Teal Lake

 Oh, the adventures that these kids are blessed to go on with their Dad! They were pretty tired by the end of this hike but they enjoyed all of the wildflowers, the waterfall, lakes, campfire, fishing and being in the wild outdoors. Our dog also enjoyed all of the excitement and getting dirty. Packing up and putting everything away after is a big job but they all do a good enough job to help Dad and please Mom. We purchased a freeze dryer and it has helped tremendously to eating yummy on these campouts. We simple make large quantities of what we eat normally and then freeze dry the left overs in preparation for packing light and eating good.  So grateful for our beautiful world and eyes to see!!!

Hyrum Sewer Plant

 

 So we went to the Hyrum Sewer Plant this summer and learned all about what they do with our poo! 

It didn't smell as bad as we thought it would. The worker who did the tour was very informative and we learned a lot. The process is so complete that they say you could drink the water after it goes through this process. That it is better than some 3rd world countries and what they have to drink for water. None of us were brave enough to drink the water.  After they are all done they release the water and it goes down stream! The system they currently use is newer they have only been doing it for just over a year. The sludge that is pulled out is dried and turned into fertilizer. The fields around them that use the "sludge" yield some of the biggest crops in the valley. 

We are super thankful for facilities like this and the men that run them who clean up our stuff and make this world not so stinky and way more sanitary!!!

Backpacking

So each family has their thing and for some its motor boating, others Disneyland, some movies or gaming. We, or I should say my husband, loves to backpack and I love the outdoors and being with my family so I go when I can. Currently my new baby keeps me out of the pack packing group. Spencer has taken the kids on some different trips this year. Coyote Gulch, Teal Lake, Kings Peak and Green River will be the final one for the summer. These flowers represent Evelyn's effort to include me in the Teal Lake experience where there were tons of wildflowers. I love flowers!!! 

I am grateful that my husband is so adventurous and fun. He is teaching my kids lots of great life skills, survival skills and communication skills as they work together to have amazing adventures in this beautiful world that God has created for us. 

 

Sauerkraut Days

Evelyn's Artwork

Bristol's Artwork

Hailey's Artwork

Daddy worked all day at the Sauerkraut Day festival and we went to bring him lunch. We then stayed for a little over an hour and the girls added their own artwork to a large puzzle project that was on display. I forgot to get a picture of the whole puzzle. 

Stetson and his best friend tried to best a booth owner with the game "Corn Rows".  If you got 3 in a row then you could win $5 if you continued and got 6 in a row then you could double your win to $10. They practiced a great deal but didn't win. 

We thought that the event was going to get rained out because of the dark clouds that surrounded the even but they never opened up right where the event was.  

Surprisingly there was only one booth that sold Sauerkraut at the event. 

Stetson started math class this week. The girls and I are starting to ease into doing school. We are trying to make individual plans, evaluate action plans, and access what we are missing. 

Hopefully we can have a fun, full year of learning! 

 

Education

So Stetson and Evelyn went backpacking with their cousins, uncle and dad to Southern Utah. They saw lots of beautiful arches, caught some frogs, played in water, camped, and walked and walked and walked and walked some more. They also got to do some rock climbing and enjoy cousin time.

We've enjoyed several days at the park with nice warm weather!

We went as a family and picked up five more baby chicks to add to our already laying flock of nine. Each of the kids were excited to pick out their very own chick. They have even named them all. Ezra named his "chocolate" cracker, Bristol named hers cupcake, Hailey named hers tickles, Evelyn named hers Kowea, and Stetson named his smokey. 

We have also bought supplies to fix up all our bikes and are looking forward to going for a family bike ride.

Evelyn and Hailey participated in a 'Writing Camp' where they learned creative ways to come up with ideas, played lots of games, had some s'mores, and enjoyed food and friends!

I am sure that our learning will not end this summer as we enjoy family reunions, camping, gardening, yard work, family projects, hiking, parks, swimming, kayaking, and whatever other adventures we choose to embark on. We've already had our biggest learning experience with welcoming baby Silas into our home and learn how to care for and keep him safe.

End of Co-op

Heart and Mind Common Wealth

 Yesterday was the last day of our Co-op group. We gathered at Mack park for a pot-luck lunch. Everything was yummy and after a short time there we were graced with the sun coming out and warming us all up. The kids have all made many great friends and we have had many great experiences. 

I think that the network of our Co-op families will be the most amazing asset of friends and educators to help our family with their education needs. Already we have been a part of an amazing play, Pre-Algebra class, Dance lessons, Shakespeare Class and many other fun activities. 

We are excited for our summer and look forward to lots of camping and outdoor activities! 

Newest Family Member

Baby Silas! 

Ezra holding baby Silas! 

Bristol holding baby Silas! 

She loves, loves, loves to hold him and asks me so many times each day! 

Grandma Wade came to help for 2 days and this is her first time holding baby Silas. So glad that she came to help our family. 

Baby Silas on day 2! 

Baby Silas on day 1! 

Aunt Davette and Aunt Brittney, my sisters, came the day Silas was born, April 7th, and helped with the kids for 2 days. The kids loved having them here as did Mom & Dad. They took the kids to a movie, the dollar store, grandpa Weyerman's, the park, out to eat and read them so many stories and snuggled them all. 

This is my amazing midwife, Chris Miller, who has been delivering babies longer then I've been alive. She also gave me care for Hailey, Bristol and Ezra. 

So exact details, Silas Jones Wade was born on April 7th at 8:27pm weighing 9lbs and 5onces and 21 &1/4 inches in length. My water broke at 6am that morning but contractions did not start to become consistent until 5pm that night.  All with labor was normal for me and progressed well especially after a good adjustment from my husband who is an amazing Chiropractor and support. 

 

Dress up & Magnet Time

Bristol dressed up Ezra as a Pirate missionary. I'm not sure were that would be in the world but maybe in 15 years we'll find out. All the girls then dressed up fancy like princesses and decided to hold a ball in the basement with music. Then they came up to dinner all fancy and eat their dinner very prim and proper like. 

 Again Ezra and Bristol were playing together with the magnets and they made spaceships among many other fun creations. The magnet toys seem to be one that all the kids love no matter what. We also say the creation of an amazing castle, tower as tall as Ezra train and I'm sure there are others that I have forgotten. 

The sun has returned today but it is not as warm as we have had it. We are happy for any moisture that comes too and were grateful to see that on Monday and Tuesday. We'd love to be working in the yard more but mom hasn't felt like bending over. Hope we don't have too hot of a summer. 

Hyrum Museum & Entrepreneur Day

We've wanted to go to the Hyrum City museum for a while now and finally made it this week. All the kids enjoyed the various historic items on display. 

There was a sacrament tray made of silver and glass, a replica of the original Hyrum fort, an albino bison as well as many other animal skins including a skunk, a church bench, video footage of boat races on Hyrum reservoir, and pioneer tools to name a few of the items we saw and read about! I'm sure there is much more to learn about in our town but we are trying to be aware of the history wear we live. 

The kids are all trying to get to there school but warm weather, a distracted mother working on receipts and taxes, friends, new books, and warm weather make it easy to get off track. 

Baby is due tomorrow so we hope to have our newest family member arrive soon.

No Co-op next week as it will be spring break. 

Yesterday during Co-op we had an entrepreneur day! There were lots of baked goods sold and some store bought things as well. The best were the handmade items of jewelry, art and fresh flowers. Stetson sold a lot of store bought valentine cookies and Hailey sold a dozen of my homemade "Paleo Banana Muffins". Stetson broke even and Hailey made $5.50 that she then spent on items for sale. 

We may not have the co-op next year a lot of families are choosing to leave and do other things so we will see what will become of this great homeschool network. 

Music

 

Evelyn is doing really well with violin. Her teacher has commented that her sound is really improving. She does well when she remembers to practice. She has even taught her little brother Ezra on occasion a few moves on our smallest violin. She can play some Christmas songs, all of the twinkle variations and various other songs in the first book of the Suzuki method. I hope that she will want to continue to play but for next year. However, she has expressed some interest trying the Cello and I think that would be possible if she does the local orchestra program. We'll will see how this summer goes and what we can do. 

Hailey and Stetson are doing great at piano. Their dad and I couldn't be more pleased with their willingness to practice and all the progress they have made this year. I believe both have found it to be a creative outlet that they really enjoy. 

Dance Recital & Rehearsal

 Hailey and Bristol are done with dance for the year. There was a fun final class and practice at the church wear the recital was to take place. The teachers daughters were able to be there and volunteered to paint kids faces festively for St. Patrick's day!!! 

Practice was on a Tuesday, St. Patrick's on Thursday and the recital on Friday. 

For St. Patrick's day we had the traditional fair of corn beef and buttered cabbage. We eventually made cornbread over the weekend and also some very yummy cinnamon rolls that were are contribution to the treats at the recital. All were asked to bring a dessert to share. 

Grandpa and Janet were able to attend the recital with us although Dad, Evelyn and Stetson were not. They got to go on a little trip to see cousins and so that Dad could go to a Chiropractic seminar. 

Bristol was originally upset when I came to check on her in the changing room. She hadn't realized that being in 2 dance groups she was in 4 dances. She didn't realize that she knew 4 dances and got 2 costumes to keep. Once she realized she did knew the dances and that she was truly in 4 dances she calmed down and did wonderfully. 

Hailey's last dance they used glow sticks and one of hers was not staying on which proved a distraction, she stopped dancing so that she could try to put it on. I thought that she would be more upset but ended up finishing the dance. 

Life

We were driving home from violins lessons and had to wait for these cows to go down the road enough for us to go through. I then went around another way to take a picture of the scene. There were also 3 or 4 cowboys mounted on horses to direct the cows the right direction. It was a fun sight to see. Ezra was especially excited to see the cows. 

Play time at the park. Stetson had a meeting at the building across from this park on Thursday evening and Ezra saw the toys and wanted so much to play on them. Unfortunately we were not prepared to be out long as Ezra had no shoes or jacket on and the sun had started to set, so I promised him that I would take him the next day. So we wen ton Friday with the girls and had a great time while the sun was shining with shoes and coats on. 

Hailey is now a part of a group at church called "Activity Day's."  During their last activity they made these posters that are broken up into 4 different areas, physical, spiritual, social and emotional. Hailey then cut out words or pictures that represent things that she would like to learn, do or achieve in those areas. Some of the things that you may not be able to see are Jesus, a girl riding a bike, a tree, jewels and a sewing machine. 

These are some of the "Stain Glass" windows that Hailey and her Co-op class made as they learned about working together as a community and being kind to others. Hailey's is the one on the far right. They chose a design, traced it onto a saran wrap and then colored it in and placed it onto a tinfoil back ground. Some of the kids took a great amount of time for all of the details.   

We had another snow day and Ezra got all bundled up so that he could help his big brother shovel the snow off of the driveway. 

 

Birthday Fun!!!

Crown making and modeling.

Dressing up as princesses and having a dance party. 

Presents and piñata. 

Hitting the piñata outside while there was a break in the rain.  

Excitement about some of the gifts received. 

Hailey is officially 8 and we had a fun family party on her birthday. Then this week on Friday we held a friend party. Saturday was also a special day for her as she chose to be Baptized a member of our church. All of her favorite cousins came to town for the event and she got to have all of her living grandparents be here too. It was a good occasion.