Rock Hounding and Hiking part of Scrimson Trail

Discovery of a very awesome specimen a yellow caterpillar!

 We went with our field trip group to a place up Logan canyon where you can rock hound and find small fossils. We all participated and tried our hand at discovery. Thankfully everyone in our large group was safe, there was only one injury that I helped with. A boy hurt his finger and was in need of a Band-Aid for a bloody finger. We were all taught for a short time about the things we might possible find and then we hiked to the rock field to look, socialize and share. We brought hammers and other tools to break open rocks with and brought a few rocks home. We are grateful for others passions and knowledge that help us to learn and grow. 

Wade Family Camp

 Camping with our entire extended Wade family is always a blast. Some of out activities included hiking, biking, playing games, 4 wheel riding, Frisbee golf, scavenger hunt, marshmallow tower contest, lots of yummy food, thunder showers, fishing, camp fire, story time and lots and lots of play time with cousins. Family is the best! These adventures teach our children how to cook outdoors, start fires, fire safely, clean up, finding water, keeping our earth clean, sharing space with other families that do things differently than ours, respect for their elders and much much more. We are so blessed to enjoy spending time with all of our siblings, parents and their children. 

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!