raking leaves

 
 

 

Jim and the kids go out together to rake leaves each fall on a dry day after most of the leaves have fallen. It is a tradition, and I bring out the camera and photograph them each year. I also bring them hot chocolate, but this day it was sunny and in the fifties so we skipped the cocoa treat. The kids helped pile the leaves, jumped in them, climbed trees, went out in the field to pet the cows, and played with the dog. This year they each wanted a 'good' picture taken with the {uncooperative, ball of energy} dog who wouldn't hold still. It took several attempts, but here is what we came up with.

Jim also put up the Christmas lights. He worked outside way past dark. I noticed him hobbling around when he came in, so I know he worked hard and exerted muscles he doesn't usually use to such an extent.

Catie played in her 'science lab/kitchen' and decorated the house with fir boughs for Christmas, which Jessica and Andrew thought was so funny. She had all the windows in the back of the house stuck with fir boughs, and she even had them sticking out of the mailbox. Jim removed all the boughs by the time the mail came, and from the windows at the end of the day, but it was a cute attempt at getting ready for the Christmas season by our youngest.

fall--ish treat traditions

...by popular demand, here are a few requested fall treat recipes that I've shared the past couple Halloweens at friends' homes. These are also a big hit with my kids and their friends.

Pumpkin Bars, Cake, or Loaf (recipe from Mom, but I nearly double the spices in her recipe)
*Makes several dozen
4 eggs
2 c. sugar
2 c. pumpkin (or 1 large can--28 oz.?)
1 c. oil
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
3 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. each ground nutmeg, cloves, ginger and allspice
1/2 tsp. salt

Let eggs warm to room temperature 30 minutes in mixing bowl. Meanwhile, sift dry ingredients together into a separate bowl. Beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in oil and pumpkin and blend well. Beat in dry ingredients on low speed until just combined. Pour into ungreased pan. Bake 35-40 minutes in a jelly roll pan (large cookie sheet with 1 inch sides), 1 hour in a tube cake pan, or 50 minutes in (2) loaf pans. Test for doneness. Cake is done when it springs back slightly in the center. Cool completely. This cake is very moist; store in refrigerator.

I frost bars with cream cheese frosting and chocolate sprinkles, glaze cake with thinned, white vanilla frosting, and serve the loaf as is.

Apple Dip (my creation; aka 'Mock Apple Pie' when eaten together with Wheat Thins and thin slices of apple {MUST try!})
1 8 oz. pkg. neufchatel or cream cheese
1 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

In a medium glass dish, soften cream cheese in the microwave and beat until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Adjust sweetness and spices to taste. Store in refrigerator until serving.

Sweet Spice Chex Mix (my adaptation of 'Cinnamon-Apple Chex Mix' on Chex.com.)     *I use pistachios, orange zest & dried cranberries for the Holidays, and pumpkin seeds and chopped, dried apples for Fall.

5 cups Rice, Corn & Wheat Chex® cereals
1 cup pretzels
1/2 cup lightly salted whole cashews
1/2 cup shelled pistachios OR pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tsp. orange zest, OPTIONAL
1/4 teaspoon ea. nutmeg, ginger, allspice & cloves (or 1 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice mix)
1/2 cup dried cranberries OR chopped, dried apples
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt-covered raisins

1.  In a large, microwavable bowl, mix cereal, pretzels and nuts/seeds.
2.  In a 1 quart microwavable measuring cup, heat butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and spices uncovered on High about 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until mixture is boiling; stir. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.
3.  Microwave mix uncovered on High 3 minutes, stirring and scraping bowl after every minute. Stir in apples or cranberries; microwave uncovered on High about 2 minutes or until apples just begin to brown on edges.
4. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool, about 5-10 minutes. Place in serving bowl; stir in raisins. Store in airtight container.

Popcorn Balls (from Mom again)
*Makes 12-13
3 quarts popcorn (air popped; seeds removed)
6 T. butter
3 c. mini marshmallows
3-4 T. flavored Jell-O powder (a small, 3 oz. packet=7 T., so use about 1/2)

Melt butter in large pan on the stove top using medium-high heat. Add marshmallows and continue to stir until melted. Remove from heat. Add Jell-O and mix well. Pour prepared and measured popcorn into pan and stir until evenly coated. Shape into balls with buttered hands. Wrap with plastic wrap when completely cool and serve in a basket.

Halloween

Costumes were last minute this year. Catherine was the only one who had thought it out ahead of time. For a month or so, she had been planning her 'cowgirl' costume, which she was really pleased with although, a real life cowgirl, she dresses that way all the time! Jess and Andrew's final costumes were my idea as we went online to seek 'easy', 'do-it-youself' costumes. Jess was a 'black cat' and Andrew a 'quarterback', fitting to go along with his position in football this year. Jess wore her dri-fit running pants, jacket, and gloves with a braided, satin ribbon for a tail and headband with black paper ears taped on with black electrical tape. Her face make-up was the final touch: smoky cat eyes, whiskers and nose. We printed a 7 1/2 inch photo of a quarter off the Family Fun website and glued it to a cardboard cutout wrapped in foil. This 'quarter' was duct taped to his back.
We spent Halloween in Tualatin with friends, having dinner together and trick-or-treating. There were 4 girls from Jess's youth group, a group of high schoolers from our church, and several younger kids and adults at the house that night. We had a lot of fun visiting with everyone.

our pumpkins

Homeschool Open House & Weekly Report--Week 8

Sunday--Church, went to a family gathering with Jac's family--Hayride to Grandpa's Pumpkin Patch--and dinner/fall birthdays' party at Uncle Jeff & Aunt Heidi's following--beautiful day and lots of fun!


Grandpa has a Christmas tree farm, but also grows pumpkins, berries, apples, corn, and raises beef on a pretty large scale--supplies all of us with these products!

the cousins

loading the giant pumpkins



the 3 in the family with fall birthdays--Jess-8, Andrew-6, Emma-7--
(September, October, & November)

Monday--Dinner made from last night's party leftovers--roast beef/cheddar sandwiches on toasted french rolls, orzo-butternut-asparagus salad, caramel apple slices--yum!

Tuesday--Jessica's 1st Girls' Basketball Practice with Daddy coaching, U-bake pizza/salad dinner, hot apple cider and pumpkin carving

Wednesday--Halloween (trick-or-treating w/ friends--dinner out)--made a 'Pumpkin' lapbook

Thursday--Co-op Classes/Awana (Andrew out sick)--Jessica began her new session classes--Game & Craft Club, History of the Holidays Unit Study, and a Science class (studied dinosaurs)--Andrew's class started a unit on the human body--and Catie's class did the letter 'A'.

Jessica's art project this week--a still life drawing of a leaf w/ oil pastels

Friday--Daddy home from work (sick day)--fun to have him home with us for a school day--Jess caught up on her spelling lessons, and will have the a comprehensive first quarter test from all 9 word lists next week--worked on phonics cards with Andrew.

Saturday--organizing projects, & a shopping trip (while everyone stayed home lying low from colds)