Back to Co-Op

Today was T's first day of co-op this school year.  He was such a good listener.  I was so proud of him.  :)

He's attending the same co-op as last year.  It's held at the same place, on the same day of the week, at the same time as last year.  Also, the classes being offered are the same:  Spanish, Art, and Music.  T's Art and Music teachers are the same as last year; his Spanish teacher is new.  Last year, there were three girls and five boys (including T) in his class.  This year, there are two girls and eight boys (including T) in his class.

Each week during Welcome Time (before Spanish), all of the children are together. They say the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord's Prayer.  Then, if a family has volunteered ahead of time, that family shares about something...anything!  :)

Today, a family brought in their puppy.  They shared about their pet, imparted information from a book about dogs, and showed a project they had completed.

Afterward (but still during Welcome Time), there is a brief Character Study each week.  This year, the topics will be citizenship, diligence (studiousness), compassion, obedience, courtesy (manners), and trustworthiness.  Each character trait will be studied for several weeks.

Today, the children learned about citizenship.  At home, T will be working on a lapbook about citizenship.  Some of the lessons will feature the book, Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney.

During Spanish, the children learned the alphabet...el alfabeto.  Also, they learned a song about the five vowels...cinco vocales.

Before that, though, the teacher had each child draw (from a baggie) a little piece of paper on which was printed a Spanish name.  Whatever name the child drew is to be his/her name in Spanish class this year.  The name drawn will be written on worksheets; also, it is the name the child will be called by the teacher and the other students.  The teacher explained that the purpose of the activity is to help the children learn Spanish pronunciation.  T drew the name, Samuel...which is spelled the same in English and Spanish, but pronounced /sam WELL/ (or something close to that!) in Spanish.

In Art, the children learned all about maps.  They drew maps...and I think they will be "antiquing" them next week.  :)

After lunch, the children went to Music.  They started a study of the orchestra.  They also enjoyed singing...

and playing the rhythm sticks!

School Supplies Treasure Hunt

After supper, T went on a back-to-school treasure hunt...for his school supplies.

First, I wrapped his backpack...a new one this year...monogrammed.  :)

I told him it was a special "back-to-school present"...and of course, he was thrilled!

He checked out all of the zippers...4!

He decided to put it on...but had a little trouble.  His papa came to the rescue...and adjusted the straps.

I read the clues to T...and he happily trotted around the house, looking for his school supplies:

markers in the bedroom...

scissors in the bathroom...

notebook in the laundry room...

glue outside...

to name a few.  Regarding the glue...according to the pre-written clues, it was supposed to be on the "grass out front."  Considering it was dark and wet outside (not to mention the fact that T didn't have on his shoes), I opted for the "grass" just outside the garage door!  ;o)

The last "clue" was this special note:

Congratulations!

You've found everything on the list!
But there's one last supply that can't be missed.

The most important thing you'll need for the whole school year
Is Jesus, the One who will fill you with cheer.

He'll be with you every step of the way --
And He'll guide you and bless you each and every school day.

T liked it so much that he went over and put it in his backpack!  :)

We've never tried a back-to-school treasure hunt...before this one.  It was a lot of fun.  By the way, the cute "clues" (written in rhyme) came from Happy Home Fairy.

Back-to-School Supper

We enjoyed a back-to-school supper this evening.

We ate:

• vegetable soup
• breadsticks
• cheese crackers

A simple meal, really, but I tried to give it some flair...for "back to school."  :)

I made the vegetable soup from scratch, from a recipe my mom gave to me years ago...and added some alphabet pasta (for flair!) to make it alphabet vegetable soup.

For the breadsticks, I tried a new recipe I came across:  Late-Night Breadsticks, from the Taste of Home Good Food Kids Love cookbook (October 2006 issue).  I changed it a bit...and came up with the following recipe.

Back-to-School Breadsticks

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1 roll refrigerated Pillsbury Original Breadsticks
1/4 cup butter, melted

In a shallow bowl, combine the first five ingredients; set aside.  Unroll and separate dough into 12 strips.  Dip each strip in butter, then roll in cheese mixture.

Place 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 375 degrees F. for 10-13 minutes or until golden brown.

~Incredibly yummy...and just as fattening, I'm sure!  ;o)  As I placed each piece of dough onto the baking sheet, I shaped it into a letter (for flair!).

I also served Cheez-It Scrabble Junior crackers in an apple-shaped glass dish.

T's milk was in a cup with alphabet letters all over it.

Above T's place setting, I spelled his name using all different kinds of letters.

I saw the idea for the meal (menu) and the decoration (name) on The Princess and The Frog Blog.  :)

Back-to-School Celebration

We had a family back-to-school celebration this evening.

Our menu:

• sloppy joes
• baked beans
• potato chips
• celery sticks
• carrot sticks
• ranch dip
• apple cupcakes
• back-to-school cookies

I made the sloppy joes from scratch, in the crock-pot.  The baked beans are from a jar (B&M brand).

The celery sticks are in a small tin pail with an apples design.  The carrots are in a small tin pail with a pencils design.  (I think I purchased the pails at Wal-Mart.)

For letter Aa - apple, I made cupcakes to look like apples.

I used a pretzel stick for the stem.  For the leaf, I used a rolling pin to flatten a Jolly Rancher green apple-flavored fruit chew; then, I cut it with a leaf-shaped cutter.  The cupcakes are a yellow cake mix in red cupcake liners, with white frosting and red sugar.

I saw the idea for these cupcakes on at least three different sites:  Pirates & Princesses, Party Pinching, and Everyday Celebrating.

For letter Bb - bag, I put ziplock baggies of Lay's Baked! potato crisps in brown lunch bags.

For letter Cc - cookie, I baked Nestle Back to School Pals sugar cookies.

Here is a photo of the packaging for the cookies.  (I purchased these cookies at Wal-Mart.)

The inspiration for the decorations came from Party Pinching.  (Scroll down to the second back-to-school party, August 2011.)  I created the mini Aa-Bb-Cc posters using free clip art I found on the Internet.

The apple-themed printables I used (party circles and buffet table cards) were designed by Krysten at Clickable Party for Catch My Party.

T was absolutely thrilled...and asked me to take his picture in front of the party table! :)

Fit for a Princess

The theme this week at Bento Blog Network is girl toys.  Here is my girlie meal:

• pink milk (strawberry-flavored)
• three mini cupcakes, decorated with colored sugar (pink, lavender, pale yellow), heart sprinkles, and crown and wand candy decorations

• crown-shaped pretzels

• three princess sandwiches:

        magical wand, decorated with star sprinkles and edible star glitter, with a pretzel stick handle...

        bejeweled crown, decorated with heart and pearl sprinkles...

        fancy slipper, decorated with flower and pearl sprinkles....

Check out some other girl toys-themed meals....

Sesame Street Friends

My BFF sent T these adorable Bert and Ernie puppets.

T loves puppets.  Sometimes, his hands will "talk" to each other...even when there aren't puppets on them!  (~Think "Oobi.")  Often, someone who sees him doing this will ask me if he's signing (sign language).  He's not...at that particular moment, anyway!  :)

Talking with Bert and Ernie

Corn

We saw many corn fields as we traveled through Indiana and Illinois, hence the inspiration for T's lunch today.

• ear of corn in husk - sandwich and celery sticks (with Ranch Dressing on side)
• popcorn
• Indian corn - applesauce with sprinkles

We learned some things about corn.

Illinois produces 1,934,400,000 bushels of corn, 15.71% of the U.S. production.
Indiana produces 826,500,000 bushels of corn, 6.71% of the U.S. production.
(source:  where food comes from)

The Corn Belt is a region of the Midwestern United States where corn has been the predominant crop since the 1850s.  Most corn is fed to livestock, especially hogs and poultry. The U.S. produces 40% of the world corn.
(source:  wikipedia)

Check out some other vacation-themed meals....

Home Again

T and I arrived home this evening from our 12-day excursion.

Nancy Lincoln Inn

We had a full day today.

First, we went to Hodgenville...to look for a letterbox at the Nancy Lincoln Inn.

The Nancy Lincoln Inn was built in 1928 to accommodate increasing numbers of motorists who were coming to rural Kentucky to visit Abraham Lincoln's birthplace. It was named in honor of Lincoln's mother.

Not only did I find The Mother Lode letterbox, but I also found a hitchhiker!  (That's always a fun surprise.)

A hitchhiker is a letterbox without a permanent home.  A hitchhiker is hidden with another letterbox, and the person who finds it is expected to take the hitchhiker to another letterbox.

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 at Sinking Spring Farm in a log cabin located where the enshrined log cabin now stands.

This is the Memorial Building which houses the log cabin.

T wanted his picture taken on the steps in front of the building.

This is Sinking Spring.

The welcome center had some displays for viewing.  I think this was the Lincoln family Bible?

Thomas and Nancy Lincoln,
their daughter Sarah,
and their son, Abraham

This is T, waiting patiently for me to take a ton of pictures.  ;o)