Tortilla Bowl Taco Salad

This is a meal that my special needs son enjoys helping me with. He really likes to eat it as well. I try to let the kids help with certain meals and this one is ‘his’ meal. It helps them to feel a sense of accomplishment when they are able to do things independently. I do have to supervise with a lot of the oven part but other than that he really enjoys helping to put the bowls together.

You can add your favorite toppings to it and make it the way you like it. With individual bowls, each family member can customize their own bowl. Serve it with rice and beans.

Note: We do have a set of ovenproof bowls that we use to shape the tortilla bowls themselves but you can check out this link for ideas to make them without a bowl. Continue reading “Tortilla Bowl Taco Salad”

Inauguration Day

The inauguration of the President of the United States is a very important day to remember. This will be the first one we have had since we began our homeschooling journey. We do not have TV service but I may try to stream it online so we can watch at least a part of it.

I think it would be interesting to research the new president and find out some interesting facts about them as well. Below are some activities I have found:

INAUGURATION DAY! ONE-DAY-MINI-STUDY (Grades 1-12)

Homeschool: January on Pinterest

United States presidential inauguration

Inauguration Day Bingo for Kids! (this one was for Barack Obama but may give you some inspiration for your own BINGO.)

Inauguration Day — Facts and Fun Activities 

Inauguration

The Our White House Inauguration Celebration Kit for Kids!

Hail to the Chief: Inauguration Lessons (lots of neat links to check out!)

Images for Inauguration Day ideas for kids

10 Inauguration Day Resources

Inauguration Party Ideas for Kids (This was for Barack Obama but I’m sure it could be changed to fit the incoming president.)

inauguration day for kids (YouTube)

A Happy Tale

Let me tell you a happy tale

Of something quite funny

Something quite strange

A tale of a cotton tailed bunny

Out my back door I did go

And what should I see

All fluffy and brown

Came hopping up to me

I stared in shock and awe

Not quite sure what to do

Ran back into the house

To grab my phone before he flew

I snapped a picture or two

He came right up to say hi

He cuddled with the cat 

Such a sweet little guy

I caught him right up

And showed him some care

The kids came to see the bunny

With plenty of love to share

I knew without a doubt 

He was someone’s dear pet

So on Facebook I did post 

So they could come and get

The post was shared

Got a couple of likes and a love

Before long the owner was found

With a little help from above

They were happy as could be 

To have him back at home

Safe and sound in his little spot

No more to wander or to roam

Now you’ve heard my happy tale

Of something quite funny

Something quite strange

A tale of a cotton tailed bunny

Momma, come sit with me.

‘Momma, come sit with me.’ That’s what my 3 year old said today at lunchtime. He had been picking at his sandwich and sticking around the table after everyone else had went to their rooms for lunch. He gave me that sweet smile with those little blue eyes just a sparkling. Who could resist that smile?

Not me! The neverending To-Do list can wait. The basket of unfolded laundry can wait. The dirty dishes in the sink can wait. The chores that need finished can wait. The millions of other things running through my mind,at any given moment, can wait.

Right now he needs me and he is asking me for my time. I admit that sometimes I feel like I am spread pretty thin. I feel like I just can’t do anything more than what I am doing right now. It’s hard being a Momma.It’s hard being a single Momma. It’s hard being a special needs Momma. It’s hard being a single special needs Momma! Yes, I said it’s hard. It’s almost downright impossible on some days. But then there are the good days or the little moments like this.

The house is quiet-ish as everyone is settling down for naps and/or quiet time. The school work has been finished and put away. He continues to nibble at his sandwich while I grab my glass of watered down iced tea. I sit in the chair next to him and he smiles. A genuinely lit up ear to ear kind of smile. Those little eyes are just dancing with ideas that he wants to tell me.

So he begins by informing me that my feet are in the water. I laugh and pull my feet up and sit cross legged in the chair.

‘Is that better?’, I ask.

‘Yes, Momma, now the sharks can’t get you.’

‘Well that’s a good thing! Thank you so much for warning me.’, I say.

He laughs and then he proceeds to explain to me how a T-Rex would catch a fish. He imitates the T-Rex while eating his fish (peanut butter sandwich) and he laughs a lot. He tells me what he wants for snack later, a dinosaur cupcake from yesterday, and he asks if he and ‘all my friends’ can go outside after naps. He always refers to his brothers and sisters as ‘all my friends’ and he draws a big circle in the air when he says it. It is so cute!

He eats a few more bites and declares he is full. Then he grabs his napkin and attempts to wipe the peanut butter off his face. I help him and he takes off running back to his room before I can finish. He jumps into his bed and curls up with a stuffed toy and his favorite dinosaur toy. Then he closes his eyes and pretends to be asleep. I lean over and give him a quick kiss on the cheek and he giggles.

These are the moments that make my day and give me the momentum I need to get through the tough days. I get a little sad as I know they are all growing up so fast. I know that before long he won’t be asking me to come sit with him anymore. I want to take the time to cherish these little moments and enjoy them while I can.

I walked back to the kitchen to jot down this post so I will have it to look back on in the future. I think about how blessed I am and how precious life is. I am so thankful that God has put me where I am right now. He has given me more than I ever deserved and I know He has so many plans in store for me and my family.

He always knows what we need and when we need it. This morning I read Proverbs 13:4:

It reminds me that I need to keep pressing on towards my goals. I can’t give up and let myself get lazy. I can have hope in knowing that if I stay diligent there will be a reward for all of the hard work I put in here on earth. This little moment with my son was just a taste of that and it was so beautiful! I can’t even begin to imagine what the future may hold for us.

Thank you Lord for your blessings on me and my family!

Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken

This is a great way to use up leftover chicken and it is a family favorite too! I wasn’t too sure about it when I first made it several years ago but my oldest son fell in love with it. We usually eat it over a bed of rice but you can also eat it over noodles, Cauli-Rice, or even spaghetti squash… yum!

We love to serve this with Cole Slaw and rolls or homemade bread with butter… so good!

Continue reading “Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken”