Conference recap

Conference was so amazing this year! This particular talk was my absolute favorite.

Since the boys were away camping with the Thomas side, I spent the weekend watching conference alone. It gave me a chance to also put up all our Halloween decorations. It was a fun weekend had by all.

Scouts - Hometown Heros

Requirement 1 - Peter said that being a hero helps people across the street. Hero's save us. Heroes can catch criminals. Police are heroes. Firemen can put out fire's so they are heroes. My Grandpa is a hero because he puts out fires. He also rescues people. Grandpa also tries to lift me and he can do it because he lifts weights every day.

Requirement 2 - Visit a Community agency. Find out what they do there.
We visited the Springville City Center and learned about all the city departments that have offices there.

Requirement 3 - Peter interviewed his Grandpa. These were the questions he asked:

What did you do when you were a fireman
Did you save any people
Did you put out fires
Did you drive an ambulance
Did you ever drive a fire truck
Did you ever sit around all day

Requirement 4 - We were able to send care packages to soldiers serving in Saudi Arabia.

Since Luke asked

Every day this past week Luke has been asking to go to the "beach". Finally, we took the time to go. It was a chilly day, but the boys splashed around and had a blast. Fall here in Utah is the best.

At the beginning of the week we had a cold snap, so the mountain tops are snowy. It's so amazing to see. Hopefully it will stay in the mountains just a bit longer. I'm not ready to shovel snow yet.

Luke cooking

This past week Luke decided he wanted to make hamburgers and chocolate chip cookies for his bimonthly meal. It was so funny to see him attempting to make the burgers. He had the best facial expressions.

He enjoys planning the meals and buying the ingredients, but he struggles with patience when it comes to actually making the food. Hopefully, with a little practice he will improve. Honestly, he would much rather just play with friends.

Scouts - Spirit of the Water

Requirement 1 - We talked about how water in our community can be polluted. Peter mostly thought of things like litter and how it can contaminate the water plus oil from cars.

Requirement 2 - One way Peter decided to conserve water in our home is to turn off the water while he is brushing his teeth.

Requirement 3 - Peter told me that swimming is a good way to exercise because it makes you breath more oxygen which makes your heart be stronger.

Requirement 4 - We reviewed the list of safety rules that are needed for swimming and boating. We review the rules every time we went to the swimming pool.

Requirement 5 - Swim 25 feet

Swimming Lessons

Taking Swimming Lessons was at the very top of my list of things I wanted the boys to do this school year. I knew that a city pool offered lessons during the day, and I anxiously awaited their signup schedule. Then, when they finally posted it, the times they offered would not work with our schedule. It was so disappointing. But, a homeschool Mom never gives up. I decided I would just teach the kids myself.

We have been going every week for a month now. Each week the boys get more and more comfortable in the water. Luke is getting fantastic at using our kickboard. Then, today, he decided to be brave enough to go under water. This is a HUGE milestone for him. I almost started crying right there at the pool. There is nothing better then seeing your kids overcome fears and make improvements. I feel so blessed to be a homeschool Mom so I can see every moment of learning and progressing.

Then, today Peter finally passed off his last requirement for his Spirit of the Water in his cubscout class. It was so thrilling. He is getting so comfortable underwater that he was doing all sorts of tricks today. It was a little nerve wracking to watch, but I am glad he is finding joy in the journey.

Garden project - stay tuned

I've recently had a nagging feeling about the importance of expanding our garden area. What we have now is teeny tiny. They boys are to the point where they want to plant there own vegetables - especially since we've had success with both the sweet potato and pumpkins that Peter planted for scouts.

So, we hired a landscape company to come out and work on our yard. Yes, we hired someone to do it and we paid a good chunk of change to have them do it. You can't tell in the picture, but the spot where we wanted to garden to be is full of aspen tree roots that have spread from our neighbors yard (I HATE aspen trees in residential areas). It took the crew an entire day to get the grass pulled up, sprinklers moved, a new sprinkler line routed to the garden area, and gravel spread around the shed (water from the sprinklers was getting too close and making the wood rot).

Since we had the guys out, I had them rip up this rotting wood too. It was getting so gross, plus wasps were finding there way into it and making themselves homes.

Here is what it looks like partially finished.Hopefully, we'll be able to finish up this project before snow starts coming. This weekend has been very cold and rainy and there is now snow on the mountains. This weather isn't idea for garden projects, but hopefully we'll get lucky.

Animal Rescue Center fieldtrip

There are so many amazing homeschool mothers who willingly coordinate so many fun fieldtrips. This one particularly fun for Luke. He LOVES animals. He always checks out non-fiction books at the library about animals. This particular center has come to our library twice - but this time we went to them out in the small town of Goshen.

The show they do was super well organized and it was super cheap to go too. It was well worth it because the kids were able to pet all the animals she showed to them. Luke was hilarious when she brought out the skunk. That was the only animal that he wasn't excited to see. I seriously hope this becomes an annual event. Who know, perhaps next year I'll be brave and get a group together and go.

We were also super lucky to be able to have 2 other families of friends there. Fieldtrips are always so much better when we go with friends.

Scouts - Duty to God

Requirement 1a - What does it mean to do your duty to God?
It means to be like him. It means to be kind. It means to help other people.

Requirement 1b - Tell how you do your duty to God in your daily life.
I will help my brother, or your sister (if you have one). I can play with my friends. You can wash the dishes. Play games with your Dad or Mom. Help them by getting an envelope if they need one. Making your own food for yourself, or for other people.

Requirement 3 - Recited Article of Faith #3 at an special Family Home Evening for my maternal extended family.

Requirement 4 - I read a book about a pilgrim girl named Faith and her cat - Pounce.

Day date with the hubby

Yesterday Brandon and I had a 4 hour day date. For a while now I've wanted to try a trail we knew about up Mapleton canyon. I wasn't exactly sure where it led too, but we decided to give it a try even though it was a warmer day then I would have liked.

Brandon was a real trouper.