School

This was a really fun science project we actually did a month or two ago but I never posted it. You make bubbles that are filled with CO2 from dry ice. It's pretty fun. They're called boo bubbles. Because they look like ghosts. It was something I saw online and thought the kids would enjoy them. They definitely did.

This was the only snow we have gotten so far this winter. It was declared a school snow day. We still did a little school but we definitely took the opportunity to play in the snow. Annabelle wasn't a fan.

This is at our local library. The libraries are by county here and we only have one. Which is a huge bummer. But they still have lots of books! :)

I usually let Brig and Vanessa stay at the house while I walk Benson to the bus stop. One day Brig decided to follow after me, without bothering to get dressed. Don't let the sunshine fool you, it was freezing. Crazy boy.

Vanessa helped me build this 'word wall." It was some intense work. But it has been really good so far. We put up the trickier of the 74 phonograms (mostly ones that have multiple sounds or multiple ways to spell them). Then we have lists of words under each phonogram. We add words each time we do a spelling list. It's also a good way to review ones that we have learned. We'll see if it helps with her spelling.

Benson got a frog hatchery kit for Christmas and the frog embryos finally arrived. We thought they were dead and then after four days they hatched. The boys were crazy about them and messed with them all day long. On day five they were belly up. So, we'll try that again some other time. Ugh.

And while we are talking about school, lets not forget that Benson also is still going to preschool two days a week. Some days he is happier about it than other days. We went to a group music class in the morning and then I drove him to preschool rather than him riding the bus. We refused to drive his chair out of the car, screamed and screamed and screamed. Needless to say, he won the battle. Because, well, who could force their kid to go to preschool when they are this upset?! I mean, it's preschool. I haven't really figured out what the deal is. He said he just wanted to be home to play. I talked to his teacher who also said that she almost brought him to tears a couple weeks ago. Apparently he was getting something off the floor from his chair and scared her to death. And she yelled at him for not being safe. And, it was the very next class after this incident that he didn't want to go. They seem related but he says he just doesn't want to leave. I don't know. I guess we'll see if he changes his mind here soon. He was happy to go to his class Valentines party.

We also had a co-op Valentine party. The kids exchanged Valentines. We also did a group lunch. And each family set up a store and the kids would work at their store and then earn money to go buy things from other stores. It was a lot of fun. There was a nail salon, a drink shop, cookie store, toy store, popsicle store, and a gift shop. I have no idea if they understood the economy effect we were trying to simulate, but we discussed it. In the end, it was still fun.

It has been a crazy whirlwind the last few months. We are taking a break this week, going to St Louis for Benson's ISIS injection. It'll be a nice break for all of us. Vanessa is doing second grade month, We have been going really slow. For the last three weeks we have been working on addition with renaming. She has it down now. I'm scared to move on to subtraction though. We probably should after the break but we'll see how it goes. We have just started learning cursive. We have done four letters is all. She is reading Level 3 books. We are working on spelling but she is doing so much better than just the beginning of the year. We have learned about a few composers, some famous artists, different countries, we have read several fairy tales but Hans Christian Andersen and Brothers Grimm. We are currently reading a child version of Shakespeare. Other than the shear amount of work homeschooling takes, I love it.

In Their Words Feb 2016

Art By Brigham: This is a picture of you being mean to a lion!

Driving home after picking up Vanessa from gymnastics. 

Vanessa (excited): "Dad, guess what. I did a handstand and my coach saw me and he said 'Do it again.' Then he said 'Everyone watch Vanessa," and everyone watched me."

Jon: "Wow. He said that because you were doing it so well?"

Vanessa: "No. Because I was doing it wrong."

Silence...

Laying down with Benson and Brigham as they're going to bed.

Benson: "Dad, you're the best dad in the world."

Jon: "Ahh, I'm glad you think so."

Brigham: "Yeah. I love your whole body. I promise I will never kill you."

Jon: "................okay."

February 14

"Brig say happy Valentines Day."

Brigham: "Happy Violenetime Day."

February 17

Grandma: "Brigham, go tell Grandpa to get ready to go."

Brigham walks to Grandpa. "Grandpa!......Uh, what did Grandma want me to tell you?"

Brigham is whining in the car about not watching a movie.

Dad: "It's only a few minutes away, let's listen to music."

Brigham: "No!! Mom, do you like music?"

Me: "ya, I like music."

Brigham: "I hate music! I just like how it sounds."

February 26

Vanessa: "Mom, where did you get that chocolate?"

Me: "it's a secret."

Vanessa: "a secret can't stay a secret for long."

Benson: "Mom, who would win: an orca or a great white shark?"

At around 7:30, Benson went and got his Jammie's, told me to brush his teeth and change him so he could play on the tab- in the cupboard. (With the door closed. He only let me open it for a picture).

Pure Love

After falling in love with my soul mate and then having and holding four perfect and precious newborns; I thought I knew a thing or two about love. But today, as I laughed and played with Annabelle, I was thinking how much I love interacting with infants. Their eyes hold that sparkle, a look of admiration almost. You are the greatest thing. They live so in that moment. As if making them laugh is the only thing you have ever done and they love you unceasingly. They don't hold you forever guilty of past mistakes. {literally because they probably don't remember} Their love is pure. Like the pure love of Christ.

Jon's 33rd Birthday

Jon hit the big 33. It was quite possibly, the worst planned birthday I have given him yet. But, he was a good sport and says he still loves me! Either way, I still feel way guilty. But, as soon as he got home from work the kids wanted him to open presents.

Vanessa made him some cute gifts with paper. ("I always make paper gifts Mom.") His parents sent an awesome new BYU hoodie and a 34" axe for splitting wood. I got him a ratchet. Because I'm awesome. 

Why is buying gifts for spouses so dang hard? I feel like the pressure to "get it right" is really insane. Because 1) they know if you return it. 2) all the money comes from the same place so if it doesn't get used, it feels like that money was already used. Does that make any sense? So with both these in mind, a surprise is still nice and thoughtful, right?! But how?! And, if the gift is especially pricey; that should be discussed beforehand, right? Anyway, on to the party.....

Jon decided to let the kids decide what we should do. I was thinking chill at home, yummy dinner (I at least planned that). But they voted for Chuck E Cheese. So the Cheese it was.

After, we did go have the yummy dinner. Which was beef with broccoli. It was quite yummy. I also made cookies and finished them around 8pm. Just writing this post makes me feel guilty all over again. Don't worry, Fathers Day will be extra special. Although my parents are bringing a good surprise for you in Feb ;)

In Their Words Jan 2016

Jan 2

Me: "Brigham come here."

Brig: "no."

Me: "Come here and give me a kiss."

Brig: {eye roll} "We aren't under the mistletoe."

Jan 5

At the store

Brig: "Mom, can I have this for Christmas?!"

Me: "We just had Christmas. Your birthday is in three months so maybe for that."

Benson: "Can I get something for Brigham's birthday?"

Jan 7

Vanessa: "Mom, do you think we knew 2 plus 2 before we were born?"

Me: "I don't know that I have ever thought about that."

Vanessa: "I think we just knew about like scriptures and Jesus. That's why we have to learn all this other stuff now."

Jan 9

Vanessa: "Mom, when are you going to have another baby?"

Me: "I think we are done having babies."

Vanessa: "But you're only 29. How old was your Mom when she had you?"

Me: "36."

Vanessa: "See. You can still have more babies."

Jan 16

Brig: "Mom here's a sled for you! For big humans, like you!"

Brig: "Mom, I can speak girl!"

Benson: "Mom, will you take my socks off. They're bugging me so much I'm going to bleed."

Jan 20

Sister missionary: "Have you ever wanted to give up on something?"

Brigham: "Sometimes I throw toys at people."

Jan 22

Benson: "Mom, look Rexy is a baby. He even wears little dinosaur diapers."

Me: "I have never seen a dinosaur wear diapers."

Benson: "oh, I saw it online."

Benson: "Mom, when I grow up will I be able to walk?"

Me: "well-"

Benson: "Mom. I have seen adults who can't walk and they have big power chairs. So if I can't walk, I'll just get a bigger chair."

Jan 23

Brigham: "what if Annabelle ate your baby things? Like what if she ate your baby drinker things and like ate them off. And then we didn't have a Mom. Would you be sad?"

Me:"I think I would be sad. Would you be sad?"

Brig: "ya I would be so sad."

Jan

Me: "Brig where are you?"

Brig: "I'm just tasting all our candy to see if it's good!"

Annie Bananie

AnnieBelle

AnnaBanana

Annie

But surprisingly not so much Belle.

Annabelle started sitting at 5 months. She was scooting at 7 months and crawling by 8. She started pulling to stand shortly after. I have seen her start trying to stand in the middle of a room. She isn't quite stepping with help yet.

Taken Nov 16

She loves food. She wants some of anything I eat or drink. She is nearly impossible to feed baby food unless she is also feeding herself. We pretty much just give her what we are having. Like Mac and Cheese. Taken Dec 22.

Eating the orange from her stocking on Christmas Day.

She got her two bottom teeth really early. She has her two little vampires fangs on top but not the front ones yet. The top right just barely broke the gums. She has had some pain, poor kiddo. It makes us both a bit ornery.

She is also giving kisses, clapping her hands when you say "yay," and says "mama" along with many other baby babbles. She is our only one to say mama first.

She is definitely a mamas girl. One night though, I heard her cry a bit and then immediately stop. I came to check anyway and she had crawled over to Jon and was laying on his arm. They were both out cold but both smiling and holding hands.

This darling is feisty and so fun. She is adored by everyone. We just love her to pieces.

Christmas

After Thanksgiving, it was definitely time to throw out the pumpkins the kids decorated {for Halloween}

And get ready for Christmas! We tried to have fun and meaningful Christmas experiences as a family throughout the month.

#1 decorate

Our first year with a village! Jon found a guy selling nine buildings for $50! It was a steal. Of course, he had to add the train :)

Our elf came to visit

We visited Santa at Bass Pro

And rode the merry go round.

Decorate ginger bread houses

Some intense time spent planning and executing the ward Christmas party. Glad that one is over!

We did a fun, Christmas symbol riddle and treasure hunt.

Made lots of Christmas cards and wrote Santa lists

(Benson)

We also did sibling gifts this year for the first time. We took the kids to the dollar store and had them each pick something for the other two. There was minimal drama so we'll call it success.

We also took homemade bread to three families in the ward that we thought needed Christmas cheer. The kids did great singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."

And of course, we went to Bagwell Lights and got Andys.

Christmas was here before we knew it.

Thanksgiving

After having two {excellent}Thanksgiving dinners in Utah, we decided to be very non-conventional and have a lobster feast. Complete with a live lobster whom the kids named Fat Tail. Because we picked the lobster with the fattest tail. 

It was a new experience for us to prepare a live lobster. We saw one tutorial suggesting you cut the lobster in half while still alive and I am just way too squeamish for that. So boiling water it was. 

It was a chill day, and the kids were a bit disappointed by the holiday. Haha. I always felt the same about Thanksgiving. But, we did try to make it fun and meaningful. Complete with thankful feathers and pin the feather on the turkey.

Homeschool

We finally finished our anatomy unit. 

The last project I did was make this hand to show how the tendons work. Their are elastics on the back to make the fingers move back into place. It was a pretty cool little thing but the kids weren't as into as I had hoped.

I also made a muddy buddy recipe for Vanessa with pictures so she could do it entirely herself. She did really well with minimal help from me.

Vanessa is doing really well in homeschool. It has been a huge learning experience for both of us. She is a rock star at math and we have basically completed first grade math. She is doing well in reading but she doesn't enjoy it like I would have hoped. I am still trying to figure out how to instill a love of learning and reading. I read a book that talks about the Thomas Jefferson model of education. The core of it is teaching people to love learning and to educate themselves. I love the idea and premise of this. I feel like this is something that public schools lack entirely. They teach some kids to love exceling and some kids get lost in the shuffle, but rarely do they teach you to love learning. I feel like that is something I didn't really learn until I got into college but mostly now that I am done with school.

Vanessa is so easy to teach and really does quite well. She protests at times and definitely does not like being asked to do school "on the side." I have tried a few times to do school with her while we are out and it just doesn't happen. She knows that she can protest and not cooperate and what am I going to do about it? I've got three other kids with me to keep in line in public so she can get away with that.

I still constantly worry about whether or not she is getting everything she would be getting in public school plus some. This whole ordeal is only worth it to me if it is going to make her better for it in the end. I do feel like I can push her harder than she would be pushed in public school. I think she has a pleaser personality so she would work hard to make her teacher happy. But I think she could do much more than would be expected. But there is no way for the teacher to accommodate that. She can push back much more with me than I know she would with a teacher. S far, it hasn't been too bad though.

I would love to continue homeschool next year and include Brigham and Benson but they are a huge challenge for me. Benson is very smart but he is also a bit defiant. I feel like I would have to get after him a lot and really push hard for anything to get done. I would definitely have to work on incentives and motivation for him to cooperate with me.

Benson has been attending preschool and he really enjoys it. But it is definitely one big party and I don't feel like there is much focus on ABC-123. I feel like he should be getting more than he is at 5. I need to start working with him more but I haven't figured out how to do that yet.

Homeschool is definitely a process. For mom and student. I have no idea where we will be next year and what that will be like. It's kind of intimidating but also kind of exciting. I wish I had endless time, patience, and money to make their schooling experience more of what I dream of.