Soda Party

What do you do for a bunch of uncooperative kids?  Throw them a "Soda Party"!

"SODAS" is a problem solving concept that we learned from Nicholeen Peck at a homeschool conference a few years ago.  We were so impressed with her message that I soon after purchased her "Teaching Self Government" seminar on CD and even e-mailed her directly for specific problems. Her methods proved to work successfully in our home  - that is as long as us parents were consistent (honestly, that is the hardest part).

I suppose I could write some sort of a proof to blame our growing list of behavior problems on all the changes we've experienced in the last year but I don't have time for that.  Instead I'll share our attempt at solving them.  

Besides working on the 4 basic skills ,  we set up a little snack time party complete with bubble blowing, lime tortilla chips, Jones Sodas and a poster to explain "SODAS".  Here's an example of how it works(ed):

 

Situation - "I do not want to read and report on a boring article from the homeschool binder"

Options - "I could sit on the couch and complain about it, or I could just do it"

Disadvantages - "If I sit on the couch all day and complain about it I'll miss out on snack time and free play with my brothers, it would be a really boring day and I'd still have to complete the assignment tomorrow"

Advantages - "If I don't do it I won't be tortured by the boring article and my hand won't ache from answering all the questions but if I do do it I might learn something interesting about the world and even better I could have more time to play" 

Solution - day #1 "I don't care if I sit on the couch all day without snack or free play"

                   day #2 "I guess I should do it really quickly"

I am happy to report that the assignment was finished before breakfast without complaint.  

Thanks Nicholeen!  

Wear your Baby in the cold!

Life had presented another excuse for emergency sewing. 

In just one day the weather changed from Winter to Spring and I could contain the kids inside no more.  

Where just last week there was an igloo, now lays a huge mud puddle.  This was irresistible to our almost 2 year old Henry and I made the mistake of thinking it would be okay to watch the kids from the front window with James in charge. 

Within five minutes Henry was crying and James was screaming for help.  Both of them were covered in mud.  Henry didn't want the fun to end and James was playing a sort of tug of war with Henry - the mud won. On my way to the rescue I discovered Clara dancing on the curb and Maryanna riding her bike in the middle of the street. So ends the unsupervised afternoons in the yard.

This poncho was constructed as a multitask tool - now I can wear baby George while I watch the kids outside.  I suppose I should probably dye it brown considering the mud matches I'm sure to have with Henry. 

I ordered the 18 oz natural Sherpa fabric from near sea naturals and used this guide to help (I couldn't help but change the shape and neckline).

Still tempted to dye it though - any color suggestions? 

 

Paul's impulse purchase

I sent Paul to the U of M Property Disposition Center for another sewing table and this is what he came home with.

He did find me a great table but I was more excited about this old card catalog. We aren't sure what we are going to use it for yet (maybe sewing supplies, craft supplies, or photos) but it is a pretty cool piece of University of Michigan history. 

In the meantime I suppose I could send the kids to the garage to practice their alphabetizing.

Geography Review

There hasn't been much formal teaching or enriching activities in our homeschool for weeks.  I've been feeling kind of guilty about it until I observed this activity the boys came up with.

One would call out a State and the other two with Nerf guns would aim and  try to get closest to the capital city.  They are all pretty good shooters after going to the Cabella's shooting gallery with Opa all summer.  As for their geography skills, they could keep practicing. 

A great meal that not everyone liked

Curried Lentils and Cauliflower

Suz requested that I make this and then blog it so she could have easy access to the recipe. It is actually quite good but as you can see from the picture not everyone loved it.

Maryanna couldn't make up her mind and walked into the kitchen asking, "What's that yucky smell that smells so good"?  She had two full bowls.

James asked when I was ever going to make some "real food from a box". He pretended not to like it but ended up eating four bowls.

Henry and Clara gobbled it up without complaint but Peter only touched his rice and William decided he'd rather go to bed early than even taste it.

So here it is from one of my favorite cookbooks Feeding the Whole Family: 

1 cup dried lentils, washed and drained (I usually soak over night)

1 bay leaf

2 3/4 cups (divided)

2 tsp ghee or olive oil (ghee tastes better)

1 onion chopped

1 clove garlic, minced (I used three but it could use even more)

2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp cumin (it could use more)

1 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (I think that was too much - next time we'll use less)

1 head small cauliflower, cut into flowerets

1 cup tomato sauce

1 tsp fresh grated ginger

1/2 cup roasted cashews for garnish

Place lentils in a pot with bay leaf and 2 cups water: bring to boil.  Lower heat, cover, and let simmer 25 to 30 minutes, until lentils are soft and all the water is absorbed.

Heat ghee in a 4 qt pot or pressure cooker.  Add onion, garlic and salt, saute'. Add coriander, cumin, turmeric and cinnamon. Add cauliflower tomato sauce, ginger (actually I think it is better to add the ginger with the other aromatic spices), 3/4 cup water; stir well.  Cover and let simmer until cauliflower is tender (15-20 min.) or bring to high pressure and cook 5-7 minutes.

Stir lentils into cauliflower and serve over basamati rice.

 

Emergency Sewing

After a five week break I discovered cob webs across my sewing center.  It is hard to justify sewing when I am so behind on laundry but this project was done exactly for that reason.

Baby George was out of clean diaper covers so I jumped to it and sewed this one up in less than thirty minutes where as waiting for a load of laundry takes at least 2 hours. 

Marie gave me some really cool diapers cover from Japan so I used one as a pattern.  What makes them so great is that the front flaps hold the pre-fold neatly in place which makes for quick changing and less leaks.

I lined the cotton knit print with PUL fabric and bound them together quite effortlessly with fold over elastic.  This was just a test fit and will probably be too small by next week but I'm out of fold over elastic so hopefully I'll perfect the pattern before I get my elastic order from Wazzodle.

I do have some back up disposables on hand but George seems to be reacting to them. Besides I think babies look so cute in cloth diapers!

As for emergency sewing there may be another episode this week because it was almost impossible for me to find something that fit for church last Sunday. 

Sunday Activity for Kids

It is not easy to keep young children quiet on Sunday afternoons but here is one activity that everyone enjoys.  They pick a gospel art kit picture and try to draw it themselves.

Above is Maryanna's (age 4) attempt at Jesus washing the apostles feet - kind of cute and definitely worth saving.

Clara meanwhile colored her face with marker and when I asked why she said "to make myself look pretty".  Henry just scribbled all over his body and the cupboards and the table so maybe this activity is not for everyone.