Seven Little Candles

 

It is hard to believe. It seemed like it was only yesterday when I was chasing this little girl around the house, wishing she was seven and not getting into everything. She was born with the most adorable giggle and smile.  We took her to the eye doctor recently and he said that her eyes even smile.

 She was always in the middle of everything and wanted to help. When we did school, she was on my lap and begging for her school work or asking to see the pictures in our book. She could recognize the sound of my mixer and she would come running to "see".

She grew and grew. Her hair curled up. Her freckles multiplied. But her smile never dimmed.

She continues to giggle. She still wants to be in the middle of everything. She thinks that the best spot to sit is still on my lap. She now comes to the sound of the mixer and the smell of chocolate.

She turned seven on Thursday, December 16th. Bob took her out to lunch, just the two of them. They both got dressed up and went to Olive Garden. She enjoyed the time with Bob. She usually wants to be with her mom all the time so this was a change for her but she decided it was a good one.

She is our brownie girl. Two pieces were needed for all seven candles. We did learn that you shouldn't put candles into warm brownies. The first set of seven melted in the brownies. We cut around them, it was better this way because she still had a cough from being sick. Her germs stayed on her own plate.  This was also a great year for Meleah because she could read her birthday cards herself. She has been very reluctant to read. I could list a variety of reason but most likely is that she had two fluently reading older brothers that would listen in and "help" her along. I think she was nervous about it and a bit of a perfectionist.  Just this week she asked to read me a second book. It was the first time that I didn't have to make her do it. She wanted to read another one to me. Whatever the reason, I am thankful.  Our little girl is getting older but we are enjoying the journey. I love to see her faith grow and her understanding of the word of God. I am thankful for this little girl for her smiles, giggles and especially for her freckles.

A Peek Into Our School Day

 This year we are recording the amount of time we spend in each subject. The School we are a part of has noticed a trend that the amount of time spent in each subject determines how well each student does when it is testing time. It seems credible because I know we have spent less time on subjects like spelling and creative writing and that is where my boys need the most work. This book is where I record my notes and I later "log hours" on a website every week. It sure has made me more diligent to stick with a schedule.

This is Cody's desk. He always keeps it neat. He is working on his own this year with minimal checking in from me. We work together on a few things but I just review his work and talk through things with him. He is doing a science class outside of the home and so that has freed up more time for me to work with Travis and Meleah.

 We have moved school to the basement. It seems crazy, especially if you have seen our basement. I specifically avoided the insulation and wires hanging in the ceiling. Hopefully, at some point we can  fix that.  We do really well with school down there. There are less distractions, everything is in one place, and if we don't have to clean off the table for dinner. I do miss being able to do stuff while the kids work, like dishes or starting dinner.  I liked the school work being in the middle of our lives. But,this way there is no window for daydreaming. We aren't distracted by Bob whenever he is home doing stuff. 

 Meleah gets a tablecloth because this also happens to be where the painting happens. As well as a majority of the coloring.

 Here is Travis' desk. We had them all together but I had to separate us in order for us to do our work.

Some of our many books. We all spend a good portion of our school day reading and more reading.

After a week off from school, I am ready to get back to our regular routine. I am just a schedule person. Maybe I just need to schedule our time off from school and it won't feel like we are being lazy.
 
There is just a small glimpse of our day. I am grateful to be able to be home and learn along with the kids. I love being able to see their understanding grow and their ability to learn and remember new things. It is a precious gift that sometimes seems very heavy but it has been a good experience for us so far.

Ways to Torture Houseguests

I found this great idea on this blog:

http://alisaburke.blogspot.com/2010/10/paper-leaves-fall-wreath-tutorial.html

Her wreath and leaves are very nice but she did them on a book and I just love books too much to destroy a book just to paint on it.

1. Draw some leaves.

2. Paint them with watercolors.

3. Cut out leaf shapes.

4. Attach them to a wreath.

That didn't sound too difficult. I thought it would be a great activity with the kids. It would require some watercolors and drawing, something my kids have discovered they love to do. Then I realized how great it would be if we did it while we had some out-of-town visitors. While looking at some fall colors, we collected some leaves. It was the last day our guests would be there and I had almost forgotten about the project when Michelle Ely reminded me of it. We got out all the supplies(here is where the torture comes in) and I explained what to do. We sat down and started drawing. Russell and Karen Bell showed up to say good-bye to our visitors and I made them sit and make some leaves.

"I can't draw!" "I am terrible." "This doesn't look right."  These were some of the comments I heard but as you see the finished project, altogether, it looks lovely.  I glued the leaves onto some grape vines that I had crafted into a wreath shape. In addtition to the fall wreath, I have the momento of their visit. Plus, it always makes me laugh and warms my heart to remember how uncomfortable everyone seemed and yet how pleased they seemed with their completed leaf. There is one real leaf hidden among the others but it is very difficult to find. Now I have a creative, fall wreath that will remind me of time spent with friends.

My Little Helper

Meleah loves to help in the kitchen. She had to share kitchen helper duties with Travis, he wanted to make the cookies by himself, it was difficult for her. That is why she has such a pleased look on her face. She helped make the pie crusts and then made a few miniature pies for each of the boys and herself. 

With my kids, I have found, if you let them do something to help(cooking, painting the house/walls, etc.) their interest doesn't last long but you spend more time trying to tell them "no" than just letting help. Their attention span or interest fades and it becomes work and they don't want to help anymore  so it is easier to let them help for a while than talking them out of helping.

There was a time when the kids were younger that they all had to be there and help with everything. I let them help occasionally, like when I had an abundance of guilt for not letting them or I could say I had an amazing amount of patience. Thankfully, they are getting older and willing to share duties. Plus, they all don't want to help at the same time, that is helpful.

Pies, by Meleah

The best part of this cooking experience, Meleah was speaking the whole time in her little British accent.  She plans to have a cooking show someday for PBS's Create and she will speak in her little accent. She used to pretend to work in a coffee shop far away and her old parents would come to visit her but her mother always died. I never did like that one.

This day of baking is a precious memory I will never forget.

Things That I am Thankful For...

1. I am thankful for a best friend that is such a strength and support to me. He makes me giggle and helps me to see more clearly. Bob is one of my greatest blessings. He has shown me so many things by his godly example. I am very blessed to be his wife.

2. Godly parents. Their faithful example and encouragement is priceless.

3. Time spent with friends creating precious memories.

4. My dear family and the life we share.

The number one thing I am thankful for is God calling out to me and changing my life. I know that it is only through Him that we have been so blessed and if it weren't for Him I wouldn't have the blessings pictured here.  I am also very thankful for His word that we each have to "Feast" on whenever we desire. (There aren't any undesireable consequences from overindulging either!) I am reminded of the song, "One Sweet Hour With Jesus"

One sweet hour with Jesus every day!

How it helps the soul along;

how it cheers the heart along the way,

Like the music of a song."

Happy THANKSgiving!

Happy November!

We are still alive. I am having problems getting pictures to upload and trying to find some time to figure it out but it is one of the last things I am worried about getting "done".
We have been hard at work doing school. This year is going much better than last. The number one reason is probably because we aren't trying to remodel a house at the same time. We are still doing stuff to the house but there is less work or it can just be put off until after school.
Cody started a science class this year. He is doing General Science with someone other than myself teaching. He has to study and take quizzes every week. He likes it so far. He does well on the quizzes and is currently working on a catapult, they are studying simple machines. The class has only five students, besides the teacher, he is the only boy. I think we are going to do the same thing with math next year. By the time I figure out how to best explain his Math lesson, he is so frustrated and I do everything "wrong". Maybe it is something we will work through. We will see how the rest of the year goes.
Travis is starting into those preteen mood swings and that always affects our day. He is really interested in drawing right now and so all the kids are going to be taking some art classes in November and December.
Meleah is doing really well with school. She wants to do cursive writing like the boys and all the work they have to do, plus her own work. We are going to have her eyes checked. Her Sunday School Teacher said she is wanting everything really close and says she can't see it very well. She told me that, "I think I don't see things like other people...I think it is because I have red hair." (Really?) I have wondered about it because she complains, "My tummy hurts." when she is tired of reading.  Everything we do is close up work so she usually can do it but some of the letters mix her up. She does have times when she closes her eyes and rests and then will continue. We will see what the eye doctor says.
Bob is working outside a bunch when he is home. We are burning all the brush we have been cleaning up around here. He has been cutting up some of the dead trees. Too bad we don't have a fireplace.
Bob works with the neighbor, another Fireman, he said he saw a mountain lion out his window. Back along the back of our property is a wash/pond that drains back to the Colorado river. He saw a mountain lion out there.  It sure does make me nervous walking in the early mornings. We have some deer in the neighborhood as well. I think they hide down by all our stumps.
We are trying to get the church kids together more often. We had our first Young People sort of get together. It was a lot of fun. I hope that the desire to come will continue to grow in the parents hearts as well as the kids.
Hopefully, I figure out the picture problem soon but until then, we are alive and doing well.

Football

 Thought I would share some Football pictures. I will let Cody share his experience but that may have to wait until it is officially over. The rainbow picture is at one of the practices. I would like to tell you which one Cody is but I have no idea. It is like that at practice. They start to all look the same. Plus the team started out with four Codys.

Cody is #89. Starting Kick-Off Return. He has learned a lot about himself through this experience. He has faced adversity and many new situations. He really wanted to try it this year and I think it has been a good experience even if it has been an extremely time consuming one.

Here is how we spend time during practice.

 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights for two hours. Plus the game on Saturday which is anywhere from 2-3 hours.

 We played some basketball.

And more sitting and playing with the camera. She is awfully cute.

#89 Chiefs Lightweight Division

Snapshots of Summer-Part Two

After coming back from Missouri we planned to go to Yankee Boy Basin. I have never been there and since most of our time has been spent traveling or working around the house we decided we needed to take the trip.

 This is Travis. Just looked cool when I was looking up at him.

 Here is Cody. These were some cool rocks to climb.

 Here is the family. There was a slight drizzle starting. Very Minnesota-ish.

Ahh. God sure does paint pretty landscapes.

This isn't the greatest picture but I had to use the picture of her and her boots. She has been a boot person forever. This pair has been well used. The toes all scuffed up and well worn. I told her we needed to get her a larger pair and it started some silent tears because she loved them so much. They are two sizes too small and she is still trying to convince me she can wear them with her thin socks.
We had a great visit to Yankee Boy Basin and plan on visiting again.

Snapshots of Summer-Part one

I thought I would give everyone a glimpse of our summer. A very busy one, filled with driving and more driving. Still, we managed to enjoy ourselves despite all the miles. The time we spent with family and church buddies more than made up for it.

We went fishing for Bob's birthday. He was very excited to take the kids. It was rainy, a regular thing on Grand Mesa, but we stuck it out and were able to catch some fish.

Cody caught his first fish. Notice Travis' face. He was excited to fish until he saw the blood and realized that the fish does die. He didn't want to fish anymore. Meleah spent the whole time casting. She loved it.

This is more Travis' style. We went to Island Acres, a swimming hole next to the Colorado River, we had a great time. Travis always spends a lot of the time catching toads. Here he is with his sand castle.

Meleah versus the monkey bars

She is getting ready by cracking her knuckles.

Meleah overcame her fear of the monkey bars. She doesn't get much opportunity to try them out. Her mom is bad and forgets that she might like to go to the park and play. 

We talked the Larsen kids into joining us for Vacation Church School in Phoenix, AZ. They had a great time, making new friends and learning new things. Don't forget the swimming!

After geting home from Phoenix, we turned around and headed to Missouri for Teen Camp. It was Cody's first year and he was very thrilled to go. 

Laura Gill surprised us by coming through Grand Junction on their way to camp, bringing Joani Gill and her three oldest. It was good to get to know them better. The girls taught us all the fun that could be had with a piece of string. It helped pass some of the miles.

Those are the pictures through July. I will do a part two because our upload speeds are veerrrryyyyy sllllooooowww. 

Devil's Vomit?

Jeanie Larsen, the kids and I visited Craters Of The Moon National Monument on our way to the Idaho Reunion. As I was perusing their website, I discovered that the Pioneers came across this area and called it Devil's Vomit. They tried to avoid it all together. Yet, it did spark interest in my boys eyes. If it is funny, disgusting or weird it is sure to be a hit with the boys.

Some of the Apollo astronauts did training at Craters of The Moon because it so closely resembled the moon's surface.

They say that there were three major eruptions. The last one being about 2000 years ago. Jeanie and I both thought of the crucifixion of Christ and that this must have been around that time. They said that the lava covers 100 sq. miles.

We did manage to get a picture of Cody.

My camera battery died so I missed getting pictures of the caves. We went into some of them and there was still ice in the bottom. The Indians hid in the caves to escape the U. S. Calvary. I can't imagine trying to ride a horse across some of that lava.

I also missed getting pictures of the Gopher Snake that Travis nearly stepped on, a marmot(a big gopher like animal), and the chipmunks. We hiked on a trail when we saw all those things. We had just finished the hike, we were hot and tired and Travis saw a guy on a motorcycle  pull into the trail's parking lot and said, "Poor guy, he is going to be miserable hiking this trail."

These cinders would make a perfect snowboarding hill. We learned a new word. Pahoehoe (pa-hoy-hoy), Hawaiian for rope like lava. Travis thought many resembled lava cow pies.

In areas there were pretty, pink monkey flowers. It looked like they were painted on the desolate blackness with the wind as a paintbrush. Maybe after all the black anything that is growing looks pretty.

Just a really cool tree. There is a parasite that attacks the tree and leaves a broom looking branch. I don't see it so much on this picture. They call it "witch's broom".  How fitting to find in "Devil's Vomit."

The day ended with a dip in the KOA pool. Very refreshing.
Jeanie was a little concerned the kids wouldn't enjoy it but we managed to really enjoy ourselves and learn some new things. It was one of those places that I might not ever have thought about going to and was glad that we went.

When planning your trip, remember these things:

1. Sunscreen-Temperatures at ground level can reach 150 degrees.
2. Early Summer- It was in the 80's while we were there and hot enough by afternoon.
3. Water- Bring plenty because after the Visitor's Center there isn't any place to get more.
4. Charge your camera fully before heading out for the day.
5. KOA in Arco, ID. Nice cabins, pool, ice cream. The campground at the monument didn't have any trees, just lava rock and paved road.

What happened to June?

I blinked and June disappeared. It was good to see everyone at Reunion and then go up to Idaho and see more church people. It is so sweet to meet with our brothers and sisters.
In the midst of all this, I received the test results from the Stanford 10 Standardized test the kids did in April. I was shocked to read that both boys scored Post High School overall on the Listening portion. I think that it is named incorrectly. Maybe verbal comprehension would be better. What I have yet to figure out is if it is comparing them to the public school students or a set standard for the test. Maybe Post High School standards are really just that poor.
It is good that we did it this year because with the move and remodelling our house and the areas we didn't get to, they still did really well. It will be a good baseline to see how much it changes next year. It showed me the areas that I knew they needed more practice in. It also showed me that subjects I thought they were doing terrible in, were actually above grade level standards. We need to work on spelling and grammar next year. Maybe it should be done aloud, since they "Listen" so well.
We are working at getting everything organized for next year. We decided to put all the books in the basement. It concerns me a bit with moisture, smells, etc. Right now it is the space that we have, so we will give it a try. Maybe this will keep our basement nicer since we will be down there more often? I am getting excited to start another year of school. It is nice to have the break and get refreshed for another year.

Hiking at Brush Creek

Summer School

I decided that we would focus on music this summer. Cody will do guitar lessons and Travis will go back to the piano. They will both show Meleah how to do both and by putting her desire off a little, hopefully that will increase her willingness in the future.
Cody wanted to continue in both but unfortunately money doesn't grow well here, only weeds and elm trees. He has had two lessons so far and is just very thrilled. He has always loved to fiddle around with anything so I am sure he will continue to do well. He is helping out with our little kids choir(I am not sure that you could call it that. We have a lot of shyness to overcome.) We are practicing a hymn for Reunion with all the kids, after about 10 minutes of practicing he had the right hand figured out enough to help us with the song. He did have the realization, "If I play the piano, I don't have to sing." I am not sure that is a good thing but we shall see.
Travis started his piano lessons yesterday. I had called numerous teachers and agreed to a few but for some reason didn't feel right about either one and cancelled on them. A homeschool mom I met told me that her mom does lessons but she may not have room for more students. I called and left a message. I did pray through this process because I didn't know any of these people and I want the kids to want to continue. Well, this dear lady called me back.  She is wonderful, she said that her whole goal is to have the students enjoy piano. She just seemed an answer to pray and that it felt right.
We pulled up to the church, they live next door to their church and she does lessons at the church, Travis tells me he is NOT GOING IN! (Remember track practice, this is his first response to everything. Hopefully, this is something we can overcome as he gets older.) I told him we are going to just try it out and see how he likes it. She describes herself as a "nut". Which, for Travis who likes anything that makes him giggle, is perfect. She seems to have a pleasant teaching style. He has forgotten a bunch since last year but he should pick it up quickly.
I plan to have him "teach" Meleah and I so that she can pick up a few things, myself as well, plus I am hoping that it will be "his" thing.
I laugh when people ask if we are done with school because the answer is always, "Yes and no."

Young Eagle Flight

The boys had an opportunity to fly for free through a program designed to get kids flying. All over the nation they have had over a million kids fly with the program. One of the volunteers told me they have a great safety record, only one crash that killed about three people. I am sure that was to comfort me but I didn't find it so while my boys were up in the air.

Travis has always loved airplanes. He had the best time. He got off and told me he wants to be a pilot. They flew about 20-30 minutes. They flew over our house and were able to see all kinds of things.

Cody flew as well but was kind in letting the other kid sit in front. Next time he would like to sit in the front seat. They will offer it again in October so we will try it out again.

Meleah wasn't old enough. But this guy reminded all of the kids of their Papa. He teased them and chatted with each of them. I asked him if he could tell us some corny jokes. The funny thing is that they owned 10 acres in Bemidji, MN. He has sisters in Park Rapids, close to my parents. Now they live near Grand Junction. Meleah wanted to have his picture, so we went and asked him and he loved it.

That was a fun way to spend a Saturday morning.