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Homeschooling, Christ Following, Sibling-Playing, Army life-living, Controlled Chaos in the Transue Household
Friday, November 6, 2009
Adventures in Breadmaking 2
So the breadmaking journey continues. I must say, I love it. I get mixed reviews from the family. Sometimes they say they love it and it is the most wonderful bread in the world. Other times they say, "Not THAT bread", but then eat it and enjoy it.
As far as the actual breadmaking, this has made all the difference:
MY KITCHENAID MIXER
I purchased the Classic model, and it does the job, but it seems like it struggles a bit in the ending stages of the mixing and kneading. I would have to recommend a mixer that is slightly more powerful, but this does the job, and also whips up a double batch of chocolate chip cookie dough in a flash. Love the limited cleanup!
Well, back to bread. I am never quite sure how long to let my bread rise, but I think I pulled it off this time. I also read directions on how to shape the loaf which helped out tremendously. I actually pulled bread out of the oven that looked like a loaf of bread.
My next post about breadmaking will include a list of all the links for the products I use that are helpful. Stay tuned!
As far as the actual breadmaking, this has made all the difference:
MY KITCHENAID MIXER
I purchased the Classic model, and it does the job, but it seems like it struggles a bit in the ending stages of the mixing and kneading. I would have to recommend a mixer that is slightly more powerful, but this does the job, and also whips up a double batch of chocolate chip cookie dough in a flash. Love the limited cleanup!
Well, back to bread. I am never quite sure how long to let my bread rise, but I think I pulled it off this time. I also read directions on how to shape the loaf which helped out tremendously. I actually pulled bread out of the oven that looked like a loaf of bread.
My next post about breadmaking will include a list of all the links for the products I use that are helpful. Stay tuned!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
No TV
We have always had a TV. I like TV. We never really felt the need to restrict time on TV, and our children have not had difficulty limiting their viewing to the shows that we had approved.
Lately though, the kids seem to be turning to TV when they are bored. And hearing the TV now for some reasons produces stress for me. (I can feel my body stressing when I hear it turn on)
Our friends' TV broke (or died, or something in the middle of that) So they have their computer, and a small TV in the parental bedroom. And they are doing fine. I know several people who survive with very little - no TV.
Laura asked me the other day, "Mom, do you think we could go without the TV?" I told her that I am sure we could. Today, we are. They watched their Jelly Telly. And I must confess we are easing the transition by watching a Netflix movie Horton Hears a Who. But we are done with our schooling, have done a few chores, and one of the two children is worn out and relaxing while he watches it.
So, hopefully, this will be a start of something better for us during the day.
Lately though, the kids seem to be turning to TV when they are bored. And hearing the TV now for some reasons produces stress for me. (I can feel my body stressing when I hear it turn on)
Our friends' TV broke (or died, or something in the middle of that) So they have their computer, and a small TV in the parental bedroom. And they are doing fine. I know several people who survive with very little - no TV.
Laura asked me the other day, "Mom, do you think we could go without the TV?" I told her that I am sure we could. Today, we are. They watched their Jelly Telly. And I must confess we are easing the transition by watching a Netflix movie Horton Hears a Who. But we are done with our schooling, have done a few chores, and one of the two children is worn out and relaxing while he watches it.
So, hopefully, this will be a start of something better for us during the day.
Laundry Day!
It's Laundry Day!
Aren't you happy too?
I have recently come across a concept that has never occurred to me . . .
Limiting my children's clothes.
To just enough sets that they need to get by.
So I am not so overwhelmed on laundry day.
So that we can fit their clothes in their dressers.
So when I say go get dressed they don't come down looking all silly.
So that on laundry day I can be as happy as Megan is here!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Reformation Day
My friend Abbie, her husband, and their crew of 5 children hosted a Reformation Day Party for Halloween night. Given that Martin Luther chose the night before All Saints Day to post his 95 theses, we figured it would be fun to celebrate that. It helped out my kids, since they are generally frightened by many halloween decorations and most constumes that the older kids wear when trick or treating.
Jack was sick with a fever, so he stayed home and handed out candy with daddy (actually, they shut off the lights, and cuddled on the couch watching college football, but shhhhhhh)
The three other children had a great time.
What does one do at a Reformation Day party? Well, during a wonderful dinner of chicken and coleslay (no doubt authentic Reformation Day faire) you can watch a video of Martin Luther's life (pay attention, there may be a pop quiz later for candy)
Here are the older girls in their costumes:
Then there is the game that Abbie and Mark created called "Grab the indulgences" Which basically involves moving the living room furniture around so that you can throw a bag of candy on the floor and see who can get to it first.
Josiah jumped the gun and got his indulgences first . . .with a great slide!
Or "Pin the Theses on the Door", very similar to pin the tail on the donkey, without the donkey.
There were other fun moments of the night, which mostly involved having so many kids in one house at one time, and some adorable "baby moments"
Like James finding different ways to modify his pumpkin costume:
It was a grand time. Thanks for having us!
And here is the link to my friend's blog where you can see her kids' awesome costumes!
And another link of the activities
Jack was sick with a fever, so he stayed home and handed out candy with daddy (actually, they shut off the lights, and cuddled on the couch watching college football, but shhhhhhh)
The three other children had a great time.
What does one do at a Reformation Day party? Well, during a wonderful dinner of chicken and coleslay (no doubt authentic Reformation Day faire) you can watch a video of Martin Luther's life (pay attention, there may be a pop quiz later for candy)
Here are the older girls in their costumes:
Then there is the game that Abbie and Mark created called "Grab the indulgences" Which basically involves moving the living room furniture around so that you can throw a bag of candy on the floor and see who can get to it first.
Josiah jumped the gun and got his indulgences first . . .with a great slide!
Or "Pin the Theses on the Door", very similar to pin the tail on the donkey, without the donkey.
There were other fun moments of the night, which mostly involved having so many kids in one house at one time, and some adorable "baby moments"
Like James finding different ways to modify his pumpkin costume:
It was a grand time. Thanks for having us!
And here is the link to my friend's blog where you can see her kids' awesome costumes!
And another link of the activities
Sunday, November 1, 2009
A Good Book List
A friend shared this list with me, and I can't help but posting it for whoever is interested. It is from the Classical Christian Educations Support Loop. The list contains books with a Judeo-Christian world view, recommended by the contributors to be of good literary value. I was happy to see many of the titles we are reading for Sonlight on the list. I also found more that I would love to share with my children. The list is broken down into levels, and next to the title and author it indicates if the book would be a good reader (for the child) or a read-aloud (for the parents to read to/with their children)
Here is the link to the Classical Christian Education Support Loop List
Here is the link to the Classical Christian Education Support Loop List
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