Looking Out My Back Door

 

Our days usually begin with devotional and then school. We try to get the "formal" stuff out of the way early so that we can spend the rest of the day playing and studying anything we like. We are pretty good about sticking to a schedule so that we get our basic skills done. Well, it's been a long cold winter and the last couple of days have brought hope of spring. It's been mild, sunny, and gorgeous! So instead of doing our formal "schooling" I felt it was important to let my kids out to soak in the sun and get rid of their cabin fever energy. I don't think there is anything more important for kids than to have outside creative play time. Boys especially need time to run, build muscle, create something, and burn off some of that male energy that they always have. I have 4 sons and 1 daughter and I have learned very quickly that they are different! I have found over the years that when my sons are yelling, making messes (there have been some doozys!), and are constantly fighting and hitting that they just have pent up energy that they need to release. They are always better behaved when they can run around and play. Not organized play like sports, or games, but play that they can create on their own. As I write this they are all outside being miners in the backyard, mining for gold and other minerals. They are climbing our giant apple tree and chasing Maggie with her bone. When all of my boys were little I was worried about them playing unsupervised. They could get hurt! But I have learned that these little men need some "danger". They need to be boys. It helps them to develop that wonderful quality that a good man has of being a problem solver. So here are a few pictures I snapped looking out my backdoor. Everything is still brown, but the sun and the blue skies bring hope of a beautiful green spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morning Routine and Crazy Cake

I wake up most mornings to a beautiful sight.  My children are all snuggled up with blankets, curled up on the couches, with their dad reading them a book.  My husband gets to stay home in the mornings a few times a week, and because he is a superhero of a husband and dad he uses those mornings to read to our children.  He wants to be involved with their education and spend as much time with them as possible.  So, instead of sleeping in he wakes up at 6:00 and quietly goes through the house waking our children for reading time.  I use these mornings to go to the gym (well, I did once upon a time), have my scripture study, or (most of the time) sleep!  My beautiful, sleepy-eyed children LOVE this time.  They have had many many adventures with Aslan, Ralph Moody, Harry Potter, and many others.  It's the best time of the day.

Then sadly, the time comes where the book is closed and my darling husband has to go to work.  And like a flip of a switch everything changes.  My once quiet, loving, attentive children, turn to me and the chaos begins!  "What's for breakfast?", "I hate oatmeal."  "Can't we have cereal ever?" "He breathed on me wrong.", "I can't find my shoes, but I left them right here under the dogs bed yesterday."  "Mom, she wont let me turn her dollhouse into my spaceship!"  And so it goes.  Me, trying to fix breakfast and get the kids moving for the day.  The kids running, yelling, fighting, throwing clothes around because the shirt that they HAVE to wear is not in their drawer (because they've worn it for three weeks straight so it was taken to the wash while they were sleeping).

 

What happened to those children who were, just minutes ago, snuggling up to their dad? My theory is that while I'm at the gym (or let just be honest, sleeping) husband is training them on how to push every stress button that mom has. I think he finds great joy in seeing me run around like a maniac. I have learned on these mornings that sometimes the only thing that will make it better is....chocolate! And you know stressed spelled backwards is desserts, so in honor of my crazy mornings I am going to share with you my all time favorite recipe for chocolate cake. It is aptly named Crazy Cake. And I will admit that I have had this delicious, moist cake for breakfast. I got this recipe from my mother-in-law, and though she will never admit it, I think it's called crazy cake because she raised 7 children and ate this cake for breakfast sometimes too!

Crazy Cake

3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup oil
2 cups water
2 tsp vanilla
2 TBSP vinegar

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, mix together wet ingredients except for vinegar in seperate bowl. Pour wet into dry and mix until combined. Add in vinegar and stir. Pour into prepared 9x13 baking dish. Bake in 350 oven for 25-30 minutes. Serve with whipped cream or frost with your favorite frosting.

Welcome!  I've decided to create this blog to post about me and my family's scratch made lives.   I have an amazing hardworking husband, five awesome kids and a lazy hound named Maggie.  My daily life is full of "scratch made" things.  From cooking, to homeschool, to family activities I love to create things for my family that are made by us and for us.  I hope you enjoy coming on this made from scratch journey with me!