookies to make as snacks when the mood strikes.  Friday night I had a girl's movie night with a couple of my friends.  We went to see Life as We Know It and then ended up at Steak and Shake drinking milkshakes until midnight.  Who knew Steak and Shake was such a happening place at that hour?

This morning my kids woke me up way too early, but after a cup of coffee I managed to try my hand at making french toast for the freezer.  Of course, the kids ate some first, but you're supposed to freeze the rest for another day.  It started out well...

But my brilliant idea to line the cookie sheet with wax paper was a complete disaster.  The french toast stuck like glue!  No way was it coming loose.  So, eight slices of bread gone, I regroup and try again.  This time I grease a cookie sheet, leave off the wax paper, and it worked much better.  Although the french toast still stuck a bit, it was a huge improvement.  I also made a couple slices the old way (on the stove), and tried one of each.  The ones that were baked in the oven were crispier and more toast like, while the ones on the stove were only crispy on the outside.  They are both good though.  Now if I can just figure out how to keep them from sticking!

Lastly, I finished up my granola bars this morning.  They actually turned out really well.  However, I think next time I'll use mini chocolate chips for the kids, because these are VERY chocolatety.  Maybe not a bad thing though, right?  I would prefer raisins, so I'll have to try that too.  Its still a work in progress, but I'll keep you posted.  Now to just clean up the huge mess I made of my kitchen with all my baking...

How was your week?  For more Weekly Wrap Up posts, be sure to stop by Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

Thursday Adventures!

In a previous post I mentioned the awesome New World Explorers unit study we purchased from Homeschool in the Woods.  We are just getting started with this unit study, but so far my kids are loving it.  There are so many fun activities for them to do!  At the end of the unit study we have a trip to tour a life size replica of the Nina and the Pinta.  How cool is that?  Our first lesson was about why these explorers went exploring in the first place.  We completed a "lift the flap" book to go in our lap books.  The kids had fun smelling all the spices and adding them to the flap books.

The boys checking out the ginger & cinnamon.

Haley's favorite spice was cinnamon!

Next we moved on to adding some clipart of the gold and riches the explorers hoped to find, little pouches (made from packing tape) of dirt to show the land they were looking for, drew crosses to stand for Christianity, and lastly they drew pictures or used clipart to show adventure of some sort.

Haley working on her flap book.

Adam hard at work gluing his clipart in his book.

Ryan showing his flap book off.

Lastly, we read about life on board the ship.  What they ate, where they slept, what types of jobs they had, and what they did in their free time.  We decided to skip drying meat and making jerky, and moved on to the knot tying lessons.  They had such fun trying out the three different types of knots.  First they tried the "stopper".  All three thought this one was the easiest.

Next they tried their hands at the "bolin".  This was their favorite, and led them to use them to lasso everything in sight, including their stuffed animals.  Here's Haley showing off her "bolin" knot.

Lastly, they attempted to make a "sheepshank".  This one was really hard.  Haley tried to help Ryan, but to no avail. 

 I ended up stepping in and we finally managed to make one somewhat pitiful "sheepshank" knot.  This is a really complicated knot!  I imagine it would be easier to do with real rope and not the twine type we used.  Here's Adam showing off my creation.

This is such a fun unit study, and the kids really like all the fun activities.  We've read about all of these things before, but actually getting to try out some of the things that sailors would have done really brings the lesson home.  Tomorrow we'll finish up the first lesson by making spice cookies from some of the wonderful spices we smelled.  YUM!