Girls Weekend

The kids were doing a little "Sound of Music" line up as I was getting ready to go to my girls weekend. They wanted to show the baby sitter who was tallest. Looks like for now it still is in order of youngest to oldest. 

Mom was able to get away for two nights and connect with 12 other homeschool moms. We eat lots of good food, discussed out book for the month "Little Men" went to Lava Hot Springs and exchanged books in a gift exchange. There was also a lot of talking and laughing as we learned about each other and the good things that we are all doing. There was also some crying as we shared how these great books impact our lives. 

The kids got a lot of time with their babysitter Hannah, also a homeschooler, and with Dad. The house was still standing when I returned home and no one was ill so I think it a win. 

It is good for mom's to feel connected with other moms who think and teach their children in similar ways. 

School even was accomplished during this shortened week and lots of books were read. I also have proof that some country dancing was leaned by both Hailey and Evelyn. 

Mom's are really important but life still goes on with or without mom being at home. Mom still needs to remember who she is without all the kids because someday they will be out of the house and she will still be at home. 

 

Fun Filled Weekend Adventure

Dinosaur Museum 

We loved seeing all the different sections of the museum and learning lots together. It was great that Dad was with us and we could experience so much. All of the kids really enjoyed being in the hands on area and making Dams and bearing their Dinosaurs in with the sand. Cousins also got to go with us so they were a great addition to all our fun. The kids were amazed at how big the Dinosaurs were.  Evelyn admits that they were so tempted to touch the Dinosaurs, thankfully I think all the kids did great at resisting the temptation.  

Children's Museum 

Our favorite part by far was the Jungle area of the Museum. We stayed there the longest. We did also enjoy all of the other areas but didn't do all of the water works area because we saw so many people leaving the area very wet that we didn't want to have our kids experience that too. It worked well for us to have a house rule of staying in the same area together until everyone was ready to leave that area. With 7 (5 of our own, 2 cousins) kids it is important to set up those kind of expectations. 

We also enjoyed eating out for lunch together and had a great time going to a healthy place were we got lots of stares due to the amount of kids we had with us. 

We are super blessed that our cousins have an apartment attached to their home and we were able to stay there for two nights so that we could enjoy things that we don't normally get to go do. 

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium 

We spent a good amount of time here on Saturday and really enjoyed all of the different plants and animals from all over the world. It was nice to warm up in the Jungle and too touch some sea animals. Some of out favorites were the River Otter's and the Penguins. They were both very active and playful as we observed them. With the large amount of people we were grateful that our large family stayed together and no one was lost. We really enjoyed the Aquarium!

So we crammed a large amount of learning into one weekend and also a great deal of fun. When we returned to Logan we were also able to participate in a Shakespeare performance by Stetson's class together with a family dinner. He did well in all of his parts and participated well! 

 

Braces

 

We had a family field trip to the Orthodontist this week to witness Stetson getting on his braces. The procedure was rather fast. All the girls were very interested in helping him pick out the color of his first rubber bands. We went with a nice blue color. Ezra was more interested in the snacks that were in my purse but all wanted to watch as he got a 3D digital landscape of his teeth and the brackets glued on. Some of the girls feel they will need braces too but others do not want them. By the end of the day the discomfort had increased and Stetson had soft foods for several days. All things seem back to normal now. The assistant gave a very educational rundown of all the tools that they sent home for Stetson to use and the importance of good hygiene. 

January

Morning scripture study! Or piling of all family members into mom and dad's bed!!!

Playdo creations by the all the children. 

New cloths and photo shoot! They are ready Italy!!!

Hailey enjoyed learning about Electricity and "The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind" in her Co-op class. She also made potato stamps and her own pinwheel. 

Stetson has been discussing agency and liberty. When its good to demand these and when it is needful to be more submissive. He really loves the class discussions and the kids that are involved in his class.

He has also been taking apart and putting together computers as usual. 

Evelyn has loving Gymnastic however she was very sore after her last class and needed several days to recover. She is still taking violin and has great talent if she can only remember to take the time to practice. 

Bristol and Ezra have had great fun playing with Duplo's. They create great houses, villages and make hours of fun activities for all of there siblings. There is also dress up, forts, lots of movement and other fun together. Bristol has really been interested in the way the body works so we have been reading a Osborn book about the body and how it works. All the kids like when this book comes out and they listen in to the knowledge being shared. 

 

Snow

The family has had many fun outings! This represents our family sledding trip this week and all the fun the kids had even among wipe outs and broken sleds. 

We also had a lot of fun as a family on Christmas Eve as we went to Ellen Eccles Ice Arena and went Ice skating with some cousins. All of the kids had a great time. 

Christmas and New Years have been filled with yummy food and lots of games, fun and friends. 

We hosted a big family gathering on December 23rd where all of the Wade family was gathered for the first time in several years. It was a great event!!!

On New Years Day we had one of me nieces and her husband come to visit and we enjoyed time with them. We are super blessed to have lots of great  family that we enjoying spending time with. 

The kids really enjoyed the time away from our regular scholastic learning and ample time to play with new toys and incorporate new ones. I am trying to clean out unwanted and unused items now that the splurges of the holidays are over. 

We began back to school today and the kids are doing fairly well to get back to their books and learning. Ezra has been asking every few days when we will return to Co-op, thankfully that day is Wednesday he is so excited. 

 

These pictures may look odd but they represent me and the kids going through all of Grandma Weyerman's holiday decorations. We decided to do it outside because Grandma loved glittery everything and I was afraid that if I did it in the house that we would never get the glitter out. The kids were great to help me separate everything by color and use. I was thankful for their help. 

This little guy turned 3 this week and we are so happy that he is apart of our family. 

He loves Trains, cars and everything boy but is sweet and funny and willing to dress up with his sisters and do girly things with them too.  

 

Park

 

It is amazing how many great days for playing at the park we have had this year. I am sad to see the weather turn colder finally.  We are big fans of the changes in the seasons that we get here. We have lived in California and Washington and have learned to appreciate the changes of the seasons.  

Evelyn took a break from violin for the month of November due to her teacher being in poor health but we are back to it and the other kids enjoy playing at the park while we wait. 

Hailey and Bristol have also taken breaks from Dance for the holidays but will start back up in January. I still see lots of dancing around the house though so don't worry about them getting rusty. 

We also did a lot of yard work as a family this weekend!

Thank you good weather!!!

Dad has been working on some amazing wood projects for our home. 

Hopefully I can get pictures of those soon. The kids have helped with various parts of the making! 

Thanksgiving

Our favorite thanksgiving yam dish!

Raw cranberry salad! 

A new cousin who joined us for the holiday weekend!

Family who was in town for the weekend! 

The kids got plenty time in the kitchen this week. They helped me with our two favorite dishes shown and preparing veggies and dips as well as turkey and other yummy pies! 

Grandma Janet also invited the girls over to make pies with her and they really enjoyed being in the kitchen with her. 

 

Primary Program!!!

Ezra says: "Take a picture of me, mom!" 

Evelyn's Playdo rendition of Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, the horse and the tower. 

A pretty princess cake and Playdo time! 

Dress up! 

The kids enjoyed Ice cream cones after completing their primary program on Sunday. Consisting of lots of singing and saying personal parts into the microphone in front of a lot of people. 

They all did great!!!

 

Skoolie

As we were driving home from Co-op this week we saw a "skoolie" bus converted into a RV which Evelyn took picture of. She thought it was super cool since we are converting our own school bus into a "skoolie". so far we have the seats out and have a long way yet to go. Our "skoolie" will mostly be a storage unit for the winter. 

Other projects that we have been working on are a making our kitchen table, refinishing a china hutch, making cushions for a window seat, replacing closet handles and many other home improvements or canning.  Of course the kids are helping in their small way and learning along with us. 

 

Dance Recital

Hailey and best friend Esther.

Bristol posing in a dance position. 

Hailey and Bristol had a mini recital and are now taking a break for the holidays. 

We really like our teacher and classmates. It is a little bit of a drive. 

Evelyn is still doing great in Gymnastics and loves going with our neighbor girls and friends. 

Stetson is creating computers for several of his friends; either buying parts, loaning parts or giving suggestions. He is also improving greatly with his piano and you'll often hear him pounding out a tune on the music room. Stetson also got an air soft gun for his 13th birthday and is so excited to have it. Mom is still working our rules that need to be followed for peace of mind and safety.

Math, writing, phonograms and reading are happening on a regular basis.

Evelyn is also very excited about some fabric we bought for her and are going to sew up soon. 

 

Falling Leaves

Hailey and Bristol sure do enjoy their dance class. 

We often play at the park next to were dance is out in Mendon. 

It helps that we have friends in both girls classes that are fun for all the kids to be with wither in class or at the park. 

We have also really enjoyed the leaves falling and playing in them. Our yard is full of them and we have found the kids several times outside raking and hoping to hide in the leaves and scare someone, usually Dad or I. 

We did take a little bit of a break from going out to our classes last week due to a cough going around our kids. Thankfully it seems like all are on the mend. 

 

Grandpa's Wedding to Janet

Janet's Bouquet. 

Grandpa's bout. 

The deck

After the wedding. 

Bouquet of flowers!

Bishop Huss, Grandpa and Janet during the ceremony. 

The kids gained a new Grandma this week. Grandpa has found someone to care for and be companion with for as long as he has left. Janet came into our life more fully in July of this year and we have been getting to know her ever since. They announced there marriage on Sunday to us and then began telling the rest of our family and hers. 

Janet invited the kids over to Grandpa's to make pies on Wednesday. Hailey and Bristol went and were so excited to help make yummy treats for after the wedding. 

Few people were invited for this event but there were others in attendance.