It's Boo Day!!

Our celebrations began with a small party after the kids that I watch came home from school. We bobbed for apples, we played musical chairs, we decorated cookies, and we made necklaces. It was a lot of fun. Russ took Spencer and his friend Vincent to a corn maze while I ran the party. Parker had costume confusion this year. During the party he was Darth Vader, but when we went to the Trunk or Treat, he was a lion. Spencer was teen wolf? You've just got to watch the movie agan, for those that are old enough to remember Michael J. Fox. Cooper was Indiana Jones. He didn't like his boots so he ended up not wearing them.

I didn't want to give out candy like everyone else, I like to do things differently. So we found a smoking deal on Shasta soda pop. It was a hoot to watch the kids faces, at first they weren't sure, but then they would smile and say,"awesome". So during the trunk or treat our car was popular, as well as our house. The word on the street was that our house was giving out soda pop. So we went through 200 cans of pop.

Frankenstein and his bride...

Our book club read the classic book Frankenstein. Although the creature that Victor Frankenstein created was nothing like what we have come to know through Hollywood, he was intelleginent, sensitive, and could move with speed and agility. I still decided to create what I know.... Here is my Frankenstein and his wife, made with 3 liter bottles. I know the porportions are off and they have goofy faces, but it was fun to decorate for book club since I was the host for the month of October. I also served Frankenstein cups with green Jello and crushed Oreo's. If you every get the chance to read the book, I highly recommended it, it's deep and addresses some of lifes most reflective questions.

Cub Scouts

I'm the den leader for the wolfs and bears in our ward. Last week we went to a huge pumpkin patch. Boys that are 8,9, and 10 are so full of energy and we couldn't get them to hold still for a picture... Crazy boys..

A Naked Mole Rat verses A Hippo

After our trip to the zoo the boys were required to write an essay comparing and contrasting two animals they saw at the zoo. Cooper decided that he could find similarities and difference with the hippo and the naked mole rat. I just thought that was hilarious considering the naked mole rat is about 5 inches long and weights about 8-10 oz. I love how the kids are thinking on their own and forming their own ideas.

Everybody likes a good game of ball!!

We all love a good game of ball!! Whether it be baseball, basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf, ping-pong. Playing ball is human .... at least I thought.. Check out our Hippo friends, we observed them playing for about 20 minutes at the zoo the other day. It was one of those rare moments.

Talking at church

I'm not sure how many of you have given a talk, where you have not used any notes. Last Sunday was that opportunity for me. I was encouraged by my Bishop to allow the spirit to speak through me and prepare myself, through prayer, study, and fasting. It was a special missionary week, where we invite our neighbors and friends to church so they can understand and know more about who we are. I have never been nervous about talking... but I sure was this week. It was a leap of faith, and I feel like it strenghtened my testimony. So if you haven't tried talking without a written format, try it, you might like it!! As for me, I think I will stick to the written word. I just got too nervous.

My Birthday Party - Today!!

Today we went to Ceder Crest Girst Mill. It was to see a mill house ran by the water power. The setting was absolutely beautiful, with the bright hues of green moss on the rocks and trees. Spencer brought his friend Vincent. Russ had to work, so we still celebrated. We ate a Boston Creme Cake.

1st Day of School - September 2nd, 2008

While the rest of the parents were fighting traffic in front of schools, dealing with kids that do not want to get out of bed, we were upstairs in our loft area, hanging out - talking about the new school year. Yes, I am attempting Homeschooling again. We are off to a great start so far. Spencer has a pretty intense schedule. He has goals of completing all of 8th grade and working into the summer so he can complete 9th grade and be a grade ahead. Here is our schedule.

Wake up, eat breakfast, make bed, clean room: 7:00 - 7:45 am

Chores(that nasty 5 letter word): 7:45 - 8:45

Scripture Study: 8:45 - 9:15

Exercise: 9:15-9:45

School begins with English: 9:45 - 10:45 - Spencer's English Curriculum has him writing a novel, you get all the Grammar, word-usage, Vocab. while you write. By the end of the year, he will publish a novel.

Math: 10:45-11:45 - Saxon Algebra is wonderful

History: 11:45 - 12:15 - Dan Hunters LDS version of U.S. History and Constitution

Science: 12:15 - 1:00 - Apologia Science

Lunch: 1:00 - 1:30

Reading - 1:30 - 2:00 - He reads on his own at night another 1-2 hours

Spanish - 2:00 - 2:30

Football - 3:00 - 6:15 - as of yesterday, he has decided he doesn't want to play anymore..

Cooper actually has more subjects than Spencer

Writing - journaling plus handwriting

Math

Spelling

Word Wise

Geography

Reading

Science

History

Cooking

Typing - Computers - his favorite subject. He has been typing a log of the moons orbit around the earth - all of it's phases in the 28 days - with the waxing and waning. Last week he had to calculate how much he weighed on all the planets and how old he was on each of the plants. Because Pluto is so many light years away, and really, we don't know if it is a planet or not? Scientist believe it is not, so we won't call it a planet. Anyway Cooper would be 2000 years old on Pluto. And on Jupiter he would weight 238 lbs. Isn't that amazing.

On Fridays, we are going to explore the world around us - it is our field trip day. So be looking forward to some amazing posting on the places and things we find in this state.

Ape Caves at Mt. Saint Helens - Labor Day 2008

The Ape caves consist of a 13, 042 foot long lava tube, the third longest in North America. No this isn't a habitat for Monkeys, Apes, or Gorilla's. Although Parker was constantly wanting to know where they were. It was named by a Scout troop in the 1950's. Although it was 80 degrees outside, inside the cave it is about 40 degress or below. So we bundled up, took our flashlights and lantern and began our long journey inside an active volcano. Doesn't that sound so brave and adventure-some.

A Day At Horseshoe Lake With Friends

My Good Friend Stephanie, made the 40 mile trek from Portland to come and visit me for the 1st time. It was so nice to have them here and the kids had a blast at the lake. Picture#1 is of the boys in the lake. Cooper is in the blue life vest. Picture#2 is lunch time at the lake, Austin, Trinity and Cooper. Notice Cooper's very short haircut. Russ said he messed up on the haircut, but I think he wanted one of his kids to look like him. Woops! Picture#3 is Paker in the red vest with Phoenix. Picture#4 is everyone on our trampoline in the back yard.

Why a Cat?? Pavlo joins our family August 2008

I'm not sure why I got a cat, I am very allergic, I can't breathe, and I've never liked them. Well, Parker has been bugging me for over a year to get a cat. The first reason he gave was that his Grandpa Sherman has one. The next reason is his friend Asher has one. Well, one afternoon we were going to Damascus area to drop off some stuff for girls camp, get Spencer's scouting blue cards, and return Isaac's blanky he left at our house from the Baptism. We arrived at Asher's and Issac's home. Parker played with their kitten Ranger almost the whole time we were there. I even enjoyed the cats antics and personality. Well, Nicole said she was going to Utah next week, and she could pick up one of Ranger's brothers for us. She called from Utah asking what one I wanted. So here we are - with a cat from Utah. Parker made me tell the family it was only his cat, so he is very possessive of the little animal. Splash, our Saint Bernard, tolerates him. As far as she is concerned, he is just another pesty kid. Pavlo is adjusting to our family, he runs from Parker, and Cooper loves him. Cooper has always been our kid that hates animals. When we had the goats, chickens, and rabbits - he would rarely touch them or play with them. Well, who would have known he is a cat man. Russ and I are scared that he might grow up and have a house full of cats and be that really weird man down the road. We wont' give up hope. So without any further adeu - presenting Pavlo - the white tiger kitten.