Easter Egg Hunt 2015

With our ward not doing an easter egg hunt this year, instead of going to one of the many local events, we decided to do one at our house.  Since both of our kids are a bit old to go easter egg hunting (and let's be honest, they don't need the extra sugar anyway - as their energy levels can attest), we invited some friends of ours to come by so that their two adorable little girls could partake of the joy (and of course, the candy).

Jacob and Meagan LOVED helping them out and encouraging them.

The youngest needed a little help from dad, but had a blast anyway.

                                  

Two of the most adorable little girls we have ever had the pleasure to know.  And their parents aren't bad either... ;)

- Josh         

A new homeschool Co-op

My sister has been trying to tell me how cool Latter-Day Learning is and I finally listened. The other great thing about this curriculum is that a bunch of local LDS friends get together twice a week to help our kids learn together. I decided to try it out and the kids thought it was a great fit.

Our first time joining was for a field trip to the planetarium (Jacob was so thrilled). These are not all of the kids but some of them. All the moms take turns teaching, and each of us teach a specific topic. Next year I will be teaching science to the older kids. We try and split them the best we can according to their developmental stages. The great thing too is that two of the families live two doors down from each other and so one house is used for the younger and the other house is used for the older. It really is set up the perfect way. There are about seven families that come, with more coming next year.

We have been attending for a few weeks now and really enjoy seeing friends and learning more not only about history, science, literature, and geography but about the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

-Sarah   

Wonderful Kids

I am grateful for...

I have some truly wonderful kids (sometimes...:P). Every so often I will come home to some lovely suprises on my bed or in my room.

  I really have been enjoying the extra time I get to spend each day with my kiddos. I love them sooo much.

-Sarah   

Still learning...

Painting adventures

So for a change of pace today for painting. Nicole and I did a quick painting that took about one and a half hours to paint.  The idea was that I could work on my technique a little since I have been getting frustrated with my other painting. I really do enjoy painting. My problem, which I am working on, is that I am a perfectionist, and I feel it is never just right. As frustrated as I get sometimes, my favorite time of the week is my painting time.

-Sarah   

Human Scripture-Hungry Hippos

For the Youth Combined Activity this month, Sarah, in her capacity as Young Women's Secretary took charge and did a game.  Making its way around the internet are several videos of humans playing the game Hungry, Hungry Hippos.  Sarah, being the awesome woman that she is, found a way to play, that taught a spiritual message.  We cut up most of a scripture (Romans 1:16 to be exact) into individual words, and put each one in a set of colored balloons (we had enough for 4 teams if enough people showed).  Then, armed with a laundry basket, a skateboard, and a long rope, the kids became Human Scripture-Hungry Hippos.

 

Once the kids had all the balloons of their color, they had to arrange the words (sans scriptures, iPhones, and other aids) in the correct order.  Only once they had gotten the order perfect could they look up the reference.  Once they had that, they had to tell who was speaking and who (specifically) was being spoken to.

Once the teams had both gotten all of that completed, we sat them down in the middle of the gym and talked about the scripture, and what it means to "not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ".  We shared a quote from Elder Holland.

And therein lies a message for every young man and young woman in this Church. You may wonder if it is worth it to take a courageous moral stand in high school or to go on a mission only to have your most cherished beliefs reviled or to strive against much in society that sometimes ridicules a life of religious devotion. Yes, it is worth it, because the alternative is to have our “houses” left unto us “desolate”—desolate individuals, desolate families, desolate neighborhoods, and desolate nations.

So here we have the burden of those called to bear the messianic message. In addition to teaching, encouraging, and cheering people on (that is the pleasant part of discipleship), from time to time these same messengers are called upon to worry, to warn, and sometimes just to weep (that is the painful part of discipleship)

       - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, The Cost and Blessings of Discipleship, General Conference, April 2014

It was a great activity and the kids all loved it.  I am excited to see what else is in store for our youth (and Sarah) as we move forward in this ward.

- Josh                      

Tennis Rules

Meagan has always wanted to play tennis. While still in public school, she had the opportunity to play tennis for her P.E. class. She LOVED it. So over the summer, we put her in a tennis camp. This year with the homeschool sports program she is able to not only practice tennis but to play games with other kids who play as well (homeschooled as well as non-homeschooled kids).

Now she can't wait til her aunts or uncles who play come to visit or we visit them.

Happy Feet

Meagan has been clogging now since September.  There was a two-month break and then she started up again in February.  We managed to convince her to participate in the talent show that the homeschool group we attend put on.  She has some incredible, natural talent that she needs to share with others.  And share she did.  She did a FANTASTIC job and everyone was very impressed.  Her teacher even came to watch her.

We are SO impressed with the talent she has developed.  We are even more pleased with how happy music and dancing seems to make her.  Way to go, Meagan!  We love you so much!

- Josh