Enjoying the Chaos

We had a fun, busy weekend. Nearly 11 hours each way! However, we had a great time together with family. How did we pass the time you may ask... We listen to all 10 hours of The Alchemyst on the way out.  We are on book two now on the way home! Such a fun story...suitable for everyone. We have all been listening. Now DVDs this trip, its been fun to be into the same book.  Filey travels really well and loves hanging out near the air vent! A lot of hours in 3 days, but completely worth the short time we got to spend with family!

We have had the opportunity to review  A+ Interactive Math (by A+ TutorSoft Inc.)  It's a program designed to help you identify  math gaps  in kids math skills called Adaptive Math Curriculum Online . Captain had finished his third-grade math with a different program and so I thought this would be a great way to check his skills before we get too far into the fourth-grade curriculum. This program is online based and Captain had no problem completing most of the work by himself. However, since it is a placement style test it may be important for the child to understand that they have to do their best. The first test Captain took he failed terribly! I was shocked because I knew he understood the subjects being tested. The tests are timed and they question do disappear and move on to the next question when the time runs out. I noticed that Captain was going to the bathroom, washing his hands, getting a snack or generally just procrastinating. I explained that this affects t

Captain loves science. In fact, if he could study animals, and science all day and skip math he would be a very happy boy! Captain has used the  Apologia's  Young Explorers Series before and was super excited to be able to review  Exploring Creation with Anatomy & Physiology . We received the textbook, MP3 audio version of the textbook, and two copies of the note-booking journal one regular and one junior. Captain really loves the note-booking journal. With my older kids, I used lap-books but the quality of these notebooks are well worth it! There are fourteen lessons in the textbook. Lesson 1 - Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology Lesson 2 - The Skeletal System Lesson 3 - The Muscular System Lesson 4 - The Digestive and Renal Systems Lesson 5 - Health and Nutrition Lesson 6 - The Respiratory System Lesson 7 - Life in The Blood Lesson 8 - The Cardiovascular System Lesson 9 - The Nervous and Endocrine Systems Lesson 10- The Nervous System Extended Lesson 11

1 packet of Aldi chicken (about 5lbs) 5 sticks celery 5 carrots 1 package frozen corn I package frozen green beans 1 onion 2 chicken oxos (or similar) 4 tablespoons minced garlic 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 tablespoons Thyme 2 tablespoon Basil I tablespoon oregano 10 cups chicken stock 1 cup cream pepper 6 tablespoons cornstarch and ½ cup water For dumplings 3 cups flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt Pepper Thyme Water till it forms dough. Cut up chicken, celery, carrots, and onion. Cook on browner setting - add garlic and continue to cook till chicken is slightly brown. Add 2 chicken oxo's (or other chicken bouillon cubes) and other spices and chicken stock. Seal and cook on high ( I normally do 10-15 minutes) - make dumplings mixture now. Do quick release - add in frozen veg, cream and cornstarch and water mixture (stir). Turn pot back on (browner not pressure) place dumplings on top and cover (I have a glass lid) until dumplings are cooked (make sure not to leave the

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