Monday, August 30, 2010

Fall-ing

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year- the freshness in the air, the change of color, the change in clothes (I adore sweaters and anything cozy) and the change in pace from summer.  I loved summer this year- we played a lot and did a lot of fun things but I'm so glad to be starting back on a routine and feeling a little more planned out.
We will be starting homeschool next week (after labor day) and I am feeling a mixture of emotions about it: excitement for new books, curriculum, information- and dread about whether it will be a good year or not and whether I can deal with my kids and their sudden bickering.  I know that sibling fighting is normal but I'm not enjoying or liking it at all.  So, my approach this year will be more prayerful planning and more alone time for my kids so when they are together it is more of a treat.  This weekend I got some things ready for fall and school.  I froze tomatoes for the first time (it's supposed to taste fresher than canned) and planned the schedule for the school year.  I have decided that my focus this year as far as school goes will be a stronger focus on studying the scriptures with the kids (instead of just reading) and more memorization of everything: poems, history facts,  Latin, science stuff, spelling, grammar rules and math facts.  I'm excited to have Jayda be more a part of our schooling this year and think it's going to be great, I'm excited to teach her cursive and reading!  We take Fridays off so this year we will plan more field-trips and outings and have a ton of fun.  I think and hope that we have the recipe for a great year- good luck to me!
getting ready to show some sweet swim moves
Along with the busy school stuff, we also have other things going on; the girls have started another year of ballet at the Barlow Arts Conservatory and with that comes my teaching pilates and yoga there at the studio for trade (I love trading).  Olivia is changing violin teachers because her current teacher is moving away to college, so we are trying to figure that out, and thinking about starting Jayda on an instrument.  Simeon has been taking those amazing swim lessons where my two year old can totally swim- so we drive in to Draper everyday!  Jayda takes the opportunity each lesson to wear her swimsuit and hang out in the hot tub while Sim does his swim lesson. With everything going on we are busy, busy, busy but loving it all!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Lake Powell 2010

yoga on the houseboat- so fun!

Liv is the only one is a swimsuit- the others jumped in with their clothes on

Nana at the helm

peace Jayda

during the storm where the dock (spelled with an "O" not an "I") broke and almost hit into our boat



Poor fella- he fell asleep sitting up
cute kiddos in the bow of the boat

First post ever!

I'm feeling a little bit out of my league here, I've never blogged or scrap-booked so this is totally unchartered territory for me.  I've been feeling lately that I need to be better at writing in my journal and especially writing about the great, fun, amazing and silly things my kids do/say, so hopefully since I'm at the computer so much this will fill that void and turn out to be great.  Summer is coming to an end and we are officially starting our new books and things the day after Labor day so this week and next are kind of the prep period before homeschool starts.  Last week we went to Lake Powell with my parents- it was wonderful!  Toward the end of the week my sista Holly and brother Geoff came to join us, later that day the Devine family arrived.  We had a great time and it was hard to come home- I was fine wearing a swim-suit all day and playing in the water and laying around a lot- it was lovely!  My kids were in heaven too, all three of them were swimming to their hearts content and being doted on by the wonderful Devine family.  It was so fun to see Terry Devine engaged in the fishing excitement with my girls and hearing the three of them talk about how they caught so many fish or how the fish in the water sucked on their fingers.  The talent show was a huge highlight (as always) and it was so fun to see everyone showing off their mad skills.  There was singing, dancing (sometimes together), pushup display, Macbeth recitations, other poetry recitations, card tricks, yoga party tricks (my only displayable talent) and Holly even walked on her toes.  Terry (a golf pro) even brought his driver and showed us a few tricks and taught us a thing or two (I need many more lessons).  Glady was always making everyone feel wonderful about themselves and giving foot rubs, while the big girls were entertaining my kids.  Over all a great week!