First Field Trip of the Year

We decided Wednesday evening to start our school year a little earlier than we had planned.

So ... Thursday morning I got up and packed the van for our three-day beginning-of-the-school-year (first annual?) field trip.

We had lessons in history.

Theodore Roosevelt

cowboys

the wild west (watching a dramatized shoot-out)

We had lessons in North Dakota geography.


We had lessons in botany and zoology.

wild horses (!)

We had lessons in astronomy both nights.

We had lessons in music and dance at the Medora Musical.


We had lessons in adaptability.

Our trail crossed the Little Missouri River,

so we crossed the Little Missouri River.

Our trail crossed this muddy stream,

so we crossed (!) this muddy stream.

Unfortunately, we were unable to cross the second stream and had to turn back.

We got dirty.

sinking in the mud trying to cross the aforementioned stream

playing in the dirt

We got tired.


We had fun.

dinner at camp

digging

picking things up and carrying them around

playing catch

hanging out together

hiking

goofing around

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - A Crucifix and Several Racks

Where are we?

What are we doing?

Guesses now. Answers later.

Pretty Summer Yummy

Isn't it almost too pretty to eat?

Want some of your own?

3 Roma tomatoes, diced
6 green onions, chopped
2 avocados, cubed
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 small can shoepeg (white) corn
1 4 oz can diced green chilies, mild
salt & pepper to taste
¼ c olive oil
2 T red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, diced

Combine first six ingredients. Combine last 4 ingredients and pour over other ½ hour prior to serving. Take a picture. Enjoy with tortilla chips!

(Thanks, Janet, for this recipe! I think of you every time I make it, which is often.)

Pencils

We have, in the past, had a pencil problem (or more than one pencil problem, depending on how you look at it).

Pencils on the floor that no one knows how got there.

Missing pencils that no one can find.

Broken pencils that no one cares about.

Un-sharpened cheap pencils that constantly break during sharpening.

Pencils without erasers.

A pencil that someone is currently using that someone else was using earlier and claims as his or her own, causing a fight over said pencil.

All of this pencil mayhem delays our schoolwork (and, frankly, makes this Mama want to pull her hair out).

This year I vowed we would have no such problems. no such delays.

Each child gets 12 expensive quality pencils for the school year. each set of pencils is a different color. and embossed with said child's name.

Let peace reign!

Wordless Wednesday - First Popsicle

My Daybook - August 24, 2010

Outside my windows... I took this picture of the moon right after I got out of bed this morning.

I am listening to... classical music playing on The Baby's mobile through the baby monitor.

I am thinking... that I am allergic to something in the air here.

I am thankful for... our new community and our new friends.

I am hoping and praying... for a peaceful school year.

From the kitchen... the breakfast, lunch, and snack menus for the school year are done! I also completed a master grocery shopping list for all of the items on these menus and a food pyramid worksheet for each child to begin our nutrition study when school starts. (I also made one for me!) We are focusing on adding more whole grains and more vegetables to our menu.

Monday Breakfast: broccoli, green onion, and cheese fritata, whole wheat toast with fruit preserves, milk
Monday Snack: whole grain crackers with hummus, grapes
Monday Lunch: soft tacos (whole wheat tortillas, beef, refried beans, cheese, spinach, and tomatoes), milk

Tuesday Breakfast: whole wheat zucchini-carrot muffins with raisins and walnuts, hard-boiled eggs, string cheese, bananas, milk
Tuesday Snack: mini rice cakes with peanut butter and apple slices
Tuesday Lunch: whole wheat macaroni and cheese with hot dogs and frozen mixed vegetables, milk

Wednesday Breakfast: scrambled eggs with hashbrowns, cheese, spinach, mushrooms, and red pepper in a whole wheat tortilla, orange pieces, milk
Wednesday Snack: yogurt with granola and nuts
Wednesday Lunch: breaded chicken tenderloins, rotini with pesto, broccoli, milk

Thursday Breakfast: whole wheat English muffins with egg, Canadian bacon, and cheese, vegetable juice
Thursday Snack: mini wheat bagels, celery with peanut butter and raisins
Thursday Lunch: hobo soup (tomato base with ground beef and mixed vegetables), whole wheat crackers, milk

Friday Breakfast: pumpkin oatmeal with raisins and sunflower seeds, milk
Friday Snack: dried fruit, nuts, popcorn, and m&ms
Friday Lunch: tuna and cream cheese on wheat bread, pickles, carrots, celery, milk

Saturday Breakfast: the kids make their own from a list of approved choices
Saturday Snack: the kids choose from a list of approved choices
Saturday Lunch: leftovers

Sunday Breakfast: buckwheat and flax seed pancakes with fruit, hashbrowns with onions and peppers, sausage, ham, or bacon, milk and juice
Sunday Snack and Lunch: to be determined according to our plans

From the schoolroom... the books have been ordered and the master schedule made. Everyone is looking forward to the fall routine. (And I do mean everyone -- the kids are asking if we can start school earlier than I had planned!)

I am creating... our school supply shopping list and our lesson plans for the first two weeks of school.

I am reading... Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West and Bold Journey: West with Lewis and Clark.

Noticing that ... the longer I live in the country the more appealing it becomes. It is so refreshing to awaken to the sounds of cows and crickets rather than sirens and drunk college kids.

Around the house... it's time to get the school room organized.

One of my favorite things... order and routine.

Pondering these words ... (To all you mommies with little ones, preparing for a new school year, this is definitely worth the time it takes to read it -- a new perspective for a new year! And a reminder I can't live without.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: Continue working on preparations for the new school year. Coffeecake with new friends Thursday morning. Mass and muffins with the local Catholic homeschoolers Friday morning. Young Adults gathering Saturday night.

Some picture-thoughts I am sharing: with my Gramma on our trip to Minnesota last weekend.

For more daybooks, visit here.