Family Night

Tonight's turn to plan family night went to my seven year old son who picked a backwards dinner.  This means we eat everything in opposite order.  

So not only did he pick the menu of strawberry cheese Danish, pizza roll up, Sun Chips, and fresh fruit, but he chose the order we ate it. 

While the pizza roll up baked, we filmed a typical Poland music video.  

Family nights don't have to be elaborate nights out or tons of money spent.  They can be as simple as changing up your norm.  The point is spending time together as a family. 

Family Night

This week's family night was unique!  The theme was "never hads".  Our kids had never been to Burger King before so we took them there for dinner.  

For dessert, I made lava cake which is something none of us had ever tried before.  

To close out the night, because it was the day before Halloween we thought it would be fun to do something no one would ever do.....decorate Easter eggs!! 

We had fun dying eggs at a time of year that's all about pumpkins.  

Yes, the night of "Never Hads" was a success for our family and we had a great time together.  

One of My Favorite Teaching Blogs

   Okay, there are a ton of teaching blogs out there.  Do a google search and you will be overwhelmed in seconds with blog after blog.  After all, you are on one now.  I thought I would share one of my favorites with you.  It is a great go to blog no matter what grade you teach or what grade your child may be in.  Sometimes I check out teacher blogs for ideas on how to help my own kids.  After all, I have a second grader, a sixth grader, and an eighth grader so I need all the help I can get.

   One piece of advice:  Do only what you can do.  You are only one person.  At the end of the day, if you did all you could, you have to let the rest go.  Rest in that.  I do.  And somehow, in some small way, that helps.

   Have fun checking out this great resource!  If the button doesn't work, just click here:  Teaching Blog Addict

Family Night Riddles

    This past week on family night we enjoyed a meal of Thai Chicken in Green Curry then sat around and took turns reading riddles and trying to solve them.

   
   We had a great time trying to figure out these brain twisting questions!  My middle daughter did a great job planning this family night!  

    
   Here is just one website you can go to for some great riddles!

                                      Riddle Website

Text Shapes Up!

Check out this great website where kids can transform text into shapes!
I can think of so many great uses for this in my Math and Science Class!
Festisite Website

Parent Wish Jar

Found this great idea for Open House this year that I'm going to use.  I found the idea on the blog

You put out a parent wish jar.  It is a simple jar.  You lay out strips of printed paper to the side for parents to write down a wish they have for their child that year.  They put it in the jar at Open House.  During the year, I plan on taking them out and reading them to myself to help me remember and focus on why I do what I do.   To check out this great idea or to print the free labels and strips this awesome teacher put on her blog for download, just click here:  Parent Wish Jar

Light Show

   I've come to appreciate in life that the greatest moments aren't the ones we plan for.   Instead, it's the ones like last night when we looked up and noticed that these large cumulus clouds had lightning going off inside them.  It was a beautiful display.  One of my kids and I marveled at how it looked like heaven wanted so badly to open up and display itself to us yet held back.  We decided to sit out in the yard and lay on our backs and just watch.  We would sit and when the clouds would shout with bolts of light we couldn't help ourselves but marvel with ohhs and ahhs.    

   Yes,  I've come to realize that entertaining my kids is appreciating the moments life offers us.  Those rare moments in cars where a great song comes on and we roll the windows down and sing together.  Or those moments we literally chase butterflies around because we simply can't understand why they are everywhere so late in the season.  Or those moments we have been caught in the rain on a run and break out in dance.  You can't make those moments up.  You just appreciate them when they happen and smile.  

  So next time, heaven decides to do a show, perhaps you too, might grab a towel and your child and revel in the moment you've been given.  

My Messed Up Opinion

While walking in Wormsloe Plantation in Savannah, GA my friend and I stumbled across this strangely beautiful tree.  At first glance you would think it rather ugly and would assume it was dead.  You wouldn't give it a second glance.  But something about this unusual tree drew me in.  When you look closer you notice that it is in fact still alive.  Though its branches are twisted and morphed and it is lathered with holes and crevices, it held life in its grasp.   

That tree reminded me of so many people I come in contact with.  On the exterior, they are rough around the edges, maybe a tad abrasive in their approach to others.  Yet, when I've gotten to know them more, I've come to know that their past reveals twists, knots, and holes in places that maybe haven't quite healed yet.  Though their past doesn't excuse bad manners or rude behavior, it does help me to appreciate why they are the way they are a bit more.  It helps me give them a tad more grace next time.  I don't know, maybe my opinion is messed up.  I just believe that people don't set out to be rude or mean.  They are the way they are for a reason.  

Instead of lashing back at them (which is tempting to do) trying reaching out to them.  Who knows, next time you are having a bad day, someone may be willing to see the beauty in your twists and knots and extend a little grace your way too! 

 

Tonight's Family Night

    Every Wednesday is Family Night at the Poland House.   We have done this since the kids were little.  We started this because we wanted to make sure that the kids always had at least one night that they knew was all to us!  No one can schedule anything on family night or move family night without the family agreeing to it.
    
    It works quite simply.  We rotate taking turns planning it out.  When it's your turn, you pick what the family eats and the entertainment or what we do that night.  No one can complain and everyone must participate.  That's the thrill of a family night.  

    Last night was my turn.  I decided to do a backwards dinner.  This means we eat dessert first then dinner.  So for dessert, we ate two different kinds of cupcakes.  Those who know me, know I love to bake and I especially love to bake cupcakes.  My favorite place for no fail recipes for cupcakes www.annies-eats.com

    I made Pina Colada Cupcakes and Mint Chocolate Cupcakes.   They turned out amazing!

I made a few adjustments to the recipes but wow!  The pina colada cupcake was so so good.  

After Cupcakes, we had a homemade black eyed pea hummus with grilled pita.  

Here is the recipe: 

1 can black eyed peas rinsed and drained (15 oz)

2 TB Tahini

2 TB lemon juice

2 cloves chopped garlic

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

2 TB olive oil 

1/2 tsp salt

 Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.  Put in serving bowl then drizzle with a little more olive oil and sprinkle with a little cayenne.   Serve with grilled pita. 

For dinner we had grilled marinated chicken breasts with a fresh tomatillo sauce and red beans and rice.  

After dinner, we played a game I grew up playing.... pinochle.  It is a card game that I watched my grandparents and parents play.  Now, I play it with my kids.  My girls have recently learned how to play and enjoy it.  I was so excited about having a night of mixed up foods and childhood games.  We had a blast.  Enjoy mixing things up in your home one night and sharing a childhood game with your kids! 

Great Organization Tip for Teachers

Okay, so I love my summer as much as the next teacher.  But as soon as August looms, I start thinking about the new year.  I stumbled across this great idea yesterday and thought I'd share it with you. 

It's a great cheap (my favorite word) way for kids to store their books without cluttering their desks or cubbies.    

This idea comes courtesy of one of my favorite blogs, Ladybug's Teacher Files.  (www.ladybugsteacherfiles.com) She is full of amazing ideas and resources.  The particular blog post this came from can be accessed by clicking here:  http://www.ladybugsteacherfiles.com/2012/07/cheap-chair-pockets.html   You wouldn't believe it but they are only $0.77 and come from Home Depot.    I love crafty people! 

Have fun finding your own ideas and sharing them!

Blast from the Past

Today I made French toast with a homemade coconut syrup served with fresh cut pineapple!   

Anytime I eat pineapple syrup I'm reminded of our trip to Hawaii!  Funny how foods can trigger memories and take you back to places!  

Enjoy taking your family back in time through the foods you make!