Making Butter

What better way to pass a long summer evening than by reading a good book together as a family? We are currently in the middle of "Little House in the Big Woods." I insisted on reading this particular title. If I had to hear Pa speak with the voice of Sean Connery I would be scarred for life.

As we were reading the chapter about Ma making butter, I remembered that we have this lovely wooden butter mold from Grandmother Hinton (Benny's mom):

It is cracked, but isn't it lovely?

So last night we made butter. The children really enjoyed shaking the jar of cream, salt, and a few marbles for agitation. We tried taking turns telling part of a story while shaking, but that only lasted until we got to Katie, who makes everything into a story about herself being half-dragon. Then we tried singing as we churned, but they were all being too silly.

 Daddy and the Girls

 Go, Audrey!

Katie Takes a Turn

Owen is a BLUR!

Next, the kids watched me try to work all of the buttermilk out of the butter. I will confess that I didn't do a very good job, resulting in poor results later with the butter mold.

Katie, what are you doing?!?!

We had saved a bit of the cream to whip with sugar. While we waited for the butter to harden a bit in the refrigerator, the kids dipped apples in whipped cream. YUM!

Then it was time to try the mold. Owen watched me pack it down:

And out it plopped. Very, very messy looking. But still delicious! (For those who are tempted to say that I should have done _________ to prevent the butter from sticking to the mold, let me inform you that it was 9:30 and I really didn't care anymore.)

This morning I made gluten-free biscuits with the buttermilk and then spread the fresh butter and some honey on them. Even I had a bite...so good!

2009 Sonlight Catalog

Look who made page 135!

Bananas and Catechisms

In honor of my new high-speed life, I would like to submit a few videos!

This is a typical breakfast at Casa Hinton (although I usually ask the questions). By his response to "Who were our first parents?", I think Owen has been watching a little too much WALL-E.

Sonlight's Customer Service

Last year was our first year of homeschooling. As with most things in my life, I overthought the whole process of choosing curriculum. Now I am glad that I did.

For the majority of our subjects we use Sonlight. Surprisingly, the article 27 Reasons NOT to Buy Sonlight is what sold both myself and Kevin. I will admit that I was nervous about using something beyond the traditional ABeka textbooks that I was raised on. However, the liturature-based format has been an adventure that our whole family has enjoyed.

Aside from the academic benefits, I just wanted to mention how impressed I am with Sonlight's customer service. Last year we ordered Katie's Handwriting Without Tears through Sonlight. One of the methods HWT employs involves a small slate. The top left-hand corner of the slate is SUPPOSED to have a smiley face so that the child will know where to place their chalk. Supposing that I was required to provide the smile, I got out a permanent marker and drew one. Imagine my surprise a few weeks later when I received a smiley face sticker, note of apology, and a coupon for $2 off my next order!

Fast forward to a month or two ago. We were about eight weeks into the school year and had been using Sonlight's Markable Map, never noticing that Hawaii (and a few other islands) had been omitted. First I received an email letting me know of the error; there was also a link to a PDF file that I could use "in the meantime." Meaning that Sonlight sent everyone who purchased that map a BRAND NEW one. Mine came about two weeks ago. The reality of what they had done hit me when I saw Luke's post about the map on the Sonlight blog. WOW. Now that is customer service! It was just Hawaii, after all. (HAHAHAHA!!!)

Random Homeschooling Pictures

Little Bookworm


Fairy Ring


"Who cares that the magnifying glass melts the chocolate. Just give us the chocolate!" (AKA Science for the Homeschool)





Katie and Eleanor at Swim Class

Symmetrical Underwear

For some reason, Justin Holtzmann (of the Sonlight Mathtacular DVDs) has a fondness for his heart-patterned boxer shorts. Now, the Hintons are not the type of family likely to magic marker A Child's Book of Art or Usborne Children's Encyclopedia. (Okay, so I have been guilty of snagging Kevin's basketball and football magazines and using a big fat Sharpie on them...but that's another issue...). So I found the boxers to be humorous. But they became even more so when Owen ran to his room and brought back his Mater underwear! He stood right in front of the television and tried his best to fold his "draws" just like Justin. (This program isn't even supposed to be FOR Owen, who is only three years old.)



After the underwear episode, I laughed myself silly at "Wayne, the World Famous Economist," and "Phil, Another World Famous Economist." With every close-up of Wayne lifting his eyebrow I got more and more tickled. And when I thought it was all over, he reappeared in the dream sequence. Classic.

At the moment, Justin is working some math problems (Time Flys) to the beat of some rockin' music and my dancing children look like they belong in a mosh pit. We are supposed to be BAPTIST, people! Corruption. Pure corruption.

Occupying Toddlers While Trying to Homeschool

(I've had a couple of people inquire about the article I had published. This is the version I have saved in email, before the editor took care of my wordiness.)

The best way I have found to occupy busy toddlers is to include them! This means you must plan for your toddler just as you plan for your school children. Jot down a list of things your little one can do in the areas of taking care of himself, chores, and school. Even play time can have a little structure. Also, never underestimate what a young child can do. They will certainly surprise you if you spend some time instructing and training them.

In our home, we have a chart on the refrigerator with a small picture of each task in the order I would like for them to be done each day. You can use your own digital pictures in a Word document or just cut and paste from a magazine. Above each picture is a simple description; for example, "Brush your teeth!" has a picture of a little girl brushing away. After about a week of walking my children through the list they can do it by themselves, with my five-year-old daughter helping my two-year-old son just a bit. Meanwhile, I can nurse my baby or get breakfast ready.

For personal care, our list includes going potty (my son is potty training), getting dressed, putting away PJs, combing hair, and eating breakfast, which is when I teach the children from the Bible. Our Bible time includes a "hymn of the week" and learning the Apostle's Creed; more on that below.

During chores, my children make their own beds. No, they do not do it perfectly, but they do their best! Then they can pick two chores each from a list of four. The first chore is emptying the bathroom trashes into the kitchen trash every day, even if they are not full (put a rubber band around the liner so only the trash dumps out). Next, I bought a Dustbuster for cleaning crumbs from under the table each morning, and for cleaning up hair from the bathroom floor. Two-year-old boys generally LOVE noisy chores like this one! The other two chores are sorting silverware from the dishwasher and helping with the laundry. You would be AMAZED at how many laundry steps young children can accomplish with a little instruction! (Think of a preschooler throwing wet clothes from the washer down to your toddler, who stuffs them into the dryer....)

Now we are ready for school. School in our home is known better as "fun time with Mama!" Both older children participate while my baby naps. At the table, my son can do sticker books, color, sort "counting bears," write on the slate or dry-erase board, or even just play with a toy. Reading time is all-inclusive as well, and my lap can be quite full, especially if it's time to nurse again! We use a literature-based curriculum so this might not work as well for those using traditional workbook-style curriculum.

Finally, remember that hymn of the week and creed? We teach our children these things so that they will be able to PARTICIPATE in worship on Sundays. How lovely to hear little lips singing God's praises, and reciting what they "believe!" Our prayer is that as they grow in maturity, they will understand these beliefs more and that God will reveal to them who they are and Who He is. During the sermon, I do allow very young ones to draw or color quietly, but they must participate when they are able to do so.

Once again, plan for your little ones, include them, and never underestimate their abilities. A little work on the front end will save a lot of work in the end!

Eight to Ten Working Days

That's how long I'll be without my computer. So if any of you want to reach me, you have my digits. Of course, I don't answer during school hours. I would tell you all what school hours are, but they seem to vary. Take today, for example. School started at 11:00, after I mopped up about eight ounces of orange juice. For the record, orange juice has a high sugar content and is quite sticky as it dries.

So, if you have just finished pouring milk over four bowls of Frosted Mini Wheats and you hear a splash, and you have to decide to eat cruchy cereal in a puddle of orange juice or soggy cereal in a clean kitchen, you might want to second guess yourself. Or even be willing to throw the soggy cereal out and get some fresh (usually unthinkable). Because the effort to get dried OJ up will not be worth your time. Trust me.

Of course, I should be grateful it was only orange juice. Yesterday the bathroom was covered in poop while Katie and I were engrossed in the Industrial Revolution.

You know, the ironic thing is I just had an article published in a mothering magazine - an article on keeping toddlers occupied while homeschooling. Physician, heal thyself!

Kid Speak

Owenisms

“I mean…..”
Ex. “Owen, please get your First Thousand Words book.”
“I mean this one?”
“Yes, Owen, I mean that one.”

Panyo - piano

He also uses the word “hilarious.” “Mama, Tommy Jerry is hi-wa-wi-ous.”

And he is in love with Kathleen Fisher. He calls her Baby Taf-a-ween.

I told the kids to do their morning chores and Owen said he was done. Then Katie said, "Ooops! I need to brush my hair!" He said, "Me, too!" and ran off. When he came back he said, "Mama, you look me han'some?" And gave me a huge, cheesy grin.

Yes, Owen my love. I look you han'some.

Katie

The Best Part of Wakin’ Up

Katie likes to sleep late. She told me, “Maybe I should get a drink of coffee so I can wake up better.”

Who Knew You Could Get So Much from One Commercial?

Katie: Mama, Family Matters is sooooo funny, isn’t it?
Me: Did you watch it or just see the commercial?
K: Just the commercial. The boy on there is named Erick-al. He calls the girl “Angel Lips.” Isn’t that funny, Mama?
M: Yes, it is!
K (with her hand beside her mouth, whispering, like she’s telling a secret): Erick-al wants to be her BOYFRIEND! (hand down, out loud) But she doesn’t want him to be her boyfriend.
M: Why not?
K: She just wants him to be her FRIEND, but not her BOYFRIEND.
(K thinks a while….)
K: Erick-al is kinda clumsy, you know?
M: What does he do?
K (long, long sigh….) I just don’t know!
(K thinks a while….)
K: But he has a cowboy outfit and then he puts his hand on the fake door and it falls, and that’s kinda clumsy, right, Mama?
M: Right!

Giant of the Reformation
Katie is studying Martin Luther. The first page has that big head picture of Luther with the title, “Martin Luther - Giant of the Reformation.” When I turned to the page, I noticed Katie’s eyes bugging out. So I had to explain that he wasn’t a REAL giant. When Kevin came home, Katie told him that Marvin Luther got struck by lightening. Then she sold Kevin an indulgence for a dollar.

So, really...who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

I heard a sermon by R.C. Sproul this morning on the way to get groceries. It was about being tempted by the world. Why do we automatically do everything that is culturally acceptable without questioning it first, instead of asking what God wants? Who cares if Katie is a little socially awkward (although I think the "homeschoolers are introverted nerds" deal is complete trash, insert rolley eyes here)?

If man's chief end is to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever" (per the Westminster catechism), why does it matter if my child doesn't know who Spongebob Squarepants is? Who cares if she makes her own clothes and is "dorky" by the world's standards? So what if everyone thinks we are weird for not letting her date in the traditional sense of the word? Or (GASP!) that she doesn't even WANT to date in that sense? LOL!

Audience of One, baby.

Oh, and I wanted to add that his point about what is "culturally acceptable" was pretty thought-provoking. He used abortion as an example. Fifteen years ago you couldn't get 2% of the population to say that they supported it, and now over half do. Is it because we grew as a society and we now know how good it is to have abortions? No way. It has just become socially acceptable.

He went on to say that even the churches have been affected. This denomination doesn't dance, this one wears skirts, this one doesn't drink. If we are confronted by someone about something we have done (or not done), we should ask, "What Biblical principal have I violated?" If we realize that we have violated God's word, we should confess and repent. If not, we should be free to continue. We do not serve man. We do not serve the world and its culture. We do not even serve the Baptist (or Presbyterian or Methodist or you name it) denomination. We serve God ONLY.

Katie the Brain

Good morning!

Okay, so I get to brag in my journal, right?

Katie knew her colors, shapes, numbers to 12, and all uppercase letters several months before she turned two. Now she knows upper and lowercase letters, numbers 1-14 and 20-29. She knows all the sounds that the letters make and can tell me words that start with those letters. She will randomly say "B is for ball! B is for bear! RAAAAAA!" and they aren't always even the same words.

She is completely potty trained, day and night, and can use the potty by herself if the light is on.

She not only draws faces with eyes, nose, ears, hair, and mouth, she is now drawing bodies, too. With arms and legs. I should take a picture of one. She does all of this totally by herself. I didn't even show her any of it beyond a face with eyes, nose and mouth.

And then this weekend I bought a workbook for ages 2-5. It is the first in a series that starts with tracing and drawing straight lines. The front of the book tells you to use a real pencil and teach them to hold it correctly. She held the pencil right on the first try and even later, when she was freehand drawing, I noticed that she was still holding it right - with no instruction!

The first two pages of the workbook had her draw a line from one animal to another, going around stumps and rocks. She had to draw curvy lines to do this. She never messed up. Then on the back of the two sheets she had to draw straight lines from one animal to the next. She did all that right, too.

Okay, I will stop there. I could go on and on! I am so proud of her. Now if she would only obey better. LOL!