Traverse City.

We are on a brief little getaway to northern Michigan where there is still snow on the ground and it's still pretty chilly. I packed mainly short-sleeves and light jackets, as I refuse to believe that it is still winter! Matt and I enjoyed the first couple of days on our own, before the kids joined us on Sunday. The kids are looking forward to some time at the Great Wolf Lodge before we head back to Grand Rapids.....where we hope it's a lot warmer and more spring like than it is here!

It's getting Greener around here.....

And no, we unfortunately did not win the lottery (we don't play) or run into some unexpected inheritance. With St. Patrick's Day and more and more signs of spring showing up, it is just really beginning to green up...and we're so happy about it! Here are a few photos from this week.
Lots of exploring has taken place around here....lots of walks in the back field, through the (muddy) woods, on the trail......equals LOTS of muddy shoes and clothes in the laundry room. But, hey, isn't that what spring is all about? MUD. The photo above was taken WAY back behind our house, and I was able to catch it from our back deck with my zoom....I love how much they are able to do together during the homeschool day.

My two little sweets, all decked out in green...no one was going to pinch them for not having their green on!

This little guy, who I picked up at a bookstore in Boston, showed up a different place every day in March. The kids had to find him every day, and then there would be a pot of gold on St. Patrick's Day. They had a lot of fun, and the pot-of-gold prize was enjoyed by all yesterday (fresh new PlayDough in 20 colors, a copy of the new "Pinocchio", and some mint 3 musketeer bars). This will surely become part of our annual March tradition.

We are fortunate to live by an amazing biking/walking trail, and we took a 2-hour walking adventure this afternoon. Here the kids are on one of the golf course bridges that runs over the trail. It feels so good to be out in the fresh air and hear the birds' spring song.

We are getting ready to leave on a little get-away to Traverse City this weekend; we will spend a couple of days with my parents in McBain, and then the kids will stay with them while Matt and I enjoy a couple of days up in TC while Matt attends a conference and I get some scrapping done. We will then get the kids and take them back to TC for a couple of family days, including a couple of days at the Great Wolf Lodge Water Park. We are looking forward to a few days away before we get into the craze of spring sports.

Here's hoping that it's greening up wherever you are, too!

Day at the Museum.

The museum here in Grand Rapids is a spectacular, immaculate place. We have been there for short trips and school field trips before but, as Kennedy expressed, you often have to rush through the exhibits to stay "on schedule"--somebody else's schedule, that is. So today we had no schedule and could go through the exhibits as quickly or as slowly as we wanted to. The highlight of the day was the special Dinosaurs Alive exhibit, boasting full-scale replicas of several different types of dinosaurs.
The kids each chose their favorite dinosaur, drew it, and wrote down some facts about it for a "lap book" project that we will be working on tomorrow. We also did some rubbings of some dinosaur fossils and took photos of each one to include in our projects.
The kids also loved the doll room, where they spent over 30 minutes playing with a wooden doll family, and the replica of an old street in historical Grand Rapids. I, of course, was drooling over the typesetter's chest which I would love to have for my scraproom!

And, of course, no trip to the museum is complete without a planetarium show, a whirl around the hand-carved wooden carousel that overlooks the river, or a quick visit to the museum exploration store.

The kids and I were tired but very satisfied with the day. Tomorrow we will be back to a full day of at-home learning, focusing more on dinosaurs and also continuing to work on our books that we started on Monday. It is my goal that each child will "publish" an original book that they have authored and illustrated at least once in the year; Kennedy has chosen to write a mystery about a historical mining town, while Hayden is working on an ABC book (hence, the story about the apple-eating giant avocado!).

10 on the 10th.

My calendar says that today is March 10, meaning that my time for my monthly report on my renewed commitment to health is due. This month, honestly, there is little to report.....little progress, that is. This month has been pretty stand-still, maintenance-focused. So many other life issues have seemed to take precedent--big things like contemplating a move and getting settled into homeschooling--that I really haven't given health much of a second thought. That needs to change, I know, but it is honestly what this month has been for us. So, here goes 10 points from the month....some points about health but others just photos about what has been going on around here lately:

1) I did make some pretty good health choices when I was in Boston. It can be hard to stay on track when traveling to a new city, but I indulged in a lot of fresh seafood prepared healthily, and only ate Cheesecake Factory cheesecake once! :) And I got a lot of exercise walking in the city--several miles per day. So that was certainly a bright spot in the month!

2) A low health spot in the month was trying out a 5-cheese mac-n-cheese recipe from the food network. It was a pretty delicious gourmet dish, but with it not only boasting 5 types of cheese but also bacon, it was definitely a once-in-a-long while treat. My kids and husband said that they prefer "orange" mac-n-cheese (Kraft) anyway.

3) I can't wait to get started on a regular walking routine outside. I have done OK, but still haven't gotten into the swing of making exercise an everyday and anticipated part of my day.


4) I am following a new book by Julia Cameron entitled "The Writer's Diet." Some of you may know her amazing creativity recovery program called "The Artist's Way," and she has expanded her program to show how writing and creativity can help a person shed pounds and get healthier. It is a combination of daily journalling, prioritizing creativity, and culinary artist dates to help a person prioritize; I am excited about the culinary artist dates, which are basically a weekly time to go out for dinner or lunch and experience a new food or indulge in something you are craving (but within reason). This is aimed at helping you maintain the joy of food while also combating cravings that come from a typical deprivation diet. I will let you know how it is going.

5) We went on a picnic on Monday and found this, proof that spring is actually on its way:


6) Our regular trip to the library. I love that the kids are delving into new genres, like historical fiction, and getting to know all of the hidden gems of the library like the poetry section.

7) Around here, we have been getting extra meals from the "K and H Roadhouse." The kids created a restaurant all on their own, complete with a sign, menus, and dollar store restaurant pads for taking orders. And the spaghetti had better be darned good for $22.91 a plate!

8) This is a photo that I took in the airport with my new Blackberry. It's nice to have a camera at your beck and call whenever you need it; however, I am not thrilled with the 3-MP quality. I guess I am too spoiled when it comes to the 10.8 MP quality of my Rebel.

9) We have been having lots of fun around here with Wikki Stix, fun little wax-covered string that you can use to bend and shape into endless creations. If you're looking for something fun that kids love, check them out.

10) Tomorrow, we are headed to the GR Public Museum for a special Dinosaurs exhibit that they have going on; we will also probably end up at the Children's Museum for a few hours, so the day will be pretty much spent out and about. I love living so close to so many fun and educational opportunities.

2 days of spring break gone, 5 more to go..........

Word of Wisdom.

Seven-year-old Kennedy and her friend, Nicole, were sitting at the kitchen table, making crafts with Wikki Stix, and I was in the other room working on some homeschool stuff for tomorrow. This is what I overheard:

Nicole: This boy at school told me he loves me today.

Kennedy: Tell him, "Back off, genius. You're too young to love me."

OK then.........I'm not exactly sure where that came from, but as a mom, I kind of like the sentiment behind it. :)

Which of These Have YOU Done?

I saw this fun list on my friend, Lori's, blog, so I wanted to copy it over here. Basically, you are supposed to highlight the items that you have done so far in your life; I have highlighted mine in RED:

1. Started your own blog (Table Scraps!)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (the flute, vocals)
4. Visited Hawaii (spent 10 days in Kauaii on our honeymoon)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Held a praying mantis
9. Climbed a mountain
10. Sang a solo (since I was very young)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (acrylic painting)
15. Adopted a child (I still hope to)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (I've seen it, does that count?)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill (I strongly believe in mental health days!)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon (Not interested!)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagra Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (I'm working on Spanish!)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (It's not about the money)
38. Seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (on an indoor rockwall, yes)
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (We had a homeless man who lived on our front porch in college; we would often bring James a restaurant meal home when we ate out)
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (car accident in college)
47. Have your portrait painted
48. Gone deep see fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Walked in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a Business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen (in Chicago)
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (in college, I actually bounced my tax check written to the government...oops.)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (attempted to)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published in a book (My 372-page dissertation)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (frequently, for sports in high school)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Maniladas.

I promised that I would share this yummy new recipe, so here it is. This is a delicious cross between enchiladas and manicotti, so it satisfies the multi-cultural food consumer in all of us! This recipe does take a little bit of time and patience to prepare, as it involves making 2 homemade sauces and stuffing the manicotti tubes....but it is well, WELL worth it!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sunny-anderson/maniladas-with-white-cheese-and-roasted-tomatillo-sauces-recipe/index.html

I made this dish a bit lighter by using skim milk instead of the heavy cream, and eliminating the sour cream from the mixture to stuff. I never missed it, and it was delicious! I also used Monterey Jack cheese instead of fontina in the cheese sauce, because I couldn't find the fontina at my local grocery.

Thank you to my sis, Kendra, who shared this one with me, and to her friend, Amy, who shared it with her. This will definitely be in my family cookbook to make again!