So what did we cook to feed such a big crew? For the main course, I made something that was EASY and YUMMY!  I made this Baked Ziti and took this advice from a comment written below the recipe to make it a delicious dish that was a hit for both adults and children:   

"Try RICOTTA CHEESE instead of sour cream and skip the provolone for a real Italian version of Baked Ziti. Mix an egg into a pound of ricotta to make it nice and creamy, and toss with the ziti. Layer sauce first (so you don't need to butter the pan), then ziti/cheese, mozzarella, sprinkle with parm and a little dried oregano or basil, then repeat layers. For a really nice look, slice a brick of mozzarella for the top layer instead of using the shredded kind. This is SO MUCH BETTER than the sour cream version!"

With the baked ziti, we served a garden salad made by my friend and I made an oriental slaw salad.  Here are the ingredients I used for this EASY and YUMMY oriental slaw salad that my mom passed on to me:

Oriental Slaw
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup toasted sunflower kernels
1 package Ramen Noodles-chicken flavored (the seasoning packet will be used for the dressing)
1 bag of slivered cole slaw (cabbage)
4 green onions, chopped

For the Dressing I used:
chicken seasoning packet from the noodle package
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 tablespoons vinegar (white or red, but not balsamic)
1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Break up Ramen noodles on cookie sheet.  Add almonds and sunflower kernels.  Brown in 325 degree oven for 5 - 10 minutes.  Cool and set aside.


Mix bag of cole slaw (cabbage) and green onions together.

1.  (16) oz. Cool Whip
2.  (6) oz. frozen lemonade or lime-ade
3. (1) can Eagle Brand condensed milk

1. Add room temperature Cool Whip and lemonade to condensed milk.
2. Stir well.
3. Pour into 2 graham cracker crusts and let chill at least 5 minutes.  I always like to cut up a lemon to decorate the pies.

I LOVE EASY and YUMMY recipes and meals!  How about you?  Do you have a recipe to share that is EASY and YUMMY?  If so, leave a comment and if you have a blog post about your recipe be sure to leave the link so I can visit your blog and collect more EASY and YUMMY recipes!

I always like to start each of our homeschool years at least a week before traditional school begins.  That way during my birthday week I'm not completely overwhelmed and can relax a little to enjoy my birthday.  Since my birthday (August 24) usually falls on the first week of public/private school in my area, I started schooling my children this week and we are gradually getting into a routine as I ease into our schedules.

One of our new school year traditions is to make and decorate a cross-shaped cake the night before school starts.  So our family had fun this past Sunday night baking, decorating and eating our colorful and yummy cross creation.   You can see other cakes I have made for my "cupcakes" here.


Here is a link to a free t-shirt printout that is similar to The Mailbox version that I used.  Click here for the printable t-shirt.

After they decorated and colored their t-shirts, they cut them out and "hung" their t-shirts on the clothesline with clothespins that I made on our bulletin board that is hanging in the hallway outside our classroom.

Well, I'm getting my homeschool room in order to get ready for our first day on Monday, Aug. 16!  I am still working on organizing and planning (2 things that never end as a homeschool mom).

Earlier in the summer I organized my file cabinet that I picked up at the goodwill store for $6.99.  It's a little beat up, but my children decorated the blah tan cabinet with lots of colorful stickers!  I was an elementary ed teacher for a short time BK (Before Kids) and my mother-in-law taught 1st grade for 30 years so I have accumulated resources that I hope to use more often this year with my new organization system.  Lots of the resources came in the form of worksheets that I organized in file folders.

In the top drawer I am keeping all file folders that have Math and Reading/Writing resources.  The middle drawer has Science folders, and the bottom drawer has folders filled with Activities by Month and Miscellaneous.  I used to organize the file folders in ABC order, but it was difficult to find things so I decided to organize the drawers by topic.  I typed out each topic on the computer, glued them to bright paper and laminated them.  I then taped them to a big flower shaped magnet to put on the outside of each drawer.  Here are a few pictures:


Tomorrow I should be done with my Workbaskets + Workboxes = Works for 4 (children) organization system that I have been working on and I hope to post pictures of how I plan to organize my day and curriculum.  So check back to see my ideas!  I know it will be a work in progress and I will have to make adjustments, but this will be a start for our school year.

I hope this video below will be a source of encouragement and inspiration for all Moms during this "ordinary time" in our lives as we raise our children! I can relate to the mom in the black and white scenes.  Anyone else?

"Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the peoples his deeds!

Sing praise, play music; proclaim all his wondrous deeds!"