No School, Snowy Days

Today is another no-school day.  There’s been no classes in the city since Friday.  So, we’ve been homeschooling.  I am fortunate my kids are used to school work at home. I have been reading them The Adventures of Robinhood by Howard Pyle.  They’ve been enjoying each chapter.

Today, was productive.  Andrew practiced writing, using more vivid verbs, and worked on a chapter in Algebra.  Paul helped Timothy in Math, while Audrey and I worked on word problems.  It feels good  to teach Audrey lessons she doesn’t understand yet.  When she comes home from school, I always ask her what she learned in school.  Most of the time, her response would be: ” Nothing, I already knew the lesson.” I feel some days are just a waste.

Audrey quickly picks up concepts.  I find that she is smart, but not studious.  Andrew is very smart and very studious.  He is blessed with the ability to quickly absorb what he’s taught.  Tim has to put extra efforts on academic subjects, however, building and creating comes naturally to  him.  Three kids from same parents, yet very different from each other.  Timothy is a blessing to me.  I think, I understand other people and their varying abilities better, because of my experience with him.

This is a picture taken after school work, while Paul was reading (The Moon is a Harsh Mistress  by Robert Heinlein)  to them.  Now, I hope to have my free time!  Audrey is begging me to play with her though!

Cilantro-Lime Chicken

Lately, I have been in the mood to try new recipes. I am a big fan of cilantro & lime, so I tried this recipe.   Except for Timothy, all of us enjoyed the it!

Ingredients:
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 small onions
1 or 2 small or red jalapeño peppers
1 small piece fresh ginger (1 inch long); peeled
1 large lime
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 to 2 teaspoons sugar
Hot cooked rice
Cilantro sprigs, lime zest and red jalapeño pepper strips for garnish

• Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towels.  Cut each chicken breast half into 6 pieces.  Cut each onion into 8 wedges.  Cut jalapeño crosswise into slices, removing seeds if desired.  Cut ginger into thin slices.  Set aside.
• Remove 3 strips of peel from lime with vegetable peeler: Cut lime peel into very fine shreds.  Juice lime; measure 2 tablespoons juice.  Set aside.
• Heat wok or large skillet over medium-high heat 1 minute or until hot.  Drizzle oil into wok and heat 30 seconds.  Add chicken, jalapeño and ginger; stir-fry about 3 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center.  Reduce heat to medium.
• Add onions; stir-fry 5 minutes.
• Add lime peel, juice and chopped cilantro; stir-fry until well mixed and heated through.  Transfer to serving dish.  Serve with rice.  Garnish, if desired.   Makes 4 servings.

(365 Favorite Brand Name Chicken Recipes, p. 150.)

My revisions: I browned the chicken, then sautéed onions and  ginger (cut very thinly), add the lime peel & juice.  Add 2 tablespoons honey and 2 tablespoons soy sauce. Cook for about 20 minutes on low fire, stirring when necessary.  Add the chopped cilantro cook and stir for 5 more minutes.

Charles Dickens’ Words

I’ve been reading this book to Audrey.  We read about his sad childhood life.  Tonight, we read about his  marriage, the birth of his first child, and the crowding conditions in his home.  I love this note he wrote   in his diary, “I shall never be so happy again as in those chambers three storeys high – never if I roll in wealth and fame.”

Reading his words, I feel his happiness!  Even to a great writer, it’s not wealth and fame that gives him true happiness, it is his family.

Today and an Author’s “A-ha” moment

Today was school, school, and school with my kids. I  helped Andrew review his Science lesson on Chemical Bonding before he left this morning.  Geeezzz Wheeezzz!  I’m sure glad I now can choose what I want to learn!  I’m  glad there are those who find studying electrons in an atom interesting!  This area is just not exciting for me.  I blame it on my Chemistry teacher in high school. 

I kept Audrey home today.  She’s got cough and cold.  We were able to do some Math concepts together and we even got to read lots of books.  One of the books we read was Joan of Arc by Josephine Poole.  What surprised me as we were reading was, Audrey running her hand on the pages and examining the  illustrations.  She turned the book to the cover and asked, “Who’s the Illustrator?”  I read the name and said, “Angela Barrett.”  She proceeded to say that she (the illustrator) did a good job.  It makes me feel good to see that my daughter has developed appreciation to good authors and illustrators.

I picked up a biography book about J. K. Rowling by Ann Gaines from the Library.  My boys sometimes wonder about the author, so I thought they might find this interesting.  Timothy and I read a chapter of the book this afternoon.  What I found out was consistent to what the author talked about  in the book The Outliers.  J. K. Rowling  had many hours honing her writing skills.  Writing is her passion, but she didn’t really know how to use this to make a living at first.   She went from job to job in her adult life; sometimes she was even fired from her job.

Harry Potter was “born” in her long train trip from work.  She suddenly had this basic idea of a boy who didn’t know himself.  This boy would receive a notice that he had to go to a wizard school.  “The idea of Harry and Hogwarts just popped into my head.  I spent four hours thinking about what Hogwarts would be like – this made it the most interesting train journey I’ve ever taken.  By the time I got off at Kings Cross Station, many of the characters in the book had already been invented.”

I could just imagine the excitement in her as these ideas played in her mind!  Surely, after that trip she was clear on what she wanted to do.

Old Note

I’m deleting notes in my Facebook today.  I got across this entry I had written in Jan 21, 2009.  I thought I should put it in my blog.  Reading this inspires me to be a better teacher to my children.

In Stephen Covey’s book The Leader in Me, I learned that Helen Keller was violent and obstinate on her first encounter with Anne Sullivan. Two weeks later, this was Anne’s entry in her journal: “The wild creature of two weeks ago has been transformed into a gentle child. She is sitting by me as I write, her face serene and happy…It now remains my pleasant task to direct and mold the beautiful intelligence that is beginning to stir in the child-soul.”  Helen Keller, feeling her teacher’s genuine love for her, wrote these words: “Have you ever been at sea in a dense fog, when it seemed as if a tangible white darkness shut you in, and the great ship, tense and anxious, groped her way toward the shore…and you waited with beating heart for something to happen? I was like that ship before my education began, only I was without compass…and had no way of knowing how near the harbour was. “Light! give me light!” was the wordless cry of my soul, and the light of love shone on me in that very hour.”

Sick Kids

Today my kids are all sick.  After the Primary Program we left Church,  so they won’t spread their cough and cold.  We had a quiet Sunday.  I think we all got to take a nap except Audrey.

Tonight, I told Audrey that I can only tuck her to bed.  I won’t lie down with her because I don’t want to get sick too.  She begged me to please lie down next to her until she falls asleep.  She promised that she would  face the wall and would not cough on me.  Awww…how can I refuse my daughter?!

Audrey

Audrey learned how to play Monopoly lately.  I’m glad she’s enjoying it, but I’m also not glad she likes to play it so much.  She would always come to me when I’m about to take a rest and say:  “Let’s play Monopoly Mama.”  So, even when I really don’t feel like it, I sit there and play with her.  Oh my…the game takes FOREVER!

Another thing she loves to do is dancing.  She loves to dance and she loves to show me her new moves.  Last month, she joined a dance camp.  I cannot forget the look on her face as she entered the room with a giant mirror in front of her and girls wearing their tutus.  I knew right at that moment that she would enjoy the camp.  Tonight, while dancing she said:  “Mama, when I’m dancing I feel like I’m dreaming!”  What wonderful words to hear a child express her feelings about something she loves to do!

Washington DC Trip Before School

Yesterday, I planned to take the kids to Washington DC. Andrew needed to go and visit a Botanical Garden for his Boy Scout Gardening Merit Badge. The I-66 eastbound, as always, was packed! We got to the Metro Station in Vienna and drove around and around looking for a parking space. I couldn’t believe there was not a single space in that big parking deck! I wanted to turn around and head back home, but then that would have been a waste of time. Finally, we found metered spots and decided to park there.

We stopped at Capitol South. As we got out of the station, my kids got so excited as they saw directions to the Library of Congress. We decided to go and see the place. As soon as I entered The Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, I was thankful I didn’t turn around when we were in Vienna. The building is magnificent! I told Andrew, we will plan a day to spend in the library one of these days.

The day was beautiful!  The sun was bright but I didn’t feel the summer heat anymore.  We had a nice walk.  We stopped by Capitol building and took a few pictures.  Timothy enjoyed running on the steps. Then we walked to the Botanic Garden.  This was my kids favourite place in this trip.  We stayed at the Children’s Garden for awhile.  The kids were busy while I had the chance to take pictures and sit on the bench.  Audrey and Andrew were watering the plants forever.  I guess, the staff don’t even water those anymore.  Timothy thought the place was a maze.  So each time we exited one door, he would challenge himself to find us using a different route.  Oh well!  He was busy.  My favourite was the fragrance center.  There was a round table with bottles filled with leaves/flowers/seeds each has its own scent.  We ended the day with a snack outside the Garden.  My kids were happy!  We got back in Vienna Fairfax with 30 more minutes left on our meter.  What a good timing!

At the end of the trip my thought was: “What will I do without my Andrew??!”  He is quicker with machines and directions.  In  refilling our smart cards and transferring the balance from farecard to the smart card, he pointed to me what to do before I was even done processing things in my brain.  He’s got very good sense of direction and he knows where the nearest metro station is.  He is growing!

Reading Rainbow

I am sad to learn this morning that Reading Rainbow is concluding after 26 years. I have enjoyed the show with my kids over the years. It doesn’t teach reading mechanics, but I sure love the show’s substance. The joy it conveyed to the children in reading a good book is something I will always remember! I will miss Reading Rainbow.

Zinnias

I have enjoyed taking pictures of our zinnias.  These are one of my favourite flowers in summer time.  They come in variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.  The petals are delicately arranged to convey their beauty.  They are hardy, yet elegant.  I can’t completely describe the good feelings I get when I look at flowers. Taking pictures of them helps me share what I see in my eyes.  The angle at which I take them and the focus takes away the distractions and see only the natural beauty they have.  Whenever I enjoy these beautiful creations, it reminds me of the Primary song, My Heavenly Father Loves Me. These words reflect my feelings: “I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world Heavenly Father created for me.”