Greek Feast

 We used a new (to us) curriculum this year for our Bible/Science/History from My Father's World.

We studied the time period from Creation to the Greeks.  Since we're finishing up for the school year, we had a greek feast to finish.  (not sure how "greek" it really was!)

Ready to eat!

The menu

Gyros

(bread machine pita recipe here.  Yum!)

sauteed asparagus

veggies w/ hummus

assorted fruit

I can't believe I'm actually putting this out here for the world to see. yikes! This was L's spur-of-the-moment idea! 

Our two school age children - finishing 5th and 2nd grades!

We really like using My Father's World this year.  Enough that we already have next year's books sitting in a box, ready for next year.  Only 3 or so short months away.  Of course we all know that the learning never really stops.  It's just that now it's going to be a little more relaxed.  Ok, a LOT more relaxed. 



Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

Slice 6 lemons very thinly, mash them up to release all the juice, mix with one cup of sugar and let sit for 20 minutes.

Dump in pitcher {or in my case, a jar, because every pitcher you tried was too small!} and add 2 1/2 quarts of water and 10-12 ice cubes.

Add a sliced strawberry to your glass and enjoy!

{I took a fork and smashed up my strawberry to get that yummy strawberry flavor! yum-yum!}

Rhubarb Shortcake

*Updated with Recipe*

I know some of you are are dragging your mouse over to that little red x in the upper corner just as fast as you possibly can.  Shivering, cringing and saying, "Oh, yuck, how can they eat that stuff?"

For us, it's a cause for a celebration.  Our first rhubarb harvest.  Ever. Exciting?  We think so! 

I made the Rhubarb Shortcake recipe that hubby always had growing up.  I decided to make a recipe that I know he likes and asks for because this may very well be the only harvest we get this year.  Don't want to pull too much and damage the plants for next year.  But I do have this thought running through my head: my mother has ginormous plants, so maybe I'll be able to beg a little from her.

Don't you want to have a bowl full of this sugary goodness topped with some vanilla ice cream?  Yum!  I'm thinking it will complement our crockpot roast and potatoes quite nicely.

And if I get a hold of more rhubarb?  I'll be making Rhubarb Crunch.  A recipe more like a crisp than a cobbler.  I'm thinking I need to get out and hoe some weeds around my rhubarb to work off the calories ahead of time!

*Rhubarb Shortcake

4 c. diced rhubarb      2 level Tbsp flour

1 1/2 c. sugar     1/4 tsp nutmeg (opt.)

Spread evenly into 7x11 baking dish.

1 1/2 c. flour     5/8 c. milk

3/4 c. sugar     1/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder     1 egg

1/4 c. oil    

Mix well.  Spread over rhubarb and bake at 350* for about 35 minutes.

*I leave out the nutmeg. 

*I cut the sugar in half and it's still good.  But we've gotten used to less sugar over time.  



Sweet Spring Treats

I was having one of "those" mornings. The mommy burn-out kind.

• the house looked overwhelmingly dirty and messy
• laundry pile was daunting and never ending {is there any other kind of laundry pile?}
• learning was minimal
• Satan was telling me that I could never keep up

So, school books got put away because I need an attitude adjustment. Soon I heard a tap-tap on the back door. It was a dear friend with a sweet treat and an "I understand you've been having some interesting times" {She's been in the new-baby-now-mom-to-four category recently too} What a blessing her smiling face was today!

What's inside....??

mmm..mmm.mmmmm!

And these are the flowers my children brought in from outside......ever loving and forgiving children!

And I had a chat on the phone with another friend...she reminded me to make sure I was spending time with God and to spend some just-having-fun-time with my children. I think it's time to follow her advice, cause obviously doing this mom to four thing on my own strength isn't working too well!

I hope to post pics soon of one of our "interesting times"!

Birthday Treats

Cupcakes decorated by my children

Talk about being spoiled on my birthday...all this on top of the pancake breakfast! And I didn't even take a picture of the bag of Cadbury Eggs my sister brought for me. Yummo! I haven't even opened them because I'm afraid once they are opened my will-power will fly out the window! It's a good thing they are only in the stores in the spring!

Oh ~ I found a picture...just so you can drool!

Apple Treat

When you're given a bucket of apples, what do you do? I guess I could have made healthy applesauce, no sugar added. Or ate them like they are. Or...do what I did!

I threw all white flour, not-so-much-sugar caution to the wind. And made apple dumplings. Yum-yum!

My helper...when it comes to this job I always have a willing helper. (And I do really like my apple corer/peeler/slicer. It has a suction cup base so you can use it anywhere. Big plus!)

And here they are...in all their white flour, lots of sugar glory!

And judging from the smiles, I think the family enjoyed them!

Kettle Donuts!

We had yummy donuts while camping. My dear aunt made the dough on Saturday night and let it rise while we slept...

It takes everyone's help!

Adding the glaze......

Yummers!

They were quite pleased with the results!

We got to go to the park again this week....this time with cousins. What a fun time! It was another beautiful and sunny day.

Fun times!

Whatcha doin' cuz?

The covered bridge on the way home. The main road doesn't go over it anymore, and the bridge was recently redone. We take the time to drive over it periodically...it makes fun creaky noises and is a neat piece of history.

Park Day

My children were in fine form at the park today. Just check out their techniques:

The "I'm too Cool to Smile Fireman Pole Slide"

The "Suave Swirl Zip-Line" Move

It was a great day to be at the park...not too busy, warm and sunny, cool in the shade.

Chowing down

Our yummy dessert!

My three riders...Little M didn't want to look at the camera but I caught a smile!

Planting Garden

Today we were able to plant garden. What a beautiful day it was!

My sweet hubby...tilling the soil

Little Toad Friend

We obviously didn't get all of the onions out last fall...so now we have green onions that were growing. How fun to have garden produce in April!

Watering the cabbage

We must be crazy..we planted 2 rows of onions. Red and white ones this time. You'd think we'd learn our lesson after not using all of the onions last year. But the motivation to plant alot is great this time of year. It's only later that reality sets in!

Little M brought me flowers and then was too stubborn to let me take his picture.



A sure sign of Spring...dandelions on the windowsill!

After a busy day of planting garden, sweeping out vehicles, laundry, and grilling out steak, we took the kids to Culver's for a frozen treat!

Around Our Home

Today is such a beautiful, invigorating day. Spring seems so much more likely when it actually IS officially spring, it's warm, and the sun peeps out.

Anticipation

Studying

Laundering

(don't mind the stringy towels..we've been married almost 12 yrs and those towels have seen a lot of showers!)

Creativity

(L with her 'Stellan will Live' bracelet...she has such a concern for baby Stellan. Every once in a while she'll come to me and ask if Stellan's heart is still beating too fast. Check out his story here and please pray!)

A little sweetness to bless my family with!