Free Reading Curriculum!

Thanks to The Frugal Homeschooling Mom for sharing this information! Funnix is offering their entire reading program for free! There are six days left to take advantage of this. Just go to the site and sign up for the information. They email you and let you know how to download the program. Easy! This program was create by the same man that wrote Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons. I know a LOT of people that liked that program so I will for sure check this one out. :) Enjoy!

A Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookie

I found a recipe for chocolate chip cookies. I have had it a long time and never tried it. I think it's a recipe from my mom's collection of recipes. Before I moved out of my parents house I copied all the recipes I liked and some that I wanted to try. So I wanted to make some cookies but I like to make them healthier and change them up a bit. I really like this recipe because it's not a huge batch of cookies. You can make them often and have fresh cookies if you want.

So here is my new recipe after changing a few things up. I'll add my notes too. :) These were originally called Chocolate Chip and Peanut Cookies. I like oatmeal in my cookies instead. 

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preheat oven to 375 degree F

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar ( I used rapadura sugar and then I ran out so I used a natural cane sugar for the rest)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour (I used my fresh ground whole wheat which is a light colored wheat)
1/2 cup oats (I used quick cook because that is what I had but I have used rolled and they were fine. I like oats in these cookies because it is yummy but I also like it because cookies with all butter spread. a lot. With the oats in there it doesn't spread)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 6oz chocolate chips (mini or regular sized)

Cream butter and sugar, add egg and vanilla; and beat until fluffy. Mix together flour, oats, salt and baking soda. Stir into creamed mixture. Add chocolate chips by hand. Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 375 for about 10 mins. Remove from sheet immediately

I have also added a couple tablespoons ground flax seed to the mix. You do need to watch these closely, because an over done cookie is not yummy. Since they are brown already you want to be sure not to over bake. Enjoy! If you make these let me know how you like them :)

Family Movies

This information was passed on to me through a local homeschool group. I just want to copy it here and share a good movie with everyone. If we aren't able to watch when it airs I will DVR it and see how it is too. :)




For years, Americans have been aching for entertainment appropriate for

families. In April 2010, two of America's biggest advertisers -- Procter &

Gamble and Wal-Mart -- decided to do something about it! And so was born

Family Movie Night.a series of evenings on which movies perfect for the

entire family are shown.



The newest made-for-TV movie on Family Movie Night airs this Saturday,

January 8th, at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 pm Central on Fox. Change of Plans is a

delightful movie of the kind "they don't make anymore." It's a touching

drama about the importance of family - and about being open to seeing a

"change of plans" not as a disaster, but as an opportunity. Best of all,

it's completely free of offensive content.



Change of Plans was financed by Procter & Gamble and Wal-Mart. These

companies have put their own money on the line to create programming

appropriate for families and children. And now, restaurant chain Chick-Fil-A

has joined with them in sponsoring and promoting family programming.



We all should applaud these sponsors for doing what the networks aren't

willing to do. But more than that, it is vital that we support them!



Please watch Change of Plans with your family Saturday night -- and

encourage your friends and family members to do the same. Don't miss this

chance to show your support for clean family programming!



Change of Plans airs on Fox Saturday, January 8 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. Central)

Taco Night Winner!

The winner of our Taco Night Giveaway, as chosen with random.org is Mami2jcn! Congratulations to you!
Thanks everyone who played!

A New Year!

To say I am excited about 2011 is an understatement. I don't think I have ever been so happy to see the old year pass. I believe 2011 will be a good year!
We had a great Christmas and New Years too. Here are some pictures from our Christmas season...

Christmas Caroling at a nursing home in Scottsdale.

Kaden took all of these, he is my budding photographer. :)

He took some at the mall...

Making Cookies

Not a fan of the flour. haha

Decorating the cookies

Our tree

Christmas day

We took our tree down this weekend and started school back up today. We are doing a unit study on horses right now. Meghan loves horses so she is thrilled!