Author: amanda

amanda

2025-26 School Year–Week Thirty-Two

That’s a wrap on the 2025-26 school year!

We spent the week tying up loose ends. Chickadee finished her massive algebra review. She also finished the final chapter in science. In history we read about independence in Africa and Nelson Mandela. We wrapped up our study of more modern history with one of my favorite 8th grade activities…a study of “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” I gave her one last surprise writing assignment…she wrote a short essay about Simone Biles. We finished The Phantom Tollbooth. And we even squeezed in a visit to the Missouri Botanical Garden!

Our last recipe for the year came from a new book that followed our theme…The Official American Girl Cookbook, which is a new publication just in time for their 40th anniversary. We made Pac-Manicotti, a recipe inspired by Courtney, the doll that most closely represents the time in which I grew up!

And we celebrated the end of a successful school year with a treat at Dutch Bros!

This has been a different and busy school year, and we’re ready for a break…but there are plenty of opportunities for learning this summer before Chickadee begins high school!

K to 8

It’s become something of a tradition for me to post a gallery of the first days of school from kindergarten through 8th grade on the last day of each child’s 8th grade year. So, for the last time, here’s a look back at Chickadee from K to 8:

And a bonus picture of her today on her last day of 8th grade:

On to high school!

Star Wars Days 2026

May the Fourth Be With You! (But watch out for the Revenge of the Fifth!!!)

We have once again enjoyed a duo of Star Wars Days, starting yesterday with a breakfast of Circumtore Hoops (buttermilk donuts flavored with nutmeg and topped with a vanilla glaze and freeze-dried strawberries) from Star Wars: The Ultimate Cookbook. I also made Huyang Tea, which was flavored with coconut milk and honey, from the new Star Wars: Galactic Drinks book.

We had a snack of Kullgroon Drops (frozen grapes tossed with blue raspberry Jell-O) from Star Wars: The Ultimate Cookbook. I don’t even like grapes, but I thought these were really good…freezing them makes a ton of difference!

For dinner we had our favorite Ronto Wraps made with pork tenderloin, sausages, a tangy slaw, and a spicy peppercorn sauce on homemade flatbreads, just like we had at Galaxy’s Edge at Disney World!

To go with dinner, I made Yocola Azalus, a kiwi and matcha based drink from Star Wars: The Ultimate Cookbook:

And for dessert, blue raspberry flavored Csaplar Shakes from Star Wars: The Ultimate Cookbook:

Of course I had a fashion for the day…I wore the same skirt as last year, and added a new pair of earrings also inspired by Padmé: 

For the Revenge of the Fifth, we had “Darth Donuts,” my own creation that was a twist on the previous day’s recipe for breakfast.

For dinner, I made Sakhet’s Special from Star Wars: The Ultimate Cookbook. It featured soba noodles topped with steak and a sweet sauce made with tamari, mirin, ginger, and sesame oil.

Our drink was the Red Kyber Crystal from the new Star Wars: Galactic Drinks book. The main flavors were watermelon and mint, and included a Pop Rocks coated piece of watermelon on top!

I made Nectrose Crystals, a homemade candy from the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge cookbook:

Which went on dessert, the Mimbanese Mudslide. from the same cookbook. It’s chocolate pudding with a touch of cinnamon and topped with whipped cream and crushed Oreos in addition to the candy:

This is one of favorite celebrations of the year, and I love coming up with menus and trying new things for it!

M*A*S*H Quote of the Day–5/4/26

“Some dessert? Would you like to see the pastry tank? We have some military favorites. Napoleonic war, Pie Alamo, Caramel Custer.” Captain Hawkeye Pierce, “Aid Station,” season three, episode 19