homeschooling wrap up: september

shhh.

we are in vermont!
he packed me up and whisked me off to fall foliage, maple syrup, good cheese, and a bed and breakfast for a long weekend and had his parents babysit the kiddos!
so we are basking in the oranges and reds and chilly weather and scarves and fireplaces and the like but here's a quick wrap up of our first month in homeschooling!
off to a great start!

Italy center...first of our culture series!

the "art gallery" and "sculptures"!

Italian flag, made from a lasagna noodle!

pasta sorting.

we listened to Italian opera all week...

and ate Italian food....

...and read about Italian regions (via food)!

next up, dinosaur center!

dino sensory tub

we made "fossil" cookies!

tiny toys pressed into shortbread!

we pressed dino footprints into play doh for more fossil study!

exploring bones. 

we focused on self-awareness for a week...

(who has eyes, ears, arms, etc...)

does a broccoli have thumbs? no...

but thumbs make great peanut butter cookies!

family tree and identifying family members. 

how they relate to me!

he memorized his Bible verse in the first week!

he got a star.

:)

we read about King David...

and made a crown!

and even had a visitor now and then!

to beat on the tambourine with a spoon, naturally.

an amazing first month!!

whole wheat apple crumble muffins

we are in full party mode here.
the very hungry caterpillar joint birthday party is in two days!
but, i took some time and whipped up these muffins from those delicious apples we picked the other day!
enjoy!

Whole Wheat Apple Crumble Muffins
Makes about 12.
1 1/2 - 2 cups diced, peeled apple

2 1/4 cups whole white wheat flour
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon all spice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 

2/3 cup whole milk
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch salt
3 tablespoons melted butter

Heat oven to 375*.  Line muffin cups with paper liners or butter your pan.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the 2 1/4 cups of flour, brown sugar, baking powder, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, all spice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

In another bowl, whisk oil, eggs, vanilla, and milk.

Mix wet ingredients into dry and stir until just combined.

Fold in the chopped apple. 

Spoon the batter into 12 prepared muffin cups, filling about 3/4 full.

In a small bowl, combine the 1/3 cup of flour with 1/3 cup of brown sugar, the cinnamon, and the salt and mix into the melted butter. Sprinkle a generous amount over each filled muffin cup.

Bake the muffins for about 18 to 23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a large muffin comes out clean.

why yes, little chubby hand, you may help!

a stirring pro.

trying his best not to taste.

perfectly crumbly.

tadaaaaa!

apple pickin'

last friday, we went apple pickin'.
this was on my bucket list.
apple picking on the east coast.
perfection.

and boy, did we pick a day.
the sun was out.
the apples were ripe.
it was warm in the sun, a bit chilly in the shade.
we found the perfect spot for our picnic.
and the boys didn't stop eating apples.
perfection.

i want that one.

can't get much fresher than this.

i feel like wizard of oz.

no?

go watch it.

a whole peck of apples.

stay tuned for many-a-apple recipe, coming this week!