Just Checking In . . .

The weather outside is . . .
31 and foggy, especially up here on the hill. We get more fog than most. We've had rain this week, which is okay for today since it is warming up but earlier this week it was a problem since the temps were cooler. The schools were closed for two days due to icy roads. Luckily, we are snug as a bug in a rug. The learning carries on as usual.

I'm listening to . . .
the clock ticking. All the kids are still asleep. Can you believe it? These kids have been quite the sleepers lately. Works okay for me, then I can get a workout in. I haven't wanted to mess with the icy streets and the darkness (getting lazy in the depths of the winter), so these past several days I've been hitting the bike indoors. It's worked out nicely. Plus, I like the variety of cross training. I even got a cross country ski in on Sunday.  Aaaah, now THAT'S where its at. If I could do that a couple times a week . . . I can dream. :)

Around the house and garden . . .
Nothing in the home improvement realm, though I'd really like to. I've got an itch to start improving something; we've got many things on the docket. Gotta wait for the word from the hubster though. Does it count that we took down the Christmas decorations last week? All nicely packed away. Check!

Learning, learning, all the time. . .
This is where it's at these days. I feel like we are rockin' it right now or just about anyhow. We've recovered from Christmas activities and it feels good to be back at a regular work schedule. Even the kids have mentioned that it is good to be back. We've got a nice rhythm right now. Bible study and memory work at breakfast and just after. Independent checklists. Math, math, math. Nutmeg is moving right along in phonics and math. She's stoked about her progress. We are back to Mr. Pudewa for writing, though this next week they'll be writing some history papers as we finish up a unit on the 14th century. Respiratory system for science. We've even gotten back into some music theory and our art curriculum.  Life's good here.

Last Friday afternoon we checked out the Devil's Lake Nature Center. Basil was pleased to be able to finally identify one of his bones that he's been trying to figure out. 

Nature journals. 

We are reading . . .
Mace: is just finishing up an obsession with all the "bear" books. Bear Wants More, Bear Snores On, Bear Says Thanks, etc. I do love them too but I'm glad to be slowing down in this department. We went to the library yesterday and I picked out a new stack. He seemed to be okay with reading something else.

Nutmeg: She and I fizzled out on Heidi in December due to all the other books were were reading but we are back at it now and LOVE it!

Sage: Just finished The Apple and the Arrow for history and is now considering The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Frankly, I think he should wait a couple more years but I think the obsession that his brother has for Tolkien is inspiring him to give it a whirl. He enjoyed The Hobbit but its quite a leap from there to the trilogy. But I'm not one to say 'no' much when it comes to reading, so we'll see how he does.

Basil: Obsessed. Yes indeed. He is now on the third book, The Return of the King.  I haven't read it myself but Doug has. Doug and I have had a DVD seminar, "Teaching the Classics: A Socratic Method for Literary Education" on the docket for over a year now. It is time!! I am determined that we will watch this in the next month, so we can have some even better discussions with the boys about the books they are reading. I'd love to hear what Basil is really getting from these books, it should be interesting. Basil also read The Door in the Wall for history.

Me: I was gifted two Louis de Wohl books for Christmas. I just eat these books up, I love them so. The first one that I already finished is about Saint Augustine, The Restless Flame.  I'm about half-way through the second one about Saint Benedict, The Citadel of God.

Doug: He's eating up God or Nothing. This is an interview with Cardinal Robert Sarah, a cardinal from West Africa. We eagerly await the translation of his book The Strength of Silence into English.

In the kitchen . . . .
I continue to get some really great ideas from Pinterest. It's been a joy to try some new things. Here are a few:

Doug's favorite of the week: Honey Sriracha Chicken Cashew Stir Fry. 

My fav of the week: (below, not the best pic) Mediterranean Roast Chicken with Turmeric and Fennel 

My fav, the fennel was delish. 

Okay, I really gotta run. I am late, late, LATE!!  More to say but I suppose it will have to wait!

Hey, by the way, a friend and I are putting together some pro-life activities for families to help support our local Rally for Life this coming Sunday (preceding the National Day for Prayer for the Unborn on Monday), will you please pray for its success? Thanks!!

Nutmeg and I had a coloring date the other night. I appreciated the passage so much and thought you might be
encouraged as well.