Audra and Claire have been working hard on making cute stuffed ladybugs for 4H. Their sewing skills continue to improve- it's so fun to see! And they are loving all the stuffed animals they are making- they are very well loved!
Monday, January 29, 2018
Ladybugs!
Audra and Claire have been working hard on making cute stuffed ladybugs for 4H. Their sewing skills continue to improve- it's so fun to see! And they are loving all the stuffed animals they are making- they are very well loved!
Gymnastics
This season Camille got in on the action for gymnastics. It has been fun watching them learn new skills. And, Audra loves that she can sit back and read and not keep Camille entertained since their gymnastics is at the same time.
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Camille's Train
Camille had a blast putting together a long rain for some of her stuffed animals. Oh, how I love her creativity- but maybe not the mess it leaves behind in her wake.
Friday, January 26, 2018
Snowmen!
Every Thursday we meet together with other homeschoolers for recess. I figured that the snow would be mostly melted at the park, but I was very wrong. So wrong, in fact, that I needed to go back home and get the girls mittens and boots.
It's a good thing I did- they LOVED building snowmen, snow babies, and a snow dog.
It's a good thing I did- they LOVED building snowmen, snow babies, and a snow dog.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Sledding Is the Best!
I told the girls if they finished their school we could go sledding before the snow completely melted. We finished everything by 1 PM and headed out.
The girls were laughing and having the best time! I stayed on the sidelines and read a book and watched as they had the time of their lives.
Then we came home and Audra made homemade buns and Claire made us Sloppy Joe's for dinner. I am really liking 4H this year and all the food the girls are now making!
The girls were laughing and having the best time! I stayed on the sidelines and read a book and watched as they had the time of their lives.
Then we came home and Audra made homemade buns and Claire made us Sloppy Joe's for dinner. I am really liking 4H this year and all the food the girls are now making!
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Camille's Big Day
Claire and Camille have been taking swim lessons, and Camille has really done an awesome job. She is a full on swimmer now.
She took the swim test at the rec center and almost passed. She gets scared because it is so deep and nobody is in with her (they take the test in the lap pool). But, she got an orange instead of a green bracelet which means she can go in the deep deep by herself- which is all she really wanted. She can't go down the slide, but she is OK with that.
Anyway, she was all sorts of excited about passing- and rightfully so. Audra and Claire were at Cloverleaf when we went, so Camille had the entire pool to herself. Now she can't wait until we go back with her sisters so she can play with them in the deep deep.
Seven Brides
We had a little storm today and church was cancelled. I'm not going to admit I was praying for church to be cancelled, but I certainly wasn't sad.
I decided to introduce the girls to Seven Brides For Seven Brothers- a High Family favorite growing up.
The girls loved it. Claire- who loves romance- was grinning from ear to ear the entire time, even though I made sure they understood that Adam was NOT a person you want to marry based on how he treated poor Millie.
It was fun for me to remember that my favorite brother all growing up was always Benjamin. He was definitely the best looking. The similarities between our lives must end there, however, since Benjamin ended up marrying Dorcas in the movie. And surely I am not a Dorcas, though Ben may disagree from time to time.
And, just for fun- this was a comic that melted my heart. Apparently today is a day for cheesy romance.
I decided to introduce the girls to Seven Brides For Seven Brothers- a High Family favorite growing up.
The girls loved it. Claire- who loves romance- was grinning from ear to ear the entire time, even though I made sure they understood that Adam was NOT a person you want to marry based on how he treated poor Millie.
It was fun for me to remember that my favorite brother all growing up was always Benjamin. He was definitely the best looking. The similarities between our lives must end there, however, since Benjamin ended up marrying Dorcas in the movie. And surely I am not a Dorcas, though Ben may disagree from time to time.
And, just for fun- this was a comic that melted my heart. Apparently today is a day for cheesy romance.
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Community Outreach Day
Community Outreach Day continues!
Over 1,000 volunteers in Provo honor Martin Luther King Jr. by performing acts of service
Twenty service projects drew 1,345 volunteers to participate in the Community Outreach Day hosted by Brigham Young University’s Center for Service and Learning. The volunteers were a mixture of students and community members that were brought together to work on localized projects and also to contribute to issues that take place worldwide.
It was senior Ellen Ogilvie’s first time participating in Community Outreach Day, but she enjoyed the opportunity to meet new people and work on projects “that help people we don’t think about too often”. Ogilvie was a volunteer in the refugee service project area and worked to weave plastic bags into mattresses that would be shipped to Lebanon or Bangladesh.
Although half the day was dedicated to service projects, the day also included a keynote speech by Assistant Professor Ryan Gabriel and a performance by the Debra Bonner Unity Gospel Choir. These segments of the day highlighted the power of community and the importance of serving one another.
The Community Outreach Day falls on Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an opportunity to honor King and his legacy of service. The day is an opportunity to connect the BU students and local communities in service and in celebration.
Note: The MLK Walk of Life and Commemoration will take place on BYU Campus Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018.
Sunday, January 14, 2018
4H Baking!
The girls are getting started on their 4H baking projects, and I am LOVING it! Audra is doing yeast breads this year, so she is now my roll maker. And, she makes DELICIOUS rolls with almost no help from me! That frees up so much time for me in the evenings! Here she is with a Swedish cinnamon roll (any tips for making the seal where you join the two sides pretty?) and cinnamon twists. They were so good! But, she makes fabulous dinner rolls as well. I love it!
Claire is also getting pretty excited about baking. She insisted on making French toast for us the other day. She is also learning to brown meat (very helpful to me!) and bake cookies.
It is so nice that they are so helpful in the kitchen!
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Claire's Christmas Gift
Claire found this poem she made me for Christmas but then lost and forgot to give me:
You brush my hair,
You make me food.
You help me out when I am sad.
You do it all very well, I can tell.
I love your eyes,
I love your hair,
I know you care.
Picture: Heart person. A heart person brings love.
She knows her way to her mother's heart!
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Camille's Talk
Camille gave a talk in church:
When I was born, I was born into a family. I have a mom and dad and two older sisters. I love my family very much, and they love me. We do a lot of fun things together like play games, play chase, and eat dinner together.
I love my family very much, but they are just my earthly family. I have an even bigger family because I know tha tI am a child of God. Before we came to earth, we lived in Heaven with Heavenly Father and Jesus. We are all God's children, and He loves us very, very much. He wants us to return to Him. We can do this by keeping His commandments and loving others.
I know that I am a child of God and that He loves me very much. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
When I was born, I was born into a family. I have a mom and dad and two older sisters. I love my family very much, and they love me. We do a lot of fun things together like play games, play chase, and eat dinner together.
I love my family very much, but they are just my earthly family. I have an even bigger family because I know tha tI am a child of God. Before we came to earth, we lived in Heaven with Heavenly Father and Jesus. We are all God's children, and He loves us very, very much. He wants us to return to Him. We can do this by keeping His commandments and loving others.
I know that I am a child of God and that He loves me very much. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Thursday, January 4, 2018
The Dushanbe Tea House
Today we went with some friends of ours up to The Dushanbe Tea House. It was such a fun treat! It is a tea house that was built in Tajikistan completely by hand, dismantled and shipped to Boulder (they are sister cities), and reassembled into a restaurant.
The workmanship was worth the trip, and the food also helped. Though most of the food was French food, which was a little funny, but oh so delicious!
The workmanship was worth the trip, and the food also helped. Though most of the food was French food, which was a little funny, but oh so delicious!
Monday, January 1, 2018
Ringing In the New Year
We don't go all out for New Year's, but we did a few things to celebrate.
We did a countdown on Netflix before bed time and let the girls pop some poppers. They still went to bed at their regular bedtime. At some point we will let them stay up late, but not even Ben and I want to stay up late, so for now this works.
Ben and I also went to bed at our regular time.
The girls woke up and made this:
Claire bought some silly string, and she got the brilliant idea to make a big mermaid and spray it with silly string. I love that she came up with the idea all by herself, and she and Audra put the plan into action.
Also, Claire drew a great mermaid!
Then, I made crepes for breakfast. I'm not sure what is up with Claire's face. Crepes for New Year's may become a new tradition as the kids really do love crepes. I should make them more.
Ben and I also went to bed at our regular time.
The girls woke up and made this:
Claire bought some silly string, and she got the brilliant idea to make a big mermaid and spray it with silly string. I love that she came up with the idea all by herself, and she and Audra put the plan into action.
Also, Claire drew a great mermaid!
Then, I made crepes for breakfast. I'm not sure what is up with Claire's face. Crepes for New Year's may become a new tradition as the kids really do love crepes. I should make them more.
Here's to 2018!
2018 Predictions
2018 promises to be an interesting year.
I have been dealing with some health issues that I won't get into right now, and because of that I am needing to make some lifestyle changes. The biggest things are with diet and stress. I have to de-stress my life. 2018 is going to be my year of "no." My plan is to take things a lot slower- fewer activities for the kids, meditating daily, saying "no" when people ask me to do things and to help out. This is going to be really hard for me, but I know it is incredibly important. I have to put my health first. So, if I say "no", please don't be offended. It's just a stage of life that I have to commit to.
But as such, it is causing me to focus on the things that are most important. I'm trying to not get caught up in the news and just "let things go." I'm trusting in the words of Gordon B. Hinckly (one of the leaders of our church), that "it will all work out."
With that said, here's my predictions for 2018:
1. Broncos will have another losing season. But, Seahawks will make the playoffs.
2. Vance Joseph will be fired as the Broncos head coach. It was announced today that he will be back next year, which I simply can't believe.
3. Camille will start homeschooling with us which will be wonderful (believe it or not, homeschooling really doesn't add stress when I use the boxed curriculum that I don't have to come up with. I think homeschooling is in many ways far less stressful than sending the kids to school and dealing with homework, lunches, bullies, teachers, etc). She will be reading.
4. We will go to the balloon festival in Albuquerque! We actually have several trips already scheduled, but this is the "bonus" trip that I'm hoping we squeeze in as I think the girls would love it.
5. Dems will take back the house.
6. Audra and Claire will go to state for 4H. (4H and soccer are the two activities I'm planning to have the girls still do. Maybe volleyball for Audra as well. And gymnastics for Claire and Camille. But that's it!).
7. I will finish the last cross stitch Christmas stocking I need to make for me. Whew- it will be nice when that is done! But I need to get started on it. Thankfully, that is a relaxing activity for me- once I get it started.
8. My health will be improved! What does that mean? Fewer meds, better diet, less stress.
9. Audra will surpass me in piano skills and I will need to sign her up for actual lessons again. Claire will start violin, which will prove much more difficult than she thinks it will.
10. Despite our trials, we will find JOY in our family and grow closer together
I have been dealing with some health issues that I won't get into right now, and because of that I am needing to make some lifestyle changes. The biggest things are with diet and stress. I have to de-stress my life. 2018 is going to be my year of "no." My plan is to take things a lot slower- fewer activities for the kids, meditating daily, saying "no" when people ask me to do things and to help out. This is going to be really hard for me, but I know it is incredibly important. I have to put my health first. So, if I say "no", please don't be offended. It's just a stage of life that I have to commit to.
But as such, it is causing me to focus on the things that are most important. I'm trying to not get caught up in the news and just "let things go." I'm trusting in the words of Gordon B. Hinckly (one of the leaders of our church), that "it will all work out."
With that said, here's my predictions for 2018:
1. Broncos will have another losing season. But, Seahawks will make the playoffs.
2. Vance Joseph will be fired as the Broncos head coach. It was announced today that he will be back next year, which I simply can't believe.
3. Camille will start homeschooling with us which will be wonderful (believe it or not, homeschooling really doesn't add stress when I use the boxed curriculum that I don't have to come up with. I think homeschooling is in many ways far less stressful than sending the kids to school and dealing with homework, lunches, bullies, teachers, etc). She will be reading.
4. We will go to the balloon festival in Albuquerque! We actually have several trips already scheduled, but this is the "bonus" trip that I'm hoping we squeeze in as I think the girls would love it.
5. Dems will take back the house.
6. Audra and Claire will go to state for 4H. (4H and soccer are the two activities I'm planning to have the girls still do. Maybe volleyball for Audra as well. And gymnastics for Claire and Camille. But that's it!).
7. I will finish the last cross stitch Christmas stocking I need to make for me. Whew- it will be nice when that is done! But I need to get started on it. Thankfully, that is a relaxing activity for me- once I get it started.
8. My health will be improved! What does that mean? Fewer meds, better diet, less stress.
9. Audra will surpass me in piano skills and I will need to sign her up for actual lessons again. Claire will start violin, which will prove much more difficult than she thinks it will.
10. Despite our trials, we will find JOY in our family and grow closer together
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