School Prep

It's crunch time over here. I'm busy preparing for a new school year, which begins for us on Aug 1st. The focus of this year seems to be Language Arts. We have different books we will be going though for writing, grammar, and spelling - plus the reading program we used last year. It's gonna be intense, but there will be enough fun things that we will plow though it.

I'm going to hold an art class for Luke while Brandon does a coding class for Peter. I'm also really hoping Peter will be able to do gymnastics again (gotta see if enough homeschool students signup). Luke needs a low-key extra curricular, so he will be doing a typing class. I'm a very structured teacher, so I've gone though each subject and book and written down our weekly assignments. That way I know the upcoming assignments and what I need to prepare each week.

Luckily, I will have time to plan our Jan-April school assignments during our December holidays. Otherwise, I would be so burnt out. Our big purchase this year was an internet filter and zoo tickets. Both items have been well used already. Yes, I still do use a paper calendar for my schedule. It's the only way I can make it all work seamlessly.

Scouts - Bear Claws

1) We used this website to help us learn about the three types of pocketknives.
https://cubscoutideas.com/4030/3-types-of-pocketknives/

We looked around our house and found two different types that we have.

2) We used our scout book to learn about knife safety.

3a) Carved a polar bear and eagle out of soap

3b.1)  Cutting a piece of twine

3b.2) Opening a box

3b.3) Opening a can 

3b.4) Using the screwdriver tool

3b.5) Opening a letter

Scouts - Baloo the Builder

1- The tools that worked best for my project were sander, hammer, saw horses, and measuring tape.

2- I decided to make a box. My Dad and I found a plan on the internet, and then modified it.

3- My useful project was building a box I can put things in. My fun project was building my model car for the pinewood derby.

 4.

Cutting out my derby car at Grandpa Thomas' house

4- I used a spray paint finish for my box. I just used a clear coat of polyurethane for my derby car.

Scouts - Bear Necessities

1) On a camp out with my Dad and brother

2 & 3) List of things I should take camping and list of what the group should take camping

4) Setting up the tent and explaining about the tent spot.

Hiking a mountain

I've never been a hiker. I never enjoyed the exercise, heat, dirt, and fear of wild animals. Recently though, I've turned over a new leaf. I've decided hiking is awesome. The journeys discovered on way, are often better then the final destination.

A friend and I recently decided to venture together on a path neither of us had hiked. We hiked for a solid two hours. It was incredible!  It was refreshing to just talk, talk, and talk some more without children interrupting and complaining.

June in Utah means cottonwood. Amazingly, it didn't bother me, and it looked just like snow. Super pretty.

This trail was fabulous because the majority of it was in the shade. I took a hat so I wouldn't get sun burnt, but I didn't even need it. We followed magical streams all the way up the trail. If I was a fairy, I would live beside those streams. It was absolutely stunning. Whenever I go on trails like this, I imagine being a Native American riding a horse thru these areas. I wonder where I would have hunted, stopped to eat berries, made a stream crossing, or even camped for the night. 

I think this spot would have made a fabulous sleeping area.

Becky and I are both excited to go try this hike again. I would have loved getting to the end. I think another hour or so would have gotten us there. Perhaps next time I'll also bring water shoes for the wet stream bed areas. 

Camping with Dad

Brandon's goal for the summer is to take the boys camping every month. It's one of his favorite ways to get away from life. On the other side of the coin, I hate camping and refuse to go...ever. Thankfully, we both accept the others point of view and make it work.

This month I took the boys up early Friday morning to get a nice spot since Brandon couldn't take the day off work (year end commitments). They went to Whiting Campground in Mapleton Canyon. It's only 15 minutes from our house. It ended up being perfect! They boys and I went and setup the tent and stayed a couple of hours reading books together.

Then, we went home, ate dinner, packed the camping gear, and left. They had a marvelous time even though they did forget a few things (contact solution, grahams for smores, and an apron for cooking bacon). Luke also got really bored on the second day. But, Brandon is already prepared with fun (cheap) toys for next time. Hello, big container of bubbles. 

For Cubscouts, Peter had to help put up the tent and discuss how to find a good spot for the it. He loves anything to do with scouts, so it was easy to get him to help me. We got lucky since it was a cooler weekend, and the spot we found had lots of shade. Brandon said it was amazing.

Brandon's coworker, John, tagged along for the Friday evening/Saturday festivities. Luke really enjoys having John around. Luke can talk to John about video games, and he actually knows what Luke is talking about. On Saturday morning they went for a "hike" and Brandon captured this picture of the two of them. What a blessing to have people around who care for my kids almost as much as I do. This was a great first camping trip of the season, and the boys are already looking forward to their next trip to Nephi Canyon in July.

Animals

Luke wants to grow up and take pictures of animals in far away places for his career. He is always talking about how he needs to get really good at taking pictures so he can do it when he gets a lot older. Naturally, I look for opportunities to help further his career choice. LOL.

When a local animal rescue center announced a presentation all about animals, I signed my boys up to attend. I was especially excited that it was a free event. This morning we went and enjoyed an entire hour getting to know these specific animals. Both of the boys loved it!

They were able to pet a ring tail lemur, bearded dragon, turtle, rabbit, skunk, and pygmy hedgehog. This is actually our fourth time attending this presentation and they have different animals every time. It was a fabulous way to spend a Wednesday morning.

The Garden

A few days after returning home from Missouri, we planted our annual garden. This year, the boys are able to each have their own garden box, plus the two other plots we have in other areas of the yard. They were so excited when we went to IFA earlier in the spring and bought them seeds.

Every Saturday morning they spend 10 minutes weeding their garden. Their plants have grown from teeny, tiny to medium size. We managed to setup a sprinkling system just for them, so I don't ever worry about them getting water. It's been heavenly.

Peter has tomatoes and carrots in this garden box. Plus, big pumpkins in the area by our garbage can.

Luke has peppers, cherry tomatoes, and baby pumpkins growing off the end of this box. He also has sunflowers and cucumber in his other garden area.

While I don't have any garden boxes for myself this year, my flower beds have kept me busy. I've found great satisfaction in seeing Peter and Luke become gardeners this year. I hope they will always be excited about gardening.