almost

It was good day. Almost.

Slade happily got his chores and practicing done on time. Nathan and Sawyer did not.
Emma did well on her grammar test. Slade did not.
Anne was neither whining or crazy but she was sick with a fever.
Ben took his morning nap but not his afternoon nap.
I had on a cute (well, cute for me) outfit but never left the house.
I made cookies and four loaves of French bread. However, I forgot to put the salt in the bread.
I read out loud to the kids today for an hour but Emma was already at school so she missed out.

Some days are good. Almost.

meet the challenge

Two years ago, I invited friends and family to join me for an eight week "Happy Holidays Challenge." We had a website, winners with prize money and such. I got mixed reviews from those who participated in the challenge with me so when I decided to do another one this year, I decided to go it alone. I started on Sunday and will finish on December 23. I decided to choose 8 things I want to improve or accomplish. I don't really have a way to track my success this time. I am just hoping that the extra focus will help me make good choices over the next two months. I tried to make the challenge filled with things I do instead of things I can't do. For example, while I know I should eliminate sugar from my diet, I am instead trying to increase my vegetable intake. If you would like to join me, I would love to have some company in the journey. Choose your own 8 challenge items and come along for the ride.

Happy holidays Challenge

1.   40 workouts (average 5/wk, at least 30 minutes)

2.   Increase vegetable intake to 4 servings/day or more.

3.   Study scriptures (15 min. Book of Mormon, 15 min. General Conference)

4.   Go to bed by 11, get up by 7.

5.   Do 8 deliberate and prayerful acts of service.

6.   Write on blog at least weekly.

7.   Go on a one-on-one date with each of the kids.

8.   Complete office makeover.

cornbellys

We went to Cornbelly's at Thanksgiving Point with our homeschool group on Friday, November 2. It was nice that it was after Halloween because the crowds were minimal. The kids had a good time but I am not sure that we will go again next year. They have made everything cost extra and I am not sure it is worth it anymore. We missed Emma too.

the Sawyerinator turns six

Sawyer started out his birthday as a star on the soccer field with a morning soccer game. Then we came home for pancakes.

Later in the afternoon, five of his friends joined him for his Robot Design Academy party.

 

 

 

 

Six Things About Sawyer at 6
1. He is taking off in his reading ability and reading everything in sight. Maybe there is hope for me to get one bookworm among my children.
2. He loves playing video games, especially Super Mario Brothers.
3. He is very coordinated in sports and dance.
4. He has a wicked temper.
5. He is entering into his destructive phase that both my older boys went through. Giving himself haircuts, cutting blankets on beds, carving into his bedroom walls, and on and on. AGH!
6. He hates being alone especially at night. He gets scared easily and often has bad dreams.

Emma and friends

I was itching to take my new camera for a spin so I asked Emma and two of her friends to model for me. This camera is a beast and I have a lot to learn still. I think we will get along just fine though in the end. And can I just say that my daughter has totally awesome friends? I am so very thankful that she has surrounded herself with such wonderful friends.

 

brain week

just love this happy shot of color sitting on my table everyday

Several years ago, I came across the idea of integrated thematic instruction and brain-compatible learning. I found it intriguing. While I explored it a little but didn't implement it into our schooling. This happened probably two or three more times. Recently, when I came across some information on it yet again, it hit me that perhaps I was receiving a gentle nudge from a divine hand to use this methodology. So I am. Finally.

Our theme for this year's learning adventure is titled "Raiders of the Renaissance Mind". With this being our first year, I purchased an  "epic adventure" from Courageous Beings so I could get a feel for how to put a thematic study together. This is how they explain the rationale behind the theme:
"The unifying concept of Raiders of the Renaissance Minds is to help students recognize the distinctive traits that characterize a Renaissance Mind and apply them to recognizing their own potentials. We have chosen people who made tremendous leaps and affected mankind profoundly thereafter. We relate one Renaissance Mind to another, searching for common threads. We help our students not only to recognize a Renaissance Mind but also to understand the sacrifice and hard work that produced it. Our goal is that each student may catch the vision of his or her own potential and what it takes to develop it. 
"As we, alongside of our students, become raiders of great minds we are given a means of seeking, through repetition, the patterns necessary to understand what qualities great minds have in common. We are also providing a fun way to perceive learning. Learning is no longer a dry biographical book report, but an adventure. We are raiding, like archeologists, like an Indiana Jones, those great minds of the past
and present. It becomes a quest that directly applies to our own minds and how we can tap into the greatness that exists within each of us."

This week was Brain Week. We started with the concrete study of the brain, its lobes and functions and then moved into abstract ideas like "thoughts precede actions". Our activities this week included dissecting a sheep brain, building a neuron out of Play-dough, watching Hoosiers (to illustrate "beginning with the end in mind"), and listening to "Choosing" from My Turn on Earth.

We ended the week with a Renaissance feast celebrating our learning yet to come, complete with costumes, fancy dishes and fantastic food.

Today I spent all day finishing up preparations for the year. I hope it all comes together the way I have envisioned. I am taking a leap of faith. It is hard to let go of the more traditional subject-based learning we have done for 8 years. Adventure awaits!

snaggle tooth

Nathan's looks have been evolving in an interesting fashion, don't you think?

en garde

Slade participated in a fencing camp last week. As proof that miracles do happen, he actually loved it. He never complained about turning of the TV to go. He told me he wanted to stay longer. I even caught him practicing at home. The only frustration he expressed was on Thursday which was the first day of actual fencing matches. He did not like that he had to compete against two older, larger, taller kids. Of course, he lost the matches. However, the next day, they had a "tournament" with the five kids in class. Slade fared better this time and felt a sense of accomplishment at his improvement against these opponents.

He has always loved playing with swords. He was about three years old when he first started stealing butter knives out of the kitchen drawer to use for swordplay. Fencing seems to be a natural extension. We'll be looking to put him in a class this fall.Shall I dream big and imagine him at the Olympics in 2020? You never know with this kid.

let the games begin

Watching the Olympics every few years is one of my favorite things. I fully intend to have the TV showing the Olympics nearly all day for the next two week. Last night, we hosted another family for an Opening Ceremonies Viewing Party. I know it is absolutely unnecessary but creating special treats and decorations just makes me happy. I hope it makes things that much more memorable too.

bald

Nathan was at his cousin's house when he called to ask if he could buzz his hair. I replied that while I would rather he didn't but that he could if he really wanted to do it. Of course, I was thinking he would actually have a little hair left. When he got home, I was shocked to see a totally shaved head. Apparently, he got started on his own and cut his hair down so far that his aunt had to resort to a full-on shave.

Dave and I do groan a little about what he looks like with the shaved head and white tank tops he like to wear. Not exactly the persona we want for him. Oh well. At least its not permanent.

a year in photos

I put up these pictures of Ben all over the cabinets for his birthday. It was fun to see how he has grown. When I first sat down to choose photos, I was worried that I wouldn't have enough because of how sparse the picture-taking has been in the last year. Happily, I found plenty.