Getting Ready for School

I haven't posted in awhile...again. My camera is not working that well, so I haven't been able to get my picture off of it. So I don't have any pictures to post for the moment.

The kids have had a great summer. We found a free pool to go to on the post and when we're not there, they enjoy swimming at our friend's the Schlessinger family's house. Andrew was in a play this summer called King Arthur's Quest. He was cast as a mini night. We ordered pictures, so when I get those I will post them. Colin and Jon went to scout camp last week and next week Hayley and I will fly to PA to visit my parents. We only have a week and it already jammed pack with fun activities. I will try to give a break down of activities as they occur.

After we get back, it will be time to start getting ready for school again. Connor and Colin will be doing on-line school again this year. Connor starts high school and seminary. Colin will be in 8th grade. I am still going to homeschool Hayley, Andrew and William, but will be doing my own curriculum with them, from things that I pulled from a variety of sources. This is my first year of doing it this way. I am a little nervous.

Hello...Anybody There?

You all probably thought I fell off the face of the earth! I cannot believe that I have not posted anything since October! I am going to try ans do better. I have a ton of pictures to upload, I just can't get my camera to upload pictures on my laptop. It will work on Jon's computer, so next time I have a chance to get onto his computer, I will definitely get some photos up here.

We've just been busy with homeschooling lately. All of the kids have been in a virtual on-line program. It has been a little overwhelming, because I am trying to teach 5 kids 5 different curriculums all at the same time. Whew! So that is why for this up coming school year, I am going to be doing something different. Connor and Colin will still be doing a on-line virtual school next year. Just not the one we are currently doing. They will be switching to Connections Academy which has more of what they want and need. The rest of the kids will be homeschooled still, but I am going to do it myself and make my own curriculum for them! Wish me luck! My brain hurts from all of the researching but, I think I have finally narrowed it down to what I want to do! Yay! I'm thinking about starting my own homeschool blog, just so I can blab about my experiences.

Updates...

Hello everyone. I know I have been horrible at keeping up with the blog. I will try to do better. We have been so busy with soccer and school lately. I have three kids playing soccer this year. Connor Colin and Hayley. Connor and Colin are on the same team this year, Desert Hawks, and Jon is the assistant coach for their team. Hayley's team name is Arctic Heat and for not playing in 5 years she is doing pretty good. I took pictures of her last game but, I have not be able to upload them yet. My laptop crashed and all my stuff is stored on there. Luckily, my computer savvy husband has been able to retrieve everything so far.

Connor had his 6 month scoliosis check last week, and unfortunately the digression in his spine is a little more than what we had hoped for...ok a lot more. He has had an 18 percent increase in his curvature within the past 6 months. The normal for scoliosis patients is 10% in one year. Connor is going to be starting physical therapy and he is also going to have an MRI done for his back. The doctor wants to make sure that there is no other underlying cause for the rapid digression in Connor's scoliosis.

Please keep Connor in your prayers, while he is having to go through this ordeal.

Building our Testimonies

“Personal, sincere involvement in the scriptures produces faith, hope, and solutions to our daily challenges. Frequently reading, pondering, and applying the lessons of the scriptures, combined with prayer, become an irreplaceable part of gaining and sustaining a strong, vibrant testimony.”

Elder Donald L. Staheli, formerly of the Seventy, “Securing Our Testimonies,” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 39.

Another Priesthood Holder

Well, Colin has finally turned his 12. My parents came for a few days last week, to help celebrate his birthday and be there for his priesthood ordination. We have quite a large Deacons quorum and I was a little taken aback as they all stood up for my mom and I as we walked into the room. The leaders are really teaching these young men how to be polite and courteous. It was very sweet.

Jon was able to perform the ordination and my dad was able to be included in the circle. Connor was also present, since he will still be a deacon for two more months. The spirit was so strong there. It brought tears to my eyes. We now have three priesthood holders in our home. It is such a wonderful feeling. I hope that I can be the kind of mother to my sons that the Stripling Warriors mothers were to them.

I hope that Colin and Connor know how much I love them and am proud of the choices they have made this far in their lives to become worthy priesthood holders...and I look forward to seeing Colin passing the sacrament for the first time next week along side his brother. They are such good examples to their little brothers. I am very blessed to have them as part of our family.

I was trying to find a recent picture of Colin and stumbled across these, which were taken when we went to Tombstone this spring. I thought since after all the talking of Colin's good choices and example, these were a little humorous. I will post a picture soon of Colin in his new Sunday clothes he got for his birthday. :)

Homeschooling

For those of you who don't know yet...I have decided to try homeschooling my kids this year. It's not that they were in horrible schools and the original plan was just to homeschool my two middle school age kids; but the other two decided that they wanted to be as well. I couldn't say no.

So, this past week was the first week of our new adventure. I wish I had pictures to share but, I/m sure all you would see is complete chaos. I think this will be a good thing for our family, it will just take a few weeks until we get a good schedule down that is best for our family.

I am using the k12 curriculum. It is available in several states. K12 is considered a home-based charter school, so the state pays for the materials and even a computer. You also have a teacher assigned to your children, so that should you need help, they are there. One of the best things that I like about it, is that since it is considered "public" school at home, Connor does not lose his special education services. That was a big hold up for me in deciding to take him out if school...he has wanted to be homeschooled for years and now I have found a way that he can without messing up his IEP.

The kids can also work at their own pace. They move move forward as fast as they want or take a little time on something and not feel so rushed. Whenever, they complete a subject early, the school will send next years materials and they can get started early.

Other than the initial craziness, we are all excited to have this opportunity. I'm looking forward to keeping everyone updated on our adventures in schooling.

Butterflies...

I was working outside in the yard today and happened to see a beautiful butterfly fly by. I watched as it flew up to the top of one the trees in our yard. It was not alone...there were tons of butterflies flying and landing on the leaves of the tree. We have so many nasty little bugs here in AZ...it's nice to see some of the beautiful creatures that we have too.