Slowly Melting Away...

The ice/snow is finally starting to melt away. The temperatures are finally up to high 50's. I decided today would be a great day to go for a nice nature walk. You should of seen the kids. The boys had a blast riding their bikes on the ice. Logan did eventually fall off his bike. He landed right on his belly. His whole front side of his shirt was soaking wet but the little guy got right back on his bike and kept on pedaling. Landon and Logan both thought it was extremely funny to ride their bikes into the snow piles along the trail. It was never a dull moment with my kids. Leah insisted on throwing snowballs along the trail. On, the way back the kids were very interested in checking out the play ground equipment. They wanted to see how the ice was melting off the slides! Gosh, I just love my children. They are naturally curiousest about their surroundings. How many times does a kid get to ride his bike in snow and ice. I'm going to be really sad when my little man goes back to school next week. I hate hearing about him being bored at school. This whole week has been nothing but fun!!!

Life is all about taking risk!

Thank goodness, I don't micro-manage my children!

Freedom to explore and play!

Discovering new things everyday. Look closely...You will see Sand and Snow!


Learning science with real hands on life experiences!

Deep in thought, while walking back to the van to go home. Landon asked a really good question! Why haven't the scientist figure out how God made the planet? Ummm, let's discuss this matter another time. The little guy was really being serious. His growing up way too fast.

Playing, Exploring, and Learning!!!!

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you. - Frank Lloyd Wright

Muffin Tin Lunches

We tried something new for lunch. Muffin tin lunches. I know this isn't a new idea but this was a first for us. I don't know anyone in real life that does this but after looking at many different blogs for along time. I finally decided today was the day to do things different.

The kids are not normally crazy about lunch. I told the kids I had a big surprise for them for lunch. I could hardly keep them out of the kitchen in order to prepare their lunches. The kids were so excited. Landon ended up eating everything up! He never completes a meal. For the most part it was really easy to assemble and very healthy. Overall, it was a great day for lunch!

Does this look like fun?

This is what happens when I have six boys and two girls over for a playdate!

A massive amount of fun!!!

Sledding, Painting, Tree Swinging, Exploring the woods, playing dolls, signing happy birthday a couple of times, pretending to eat homemade wood burgers, beanie baby fight, and hucka bucka beanstalk!

Oh, I'm just about wiped out.

In the end, the kids cleaned up all the messy! I'm always at my prime when surround by lots of kids.

I ended up sending everyone home and I sent my boys across to the street to play with the neighbor kids at their house for once this week.

Leah doing some quick shopping around the house!

Gracie and Leah decided to go for a quick walk with their babies!

Beanie Baby Fight!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel really bad for my little guy. He has a hard time playing with the big kids. He ended up pulling out the stencils on his own and decided to play by himself:(

Don't ya just love Melissa & Doug toys!!!!

Leah's busy fixing lunch for everyone!

I just finished knitting this cute hat for Leah!

Off the boys go exploring in the woods!

Sledding down the hill!
Leah exploring the snow with Gracie!

Hands on Project-Painting!!!!!

Ice Ice Baby!!!!!!!!

ICE STORM 2009

Well, this has been the best week ever. I love having all of my kids home with me! It's been sooooo much fun. Thank goodness, we only lost power for a few minutes and hopefully it will still stay on.

All of the ice is starting to melt off the trees. CRASH I ended up taking my boys and the neighbor boys for a nature walk! On the way back, we ended up hearing his horrible Crashing sound. A huge branch came crushing down on our neighbors yard. It ended up scarying the crap out of everyone. We ended up running home. I was really worried a tree would come down on us.

Leah ended up coming down ill. Leroy decided to brave it and take her to town to see a doctor. Leah is on drugs and feeling a lot better. Leroy was able to pick up some batteries for my camera. Thank goodness, I really wanted to be able to take some pictures of all the snow and ice.

The kids have spent some much time outside playing. We don't own any sleds. So, the kids found random plastic pieces to sit on to slide down the back driveway!

We also spent a lot of time. Watching the birds and the snow/ice. I just loved how the birds looked up in the trees which are covered with half inch of ice. The snow light coming thru the ice is very pretty.

We are almost done reading "Little House on the Prairie". We have been busy reading books and crafting.

My hubby has been able to work from home. Its been like being on Vacation without going anywhere. Just having fun at home. Its so nice to have my whole family under the same roof. I know it wouldn't be long and the kids will be all grown up and gone.

An older neigh boor stopped by the house. He wanted to take a few pictures of the boys playing in the snow. He said he really enjoyed watching the kids play outside because it always brought back good memories of his own three kids.

Leroy, right now just built the boys a huge indoor clubhouse in the family room.

All is good for the Scheele family.

Here are some pictures from Landon and I. We ended up taking a walk down the street. I thought it would make for a fun nature walk. Take peek and enjoy!!!!!!

Slow Cooking Thursday

We are still stuck at home due to a major ice storm. We haven't left the house since Monday Morning. We are starting to run low on supplies. I decided to make my Famous Potato Bacon Soup. This is so good and easy. You can't screw this up! I'm going to make my Awesome Bread Rolls to go with this lovely dish!

Enjoy!

Famous Potato Bacon Soup (crock pot)

8 cups off coarsely chopped peeled potatoes
1 small onion chopped
1/2 pound bacon, crisped, drained, crumbled
1 (8oz) cream cheese, softened
3 (15.5oz) cans of reduced sodium chicken broth
1 (10.75) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1/4 tsp pepper

In a 4 qu crock pot, stir together the potatoes and onion. Stir in the bacon. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, broth, cream of chicken soup, and pepper. Add to the crockpot.

Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours. If you like, mash the potatoes slightly for a thicker consistency.

For more slow cooking recipes, visit .
Sandra at Diary of a SAHM

Reading Theme Challenge

This weeks reading challenge is all about the Chinese New Year. Yes, I'm a day late celebrating the holiday but that's okay! Check out, Teaching Tiny Tots blog for more information if you would like to join in all the fun.

The batteries in my camera are dead which normally wouldn't be a big deal. But due to the ICE strom! I'm not going anywhere! I'm not sure if I could even pull out of my drive way without sliding all over the place. I'm sad about this about this but I can't do much about it. I need to work on next time building up my supply of batteries for emergencies.

Note:
Well, we ended up spending most of the day celebrating the Chinese New Year! All of the books we read were awesome. I ended up coming away with a lot of new information. I really liked all the books. Sam and the Lucky Money was by far my favorite book. It ends on a really nice note. The only bad thing, my tape player ended up eating up the cassesste tape that went with the book. Now, I'm going to have to pay to replaced the damaged tape. Oh, well.

The easy Chinese Moon Cookies were awesome. I didn't know how they would turn out but they were really good. Leah loved this activity. She even tried to roll a ball of dough in her little hands and she especially loved pushing her thumb into the cookies. They don't taste like real chinese moon cakes but they taste really good!

Lastly, the boys really like viewing youtube videos of New Year celebrations in China. Overall, a great reading challenge for the Scheele family.



Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn

My First Chinese New Year by Karen Katz
Happy New Year by Demi
Chinese New Year

Craft Ideas
For some really cool craft ideas check out dltk-kids website for Chinese New Year crafts!

By the Chinese Calendar
2009 is the Year of the Ox,
which is also known by its formal name of Ji Chou. 己丑
(Year begins on 1/26/2009)
(First Day of the Year of the Ox falls on 1/26/2009) New Year Graphics

Auspicious cranes dancing to bring spring back to earth.

Red Dragon
A pair of dragons on a painted lacquer brush-pot, Wan-li period (1573-1620), Ming dynastry, h. 13 in. (176k)




Easy Chinese Moon Cakes

Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup salted butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup strawberry (or your favorite) jam (traditionally
red bean paste is used so if you want a more authentic
version, you can use a can of red bean paste instead of
the jam).
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Combine the butter, sugar and 1 egg yolk and stir.
3. Mix in the flour.
4. Form the dough into one large ball and wrap it in
plastic wrap.
5. Refrigerate dough for half an hour.
6. Unwrap the chilled dough and form small balls in the
palms of your hand.
7. Make a hole with your thumb in the center of each

mooncake and fill with about half a teaspoon of jam.
8. Brush each cake with the other beaten egg yolk and place on a cookie sheet. (We didn't have a brush to
do this, so skipped the brushing step)
9. Bake for about 20 minutes or just until the outside edges are slightly brown
10. Makes 24

Happy Homemaker Monday

On my bedside table:
Redeeming Love a novel by Francine Rivers! WOW!!!!!!!!! The first couple of chapters were slow but the story really takes off. I could hardly put down this book. The house is a complete wreck. If you love a good love story and this one is so powerful. I'm completely changed from reading this book. I can't say enough good things about this book.

On my TV:
We currently don't have any cable or satelite! I'm planning on watching a movie called "Up Close & Personal"!


On the menu for tonight:
Chicken Bean Soup, for the recipe,click here!


On my To Do List:
Take my oldest son to get his teeth fixed! I'm going to end up oweing: $590.00-Ouch!
Clean Up Kitchen
Clean Up Family Room
Try to do a load of Landrury

New Recipe I tried last week:
Broiled Tilapia Parmesan-AWESOME!!!!


In the craft basket:
Nothing at the moment! I really need to knit Leah a new hat on the loom!


Looking forward to:
a couple of snow days!
picking up a new set of lincoln logs for my son
attending a baby shower

Homemaking Tip for this week:
I don't wash more landrary than I can fold and put away in the same day. This helps to keep the piles of landurary of clean clothes from envading my family room. I usually do only one or two loads every day. That way it doesn't become overwhelming!


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Last week my daugther did something amazing for the first time, click here to find out! My little girl is growing up so fast. I'm so glad I'm able to document all of her accomplishments.

Favorite photo from last week:



Lesson learned the past few days:
Yesterday, we learned about all about having HOPE! We need to learn to be trusting and turn everything over to the Lord. He knows what's best for us. Our trails will make us stronger and a better people. Even if we don't understand the reason for the trail we can always have Hope!


On my Prayer List:
Our new president
my children-Landon having major dental work today!


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses
Key Verse: Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Sleeping Beauty

Isn't she just precious!

Last night, she some how managed her way into our bed.

She is the biggest pillow hog! She insistes sleeping right next to me! She's very funny but if I'm not careful she will be hogging the whole pillow.

I just love watching her sleep!

She's doing awesome with potty training. I didn't even potty train her she's doing it all on her own. My other son is still occasionally having potty issues. I just helping her become her own big self. I really don't any thing to do with it.

Counting Bears

Holy cow! I still can't believe it. Look closely at the teddy bears. Leah correctly matched all the teddy bears with the teddy bear sheet. She even could name the color BLUE correctly. My little girl keeps on amazing me!

Give me a break!

I'm sick!!!!!!!!!

I finally ended up catching strep throat from my lovely children. I just got back from walmart with my prescription. Oh, I can't wait for the penicillin to kick in.

Thank goodness, the boys are attending school today.

I need a break.

No more diapers!

Leah has not had one accident today!!!!!!!!!!!!! She even used the potty at my neighbors house. She even stayed dried during her nap time. I'm still going to put a diaper on her at night. So far, so good. No accidents. If she can stay dry for the rest of the week. I'm going to take her to the store to get some big girl underwear. She's currently wearing Logan's underwear which is kinda funny.

L's Famous Juice

A couple of days ago, I decided to stop by the Walmart Associate store to do a little bit of shopping. I normally try to avoid shopping at the associate store because I always ended up spending way too much money. I wasn't planning on spending any money but as soon as I walked into the store. I found this lovely find. A juice machine. I ended up getting it for a great price $50! Sweet!!!!! I'm currently on my diet and trying to lose the weight. I already lost 2.5 lbs. Yippee!!!!! The kids love helping me make juice. This morning, I decided to be brave and try to make my own carrot juice. It was kinda crazy. I just took all the vegatables out the fridge and threw them into the juicer. The kids didn't care for the smell and refused to try it. Leah decided she would give it a try and actually like it. The boys decided to give it a try as well. You should of seen the look on their faces. It really didn't taste all that bad. I really don't care for eating salad and I really need to eat more veggies. So, my first ever carrot juice. Not too bad. I'm going to keep experimenting.

Our Winter Bird Friends

My kitchen window faces out the front side of my yard. I must say I really enjoy watching the birds while I'm busy washing dishes or cleaning up my kitchen. The birds went crazy over the bird seed cakes. We ended up with a huge selection of birds. I wasn't able to get pictures of all the birds but here are some of them.
here's a list of birds seen but not photographed:
Blue Jay
Chick-a-Dee
Eastern Blue Bird
Sparrow
Red-headed woodpecker
Downy woodpecker

Dark-Eyed Junco
White Breasted Nuthatch
Tufted Titmouse
American GoldFinch??? I could be wrong?

American Crow White Breasted Nuthatch
Caroline Wren