.A Little of This, a Little of That.

I just finished my fifth week of my first year of homeschooling. I am doing preschool with my Cadi, and it could not be going better. We are having so much fun! I cannot imagine sending her to school and missing out on the day-to-day learning and fun. I think our relationship has developed and strengthened in the last five weeks as well.




Our "letter of the week" was E, so we played a folder game focused on the ear which entailed Cadi sorting through cards figuring out what items she can hear and what items she cannot hear. She was very creative with some of the cards. For example she placed a picture of a can of peanuts in the items one can hear category. When I asked her why she simply stated, "because if I shake the can, Mommy, I can hear the peanuts." {grin}



In math class, we have been working on sorting and patterns for awhile. This week we used some homemade beads that we had made a few weeks back. They look ugly, but they do the trick! {wink}

Each week we do creative/dramatic play. I set up a scenario that ties into something we are studying, and then we just play. This week the scenario was going to the doctor's. Cadi really got into it! Jim was working at home a few days this week, and he so graciously gave up a few moments to participate in some school activities.



This photo cracks me up. Cadi was asking her daddy what was wrong and why he was needing a doctor visit. Jim answered that he had diabetes. Cadi said "let me put a band aid on your throat and give you some medicine!" Too funny, and maybe a little too close to reality! {wink}

Then it was Cadi's turn to be the patient.



Something about this photo squeezes my heart a bit.


The really neat thing that I have noticed about our creative/dramatic play times is that it encourages Cadi to be more creative in her independent play times. Yesterday she had all of her baby dolls lined up on our couch waiting to be seen by the "doctor". I also found a band aid on the back of Scotty's neck! I can only assume he must have been a patient of Cadi's at one point! {grin}

We also made edible play dough this week. It was peanut butter dough. I am guessing you could use nut butter instead, but I had some natural peanut butter that I wanted to use up.
The recipe is really easy.

1 Cup peanut butter
3 T. honey
3/4 C. dried milk

Stir all ingredients together - slowly add in the powdered milk just until dough is pliable. Refrigerate for two hours before using. The dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.





Cadi enjoyed making (and eating) letters out of the dough.


This week I saw such a huge improvement in Cadi's fine motor skills and pencil work. I think we were both really encouraged and excited! I still am struggling with correctly having her position her paper for a lefty. If you have any tips or ideas jump over to my blogfrog community and reply to my latest forum - teaching a lefty-help! I would love to hear what some of you lefty's have to say! {grin}



Besides schooling Cadi this week, I tried out a new recipe for whole wheat buns. Now normally I would prefer something with 100% whole wheat flour, but I was getting low on the flour. These would be really great for a family that is just starting to convert to whole wheat recipes.


Honey whole wheat buns
1/2 C. water
2/3 C. milk
1/3 C. honey
1 large egg
1 1/2 T butter - cut into pieces

2 2/3 C bread flour
1 1/3 C whole wheat flour
1 T plus 2 tsp. gluten
2 1/2 tsp. salt
1T yeast

Throw all into bread maker according to manufacturer's directions. Set to dough cycle. When finished, dump onto lightly floured surface and squeeze out air bubbles. Shape into 8 round balls and place on greased cookie sheet - spread widely a part. Spray and cover with saran wrap. Let rise for 45 minutes, then bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. These make nice size hamburger buns.


I had to use my Kitchen Aid to make bread this week - for the first time ever! I have made pizza dough, but never bread. I had several people tell me that it was just as easy and produced better bread. Well, it was not just as easy, but it was easy. I must just be lazy! {grin} And the bread tasted the same - good, but the same. I have been praying for a bread maker, and guess what?! An old high school friend contacted me and is offering me her nearly new one for free! She had read some comment I wrote on face book - isn't God so good?! So next week we will meet, and I will have a bread maker again!

Can you guess what I am making today???

We have a busy weekend, with friends over tomorrow and then our annual trip to The Meadow lands to see the NY football Giants! Should be fun, and hopefully not as cold as last year. But I hope to post a tutorial tomorrow about what I spent the day making so that you can make some, too!