IT'S A BUMPY ROAD
It's that time of year where frost heaves and mud are taking over the roads. Nothing like bouncing up and down in the back of the van to excite the younger kids, and make me wonder when I should schedule an alignment. Fortunately, I haven't had to do the "pot hole slalom". Yet.
CATCHING UP
Phew! Although I managed to get a weekly wrap-up done last week, no other blogging happened. Do you ever find yourself without energy for anything extra? I did crochet up a beautiful "ocean blue" hat for a friend one evening. (Want to crochet up your own beanie? Here's the pattern.)
GOING BANANAS
I saw this dessert for a banana pudding poke cake on Facebook this week. What's not to love about pudding AND cake, but it just seemed like to much work. Bake a cake? Nah! So, I whipped up a 10 minute version that was yummy!
Ingredients:
2 packages instant vanilla pudding ($1.38)
3 1/2 cups cold skim milk ($.72)
1 box no brand Nilla Wafers ($2.99)
1 small container non-dairy whipped topping ($.99)
2-3 large ripe bananas ($.47)
Mix the pudding with the milk and set aside to firm up. Place a layer of wafers in the bottom of a 9x9 casserole dish. Fold the whipped topping into the pudding. Spoon half the pudding over the wafers, spreading evenly. Place a layer of sliced banana over the pudding layer. Add another layer of wafers, reserving 4-5 cookies. Spread the rest of the pudding mixture evenly over the top. Place the 4-5 cookies in a baggie and coarse-crush with a rolling pin. Sprinkle the wafer crumbs on top. Makes 10 servings ($.66 per serving).
HOMESCHOOL HELPS
In my quest to find curriculum-on-a-budget for next year, I found 2 websites that may be helpful to you. (For more resources, see Our Favorite Resources page here.)
DiscoveryK12 is a complete curriculum for grades K-12 covering Language Arts, Math, Science, History, Visual/Performing Arts, Health, HTML Coding, and Spanish. Need records? It does that too! Attendence, grades, even a P.E. log can be printed out. I wish the Writing portion included lessons and I'm unimpressed with Spanish, but the video components are a definite plus for Sam. (Don't confuse this site with K12.)
And Essential Skills Advantage is a grade K-6 Language Arts program that includes reading, spelling, comprehension, and vocabulary. No records with this one unless you want to pay for an upgrade though. But Sam is enjoying this one better than MobyMax.
COUNTDOWN BEGINS
It's that time of year where frost heaves and mud are taking over the roads. Nothing like bouncing up and down in the back of the van to excite the younger kids, and make me wonder when I should schedule an alignment. Fortunately, I haven't had to do the "pot hole slalom". Yet.
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| Photo Source |
CATCHING UP
Phew! Although I managed to get a weekly wrap-up done last week, no other blogging happened. Do you ever find yourself without energy for anything extra? I did crochet up a beautiful "ocean blue" hat for a friend one evening. (Want to crochet up your own beanie? Here's the pattern.)
GOING BANANAS
I saw this dessert for a banana pudding poke cake on Facebook this week. What's not to love about pudding AND cake, but it just seemed like to much work. Bake a cake? Nah! So, I whipped up a 10 minute version that was yummy!
Ingredients:
2 packages instant vanilla pudding ($1.38)
3 1/2 cups cold skim milk ($.72)
1 box no brand Nilla Wafers ($2.99)
1 small container non-dairy whipped topping ($.99)
2-3 large ripe bananas ($.47)
Mix the pudding with the milk and set aside to firm up. Place a layer of wafers in the bottom of a 9x9 casserole dish. Fold the whipped topping into the pudding. Spoon half the pudding over the wafers, spreading evenly. Place a layer of sliced banana over the pudding layer. Add another layer of wafers, reserving 4-5 cookies. Spread the rest of the pudding mixture evenly over the top. Place the 4-5 cookies in a baggie and coarse-crush with a rolling pin. Sprinkle the wafer crumbs on top. Makes 10 servings ($.66 per serving).
HOMESCHOOL HELPS
In my quest to find curriculum-on-a-budget for next year, I found 2 websites that may be helpful to you. (For more resources, see Our Favorite Resources page here.)
DiscoveryK12 is a complete curriculum for grades K-12 covering Language Arts, Math, Science, History, Visual/Performing Arts, Health, HTML Coding, and Spanish. Need records? It does that too! Attendence, grades, even a P.E. log can be printed out. I wish the Writing portion included lessons and I'm unimpressed with Spanish, but the video components are a definite plus for Sam. (Don't confuse this site with K12.)
And Essential Skills Advantage is a grade K-6 Language Arts program that includes reading, spelling, comprehension, and vocabulary. No records with this one unless you want to pay for an upgrade though. But Sam is enjoying this one better than MobyMax.
COUNTDOWN BEGINS
Am I the only one that is ready for this year to wrap up? 60 days left, give or take a bunch of days. (I haven't been diligent about recording completed days this year...) Not that homeschooling has been frustrating, but because we're looking forward to the "lazy days of summer". (Oh, kayaking and swimming how we miss you!)
MYTH BUSTERS
Sam and I did some "myth busting" this week. After seeing this video on Facebook, charging your cell phone with a paperclip, paper and quarters, we tried it out. Busted! We also found another video on charging a phone with a paperclip, quarter and the sun...Busted! If you and your crew try it and it works, let us know.
LITERACY SCAVENGER HUNT
While at the library, Cati signed up for the literacy scavenger hunt challenge going on for teens. Kids are being challenged to read 50 books that represent or have a connection to each of the US states (i.e. where the author is from, story setting, etc.) Those that complete the hunt get a book bag with a big MUSTACHE on it. Cati wants that bag! She left the library with no less than 8 books? on her quest to "scavenge" this week.
As always, special thanks to these bloggers for their weekly wrap-ups:
Happy Homeschooling!
Yes, I do know what you mean about the lack of energy for the extras. I plan to make that banana dessert this week. That is a beautiful hat.
ReplyDeleteYou know - I was thinking. The banana dessert is pretty similar to an ice box cake. Have you made those? Super easy! Yummy! I might try graham crackers, cheesecake pudding and strawberries next time!
DeleteI love the recipe! Got to try it as it's easy and something my daughter can do. And the "Myth Buster' what fun. I'm dropping in from Weekly Wrap Up.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a recipe that younger kids can do! No stove! No oven! And even a butter knife can cut up banana. It's versatile too! You can use graham crackers or other cookies...different puddings...fruits. You could even add syrups, candies and jimmies!
DeleteWe are counting down because my son is graduating! He isn't the one counting down. We are. I love the literacy scavenger hunt idea. How fun! The beanie you made is so cute - love the colors!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary! I love the colors too! My friends wanted "ocean" colors and I think it fits. I'm working on a scarf now as I had enough yarn left over for something else. I might have to go get ME the same skein for another project!
DeleteIt's been awhile since I've visited through the Weekly Wrap-Up. Hearing about your mud sounds like here, although, we had a very mild winter with little snow. Those extremely warm days we had, melted snow quickly throughout the winter, so our usual mud holes are not quite as muddy.
ReplyDeleteFortunately Mud Season doesn't last long, a few weeks or so, depending on spring rains. With 40s coming all next week, I'm thinking most of our snow will finally be gone. Time to think about gardening!
DeleteCute hat! Love the flower.
ReplyDeleteMyth busting sounds like fun.
Thanks, Tonia! The beanie is super quick and easy to crochet up, but the flower is always a challenge to get right.
DeleteI get the lack of energy. I've been so behind on baking and cooking just because it took too much energy. Myth busters sounds like fun. I'll have to look into it.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't really ENJOY cooking or baking, but I do it because I like to eat...and the kids need nourishment (and the occasional treat). Sometimes it's hard to find the energy to get into the kitchen...
DeleteI know all about the lack of energy. We are really looking forward to summer too.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Dawn
Kayaking...swimming...picnics....gardening...walks...fires! Yay!
DeleteOh yeah, I know what you mean about lack of energy. The hat is soo adorable and I have a grandaughter coming soon! I'm going to check out your links. Maybe mythbusting is a good way to get Jerry interested science again!
ReplyDeleteMythbusting is based on the show, but we could it that when we test out things we see on-line...It's an interesting way to do science for my youngest who isn't "book" interested in science. He's a doer! Congrats on the grand daughter!
Delete