[What's for Dinner?]

Last chance for the meatloaf I made last week before everyone disappeared. :glare: Home show weekend. sigh. Baked potatoes, green beans with onion/bacon, and salad.

[Need board/card game ideas for teen group]

Be sure to check for games at the thrift store! I've seen lots of them there.

[s/o wedding presents]

She and I went and picked out a coffee table and end tables that I loved. :)

[Recommend a book series, please.]

Just finish watching it on Netflix! How many books are there? There were only 6 episodes to watch. Sorry I can't name another series. I guess the Downton Abbey show also came from a book, but I don't think a series.

[What kind of bed do you have?]

We have a hand me down cherry bedroom set from my folks. We did need to replace the bed frame, and got a new slightly arched spindle headboard.

[Caught my 10 yr old at 1:30am]

You could enforce a quiet time in his room in the afternoon maybe? Perhaps he'd nap then?

[I found a Kindle Fire while jogging...]

The unit should have information on it with the owner's info.

[Anybody else love to garden ornamentally?]

I've spent years putting in my perennial flower bed in front of the house. I seem to move some things around and add at least one or two new items each year. Most of what I have was free. My mom and sister have shared with me. Dh thinks you just plant it and you're done. Right. Is there a way to share photos here?

 

I added a garden on the side of the house a couple years ago, but it's more shady there. I also need to firm up a definite edge. I have two three ft wide raised beds for veggies and strawberries, too.

[What do you do when the joy for homeschooling is gone?]

Sounds like time for break! Spring is a great time, and they'll still be learning! Go for walks or visit a state park. Hike the trails and draw some of the plants or animals, etc that you see-- or take a trail guide book with you and identify some trees, flowers, etc.

 

Go on field trips. Are there any historic sites that give tours in your area? Or visit a science museum or something. We have lots of choices for live re-creations of different time periods in our state, and the kids really enjoy those field trips.

 

Have some art days and do some creative things. Make peanut butter dough maps or some paper mache. Pull out the watercolors or try some chalk pastels. Just found a site with 42 chalk pastel lessons a couple days ago.

 

Have them do a poster and something interactive (like for a 'science' fair) on any topic they like that they've studied. They may need to do a bit more research to complete that. They could make little lapbook pages hiding answers to questions they ask, etc. Or make up a game board with question cards for math or science or history. Look up folder games for ideas.

 

Have them plant a garden- veggies or flowers, or grow green onions or celery from the roots in your fridge. Plant sunflower seeds for a sunflower fort.

 

Have the kids do some baking and once a week sit down together and 'have tea'. Take turns reading random poems to each other, or do a read aloud together.

 

Hand them some experiment books (or find some at the library) and let them go at it!

 

Get some books from the library on any science topic they like each week, and a biography for each child, too.

 

It's all learning! :)

 

When you're burned out you need to take some time to recharge, and it sounds like all of you could use some refreshing. Hugs.

[Bird notebooking pages?]

Does anyone know of any free beautiful notebook pages available out there for birds? If there's already something out there, I figure no point recreating one.

 

My daughter's studying birds right now and wants to make her own reference book of birds. Thanks!

[Hi there!]

Welcome! I'm sure you'll learn a lot here (I have!), and I'm sure you'll have plenty to share, too! lol

[S/O 1 or 2 ovens -- What do you put in the bottom drawer?]

I store pan lids in mine. And the new stove drawer is smaller than the last one. :glare:

[Things I like to do to drive my children batty.]

"You can't always get what you want...." whenever they ask for something in the store or start whining about what they don't have or can't do.

They hate that song. :D

 

I need to use this one on dd. lol

When the boys were younger, I used to sing, "They call me meanie momma, that's right, They call me...." to the old Mellow Yellow tune. When they asked if it was a real song, I assured them it was!

To " where are we going" we've always replied, "nuts, wanna go with?"

Or there's always, "That's for me to know and you to find out" for various questions.

 

You know, the timing of this question during spring break is perfect! New ammo for the rest of the year. lol

[My family doesn't really need dinner tonight, do they?]

I was figuring dh would be gone and I could just let the kids grab whatever, but he's home sick. So I have chicken and dumplings going.

[Thank you for posting about the Shade Clothing sale!]

I'm waiting for a dress I thought I'd try for my 12yo dd. We'll see. The price was right!

[ok, was I being "cheap" here or not]

And Texas Roadhouse has offered some to take home after we were done with a meal!

[Biology]

Sounds great! I just got the DIY Science book, too.

[UPDATED - How to do "Oak Meadow" without a curriculum]

For spelling you can have them work on words that they miss when they are writing. Or play word games.

[Surgery to remove ovarian mass tomorrow *Update in first post*]

Going in for a little bigger skin biopsy today. I know what you mean- a little. Wish cancer would just disappear from this world! I'll keep you in prayer. Hugs.

[Who's going to tackle Tuesday with me?]

Vacuuum

Sweep mudroom

Bank deposits

bookwork-2 hr minimum!

Get next color paint for remodel

one load of laundry

fix a good dinner--round steak is defrosting!

school with dd

WATP

 

finished-

work webinar

kitchen cleaning

Bible time

[Prayers, please! My son is having surgery at 8 a.m.]

Praying you all through this.

[When I was little, I used to cry when I realized my mom made scalloped potatoes.]

I love scalloped potatoes and salmon patties, too. And all of my kids LOVE scalloped potatoes and au gratins. Box is okay, but homemade is best. We layer the potatoes, flour and s/p and pour milk over all before baking. Lay slices of cheese on for the last half hour of baking.

[Who's going to tackle Monday with me?]

I need to run get a can of paint and a few groceries, then get back and do some bookwork/tax work plus school with dd. Also want to finish working on a 6 week menu (4 wks are done!) and then we have a Financial Peace University class tonight if the snow doesn't cancel it. And the rugs do need vacuuming with the remodeling that's happening!

[PLEASE PRAY for friend getting lung transplant]

Praying.

[Do your kids have friends?]

Dd is just an outgoing person. If she goes out anywhere, she reaches out to others. Some become situational associates, some acquaintances and some develop into enduring relationships. One category you did not list for the last option that would be true is that she makes even more friends via friends she has already. It really is an exponential thing.

Exactly. But that's dd. The boys had just a few close friends, but they did plenty of group activities with Scouts and co-op get togethers.

 

We're just having our first neighborhood friends, now with dd. The boys never had any neighborhood friends; I did a lot of driving one way with their friends while other mom drove the other direction. I'm not so sure about having neighborhood friends--it's hard to give dd time alone or with me!