Do You Bento?

Do you bento? Do you know what bento or obento is? As we finish up our second week of homeschool I have realized that I really miss making lunches for my boys. Zane loved taking his lunch, while the other two boys would take theirs occasionally. When I sent Zane's lunch, I packed him a bento box. I truly miss this fun, creative way of preparing food for my children and have thought maybe I could still pack them these great little boxes full of goodies even while being homeschooled. Why not? They need to eat lunch anyway!

So, what is a bento box? A bento box is a complete, balanced and visually appealing meal packed into a small reusable box.
Why pack a bento box? There are several reasons why packing a bento box is a great idea: 1) this is a great way to exercise portion control. Great for adults! 2) This is a great way to pack a variety of foods in a small space. 3) When you have picky eaters, the attractive way food is displayed might encourage them to try it! Visually appealing food is always more interesting than something flopped onto a cafeteria tray. Pack some things your picky eater likes and sneak a few new items in there. 4) It saves money. Once you buy a bento box or similar container simply use leftovers as the base and add in some great items for a great look.
How do you pack a bento lunch? Packing 'rules' are pretty simple. Just 3 parts carbohydrates, such as rice or pasta, 1 part protein and 2 parts fruits and vegetables. Not only are you looking for nutrition, you are looking to add colors and textures. Pack the box and use 'fillers' to fill in the gaps. Good items include grapes, cherry tomatoes, and cheese cubes. Use silicone baking cups, small plastic lidded containers, etc. to keep everything in its place.
What do you pack in a bento? Almost anything can be used. We use leftovers, we make roll-ups with flavored tortilla wraps. Be creative! Obviously some foods work better than others. Foods that are rather wet should be packed in a separate lidded container. Some great things to do are just add a simple twist to a child's favorite food. Slice it, cut it into shapes, can it be made a different, fun color? We just do a few fun things like add some food coloring to the water when we make rice. Presto! Blue rice or green rice... Freeze individual sized portions in the shape of patties, balls or little mounds, and they are ready to add to a box.

So, that is just a little info. on bento boxes. There are so many great sites on the web for more information on bentos. Check them out. In the meantime, fix a bento lunch for yourself or your children and see how much fun eating this way can be.
Bon appetit! Or perhaps "Douzo meshiagare" (Japanese for 'enjoy your meal')

The back-to-school socialist agenda

As the new school year gears up, public school students throughout this country will be watching our nations leader. On September 8th, as students return to school, our president will make an unprecedented live speech to these children. The fact that our tax dollars are being 'used to indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda' is absolutely appalling! Although in the past we have had our presidents address our school students, those speeches have not been agenda-driven. They encouraged students to stay in school and to stay off drugs. They did not tell children to go home and tell their parents why everyone needs Obamacare. They did not tell children to be open to new things, that the old way of thinking was dangerous.
This speech is coming from a president determined to shove 'Obamacare' down the throats of every American. Sorry it this offends you, but NO, health care is not a right! It is a privilege. Just like owning a home is a privilege, or owning a car.
Let's also remember that this is the president that has given us those not-to wonderful bank bailouts, oh, and all that stimulus money, and let's not forget 'cash for clunkers'. Let us not forget that this is the same man that has done countless things to show a lack of respect for this country and what it is based on. The same man that prides himself on being the first president to openly support homosexual behavior, and even goes so far as to encourage all gay couples to take a stand and get married, despite state laws prohibiting it. How about the fact that his wife, a woman in her 40's announced just over a year ago that for the first time in her life she is proud to be an American? Very impressive destruction for such a short amount of time.
Anyway, back to the back-to-school socialist agenda that will be heading to all public schools next week. What is asked of these students is a far cry from the 'Just Say No' days of our former presidents.
I would like to say if more people would remember what this country was built on, if more people would stand up and say "I am proud to be an American!" If more people would announce I believe in God, I believe in Jesus Christ, if more people would take a stand, we could, we would win this battle. Sadly, they are slowly silencing every Christian. Right now it isn't with physical violence, but it could be soon. Right now they are yanking our freedoms away from us, and from our children! Right now WE are considered a hateful bunch because we don't 'accept diversity'
What does this have to do with a televised speech to our school children you may ask. The time to indoctrinate someone is when they are still young, when they will easily accept new ideas. They know this. They know that they can get in there, make a speech and all these young children will hear what a great idea this is, or how much better that idea will make our lives, or how if you don't accept this or that then you are not being a very nice person, and we don't want to hurt anyone, right? Teachers will stand in awe of this man that they have elected and the children will hear how he will save us with health care, how he will save our planet, how he will make everyone excepted, not matter who they are.... and every little head of every little school-aged child will bob up and down in agreement. A new little Democrat bobblehead.

Ooops!

I guess it is going to take a while to adjust to homeschool. This morning (yep, day 3) the teacher overslept! When my alarm went off at 6:30 I thought, 'Oh, just a few more minutes.' Later, when the alarm went off signaling time to wake up the boys I thought, 'Oh, it's already to late to keep to our schedule, so what's a few more minutes' Well, about 8:30 Zane came in and woke me up and asked if we were taking the day off. My response? "We'll see." Third day of school and I wasn't motivated enough to get up! So, sometime around 9:30 we started school. We almost put in a full day, if you don't count that we skipped Science and doing our vocab. words, and maybe 1 or 2 other things. But hey... I am trying!
Ian is already on his third assigned reading book. He just loves to read. Ryan is reading The Red Badge of Courage, Zane is reading White Fang and Ian is now reading Bud, Not Buddy. He has already read Swiss Family Robinson and Woodsong. For the assigned reading a made a list of several catagories, with plenty of books under each listing. I then let them pick books from each catagory, so they could decide based on what sounds more interesting to them. Ian already has his next two books picked out: 'Robinson Crusoe' and 'A Night to Remember'
Okay, time for History...

First Day of School

Well, yesterday was our first day of school for the 2009-2010 school year. We have a Sophomore and 2 seventh graders this year. Not sure I am ready for this after taking a year off, but I know God will be with us, no matter what choices we feel we need to make.
Ryan will be taking a Biology dissection class with a homeschool group. Yea! I just couldn't teach that at home. We have been discussing CAP and a few other things to supplement their education this year. Zane isn't sure he wants to be homeschooled this year, but Ryan and Ian say they do. I guess we'll see...
After having a year off from teaching I am hoping I can get back into this. I am very torn, enjoying the freedom that I have while they are in a government school, but on the other hand, I seriously don't want them there. I am also battling with the stress of homeschooling, and all that goes with that, and do I really need that stress added to the stress I already have while Jim is in Iraq. Not to mention, will I be adequately teaching my high school student, or will he suffer because I kept him home...?
Well, the step has been made and homeschool was our choice, and with 2 days under our belt, I feel even more uncertain than I did just a few days ago. I know God will be with us and will guide us, and that is my only reassurance.