Back to business (I hope)

I’m going to claim that the reason I didn’t blog much in the past year was because I was homeschooling Aaron.  I’m not sure if that is exactly why, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 

It looks like back in October I finished blogging about the summer and then in November I jumped into some of the things I was thankful for, but other than that I’ve been totally MIA for this past year.  I’m sure most of you don’t really care about everything we did, but these pictures are how I keep caught up with my journaling and saving pictures for our yearly calendar. 

Here are the things I want to blog about in the next few weeks:

• Paul’s Birthday
• field trip to toyota plant
• halloween
• david’s tubes in his ears
• christian’s birthday
• 10 yr anniversary
• zoo
• trip to utah for christmas
• marcia in town
• pauls trips to washington and utah
• camping over spring break
• aaron’s birthday party
• easter
• running 5k
• my birthday
• 7 acre wood
• memorial day
• summary of each kid
• summer vacation

I’m certainly not promising to post about each of these, we’ll see how I do.  And since no one wants to read a blog without any pictures, here’s a recent one of my cute kiddos!

  

Last Day of School

School is out and Summer Break has officially started.

Here are the first day and last day of school pictures for a comparison of how my kids have grown over the past 9 months.

Before 3rd grade and 1st grade

After 3rd grade and 1st grade.  (They don’t look that different to me!)

Brian had a great 1st grade teacher in Mrs. Kelly. 

I’m not sure how much she tamed his craziness versus how much he matured, but he did great in school and by the end of the year wasn’t getting any disciplinary marks at all.  At his awards presentation he was the only student in his class to get the “Gold Academics Award” for getting straight A’s all year long. 

He also got an award for having an “Awesome Attitude” and was obviously the biggest class clown during the awards presentation.  Mrs. Kelly is moving on to 2nd grade so he might get her again this next year too.

Aaron’s teacher was me all year and we had a great year.  We finished the 3rd grade grammar book which had him diagramming sentences and memorizing poems and I think it was a great program.  We went through several spelling book (he knows how to spell amazingly well) and almost 2 full history books.  We started a writing program mid year and will continue to work on it and the history during the summer.  He also memorized scriptures, did typing lessons and learned to write in cursive.  He took swimming lessons and piano lessons and read innumerable books.  Science was also a lot of fun and we did lots of experiments. 

 

Math, of course, was where he excelled.  We have a few more weeks to finish this summer, but then he will have finished 3rd, 4th and 5th grade math books.  We are actively working with the local elementary school to determine what teacher to put him with next year and how we can work on allowing him to continue to excel in math at his own pace in class.  We are sending him back to Stephens Elementary in the Fall but I am so glad I got to homeschool him this year.  I loved it and hope to be able to do it again with my other children. 

Now on to summer!

Gratitude Thursday 3

1. Paul working from home

This week I was able to chaperone Brian’s field trip, all because Paul was able to work from home in the morning.  Paul typically works from home one day a week and it is so nice.  Nice to get to have lunch with him.  Nice to be able to quickly run to the store while the littles are napping.  Nice to just have him around.  I like him! 

2. Doctors

Today Christian had his 3yo check-up.  He does have an ear infection and is now on antibiotics, plus we’ve been giving him breathing treatments for a week or so when he’s been coughing and wheezing (he probably has asthma like Brian and I).  We love our pediatrician (and her nurse that goes to our church!) and today I’m grateful for access to such great medical technology. 

3.  Social Media (Facebook, Pinterest, etc.)

I know this is a silly thing to be grateful for, and I know I spend way too much time on my computer, but it very helpful to me in many ways.  Whether it is getting support from fellow moms on facebook, keeping in touch with friends from high school or college, or finding new recipes online, I utilize social media a lot.  I’m grateful for the technology and all that it enables me to do in my life.

4.  My SmartPhone

I only got my smartphone in February, and I love it!  I love being able to keep in contact with my e-mail or facebook wherever I am.  I love being able to read my scriptures or my Sunday School lesson while waiting for the bus stop.  I love being able to unwind with a good book in 30 seconds whenever I need it.  And I talk on the phone a lot too!  I’m grateful for this technology as well.

5. My Family

I have the best family.  I know, I know, you think yours is pretty good too, but mine is the best!  I have the cutest and smartest kids.  The nicest and most handsome husband.  The best brother and sister and in-laws around.  And my mother and father (although I miss him a lot) are the most awesome.  I am so grateful for my family and especially the fact that I am sealed to them for eternity!  I’m glad you’re mine!

Gratitude Thursday 2

Um, Actually, it’s Saturday.  Man, I am just not in the habit of blogging again!  I do have lots of posts that are needed, Paul’s birthday, Christian’s birthday, other fun things we’ve done lately.  But before I get overwhelmed with that, here are 5 more things I’m grateful for this week. 

1. Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

This week I have single handedly eaten 2 large pumpkins worth of roasted pumpkin seeds.  I can’t even imagine how much Halloween candy I might have eaten had I not grabbed a handful of these instead.  I roasted them in the oven with garlic salt on them and they were heavenly.  I still have one more pumpkin to cook and I look forward to more seeds (since I finished the last of my stash yesterday!)

2. Bountiful Baskets

Every other week I order my Bountiful Basket which is filled with fruit and vegetables.  Sometimes I get some fruits or vegetables that I don’t know what I’m going to do with, but then I experiment with new recipes and often find new favorites.  I often plan my meals around what produce I got and I think it has helped my kids be healthier too.  It costs $15 to order my baskets and it has about $25 full of great produce.  I am a backup volunteer site coordinator, meaning I can help run our local site and volunteering is fun.  Anyone who has more questions about it is welcome to ask.

3. Stephens Elementary

We have a great local elementary school.  Brian is attending 1st grade there right now and loves it.  We have had wonderful experiences with all the teachers we’ve come in contact with.  I’ve been homeroom mom, taught Junior Achievement, chaperoned field trips, and volunteered in other ways too.  Paul has been a watch dog on campus and helped in the classroom too.  Even my mom has been able to go in and read to the kids.  We are so lucky to have such great educators around who care for our kids and do their best to teach them.  I’m grateful that public school is a viable option in my area. 

4. Freedom

 

I am very grateful to live in a country with so much freedom.  I’m grateful for democracy and that we get to choose our leaders.  While not all the candidates I voted for won their races, at least I got the opportunity to vote.  I know many people in this world do not have that freedom, women especially.  I know that I live in a promised land and that I am very blessed to have the rights and opportunities and freedoms that come with living here. 

5. Friends

I don’t have a picture to post here, but I am grateful for the friends I have in my life.  Friends from my childhood who I have re-connected with on Facebook.  Friends in college who have kept in touch despite how different our lives have turned out.  Friends I have made in my neighborhood.  And especially friends from church.  Whether hanging out at playgroup, commenting on each others Facebook posts or talking on the phone, I know I have a lot of support.  Even my siblings and my siblings-in-law have turned out to be great friends for me and I am very grateful for all those who help me and love me in my life.  I truly hope I am as good of a friend to all of them as they are to me. 

Just writing these things down helps me have a good start to my day!  I read a great article this morning on Counting Your Blessings.  We should all do it more often!

Gratitude Thursday 1

I can’t believe it’s already November!  Like last year, I want to post 5 things I’m grateful for each Thursday in November.  Here goes:

1.  Health – Someone might notice that I posted this on Friday and not Thursday.  That’s because I wasn’t feeling well on Thursday.  Luckily I think it was just a 24-hour bug or something, because I’m feeling better now.  I am very grateful for my health and the health of the rest of my family.  We may get sick from time to time, and I have to give occasional breathing treatments to my kids for asthma, but we are generally healthy and I know how lucky we are for that and I hope not to take it too much for granted.

2.  Avocados

Yesterday I threw a HouseParty sponsored by Avocados from Mexico.  I didn’t grow up eating avocados as neither of my parents liked them and wasn’t really introduced to them until after I got married.  I now love them!  They are a super food and are so yummy.  I’m very grateful we get avocados in season year round!

3.  My jogging stroller

Even before David was born I started looking for a double jogging stroller.  I finally found what I wanted when he was about 6 months old.  Then my mom bought it for me for a birthday present.  And I love it!  I use it almost every day as I take Brian to and from the bus stop.  I haven’t gotten into jogging much because it was too hot this summer, but now that the weather is finally turning nice I’m ready to start jogging more. 

4.  Homeschooling Aaron

I am very grateful that I have the opportunity this year to spend extra time with my oldest son.  He is awesome.  He loves to learn and I love to teach him.  I am grateful for my education, the educational resources that abound, and the opportunity to stay home with my kids so that I can teach him. 

5.  Visiting Teaching

In our church we have the opportunity to learn how to love each other like the Savior does, by being assigned as visiting teachers.  I have 2 great visiting teachers who visit with me every month to check on me and find out if there is anything I need.  Likewise I have 3 sisters I’m assigned to check on.  As I reach out to these women each month I feel the love of the Lord for each one of them and my understanding of Heavenly Father’s love and plan grow.  I am very grateful for this inspired program in our church.

I’m already starting to make my list for next week!  I love this exercise!

David’s Birthday

It’s hard to believe my little baby boy turned one on August 29th!

For those of you who aren’t around him and don’t know him very well let me tell you all about my baby! 

I nursed him the entire first year and loved it…except when I didn’t.  He also never slept through the night that entire first year and I nursed him in the middle of the night each night…I jest, he did sleep through the night maybe 10 times.  But now that he’s just drinking from a sippy cup he sleeps through the night.  Hallelujah!

He got his first two teeth at 2.5 months and at 1 year (13 months now) he has 12 and is working on the 13th and 14th.

He learned to walk at 9 months and is now climbing on EVERYTHING.  I take him off the kitchen and dining room tables multiple times a day.  It is driving me crazy, but he is obsessed.  (If you tell him not to do something, it becomes a single minded obsession for him.  It’s a fun stage.)

He has had way too many ear infections so yesterday he had tubes put in his ears.  We were nervous of course, he’s our first kid to need medical procedures like that, but he did great and is feeling much better now. 

He has the best smile!  And an even better laugh!  He kisses us constantly.  Big open mouth right on the kisser. 

He loves to climb on us and his brothers and is very friendly.  He loves being outside and heads straight for whatever door is open and will just start walking down the sidewalk as fast as he can. 

Blowing out his candle

Eating his cupcake

Opening his presents

Happy Birthday David!  We love having you in our family and watching your personality emerge.  You are awesome and I’m glad you’re mine!

1st day of school

School started this year on Monday, August 22, 2012.  The bus stop this year is a block away instead of right in front of our house, but I enjoy the extra time walking with Brian most mornings and afternoons. 

As you can see Brian is going into 1st grade

And Aaron is going into 3rd grade

They think they are cool!

And the younger brothers want in on the pictures too!



After school we went to our favorite ice cream shop which is just down the street from us, Ritters Frozen Custard.  Heavenly!  The boys all thoroughly enjoyed it. 
Let’s all hope this is another GREAT school year!

Great Wolf Lodge

The day after Brian’s birthday our family took a vacation to Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas.  We had a great time!  There were lots of waterslides, both inside and out, both for the bigger kids and some for the younger, and lots of things to see and do. 

There was an area just for the little kids where Christian spent most of his time.  Brian could go down these slides too so Paul or I took turns holding David in this area too. 

While obviously David is too young for many of the activities and spent most of the time in our arms, or in the room napping, but I still think he had fun too.

I really enjoyed the Lazy River, but the day I took these pictures I was holding David and Paul was in the River with the other boys. 

There was also a tide pool with water spouts in the shallow end that Christian and David could splash in. 

Aaron was tall enough to go on all the big slides, and Brian was tall enough for most of them.  Paul and I took turns going down rides with them and had a great time!

There was also an outdoor area we enjoyed. 

Fort MacKenzie had the “big” bucket of water which fell every few minutes. 

In the evening they had storytime that the boys enjoyed in their pajamas.

Aaron poses when you take his picture!

Christian still talks often about “Big Bad Wolf Lodge.” We had a good time and would enjoy going back when the babies are older!