Dylan turns 4

We always know how long we have lived in Indiana, by Dylan's age.  He was only 6 weeks old when we made the long move from Sunny AZ to beautiful Indiana.  So my little guy turned 4 this past Saturday.  He is such a sweet little, happy guy.  And always trying to keep up with his Big brother.  He is super competitive and can be very serious.  But he does have a funny side and can get us all laughing.  He has a wonderful sweet compliant spirit and probably has gotten the least spankings of all my kidos.

He loves to do "school", and feels very left out and bored when his big bro and sis are doing theirs.  So he is often at the table with books coloring, or doing other projects which I give him and importantly telling his Dad..."I did school today".   

He loves to do chores and help with anything around the house.  He is one little tough worker.  The other day we took two pretty long bike rides and he kept up (actually tried to stay ahead of us) the whole way.  Later when I used my phone app to track the milage, I realized we had biked a total of 9 miles.  Not bad for a 4 year old. 

Dylan and his New Bike.

Apple Zucchini Cake

I recently saw a recipe on Pinterest for an apple cake, and it has been on the back burner of my mind to make at some point.  This afternoon, I decided to whip up some Zucchini bread, and as I was gathering ingredients, I saw some apples sitting on the counter.  So I decided to combine the two ideas and make Apple Zucchini Cake.  It turned out fabulous, and is moist and light.  Perfect for a rainy labor day evening with a cup of coffee.  This is the recipe if you'd like to try it:





Cake
3 eggs
2 1/4 cup sugar
1 cup applesauce
1 Tbsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 Tbps cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 cups loosely grated zucchini (with or with out rind)
2 small apples chopped (pealed or unpealed)
Topping
2 apples sliced
1 cup brown sugar packed
1/4 cup butter
1 Tbsp cinnamon

Beat eggs into a froth and add sugar. Continue beating until fluffy. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir till combined.  Melt butter and combine with brown sugar and cinnamon.  Pour into bottom of your pan. Line apple slices anyway you like, pour batter over top of apples.  I used an angel food cake pan.
Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 min. Or until springs back to touch.  Cool for a few minutes and then flip upside down onto plate.  Serve warm with Cool whip topping.  (and of course coffee with Pumpkin Spice creamer)  To die for!!!!  Mmmmmm!!

Schedules...A love-hate relationship

Today marks the end of the third week of school for us.  I think that deserves a field trip day, or a celebration of some kind.
   This year in homeschooling we decided, that while we have always been big Abeka fans, the videos (which honestly are ever-so boring) were not working for us.  After lots of research and reading, and then some more reading, and throwing my hands up in frustration on many occasions, we finally decided to go with Bob Jones DVD system.  So far...I couldn't be happier.  I have branched out alot more then usual this year - I guess I'm sorta feeling a bit braver - and we are doing somethings "our way"with the subjects.  What I have really been aware of is the lack of total overwhelming pressure to "meet the goal".  Learning is actually been fun, and yes I know it's only the third week, and it may get more stressful once we've all gotten over the "honeymoon" stage, but the pace of this system feels so much more family friendly.
     I guess that's why I felt the need to talk about schedules.  For me they are both necessary and important, but I'm learning, as I add to my Homeschooling experience, they also have to be suspend-able for the sake of my sanity (and my kids).
   In a perfect world, I would be up by 6:30am, having a cup of coffee with my Bible, calander and notebook on my little patio, (sometime in the near future I will post about that perfect little spot of mine).  I would spend time praying and committing my day to the Lord, then shower, dress, kiss my man off to work, and then start a yummy healthy breakfast for my chickies.  They would, on que, bounce out of bed.  With out being told (as their chore chart dictate) make their beds, get dressed, brush their teeth, and be waiting at the table as I heap their plates with whatever wonderful goodness I have created.  Of course, Seth would not wake up until, much, much later after I have the older two well into their school day....
   Wishful thinking!!!!!
   Too often I stay up much to late at night, enjoying the silence of the house, only to groggily wake up to a kid climbing on top of me, begging for Chocolate Milk, another one building an enormous lego project in his bedroom.  Everyone is asking questions as I sleepily tie on my housecoat, and stumble to the coffee maker hoping to at least get it perking before someone needs a diaper change.  Everyone is hungry - NOW- and cereal is the quickest easist thing I can think of.  Or horrors of horrors, my 7 year old budding chef decides it's the perfect morning to make french toast for everyone.  "Please, No", I beg, "can we just save the home ecc class for later, like after 7 cups of coffee later...."
  But I have learned, that in a Homeschooling Home, things like finishing a giant lego projects are sometimes more important then starting Math by 8am, and letting my little chef learn about cracking eggs (her absolute favorite thing to do in the kitchen) perfectly into a bowl may trump fixing the bed and getting dressed.  Yes, my goal is to get to sleep early, so I can be up before them...but on occasion my time alone at night is just as therapeutic to my frayed nerves as anything else I can do.
    So with all due respect....Schedules, you are only for me and my benefit, and I do not march to your drum.  I will respect you and use you as a tool, when I see necessary, but I will also cheerfully throw you out the door and not start school till after lunch if I so deem appropriate.  

Late Nights/Early Mornings

Yes, I know, too late to still be up.  I will regret these stolen quite moments of solitude tomorrow, but have been unable to sleep as of yet.  Many heavy thoughts on my mind and heart.  Especially thoughts of dear friends who are sick, what is faith, what stops a healing, how do we move from this pathetic monotony of acceptance of what is... to experiencing God's Power?  In my surfing tonight heard a beautiful thought expressed on a web site for "Father of Lights" film.  (My quoting in no way signifies acceptance or denial of their beliefs)
This was the quote.... "In all other religions, the god is sought after, and a table is spread (sacrifices) to appease.  But in the Christian religion, the God seeks after us, and spreads a table for us to partake of."  So while I sit here in the quiet, My heart is overwhelmed with Love for this God of mine.  He does seek me (and I am captured and captivated), He makes available to me all of who He IS (and I am filled yet hunger).  It is only by complete saturation in Him that I find those high places I so long for.

Monday morning

We left Mama's n Papaw's this morning early to drive to Harrisburg airport to get David.  The plan is to go up to Mammy and Pappy for the rest of today, and then head for IN tomorrow. It has been a long week here without David, But we had good times. Anxious to get home, get school books ordered and get things together to start the 2012/13 school year. 

The Evans Olympics

The annual Evans Olympics was held July 23. It was a perfect warm July day, and the kids could hardly wait while Aunt Joy and Aunt Jo set up the course. There were 17 different challenges. Jo and Joy made shirts for each kid and for the adults too.

Another trip to PA

Once more this summer, we are in the beautiful state of PA visiting family.  I came alone due to Davids work schedule and have decided road trips with 1 year olds are a quick way to lose your sanity.  I may just stay here till he turns 3.

Take 2

After over 3 years out of the blogging world, I'm giving it another try. Spent some time tonight re-reading old blog posts and realized its the closest to journelling I have ever come. Was neat to revisit old memories and see older pics of 5 years ago. So, I'm off to a new start with a new blogger look and style.