October co-op

So, this year and last year, we have transitioned from meeting every Friday, to meeting about once a month. There are so many contributing factors. One of them is that the kids go to classes 2 days a week now...so 3 days of being gone would be too much (we would never get any of our work at home done). Other reasons were babies, pregnancies and bed rest over the last 2 years. It just became too hard to be prepared EVERY week. It is working out really well this way. We study science, Story of the world (history in chronological order), and usually try to celebrate a holiday that is nearby.

So, after our study of the different parts of the brain and the brain lobes, as well as history, we had some fun.

The kids decorated Halloween cupcakes. Julia, as you can see, refused to wash her face painting off from the day before. We did, however, take a shower and scrub it off after co-op :)

Stefanie had a fun craft idea of modge podging glass jars with Halloween characters, to put votive candles in. The kids had tons of fun with it. Jacob told me it was his favorite craft we have done in co-op thus far.

Here are the final results: We have ghosts, pumpkins, monsters and creative designs.
They turned out really cute!
Here are my kids' lit up after!

First co-op

Yesterday, we had out 1st co-op group of the year. This is our 4th year, I think. We have 11 children and we split them into an "older" and "younger group". We study science and social studies and we try to incorporate holidays, seasons and occasional field trips. It was nice to all be back together. The kids really love it and seem to learn a lot in science and history. In Story of the World we learned about King James of England.

With that chapter, they had a porridge that was found in a 1615 cookbook called The English Huswife. They converted it, slightly, to modern day ingredients. So, we made that. It was actually really tasty bit looked a little strange because oatmeal was thrown in to thicken the broth.

The next recipe we made to go with our lesson was called Parkin (a traditional cake from the north of England.)

Anyway...the kids enjoyed the little meal and it helps to bring to life the period and location they are studying. It was a fun day and the kids were happy to be back together at our house!

1st Day of "schedule" and 2nd day home alone!

Well.....I have 2 days to update.

Yesterday I had all the kids home and it was our 1st official Full Day at home, utilizing out 1/2 hour block schedule and the kids' clipboard checklists. Overall, it was a hit. It was a super duper busy day, don't get me wrong. But, I am tired of just trying to get through the day and delegating all day long what the kids need to be doing. It wastes so much time and energy. I put the 4 page chart on a clipboard on the kitchen counter. The kids kept running in, every half hour, to see what they were supposed to be doing next. A couple of the time periods seemed a bit too long and a couple seemed a little too short. So, I took notes on the chart as we went through the day. I will probably do this for a few more "home days" and then will tweak it and print out a new one. I also think I want to put them inside plastic page protectors so that we can cross them off with a dry erase marker as we complete them. I am a list maker and find so much enjoyment in crossing things off. It's almost a disorder. Sometimes when I complete a task, and realize it wasn't on my list.....I write it down, just so I can cross it off. I know...scary. Anyway...It was nice not to spend mental energy trying to figure out what to have everyone do, every minute of the day. I just had to check my chart. The kids enjoyed the structure and the accomplishment of completing their tasks.....and checking them off their clipboard lists!!!! (maybe a couple of them will be like me.......uh oh)

With that said, today is the 2nd day that the kids were in class all day. I have to admit that after the crazy, long day yesterday, I couldn't wait for the kids to go to classes today (did I just say that?) I was a lot better this morning than Tuesday (although my husband was a huge help, too, this morning). I left the house in one piece, the kids had all their stuff, I had all my lists...and my coffee. We were even early! So, I ran a couple of quick errands and excitedly came back to my quiet home and laid the baby down. Today was simliar to Tuesday. I got some computer work done, stuff put away....and started to bake some more snacks to freeze for my kids. (By the way....they LOVED the snacks I made Tuesday...and so did my husband. It also made me happy to serve them to the baby).

Today, I made 2 things. I wanted to make another one but was missing one ingredient....drag. So, I'll save that for another day. these are recipes that I got from my "friend's" blog. One was from her and one was a recipe that a reader posted.

The 1st one is called "Monkey Bars". It's made with bananas, natural sugar, whole wheat flour, dried fruit and chocolate chips. It smells really good....hope the kids like it. Jonah had some when he woke up and he loved it!
Here are the Monkey Bars before going in....

Here's the recipe:

1 2/3 cup mashed banana (about 5 medium bananas)
1/2 cup raw sugar
1/4 cup oil (or melted butter)
1/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup raisins/chocolate chips/nuts (I used chocolate chips and cranberries)

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a jelly roll pan with foil. Whisk bananas, sugar, oil, milk, eggs, vanilla, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl until well combined. Whisk in flour just until it is blended, then gently stir in 1/2 of the raisins (or other substitutes). Spread batter in prepared pan, and sprinkle remaining raisins on top. Bake about 15 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.

When the cookies are cool, slice them carefully into 40 pieces, removing the foil as you go. These stay moist and delicious for several days in an air-tight container at room temperature. For longer store, it's best to freeze them.

And here they are ready to cool and be sliced....

I don't know about you, but my kids have become junk food junkies. They love processed foods. That is why I am on this "kick". I really want to eliminate some of that and have more wholesome snacks when we can. So, looking at the above ingredients (I forgot to include the coconut oil) that were called for in the recipe for "Breakfast Cookies".....I was happy to make these cookies for my kids. I will be even happier if they like them.

Look at how healthy this batter looks! I just had to stop and take a picture.

And, finally....here they are ready to go in, and after they came out!

I'm anxious for my guinea pigs to get home from school and try their new snacks. I froze a lot of what I made today so I can use them next week....but I kept some out for everyone to enjoy today and tomorrow! Hoping to stick to our "schedule" again tomorrow...........

Spring Break Field Trip-The Science Center

So, our homeschool co-op group has slowed down quite a bit this year. I ad a new baby and Stefanie was on bedrest for the 1st semester. Then, she had her baby 2nd semester and the kids started attending 2 days of classes, rather than 1. All of that to say....meeting every Friday was a bit too much this year. (How did I manage to do it last year-pregnant for the whole school year and working for 2 schools?-so crazy). Anyway, we started out with the intention of meeting every other Friday and this semester, it has become about once a month. We love the book we are using...it allows for almost no prep-work. We look forward to it so much! Weeks are just so full and we would have no days to homeschool if we did it every week! The 1st year of co-op, we took like 4-5 field trips. The kids remember those most. This year, we just took our 1st (and maybe last) one. It makes me sad because the kids love them so much! Anyway...we studied the human body this year. The CA Science Center has some really cool stuff in this regard, so that is where we went. We chose to go during our spring break from classes, rather than cram it into a week with 2 days of classes. It was lots of fun. I really hope we will plan more next year! :)

Funny how our group continues to "grow" yet no one new has joined! :)

Even cute Jonah got to participate and daddy came this time, which was a treat! :)

There was this cool "ecosystem" exhibit. It bag with a "film" and our group pretty much took up the whole room!

Brace Yourself for the rest of April!!!!

Well, here I go again.....totally behind on my blog. This is becoming a way-of-life. I needed to sum up all of April so bare with me....sorry for the plethora of pictures! Then, I need to move on to May. What is going to happen to my poor, neglected blog after this baby is born?

The yard project continues!.......Jeremy is a good worker and did a lot to help prepare the garden and plant.

Daddy and Jeremy are laying the sod!!!!yeah.....no more dirt!

Julia is working real hard while the yard work is being done!

One coop day at Stef's house. Does Josh look like he is loving life?

Our Reagan Library field trip. We just got finished studying the Magna Carta, so we wanted to see it while it was still on display there.

The kids had a fun day! It was a really great fieldtrip!

In front of AirForce One....

Yard work in the back also! I had to take this picture to remember Jeremy's determination. He needed to dig up this plant that was entangled in tree roots. He was so persistent and would not give up...all the while mumbling to the plant to "say your prayers" etc. until he finally got the plant out about 30 minutes later. I was quite proud that I got to witness his hard work and refusal to quit!

We started a fruit and vegetable garden. The kids were so excited to get a "Topsy Turvy" (upside down tomato planter). they love to check daily for new tomatoes.

Julia was so excited to find her 1st strawberry of the season!

Josh's 8th Birthday morning.....he got to wake up to a counter full of presents! Lots of fun. This year, his party will be a month or so late....we are doing a combination party for Josh and Jake because of the baby being due the day before Jake's birthday.

The boys are very impressed with his new Bakugon.


We also celebrated at co-op.

Loving all of the attention....

Easter "Saturday".....we had a celebration at one grandma and grandpa' house while Louie was off on Saturday.

Our little "Easter Bunny" playing the piano

After the 1st Easter Celebration, the kids were exhausted. We went to tuck the kids in and couldn't find Julia.....she was passed out in Josh's bed with her "muffin hat" on! (Her little hair net she sleeps in when she sleeps in curlers!)

Easter Sunday at Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's.......

Easter Co-op

Co-op was really fun the Friday before Easter. For science, we studied creation vs. evolution so the kids read through creation in the bible. For History, they studied the Crusades. Then, we had a fun snack and craft for Easter.

We made Rice Krispy treats into Easter eggs (which sure beats hard-boiled eggs)!

Then, the kids got to dip them half-way in milk or white chocolate, and decorate them with sprinkles!

These plates were not actually "posed" in a very cute way, but each kid ended up with 3 eggs and jelly beans to eat in the end.....happy kids!

We also made a craft of Easter Lilies and the flowers were actually created out of the kids' hand prints. (I'm a sucker for anything made out of their hand prints because it is so touching to look back on later!)
The end product was really cute. here is a bouquet of all of my kids' lilies in a vase!!! Fun Day!