What a day. Not nearly as productive baking wise as my oven was tied up for most of the day with apple leather but I did make a yummy vegetable soup from scratch! Though it could have used corn and I am sure I will add more to it tomorrow for lunch or something. Really simple:

1 medium onion cut up, 6 carrots peeled and cut up, 6 or 7 potatoes cubed and 4 stalks of celery cut up. Also 900 ml of chicken broth, 4 cups of water and parsley and bowtie noodles.

I put 2 tablespoons of butter in the bottom of my soup pot and with the heat at medium high threw in the carrots, celery and onion and for 5 min sauted them. I then added in the chicken stock (broth), water and potatoes and brought it up to a boil. Meanwhile I cooked up half a bag of the bowties and threw those in, adding the parsley when the potatoes were about cooked. The boys were a little unsure of the “green bits” as they put it but willingly consumed a nice sized bowl each.

Mmm Soup

For breakfast we tried one of those add water and shake style pancake batters. Kathy sent one home with Ken. I was less than impressed, it leaked a little since when you shake it expands and it had lumps… but the kids were happy with it. I am fine just with taking the mix and putting it in a bowl and adding water that way. Though the concept is sound. There were also no left overs.

Pancake Batter

School wise I am feeling a tad overwhelmed with the whole having to start our Kindergarten career without the previously planned curriculum. I asked a couple mentor type people and two of my egroups and got some ideas but now am almost faced with too many options. I have to admit there IS a fear that I will not choose the right thing and they either won’t get the education they should or won’t be interested. I HAVE found a lapbook set up for the entire alphabet in 26 days for only $1.00 that I am seriously considering just to put that final emphasis on each letter and then moving into the sounds and perhaps reading.

I know I also want to work on counting further and further and maybe some simple adding and subtracting. Lots of crafts are a must (of course) and, in fact, today we started with some sewing. I got some round plastic canvas pieces, blunt needles and yarn. It is going to take some time but they are sort of getting the hang of it. Gavin more so than Zander.

Gavin

Zander

Today we finally finished the butterflies for Zander and Gavin. So tomorrow we will be putting up the bugs in the twins’ room (their room is pink and they have been asking for more things on the wall, with these I can put up a bunch of things with scotch tape and not have to worry about nail holes).

Completed Butterflies (Gavin middle)

We also had a go at 9’s again. They were drawing them half the time right and half the time like “P’s”. Maybe tomorrow we will try out the number 10 for size. Emanuel surprised me when I was measuring out his Borax for the ornaments by counting to 9 with me (very quietly but he doesn’t like to draw attention when he does things like that). And in doing one of the work sheets I printed out from a free download on currclick he was able to figure out the legend and colour at least a couple of the shapes the colour indicated (until he got bored and decided he would rather colour rainbows – which I agree are much much prettier). So they are definitley getting more than I think they are out of our days! Which is a great feeling.

Ornaments Take 2 🙂

I have been working on my magazine beads again… I like the result and am hoping the kids will find them fun. If I can get them to work out well enough maybe I will include some in the Christmas packages for the kids we know. I am hoping to get another craft for that going on Wednesday.

Oh and a super special treat – Esther called (via Skype) from Grenada! Things are going well and she is definitely enjoying herself as well as learning something new each day! I have to admit I REALLY miss her, but what an opportunity!!!

Esther Phones

Ken disappeared for around 4 or more hours tonight. Ran out to bank and the grocery store for like 3 things and all of a sudden – nothing. 8:45 rolls around and the phone rings – Ken at  the grocery store. Apparently Friday’s trip to the ditch loosened some connections so cell phone less Ken had to somehow contact AMA (AAA? whichever) and have them come fix it – thank goodness he got the woman’s insurance information = not our bill! Add this experience to the “wish we had Ken’s cell back” list. Thank goodness I had everything I needed for the soup, and managed to bathe Emanuel and Trinity before the call came.

Oh well Ken AND the van are in one piece so it is all good. I am done the words for the latest quick project… just need the quotation marks and pink bunnies and I can post it here! I am still hoping that Ken will have time to set up my patterns on here. OH and tomorrow is THE DAY the government has PROMISED to come through for us – I will surely let you know!!! Oh believe me I will be VERY vocal if it goes sour yet again!

Product Placement Anyone? LOL