Weekly Wrapup

My camera didn't make it out this week!

Monday:  The local schools had the day off and Sienna got invited to a birthday party...she enjoyed a movie at the local theatre and pizza...lots of fun.  Since she missed her piano lessons while at the party...Kessiah and Jenessa got some extra time.

Tuesday:  We got back into book club (the group had taken about 6 weeks off due to different people being gone...we are a small group so just a few people being gone makes a difference!)  Jenessa had a track meet...she was excited to get 2nd place in the 800m...and I was super excited for her, she ran well.   For youth activities that evening Kessiah and Jenessa enjoyed a spaghetti dinner...the catch was they couldn't use a fork!  The kids were offered various kitchen utensils to eat their dinner with.

Wednesday:  Sienna, Logan, and Mason went to co-op and continued learning more about the Great Depression...they even got to try some "delicacies" created in that time period including Smarties and Twinkies!  (I was happy to hear that they didn't really like the Twinkies!)

Thursday:  Our homeschool group met and discussed archeology.  I had the oldest group.  We discussed what archeology is and did a archeological "dig" on a chocolate chip cookie....it was the same thing I did 2 weeks ago when Kessiah was the only one there!  Jenessa had another track meet and came in 2nd in the 800 m again (I think her time was 3:50).  One of the coaches asked me to be a timer...it was pretty fun.

Friday:  Kessiah and Jenessa had 4H sewing.  We finally had time to lay out a plan for the quilts they want to make for EXPO.

Saturday:  Kessiah and Jenessa had adventure days (pre-girl's camp activities).  Jenessa went kayaking and Kessiah went cycling.  They also did some certification activities.

While they were gone I went to an informal meeting with some other mothers about homeschool high school planning.  I have our curriculum laid out but my main purpose in going was to learn about co-op, extracurricular, and other social activities that we might want to be a part of.

That evening I took Kessiah, Jenessa, and Sienna to a community play production of Cinderella...Jenessa got back from her kayaking adventure a little late and so I had to pick her up at the church on our way to the play.  It was great and Jenessa would really like to participate in future productions.

Sunday:  Jenessa had the opportunity to give her first talk in Sacrament meeting!  She did great!

Weekly Wrapup

This week's schedule was a little different.  The girls had state testing to do...and I had to drive 45 minutes to get them there.  Kessiah, Jenessa, and Sienna all went on 2 days and I took Kessiah on a third day to finish up. She had an extra test to take so it took her a little longer.  Thankfully, we know someone else who had to take the tests as well...so I only had to drive 2 of the 3 days. I drove the first day...I was there for about 4 hours waiting for the kids to finish (not everyone took that long!)  We stopped at a park to eat our lunches.  Of course, Sienna found a tree to climb!



My parents were here for several days to help me out.  I was grateful they were here so that I didn't have to take the boys with me on the days that I had to drive.  Unfortunately, my mom was having a hard time.  She started chemotherapy the previous week and she just wasn't feeling very well (not surprising, I know).  So, they left on Thursday instead of staying until Saturday.  That goodbye was hard for me....knowing she wasn't feeling well and knowing she was at the beginning of this chemotherapy journey.

Friday morning I found Mason reading his Hooked on Phonics readers to Corbin.  Mason loves having this new ability!  He wants to do phonics every day!



We enjoyed going to the Boy Scout Fundraiser on Saturday evening.  They served a dinner of Navajo tacos and we came home with 2 twin sized jean blankets that we bid on.  They will be well loved...we are the kind of family that loves to curl up in blankets on the couch.

On the Homestead

Monday:  Not too much happened today besides our normal school routine.

Tuesday:  Jenessa had her first track meet.  She was really nervous on the way...but, of course, she did fine.  She fretted over a rough handoff in the relay...but they will get better with a little practice and more communication. The younger 4 kids had fun playing on the field and on the nearby playground.



For youth activities at church, the girls planned a hike.  Unfortunately, Jenessa couldn't go because of her track meet (they held the hike earlier than they usually hold the activities).  But Kessiah made it...she came home saying it was more of a walk than a hike...but she had fun.



Wednesday:  The Sienna, Logan, and Mason went to co-op where they talked about the Great Depression.  Afterwards, we made a trip to the library.

Thursday:  We had our homeschool group where we started our unit on archeology and anthropology.  I had the oldest group...we did an archeological dig on chocolate chip cookies!  Jenessa had another track meet...she did better with the handoff in the relay.

Friday:  We took the chicks out to the chicken coop....they seem to be adjusting to their new home.



Jenessa and Kessiah both had birthday parties to go to...so it seemed like a quiet evening.

Saturday:  Kessiah and Jenessa were able to go to the temple.



The rest of us got ready for our visit from Nana and Papa.  It will be nice to have them here for a week.

On the Homestead

It is fun to watch our chicks and ducklings grow.  We have taken the flock outside on the grass a few times...and we have introduced Gwen (our chicken) to them out on the grass...it has been interesting to watch their interactions.



We took them all out to the chicken coop yesterday.  I am so glad to get them out of the garage!



Ryan got some more chicks a week ago!  He really wanted some Jersey Giants...and he also came home with some Cuckoo Maran.  So, we have some more cute little fluff balls....we are going to have a lot of eggs when all these hens start laying!



Ryan has been working on preparing our garden beds. We have planted some peas, cabbage, radishes, and beets.   I've never planted cabbage before...but I have recently discovered that my kids love it!  I'm getting excited to get my hands in the dirt and start growing stuff!

Weekly Wrapup...Easter

Monday:  We got our piano tuned...that was really overdue!  Piano lessons were cancelled because our teacher got sick.   Kessiah made it to 4H outdoor adventures/officer meeting (Jenessa was at track).

The group went on a hike ...so I took the 4 youngest on a nature walk.  I haven't been very good about doing things like that...it is so much easier to stay home and send them outside to play. Sienna got excited about collecting leaves and flowers....and of course she found a tree to climb!



Tuesday:  At track practice Jenessa tried out for the relay team...she is hoping to make the A team.

Wednesday:  It was my last day of talking about the civil war with the girls.  We went to the library later in the afternoon.

Thursday:  Kessiah and Jenessa were able to go to a science day at a local college.  That evening we had out 4H Community Meeting.

Friday:  We got a few things planted in the garden...peas, beets, cabbage, and radishes.  Ryan and I went grocery shopping for our date!

Saturday:  We enjoyed the first day of General Conference.  We got the chicks and bunnies out after the first session and had an Easter egg hunt in the backyard after the second session.