A Bit of This and That

Here are a few pictures from the past little while . . . trying to catch up.

 Jumping in piles of leaves

 Our ward etiquette dinner

 Headstand contest at gymnastics!

Andrew kept his legs up straight the whole time (in his class, you are allowed to have your knees on your elbows)

 The cute gymnastics assistant

 Spencer won again.  It came down to him and his friend Caleb...again.  They are so competitive!  When he realized he'd won, Spencer did a breakdancing move, and spun around 3 times on his head without hands before coming down.

 Courtney was the last girl in the class to be up!

 Spencer went on his first Boy Scout campout - the temperature was in the 20's, brrr!  I think scout leaders earn their place in heaven.  Two of the boys got the flu during the night, so the leaders had to be awakened and informed that boys were losing their dinner.  Sounds like fun!

Beehive class activity - crazy hairdos. 

Make yourself comfortable

Whenever Taycie sees this little box of books, she takes the books out, then sits on top of the tiny box to "read" the books.  It makes us laugh.

Lots of Learning

Here's some of what we've been up to at our homeschool group classes over the last couple of months:

 Going on nature walks with friends

 Delving into chemistry

 Reading nature books

 Exploring the great outdoors,

 Meeting friendly reptiles,

 newly hatched butterflies,

 birds of prey,

 and hedgehogs!

 Feeling all sorts of animal skins,

 coloring "leaf rubbings",

and doing science experiments.

Our kids have also been doing lots of writing assignments, reading amazing books, learning about music from all parts of the world, studying US geography, dancing, speaking Spanish, studying world religions and ideologies in depth, and so much more!  It has been a fabulous semester.

Julie B. Beck

I love this talk by Julie B. Beck.  I think it is a "must-read" for every woman:
2010 Woman's Conference Talk

Mongolia in Winter

Bob's parents arrived safely in outer Mongolia - just in time for winter.  Here is their blog post - I love the huge coats!
http://bobandpeggy.blogspot.com
Brrrr! 

A Good Reminder

I just read this post on Melissa's blog about "process vs. product".  She talked about how important it is to remember that when we are teaching our children, it isn't just about the finished product.  I need to remember this more often!

We Believe In Children

This article gave me a lot to think about, and helped remind me of what a blessing it is to be a mother:

lds.org: We Believe in Children

I especially love this quote:  “As we look into the eyes of a child, we see a fellow son or daughter of God who stood with us in the premortal life"  

Remembering this on a consistent basis has always been difficult for me.  If I'm in a hurry, or feeling frazzled or irritated, it is so easy to forget to speak kindly.  

Lately I am being blessed to be able to treat my children they way they should be treated, no matter what.  I've prayed for years to become a patient mother, and the other day while I was running on my treadmill, I suddenly was able to see everything in a different perspective.  I was thinking about how busy our life is with all the classes, and other commitments that our children are involved in.  Then my thinking shifted, and I thought about when my children grow up and are parents.  

I just knew that if I could give any advice to them, it would be that nothing is more important than speaking kindly to their children.  All of the busyness of life kind of faded away, and I felt  committed to never letting anything be more important than the people I love the most.  Not having a clean house, or getting somewhere on time, or any of the other things that I am tempted to place such importance on.  

Since then, each day I've been reminded in some way to keep this commitment.  I haven't been perfect, but I have changed.  

On Saturday, I taught a class at "Make it for Maggie", a fundraising day.  I also attended several wonderful classes that helped me focus on my commitment.  One was a class about chores, where the teacher talked about the importance of remembering that we do chores and housework because of love.  Another was a class entitled "Reading, Writing, or Relationships, Why Education Starts with the Heart"  

It is actually a free downloadable class, and I'd recommend it to everyone:
http://ldsholisticliving.com/store/free-download-palmer-jodie-reading-writing-orrelationships-why-education-starts-heart

In this class, the teacher spoke about focusing on our personal way of being, our deepest feelings towards others.  This is how we see, treat, & feel about others.  We can see others as individuals, or objects.  She talked about the fact that, a lot of the time, we look at our children as obstacles.  Obstacles to our goals, or our schedule, etc.  This usually happens when the pressures of life build up.  However, when our heart is pure, and we are committed to helping our children to trust us, and feel loved by us, then our parenting and teaching will be so much more effective.  

I hope I can always remember that my children are on loan to me from Heavenly Father, and that I should treat them according to their divine potential to become like him.  

Apple Picking

We got to go pick honey crisp apples.  These are the most delicious apples ever, and we were able to buy them for only $5 a bushel.   What a deal!  We picked 5 bushels, and I think we've already eaten about half of them.  They are yummy.

Somehow I was lucky enough to be blessed with the most angelic baby in the world

 Yes, sometimes I let my children dress like this.

 But I take no responsibility for them doing weird things like this

Or for when he decides to wear pink sunglasses.

The End of Spud's Season

Bob & Spencer's team only lost 1 game this season.  What a great team they had. 

 Bob and his assistant coaches were amazing.  I really mean that.  The whole team learned lessons that will last a lot longer than the football season. 

Spencer is #11

Sideline Games

Adoring Fans

Halftime pep talks

This is a picture of their first (& last) playoff game.  It was pouring rain the entire game, so I didn't dare get the camera out much. 

I wish I had a picture of Andrew.  All of our girls watched the game from inside our van, but Andrew and Zach came with me to sit in the rain on the sidelines.  At first, they were wrapped in blankets, but then the blankets got wet, and Andrew wanted to stand up to watch.  I looked over at him, dripping wet, with red little hands.  I asked him if he wanted to go sit in the van.  It took a second before he'd take his attention from the game enough to notice that I was speaking.  He shook his head.  "Are you cold?" I asked.  Another blank stare, and a head shake.  "Do you want to wrap up in your blanket?".  Head shake.  I don't think that boy lets himself feel pain or discomfort, especially when there's a game to watch.  (A little like his Dad, perhaps?)

After they lost, Bob had probably the finest coaching moment ever.  The boys were a little bit discouraged, having lost in a rainy, sleety game.  He talked to them and started listing all the highlights of the game.  He told them he didn't want them thinking about the score, he wanted them thinking about when "so and so" did (fill in the blank).  Each time he mentioned a highlight, the boys all cheered.  Then each of the other coaches took a turn talking to the boys.  What a great group of coaches.  Everyone left feeling great, and excited for next year.

Miss Mally Munchkin

A month ago (what a great blogger I am!), Mallory turned 9.  She was so excited for her birthday.  She is growing up so quickly.  

Mallory, I love being your mom.  I remember very clearly when I was expecting you, and I heard the words of a primary song playing on a CD in our home: "My life is a gift, my life has a plan, my life has a purpose, in Heaven it began.  My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth, and seek for God's light to direct me from birth."  I felt an overwhelming feeling that this song applied to your life.  I hadn't expected to have another baby so soon, but your life really has been a gift.  You are such an amazing spirit.  Even when you were a tiny infant, I would look into your eyes, and I could feel that I was in the presence of a wise and valiant spirit. 

 When you were a baby, you always made this little sound that sounded like a bird singing.  People would hear you and it would surprise them.  As soon as you were old enough to make little jabbering noises, you would "sing".  Dad called you his little songbird.  You have always loved music.  Your favorite thing is to turn on music and listen to it, or dance to it.  

One time when you were about 3 years old, I came into a room where you were listening to a Roger Whittaker Christmas CD.  You were singing along to the words, and tears were running down your face.  I asked you why you were crying, and you said: "this man can't give his mom nuthing but clothes."  (The words of the song say: "My love, it's Christmastime, and nothing can I give you, more than all the love that's mine to give, For every day we live through.")  You assumed he was singing to his Mom.  I don't know why you thought he could only give her some clothes for Christmas, but it was so cute to see how touched you were. 

 This picture is by the Mississippi River.  We went on a 3-week trip back East, and you walked miles with us all over the country.  You never complained, just happily marched along, usually trying to lead the way.

 You are the hardest working person that I've ever met.  You just naturally want to help others and work hard at whatever you do.  I love to see the joy you find in working and serving.  I remember when we all were really sick the winter right before Abby was born.  (You were five)  I had been really sick, I couldn't get out of bed, and you were sick too.  I was laying down, and you came and laid next to me.  Then you said: "I can hear that those kids aren't doing their jobs downstairs", and started to get up.  I said "Mallory, you need to lay down and rest.  Don't worry about anything, I'll talk to them in a little while."  But you couldn't stand it, and said "no, I'll be right back".  You went downstairs, and then came back up, declaring:  "I got them doing their jobs."  It was so cute. 

You love helping with Abby and Taycie, and will often ask me if certain jobs have been done, or if the baby's diaper has been changed, or ask me what we are going to have for dinner, etc.  You love to organize and keep things running smoothly.  What a responsible person you are!

I love your laugh - it is so sweet.  You have such a fun sense of humor.  You are so eager to be involved in fun activities, classes, and anything that your older sisters get to do.  I love what a sweet sister you are.  You are a true friend to all of your sisters.   

I love all these things about you, but mostly I love you because you are you.  You are one of my very favorite people in the world!  Love, Mom

Nature Study Class

I've updated our nature study blog for the class I'm teaching.  If you'd like, click on over to see what fun things we've been doing!
http://ifamilynaturestudy.blogspot.com/

Hope you are enjoying autumn/winter!

Reformation

Here's a great article on the reformation & the importance of the King James Bible:
http://www.latter-dayhomeschooling.com/2011/10/learning-about-reformation.html

On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther, a Catholic clergyman, nailed a document he wrote, identified as his Ninety-five Theses, to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany. It was meant to promote discussion of some of the Catholic church's practices which he did not think matched the teachings of the Bible. It sparked a reformation where more and more people began to question the teachings of the Catholic Church and also began a movement that brought the Bible to the common man.

Martin Luther was not the first, nor the last of what we call the Reformers, but it was his act that became the tipping point.

Why is this information important for us as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?....

Abby's thought-full prayers

An excerpt from Abby’s bedtime prayer 10/4/11:

Please bless me that I won’t have dreams.

and that no mean animals will eat me

And that ants won’t eat grasshoppers…

…ants DO eat grasshoppers...

Please bless the food that Mom put in the car for iFamily.

and that grasshoppers will eat ants!