THIS is my new favorite quote...
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
"Mom... where'd his Leggo?"
I couldn't help but laugh. This kid is funny. We have started to refer to this side of him as "goofy Carter" and occasionally have to remind him there is a time and a place. But I love having him around so much and am in awe of his incredible sense of humor and timing.
Move over Jim Carey.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
So today was our first FEC, (Family Executive Council.) It went well, though it did take almost 3 hours. There was A LOT of information to cover. FEC is a weekly meeting between mom and dad where we invite Heavenly Father and discuss our weekly schedule, education, and needs as well as the individual needs of each child. After we met with each child individually, then we brought them all together to go over things that effect everyone. We are hoping, as do more of these, they will take less time. But today it needed to be LONG. It has been a long time since we have sat and spent that much time and effort, in one sitting, specifically on our family and our needs.
It was good. We realized there are many areas were we need work. Brady pointed out that we need to be careful to not go so gung-ho that we get over-whelmed and end up bailing on the whole thing. So we picked a couple specific areas to focus on this week. This week is about the new schedule, and the kids becoming more self reliant and responsible.
Our new schedule.
It will start at 7am with Brady and I getting out of bed. Brady will get ready for work and I will make breakfast. The kids will get up and join us at 7:30 for breakfast. Brady leaves for work just before 8 and we will start getting ready for the day and doing chores. I am hoping that by 9, but being realistic, it will be 9:30 we will start school. Mon and Wed school will go til noon when Brady comes home for lunch, and Tues and Thursday at 9:30 I work out with a friend for an hour, so that will be personal study time for the children. Friday will be field trips. Afternoons will be for PE and play. Tyler is working on his Weblo, and is going to teach PE to the kids as he works on his Fitness Badge. He is also in charge of FHE for the month, and teaching Citizenship. We are hoping to have him get his Weblo at Octobers Pack Meeting, giving him plenty of time by April to get his Arrow of Light.
Evenings will be for family outings and family reading.
Then everyone to bed between 8:30 and 9, least the kids. The goal for us is 10:30.
We have agreed there will be no TV or X-box during the week, but that Friday night will be family TV time. I am looking for good educational sites on the computer for the kids. I want them to be internet and computer savvy, but dont want them wasting their time. Today we found a great typing game, and are on the look out for more math and spelling sites.
We also instigated the Bean Counter Game, (more about that later) but the kids are excited about earning a trip to 6 Flags.
So it begins, a new school year, but more than that, a new adventure. I am SO excited by all the great changes I see happening in our family. And not just for the kids, for Brady and I too. This is a good thing!!!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
So it is official. School started last week for all of the neighborhood children, and our 3 children stayed home. I am so excited about Thomas Jefferson Education. I know, many of you are thinking... its about time. But it is about time, our time. And the time is right for us now. I have learned so much the last few months as I have started studying TJed. There is so much information in books, audio seminars, and from people all around who are willing to share their knowledge. The children are still stying to catch on, but as they say, "you not them," and we are focused on us.
There are so many changes to make in getting off the conveyor belt. New routines and schedules. We are TV people. We can waste hours a day in front of the TV or computer. A bad habit I know, but even worse when you are trying to set new priorities and goals as a family. More time reading, talking, studying. More time together creating, dreaming, and doing, and less time vegging out in front of the Video God.
Alas,as I type this, here I sit, stretched out in Bradys lazyboy watching an MMA fight with the boys and eating pizza. My laptop open on my lap as I peruse various blogs by friends and family.
I read Amys blog about early to bed, early to rise. Another one of our struggles. I LOVE TO SLEEP. Before we married, I was an early riser and Brady slept in. He showed me the error of my ways, and now I can gleefully sleep til 10 am while my children slumber away in their own beds. We are all sleepers. There is no one in our home that sees the point in getting up before the crack of noon.
This must change, too much time is being wasted, "sleeping the day away" as my dad used to say. Morning are for great things, not sleeping... so I must turn over a new leaf, find the morning person in me, and make the change in my family. But Amy, my sympathy is with you.... my mornings will NOT be starting at 6 am. That is just cruel!
There are so many changes to make in getting off the conveyor belt. New routines and schedules. We are TV people. We can waste hours a day in front of the TV or computer. A bad habit I know, but even worse when you are trying to set new priorities and goals as a family. More time reading, talking, studying. More time together creating, dreaming, and doing, and less time vegging out in front of the Video God.
Alas,as I type this, here I sit, stretched out in Bradys lazyboy watching an MMA fight with the boys and eating pizza. My laptop open on my lap as I peruse various blogs by friends and family.
I read Amys blog about early to bed, early to rise. Another one of our struggles. I LOVE TO SLEEP. Before we married, I was an early riser and Brady slept in. He showed me the error of my ways, and now I can gleefully sleep til 10 am while my children slumber away in their own beds. We are all sleepers. There is no one in our home that sees the point in getting up before the crack of noon.
This must change, too much time is being wasted, "sleeping the day away" as my dad used to say. Morning are for great things, not sleeping... so I must turn over a new leaf, find the morning person in me, and make the change in my family. But Amy, my sympathy is with you.... my mornings will NOT be starting at 6 am. That is just cruel!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Big Trees.... That is an understatement. These are HUGE trees. I have included lots of pictures to try and demonstrate the point, but you can not comprehend or truly appreciate the magnificence of these trees unless you see them for yourself!
This tree is called "Discovery Tree." It was the first of these great Sequoias found, and they promptly cut it down. As there was not saw to span the necessary 30+ feet, they drilled holes into the tree until it eventually fell over. You can see those marks here.
The stump left after Discovery Tree was fallen, was made into a dance floor.
This is the root system of a tree that has fallen over.
See the small children in front of the tree?
"Mother and Son"
Playing in the trees
The inside of this tree was burned out by forest fire after if died and fell over. The bark is so strong and dense it can sustain itself again fire, even when dead.
These are one of the only species still on the earth that existed at the time of the dinosaurs.
Many of the trees in this forest are as old as 2,000 years.
Friday, August 6, 2010
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