Our New Family Room!

When we looked at this house over 4 years ago, one of the first things we noticed was the potential to create more space by closing in the garage and turning it into a family room.  Our house is a tri level and the garage was right off if the playroom and a half bath/laundry room are also on this level.  The second level has a living room, dining room, and kitchen and the top level has 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms.  I loved the idea of having a playroom/schoolroom, but the children would drag their toys up to the living room so they could be in the same room as me.  Turning the garage to a family room would put us all on the same level and keep the toys in one space plus would add 600 square feet onto our house.

In January 2010 we began the remodel.  My husband did all of the work himself with some assistance here and there from me and the children and my dad helped put in new windows.  At the same time we decided to go ahead and renovate the garage, we had major water damage in the playroom that forced us to gut it and remodel it as well.  Having two rooms to do made it a bit more expensive and take a lot longer to complete, but it was so worth it!  Here are the pictures of the family room renovation.

It is not 100 percent finished yet, but it was done enough that we could move down there.  We did the floors in ceramic tile so they would be easy to clean and take care of and resistant to water damage (should that ever happen again.)  To make a soft place for Emelia to play on, instead of an area rug we used the same thick interlinking mats that we put in the playroom.  The walls are painted sage green.  The closet is in the process of being finished and the doors still need to be painted.  In the area between the two closets, Art is making me a long desk with an area to put my sewing machine.  I am still in the process of making curtains and hope to have them done in a day or two.

We love our new family room!  It is so great to have the extra space and have us be able to be all together.  The living room is going to be empty for awhile until we finish up some other projects and have the time and money to start a new one.

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Menu Plan Monday

It's going to be another blazing hot week!  Temperatures over 100 degrees every day.  The weather usually has an effect on what we eat, but every now and again I make an exception (like eating soup when it's 105 degrees outside) if one of the children request it when I am making the menu plan.  Here's what's cooking up at my house this week:

Friday 8/5-pizza
Saturday 8/6-quesadilla
Sunday 8/7-sandwiches and fruit (we went out to lunch after church)
Monday 8/8-chicken salad
Tuesday 8/9- broccoli and cheese soup, homemade bread
Wednesday 8/10-goulash
Thursday 8/11-breakfast

See some great menus at http://www.orgjunkie.com/

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Sometimes It's Just Better Not to Window Shop

Art, Emelia, and I had a date on Saturday.  We had plans to go buy school and art supplies while they were tax free, pick up a few supplies to finish the family room, and go to lunch and a movie.  On the way to Lowes we drove past a furniture store that was advertising huge markdowns and tax free purchases.  I wanted to go in and look around so I could get an idea of what kind of furniture I wanted for the new room when we had the money saved to buy it.  We went in and I found exactly what I was looking for.  Exactly.  A seven piece leather sectional with a matching rocking recliner in the perfect color with a 5 year guarantee against rips or stains.  We continued to wander through the store to see what else they had, but I knew that was the kind of furniture I wanted for the new room.  Then, when we were getting ready to leave, the salesman said, "If I can get you an awesome deal n this sectional can I earn your business today?"  His awesome deal was half price on the sectional, free recliner, and sales tax free.  Wow!  That is an awesome deal.  So awesome we were very, very, very tempted to whip out a credit card and buy it right then and there.  But, the voice of reason prevailed.  We have been working very hard to pay off our debt, not to earn more.  We need to move forward not backwards.  It was a really awesome deal and we were very tempted, but when I have the cash saved there will be an even better deal.  And, we won't have the debt on our shoulders weighing us down.

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. Proverbs 22:7

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4 H Robotics Workshop

Wednesday, we went to a 4 H Robotics workshop.  We were building Smart Robots (purchased at Hobby Lobby for around $15 each.)  The value for these robots was much better than the Solar Power Cars that we did last year for $10 each that didn't work very well after we got them built. The Smart Robots turn left or right like magic as it bumps into obstacles.  It also flips over when it is turned the wrong way.Anthony, Alex, and Nick signed up for the workshop. First there was a talk and a slide show on what a robot is and different places you find robots.  Then we got to work building them.  Chelsea was not interested in having her own robot, but she was able to help Anthony build his.  The age listed on the box was 8 and up and the screws were very small, he would not have been able to build it himself.

The children did a good job building their robots.  I was proud of Nick because, although he wanted to build the robot, it was a bit out of his comfort zone and he gets frustrated very easily.  I just had to remind him a few times to take his time or try again and he was quite pleased when he got it finished.  Alex does a great job working with tools (only a screwdriver was required) and only needed a little help at the end.  After we got them built, they had a chance to play with them to see what they could do.  My boys were very impressed with their smart robots.



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Favorite Recipes: Oven Roasted Potatoes

Quick and easy side dish.


6-8 potatoes diced
1/2 cup melted butter
1 tsp garlic salt


In a 13x9 pan place diced potatoes.  Pour melted butter over top and sprinkle with garlic salt.  Bake at 375 for 1 hour stirring once.  Also is good with shredded cheese melted over top the last few minutes of baking.

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4 H Chef School Workshop

Last week Chelsea had the opportunity to attend a two free 4 H workshop called Chef School that was being held for 4 H ers 9 and up.  They started the workshop out discussing healthy foods and the food pyramid.  They also did a talk about safety in the kitchen.  Then the children had the opportunity to prepare snacks and lunch for that day.  They also divided into two teams to plan a theme and a menu for the next day when the parent s would have the opportunity to come and eat.  On the second day, the prepared their own breakfast and then set out for Walmart to buy the necessary ingredients for the parent's meal.  Each team was given a budget of $75 for the meal.  Chelsea's team decided on Home Cooking for their theme and prepared:  salad with Ranch dressing, home  made chicken tenders with BBQ sauce, twice baked potatoes, green bean casserole, Texas toast, and peach cobbler with lemonade or iced tea to drink. The 2nd team did a Cajun theme.  Before preparing the parent's meal, they also participated in an Iron Chef competition in which they had to make something using a jar of grape jam, pie crust, a granny smith apple, and a package of saltine crackers.  The Iron Chef competition ended at 3:00 which gave them 2 hours to prepare the food and set up for the parent's meal. 

Right before I got there, Chelsea was slicing tomatoes and cut her finger.  She does not do with with the sight of blood, especially her own.  Since she was feeling faint, they had her lay down and one of the other parents that had arrived and is an EMT bandaged her up.  Thankfully it wasn't serious enough to need stitches.  When I got there she was sitting in a chair white as a ghost and was a little teary.  She wasn't feel bad enough to leave though.  She said she worked hard and wanted to stay until the end.  Although she missed the final preparations and setting up, she was ready to help serve the food.  The children did a great job and everything was delicious!  We got to sample foods from both teams and I was very impressed with all of their hard work and glad to have some new recipes!

I also am impressed with our 4 H organization and the programs they put on for our kids.  After reading about how much 4 H costs in other areas of the country and the limited activities and programs you are allowed to participate in, it makes me so thankful that my children have this opportunity to benefit from our local 4 H program.

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Not Back to School Blog Hop- Curriculum Week

It takes months of researching, planning, and preparation for me to make my final curriculum choices for my family.  My biggest goal for this year was to not only find things that they (and I) would find interesting and enjoy learning, but to plan on doing as much as we possibly can together.  My children love doing hands on projects and that's how they learn best.  This year I will have children in grades 10,4,2,K, pre-K, plus a 2 year old and an infant.  I am really excited about our curriculum choices this year and know we are going to have a great year!

Elementary Curriculum:

History-Mystery of History Vol 1 Creation to Christ
Science- Apologia's Zoology 1 Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day
Bible-readings to go along with MOH
Math-Abeka
Spelling- All About Spelling
Art- Artistic Pursuits
Reading (for 2nd grader) The Reading Kingdom
Writing (for 4th grade) Writing Tales

High School Curriculum:

History: Mystery of History Vol 1
Bible- Assignments to go along with MOH
Science- Apologia Biology
Math-Abeka Algebra 2
Latin-Classical Academc Press
Art-Artistic Pursuits
Literature/Writing-Excellence in Writing American Literature

My 4 year old and 2 year old will be tagging along as interested and I also will be using Before Five in A Row and the Brill Kids Little Reader program with them.

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