Harder Than It Looks!

I hosted a co-op today called "Let's Build It." I got the ideas from Pinterest, but needed a co-op to get the energy to do the activities!

First off, the kids built a tower out of toothpicks and marshmallows. This is a lot harder than it seems!

It took awhile, but they figured out that triangles are best- after that, they built a pretty tall structure.

Next, they built boats out of aluminum foil and Popsicle sticks. Then we went to the river to see if they would float.

It was a pretty simple co-op, but a lot of fun. The kids had a great time- and hopefully learned a few engineering skills as well!

Finishing Strong...Or Not!

Last week we "finished" our second year of homeschooling.

I am using the term "finished" quite loosely, because it's not like we all of a sudden hit a stopping point where everything abruptly ended at once, but it still nice to say the word "finished." The girls are now, according to our records, 2nd and 4th graders- they have advanced.

We have been gradually finishing the curriculum over the last several weeks- grammar was done mid-May, writing at the end of May, and really it was just our reading that we needed to continue, and that is what we finished last week.

That does not include math, which we are actually going to keep doing through the summer- A) Because we are a bit behind, and B) Because I think it's good to keep working on it anyway to keep up with what they have learned.

How did Year 2 go? Quite well, actually! I have definitely seen the girls improve- especially in reading and writing, but in other subjects as well. Audra is loving cursive writing, and both of them are reading exceptionally well. I am also feeling much more confident in my own abilities, and in how this works and how it can be successful in our own home.

This year we learned more about world history- including the Renaissance, Reformation, and on up to World War Two. Audra learned double digit multiplication, Claire learned her addition and subtraction facts. They did some geography, and learned about various artists. The girls attended Options, which they both loved- and it was great for me to not have all the pressure of their education as well. Next year we are switching to the Options program in Douglas County because it is a lot closer. This was a difficult decision, but one that I feel really good about.

There will be a couple of other changes as well next year that I'm excited about. Audra is going to start band at the local elementary school. She wants to play the trumpet. And, as mentioned earlier, I am trying an entirely new curriculum which I am hoping will provide us a little more flexibility.

Basically, we are continually evaluating and adapting, learning and growing. The kids are still enjoying homeschooling- especially Audra, who remembers how much homework she would have to do AFTER sitting in a chair for 6 hours. Audra loves that we can get all of our work done in a few hours and then have lots of time to play/go to the pool/attend co-ops, etc.

As long as we continue to enjoy homeschooling, we will continue to do it. When that changes, we will look at different options.

Audra did get her ITBS test scores back, and she did exactly as I expected- awesome in reading/writing, not quite as awesome in math. She's perfectly average and perfectly wonderful. It was nice, though, to have it reiterated that I don't need a test score to know exactly where my kids are.

People keep asking me if we will keep homeschooling over the summer. We can, but I want the kids to be kids and not have as much structure over the summer. We will continue with math, as stated, and with reading out loud, but it won't be as intense as "school." Our school this summer will be hiking, play dates, hanging out at the pool, cooking together, lots of free time to do nothing, maybe doing some crafts and random science experiments. You know, basically living and enjoying each other- just what a summer should be!

Here's to another great and successful year!!!!

How To Take A Hike With Children

Today we ventured out for another hike- this one a new hike to the south of us- Dawson's Butte (sadly, no Creek was to be found).

I wouldn't say that Ben and I are amazing at getting our kids into nature, and we certainly are not die- hards (after all, we have yet to own a CamelPak and we all wear tennis shoes instead of hiking shoes- and I can't even remember that the correct term is "hiking BOOT"), but we are learning.

In hiking today, I realized that we have come to a few "rules" for hiking with our kiddos. In no particular order:

1. On HOT days, choose a shady hike. It got into the 90's today, but this hike was perfect for it- lots and lots of shade, and there was a really nice breeze that came through and kept us cool.

2. Bring nature journals. We started these a few years ago, and I'm so glad we did. There are no hard and fast rules, but somewhere along the hike we will stop and let the girls draw pictures of what they see. It is pretty precious to see nature through their eyes, and to see how their drawings improve over the years. It also encourages them to really notice and see nature- not to just rush along.

3. This is the  most important rule: Bring snacks! Lot and lots and lots of snacks! I did not bring snacks when we went to Elk Meadows, and I paid dearly for it with a triple dose of whine. (Of course, it goes without saying that water is also crucial. And bring more than you think you need. A lot more!)

4. Respect nature, but let kids touch it, too. Of course we want to preserve and take care of the trails, but not allowing kids to smell the flowers, touch prickly cacti, or catch a bug here and there is a disservice. Kids need to be IN nature- not held at a distance. Today we discovered that you don't ever want to fall into a yucca bush, because when we touched it, we learned that while it looks fragile and gentle, it is stiff, prickly, and hard- a very cool discovery for our family to learn together!

5. Expect whining. And perhaps some tears. Sometimes I bring a pack to carry Camille, but she is getting really big and heavy, so I want to "toughen" her up and have her get used to walking the whole hike-so we had a few tears. Not a ton, and only at the very end, but they came. Thankfully, the snacks kept the tears to a minimum!

6. With kids, we have learned we need to lower our expectations. Don't push the kids too hard. Dawson's Butte is actually a 5-mile loop. In my dream land, I hoped that we would be able to do the entire 5 miles, but realistically, that was never going to happen. We decided to walk for about 45 minutes, and then turn back. We ended up walking about an hour- but in that hour, we only went LESS THAN A MILE, and then it took us another hour to walk LESS THAN A MILE back. Is that ridiculous? No- it was perfect. The kids stopped to look at every beetle they saw, wonder at the beauty of each butterfly, and count all the different colors of flowers they could see at any given time. Yes, it took us a very long time to go a seemingly short distance- and it was fabulous.

7. Enjoy the journey- not just the destination.

8. Take lots of pictures. Lots and lots of pictures! I hope my kids remember that their parents tried their best to show them God's creations. Perhaps they will hate us for it, I don't know. But I know I will have many, many fond memories of the time we spent out on the trails- and I am 100% certain I will miss these times, but at least I will have pictures.

9. If two out of three kids fall asleep on the way home, the hike was a success!

This Girl!

This girl has been pretty silly lately.

The other day Audra and Claire were trying to read quietly in their rooms and didn't let Camille come in to bug them. So, Camille went downstairs and put these signs on the bathroom door:

When Ben came home she told him that the sign said, "Camille's Bathroom Only!" and nobody else was allowed to use that bathroom. Now she polices the bathroom to make sure Audra and Claire did not use it, but I got special permission to also be able to use this bathroom.

Then, yesterday Camille got sent to time-out for hitting Claire. She started sobbing. Suddenly in her sobbing she starts screaming, "I want Daddy! When is Daddy coming home from work?" I had to laugh, which maybe wasn't nice. But, really- did she think if Daddy was home that it was somehow OK to hit Claire? Or that she wouldn't get in trouble?

She and Claire were fighting yesterday about who would be the bad guy because neither of them wanted that role. All of a sudden Camille said, "I don't want to be the bad guy- I want to be Satan!" Umm....does that mean we are failing as parents?

Here's some of her pictures- she really is quite the artist, just like her sisters. She loves to sit and draw/color and can do so for hours.

Claire's Philosophy On Life

Claire: Mom, can a person who is not married adopt a baby?

Me: Yes, but they prefer to have babies go to a married couple to provide more stability for the baby. But sometimes it doesn't work out that way. Why?

Claire: Because I don't want to ever get married.

Me: Oh. Why?

Claire: Because I don't want to have to kiss a boy on the lips.

North Pole!

Today was our annual trip to the North Pole! We were all so excited- it has become such a wonderful tradition for us.

This year, we didn't need a stroller, didn't have to worry about naps or diapers- it was wonderful! I feel like we are at such a perfect place in our lives. I have been overwhelmed with gratitude for our little family. In years to come, I think I will look back at this time as the best time of our lives- we are so blessed right now. We haven't yet hit the tween attitudes (which we know are coming), and it's just FUN to be with these kids! We have such a great little family- I love our life. I love what we have built, and are continuing to build. What a great season of life we are in!

Now, I'll step off my soap box and post a bajillion pictures!