Why? I really have no idea.

What’s been happening? Let’s see…

My oldest is married and expecting her first baby. She lives in Arkansas — far away. That part is hard. I’m so proud of her, but I miss her deeply.

My next one down lives in Tennessee. He doesn’t feel nearly as far away (and isn’t), and he gets to visit more often, which is such a blessing.

The next two… are both teens. TEENS. That still feels crazy to say.

We left Classical Conversations and are now part of building a new community. It has been such a blessing to see something new come to life and to serve outside the structure of a corporation. After many years of tutoring and directing, it was time.

I still love baking. Cooking, though… I need to find joy in that again. It hasn’t felt the same since the older two left home. Something shifted. It feels quieter, different — off, somehow. But they’ve been gone for years now. My oldest left before my youngest was even in kindergarten. He’s 13 now.

It’s time to rediscover joy in it.

Maybe I’ll share recipes I try here. Maybe I won’t.

Honestly, I don’t even know what will happen when I post.

Will it actually post?

Or will it disappear into internet la-la land?

Why was there a WordPress App on my phone? How did it get there?

To blog…or not to blog…that is the question!

Not. going. to. lie…

…this part in the process is overwhelming me.  Thinking of pulling away from all we know and friends and family we love, even just temporarily…….

I’m both excited and terrified. But I don’t want to look back and “wished we would of…”  We have been blessed beyond measure with this opportunity. So although along with the excitement comes bouts of terror…I’m doing my best to focus on the fun and exciting part.

Yet OH MY, when a homeschooler has to pack up her books…and she is looking at empty (and messy as they’re being sorted) shelves….WHOOOAAAAA!!  Not easy!!  Even sweet hubby as he was boxing up the children’s books struggled.   He’d set them down in the box, only to reach in and say “Nope, I love that one!”  We’re talking “If you give a Pig a Pancake” type books.  Or “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” and “Guess How Much I Love You”  I mean we can’t make it a few months without such fabulous things, right?!!

Nope, I didn’t think so either!

Maybe just maybe we found the RV for us.  It’s not too close, but we’ve known since beginning this search that finding one even in a neighboring state was going to be challenging.  We had narrowed our search to very specific year and models based on floor plans and such available options.  This is a Heartland Cyclone 3950.  It has a washer/dryer, a bath and a half and in addition to the two queen beds in the ‘garage’, the queen in the master bedroom, there is a loft with two twin beds as well…and then the sofa.  This way we all have some space in the RV if we were to need some ‘space’

We will see as the days pass if this is the one for us.  But it’s certainly looking that by the end of the weekend we’ll have a purchase agreement (with contingencies of course).  I’m ready to move on to the next phase….and get this “party started”  I feel like the clock is ticking and we need to get started on our adventure or our opportunity to have such freedom in our lives might go away before we get started.  Silly, but true!

So a few weeks ago we took our kids to Vegas.  That’s right. We know we are nuts.  But hubby had a week long business trip out there.  He asked me if I wanted to come along (and the baby too since he’s sort of attached to me right now still).  I’m always game to go on a business trip with my sweet hubby because it means a hotel room and relaxation for me and some fabulous time with him.  But then it hit us, that we’d be seeing a whole different  part of the country.  That’s something ever since starting this homeschool journey that we said we’d be doing lots of with our kids.  But all in all we’ve not done that much at all because plane tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars and such…well it adds up…FAST!   So we thought “why not take them along…the hotel is paid for, we have points that cover most of the two big kids flight and the babies can still sit in our laps”   Remember I assured you, we are aware that we are nuts.  We figured if nothing else we could just hang out at the hotel if we deemed the area not so kid friendly. We just wanted them to know we wanted them along with us!

So, we packed goody bags (ear plugs and chocolate included) to give to all those sitting around us on the flights and bit the bullet and took all 4 kids with us.  No ear plugs were needed though, the kids were great.  Even ‘Frog’ who was diagnosed with a “Severe Ear Infection” the day we left did amazing!!   We got in late at night so we couldn’t see the landscape around us when we arrived, but when I opened our hotel room curtains the next morning we were in awe of God’s handiwork!!  What an artist He is!!

hanging out at WholeFoods the night we arrived…this is what happens when it’s 1am your body’s time. You do whatever your toddler wants…and if that means you put on sunglass in the store at night and take silly pictures…yep…you do it!!

The kids and I spent our mornings roaming “the strip” for the most part.  Getting back to the hotel by lunch time…and in when the strip started to get less kid friendly.  The afternoons we spent hanging out in the hotel room or at the hotel pool and jacuzzi.  We also rented a car one day and traveled up to Red Rock Canyon to see the amazing sights close up…WOW!!  GOD IS SO GOOD!!    It was WONDERFUL!!  It also reminded us how much we want to show our kids and see ourselves. No we didn’t really care for Vegas.  Not really our scene, but the desert surrounding Vegas…WOW WOW WOWZER!!!! So we are HOPING if all goes well: to buy an RV, rent our house out, and head out to see a bit of the country.  We had a contract on the RV in the previous post, but some ‘delamination’ was found on the inspection.  Thankfully we’d signed the contract contingent on an inspection.  After much deliberation on whether to go on and get it or not, we decided to walk away.  Tough because it was reasonably close to us and most of the others on the market don’t seem to be.  Sigh….So over the coming months expect more posts in regards to buying an RV, truck and mapping our routes!!

Talk about heading toward simplicity.  If the inspection goes well, here’s a hint of what’s to come for my gang.  We’ll see if God has the same plans for us as we do.  For now, He’s opened many doors when we thought we were just repeating a dream we’ve had for many years now.  We shall see what is to come in the next few weeks and months.  But join us if you wish to follow our journey!!  It will no doubt be a bumpy road, but our prayer is that it is not one filled with regret, but with wonderful memories for we and our kids to carry with us for the rest of our lives!!

• only one tree.
• not taken a single box of ornaments from the attic.
• no garlands.
• no knick knacks out.
• guarded our calendar fiercely to not overbook and leaving lots of downtime

We have also:

• gone and cut down a tree instead of buying one from a tree lot
• strung popcorn while watching A Christmas Story
• Made applesauce/cinnamon ornaments together
• enjoyed the kids making Felt ornaments while Mommy and Daddy aren’t feeling so good
• spent more time playing Christmas music and dancing around the house

We are enjoying our decision to keep things as basic and simple this year as possible. With a toddler in the house and a baby due right around the big day we made the decision to keep things as simple as possible. Which resulted in the decision for the boxes and boxes of Christmas decor to remain in the attic room til next year….

maybe….

because quite frankly we have all really enjoyed this December more than most others. The Christmas tree decorating since it’s all homemade ornaments has meant several ‘elf activities’ involve ornament making supplies and instructions. Which means instead of having a day that we all gather to decorate, it’s becoming a month long process adding stuff. which means that we are spending lots of fun times together laughing and crafting, playing Christmas music and enjoying time together creating memories.

Even the kids (who thought we were crazy when we said we weren’t getting anything out) have said “We need to do this every year!”

Yep I’m a loser. I can’t bring myself to do those little elves that move around and do silly things. A few years ago when they were first getting big my kids didn’t want to buy the ‘kit’ but wanted elves to come visit each night. But my goodness….then the “elves” had to answer LONG letters my kids wrote each night, select from menu items, visit houses built for them in both bedrooms, etc etc etc…and often the ‘elves’ would just fall asleep and forget. UGH!!
So a couple years ago I THOUGHT I’d helped make it a bit easier by putting up these little stockings and the ‘elves’ would leave a small gift each night or a note. But then the kids left notes….long novel type notes. Wanting responses, and once again I found myself a big fat loser mom. You know like when you (okay…I) forget to leave money under the pillow from the tooth fairy.  Yep just call me a loser….because I forgot all the time.  Or didn’t do it just right or something.
Even though my kids knew exactly what the ‘real deal’ was, they still looked forward to the ‘elves’ and the back and forth letters and such. But quite frankly it got exhausting and then there’s that whole problem that I STINK at it!

SOOOO this year I adjusted once again. Still using the stockings though. They appeared on Dec 1 as per usual. BUT the first night’s note explained that “Jingle and Jolly” (‘our’ elves) were so swamped getting ready for Christmas this year and such that they wouldn’t be able to come each night, but all was not lost. They had a plan to ensure we had lots of holiday fun! So in each stocking they left a fun Christmas activity for that day/night for our family to do together.  And guess what….it’s worked!!  The kids, after being a bit skeptical about it, have REALLY liked it…success!  Hey and best of all, I don’t feel so much like a loser this year!!

Some examples of notes in our stockings are:

– In the middle of the day, at approx 2pm turn up Jingle Bell Rock really loud and have a dance party in the kitchen.

– Put on your PJ’s as soon as you come home from church. Then, find a Christmas movie on TV and enjoy some snowman pancakes while sipping a cup of homemade hot cocoa for dinner

– Shower, brush your teeth and go see the “Dancing Lights” Don’t forget to take a donation for Relay For Life to put in the box!

– Go to the store and get the ingredients. Then make some quiches and chicken pot pies for someone else that could use it right now. Write a note to tie to the top with some brightly colored string (Red is our favorite) to brighten their day and know someone is thinking of them

– Make a platter of cookies and leave it for the mail worker. They work SO hard this time of year helping us deliver packages/presents, they need some ‘energy’ and a bit of kindness to make it through!

– Make Cinnamon/Applesauce ornaments for the tree.

– Go through the drive-thru at a restaurant and pay for the people in line behind you too

– Go to a store and leave an envelope with some money in it for someone else to use with an anonymous note.

– Go out for frozen yogurt…be sure to play Christmas carols in the car to and from

– Go to Waffle House for lunch after church. Be sure to get hot cocoa to sip on…and leave a candy cane and a kind note for the waitress on the table with the tip. Everyone needs encouragement this time of year!

– pop some popcorn and watch a Christmas movie together

So I decided to make some blueberry scones and toss in some old nasty strawberries that were in the fridge.  Not fitable for snacking any longer, but no mold on them just soft and mushy.  Perfect!  The challenge then became could I make a decent gluten free scone that I could enjoy along with my family…and that they would actually really ENJOY!!  I’m still learning to bake gluten free, and not everything has come out so….cough cough…scrumptious.

 ,

SUCCESS!!!  So much so that as we’re eating Abacus realizes I’m eating them too and asked very concerned like “are these GLUTEN FREE?!!”  and then a few min later his Daddy  said “I just realized these really are gluten free!!” and then declared them his favorite gluten free recipe yet…right up there with the fried chicken I’d made a few weeks ago!   You really couldn’t tell these scones were any different from my scones I used to make that were gluten-filled!!  YAY!!!!

Gluten Free Scones

• 1 3/4 cup Gluten Free all purpose flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
•  1/3 cup sugar
•  2 tsp baking powder
•  1/2 tsp xanthan gum
•  1/2 tsp salt
• 1 stick organic (gluten free) cold butter
• 3/4 cup – 1 cup mixture of fresh blueberries and cut up strawberries
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup milk
•  1 tsp gluten free vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 400. Grease a large baking sheet or line with parchment paper.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, xanthan gum, and sat.

Work in cold butter with a pastry blender or fork til crumbly

Gently stir in fruit

Whisk in a separate bowl eggs, milk and vanilla til frothy.  Add to dry ingredients until well blended.  The dough will be sticky.

Place on floured surface and roll out.  I just slice into triangles, but you can cut out for more uniformity into circles or something if you’d like.  Lightly brush with milk or egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.  I used sparkle sugar sprinkles.

Freeze for 10-15 min

Bake 15 min or until browned a bit.  Let rest a few min before serving.

ENJOY!!!

‘Bookworm’ and I made these this morning and everyone gave them two thumbs up!!  Hooray!!  Well….none of us loved the cinnamon ones so much (just too dry for us), but the powdered sugar ones – Yum!!  I think I can make improvements, but for now these were a nice treat this morning and I’d make them just like this again!!

HERE is where I got the recipe I based mine on, but I didn’t have several things she called for (including the donut pan) so here is what I did.  I’m betting her recipe and with the donut pan would be even better!!

FYI these are 2 points each for weight watchers

GLUTEN FREE DONUT HOLES

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together:

1 cup organic white rice flour
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp organic oat flour
1/2 cup tapioca starch
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Add:

1/4 cup Shortening
1/2 cup organic french vanilla yogurt (Stonyfield Farms)
1/4 cup milk
2 farm fresh eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

After whisking together the dry ingredients, cut in shortening with a pastry blender, then add other ingredients and stir til dough is formed.  Dough will be pretty sticky.  Push off a ball onto a pan (non greased) then once on pan put oil on your hands and roll into more ‘formed’ balls.

Bake for about 20 min.  Til firm to the touch. Remove from oven and place pan on wire rack for a couple of min. Remove holes and place bottom side up on rack, roll in powdered sugar.  My daughter concluded that a chocolate glaze would be super yummy too.  Next time….