We have here a picture of all the cousins at grandma’s birthday party, a picture of pouring activities in the kitchen, and one of my little guy trying to watch his big brothers. Yes, he pulled himself up all by himself. Last week the sneaker crawled up the entire staircase from our basement up!
Nutritionists and financial planners alike point out the stupidity of indulging in cold coffee drinks like Starbucks frappuccino. Although, of course, if you need to de-stress and a $5 cup of fatty coffee accomplishes this, it’s better than, say, a $50 massage or a $60 pair of new shoes.
What is it about a “fancy” (i.e., expensive) coffee drink that is so alluring when I’m frazzled & stressed out? The caffeine, of course, the sweetness, and the whole “naughtiness” of a splurge. That, plus no mess to clean up. I have a very strong love of coffee, and during the summer I like to make “home-made” (i.e., cheap) blended versions. Other recipes here.
HappyMama’s summer coffee:
1. pour left-over coffee into ice-cube tray & freeze. When you’re ready to blend, take the tray out of the freezer and let it sit for a couple minutes; they thaw quickly & pop out easily then.
2. pour some skim milk (I don’t measure ingredients typically, I prefer the “dump & adjust as needed” method) into the blender or smoothie machine, add the frozen coffee cubes and a scoop of vanilla protein powder, and blend. [I'm a big believer that we need high-protein breakfasts, and typical whey protein has 20 g. per scoop. I get flavor, caffeine, and protein in just one shake. The protein powder also adds about 120 calories, but it will keep you feeling "full" longer.]
3. having a bad day or want a treat? Add sugar, hershey’s syrup, or chocolate malt powder, or substitute cream for the milk! Top with cool-whip & chocolate shavings for company.
God Bless America Lyrics
by Irving Berlin
God bless America,
Land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above;
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
Kudos to Nancy (on the blogroll) for this link to a very insightful and helpful post. I have to admit that although it is directed toward a child’s formation, in our household I am the one who could benefit most from this advice!
“Going to the library” is something I’ve been doing for my kids, but today I realized how much I am enjoying it myself! Today I found three books I’ve been wanting to read, and I had about 20 minutes to quietly read to myself today at the library while my youngest son crawled around, exploring, and the other two played on the computer.
Honey for a Child’s Heart, by Gladys Hunt. I’ve browsed this one before, thanks to Ashleigh, but am enjoying it again. Advice on books for different ages, and a strong emphasis on reading aloud as a family.
The Read-Aloud Handbook, by Jim Trelease. I’ve been convinced of the importance of reading aloud to children of all ages for years now, but if you’re not convinced, just read the introduction to this book!
Pocketful of Pinecones, by Karen Andreola. Following Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy, a how-to of nature study. Very good read so far.
I was blessed to visit with some “old” college friends this weekend! They were interested in learning more about the Good Shepherd Catechesis and Montessori theory in general, and so for those who haven’t heard of it before, here are some resources:
“Stealing” this link from another blog! It’s a fine article on Maria Montessori here. Kudos to romancatholicbychoice.stblogs.com.
For 2 reasons I have been spending time studying educational methods. Firstly, I enjoy the topic immensely. Secondly, I am preparing to -gulp!- not enroll our eldest son for kindergarten. I gather ideas primarily from other homeschooling moms, particularly those with joyful, delightful children.
I am currently reading about the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason. The only relevant book carried by my local library is the Charlotte Mason Companion, by Karen Andreola. So far, I am very impressed by what I have read. Here’s a favorite quote by Mason:
To bring the human race, family by family, child by child, out of the savage and inhuman desolation where He is not, into the light and warmth and comfort of the presence of God, is no doubt, the chief thing we have to do in the world.
The more I have read about Montessori for early ages (i.e., 3-6), the more I liked what I read. As the boys grow older, though, I intend to lean towards a more classical educational style such as the one presented in the Well-Trained Mind, although with a more Catholic emphasis, as shown in the Mother of Divine Grace curricula. I like what I’ve read about the Kolbe Academy.
A privilege I will have as a home-schooling mother is to pick and choose what I like from different methods. The Charlotte Mason ideas I think will work well. There is no grading. No busy work. No fill-in-the-blanks. No “home-work” (or evening work) for kids younger than 13. A ton of time outdoors, observing creation. Reading entire books, not condensed versions or sample chapters or short stories put together by textbook committees.
One trend I’ve noticed in all the theories I’ve considered so far is that they are strongly focused on the mother-child relationship. [Obviously. Most dads are out working in the mornings when most education takes place.] But with 3 rambunctious boys and a father with an intensely engineering-oriented mind, I know that my husband will play a significant role in our children’s education, whether we home school or not. I will need to “make room” for the unique contributions that he can make.