Lots of doctor and dentist appointments along with yummy food and fun homeschool projects!
Read all of the Large Family Homeschool Life posts!
MONDAY
Got up this morning and made coffee for Ty and I to enjoy before he headed off to work for the day. Then, I started school with the 5 younger kids. Still getting used to only having 5 in school!
For Morning Time, we finished the Old Testament portion of Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible.
Then, we read in The Ology and Little House in the Big Woods. We also read in Farm Anatomy about cheese making – something suggested in The Playful Pioneers – the curriculum we are using to work our way through the Little House books.
I helped the little girls with their math and phonics, and then headed out to have lunch with a friend. She and I haven’t had a good long talk in a while, and despite spending a couple of hours together, we honestly could have spent several more, but she needed to head to a chiropractic appointment, so we said our goodbyes and I headed home to have a piece of the Rhubarb Custard Pie I made for our Sunday Celebration yesterday.
We picked rhubarb at our mountain cabin, and I froze it in diced pieces. I got a recipe from a lady with a cabin near ours for a rhubarb custard pie her aunt used to make, so I decided to give it a try. It was very good, but I really had to cook it a long time to get it done in the middle.
After my delicious piece of pie, I worked on the church newsletter. We go to a fairly new church plant, and I volunteered to do the newsletter since I am familiar with newsletters and how to operate the programs that run them. It’s been fun to be a part of things at church again!
DID YOU KNOW…
This blog started as a church newsletter column?
After we moved away from that church, I no longer had an outlet to write. Blogs (Web Logs) were just becoming a “thing,” so I took the plunge and started writing online. That was December of 2005!
I BARELY got the newsletter done before my computer battery ran out. I have no way to charge my computer right now because my lovely puppy chewed the cord in two. I have one ordered, but OY – his puppy is such a puppy!
After I got the newsletter finished, I decided to give Winston his first bath since he hurt his leg 5 weeks ago! I bathed him in our bathtub, blow dried him so he’d be nice and fluffy, and then gave him a quick groom. These are the tools I use to groom him…
I’m still learning, but I’m pretty pleased with the results! (Unfortunately, I didn’t get a photo before it rained and he went out in it and ended up all kinky curly again!)
While I was doing all of this, my 18 year old daughter shredded and deboned the chicken I had put in the crock pot on Saturday so I could make Chicken and Dumplings tonight. I honestly think my husband would prefer I just make DUMPLINGS and leave out the chicken, but that feels all sorts of wrong!
NOTE: Whenever I am going to make a chicken dish like this, I put the chicken in the crock pot a few days before and cook it all day. Then, I let it cool and often stick it in the refrigerator so I can deal with it later. Especially when I have organic chickens, I will then debone and shred them and put the bones back into the crock with water, apple cider vinegar, an onion, some carrots and celery, and salt and pepper and cook them down again to make bone broth. This I will either pop into the fridge if I’m going to be using the broth soon, or pressure can it.
After we ate, Ty and I and Micah went to pick up his older brother from work and then go to Walmart to get donuts for his Special Night.
Ty made a deal with Micah that he would give him extra Special Night time if the family could finish the Super Mario Brothers movie they started the other day, since it would cut into his Special Night time. Of course, he said yes!
While Ty and Micah played video games together later that night, I read several more chapters in The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson – a Christian retelling of Snow White.
TUESDAY
Ty took our 17 year old to have some dental work down. We have a lot of doctor and dentist appointments this week, so we are sharing the load of shuttling kids to and fro.
When he got home, I made both of us bacon and eggs since the kids had leftover Special Night donuts.
For Morning Time, I read to the kids from Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible and The Ology and we finished Little House in the Big Woods. I taught them how to braid using raffia – another fun project from The Playful Pioneers!
For lunch, we made Toad in a Hole and talked about Jesus’ Transfiguration. This is typically celebrated on August 6, but we were busy that day, so I shared with them today instead.
NOTE: I hope to VERY SOON have all my liturgical studies compiled and ready to share with you!
After lunch, the 18 year old and I worked to pack up the 22 year old’s bedroom because we need to start renovating it. We took apart her bed, condensed everything we could, and then I left her to delegate and direct the boys on where everything needed to go while I got ready for a meeting with Focus on the Family.
After the meeting, I did my Bible Study for tonight and then studied a bit more on a section that came up in the study that pertained to my Word of the Year from 2022 – ABIDE (John 15). Come to find out I did the wrong lesson, but I’m glad I did because it was just what I needed to hear!
I had just enough time to make Hamburger Stroganoff and corn for the kids and Ty to eat while Lia and I go to Bible study tonight. I left it on the stove so Ty could dish it out when he is ready.
At our Bible study group, we ate chili and all the fixin’s, did our study on Ephesians, sang, and prayed. Always a wonderful time with these ladies!
The house was incredibly messy when I got home, so I got everyone cleaning up and doing chores, and then sent them to bed and watched a British mystery in my bedroom with Lia and Ty.
WEDNESDAY
Massive thunderstorm this morning and my poor puppy was too scared to go to the bathroom. I got soaked by the downpour trying to get him to go, and he ended up having an accident inside.
I took our son to his chiropractic appointment – still tying to get his back where it needs to be. She was able to really explain the x-rays he had last week, and help him feel better. He’ll go back every 2 weeks for a while since this is an injury he’s been living with for quite some time.
When I got home, I called everyone to Morning Time. We read in our Bible books and worked on vocabulary in FlipFlop Spanish.
Then, we did a lesson from Music in Our Homeschool’s Folk Songs. I highly recommend this class if you are leaning toward a Charlotte Mason education!
Then, we talked about the night sky using the information in Exploring Nature with Children. We discussed the Perseid Meteor Shower and the Perseus Constellation and the Greek myth that goes along with the constellation. We’ll go out this weekend to try to see the shower.
Before I started reading Little House on the Prairie to the kids, I read in The Prairie Primer about the background of the books, so they would know why there are discrepancies. If you are doing The Playful Pioneers with several different ages, I’d highly suggest you get this book as a supplemental resource!
After reading a chapter in Little House on the Prairie, I decided to let the kids try some molasses like Laura had on the covered wagon journey. I also let them try some sorghum I had in the cupboard. Aspen asked if we could have some pancakes tomorrow and have molasses and sorghum on them!
Then, my 25 year old son called and we ended up talking for nearly 2 hours! It’s been a while since we’ve had one of our “solve-the-world’s-problems” talks – we both said how much we had missed chatting.
I had a late lunch and then took the 5 youngest kids to the library. They have been begging to go, but I’ve been so busy, it’s been hard to fit it in. Aspen did a Scavenger Hunt and got a sticker. The little girls made a cloud and rainbow craft, and everyone picked out books to fill our library bag.
When I got home, I recorded a podcast and edited it, then sent it to the advertiser to approve the ad so I can send it to my 25 year old who still does all the sound edits for my podcast.
Then, I made Pasta Primavera for dinner. I’ve never made this before, and the kids gobbled it up! Definitely going on the favorites list! I used frozen peas and carrots, frozen broccoli and cauliflower, and fettuccini noodles with homemade alfredo sauce. I also put together a bagged salad from ALDI – an easy go-to side.
After dinner and table chores, the kids played outside. Ty helped the boys fix a few things, and I finished reading The Fairest Beauty. I also ordered lemongrass and eucalyptus dives (a kid safe eucalyptus we use when they have colds) from Plant Therapy. This is where I get all of my essential oils.
That evening, I worked on typing up the latest Large Family Homeschool Life post and going through emails while the little girls took their baths. They are young enough I still like to be in earshot when they are in the tub, plus, they tend to get very rowdy and splash a lot of water if I’m not there telling them to quit being rowdy!
THURSDAY
Another dentist appointment. Ugh. I’m so glad Ty is pitching in! While they were gone, I washed my hair and dressed for the day in my usual “uniform” – jeans or capris and a t-shirt. How I long for Autumn’s clothing choices!
I made waffles for breakfast so the kids could try the molasses and sorghum on them.
Before Morning Time, we all gathered in the living room to watch the Virgin Galactic flight to space. Our cousin, Kelly, was the pilot who flew the civilians into space! It was awesome to see history being made!
For Morning Time, we read our usual Bible stories and Little House on the Prairie. Then, I downloaded Unity for the boys’ Unity Game Programming class from CompuScholar.
I also got Garin (12) set up with a Guitar class from Music in Our Homeschool. He’s been very interested in learning guitar, and I am excited to see how he does with this class!
Ty and I had a date lunch to a local Thai restaurant. We always get Chicken Pad Thai with extra veggies when we go there. Then, we went to post to pick up Ty’s new name tapes (these are the velcro backed names on military uniforms). I also found some lovely Fall decor at the PX.
Once home, the kids and I cleaned the main level of the house since Young Adult Group for church is meeting at our house tonight. The young adults had a great time studying Daniel, eating snacks and playing games while they were here.
Ty took the 5 youngest kids out to eat at a store that was having a special event. It was an easy way to feed them and I am thankful he kept them occupied while the young adults were here.
FRIDAY
This morning, Ty and I took our son to his Physical Therapy appointment to help him strengthen his back. The therapist was very thorough, and we learned a lot from him! He will teach our son some exercises over the next month to hopefully help him for the rest of his life.
When I got home, our 18 year old daughter had thankfully gotten the other kids started on their Home Blessing chores. I pitched in and checked over their work, and then I ran some errands with Ty.
For dinner, Lia and I made Creamed Pheasant. It was the last of the pheasant Ty brought home from a European hunt he did for a local shooting sports lodge with our hunting dog, Kip.
That evening, Ty’s mom showed up for a weekend visit, so we all helped to get her settled in and enjoying the weekend!
Rebecca says
Quick comment about Plant Therapy….I was a loyal customer until last year when they came out with a “Pride” oil and vowing to contribute to the Trevor Project. I have been ordering from Eden’s Garden for my oils ever since. You may want to research PT.
Amy says
Thanks for the heads up. I ordered from Eden’s Garden before and didn’t like the oils (that’s been quite a while ago), but I will definitely look into it. *sigh*
Savannah says
Beeyoutiful.com is a company run by a Christian homeschool family. I have been using their oils for several years. They are all very high quality, at an affordable price. I would HIGHLY recommend all of their supplements, essential oils, and natural makeup.
Amy says
Thanks for sharing!
Kate says
ok, what kind of container do you use to refrigerate chicken from the crockpot? You don’t just put the whole crock in, do you? I’ve thought of doing the day-before thing but I have no idea how to deal with the overnight! (and I hate staying up late waiting for it to cool down and making a huge mess at 10pm. Clearly not an expert area for me!!)
Amy says
Yep, whole crock into the refrigerator!
JANELL YOUNG says
What is “lemongrass and eucalyptus dives” from PT?
Amy says
lemongrass is for sore muscles and eucalyptus dives is kid safe so you can use it with the children.
Diana says
I’m so excited about your liturgical year work that you’ll be publishing!! Can’t wait to see that!
You get so much done, Amy, and you do a beautiful job of it! I love reading about your weeks. 🙂