Homeschool Field Trip #2 9/29/14

I love this picture... it makes me realize the amazement that this place can bring.

My kids love sea life. They especially love to talk about, read about and study sharks. So seeing them all so mesmerized by this large sand tiger shark was wonderful to me. 

Getting up close and personal with many of the creatures today.

The Bonnet Head Shark was especially active today. 

The kids got to pet it and several varieties of sting ray as well!

Diver Dave posing for a pic with my boy. 

The river otter exhibit is one of my kids favorite spots. 

A view of the Tennessee River

Taking down a little information... we are homeschoolers, after all. 

The Sturgeon exhibit

This little alligator was very interested in my kids... It followed them around for several minutes.

The big escalator 

At the shark pool

My blessings and I. 

Have a wonderful day!

Trim Healthy Mama Cinnamon Roll Pancake

My children had cinnamon rolls for breakfast this morning. I was trying to stay on task with my THM plan, so I thought about how I could achieve that cinny roll taste without cheating! 

I made a batch of THM pancakes. 

1 cup egg whites

1 cup fat free cottage cheese 

1 cup oat flour

2 teaspoons truvia or plan approved sweetener

1 teaspoon baking powder 

(My additions)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla 

Icing:

(I made more than I need, I'll keep it in the fridge til next time)

1 block fat free cream cheese

2 teaspoons truvia or plan approved sweetener 

1 teaspoon vanilla 

1 capful caramel extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon

This should be well within FP range! It is so yummy and the sweet cinnamon goodness is perfect for these nice cool fall mornings! 

Enjoy!!

Autumn at Home

One of my favorite times of year is Autumn. I love the cooler days and the occasional need for a sweater or blanket. I love the colors and the smells. I love the slowness of the season. Wrapping up the busy summer months, the putting away of the garden, the shelf lined with preserved foods, the trees turning, the nip in the air... 

These are a few of my favorite things. 

As with the change of the season, I change around my decor. Moving towards a more cozy time. I pull out old quilts and blankets, I place pumpkins inside and out, I bring out the candles for those evenings when hopefully we can sit together as a family and just enjoy those moments together at home.

With the changing of seasons, the kitchen turns more towards warm, hearty meals. Soups are on my mind often. Coffee is brewing. Cocoa is requested. 

We do more reading aloud and silently. 

love

The piano is busy with practice, the schoolroom is a flutter with arithmetic and grammar, history and science. Documentaries on Netflix. What a great time to be alive. 

As with the changing of the seasons, it is almost an instinctive thing, my yarn comes out and I begin to craft again. Hats, scarves, cozies and the like come flying off my hook. 

Moma's nook is loaded with yarn and hooks and ribbons...

Working, when time allows on all kinds of fun creations.

Autumn around the home is a most splendid time indeed.

Homeschool Field Trip 9.15.14

There are days when an opportunity comes along and you just have to adjust your 'schedule' and make it happen! Yesterday was one of those days. 

We went to visit USS LTS 325 that was docked in Chattanooga. It was incredible!

The magnitude of this ship was impressive. We spent a good while exploring all three decks.

A recreation of the paths that the ship took. I loved all the information.

The men in my life love stats. I had to take a close up shot of this, so they could go back and re-read all the info that they had to offer. 

I love this picture. The ship, my kids, the aquarium in the back. Chattanooga is a beautiful city.

The loves of my life.

My boys especially loved this part. Every bit of this set up was lego built. They were amazed! It used over 70,000 legos to complete. And I thought we had a bunch. haha

The detail was so great! 

We loved learning and exploring something so important to our history.

Cider Makin

One of our read-alouds for my younger children this year is Farmer Boy. 

Farmer Boy is one of my favorite books in the "Little House" series. I love hearing all the details of how Almanzo and his family live. 

I don't think you can really help yourself from enjoying the beauty of their lives put into words. I also don't think you can help your stomach from growling as you hear all the wonderful foods that they make and share throughout the story. 

We had two large baskets full of apples that were very ripe and ready to be used. After reading of Almanzo's apple cider and popcorn, I knew exactly how we should use our apples.

We took the apples and cut off the bad and ran the rest through the juicer. 

After filling a stock pot almost full, we simmered the juice with all sorts of wonderful spices.

Ginger

Allspice

Cloves

Cinnamon 

Nutmeg

You can use any or all of these plus more if you like. 

We chose our favorites and while the cider simmered, the spices infused the juice. 

We also added about 1/2 cup sugar to the whole pot. I considered not using any... and I probably could have, but I wanted to make sure it was somewhat sweet.

Let this go for about an hour or two. 

Strain and put into clean jars and new flats.

Process in a boiling hot water bath for 20 minutes and then remove and cool.

Perfect for anytime we have the hankering for some apple cider and popcorn...

Just like Farmer Boy, Almanzo.

Creating again...

It seems that around September 1, my hands get to itching and my mind gets to thinking and I start having a desire to get my yarn and hook out and begin creating. 

It may be because of the hopes of cooler weather or the reminder that my favorite time of year is right around the corner. 

I love to create. I love seeing an accomplished project and making something for someone. I love it when they say, "This is exactly what I was wanting!" 

I had a friend ask me about some crocheted star ornaments.

I pulled out the yarn and hook and set to work.

Although I have my tree up much sooner than normal people, I don't have it up THIS early. haha

You can just imagine the look of it hanging. 

I have these for sale in my Etsy shop! 

I'd love to make some for you!

Go check them out!

xoxo

Trim Healthy Mama Pumpkin Pie Shake

A yummy drink just in time for Autumn!

Trim Healthy Mama

Pumpkin Pie Shake

10 ice cubes
1/2 cup almond milk
1/4 cup water
1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
1/2 cup pumpkin purée
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg
1/4 t ginger
pinch cloves
pinch salt
pinch gluccie
1 t Sweet Blend

(If desired you can add 3 Tbsp heavy cream, but this will make it an [S=Satisfying], without it is an [E=Energizing]
Put everything in blender, blend for a minute, let sit for a minute, then blend again until it's the consistency you like. Top with Reddi Whip and a sprinkle of cinnamon, if desired.