Summer School

School is a loose term for what we do, but I wanted to be mindful of how the boys spent their summer.  I want there to be lots of uninhibited play but I also want there to be some skill sharpening going on as well.  So we came up with a plan.  Everyday, the boys will have reading and writing and then each day will have a subject:  Math Monday, History Tuesday, Wacky Science Wednesday, Artful Thursday and French Friday.  This first week, the boys had 5 math worksheets to work on.  On Tuesday, I read the children's book about the history of Jamestown and the boys drew pictures of what was happening as I read.  On Wednesday, we learned what makes rain with a simple science demonstration.  Today, Tony taught them about drawing faces for art while I went running.  Every night, I get to read to them from "The Indian in the Cupboard".  I loved the boys' reactions tonight when they discovered that the cupboard could turn other toys real as well.  I love books and I love that they love books as well.  I've never read "The Indian in the Cupboard" surprisingly enough, so it's fun for me to discover a new favorite.  We were reading, "The Land of Oz" until it got lost.  Then we were reading, "Little House in the Big Woods" until it got lost.  I have a feeling we just need to move the bunk bed from against the wall to find them.  Reading aloud is one of my favorite things to do with my kids.  During the day we've had all kinds of adventures, park playdates, playing outside, a comedy show in the park put on by the library.  It's been a fun week!

I should take more pictures, but here are a few:

 This was dinner on Monday night.  The boys wanted to make Fruit Sushi from a recipe they found in The Friend.

Here we are watching "the rain".

 Then Ryan wanted to do an experiment with water, poultry seasoning and food coloring.  :)

 Then Max wanted to use his microscope.

 Then Jimmy showed us some magic with Dawn dish soap.

 And Max showed us a similar experiment.  When Jason almost knocked over the plate with food coloring, the experiments ended, haha, but it was fun while it lasted.

Growing Boys

Max and Ryan had their well child checks together.

Max was 3'10.5" (25th percentile) and 53lbs (50th percentile)

 Ryan was 43.3" (75th percentile) and 3.2 lbs. (75th percentile)

Both boys are going to get their eyes checked.  No big surprise since I have a crazy prescription myself. 

Love these handsome boys!

 

Missionaries

I love missionaries.  Tony and I loved being missionaries and we love working with the missionaries who are teaching and serving in our area.  We've grown close to the missionaries we've been able to work with lately.  We had to say good bye to awesome Sister Carlin this week.  She will be missed by us and loved by the new people she gets to serve.

Luckily we still get Sister Peterson in our area. :)

Max Turns 7!

We have a 7 year old!  How is it possible?  We love Max so much!  He is such a good kid.  I'm proud of him for the smart, capable boy that he is.  He's sweet and helpful and good to his siblings.  He brings such joy to our family!

Max was thankful for the presents he received from aunts and Grandmas and Grandpas and mom and dad.  He was one lucky boy.  After his special breakfast of German pancakes with strawberries and then presents, we went to the Flight Museum.  Max wanted to dress up of course.  All the kids had something flight related on.

The boys were nervous to try to the hurricane simulator.  You can see they're holding on for dear life.  Then they realize that it's not as dangerous as a real hurricane and they start having fun.

Just a boy, his mom and a Gee Bee.

Lunch at Randy's which is a restaurant with an aviation motif.  Good food and good company.  We finished the day with playing with toys and Tae Kwon Do. Happy Birthday Max!

   

Favorite color:  Red

Favorite Toy:  Legos and Construx

Favorite Fruit:  Grapefruit

Favorite TV show:  Ninjagu

Favorite Outfit:  My suit

Favorite Game: Star Wars Monopoly

 Favorite Song:  Armies of Helaman (We’ll Bring the World His Truth)

Favorite Book:  Calvin and Hobbes

Favorite Thing to do Outside:  Play basketball

Favorite Holiday:  Christmas

What to you Take to Bed with You?  Books

What Do you Want for Dinner on Your Birthday? Steak

What Do you Want to be When you Grow Up? Pilot

When do you feel the most loved? When family is visiting

What are you afraid of?  Being poisoned

If you had one wish, what would you wish for?  To fly and walk on the ceiling

What is the hardest thing to do?  homework

What is the easiest thing to do?  Sit down on the couch

What is the best thing in the world?  To play Super Mario

What is the worst thing in the world?  Touching a slug

What makes you mad?  Ryan not helping pick up

What is the meaning of love?  Taking care of each other

If you had all the money in the world, what would you do with it?  Spend it on lego sets and video games, remote control airplanes and helicopters and boats, my own tablet

Uncle Alan Comes to Visit!

The kids loved being with Uncle Alan.  I only wish I'd been better at taking pictures while he was here.  I did get a few on the last day though. :)  He's moving from Guam to Italy.  If only we could see him more often. :)

Zoo Trip!

On the first day that we didn't have to go to school, we went to the zoo with some awesome friends.  It was so nice to enjoy the animals.  The babies were kind of crabby at first, Evelyn wouldn't sleep in the stroller for some reason, but overall everyone had a great time.

After lunch we stopped and learned about a Raptor.  

This Wallaby had a baby in her pouch.  So adorable.

Jason loved the Zoomasium, an indoor play area.

Our favorite part was seeing the bears.  It was...AWESOME!  There were several places to view them, indoor and outdoor.  

Jason loved the indoor area but didn't even pay much attention to the fish, just the cute friend he made.

All of the kids in the room kept telling the bear to go in the water.

And then he did get in the water!

And he got right next to the window.  My heart was beating fast.  It was amazing to see this massive creature up close and personal.  He would shake his huge head and get water all over the window.

At the end, my friend got all of the kids smashed pennies.  What a fun day!