my exercise lately.

Because I'm nosy and totally wanna know what YOU do for exercise, I'll share what I do.

When Jake is home I pretty much just go to yoga.

It's somewhere in the 3-5 times a week range, depending upon Jake's schedule, my schedule and the girls schedule.

I do Bikram so it's in a 103 degree room, it's 90 min's long, it's intense and heart pumping, it's not the kind of yoga that has pretty music and soft words and you leave feeling all relaxed.

You leave feeling STRONGER (and wet) when you do Bikram...maybe relaxed, but not in the 'I just took a very wiggly nap' way, more like in the 'I'm a total rock star for just surviving that' way.

And in that heat you release a TON of toxins so that relaxes you too.

But alas...Jake is not here.

Boo.

I set up a friend to watch the girls every Friday so that I knew I'd get to yoga at least once a week while he was gone and anything I got over that would be a bonus! (I've had 2-3 bonuses!)

Friday's are special.

I get to do an hour long class and then stay for another 90ish min. class that has other postures (84 to be exact!), higher heat, blah blah blah....It's called Advanced, I flippin' love it.  I'm terrible at it but I just love to be in there and I love what some of these crazy postures are doing for my hips:

(doesn't look too hard, right!?  HA!?  You put YOUR knees into your armpits and then try to pick your feet up, touch them AND THEN LOOK UP.....seriously, try it ;-)...oh, and this isn't even all of it, after that, straighten your arms!!!  I'm not to that point yet, obviously.)

So.

With my hubby gone, my exercise looks more like this:

Monday:  Run 30 min and then do a 15-20 min HIIT (I mix these up, making it up as I go, making sure to mix up the focus areas each day)

Tuesday: Run 30 min and then do a 15-20 min HIIT

Wednesday: Yoga at home.  Sometimes I just do the Bikram series (it's the same 26 postures every time) without the heat, sometimes I click on a heater, sometimes I just do some other yoga stuff and throw in a HIIT workout before or after it.

Thursday: Run 30 min and then do a 15-20 min HIIT

Friday: 3 hoursish of yoga at the studio!

Saturday: Hike with the girls and dogs

Sunday:  Sometimes another hike, sometimes nothing, one time I went to a Yin yoga class (more like the 'wiggly nap' kind of yoga)

This isn't exact but basically what it's looked like this month.

How do I go on a 30 min run when there's four kids here  you ask!

I'd have taken a picture but dude....

It's CRAZY and I'm baffled that's it's worked so well each time!

I'll just describe it to you:

There's me.  Holding onto a leash, because of course the dog comes! (only one, because the other one does. not. like. to. run....found out the hard/annoying way)

And in front of me are four of THE CUTEST little girls each on their own BIKE.

We have 'stopping points' on the route.

Points that they can race ahead to on their bikes and wait for me to catch up.

A lot of times that isn't even necessary though because we live in a mountain range so it ain't exactly flat and the bikes get walked for at least 1/3 of the ride/run.

It's insanity, on 8 wheels and 6 legs...but everyone wins.

Everyone exercises.

I have pretty much vowed to not ever run more than 30-45 min's again and I do not run UP hills.

It's too painful and not worth it.

But, I am finding that if I keep up those rules, I can still run and because I LOVE it so much, I'll take it.

When Jake gets back, I'll probably keep up some of this running/HIIT's.

I've really enjoyed them and realized how much I missed them.

Anywho, like I said, I'm nosy....

Whatch' you do?

the planets turned on me.

How a science lesson turns into an anatomy lesson:

"Mommy! I'm going to name all my kids after the planets!

I'll have a girl named Neptune and a boy named Uranus!"

And that, my friends is how a science lesson very very quickly turns into an anatomy lesson. 

No matter, we'll just switch and use the names:

Neptune and Pluto

Which launched us into a Disney lesson.

Which then landed us on:

Neptune and Jupiter.

That's a wrap.

I have no objections to either of those.

Later that night:

"Mommy, what is the name of that planet we all agreed on to not name our kids after?"

And here I was thinking they weren't listening!

Phew...close one.

read 'em and weep...

There are bad distractions...

Seriously, Merlin and Bonnie, Samantha is desperately trying to figure out those fractions and you are not helping!!! (well, maybe not desperately...)

And then there are the good distractions:

A few years ago I set out to assemble a 'busy basket'.

Games and trinkets that were somewhat educational or creative and eat up the times that more than 85 people need me to help them at the same time.

Because let me tell you, 85 is one thing but 86 is just WAY too many.

Gets me all grumpy and makes me feel like I'm failing because I can't help them all at the same time which means I'm not helping someone which means they have a question and I can't answer it which means I'm failing them.

Or...or or or...sometimes I'm trying to read out loud to them and no matter how amazing I think the book is, their little bodies always seem to want to MOVE.  Like, always.

So, some of what I wanted in the basket were things to keep hands busy....very very busy.

Ah, there goes the inside of my twisted head again.

Back to the basket.

Maybe I should switch the name of the basket to:

Holly's Weapons for Guilt

Has a nice ring to it.

It's pretty full now and I'm not going to say it's done because there are way too many cool weapons/trinkets out there but I'll share some of our fav's as of right now:

(the names are all links to Amazon, just click away - not that that's the only place you can get them or even where I got them but just because I'm lazy...mkay?)

 Cubeot

sorta like a Rubik's cube.

make it a cube, make it a robot.

lasts. for.ever.

 KANOODLE

if you asked me which ONE of all these I'm sharing that you should buy.

this. would. be. it.

It's like tangrams or pentominoes on crack...bubbly crack.

Only better than crack because it doesn't kill brain cells.

We've had this for years and it just never gets old.

It goes on the back burner now and then, but never for good.

Almost every kid who comes to our house sits with this and gets sucked in.

 PICK AND DRAW CARD GAME

(hey! not an Amazon link...only sold on the creators website)

A funny 'silly faces' drawing game.

Can be played alone or in big groups.

Both ways are addicting.

Had this for years, still not old.

We started playing this when Lenora and Sophie were around 5 and they did great but it's only gets more fun as everyone gets older.

FIND IT's

There are like 1,000 different versions of this.

It's like an I Spy book, in a tube.

Hours and hours and hours and hours....and hours.

Not pictured (sort of, it's sticking out of the basket up there) 

but along the same lines are the:

I SPY WONDER TUBES

(pricey!!! I got them at Wal-mart years ago for like $1.50!)

Basically a glitter wand that they can sit and stare at while I read aloud.

It's like those freaky mesmerizing screen savers.

Just sucks ya right in!

Sophie found the penny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a BIG deal.

STORY CUBES

There are 1,000 versions of this too.

We have two.

Little pictures on cubes, roll them, deal them and tell a story.

We think our stories are hysterical.

Maybe a little a lot nonsensical, but flippin' hilarious, nonetheless.

On second thought, you should not get these, there is no way your stories will be as good as ours.

GREEN ALLIGATORS

(apparently you cannot get everything on Amazon...I might need a moment...)

It's an oldie to us.

It's really targeted at a younger crowd.

Maybe ages 4-6...ish???

It's a guessing, describing and sentence building game.

Lenora and Sophie use it as bonding time...because they are so short on that....riiiiight.

Honorable mentions that have been played a TON lately, but are not pictured:

Skipbo, 

Yahtzee 

and 

Twiddle 

(little plastic rope thing, like a bendable legos string, very cool.)

We used to hate to play games.

Scratch that.

I used to hate to play games with them.

I know, I'm a super bad mom, someone should fire me now.

BUT.

In my defense, back in the day it pretty much ME playing four or five different people's turns for them, 'cause everyone was so dag gum little all at the same dag gum time!!!

But now...

Now everyone can read, and think logically, and add, and sit still and their hands are big enough to hold their own cards.

**INSERT HALLELUJAH CHORUS**

this is how we roll...or 'read'

Samantha, go read two chapters please while I work with your sisters:

Well.

That works too.

cray cray.

I'm not sure WHAT we were thinking but another friend of mine and I decided to drowned our Big D sorrows in a weekend full of EIGHT kids.....

....AT SIX FLAGS.

This is how crazy people smile and pose for pictures.

All cute and delirious.

You might think we're crazy.

And you'd be right.

We literally take up the first FIVE spots of a ride.

Are those dudes laughing at us!?

Um...me thinks they iz.

And this rooster looks way less than enthusiastic about the whole thing too.

You  might think we're crazy but we are no dummies.

That, my friends, coupled with another day that we took the brood of children to see Frozen and chow on some chicken at Chick fil A, a few babysitters so mama's could go shop and the help of a few Netflix movies...is one more weekend DOWN.

GONE.

The kids were amazing.

No, really.

They were.

Like...EIGHT of them.

The mama's didn't do too bad either!

Hey...we had reason to not be, k.

Funny....the last time I was at Six Flags with this girl, we were kidless.

kid.less. and now EIGHT.

heh heh....pretty sure we had even more fun this time though....well, 

except for that dumb Big D thing.

Over it.

I'm just over it.

As over it as I am I do love that weekends like this make time ZOOM by.

Zoom zoom zoom...go go go!!!!

Inspiration.

We may be a small town, but we are a mighty town.

It's been one year.  Only.  And the girls and I have had so many opportunities to be inspired by art.

Our Art Walks (Friday night art festivals), the art galleries, children's theatre, classical theatre,  the art shows, the art sales.

This place is oozing with art.

Here are two of our recent inspirations:

There is a precious family (whom we also just happen to get our meat, eggs and milk from) that we have had the joy of getting to know while living here and their oldest daughter...uh hem...a teenager...has written a novel.

A. novel.

A. teenager.

If I wasn't so stoked about her inspiring my girls, I might feel 2 inches tall.

Except they just aren't 'those' people so even still, I probably wouldn't feel that way.

Amazing I tell ya.

Ty is just amazing.  (as are every single other member of her clan!)

On our ONE rainy day this year, we were privileged to be at her very first book signing!!!!!

You did marvelous Ty!!!

We can't wait to read the book!

It's SO up my alley!

the book?

Jazmine

click on the link, read it with me!

My girls came home and immediately started writing books.  Look for them to be published soon!

I. LOVE. IT.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And do you know who this dude is?

Yeah.

I didn't either.

Except I did and didn't know it.

 His name is Rod Rodecker.

He draws the dragons on the PBS cartoon:

Dragon Tales.

Um...that is a famous show!!!! 

And he lives IN OUR TOWN.

Which means he does cool shows and fundraisers for charities in the area.

He also just happens to have Golden Retrievers from the same animal rescue we do and when we went to this particular show, we were one of six people in the room who'd adopted from there!

He drew a dragon for each one of the girls and they immediately started trying to copy his work to learn how to draw dragons themselves.

 We weren't even home yet when it all started:

I. LOVE. IT.

I love inspiration.

I love to be inspired.

I love that my girls love it and that the inspiration for things they love are so abundant here!

__________________________________________

Gotta go.

There are three very distracting little girls upstairs being loud while the fourth girl is trying to have a piano lesson.

I will win.

Oh.

Which reminds me.

Samantha is inspired to play the piano because her teacher wears really really cute high heel shoes to her lesson every week.

Like I said, we love some good inspiration!

hey...I'm a SAHM...I can't be earth shattering every day!

It was an almond butter making afternoon.

I've use this gal's notes on the subject twice now and am hooked.

The 3lb bag of almonds at Costco butters up into this much:

(I think that's a 32oz jar)

My Costco has stopped selling almond butter for now and I should go thank them because now I just make a more awesomer version for about the same price...maybe $3-$4 cheaper, but at the very least, the same price.

Our favorite thing to use it for are these pancakes:

Almond Butter Pancakes

I make a batch a week and the girls eat them for 2-3 breakfasts.

They reheat in the microwave beautifully.

Sooooooo yum.

You're welcome.

I also use almond butter and apples as my 'treat' or dessert at night when I feel like I just need really really want 'that'.

Gosh.

Aren't you glad you came to the blog today?

I mean really...Almond Butter...life changing stuff today people!

_____________________________________________________________

Oh...and is it January or June?

'cause we are SO confused around here.

We are literally having 'record breaking' warm weather...see:

______________________________________________________________________________

That's it.

I'm rockin' a high fish braid very very soon.

Lydia's vision proves I can, so I must:

And I JUST noticed that I'm also the only one rockin' a nose.....

Noses and fish braids baby!

Stew, dry ice and a quiet, powerful prayer (what!? I'm out of cool titles, ok!?)

This Beef/Bacon/Butternut Squash Stew is in my oven right now and even my eye lashes are drooling.

It smells sooooooo good.

_________________________________________________________________________

I 'may' have left four small children, dry ice, a lighter and a candle in a kitchen by themselves for close to an hour yesterday.  Maybe.

 I They highly recommend it.  I would recommend it if I could but if I did I'd surely be inviting CPS over for dinner.

But for reals.

The science book should be titled: Projects That Keep Your Kids Magically Entertained for Hours At Time.

But, I realize that is mouthful so....

These little ditties were a hit.

They now have glitter puff paint stars all over them 'cause ain't no project finished around here without glitter.

Amen?

(I know, I know...that snowflake brad would totally melt on the sun, but I'm cheap so snowflakes it was, k?)

Better day today.

Didn't mean to alarm anyone yesterday.

I still had joy, I was still thankful.

I was just tired.

Nothing earth shattering.

I was just journaling.

Pretty sure most mama's 'get' this.

Everyday has 10,000 highs and bright, beautiful moments.

It's just sometimes the 3 hard moments are enough to knock you out cold.

Nothing a good nights sleep and some refocusing through scripture and prayer couldn't whip into shape.

Not sure what to do about that sleep thing but the prayer and scripture, I was all over that!

John 15:4

Remain in me, as I also remain in you.

beat up, read on.

just a day where this girls feels beat up.
by motherhood.
by the military.
by viruses.
by the orthodontist and the vacuum repair shop.
by my children, unbeknownst to them....although I beknownst them, let me tell you!

(shoot...even my cat just jumped up at clawed at my foot while I was typing this....beat up I tell ya.)

in lieu of boring negative details about just another hard day around here,

I'll just tell you all to go read a book that is much more fun.

Splintered
by A.G. Howard

Total fantasy.
Sort of an Alice in Wonderland remake...but not...way better.
Just plain fun.
You feel beat up today too?
This is the book for you sister....

I mean really, this book needs to be read strictly based on the art work:
I listened to it as an audio book but I have seen it in print too - the print is in PURPLE!  Like I said, it begs to be read.....

and I just realized book 2 came out a few weeks ago so here I go!!!!

ramble ramble ramble....

Saturday...

"Mommy, can we please not go anywhere today!?"

I'm not sure who's kids these are but they begged to....stay home.

Truth be told, I was needing a day like that too.

It's my habit to make a plan and GO somewhere so it's beautiful that I have built-in accountability that make me STAY sometimes.

After a quick donut run (that doesn't count).

We came home, plugged in the older version of Pride and Prejudice

(no, sorry, I like the newer one better...I canNOT get over the fact that Colin Firth is NOT good looking...or manly...or good at playing Mr. Darcy...he's just not...there.  I said it.  I also do not like this season of Downton Abbey...boo...it better get better!)

and we colored in paisley coloring books.

For two hours.

Moms of boys...are you scratching your heads yet?

*smile*

My time is coming...have no fear.

You will get your revenge.

 My little ones may have seen the other P&P so many times that we spent the entire two hours (which is only 1/2 the movie, by the way) tearing it apart and comparing it!  I can't wait until they read the book and can REALLY tear it up with me!  Now THAT will be an amazing Saturday!

You can kinda see Lydia and Digory's little 'moment' all over Lydia's face and arm here:

We did venture back out at night for dinner with Mr. Bob and Ms. Jody....but that doesn't count either.

Restaurant = 6 min's away

People = family

So...Saturday we rested and got projects done (After the two hours of sitting I was all pent up with energy and buzzed around like a bumble bee until dinner!  I can only take so much sitting!  You people who can veg' all day, I'm actually confused about that...and maybe a little jealous!?  Mostly confused.)

Sunday....

"Mommy, we can't go to church today because now I have pink eye." - Lydia

That is what I get for blogging to the whole dag gum world that we cleared it up.

I may have cursed cried a little in frustration.

It is just pink eye but it's also annoying and frustrating and keeps IN more than this girl really likes to be IN.

Apparently my built in accountability wasn't enough.

I needed a highly contagious virus to smack me down further.

grrr....

Fine.  So many projects around here that need my TLC anyway.

Fine.

And, in case I was feeling grumpy about it...there's this:

Pink for breakfast anyone? Good grief I lurv her.  (it's Lenora, by the way...pink = Lenora...always.)

______________________________________________________________________________

Also on Sunday:

this....

"Rubenstein, the great musician, once said, "If I omit practice one day, I notice it; if two days, my friends notice it; if three days, the public notice it."  It is the old doctrine, "Practice makes perfect."  We must continue believing, continue praying, continue doing His will.  Suppose along any line of art, one should cease practicing, we know what the result would be.  If we would only use the same quality of common sense in our religion that we use in our everyday life, we should go on to perfection.  

Luke 18:1

Always pray, never give up.

1 Thess 5:17-18

Pray continually

Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

(THAT verse packs such a huge punch for so few words!)

This convicted me.

And I love it.

I 'practice' a lot of things daily and diligently:

Yoga, running, cleaning my house, school with the girls, showering, eating....

And if I 'used the same quality of common sense in my religion'.....

Praying about that one.

Praying I seek Him just as tenaciously as I seek breakfast every morning.

(dude, I LOVE breakfast)

I ebb and flow with 'how' I seek Him daily and have had no real rhythm since moving here.

Happens every time I move...it's just a by product of having your roots RIPPED out from under you every few years.  Ouch.

It's almost been a year - time to pull it together Holly.

Daily, don't give up.  It's common sense.

that felt gooooood....

I GOT TO GO TO MY YOGA TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(gah! sorry for that outburst but I went from going 4x's a week to...well...it's been a while....)

3 hrs and 84 postures later....I feels gooood.

We cleared up the pink eye this week.

Our weather has been out of this world.  Well, obviously IN this world, but just amazing.

Shoot, even the moths are confused.

We've run, walked, played, worked, talked, hugged.

Our school journal (I don't really lesson plan, I journal) is FULL.

House projects getting ticked off (slowly but I'm still countin' it).

To do lists shrinking (not for long but again, I'm countin' it).

All sorts of good stuff.

so...Merlin likes to be held like this:

(and Lydia is just THAT beautiful...my goodness!!!)

I think we have three of the weirdest cats on earth.

Or are cats just weird!?

That knife in Lydia's hands make me SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO (etc)

nervous.

She's fine.

I'm not.

It was a very good week.

But, as always, even the good weeks around here are FULL.

Of good and hard.

Some of the hard:

Lydia getting mauled by a spooked kitten...seriously, there are about 15 puncture wounds on her from inside her lip to her ear, face, back and arm.

Spent the better part of the week stopping every hour to drop milk in someone's eye.

Missing my husband hurts...like all the time.

I lost my temper with my kids several times....I hate that.

Sleep is just dumb except I want more of it.

I had a really really really painful day with one of my hips. Like, Lydia asked me to come up and say goodnight and I had to tell her I may or may not make it up the stairs.  It took an hour or so but I was eventually in a place I could get up the stairs.

The very next day I was in so little pain...as in: NONE...that I was able to go on a run.

Dumb.

But I love looking back on the week and just being thankful.

And full.

I love that I miss my husband.

I love that Lydia was more concerned about the kitten (we think he had his tail stuck in a closed door!).

Her heart is just as beautiful as her smile.

So thankful that I just 'happen' to have raw milk and that is what kills pink eye.

Lost my temper, yes...but the prayer times and texts with friends that held me through it and lifted it out of our day, was so precious.

My hips...I don't know...I give up....I am thankful that it was literally one day.  Some months it's a week or weeks.  

Just journaling here....

Yes, big "D"'s are crap.

But our life is so beautiful.

the good, the pain.

it's all beautiful.

Jesus filled us.

I love Him for it.....

that's the way uh huh uh huh....

I got this in the mail from a friend today...

I like it.
And I can't stop laughing.

And I just danced with Jennifer Lawrence and some of my besties!!!

You're Welcome.
(and thank you Melissa for making me bust a gut today!)

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

more on the food thing....

Two more notes about the food thing and then I'll shut up.

(Lenora and Sophie's favorite dinner...like they cheer when I say it's what we're having)

I feel like I've posted this before but because I'm lazy and do not feel like digging through my archives (that's what tags are for, aren't they!? oh well.)

I'm posting it again because on my last food post several people noticed my little quip about 

"Lenora and Sophie finishing dinner in under 2 hrs".

Everyone has their own opinion about food and it's very very personal.

This is just what we do and it's very very personal to us.

SO....if you have your own opinion, get your own blog.

(can you say, feisty!?  I miss someone.)

(speaking of that, he is soooo much better at sticking to his guns with this whole food thing - I tend to be a pushover and get all worried inside that we are causing the girls to have 'food issues' later in life - he is concerned with the moment - I'm sure it's good to have balance but I still say he's better at this - he would be the better person to share this!)

WHAT WE DO WITH OUR PICKY EATERS:

I serve meals, you eat that meal.

It's food.

It's very very good for you.

God provided the job -that provides the money -that provides the food.

The food came from God.

Sometimes it's going to taste good to you, sometimes it's not.

It is not always about taste.

It is ALWAYS about thankfulness.

If you don't like it, that's ok, but you will still eat enough to show that you are thankful.

Thankful enough that you'll take care of your body.

Thankful enough to show the cook you are thankful.

Thankful enough to even have the option to not like it.

Thankful enough that we have the food.

Thankful.

Lenora and Sophie are our tough ones and several months ago we instated some 'timed' rules.

You get 30 min's to finish dinner, with a good attitude.

You don't finish it and/or your attitude stinks?

You get it for breakfast, with another 30 min. timer.

You don't finish it then, you get the meal a third time, with a third timer.

You don't finish it then, you just don't finish it but it's ok, because it's dinner again anyway and there's probably something else on your plate you won't like and the lesson can continue.

We keep the portions small so it's not overwhelming to actually accomplish this.

No yelling. No threatening.  No constant reminders to, "Eat your food!!!!" 

(we were getting REALLY tired of hearing ourselves say that!)

Jake's philosophy (the hard one for me, but I know it's right.).

THEY WILL EVENTUALLY GET HUNGRY AND EAT WHATEVER IS IN FRONT OF THEM.

They really really will.

It will be harder on you to watch it happen than it ever will be to them!

Most of us are so spoiled to think that our kids will suffer and get diseases from missing a few meals.

Or even have lifelong food issues.  Months and months or years and years of missing meals yes, a few days?  And I don't mean 'days without food' I just mean a few meals here and there.

(verdict for my theory is still out there because...well...my kids are still kids...we are not experts, this is just what we do because...well, we just do!)

Also.  We used to do 3 meals a day and 2 snacks.

With the introduction of Paleo style eating to our family, that is no longer necessary.

I am very careful to make sure they get a sufficient amount of protein and fat with whatever we're having.  That way they stay satisfied until the next meal.

We now do 3 meals a day and if they need a pick me up in the afternoon it's fruit or fruit.

Once a week or so, the crackers get broken out, but it's not a regular 'thing'.

It's really helpful, when working with a picky eater, if they are actually hungry at meal time and haven't snacked all day!  (again, Jake's strength, not mine!)

So.

We rarely have to do this anymore...by the way.

I'd say we did it hard core for maybe a month.  Maybe.

Kids are smart.

Loved kids are quick to learn.

They are still picky.

But not as picky.

And now, they will eat whatever is in front of them.

With a good attitude.

(and the occasional time they relapse, we just set the timer and, miraculously, they start eating!!)

And because there attitude is so good, I can praise them for being thankful for their food and their bodies and then sometimes, just sometimes, whisk their food away so they don't have to finish torturing themselves.

I don't do that all the time or even often, but it's fun when I do.

It's also fun to see them learning.

WEEKLY, because of this tactic, they announce that they do in fact 

LIKE something they used to DETEST.

Peas, spaghetti squash, soups, chili, stews, lettuce, green beans....and I could go on.

So. That's it.

Maybe that will help.

My biggest encouragements are: 

Don't give up.

I do believe pickiness can be overcome and true pickiness is rude. 

(I know, I just offended like 1/2 of you and the other 1/2 are hootin' and hollerin'....like I said, food is very very personal!)

Whatever creative system you come up with for your family, 

make sure it's calm/loving and you stick to it hard core for about a month.

All day, every day, every meal.

Ok....go.

AND...I can't believe I forgot this on my last food post but oh my goodness...I have been making 

this chicken 

weekly now for about six months.

I make several pounds of it at a time and after we eat it for dinner once a week, I cut it up and we all eat it all week long.

By itself, in salads, in tortilla/sandwich roll up things, etc....

I think I forgot it because it's so 'normal' around here.

I follow the recipe exact - brining and all.

IT'S SOOOOOO YUM!!!!!!!

it's great grilled and baked, by the way.

we grill it in the summer and I've been baking it now that it's winter.

equally good and sooo convenient.

One dinner a week is always known and all of my lunch protein is taken care of in one swoosh!

swoosh....

reality check...

some homeschool fav's lately.

random resources I'm loving lately....

A while back I went a 'homeschool resource swap' thing.

We were supposed to share our favorite curriculum and share why it was a favorite.

One lady shared that one of her favorite things she'd ever done with her kids was to copy the entire Bible as a family.

She has grown kids now and it's all their favorite thing to look back over when they come home.

For copy work, each kid picks out one book of the Bible and just makes their way through it.  When they are finished with that book, they move on to another one.  No repeats until it's done.

Some do 3-5 verses a day, some to 3-5 words a day.

Even me.

Her philosophy (which I think she got from someone else too!) was this:

You can drive through Mexico City and say you've been there but if you walk through Mexico City, you being there was a totally different experience.

So, here's to walking through the Bible.

Not that I'm against driving through the Bible either...love that view too.

Here's Sophie bein' all cute in Proverbs:

The girls chose which book I 'get' to copy.

Jude.

I got Jude.

Makes me laugh every day.

Not for any reason other than it's so random.

(I'm sure it's more spiritual and 'better' if they copy straight out of the Bible but that did.not.work.at.all. so I printed what each girl was working on and they can scratch out as they go.  Better.  Much much much better.)

The math/number line game called SPEED.

Fashioned after the regular card game SPEED.

It comes with a deck for each number line 2-9.

Has been a HUGE help in getting those multiplication facts DOWN.

Every single one of the girls (even me!) are loving it.

Lenora bein' all cute getting ready to totally massacre me in the 2's.

More math stuff but XtraMath.org rocks for basic math fact review and memorization.

Yes, my nine year old even still gets on there (can't let her sisters get more 'smiley faces' than her!)

And not pictured but THESE UNIT STUDIES are just so amazing.

If you are in the homeschool community you've probably hear of Amanda but I'm just puttin' in one more plug for her stuff.

Lydia is currently doing a geography series, Lenora and Sophie are re-doing Insects (with a deeper focus on some heavier stuff...can you say "label that anatomy!!!"?) and Samantha is doing a Dog study with a heavy emphasis on the history of breeds and lots of new dog anatomy as well.

They love them, I love all the work that's been done for me!  They are cheap!

It's a beautiful relationship!

Week 2 of the New Year's goals/resolution is going great.

I feel some new permanent habits being built into our day and that feels good.

Feels good to see them learning, feels good to have fun doing it, feels good to JUST DO IT.