Dry Canyon Hike

Our Homeschool Adventure Club met again today for another great hike in the mountains. Technically, I think this was the foothills, but whatever. We had a great time and I was proud of how little the boys complained.This trail was a lot more steep then the grotto trail, and longer too. It was, however, the perfect day to go.

If I picked a motto for this hike it would be, we can do hard things. The boys got tired quickly, but they kept on going. When we got to the final destination they were happy to sit down and have their candy. On the way down we even got lucky and saw a mommy deer scrambling up the side of the mountain.

Can you spot the deer in this picture?

Luke was so thrilled to take a picture of the clouds

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Our newest cook

As part of our curriculum this year, I have added a subject called Life Skills. My focus is to help Peter understand the basics of meal planning and preparation. At the beginning of each month, I have him pick 2 nights on the calendar. On these nights he is in charge of planning and preparing dinner. This past week he was so excited to make his favorite dish - pizza.

We shopped together at the store for the pizza sauce and lemonade. Then, we went home and got to work. He did a fantastic job and he took this assignment very seriously. He gave Luke and I assignments too.  I was the maid and Luke was the butler. It was pretty hilarious. I feel extra blessed that this kid enjoys cooking in the kitchen. He has been especially proud of himself recently because I now trust him to use a sharp kitchen knife all by himself. He really is growing up way too fast.

The layers of the earth

For our science lesson last week we learned about the crust of the Earth and how it is comprised of four layers (crust, mantel, outer core, inner core). Peter and I decided it would be fun to do a little experiment in the kitchen to reinforce the concepts we had learned.

We quickly whipped up a white cake and divided it up into three round pans. Once the cake was in the pan we added a few drops of food coloring. It turned out to be so delicious and we think it looks just like the  the earth - practically imperfect in every way.

Hiking with the Homeschool Adventure Club

One of my goals this year is to expose the boys to more adventures in the great outdoors. There is a wonderful group that meets a couple times a month to go on local hikes. This was the first hike for this school year. Payson canyon is a sacred place for me since my brother passed away here - and it's always a bit somber when we drive up it.

However, the boys were beyond thrilled to go and we had an enjoyable time. The trees were just beginning to turn, and the waterfall at the grotto made for plenty of splashing opportunities.

About to begin our journey.

Luke was nervous the first time across this bridge. He quickly became more confident.

The boys with the waterfall in the background. We all got so wet.

Coloring a picture of the grotto in our nature journals.

Any place is a good place to practice neat tricks.

Love!

Our first week of Homeschool

Overall, the week has been fantastic! Peter has easily transitioned into the structure of our homeschooling days. On the days that Luke is home, he hasn't been as distracting as he was last year. Peter is doing better in both reading and writing, for which I am thankful. My primary goal for the year is reading. He loves to play games with Brandon (lots and lots of games), and it would be so helpful if he could read independently.  Both Brandon and I are crossing our fingers.

He has started piano again. I am shocked at how well he is doing after having the summer off. He still remembers most notes and Brandon didn't start at the very beginning with him. We will see if he will be ready to play a duet with Papa for the annual Thomas Christmas party. We have hopes that at some point he will be able to play duets with his cousin Morgan. Brandon will start teaching her piano at the end of this month.

This week we have a fun science lesson where we learned about the solar system. We took time on that day to create this:

The coconut represents stars and the white blob at the end is Luke's lovely creation. He calls it the moon's floor. Pretty funny. We still want to add rings to Saturn and Uranus, but I haven't figured out a good way to do that...toothpicks or noodles? I'm just not sure what would work best. Perhaps a hair elastic would do the trick.

Another day we learned about the Boston Tea Party as part of the Liberty Studies "subject" we are rotating into our schedule this year. It was pretty fun to see what Peter remembered from this days session.

I think it will be another few years before he understands the concept of Taxes without Representation, but at least we are headed in the right direction.

We have also started reading right out of the Book of Mormon. This year I went and bought a Large Print Book of Mormon (only $5!) and he reads 6 verses every morning. I help him with the words he doesn't know and he fills in the rest. Kinda funny, but he already recognizes the word pass and wickedness. It's been a very enjoyable time for both of us each morning. I'm counting on the accompanying blessings associated with reading this wonderful book every morning.

This morning we woke up to a street lined with flags due to Patriot's day. While I didn't mentioned the reason to Peter or Luke we did take time this morning to go and recite the Pledge of Alliance outside instead of doing it in the living room. I will never tire of hearing this cute little ones recite it.

We have so many other fun things coming up on the horizon. I feel so blessed to have amazing contacts with so many homeschoolers who organize great things (local hiking/outdoor group, plays at BYU, group parties). It really is a great time in the history of mankind to be a homeschool family.

Preschool: A Journey into the Unknown

Earlier this year I was contemplating the feelings of frustration I have with my youngest kiddo. He really knows how to irritate me.  A few days later I had the impression that I needed to enroll him in preschool. I immediately made contact with a fantastic preschool teacher I had heard about in the neighborhood. Thankfully she still had openings (this was in May), and I had his registration fee paid the very next day. In a way, I completely shocked myself by being so prompt with this decision. First, I am super cheap and forking over $675 for preschool isn't even in my rational sphere of comprehension. Second, I love teaching my kids and seeing their thirst for knowledge quenched here in our home. Third, I would be sending him out into the big scary, scary, scary world for the first time.

Well, today was the first day of school and this little dude was fantastic. I was proud that I controlled the tears this morning, but it's only because I sobbed into my pillow for a few hours last night.
 

While Peter and I walked home from taking him, we decided to decorate the house for Luke as a surprise. This is what the house looked like when Luke came home....

He thought all the decorations were pretty amazing. He spent the rest of the afternoon and evening tearing them all down and popping the balloons. Whew, one day down and many more left to go. I do hope that preschool will be just what Luke needs to discover his own independence.

Craft Camp

I have a pretty amazing cousin, Shannon, from the Davis side that loves children. Every year she hosts a craft camp for little kiddos. I've been desperately wanting my kids to do it, and this year I made it a priority. Luke and Peter were both so excited every time they went. I am pretty sure this is going to become a annual summer tradition. Thanks so much Shannon!

This week was all about Cars

This week was all about monsters

Our last week was all about robots

Yankee Doodle

Today Luke found a nickel and he wanted to know who the man was on the side of the coin. I told him it was Thomas Jefferson. He then told me in absolute certainty that no it wasn't, it was Yankee Doodle. We've been laughing at him all day long. I love the funny things these kids say.

Our new beach

We have loved the new "beach park" in Springville. I try to take the boys up at least once a week. The boys love playing with all the mucky sand and I just sit and enjoy watching them have so much fun. One of these days I really want to take a paddle board out there and try to do some yoga. It's such a calm and beautiful place.

Good friends

I had a chance to get together with an old friend from our Pleasant Grove days. It was so nice to visit with a friend that knows me so well. Our kids had a blast together. They happily played for many hours together while us Momma's chatted.