Shake That Butter Child!

picture credit from Image via Oishii Eats

Wow, for trying to celebrate a holiday that has a lot of historical implications but as far as "super" fun ideas, I think we did alright today! The kids started out this morning, on their own, building a train track that wound its way through our entire upstairs and both of their bedrooms. After waking up and showering I asked them if they thought it was hard work building a railroad and if it took a lot of dedication to finish the job. "Yes!"

We then went downstairs and talked about who we knew that was a hard worker. They all stated Daddy right away, which I thought was really sweet, and made him "goodwork" signs. Riah's had clouds on it and she stated, " I love you Daddy. You are the best!", Austens' had angry birds ( thank you Mom for introducing them to this rage) and Jay's was pretty sweet because it had some unique aspects of my husband's job drawn on there with a note" Good Job". I know Ben will really enjoy receiving these when he gets home.

While they were coloring, I read the Little Red Hen, the story of the Dutch boy who kept his finger in the dike all night long, and Puss and Boots. We discussed who was responsible, hardworking, and that sometimes we can be hardworking but not honest ( in the case of Puss and Boots) and what does the bible have to say about that. We read Proverbs regarding the ant and the sluggard and talked about being lazy.

Finally, due to readingThe Little Red Hen, again, and not making our bread last time....today we did! I'm sorry but there is nothing more therapeutic than kneading and punching bread from scratch. I was a little nervous because we were short three cups of flour and the yeast had already been activated. So, we "quickly" piled into the van, drove to the local store to purchase more flour as well as whipping cream, rushed home and thank goodness our dough was slowly starting to rise but nothing that couldn't be altered.

The dough molded into a perfectly round blob. We took turns folding and kneading the dough in a circle on the counter and even Miss Hanns accompanied us. I'm telling you, when I am stressed I am going to make me some old fashioned bread, fold  and punch the hoopla out of it. Stress be gone!

THEN! I found a recipe to make our own butter! How fun is that?! With our whipping cream, I divided the carton into three separate containers for the kids and we shook away for 30 minutes, working hard and dancing to Mickey Mouse clubhouse, thank you Pandora music. We shook those containers like madmen. Austen, however, was not without , " My arms are sore, I'm tired, oh can I stop now" and unfortunately his solidified before Jayden's,  who did not complain once. If you have never made your own butter it is a great activity on patience, hardwork, not giving up and a busy activity for busy, little hands. This is the recipe I used:

1. Find a jar with a lid.
2. Pour in heavy cream and close lid.
3. Shake, shake , shake!
4. Start to shake your tired child's containers as well
5. Dance around like a mad woman, it keeps life interesting while doing something mundane
6. When the cream has thickened and become buttery, drain off the remaining buttermilk ( the shaking can take anywhere from 15-30 min, we were more 30 minutes)
7. Refrigerate to harden a bit.
8. The buttermilk can be saved up to a week and used for pancakes, etc.
9. Enjoy! You just made your own butter, now you need a cow :)

When the kids get up from their nap and quiet time I think I might have them watch Shirley Temple, A Little Princess. It would be a great example of child labor at a simplistic level. What is there not to love about homeschooling!