Friday night Hockey games!

Grandpa K had tickets to a Hockey game in SLC and took Rick, Taylor, and Ricky. (Shelby was babysitting instead). The game was fun. Ricky and Taylor wanted to see a famous Hockey Fight, but no luck. They even chanted "Fight, Fight, Fight" at one point hoping to see something.

They learned that here in Utah the refs. don't let the players fight. They break it up and/or give penalties. They announced that there were scouts there watching the players.

It was a lot of fun to go with Grandpa. They can't wait for the next adventure.

Valentine activities

This year was a lot of fun. It started off with our Stakes Daddy Daughter Dance. Rick and Shelby had a great time. Rick wanted there to be more daddy daughter dancing, but still enjoyed the time with Shelby.

Thursday at Keystone the kids handed out Valentines to their good friends.

Friday we went Skating at Classic Skate with about 200 hundred other homeschoolers. We decorated boxes to collect our Valentines in. That was fun for the kids. (I hate arts and crafts) They picked out paper from my scrapbook collection and clued it to their boxes. They looked spectacular. (Sorry...slacking in the picture department). They came home with their boxes full of Valentines. They love to go to Skating Parties. It was fun to see them skating around with friends, making chains, winning games, etc. Brought back a lot of memories of my childhood. Rick skated in that same rink when he was a kid.

Rick took me out to dinner Friday night. It was so wonderful. We love to go to the Chef's Table in Orem. We got a table right by the window in the back. It was perfect.

There She Blows!!

Aunt Kimmy gave Ricky a volcano kit for Christmas and we spent this week putting it together, painting it, and today we erupted it. You can see where they mixed paints to make orange and brown.

Ricky and Taylor put the mold together. I mixed the plaster and poured it into the mold. They all spent time painting it to make it look "real". It was a lot of fun. The snow/rain has been coming down on and off for about a week. It was a great activity to put together in the house.

Thanks Aunt Kimmy! It was a lot of fun! Now we want to do lap books on Volcanoes next.

Let us not be weary...

I have read a lot of emails from other moms who struggle with homeschooling in January. We get in a rut and want new ideas to spice things up. We often spend a little time wondering if we have chosen the right curriculum, if we have the right schedule, feel guilty about the amount of field trips we took this month...etc. We as moms do guilt very well. We want what is best for our children.

I found this wonderful quote on a blog I visit. It helped me in a lot of areas...not just school.

It's work, just plain hard work. I've pussy-footed around saying that for a long time. Homeschooling is hard work with one. With a houseful, it was very hard work. But it can be done and done very well.

"And let us not be weary in well doing : for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:9

I am very confident in our choices. Just like the author said.."It is hard work". Sometimes it is good to hear from someone else that they struggled and made it. As moms (and more so..as Latter Day Saint moms) we see smiling faces and no one complaining. We see others so happy 24/7. It is nice to share our ideas and see that we aren't alone.

Keep up the good work and in whatever your endeavor..... let us not be weary in well doing

Basketball

Basketball is in full swing. Taylor and Ricky are playing in Spanish Fork. Ricky is on the Gators 3rd grade team. Taylor is on the Firebirds 5/6th grade team. I am coaching Taylor's team.
Ricky likes basketball so much it has taken football's place as the #1 sport of choice (for now!)

So if you call on a Wednesday night or Saturday and we aren't home...probably at basketball.

Wii bowling helps!

The kids started bowling this week. What fun! We meet some friends from Keystone Arts Academy at Miracle Bowl in Orem on Thursday afternoons and had a great time this week. All I can say is Wii bowling helped our scores a bit. Last time we went bowling I don't think anyone was over 100. This time we made it there and above some.


There were kids of all ages. Even us moms had a go at it. I was suprised to get a few strikes and spares.


The older kids had fun with it. They were brave and bowled without bumpers. Unlike us moms! A few gutter balls never hurt anyone..Aye Shelby?



The competitive spirit that Ricky is was a little disappointed to not bowl 180. The littler people had the 6 and 8 pound balls. He did well though. Even though, (to his dismay), he didn't get a spare or a strike (like on the wii) he never throw a a gutter ball!

Can't wait for next week!

Schools in!

Argh! Most of you probably love to have school start again. Not me. I hate the week we go back. It is hard for everyone. I hate getting up and being organized and prepared, and the kids hate having to think again.

I am taking deep breaths, going to my room for a time out, and occasionally venting my frustrations to my poor husband. He patiently sat and listened and gave me a hug and after I had calmed down, he sent me back on my way.

I think we all need to go to the neighborhood sledding spot and have a good run at that! (After school of course) :)

Hats off to all of you who are enjoying the beginning of a new semester!