Homeschool PE: Upwards Soccer or "Soccer Players Finally!"

This is our first year participating in organized sports. We are very careful about not getting over scheduled and spending most of our time running around, instead of as a family. Still I am very excited to finally have a couple of soccer players!

Accordingly, we spent a lot of time trying to decide where we should participate either in Upwards or City Soccer.

We finally decided that we would participate in Upwards Soccer at Central Baptist Church. Upwards has 1 practice a week and they will co-ordinate your practices to be on the same day. There is one location for all of the games so we are never driving around town or splitting the family up to participate in different games. Additionally, I strongly believe that in such programs there are non & nominal believers to be reached for His glory. Having participated in this program for a few weeks now I have found this to be true. Additionally, Upwards requires the children to memorize a verse each week and thus rewards the development of character along with skill. In their character development program the kids have a chance to win 5 different stars each week:

1. Yellow- sportsmanship



2. Blue - effort



3. Red - best defense



4. Gray best offense



5. White - Christ likeness

I found our participation in this program as something that is helping us to facilitate the growth of Christian Character in our children. They are so excited about games and they have been blessed by the coaches assessment of their game. So far Parker has received a gray & yellow star. Sweet butterfly chasing Pearsy is a white star as she has appointed her self 'kid picker-upper' & the one who must make sure everyone is okay!

This year this program fits the bill for our family. It is family friendly and Christ-centered for Grown ups and kids! Next year who knows where the Lord will lead us...

Come on by .... Reading is fun!

We do not watch Cable or Network TV for a variety of reasons (most does not glorify God, such as its full of junk, the commercials breed materialism in our family etc...) and because of this our kids are forced to read if they want to 'suspend disbelief'. Pearson will follow any child with a book her in hand around until that child finds a comfortable spot to stop and read it aloud to her. This time that spot was the laundry room. Parks (6) is reading a picture book to sweet Pearsy (4) this is one of those forever moments you file away as a Mom!

Meal Planning Monday - Vegetarian week in honor of the Watters

In honor of those folks that sold us a 'new to us truck' at a really good price we are having vegetarian week! Sorry Watters, we couldn't make it all the way to vegan we like cheese too much!

Monday- Beans, rice & cornbread

Tuesday- Potato & Beans enchiladas with homemade refried beans

Wednesday- Spaghetti Squash Lasagna with garden sauteed Swiss chard (Spaghetti Squash & Chard are from the garden)

Thursday - L/O's or cheese pizza

Friday - Farmer's Market Veggie Quesadilla with Spanish Rice (pepper & squash are from the garden)

Saturday - Split Pea Soup with homemade bread

Sunday - Church Fellowship

Sadly, we are not very self sufficient this week.

A couple of weeks ago I put cream peas on my menu plan and I wanted to clarify that item: Cream peas are a heritage vegetable and they are very much like black eyed peas and prepared similarly they have milder taste then black eyed peas. We grow them in our garden.

Studying Natural North America: Hands on projects

Well, the school year kicked off with a unit study project. We reviewed for 2 days and during the review we completed a project we missed at the end of last year: Canadaian Maple Cake.

The kids had a great time measuring and pouring and operating the mixer.

Let me tell you this cake will send anyone into sugar shock. Make a yellow cake then pour a cup of maple syrup over the top and cover that with a cup a sugar. No wonder the Candaians are so happy they are all on a sugar high! I lowered the amount of sugar by half and I could feel the sugar rush! Please do not look directly at the cake Rusty cannot prescribe enough insulin to save us from thing! The kids of course keep asking when we can make it again and can we make it for their birthday party (lets see 10-15 kids super sugar crazed children swimming...not in this lifetime)

Parks just looked over my shoulder and asked can we make some more...poor kid is going to have to settle for banana bread made with honey!

Happy Schooling,

RHA

Meal Planning Monday - lower meat intake

Sunday - Stuffed Portabello Mushrooms, Salad, homemade wheat & rice bread

Monday - Beans, Rice & Cornbread

Tuesday - Split Peas Soup and Homemade Bread

Wednesday- Homemade Sloppy Joe's, homemade buns, oven fries

Thursday - Spaghetti Squash, peas, garlic bread

Friday - Beef Enchilada, refried beans & Spanish rice (both made from Monday's leftovers)

Saturday- Left Overs

Sunday - Pork Pot Pie & Jello taken to our church pot luck

We are in the process of trying to lower our meat intake while we increase our protein intake by adding more low fat/cholesterol beans & lentils.

I hope you have a wonderful week in the kitchen...making 'tasty food' for your family!

RH