Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Today we baked fresh bread for lunch--always a favorite! We enjoyed a new ring toss game that Tina made for the petting farm field. Kari got a goat out for us to lead on a halter. We had fun feeding the goats hay.

Some new signage at our store. . .

We have to amuse ourselves now and then . . .

Running with the goats. . .

Camping in the teepee!

Nixon trying to lift a log!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Good morning, Mocha. Here's some fresh green grass!

A sweat lodge is coming thanks to Miss Jennifer!
Planting flowers in front of the store.

This week we are doing some hands-on work with ice, talking about the processes of melting and freezing, and enjoying a story about Jack Frost and the North Wind. Today we made a few banana pops to try tomorrow.

Self-serving lunch.

We are going to have a couple of nature trays to display in the kitchen and/or on our lunch tables. Janie put some together today. The trays will feature seasonal items and a couple of candles for PreK. The children loved it!

Alice in Wonderland Coming Soon!

The Scottish Rite Theater will be presenting "Alice in Wonderland" February 6-March 28. If you haven't been to this downtown venue, it is reminiscent of an old high school auditorium. There isn't a bad seat, and the shows are fast-paced and perfectly timed for little ones. My family always has a great time, and parking is free adjacent to the theater.

Tickets are $10/adult, $8/child 1-11 years, $4 children under 1 year.

http://www.srct.org/

~Leslie

Monday, January 25, 2010

Welcome to our new friends, the fabulous brother and sister duo--Tula and Luca!

Today we enjoyed the beautiful sunshine! We planted pansies and dianthas for pots around the school and the store. We also have a new bird feeder. Kari helped the children in PreK groom Lily Belle. Inside, we painted with colored ice.

Practicing using a spoon . . .

Doing lunch . . .

Handsome boys!

Menu for 1/25 - 1/29

Monday
AM Snack: Bananas, water bottles
Lunch: Organic pasta salad with peas, carrots and nitrate/nitrite free turkey breast, organic milk
PM Snack: Organic Z bars, water bottles

Tuesday
AM Snack: Fresh pineapple, water bottles
Lunch: Black beans and Basmati rice, steamed organic mixed vegetables, organic milk
PM Snack: Colby Jack cheese sticks, organic crackers, water bottles

Wednesday
AM Snack: Organic toaster pastries, water bottles
Lunch: Grass-fed beef meatloaf, steamed organic green beans, organic baked bread with organic butter, organic milk
PM Snack: Organic applesauce cups, organic animal crackers, water bottles

Thursday
AM Snack: Organic red delicious apples, water bottles
Lunch: Organic yogurt with organic blueberries, mini organic blueberry waffles, water bottles
PM Snack: All natural almond butter on celery, water bottles

Friday
AM Snack: Cantaloupe, water bottles
Lunch: Colby Jack cheese sandwiches on whole wheat flax bread, English cucumbers with homemade ranch dip, organic milk
PM Snack: Make your own snack combo, water bottles

Promise Pizza

Promise Pizza, located in Round Rock is now accepting competitor's coupons and will honor all excluding Little Ceasar's. Promise Pizza uses organic products and even offers gluten-free options for people. Check them out. It may be a little drive for you, but it's worth it!

Promise Pizza

-Janie

I peed at da Pea

As we head out each morning to do farm chores, there is a last call to use the bathroom. We've noticed a trend as of late. Once out in the field, there is an unusual number of kiddos that suddenly have to go to the bathroom. The most convenient place is to walk the kids to Sassy Pea Market to use the store bathroom. We have figured out that the girls like to go to the store to look at the tutus and hairbows and the boys like to play with the wooden toys. Of course, everyone wants to go in and say hi to Tina and possibly sniff out a breakfast taco, cinnamon roll or eye up the organic lollipops. Either way, they eventually make it to the bathroom......hence the title--I peed at da Pea!

Ooooohhhhhhhhh, Nice!

We often hear some pretty funny things around school from the kiddos. Diaper changes are always particularly fun. Our friend, Jack, always enjoys a fresh diaper. Who doesn't? It's tradition for Jack to comment, "Ooohhh, nice!" after his diaper change. We always get a giggle out of Jack's expression. Glad you appreciate a clean bottom, Jack!

Buttermilk Pancakes

I am not a pancake lover--I prefer a savory breakfast and kids that aren't sticky. I also don't like to smell syrup in a moving car or other close quarters, thanks to 13 years of riding a school bus with some p-cake lovin' neighbors. IHOP commericals can bring me to my knees. My kids do like pancakes, though, so a couple times a month we indulge them. My husband is a better pancake maker than me with a modified Martha Stewart recipe (much to his chagrin), and it provides consistent results.

Why do we make pancakes from scratch? Well, most pancake mixes have a host of weird ingredients, and most boxed baking mixes contain trans fats. Also, this gives the kids a chance to measure, crack eggs, and mix more ingredients together.

Syrup? Again, lots of weird ingredients in pancake syrups. We use "tree juice", or maple syrup. Getting back to nature for my kids and my husband has taken a while, but now they seem to like the "tree juice" just fine.

Oh, and please add some protein to this meal (scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, peanut butter, hard boiled eggs) lest your family slump over in a complete carb stooper, only to rattle the cages hungry in about an hour!

~Leslie

Buttermilk Pancakes
2 cups all-purpose flour (I like to mix 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour with 1 cup whole wheat flour)
2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
2 1/2 cups buttermilk OR 2 1/2 cups milk + the juice of 1/2 lemon (we rarely have buttermilk around!)
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
oil for pan or griddle

Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Add beaten eggs, milk or milk/lemon juice, butter, and vanilla. Mix until just combined. Mixing too long will cause pancakes to be tough. Lightly oil a paper towel or coffee filter and rub in pan over medium heat. Place 1/2 cup batter in pan, and flip cake when the surface of the cake is covered with bubbles. Place finished cake on a platter. Oil the pan again, and add batter again. Continue until desired number of cakes are baked. Enjoy!

Modifications: Sprinkle blueberries on the top of the cake once batter is poured. Flip when bubbles cover the surface of the cake and blueberries begin to emit juices.

Busy Mom Tip: Save any extra pancakes or make a double batch for a quick reheat later in the week. Extra batter can be stored up to two days in the fridge.

Wednesday afternoon (1/20) and Thursday, January 21, 2010

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

Snack outside . . .

THURSDAY

A little too warm for jackets . . .

Look closely and you'll see a bird the children watched in the birdhouse.

Our beloved Queso left the farm today. He was bound for a rescue in the Goldthwaite area. A few tears were shed by the adults, but we wish him the best and know he'll receive great care.

Thank you to our friend at Bryn Dar for transporting Queso. . . We enjoyed lentil nachos for lunch--yeah, that's a paper plate. We're tired, and next week we start composting all of our paper hand towels, making us the greenest school you'll find in these parts. But today, we were tired.