Recipes I'd Like to Try...

I was just browsing on some food blogs
and found some recipes I'd like to try sometime sooner (or later)...
I thought I'd share them on here. =)

Buttery Blonde Banana Bread



Mmmmm... this looks really good!

Best Banana Bread


The sugar crust is mighty appealing!

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins


Oh, these just sounds so good right now!

These all have one thing in common: Bananas!
I need to check my freezer for frozen bananas!

Make something sweet this week! =)

School Planning

Life has just swallowed up my time!

One of the things in life that has me occupied

is homeschooling my kids...

staying on top of planning school...

staying on top of keeping things organized

(which isn't my strong point).

I have been encouraged the past couple of weeks

to see the kids apply themselves

and look at their weekly plans independently...

and do a good majority of their school independently.

That is one of the main the goals.

To create independent learners.

Kids who can find the answers for themselves.

Kids who can figure out how to learn on their own.

They're still learning how to do this,

but I saw us take some major steps

toward this goal the past couple of weeks.

I'm seeing progress!

Yes!

As we're coming to the end of our unit study,

Attentiveness...

where we have learned about

ears and hearing,

eyes and sight,

traps and animals,

and birds

(yes, they all have something in common with attentiveness),

I am planning a new unit study.

I am mulling around the idea of doing

a unit study on the 50 states.

Quite an endeavor, no?

This would take a year if you studied one state per week.

And even with this, I'm asking myself,

"Is one week per state enough time?"

Hmmm...

I don't have a whole lot of time to contemplate the idea...

I'm expecting a new baby the beginning of June

and I would like to have a general idea

about the direction for school decided and planned by then.

To keep our momentum going.

To continue making progress

toward independent learning and thinking.

Here's a wonderful site I found with TONS of info...

http://www.squidoo.com/50statesnotebook

almost too much info...

an overwhelming amount of info...

on doing a 50 states unit study.

So much work is already done,

but putting it all together

and taking the pieces you like

and putting them together

with other pieces you like...

it takes a decent amount of organization...

Do I dare try?

It's somewhat daunting,

but I think I will be persuaded to pursue it.

Why?

I'm thinking my kids would have a blast!
I'm thinking they would love to do a unit study like this.

I'm thinking they would learn a lot and enjoy it.

I'm thinking if I start now,
I may be able to pull the whole plan together

just in time for baby #3.

Besides, aren't these kids worth it?

Yes, they are!

My Plans for the Day

Today is going to be a day of bread-making, laundry and who knows what else!

With two kids under 10, there always seems to be something unexpected. ;-)

I'm thinking of photographing my French bread-making...

the bread turned out awesome the last time I made it.

Probably if I decided on photographing it, it would end up turning out weird.

Things like this happen to me sometimes.

I don't know why.

I'm also thinking of heading to my local grocery store which has strawberries on sale until tomorrow for $1 lb. and trying out THIS FREEZER JAM RECIPE.

It may not happen today... it might.

Who knows?

Enjoy your day! Remember that whatever the day brings, God is in control! =)

Scottsdale Day Trip

The kids both finished their math books last week and we usually like to celebrate this milestone by taking them out for a treat. One of the kids' favorite places to go for things like this is Streamers, but they closed several months ago.

So sad.

Anyway, Kayla said she wished they were open and so I went online to see if there were any other old-fashioned ice cream parlors around town. I found this place called the Sugar Bowl in Scottsdale.

We've taken the kids to Scottsdale on another occasion for a free trolley ride around Old Town Scottsdale, and so we thought we would do that again and treat them at the Sugar Bowl. The weather was beautiful and it made for a nice time together.

Here's some pics of the day:

I've never seen a limo like this one... only in Scottsdale:

The free trolley! If you ever visit Scottsdale, this is a fun thing to do. Here's some info about it if you're interested.

Cute Sugar Bowl napkin.

Cute kids at Sugar Bowl. ;-)

Each of the kids ordered a Desireme Banana Split!

That was our fun day trip! =)

Brave or Crazy?

You decide.

Let me tell you what I did yesterday...

Are you ready?

Okay, I cut my own hair! Aaaaah!

I watched a YouTube video. Yes, seriously. It was actually this video HERE.

Maybe the method is all wrong...

But I was pleased with the results...

And I haven't been pleased the last couple of times I've had my hair professionally cut.

My husband thought I had gone and had it professionally cut, it looked that good.

The question is, would I do it again?

Absolutely!! I really would!

How about you? Have you done anything brave (or crazy) recently?

BTW, yes, I took all these pictures of myself just because I'm weird. I love that reason! =)

Pinch Me! I'm Tempted to Sew!

You read that right!

And if you know me, that's rare.

I'm thinking that this tutorial might tempt me to get my sewing machine out.

In case you're wondering what could tempt me to do that,

you can check it out HERE for yourself.

You may even be tempted to make one, too!

Enjoy your day!

Thoughts from James

Just a little tidbit to share from what I read this morning while I was reading James. I was struck with the simplicity of this verse:

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises."

James 5:13

Either way, whether things are going wonderfully or going terribly, the focus should remain the same - on the Lord. The suffering should turn us to God to pray. The happiness should turn us to God to praise Him.

Hoping you have a day today that is focused on the One and Only who truly matters in this life that is merely a vapor. May we find our minds fixed on Jesus today.