"•A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. "

~"Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings"~

So, I have a little bird-watcher on my hands..Raney has developed quite the facination and love for them(which I most certainly can't blame her!). She wakes in the morning, makes her tea, binoculars in hand...heads on the back porch to watch them. She reads about them day and night. She is learning to identify certain "songs" now. There are some really cool websites where you can plug in the type of bird, and it will play it's "song". Very neat! She was so exited the other morning when she glanced out the glass door and saw a woodpecker. She informed me that this is a rare occurance, so I was quick to come and check it out. She said so rare, that bird watchers have to use certain smells to draw them in (she told me the ingredients, but I can't seem to remember...lol). We are exited about a nature trail course that the Botanical Gardens is offering for homeschoolers in October. Bird watching is a part of the program..she is looking forward to it.

So....with her love of birds and art, she has decided to start painting them..here are a few of her first ones...

She loves to go and visit her papa Charles, and bird watch with him..they both have the same love for them...

Our latest going on in the kitchen was with Gabe...he made some "Super Nachos". He made homemade tortilla chips..which has made me never want to buy store bought again...they were actually fairly easy to make, as well :)

...And the finished product!

Also, let me note, on my run this morning...I felt the slight touch of Fall in the air! Can I hear an AMEN!?!

Until next time,

Mama B ;)

Ain't No Thang, Chicken Waaaang.....

"The quality of an exceptional cook are akin to those of a successful tightrope walker; an abiding passion for the task, courage to go out on a limb and and an impeccable sense of balance"



It's so amazing what children (and adults, mind you) learn from something as simple as cooking. Reading, math, science, hand and eye coordination, responsibility, time-management, good character, hygiene, working well with others, patience...the list goes on...my goal this year is to bring the kids into the kitchen as much as I possibly can. I see a "twinkle" in their eye, when I do, and currently have two of the three saying they want to be a Chef like their dad when they grow up..(along with being  a pro skater, says Graham...lol). Yesterday, Graham prepared "Peppery Chicken Wings" with a homemade healthier alternative to bleu cheese dip, which contained whole natural plain yogurt, fresh bleu cheese, onion, apple cider vinegar etc...I loved the dipping sauce...but still can't convince the kids that they like bleu cheese..."too stinky" they say. Graham is my full energy child, and has a tendency to be jumping off the walls if not entertained. What I saw in the kitchen was a very focused, content young man. It was very cool.

He was showing some pretty promising dicing skills with the onion ;)

The yummy finished product:  Just in time for daddy coming in from class!

This year it is my goal to virtually homeschool for free. The resources through the internet, local libraries, local and surrounding museums are out of this world! I would rather spend the money on family "field Trips" then on a boring curriculum. We can get this for free of the web these days. I'm so exited, and boy, has it taken a load off!

Yesterday, the kids begged for some math worksheets, so I printed off a gazillion and they spent all afternoon doing them. I told them we didn't even "technically" have to get on our schedule until Sept 1. Hey, I wasn't complaining....

Well, I guess that's all for today..Mt. Laundry is unfortunatly calling my name!

Mama B

All "Spruced" up and Monday night at Moe's ;)

"Joy and Peace come from knowing, believing-trusting in the Lord with simple childlike faith." ~Joyce Meyer

 Josh made his final decision on his externship today with the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. Now we are just waiting for final offer paperwork, the back-ground check and references to clear..and then he will be on his way at the end of Sept. Things are really starting to come to a head..and I just can't help but be so exited about our future and wherever the Lord leads us. I know that Josh is happy, so that in-turn, makes me one happy lady! The Lord is opening doors for us left and right and all it took from us was for us to cling to a "childlike faith" and hang in there.....

Josh, the kids and I went to see my sister's new  "Spruce Salon" today. WOW!  The place is amazing! I saw it from the begining of transformation to now, and the changes are incredible. I'm so happy for her, and know that the Lord is blessing her and Cyndi with this new business decision!

Skip(the master of transormation) putting on the final touches...

The kids were in quite the hurry there..cause they knew were headed after, to go swimming at the YMCA...boy, when we left and got in the car, they got a BIG talking to from mama, about learning patience!(we have ALOT to learn this year and start correcting some bad habits). So thankful for homeschooling and just being able to work on building character this year!

 Had a nice "track-and-field" workout at the Y...Raney sure was booking it for her mile..she was so proud and boy, so were we! Josh and I ran a mile and did some calisthenics. We all got rained on, practiced long-jump, and all talked about how we thought it was so cool they have a roller hockey court(we have been un-aware they had one). Gabe has agreed that this is one sport he is definatly interested in ;)(besides swimming)  Looks like that is the next sports gear the Baum's will be investing in...this should be interesting since none of us have tried this before. Hey, but sounds like fun to me!:) Gabe swam his laps in the indoor pool and talked to his dad about ways to make your movements smoother as a swimmer (Josh still holds records for breast-stroke at the Y in NC, which he was quick to tell Gabe!...hahahaha!)

We had worked up quite an appetite, so headed to meet Papa and Grandmama for our "traditional" Moe's kids-eat-free Monday. We are developing some sweet memories here..(other than me requesting too many fresh jalapenos on my homewrecker...woowee, it was HOT). Today was cooler in GA(tolerable, shall I say) so we chatted on patio about Josh's externship and I begged my parents to move to Colorado with us! Mama didn't buy into that idea, but was quick to assure me that we could get a guest house, and they would use it as their "Summer home" three months a year....lol...sounds great to me mama!;)

So now, here I am, at almost 10pm writing in my blog, and reflecting on my day..this is actually quite nice. Oh, and not to mention I have the kids begging me to do homework! Did I hear this correctly?..aaaaah, life is good!

Until tommorrow,

Mama B

The begining of another homeschooling adventure :)

Chicken Veloute

 So, here I am....new to this blogging thing, but actually quite inspired. The kids and I watched "Julie and Julia" the other day, and became quite fascinated with the idea. What a great movie, and we enjoyed it thoroughly.  After much discussion on internet safety, and the things you can and can't say in cyberworld...I sent my daughter on her merry way to start her own "cooking blog". I feel it is a very rewarding thing to be able to post your thoughts and ideas each day...so here I am joining her!

 Today was an average lazy Sunday for the Baum's...well, until the afternoon. It's amazing what taking the time to just sit back and talk to your children does to one's spirit. It's still hot as hades here in Georgia..but we braved it anyway and headed out to appease my youngest son, by taking him to the skate park. He is getting really good in the "bowl" and is actually the only 8 year old I see out there doing what he does. I think we have found his niche ;) After sweating gallons, he finished up his hour there, and we headed out to the grocery store with my daughter's list of the recipes she will be cooking this week. I walked her and my youngest son through each aisle, and it was the first time I really saw them pay attention to different items and the way to shop! It was super cool! We headed back to the house with our "all of a sudden treasures" and my daughter and I started our first recipe of the week...the cookbook we are going through first is called "Great Recipes for Great Health"..today we prepared "Spicy Stuffed Eggs". My daughter prepared most of it all herself, with a little questions to Mom here and there. They were superbly yummy!! The whole house was happy to try our new cooking adventure outcome.

Now, hubby is using his professional culinary skills in the kitchen, and preparing what smells to me, as excellence...as usual. How did I ever get so lucky as to marry a chef?

Until tommorrow, blog world....

Mama B

Daddy getting his "Cook" on!! (with an immensly large hole in his shirt..that I've tried to throw away on several occasions...just ain't happenin)