Summer Adventures: Logan Canyon

This weekend we went up Logan canyon to camp. My gosh it's beautiful! From the backyard grapevines to the mountains and valleys, I love the green that summer brings!! 

Joel and the big kids went up Friday night and camped with the Cox family and the little two and I went up for the day on Saturday. I'm so glad we decided to do it that way! When Ollie is two-ish I think family camping will be much more doable. But constantly having to make sure he isn't toddling toward the fire pit, etc. just isn't fun at all. Anyway, it worked out great for all, and it was fun for me to have a little time with Jubes and Ollie. 

Oh, and happy Father's Day to Joel- the amazing adventurer that is passing on his love of life and nature to our little ones! And to my dad, who so lovingly gave me a childhood where I felt safe, unconditionally loved, and believed in. 

Happy summer adventuring to you! 

Jenny 

A fond fairwell to first grade...

My goodness, it's already that time of year! Time for homeschool mamas to start freaking out over planning the studies for September! ;) I mean, not me, I'm not freaking out, but other mamas may be. Before I start my planning, though, I want to say a little goodbye to our first grade year. A year of losing teeth, learning to read, deepening friendships, fairytales galore, many read alouds with daddy, all of us learning patience with trying to focus with a toddler and babe along for the ride....whew! It was a sweet, challenging year that I wouldn't trade. I feel like I question so often if we are "doing enough", and so I just want to put that aside for the moment and focus on what we did do. I am going to make the twins a book of pictures from our year, there are so many that I love, but here is a sample for you:) 

This was where we thought we'd do school...how lovely;) 

And where it actually happened...

Which worked out just fine!

There were outdoor adventures with Forest school, the Ogden Nature Center, Red Butte Gardens, adventures with daddy, and just lots of time outside whenever it was nice! 

There was art and handwork. Pictures churned out by Amelia, pictures drawn to narrate stories we read, Dover coloring books to go along with whatever we were studying, some Kiwi crate crafts, finger knitting, pot holder weaving, and mama learned to knit (very, very beginner still!), wet on wet water colors, embroidery with grandma, and a few nature craft days with friends....

There were books, and books, and more books read. Here are there 1st grade chapter book read alouds (though I'm sure to be forgetting some):

- Many Grimms fairy tales. Amelia literally slept with the book many nights:) Fairytales were much of our LA curriculum for the year.

- The complete Narnia series 

-Swiss Family Robinson

-Mr. Popper's Penguins

- The Children of the Noisy Village

- Roald Dahl books including: 

-Charlie and the Chocolate factory,

- Charlie and the Glass Elevator

-The BFG, 

-Danny Champion of the World, 

-James and the Giant Peach

-Matilda

We used American Girl books to study a bit of American history this year. We read through the Kaya, Kirsten, Kit, and series and then found books from the library to read things of interest from the time periods.

It makes me so happy and also relieved that the kids love, love, love listening to literature. I know that no matter what else, at least they are getting a feast of ideas fed to them. "One more chapter!" is music to my ears. 

 We also have a seasonal book basket with picture books for each season that we read through. The kids also heard and memorized finger plays and songs that we would do with the little ones a few mornings a week at our "circle time" or "morning meeting". 

For readers, we mostly used BOB books with Amelia this year. Sam moved on to "Little Bear", "Frog and Toad", and now is eagerly reading aloud Magic Treehouse books to me. His first chapter books, so exciting! He is also following in his friend Cole's footsteps and carrying around a pad aand pencil to write when inspiration strikes!:) Here is his first self-written story:)

As far as extracurriculars, Amelia continued with ballet until Christmas when she decided to take a break....she has missed it some, but not enough for us to get back into it at this point. 

They both played soccer, did homeschool PE, took Spanish classes until winter when roads got icy,and Sam ran track and cross country. He is pretty darn passionate about running, that little guy. We love cheering him on! 

                                

Most of our time was just spent living life together and with friends. I'm very thankful to have the opportunity to spend my days with all of the kids, challenging as it may be sometimes:)  

I asked the kids if they wanted to say anything about homeschooling or first grade. Sam thinks it would be super funny to say, "Homeschooling is tough for kids, especially our age. But we have to suffer through it." Oh my.

I guess I'll end it here. I'm excited to begin planning for 2nd grade! Waldorf 2nd grade curriculum focuses on Saints and Heroes, so I have lots of ideas spinning around...saints, animal heroes, missionaries, super heroes! Joel read me this quote today, and I think it will be my guide for the year, 

"Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage!" -C.S. Lewis

Jen

- 

First job!

The twins had their first pet sitting job last week, and boy howdy were they excited about it!! They were watching our neighbors cats for 5 days, and they took their job very seriously. Joel took them over each evening and they fed, watered and changed the litter. 

So, today they came bolting up the stairs gasping for air and giggling and waving their money, talking a mile a minute! " we were on the back fence looking over at that HUGE plant (weed:) and our neighbor asked if we had seen what she left on the porch! We said no and ran to see what it was! There was an envelope for each of us with our names on it and a cute little cat drawn on it! And money I'm it! And taffy! Can we go tell her thank you?!?!" So, I snapped a quick picture before they ran off to thank her. Oh goodness, it was the cutest. Sam is going to save his money and Amelia, I'm sure, will not:) 

What a great (and well paying!) first job experience. Jen

Family movie night...

So, for a few months now we have been doing "family pizza/movie night" on Fridays. We all look forward to it, and though there are glitches ( Ollie took a late nap and is up, jubilee is a bit young for the choice and rolls all over us whining until one of us gets up with her, etcetera:) it's been a fun addition to our weekly rhythm. For the first several weeks, we completely cut out any other tv/movies for the kids. Now I usually let them watch a magic school bus episode or animal documentary or something mid week. The CRAZY thing to me is that, seriously, there was no pushback from the kids regarding this change. Nothing. They don't ask to watch shows, don't say they miss anything...I have been so surprised! Showed me how letting them watch shows (especially Jubilee) was much more about me than them. Anyway, now it's just a treat, as it's meant to be, and we all enjoy it. We have tried to watch things that we have recently read aloud. So far that has included:

Several Narnia stories

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

James and the Giant Peach

Matilda (maybe wouldn't choose this again)

Swiss Family Robinson

and tonight...Dr. Dolittle! The musical version (from the late 60s I think) is really cute. 

Other showings have included Frozen, Prince of Egypt, Fly Away Home...and others I've forgotten:) Throw out any family favorites you might have! 

And I encourage you, that if limiting media more in your family is something you've been wanting to do, cold turkey worked well for us. I was okay with the amount the big kids were watching, but had gotten in bad habits of jubilee watching a show if she got up super early, or while we did school, or if she was fussy but "wouldn't" nap, etc. etc. A friend suggested I "nip that in the bud", and I'm so glad she did!:) 

Jen

If I ever wonder aloud to you why I can't ever seem to keep things clean around here, refer me to this picture.

This is currently what is happening inside/outside!:) But honestly, how could I want it any other way? Except maybe with cleaning help. Every day. I would rather have it that way- hehe. 

No, but really, the other day I posted some pics on IG of the kids playing in mud and some friends commented that I was "brave". I was thinking about it later and thought brave for me would be taking the kids to some fancy place where they needed to be dressed to the nines and act super proper. Natural to me is letting children play up to their eyeballs in mud. I grew up in the country, after all. It does my heart good to see my little ones have a mud pit all to themselves to explore. I seriously think it was the best hour of Ollie's life this far! 

Ok, now back to the reality of cleaning the noodles off the floor:) Jen

(Side note: Found that vintage, radio flyer horse at the thrift store for $3.00 last week- just in time!:)

Happy birthday to the sweetest, squishiest, most laid back baby ever. We all adore you and can't imagine our family without you! You stole my heart the moment I saw you, my Mother's Day babe. 

At one year you:

-*Love* to play ball. Sam and Grandpa Jim have been your main ball playing buddies. 

-*Love* wheels! It is hysterical. For months now you have found ways to flip over toy trucks, strollers, etc. to spin the wheels! Then you just sit and spin, spin, spin! 

- You are walking! More and more everyday. I'd say 50% walking vs. crawling now? It's so fun to watch. Nothing cuter than a toddling baby. 

- Your favorite food thus far has been watermelon. You've always been a nursing champ, and still nurse in the morning, for both naps, and bedtime.

- I think, maybe, possibly, you are having a break in teething and might sleep through the night until the next round. Teething is the pits, and the past couple of months have been challenging as far as sleep goes. Yawn. 

- Love to be outside. So glad it's spring and we can be out more! 

- you are starting to be really vocal and try to mimic words and sounds we make.

All in all, you are just a doll baby and we love you to pieces. Happy first birthday Oliver James Hunt, I'm so thankful I get to be your mama! 

**Seven**

And, suddenly, we have two *seven* year olds! Oh man the years are flying by. Hope to finish their birthday letters soon and post them, they really are changing so much! 

For their party this year they wanted to have a sleepover with their best buddies, Aviana, Cole and Alidia. Whew! Fun, easy, simple and not overwhelming for any of us! 

Joel brought birthday donuts first thing in the morning. Yummy!

Oliver was trying to figure out how to open that box of goodness!:) 

Then they opened gifts sent from Mammy and Uncle Bub and Aunt Robin- loved them all!

Working on their new activity books while Jubes stuffs a lollipop down her leotard from the party bags while no one is looking! Hahaha

They chose their decorations, decorated their cakes, etc. this year- so fun! I would say it was a rainbow,  unicorn, superhero theme:) 

Finally time for friends to arrive! Here they are reading the cutest story Emily wrote to lead Amelia to her fairy garden! 

Then silly string fights, presents, cake, pizza, a movie, singing, playing, sleeping!

The boys check out the new Legos....

Grandpa serves some lemonade...

Playing with daddy's old GI Joe's and adding in some new birthday additions...

Oh the singing... "Let it goo, let it goooo!:) 

The next morning the girls painted the wooden unicorns and dragons that  Grandpa Jim had made for them....

The boys enjoyed some yummy french toast....

  And then they all rode bikes and played until lunch time. A great time had by all, and the first birthday party where Sam hasn't been overwhelmed and unable to really enjoy himself. Hurray!

Oh, and I just had to add these pics of the thank you letters they wrote for my brother. I love, love, love their thank you's- they have always just cracked me up. Sam's are always to to the point, and Amelia's, well, are not!!

That's all for now! Jen