Konnichiwa

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Fall Is In The Air!

Fall is definitely in the air. I made my first pumpkin pie yesterday. The air smelled good! This weekend we are planning to go the pumpkin patch. It is like taking the kids for the first time, since most of them don't remember going before we left for Oki. Also bought my first mums of the season. I love the color of fall mums. They are beautiful. I think we will make some fall cookies too.

The kids are going to be doing a Pumpkin Unit Study this week. It will probably go until the end of October. I found this great website where you can purchase Unit studies to download and print the pages you need. It has a Great Pumpkin Mega Fun Book.
http://www.currclick.com/product/64539/Simple-Schooling-Great-Pumpkin-MEGA-Fun-Book
It is a fun way to learn about pumpkins. I hope next year that we are able to grow our own pumpkins.

I am planning some fall activities for school. We are going to collect acorns and make picture frames out of them. We are also going to go collect the beautiful fall leaves and make collages. And make fall thankfulness posters. They are really great fun to make and something that the kids can use to decorate their rooms for fall. The picture frames would also make great gifts to send out.

Some good Bible Verses for Fall Thanksgiving Posters:
1Chronicles 16:8
Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!

1 Chronicles 16:34
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.^[a]

Psalm 100:4
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

I plan to post some pictures of our crafts when they are finished. I'd love to hear what fall school activities you are doing in your homeschool. I am hoping to host a homeschool linkup next week. Still have to figure out how to do it, but hopefully it will be up and running by then. It will be a linkup share all of our great homeschool ideas and share what we are learning about. So tell all your homeschool friends to stop by next week. :)

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Something New

We have never had a lizard before...minus the geckos in Oki, so this is our first lizard. We discovered that the lizard was shedding his skin. He had been sleeping a lot and not eating much. Now we know why. He has a really pretty color under his chin now.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Good Reads

I probably shouldn't have labeled this post as good reads since I posted some links to videos...but enjoy the links! ;)

A great blog post on contentment. I think sometimes when we lack money and instead have extra time that would be spent on spending money, we tend to spend more time with our kids, and some of the material things seem to be less important.
http://lorialexander.blogspot.jp/2012/09/unmaterialistic-and-simple-living.html

This one isn't something to read, but its a good video to watch.
http://www.dividedthemovie.com/

A cute lunch for the kiddos
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Ladybug-Appetizers?pmcode=IMDD201U&_mid=2358415&_rid=2358415.952436.1041811

This is great! You will be laughing by the end!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM

The Homeschool Blues...funny!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=7wu0R_8rH00&NR=1
and this was the first homeschool video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3vfU1QOVDc&feature=related

Monday, September 24, 2012

Hymn Monday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsCp5LG_zNE

Amazing Grace
John Newton

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.
The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.
When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see

Monday, September 17, 2012

Its a rainy day here. I love rainy mondays. It makes me feel like staying in and doing lots of school, and baking and crafts. I am crocheting some small baby blankets for my daughter for her baby dolls for Christmas. We have really gotten into the fun of making homemade Christmas gifts. I am trying to think of some gifts that the kids can make for each other. Something that each child will enjoy receiving. I haven't thought of anything yet. Any ideas??? I would love some suggestions. I have ideas of things that hubby and I can make for the kids.
I was suppose to make three apples pies on Friday, but only eneded up making one. Today is turning into my baking day. I made peanut butter cookies, and I am hoping to make some more cookies plus an apple pie. My oldest son is always willing to help peel the apples for some apple pie. :)
Dinner is going to be stew and homemade apple pie. I love hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream melting over it. Yum! I can't wait for dinner.
How is everyone's week starting?

Sunday, September 9, 2012

'Tis The Time Of Year...

The cooler weather is coming and with it comes delicious fall baking. Since I have all my cookware back and a good majority of it in the kitchen...some had to be left in boxes due to our kitchen being much smaller...I am back to meal planning and looking up new recipes online. I found this neat little website called CopyKat Recipes. I am planning to try the Spagetti Warehouse Stuffed Bruschetta. Anyways it looks like a great website to get some good "eat out food" without the eat out prices.
The link to it is here http://www.copykat.com/, and the brusschetta link is here
http://www.copykat.com/2012/08/30/spaghetti-warehouse-stuffed-brushetta/.

We had a great time visiting an apple orchard while my sister in law was here last weekend. I am making some cooked apple slices...and I also found a recipe for fried apples. I am planning to make 2 to 3 apple pies this weekend. I am hoping to be able to do some berry picking and I might...maybe try to make some homemade jam. I have to do a little research on it.

We started school last week. Not the smoothest start I have ever had, but I am hoping this week goes a little smoother. I have a lot of new curriculum this year and I think its going to take a bit to adjust to it. I was so proud of my 3rd grader the other day. He really struggles when it comes to writing...especially any type of writing that he has to write a story and come up with his own ideas. This time I had him make up his story...he had to come up with a theme himself, and he did really really good. I was so proud of him.

Well fall is in the air, the cooler weather is here, and with it comes homeschool days, football, baking, and fall crafts and the pumpkin patch...we have missed being able to go to the pumpkin patch. What a wonderful time of year!!! I would love to hear what you are cooking or baking, or any fun fall activities you are doing. Thanks for stopping by!