Headboards and a Meltdown {sigh}

Photo taken before said meltdown

Soph was supposed to go to preschool today

for class pictures...

it didn't happen.

Instead, she had a giant meltdown

all because she wasn't sharing and had to go to time out.

Who knew this would send her into a tailspin!?!

I should have sensed her mood

when I painted her fingernails

and she demanded turqoise on one hand, 

purple on the other.

After the meltdown...

 there was smeared mascara,

disheveled hair, glitter about, a crooked mirror, two kids in the corner...

    you get the picture!

Even still, I love being a mom.

The fact that I haven't had sugar or white flour

in four days, 

doesn't help the scenerio.

******

On a brighter note:

Let's talk about my headboard {or lack thereof}.

I'm the claustraphobic type,

I despise clutter,

for this reason,

I don't have a "bedroom set",

 and for fear I'd drop a bunch of ca$h

only to get sick of it a few months later.

I love the peacock blue shutters

I saw at between you & me,
here are a few others I like.

(inspiration photos added later)

and iron headboards are always great, (but I already have two).

I may get really brave and make an awesome fabric one

for my fall break project,

but since I'm spending fall break in New York

I don't see how that will work.

Hmm, any suggestions? Or should I just leave it?


Visit Tuesday's Unwrapped.

This is where I go to blog...

I love that my new house has enough space in the master bedroom for me to have my own little 'woman cave'. I wish I could paint but since I can't, I just add bright cheerful colors. Kimball thinks it's a little juvenille but it makes me happy!

I also blog on the couch when football's on, or when I feel like having a comfy seat.

Visit Centsational Girl for more 'where I blog' posts.

Kade's Baptism

Last month Kade got baptized while we were on vacation in Utah. We were blessed to have so many family there, people from Texas, Washington, Idaho and Colorado. It was a very special day for Kade and he enjoyed every minute of it.

My awesome brother Joe and his wife Amy hosted a luncheon at their gorgeous home. It was a hot July day, but the scenery was great and there was plenty of shade and good food. Thanks SO much Joe and Amy...once again, I owe you big!

Thanks so much to everyone who came, we love you all and appreciate the efforts you made to come. We missed those that couldn't make it and wish we could have invited all our family and friends.  

Kade loved all the gifts, he got his own set of personalized scriptures, a journal and hymn book. A tie, gospel art picture book and a few pictures. On the way home from the church, Kade said "Sophia, I hope I have been a good example to you today." He's such a sweet little guy!

Sorry if I didn't get your picture. I was busy running around and took as many as I could. I notice there's none of our lovely hostess Amy, I guess it's because she was working her 7 months pregnant tush off! Love ya Amy!

Citrus Basil Rub {Shrimp Tacos}

This is a simple dish to make, it was a big hit with the entire family. It's super fresh and healthy!

Ingredients: Citrus Basil Rub (Pampered Chef), shrimp peeled and deveined, sliced green peppers, sliced red peppers, limes, onion, cilantro, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and tortillas.

Directions:
#1 Wash, peel and devein shrimp. Pat dry, then put in a zip lock bag, sprinkle w/ Citrus Basil Rub. Toss around in bag and set aside.

#2 Slice up your vegetables, warm a large fry pan, pour 2 T. olive oil on heated pan, add chopped garlic, peppers and onions. Cover for about 5 minutes, remove and set aside in bowl.

#3 Add 1 T. olive oil to heated pan, stir in shrimp, cook for about 3 minutes.

#4 Put pepper/onion mix back in pan and cook for a few more minutes.

#5 Brown tortillas in pan or right on burner.

#6 Spoon shrimp and veggies onto tortilla, add a little cilantro, chunks of tomatoes and a squeeze of lime.

*Note: I used a Pampered Chef rub, but you could easily make your own w/ lemon and lime juice, onion, salt and pepper, basil, garlic or whatever you want.

BTW, for anyone out there who needs some gluten-free recipes, check out my sister-in-laws blog.
She's a fabulous cook and has come up with recipes that the entire family will enjoy.

A Day In The Life...Finding Our Groove, Shakespeare & Science

Warning: Crazy long, detailed post...you may turn and run now and my feelings won't be hurt.

For homeschool families that blog, sharing a 'typical day' is kind of fun. I love peeking in and catching a glimpse of how you all do it.

How's it going for us?

So far so good! I have to say, it's much easier this year than when we started in 2008. The boys are older and able to work more independently, they are more motivated than ever to learn and have fun doing it. Sophie's three years old now, she's potty trained and goes to preschool two days a week so that helps a ton!

We love our 'Little Mama', but it's nice having her off playing and learning a few times a week. It's been great for her language skills and gives her a chance to play with her bff who we no longer live by.

Here's a look at a 'typical day' at our house...(if there is such a thing).

I wake up at 5:00, review what we are going to do, prepare for the days science experiments and make final preparations. Do a little laundry, cleaning, and check my email, facebook and favorite blogs.

Kids wake at 7:00, eat and get dressed. Soph stresses to make sure we save a piece of banana bread for Kimball. She climbs up to the dish and puts the last piece on a plastic pink plate, then surprises her dad with breakfast in bed....all on her own! What a little mama! She then rushes out to help Kade water the garden and accidentally slams her hand in the door {tears}. Kade feeds our dog Abby and passes out vitamins while entertaining us with hilarious Doug Heffernan quotes.  Jaxon unloads the dishwasher and checks his email, they make their beds and pick up their bedroom while Soph plays a game, she climbs the pantry shelves to sneek more food and gets stuck...Jaxon comes to her rescue.

We meet on the couch at 8:00 a.m. and read from the New Testament St. Matthew chapter 10. Soph sits beside us looking at her basket of books. We discuss Macbeth and together, memorize a poem from Act  4 Scene 1, Soph puts on her witch hat to get us in the mood.

Around 9:15, Jaxon and Kade do copy work (Macbeth poem) in their best handwriting. Jaxon passes off yesterdays poem Jabberwocky by Louis Carol.

At 9:45ish, the boys take their spelling tests.

10:00 we do math. Kade plays with Soph while I get Jaxon started, then I switch and help Kade.

We read from Usborne Science Encyclopedia, discuss the ocean, salt water and cold water. The boys conduct a few science experiments showing at what speed salt water freezes verses plain water.

They also discover that cold water sinks to the bottom while warm water stays at the surface.  They chart their findings and make a few drawings for their science notebooks.

Lunch at 12:30ish, Soph plays with picture flash cards and colors.

We read 20-30 minutes aloud from The Pilgrim's Progress, by 1:30 Soph is napping and the boys and I watch a few appropriate scenes from the movie Elizabeth I The Golden Age.  We then separate for quiet time for an hour. Jaxon chose to work on his book, and Kade read Diary of a Whimpy Kid, I take a 30 minute nap and then take care of a little office work.

By 2:30 we're ready for Latin, we review what we've learned and complete a lesson. Jaxon speeds ahead leaving Kade and I in the dust!

We add a picture of Queen Elizabeth I to our history timeline.

For the next few hours we have free time, Soph helps me make dinner, on the menu is Citrus Basil Shrimp Tacos, they're a hit!

More free time. It's super hot right now, 110 degrees hot...so we don't go outside much except to swim or do the watering.

The boys switch taking a 30 minute turn on the computer.

The boys shower and then go in their rooms for more reading (assigned books or free reads). Jaxon does his writing class home work.

I correct the days work, prep for the next day, send emails, read blogs and work on blog posts. Finally take my relaxing bubble bath. Ahhh, serenity now. I pinch myself for not running today but promise to do it first thing in the morning!

Lights out by 9:00 for the boys, I watch a little football with Kimball, lights out at 10:00 for me. On other days of the week, we have swim class, drama, and scouts in the evenings. I love it on nights like this when we can just stay home and be.

Throughout the entire day I'm picking up as we go or having everyone jump in and do a quick pick up of the house. I'm enjoying having our school room in our main living area. I miss my awesome school room from my last home but we have so much open space in this house it works out perfect!

There you have it! Of course we adjust our days according to things that come up, that's one of the beauties of homeschooling, but this year I'm 100% commited to keeping our studies a priority and I try really hard to keep my days designated for schooling only. There's a million and one things that can distract us if we let them, so I think of it as a full time job (which it is) and remember that we follow a year round type schedule so we can have several weeks off throughout the year. It allows us to hang out with friends, take family trips and do fun projects around the house during those weeks.

For more posts about the nitty gritty of what home schooling families do, go to Heart of The Matter Blog Hop.

West Coast Weekend

This weekend we made a quick, over-night trip to the beach,

we'd been promising Soph she could see the ocean in real life for a while now.

She LOVED it...

from a distance.

While the boys did this

and this,

Sophia was happy just doing her own thing.

I finally took out my new zoom lens {true love}. 

I couldn't wait to get some pictures of the Oceanside Pier,
it's the reason I chose this beach.

The weather was perfect,

escaping the Arizona heat was good for our souls.

Our trip was short but sweet

and best of all,

great memories were made.

Thanks Big Papa!

Orange Glaze Banana Bread

Orange Glaze Banana Bread

3/4 cups butter, softened

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4 medium)

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups chopped pecans, divided (optional)

Orange Glaze

1 cup confectioners' sugar

3 tablespoons orange juice

1 teaspoon grated orange peel

1). In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs,

one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture. Fold in 1 cup pecans.

2). Transfer to two greased 8 in. x 4 in. loaf pans. Sprinkle with remaining pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until a toothpick insterted near the center comes out clean.

3). In a small bowl, whisk the glaze ingredients; drizzle over loaves. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool competely.

Yield: 2 loaves (12 slices each)

Jaxon and I enjoyed making this together, it was his weekly food assignment. I have an unhealthy love affair with breads of any kind...more recipe's to come!

BTW, Grandma White Hair moved to her knew (assisted living) home and is loving it! I'm so glad she's happy there...apparently she's swingin' with lots of new friends and tons of fun things to do.

Creepy Crawlers!

Jaxon with a gecko.

If I survive motherhood with two boys

obsessed with all things creepy...

it will be nothing short of a miracle.

Lately at night, Kimball and the boys go outside to do some scorpion hunting with the black light....YUCK!
It seems that withouth realizing it, I've managed to pass my serious fear of them on to Soph. I wish I'd  read How Children Learn before I wigged out so bad in front of her. I'm not sure I could have stayed calm, but maybe I'd have toned it down a bit. Kimball, Jax and Kade are always trying to get a reaction out of me and they always succeed.

Mom's Pumpkin Bread

With all of this 'back to school' talk

                                                   I'm feeling a little fallish (if that's a word),
                                      and since it definitely doesn't feel like fall here in Arizona...
                                                                        I just pretend;

so at the risk of gaining five pounds,

I decided to pull out my mom's pumpkin bread recipe.

BEST EVER!

I should also mention I was born on Halloween,

so I'm somewhat of an expert on all things pumpkin...

just sayin'!

PUMPKIN BREAD

3 1/2 c. flour

1 1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking soda

3 c. sugar

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 can pumpkin

1 c. vegetable oil

2/3 c. water

4 eggs

1 c. raisins (optional)

1 c. walnuts (optional)

Sift all dry ingredients together. Stir in liquid until smooth. Add eggs. Beat well. Add nuts and raisins. Grease and flour bread pans. Fill pans 1/2 full. Bake 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes until done. You can put in greased muffin tins for less baking time. Roll bread in white sugar. 

Let cool and as Kade would say..."Life changing!" 

Riverside Scholars 2010-11

As always I'm posting our curriculum choices for this year. We aren't changing too much, but we are adding additional resources in many areas. I love this time of year, new crisp books, fresh resources and inquisitive children just waiting to crack them open!

This year we're eliminating television and Xbox from our daily live, allowing it only on weekends and breaks.  Our schedule is so full this year; there isn't time or reason to have a distraction like that. Kade had a hard time with it the first day but it wasn't too bad. I know if I provide a learning atmosphere, and plenty of educational resources, they won't even miss it.

1. Math - We're sticking with Saxon.
Jaxon's starting on lesson 60 (to review a bit) of book 6/5. Kade is starting on lesson 1 of Math Level 3 (which is hopefully going to get harder); its stinks when you order books, write in them and then realize they are not the correct level wich has happened on more than one occasion.

2. Writing- Institute for Excellence in Writing
Jaxon's taking a class from a local woman who home schools and is highly educated and trained in this course. Since it's his passion, I think it will be fun for him to join a few other students and make sure he gets a very solid foundation in writing. For this year we are sticking w/ Writing with Ease by Susan Bauer for Kade.
They will also be doing copy work weekly and writing letters/notes to family and friends a few times a month. All Jaxon's work is completed in cursive and Kade is learning cursive this year. Jaxon is also taking Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.

3. Science - The Handbook of Nature Study, Janice Van Cleave's Biology for Every Kid (for experiments) and Usborne Science Encyclopedia. We will study animals, plants and the human body. We'll continue to use Charlotte Mason's approach and do as much hands on as possible, going on nature hikes and visiting the Science Center. Against my better judgment we'll be getting some type of classroom pet (besides our 5 lb. Malteepoohuahua), maybe a lizard (if I get my way) or a garden snake. Kade really wants a guinea pig or hamster but I just don't think I can do it. We also have a garden this year.

4. History/Geography - The Story of the World 3 Early Modern Times covering (1600-1850). We also check out several relevant books each week from the library. The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia is often referred to as well. History is always a favorite around here, this year we made a 25' long timeline that hangs in our hallway where we can note important dates and post pictures to help put it all in perspective. We also use black line maps and the workbook for our history has several activities. We also have large maps and globes in the house to view locations. Flash cards are also part of our quiet time study.

5. Spelling - Spelling Workout. Level H for Jaxon and level D for Kade. Unfortunately I bought level F for Jaxon along with the teacher's book, but its way too easy for him so I'll save them for Kade. They can usually get through 1 1/2 - 2 books per year.

6. Literature - We continue reading The Pilgrim's Progress aloud daily and we are starting Macbeth. I've selected many classics from The Well Trained Mind's suggested list along with others from amblesideonline.org's list for the boys to read. We try and keep in correlation with our history timeline. Some of these include...Perrault's Complete Fairy Tales, Poems by William Wadsorth, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow & Rip Van Winkle, Grimm's Fairy Tales, Pride and Prejudice, A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, The Tale of Two Cities (for Jaxon).   Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver's Travels, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Three Musketeers, a soft intro to Les Miserables, Oliver Twist, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, East of the Sun and West of the Moon (for Kade). The boys have assigned reading and free reading; they can also read extra relevant books during their free time. On school breaks and in summer they can read anything they wish.

7. Foreign Language - Prima Latina & Latina Christiana I, we also have some Spanish CD's and flash cards that we'll use along w/ Latin flash cards. I hope to purchase Rosetta Stone Spanish by January. The school that Jaxon will attend for junior high and high school teaches Latin and Greek (in junior high) and Spanish & French in high school, so I may let Jax do French since he's always wanted to, though it's probably wiser to stick with Spanish since Kimball speaks it fluently.

8. Fine Arts - We do art and music once a week, discussing different artists and composers from the history timeline we are on. I'll be highlighting a new artist & a composer each month; we'll discuss their life and the techniques and style. We are using a book called Drawing With Children , the boys are participating in a local home school choir that meets bi-monthly; they are also taking a drama class once a week. I have discovered many free and inexpenisive field trips to theaters and symphony's nearby; we'll be doing one per month, such as Macbeth, The Nutcracker, Into the Woods (Bros. Grimm) and The Sound of Music & ice skating. I also plan to do a field trip to the Phoenix Art Museum.

9. Physical Fitness - We will be hiking on hikes on various Friday mornings when weather permits, we also run/walk on the treadmill several times a week.  Both boys will be in a weekly homeschool PE group. Kade is taking swim and will soon move up to the competitive team. The boys are also going to do the Goblins & Ghosts 5K with me, it's on Halloween (my birthday) and it's totally fun. People race in crazy costumes and it's a fun to see what people come up with.

10. Religion - This year we are studying The New Testament, the boys will be doing scripture mastery (memorizing specific verses) from our daily reading. We also read from Usborne Encyclopedia of World Religions. As we do our history reading, we can refer to this for additional information during the next morning's devotional. I find learning about different faiths fascinating and feel it's an important part of education.

11. Memory - We will be memorizing the books of The New Testament, different poems from Emily Dickenson, William Blake and any others we like from our reading. As I mentioned above, they'll also be doing scripture mastery. Important science terms from the human body, plant kingdom and animal kingdom. Jaxon will learn Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky. Both will learn the Preamble to the Constitution, The Declaration of Independence and the "Give Me Liberty Speech" by Patrick Henry. We'll see how far we get, I tend to get carried away with memory, it's another favorite.

12. Life Skills -  This year both Jaxon and Kade are in scouts so they learn a lot each week there, we are also using a book called Kid Food by Rachel Ray; easy, 30 minute meals the boys each cook for our family one meal per week. They will also be doing a few simple sewing projects this year...I haven't decided what yet. Gardening is also something we're working on. We have several planter boxes where the boys help plant and take care of herbs, vegetables and flowers throughout the seasons. They are really like this, and enjoy being able to go to the garden for fresh ingredients when cooking.

My studies: I absolutely love reading great books and have developed a love for classics. I am commited  to teaching them by example, that learning is fun and very fulfilling. I'm currently reading How Children Learn by John Holt and Emma by Jane Austin. I may start the 5 Pillars course for leadership education by George Wythe University, but I kind of like doing my own thing and since Jaxon has some hard reads this year, I think I'll read right along with him. I am also brushing up on my math skills with some software I purchased at Costco. In October Kimball and I will be going to New York. I'm beyond excited about this, I've never been. Kimball served an LDS mission there when he was 19; he lived there for 2 years. I can't wait to see all the historical sites and visit various art and history museums.

If you are looking into home schooling, I highly recommend The Well Trained Mind, Charlotte Mason and A Thomas Jefferson Education as a solid, classical, leadership education that encourages reading live books rather than boring old text books! The goal is to enspire not require, to light the fire so they'll have the desire to self educate throughout their life. Just my two cents. :)

Another First

While her brother's were off at Terabithia building tree houses and having crazy fun sleep over's with their cousins, Soph had a first (and last) of her own...a sleep over with her bff Addi.

We have always had a 'no sleep over rule' (except for cousins), or if babysitting or something, but for some reason I made an exception this time. I don't know why I worried about her crying or having to drive back and pick her up in the middle of the night, she ran off with a giant grin, waiving, and saying "See ya mom!"

The pictures from Addi's party were SO cute, Soph had a blast. I bought them matching pajama's and the night after, Soph brought them to me asking to go to Addi's.

With no sisters, and none of her young cousins living by, I'm so glad she found a bff in our old neighbor Addi. They even go to preschool together now  and LOVE it!

Little girls are so fun!

BTW, Jaxon and Kade are en route...I'm so relieved and excited to hear about all of their fun.

Missing them.

I've been without my boys for nine days and nine nights.

I miss them so much tonight I feel as though my heart will burst.

My only comfort is knowing they are having a blast with their cousins...

in "Terabithia",

building tree houses

and staying up 'till one.

Discussing books and playing far too much Xbox.

I can't believe I agreed to this,

no wonder I had a panic attack the night before we left!

Soph's on the phone with them.

She totally misses them too...

Two more days to go.

Grandma White Hair

This is 'Grandma White Hair'....my dad's mom Betty. She picked up that nickname about 15 years ago when the little kids were trying to keep their two Pierson Grandma's separate.We had a chance to visit her while in Utah last week, she is 92 years old and sadly her mind is fading. My dad warned me on Father's Day that she has gotten Alzheimer's and would be moving from her little home into an assisted care facility. It was totally sad to see the changes in her. She has always been very independent (almost to a fault), she has been the lead singer of several (5) bands as I've mentioned here and has enough sequined vests to cloth the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I only see her every year or two, so of course she didn't remember me. She blamed it on my darker hair but that didn't make it any less sad....I was in tears with in the first minute and had to make several trips to the bathroom during our visit to cry my eyes out. I was a total mess! We were never super close, she's not that type of grandma but regardless of what kind of grandma she's been, it's still really hard to see her get old and change so much. I have such a soft spot for older people. I imagine them lonely, tired, sick, sore and frustrated...I sure hope it's not really that bad.

When we arrived, she was outside confronting the mail man as to why he stopped bringing her mail. He told her it had been forwarded to her kids, which was followed by her saying she's going to "chew them out". As we sat and talked, she mentioned (over and over lol) that she no longer drives and recently sold her car to the nicest man from her church. She also told us repeatedly that her kids are moving her to a new home and she's not happy about it. Grandma White Hair also managed to offend nearly all of us before it was time to go, but not really though because we all know she doesn't know what she's saying. I wish I lived closer so I could help keep her company but I'm glad my brother Joe and his wife Amy do a good job at keeping an eye on her.

Living out here in Arizona without any kind of elderly for my kids has been kind of a bummer...not that Arizona is lacking in the elderly department, but for some reason we hadn't come across any living in my area. As a child I had the opportunity to serve several different elderly people and really enjoyed it. I think it's so important and want to instill that in my kids, so last year we were in the parking lot and I finally spotted an older man...he looked ancient. I jumped out of my car and waived him down. He pulled over (probably shouldn't have been driving), and rolled down his window. I asked him if there was anything we could do to help him out like yard work, grocery shopping etc. Unfortunataley, he acted offended and told me he's just fine. I'm sure he either thought I was a nut, or didn't want to believe he'd gotten to the point where he could use some assistance.

Luckily, this year my boys will have the chance to sing to the elderly with their home school choir group...they'll be making the rounds to local nursing homes and hopefully we can adopt one we meet. 

Some things I've learned from my Grandma Betty...

1. Stay active in your older years.

2. Have hobbies and skills that bring you joy.

3. Share your talents with others -Grandma Betty has many talents, not only does she play several instruments and sing, she also writes poems and is a fabulous gardener. 

4. How to pinch pennies & never waist - About 13 years ago I picked her and my parents up at the Salt Lake Airport. They were returning from a trip to Hawaii. As I was looking for her luggage, she motioned to her purse and said she was going to finish her steak when she got home. I knew they didn't server her steak on the airplane, and the flight was a good 6 hours. I said, "Grandma what are you talking about?" She told me she had wrapped up her left over steak (from the night before) in a napkin and put it in her purse for later. Then there was the time she gave me a funny gift for my 23rd birthday...an already opened roll of film w/ the box scotch taped back together and wrapped in toilet paper. :) Oh geez, I guess that's what living through the depression will do to you!