Princess Academy

McKay will be attending Liberty Academy this year. He has grown to a point where he needs mentors to guide his education, because I can no longer keep up with the things he is doing and learning. I have spent many years focusing on creating an environment that would allow McKay to foster a love for learning and a sense of mission, and I believe he has started on the right track. I erroneously believed that if I could create this environment for McKay, the girls would magically follow. That has not happened. My girls have largely been ignored in their education and they are bored. They have learned things along the way. They are both doing really well with reading and a few other interests, but they need direction and more one on one time with me.

The last few months, I have been pondering and praying what to do with my girls this year. I think I have found my answer. Last week, we were at the library looking for books to check out when the title of a book jumped out at both me and Elena. The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. Then as we were walking through the children's section another title begged to be checked out. It is called Daughter of a King. I can't recall the author. We checked out all of our books then went home to enjoy our spoils. A few hours later, my good friend called. She told me about a training meeting she was attending that evening for an educational program that someone in the homeschool community had created for girls and mothers. The title? The Princess Academy: Daughter of a King and The Hope Chest Journey. Coincidence? I don't think so. I attended the meeting and was very inspired to start a princess Academy circle in my community. I can not wait to learn with my girls about who we are as daughters and study other women and girls that are emulatable. We will be striving to gain an education of the mind, heart, and hands. I am so excited to start this year.

Birthday boy

I remember as a child thinking that people who are the parents of youth are really old. Well I am now that parent. McKay turned 12 last Saturday and his dad took him on a great fishing trip at Yuba Lake with some buddies from work. As you can tell from the pictures, he thought it was the greatest time. In June, we went on a family vacation to Minnesota and South Dakota, and McKay fell in love with fishing. He has since borrowed a field guide from the library and has studied every fish in our lakes. He has become quite the fish expert now to add to his extensive knowledge of birds and other wildlife. He also gets to go on a 3 day backpacking trip next week with his scout group, and is so excited to do some more fishing, and try fly fishing.

McKay has recently started drum lessons and is doing really well with it. We picked up a drum set for him for his birthday and he practices every day, much to the annoyance of his sisters. He is able to keep the beat on some songs, and he is learning to add his own flare to the drum beats he is learning. It is really fun to hear him practice.

McKay is a great example to me every day. He is so excited to receive the priesthood. He is a leader in his peer group. He makes decisions based on what is right and not on what every one else is doing. He has an amazing thirst for knowledge that inspires me every day. When he makes mistakes that he recognizes, he apologizes and tries to do better. He is responsible and helpful to me, and if the truth be told, I rely on him for many things in our family. He truly is growing up to be a young man. Happy birthday, McKay! I love you very much.

Great Webinar

This is how I will be spending my evening tonight! I am SO excited.

The Making of America , Part 1 of 4
Join us for a Webinar on July 7

Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
(Your actual invitation will include the internet address to register)

(Description of Part I)
*Participants should download Study Guide for Part I at
www.nccs.net prior to the webinar.
**This webinar will be recorded and archived at www.nccs.net
***There is no cost for this webinar

Title: The Making of America , Part 1 of 4
Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM MST
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

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PC-based attendees required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
Macintosh®-based attendees required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

New Kids Pictures

Blessings

It has been such a long time since the last update. Sorry we have been crazy busy. The loan on our house did go through and we are now happy homeowners. We moved in April 2, and I still find myself putting things away. Clarence already has many projects going on, such as cleaning up the yard, building a pantry, moving walls, etc. He is in his element now. Clarence's company has now been put on a furlough program, where they work 3 weeks and then get one week off unpaid. Scary. But on the bright side, the kids and I are working at a local raw milk dairy and getting lots of great, fresh, delicious dairy foods and meat. I feel extremely blessed. I'm not posting pictures of the house, you will just have to come and see us. The kids are loving it here. They have already made lots of friends. This neighborhood has been very welcoming. We are definitely meant to be here right now. Here are a few more recent pics of my little man. He is such a sweetheart. He rolls all over the place now. Pretty soon, he'll be into everything.

6 months old!


This is how Oliver uses his pacifier now.



Clarence got these shirts from a buddy at work. He thought it was pretty funny, so he had me take a picture. If you can't read Oliver's shirt it says "I was in for 9 months now I'm on probation." Clarence's shirt seriously makes him look like a jail inmate.




This is a short video of Oliver's first time eating food. Pretty cute, but not a very clear picture.

Check this out!

McKay just posted some interesting posts about his birding adventures in our yard. Check it out if you have a minute. Here. I think it's pretty great how much he loves his birds and he has some great stories. It really is fun to watch the kids grow up and learn new things. We still have not heard whether our loan has gone through or not and we are suppose to close the 30th of this month. Stress!!! I took Oliver to the doctor today, because he sounds like Darth Vader when he breathes, but luckily, it's just a bad cold. I was a little nervous about RSV or pneumonia. I am so grateful it is not. Other than that, things are going well, I just wish I knew what was going on with the house. Anyhow, life is good.

The bottom of the laundry pile

So I have been searching for my camera for a few days now. I found it on my couch, under the huge laundry pile that has not moved for awhile. Some of the pictures of Oliver that I found cracked me up. I guess the kids take off with the baby more than I realized. Poor 4th child.


Oliver posing as the chef.


Oliver posing as Winnie the Pooh sitting next to fingernail polish stained Piglet.


Oliver being forced to walk way before he's ready.


Oliver pleading to be rescued from this craziness. I don't allow the girls to hold him that often, but when they do, they sure have fun. Here are a few more pics of my boy.


Some of Oliver's skills.