Overcoming Obstacles. The beginning of my homeschool blogging!

Jenna's First Day of School June 2013
(3 Years 4 Months Old)

 I have entertained the idea of blogging about our family's homeschool journey for quite some time. There have been a few reasons for why I've always decided against it though. 

1. Time: Blogging takes time. It takes effort, energy, and writing skills that I'm not quite sure I possess.

2. Interest: Let's be honest... Do people really want to come visit a blog where all I do is brag about how brilliant my kids are and all the wonderful things we're doing?

3. Avoiding Conflict: Our homeschool journey is unique because my daughter is MUCH younger than your average child in school (public, private, or homeschooled). 

So what should I do about it?

1. Time. I always feel like I don't have time to blog. But it really comes down to priorities. Right now the kids are both in nap time and I've decided instead of laying around watching my new favorite TV show (Gran Hotel - It's like a Spanish version of Downton Abbey with a few murders tossed in for good measure) I could use this time for something a bit more productive.

2. Interest. My blog is just starting and I think I might have one follower. Honestly, I'm not sure what I'm doing and I'm hoping I don't make any atrocious mistakes. I think writing in my blog is more for my own benefit of having a place to journal ideas than anything else though. I often worry about what people will think. The nice thing about the internet though? You don't have to read anything I write if you don't want to! It's totally a personal choice. So I guess that really isn't an issue either.

3. Avoiding conflict. I dread the day I first read a negative comment on my blog (although, since I only have one follower, it's probably not likely to happen!). I'll probably get my feelings hurt, get mad, then cry a little, then finish it off with a bowl of ice cream or bag of chocolate chips and get over it. That's just how it works! 


What really prompted me to find a solution to all of my excuses was realizing I am not the only one doing this. While there may not be many, I know there are other moms out there that are homeschooling their children at a young age. Sometimes I feel a bit alone in this journey, but I know I'm not the only one "breaking the rules" and schooling my kid early.

So I'm going to do this! I don't want this post to turn into a gigantic mess, so I'll hold back on my reasons for why we chose to start schooling at a young age for another post! My hope is that other moms who may need ideas or encouragement will be able to find my blog and it can provide that for them!

Active Kids Indoors

So first, I feel the need to announce to my non-existent followers of this blog that I'm back! It has been quite a long time since my last blog post... So long in fact, I have since had another baby. And he just turned two! What?!? I'm thinking blogging consistency may not be my thing. While I never plan on striking it big in the blogging community, I have decided it would still be fun to record fun random parts of my life with the hope of sharing helpful ideas along the way.

Here in the beautiful Pacific NW we tend to get just a little bit of rain. Fall has officially started, which means it will rain almost continually until next summer. In years past, it hasn't been too much of an issue. Jenna is very laid back and loves to do quiet indoor activities. With the addition of our now two year old BOY, I'm realizing they have a bit more energy to burn! So I'm on a quest to come up with ACTIVE games to do indoors this fall/winter and I will share them on my blog for any other mom's who need a hand.

Alligator Pond

Items Needed:

Dish towels

Balls

Basket for each child

Set Up:

Lay towels around the floor close enough that the kids can jump from one towel to the next. If playing on a hardwood floor you will probably want to substitute towels for something that won't slip. After laying out the towels, toss small balls all around the room. You could also use stuffed animals or whatever you have on hand.

Directions:

Give each child a basket (or bag) and tell them that they are at an alligator pond. The towels are logs they can jump on to stay safe from the alligators and they have to collect all of the turtle eggs (balls) to keep them safe. To encourage more energy getting used up, we would race to see who could collect the most eggs and count them at the end to find the winner.

Notes:

Connor was a bit young for this game. He LOVED jumping and running around, but didn't quite grasp the concept of collecting the balls while doing it. After a few times collecting eggs, the kids were quite happy to just jump around from towel to towel. We will definitely play this game again as it's quick to set up and we always have the supplies on hand. The biggest downside to the game was having to wash all the towels when we were done. But nobody wants stinky kid feet all over their dish towels!

Making a flying leap to safety!

I just had to throw this picture in because it cracks me up. He looks like he's walking down the runway or something!

Baby Backpacks (My Favorite Things #2)

Of all the baby equipment available to moms and dads, I would have to say that I rate baby carriers right up there with car seats and diapers. This is why I want to share my experience with several different packs that we have used.

Baby Bjorn

When we had Jenna, a wonderful friend that I worked with loaned me her baby Bjorn carrier. The first time I put Jenna in it, I was convinced a strap would randomly break sending my newborn baby crashing to the floor. She was just over a month old when we first tried it out, and it looked a bit like this...

I'm not quite sure what she was thinking, but she made that face the entire time she was in the pack.


When Jenna was almost two months old, we took her on her very first hike. She was such a sweetheart... She slept through the whole thing! (I found out this would become a common occurrence on our hikes)

Multnomah Falls

We used this pack A LOT, and I finally overcame my fear of having to hold her in case the straps broke! Here are a few of my pros, cons, and thoughts on this particular pack:

PROS: It's small and lightweight, so it doesn't take up much room in the car or packing it to go on trips. You can carry very tiny babies in it. (I think we stopped carrying her in it at about a year old). Simple to use (no confusing strap systems). Baby can face towards you or away from you.

CONS: Lacks any form of back support, so as the baby gets bigger, it is a big strain on your back. Not a very long lasting pack (in terms of baby age) for the price you pay. There is no barrier between you and the baby, so if you get sweaty while hiking, the baby gets soaked. Ew.

Thoughts: While the Baby Bjorn brand packs seem to be popular, I personally would never buy one. I did enjoy the one we had, but you can get an off-brand pack for a much lower price and (most likely) similar quality. The style of pack did seem quite comfortable to Jenna, and she loved when she was carried outward facing so she could see the world.

Kelty Pinnacle Child Carrier

The second pack we have used with Jenna, we picked up from a garage sale. It had only been used once and was in excellent condition for a ridiculously low price. This pack has a metal frame and while we couldn't use it until she grew into it a bit (about 7 months old), it was much better for supporting her weight, especially on long hikes.

Hiking the tops of the plateaus in Central Oregon

Sleeping Baby

PROS: (There are quite a few, so I'll just pick my favorites) Hip belt and adjustable straps to fit most sizes of adults and take some strain off of your back. Adjustable straps for baby allow you to use it for a wide age range. Has a detachable hood, see through rain windows, and backpacks. Easy to use and you can get it on and off without help (unless your baby weighs a lot). Baby doesn't sit right next to your body so they don't get overheated and/or sweaty from whoever is carrying them.

CONS: The shoulder straps for baby are easy to slip out of (I sewed on an extra chest clip so she couldn't slip out). It's rather large and bulky, making it less than ideal for use while travelling. When baby falls asleep, there is no place to rest their head. (As you can see in the picture above, Jenna's head did rest against the elastic/mesh part of the sunshade, but it would periodically slip out and wake her up)

Thoughts: This backpack has been a must-have for us. We have been able to go on longer, more adventurous hikes with this pack. It is quite comfortable for the person carrying the baby (considering you are packing around 30lbs on your back) and Jenna seemed to find it comfortable as well. She liked being up high so she could see what was going on around her. One of the biggest issues was when she would shift her weight. She would like to lean out to the sides for a better view and it would throw the weight around making it a pain (literally) at times.

Ergo Baby Carrier

We were planning a trip to Hawaii and I really wanted to do some hiking this time (I was pregnant the time before). I knew that our Kelty pack was just too huge to take with us, but I wasn't even sure there were packs designed for bigger kids (Jenna was 20 months old - and very tall). After doing some extensive research and enlisting the advice of several friends who owned the packs, I started dreaming of owning an Ergo. I was dreaming because we had a tight budget for our vacation, and these packs aren't cheap - even used. Thankfully, God answers prayers, and I happened to find a gently used one for half the price other used ones were going for. Hooray!

Hawaiian Jungle

I LOVE THIS PACK! I never imagined carrying a 30lb baby up a muddy, rocky, jungle trail to a waterfall could be so comfortable. When I put Jenna in the pack, she instantly snuggles up against me and gives me big hugs.

Sleeping baby - again.
(We really do give her normal naps in comfy beds!)

PROS: Lightweight durable fabric carrier. Compact, so it's easy to travel with. Extremely comfortable and easy to use. Waste strap alleviates back strain. Has a sleep hood you can pull up and snap to keep child's head from bobbing around. Can carry child on your front, back, and several other ways. Able to carry infants (need a special insert) up to toddlers.

CONS: When carrying the child on your front, the buckle can be tricky to get closed on your back sometimes. Child is carried against your body, so there is not much ventilation (the sweaty problem again). The child is not able to face away from you while carrying them on your front.

Thoughts: I would highly recommend this pack to anyone and everyone. I may sound a bit over the top, but I was astonished at how comfortable it was to carry Jenna in it. She was cuddled in safe and secure, so there was no need to support her with my hands, which left me free to make sure I kept my balance on tricky parts in the trail. She loves exploring with us in her pack, and I love having her close and getting to cuddle her the whole time!

Now we just need to find a pack to carry her with our hiking packs!

Backpacking Eagle Cap Mountain
(Jenna stayed home for this one!)

*I know that besides packs, there are other options like slings and the Moby wrap - These just aren't practical for our lifestyle so I chose not to include them.
**Just a reminder that these opinions are all mine... but I wish I was reimbursed for them! ha ha ha!



Microwave Chicken (My Favorite Things #1)

You know when somebody tells you something along the lines of... "This recipe is made from sticks and twigs, but you would NEVER guess, it tastes just like that decadent lemon cake from the Macaroni Grill you love so much!" You know what I'm talking about... Cauliflower "mashed potatoes", Ritz cracker "apple pie", zucchini "apple pie", and the list goes on. I have an incredibly hard time getting my brain and taste buds to agree on those recipes.

Now, the recipe I'm going to share is a little bit like that... The first time somebody told me I could cook chicken in the microwave, I was disgusted. Ew. No thanks! So of course, one day we went to my friend's house for dinner and guess what we're having? Yes. Microwave chicken.

As she was preparing the chicken, I was groaning inwardly, while outwardly smiling and saying how great, wonderful, blah blah blah microwave chicken must be. When we sat down to dinner, it was INCREDIBLE. It was the best roast chicken I have ever had and super simple!

What you need for this recipe is a stoneware Deep Covered Baker (Pampered Chef), whole chicken, and spices of your choice. I buy the foster farms chickens that are around 4lbs or so. I recently found them on sale for $0.79/lb and that is a good price in our area. I paid $4.01 for this chicken and we were able to get at least 3 meals out of it for our family of three.

The first step is to rinse off your chicken under cold water and remove all of the random giblet-y parts from the inside cavity. I prefer to take the skin off of my chicken prior to cooking it. To do this, I just loosen the skin and pull it off. I use my kitchen shears to cut off any stubborn areas and trim the fat off as well. When I've finished this, I always give my chicken a good rinse under cold water.

Now you need to pat your chicken dry with paper towels. Then plop it into your baker breast side up and sprinkle seasonings over it. You can season both sides, but I usually just do the top. Salt, pepper, and a little garlic powder make a tasty treat. I like to cover my chicken in the Pampered Chef Smoky BBQ Rub. Mmmmmm.....

Okay, are you ready for the REALLY hard part? Put the lid on the chicken, and toss it in the microwave for 30 minutes on high heat. Make sure to test with a meat thermometer when done! (I've found that mine comes out perfect at only 25 minutes).

*Because I took the skin off of my chicken, the outside isn't actually crispy. The golden brown color is from the BBQ rub that I used on it.

I love how simple this recipe is, and the chicken ALWAYS turns out amazingly delicious and moist. And thanks to Pasta Roni, I can have a complete meal ready in less than 45 minutes (including prep work) AND have time to read a chapter or two in my book while everything is cooking!

Here are a couple of tips for the leftovers: After the chicken has cooled and you have eaten your first meal from it, take all of the meat off the bone and store in the refrigerator. Sometimes I take the chicken carcass and toss it in a pot of water with veggies to make homemade chicken stock. Then I use the chicken I saved for enchiladas, stir fry, sandwiches, etc.

Now, I must add that while this meal saves our family money by not eating out, and using our leftovers wisely, the initial cost of the Deep Covered Baker can cost up to $85. But please don't stop reading now that you saw that price tag! If you know me, you will know that I love saving money and budgeting. I don't just go out and splurge on expensive kitchen items very often (I do however, struggle with buying cute cupcake liners that I don't need).

I am not a Pampered Chef consultant (any more) and I'm not trying to talk you into buying a Deep Covered Baker to make money for myself - in fact, quite the opposite - I believe that by having this, you can save money. We eat out less often when we have quick, easy, and healthy meals at home. I am also in no way being compensated for this review and all words and thoughts are my own! However... I suggest that if you want to purchase a Deep Covered Baker, call up your Pampered Chef consultant (if you don't have one, I know several!) and host a party. It will seriously save you SO MUCH MONEY and it's really not that much work.

Oh... and just so you know... the chicken is only one of MANY incredible recipes I make in my baker!

In Need of Some Motivation!

Apparently my blog name may be a bit too true! I looked back at my few blog posts and realize it's been MONTHS since I lasted posted anything. Perhaps it's just a slow start.

So... Because I need some motivation, I have decided to publicly announce (to my extremely small audience) that I have a plan!

There are some things in life that are just too good to keep a secret, and so, I will be starting a small segment on "My Favorite Things" with the first post up sometime this week!

Candy Corn Cupcakes

Candy Corn Cupcakes

These cupcakes were inspired by the girls over at Our Best Bites and they are a super easy and fun treat to make! I made a batch today, and since I was in a hurry, I "cheated" and made them straight from a boxed mix and used a can of frosting. *gasp*

You will need the following ingredients: Yellow cake mix (plus ingredients to make), cupcake liners, yellow and orange food coloring, frosting, and candy corn.

Start by mixing your cake mix according to the directions, then divide the batter evenly (which I also failed to do) into two separate bowls. Using your food coloring, add enough to make one bowl yellow and the other bowl orange. Also, try and use orange food coloring instead of mixing red and yellow (which I did for these) because it turns out kind of blah instead of bright.

Next you want to scoop the yellow batter into the cupcake liners filling them all evenly. Now, the first "helpful" thing my husband did for me today was agree that candy corn colors go orange, yellow, then white. However, in his defense, if I hadn't been too lazy to walk into the other room to actually get the candy corn and look for myself, I wouldn't have had this problem. So... My cupcakes were a little out of order color-wise!

Here is my pan with the first layer of batter in it... If you are doing it correctly though, yours will be yellow. Next, you want to add your orange batter on top. Now, as you can see in the picture, I didn't divide my batter very evenly when I colored it, so I had way more orange than yellow, which resulted in the orange peeking out from the sides.

Bake your cupcakes according to the directions. I always set my timer for the lowest suggested time and check them until they are done to avoid overcooking them.

When you pull them out, this is what they will look like (only with colors reversed). If you did a better job dividing your batter than I did, you won't have the color bleed through on top like mine did. Also, you won't have a row of sad plain orange cupcakes!

When you open the cupcake up it has fun layers inside!

The idea behind these cupcakes is that they are supposed to look like candy corn. They will have layers of yellow, orange, and the white tip is the white frosting you add to the top. Simply frost the tops and stick a couple of candy corn in it. So easy!

Oh, and the second "helpful" thing my husband did for me was eat my "model" cupcake I had picked out... After I specifically told him, "you can eat a cupcake, but not this one with the candy corn on top". He said he "misunderstood". I think it just looked the most delicious!

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

I'm still trying to figure out what direction I want this blog to be going... Should it be less personal and filled with all my (hopefully) great ideas, or should it be a big jumbled mix of everything? I guess if it's going to truly be my blog, it will be a reflection of myself. So brace yourself for some random craziness!

One of my favorite things to do in the fall is visit the pumpkin patch. I could care less about Halloween, but I LOVE pumpkins! The last couple of years we visited a cute little pumpkin patch in Woodland, WA called The Patch. It's a small family owned business and we always came home with a TRUNK-FULL of pumpkins. They have an amazing variety and you aren't stuck fighting big crowds.

My little Pumpkin's first visit to the pumpkin patch 2010



This year I wanted to find a pumpkin patch with more activities since Jenna is older (19 months) and we didn't have to push her stroller through a maze of pumpkins this year because she can walk! On the recommendation of a friend, we tried out a pumpkin patch in Vancouver, WA called Bi-Zi Farms and it was so much fun!

The Corn Bin

Hay Maze - Jenna found a little friend to get lost with... I'm pretty sure she just wanted her kitty boots though!

Petting Zoo

There were a lot of activities that younger kids could really enjoy... And of course, stuff for the big kids too!

Cory trying his skills at the pumpkin launch

They have an area where you can watch them press apple cider and then of course, taste it! You also get to try your hand at shelling & grinding corn. When you are finished, you can take it to the animal area and feed it to the chickens or turkeys!

Shelling the corn

Grinding the corn

Speaking of corn... If you decide to do the corn maze, keep in mind that it is rather large. You may want to make sure you don't drink a bunch of water and wait until you are only a third of the way through before realizing they don't have conveniently placed bathrooms in the middle of the maze. Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything... I also found out that 19 month old children find that it's very important to touch every corn leaf and say "corn" as they pass by. Let's just say I ended up awkwardly carrying Jenna in my arms so that her boots didn't get mud all over me and ran through the maze with Cory behind me with the map shouting out directions. We must have been quite a sight!

Corn Maze

We saved the pumpkin patch for very last and by the time we got there, we were getting pretty tired! To get to the pumpkin patch you can decide to walk (BORING!) or take a ride on one of the hay wagons. Because we went on a Saturday with beautiful weather, it was pretty busy by the time we were ready to go on our hayride. Don't let the long line fool you though, they have several tractors running at once and we didn't have to wait long at all!

The Pumpkin Patch

Jenna picking out her pumpkin

Admission is $8 per person (kids under 2 are free) and that included one free pumpkin (any size!),  hay ride, corn maze, corn bin, petting zoo, duck races , two tries at the pumpkin launch , straw bale maze, straw bale pyramid , corn shelling & grinding, and 1 free hot drink (hot chocolate, hot spiced cider, or coffee).

Disclaimer: I'm just sharing our pumpkin experiences... I have been in no way reimbursed for sharing this information, I just want you to have the opportunity for fun too!