School with Letter A

  This week started school for everyone here! My last child here is working on kindergarten grade level.  He was not real receptive last year but, this year has started out much better.  He's asking more questions, and repeating the correct answer when asked.  He's eager to learn and excited for more class.

  This week we learned the letter A.  He has had school on and off for the past couple years but each year it just starts over. So he has studied everything before but, at different levels, with different worksheets and less time.

  Each day we start with the desk.

The desk has 2 letter A titled books in addition to other items pertaining to the specific letter.

We take time outside to play and learn as well.  Writing the letter in dirt and using sticks impressed him.

Each day I subjected him to walks.  This is our PE/quiet/mommy and me/exploration time.  This go around was his second trip so I allowed the scooter. He doesn't like to walk and I want him to find peace in it.  Enjoy nature, get some fresh air and slow down and see things.  I will have you know this was day 1 and he took his father and sister on two separate trips around the block to show them all the A's! (Insert proud mommy smile here)

Some of our books gave us an excuse to get outside.

The Magic Acorn by Maggie Stern was about a special acorn. 

We went on a walk to gather our own acorns.

Our acorn hunt was successful.  This hunt gave us a hands on A experience, and a touch of science!  We checked our math by counting the acorns and touched a little science too in that we planted an acorn! 

Apple trees made out of playdoh!  Then with the help of a roll of dice we picked apples off and put them back on the tree. Hello math again!

After you spend a few days identifying it's time to write! So we practiced writing upper and lowercase a's. 

A workbook helps with more handwriting practice.  The pages are from various websites with requiring different tasks. Tracing, letter search, name writing and circling the correct numbers.

  In the past I tried to incorporate snacks into the day and I continued this year by having fun with food in some way. Applesauce was not received well but these two A's brought a smile!

Yesterday was his favorite as he had to run from number to number and complete a different task. He picked apples and had to transport them! 

My favorite was his ax and arrow tattoos! I though to myself hey its even on his arm! Ha win for me!!

Lastly our play time outside today involved air!

This was my first time with the sock bubble but, I should have made two because once my daughter saw it they couldn't switch off quick enough for the other to have a turn.

Well there's our one week of A's. I have a couple crafts I will be sharing in a separate post pertaining to the letter A.  I hope you enjoyed a peek in our day.  I haven't figured out if we will do weekly or daily letters.  We shall see as we go along but, we will actively learn and have fun everyday!

A is for angry!

Week 1 Letter A school complete

  I won't be able to do a field trip every week but will try to grab one where I can and even if it's to our local store we will make it an adventure!

Its a little too early for apple picking but since we were on letter A it only seemed fit to pick an apple.  We headed to out local grocery store where we picked a few varieties.  I allowed him to pick one from each pile so we could compare the size, color and taste.  

  This tasting was huge as he is a picky eater.  He likes the red delicious and Jonagold! Peanutbutter is not necessary and he will eat the skin.

Apples come from trees before the store so we made this apple tree!

After we dissected the apple we made a picture of all the parts! 

We also made applesauce cookies this week which he did make, eat and enjoy! 

Letter A was a good productive week for us!  I hope your week was productive too!

Apple Muffins

  We are still working on making our apples disappear as well as meet my pumpkin challenge so after an internet search and some voting amongst the children we decided on muffins.  This also was made after the pumpkin brownies so does that mean we were extra motivated in our kitchen?

  Apple Streusel muffins!  I even had a helper in the process!  She helped with the topping.

 I used Jonagold apples and it didn't even take the whole apple and still seemed to have enough apple bits in it.

   This was a good recipe for the teen to learn about wet and dry ingredients, how to make a separate topping and why I always have so many dishes.

 The mix looked so good after we added the apples.

 I used my silicone cupcake holders.  I love these things.  Even though I still wash the muffin tin it doesn't get half as dirty.

The finished product was good.  Little bits of apple just about in every bite.  My picky 2 yo whom won't eat an apple at all ate a couple of these.  Does that count as his quota for fruit?

  I like muffins.   A nice reasonable snack that you can play around with and make it your own.  Very portable and most kids will munch on them too.

Thank you stephssilverboxes for the apple struesel muffins. 4 kids out of 4 liked them!

Apples a plenty! (Apple pancakes)

  So if you are following along.  You know we picked up a couple apples last week.  So we are a baking them up.  I am very familiar with the desserts but we are currently trying a few new recipes for breakfast.

  We has apple pancakes the other day and they were good.  I didn't quite follow the recipe and you don't even need to for this one! Yeah!  This recipe is very easy and you can play with it a little an make your own version.

  Simply use your pancake recipe.  Whether you have your own recipe or use the box version mix it up per the directions.  Slice and core your apples very thin.

Dip your apples in the pancake mix and fry them up like you would a plain pancake.

  That's all.  Now isn't that easy.  Nothing tricky here, folks.  I do like them better fresh versus from the fridge even warmed up but maybe that's just me.  I am happy to report that the family also liked them.

The apple does get warm and soft inside the batter and slightly melts (not to the point of applesauce) by the time you have cooked both sides. The apple is amazingly just right.

The pancake recipe I used was from pocketchangegourmet.

Carter Mountain Orchard

  So the smart thing to do when you drive anywhere for 2-3 hours is to use your time wisely.  With that being said after our visit to Monticello I was so excited to find out an apple orchard was literally around the corner.

The part of Virginia I reside in has apples in abundance only in stores so it is an extra special treat to give my kids the opportunity to pick some and learn where they come from and see that in all their glory.  The kids didn't even know the "goodies" that were coming after we worked hard to retrieve the apples.

  Man can I say they worked hard on getting apples but a little harder at climbing down the hill and then back up.  Carter-mountain-orchard is on the top of a mountain.

We climbed this winding road without any clue what awaited us on top but we were all excited to see.  As I got closer to the top I saw beautiful rows of grapes and knew this was going to be a good place we were going.  When you reach the top and even before you get out of the car you can see the apples and the view.  I don't even know what I was more excited about.  The views that stretched for miles or the delicious fruit hanging from the tree.  After all I didn't really come for the apples.

  Let's step back for a moment.  I need to be honest with you.  I am from upstate NY.  I know about country and apples.  That is why it was important for me to give them an apple picking experience.    I went as a child and some experiences are just down right fun and you want to share that with your children even if you live in a large busy suburb almost 3 hours away.  I also know and appreciate a donut washed down with some cider!

  That may have been my real goal.  My kids however loved the apple picking, donut eating and cider drinking all in one.  The were too young to understand the magnitude of the beauty around them but, I did hear this was the best day ever more than once!  Follow us as we make a variety of apple dishes!

An Apple A Day

  So after we gathered some apples yesterday from our first ever apple picking we will be making some apple creations.  Of course there is no time like the present.  You eagerly scout out new recipes and maybe some classics after you put in such hard work.  In actuality picking apples is an all around hard job compared to picking out a few from a container at the store.  We had to journey down the mountain side,  down the trails, seek out trees with apples still on them, apples within grasp.  It is a lot of work to go into nature and pick your own fruit.  It's not because I have a love for apples but I do enjoy them as an all around good snack and 11 lbs just keeps ringing in my ears so  I refuse to let them spoil amongst all the yummy desserts and items I can cook them into.

  So with an explosive meal to start the apple appreciation event off I present you with oatmeal.  Now tell me did you see that one coming.  The day after an apple picking what better way than to start it off with breakfast.  Although it could have been more elaborate and apples could have been prepared in some kind of coffee cake, pancake or muffin; believe me I will stretch them out to that point to if I can help it.

  Oatmeal is a staple in my house.  It is easy to make.  It is fast.  All the kids eat it.  It is filling.  It is delicious and you can make it into anything you want.  So what better than to start with oatmeal and apple and build up from there.  Hmm, what does that mean the last apple item will be?  I hope its a grand finale from the oatmeal I started with.  Regardless I hope all these upcoming meals are appreciated with all, shared and documented by my kids to pass on if they are so inclined and enjoyed while we create memories making them.
 
  This recipe is pretty basic.  With all oatmeal recipes you at least need oatmeal and water or milk depending on your taste or budget preference.  For your complimentary tastes with apples think: vanilla, cinnamon, maybe maple syrup and cranberries would be a nice touch.

Two little assistants always makes the process faster.

How convenient when you have even measurements for the your assistants to help too.

Not a problem to patiently wait as the cooking apples and cinnamon smell great as the oatmeal simmers.

Breakfast in less than 10 minutes and seconds were requested by my youngest daughter so thats a good sign too.

This recipe came from food.