James Turns 7!

This big man turns 7 today! I am not sure where the time has flown to, but it has been a really cool 7 years.  James is a thinker, he has a mind that is constantly working to solve problems and invent new ways to do things. He is an awesome brother who has lots of patience for his siblings, but also loves to work solo on various lego and recycled item inventions.  Lately, he has been working on drawing/writing a comic book.  He has a memory like a steel trap and never lets us forget things... when he is paying attention to the world around him and not day dreaming;)  He loves skiing, running, digging in the garden and swimming.  He is kind hearted, thoughtful and always willing to help.  Happy 7th Birthday James!

This year, "Finding Dory" opened on his birthday and we were able to go to the first showing here in Farmington.  This trip also marked the first movie I have taken the kids to by myself and it was a great success!  

More Chicks!

We swore we wouldn't get any more chickens until next spring, but when we were down to only 4 layers and getting 1-2 eggs a day, we decided to take on some new chicks.  Maybe next year we will get around to incubating our own eggs. It is easy to forget just how small (and cute!) these chicks are.  We are keeping 6 of these fluff balls, they have been named: Cutie, Miss Pickle, James Jr., Benjamin Franklin, Barack Obama & one unnamed.. so far!

James' 7th Birthday Party:)

James really wanted to have some friends from school at his party this year, so we decided to have it earlier in the month, before school got out.  We were having so much fun that I forgot to take many pictures, but here is what I got:)  He had a Minecraft party with lots of junk food, pin the tail on the pig, balloon popping, bean bag toss and a gem search in the yard. The coolest part of the preparation for this party was that the kids all worked together to make most of the decorations and games.  With a picture to guide him, Noah made the pig. James made a cool drawing to go on the front door and they all helped with the tape for the bean bag toss.  James had a wonderful party and we were all exhausted at the end!  Thank you so much to everyone who was able to come and help us celebrate!

Sandy River

We were running at the gym this morning when James spotted the campus map.  He asked why we hadn't explored the trail down to the river behind the soccer field... I didn't have a good answer, so we went on an adventure.  It was a brief walk down to the Sandy River where we sat, threw rocks, made ferry boats and had an overall relaxing few hours without seeing another person.  The kids wished they had their bathing suits when Noah and Ben tried to wade to the other side... next time:)

The bottom picture... I woke up this morning and heard someone else breathing next to the bed.  I thought for sure it couldn't be one of the kids because when they wake up in the night they scream and DEFINITELY let us know they are there.  When I rolled over this is what I saw.  Audrey sound asleep kneeling over a storage box.  I have no idea how she was asleep like this.  I put her back in her bed and she never work up, so I am guessing she must have walked in her sleep and found a nice place to sleep;) 

Busy Weekend Fun!

It is safe to say we overbooked this weekend and had to miss out on a few things, but overall it was great!   I woke up on Friday morning and heard James rummaging around downstairs before "wake up time" (aka 7am).  I looked down over the railing and saw him bent over the couch with just his underwear on.  When I asked him what he was doing, he looked up at me (with the costume in the picture on his face) and said, "SHHH! I am operating on the patient and I need silence!"   It was really hard not to laugh, but he was dead serious.  He then came up stairs to show me the doctor outfit he made himself:)

This week we have lost 2 chickens in 3 days to some predator in our yard during the day, so the remaining 4 hens and 1 rooster are being confined to their run for a few weeks.  They kids felt badly for them, so when I stepped outside, this is what I found.  All of the kids have been taking turns in the run telling the chickens stories or reading to them, but this time they all got into the coop... I am sure the chickens were appreciative;)

Saturday the kids and I traveled north to celebrate Lily's 3rd birthday party. It was a beautiful day outside and she had an awesome My Little Pony party!  Happy 3rd Birthday Lily!

Sunday was Children's Sunday at church and such a cool service.  It is always so uplifting to see all of the kids participate in traditional "adult" roles throughout the service.  Noah really wanted to read the scripture and did an amazing job reading with impressive inflection and clarity in front of the whole congregation!  The most inspiring theme of this service is always being able to share with the larger church family what the youth have been up to all year.  It is a chance to see not only their spiritual growth, but also how they are reacting to difficult situations with love and compassion.  We were proud parents on this day:) 

Flint Woods and Goats:)

Gabe had yet to experience and explore Flint Woods in Farmington, so we took him Sunday after church.  We had a silly, fun time and got some exercise on top of it:)

This week we took a field trip with some fellow homeschoolers to this awesome Nigerian dwarf goat farm. They make some delicious goat cheese and other goodies on the farm AND sell the babies... they were so cute and cuddly!  Everyone got up the courage to cuddle a goat and even partook in a retelling of the Billy Goat's Gruff with real goats.  Definitely one of the top field trips this year:)  Check out their website- http://www.sunflowerfarm.info They have open farm times where you can just go and hold the goats, have a yoga class or just pick up some amazing cheese products.

Spring is Here!

We have had an awesome week and, hopefully, one that is previewing our summer!  We got to have Alexander for the afternoon and the kids were thrilled.  They taught him what a chicken says, followed him all around the yard as he chased the chickens, then cried when they turned around to chase him:)  Audrey also got the chance to not be the youngest and took advantage by teaching Alexander how to let her "help" him eat his popsicle...

Wednesday we all got to go in and see what Noah and his classmates have been learning in violin lessons. In this school district we are blessed with an absolutely fantastic and enthusiastic music teacher and program. They have learned so much this year and we can't wait to see what next year will bring!

We opened the pool this week.  Normally, the first time in is a super quick one or two jumps... today it was a frigid 58 degrees in the water and they all got in and STAYED IN for 25 minutes!!  I think they would have stayed in longer, but honestly, I started to worry that they would get too cold.  They even convinced Gabe to jump in and he complained that the water was hurting his skin and hopped back out after one jump;)  

Burial Weekend

This past weekend we laid a great man to rest with a military burial.  We didn't realize it before hand, but when we arrived at the cemetery and saw the two airman standing watch over Dad's flag draped casket, we realized that this was the important part of saying good bye to him.  The other funeral, with visiting hours was more something he would have tolerated and done for the benefit of others, but this was the service that was important to him.  I wish that I would have thought to take a picture of the beautiful scene, but instead it will instead be a memory that I will be able to cherish and an awesome way to remember my Dad.  

As we were walking to the burial site I immediately realized that there had been a loop-hole in how we prepared the kids for this event. They all seemed to have an appropriate understanding of what was to happen and why we were there... everyone except Audrey.  We had a few minutes of her being inconsolable because she thought we were there for Grandpa to "wake back up".  It was heartbreaking. It was a beautiful day out to allow us a final goodbye and have another gathering to share memories of such a kindhearted, loving and thoughtful man who we miss more with every passing day.

We spent the rest of the weekend eating lots of great food, visiting and even took a trip for Caribou's town wide yard sale with Nannie, Aunt Amy, Trey and Lily.  We stocked up on ice skates, hiking boots and other winter gear. Gabe really got into the yard sales and we eventually got him to admit that he was having fun... right after I stopped him from buying 3 or 4 of the same shirt;)