First Day of School 2019

We usually have some kind of lovely-ish school theme, but last year our school theme was "Let Them Be Little" which was code for "Mind Your Own Business." This year our theme we decided on a scripture for our theme. 4 Nephi 1:15

And it came to pass that there was no ^acontention in the land, because of the ^blove of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.

We did some tie dye for our first day of school. The socks turned out awesome- they like to wear them for their basketball games.

Hazel sneaks into my room at night to snuggle even though her dad doesn't like the way she hogs the bed. When I tuck her in she whispers, "See you in the night."

She asked me, "What are atoms?" I tried to explain how they make up everything but they're so small we can't see them. She thought about that, then said, "Oh so they're like germs...and the glimmer in Ezra's eye."

Her favorite stuffies have super awesome names such as; Creesha, Pearl, Salt and Crocus.

She snores like Baba.

Her favorite thing to do in sacrament meeting is sit with the hymnbook open in her lap to the conducting music page and practise leading the congregational hymns.

Hazel and I were at a basketry class and the teacher told us her son's name is Rigel. Hazel asked if she named him after the bright star in the Orion constellation and she said, "Yes! You are the first person to ask me that."

I asked Hazel what she likes to do and she answered, "I like cleaning and organizing and trying and coloring and drawing. I want to learn to make soap."

I was teaching Hazel about how we believe after Jesus was resurrected he visited the people in the Americas. I told her He blessed and healed them and gave them the Priesthood and organized His church. She responded, "Oh I would love to do that. I love organizing."

Hazel cleans while she dances when we have family dance parties.

Spring 2019

I liked how Ezra made eggs for his brothers and decided a 

family photo album and a variety of hotsauce should accompany their meal.

  These kids slept in their snow caves for a few nights.

Basket making class for me and Dolly. We even picked the willows ourselves.

 All the different colors are so beautiful!

A little ugly, lumpy, uneven and lopsided...

Jacob whittling a willow whistle.

 Jane is the proud owner of her very own cello.

"Jane that cello is like your boyfriend forever."
~Ezra

 We love her thrifted Gramma sweater collection.

Tapping the trees for maple water.

Pretty exciting to check the bucket! 

 This little pianist won First Place in Nationals for his piano composition titled, Blue Butterfly!

 Going to the church dance together.

 Jacob at a chess tournament.  

Gym time and laser tag with buddies.

Jacob's butterfly collection is beautiful!

 Charlie has been taking organ lessons from an amazing organist this year. 

 Our geese came back again. We even watched the goslings hatch and look what they left behind.
A soft, intricate nest.

Charlie with his piano student.

Cute conference paper dolls.

General conference is always a spiritual feast. 

It's been fun thinking of ways to make it special every year.

Vermeer has been my favorite picture study yet.

 We love all our homeschool pals. They do the coolest things like build their own arcades!

The Voravong's are always up for a party. 

Dolly has been playing with the dollhouse my parents made for me when I was her age. 

I've kept it all these years because I loved it so much.

 Teaching these two kiddies about voting. Don't forget to vote- every vote counts!

Love when they play duets together. Brothers at the piano and girls on the strings.

 Charlie passed his drivers license test. Hooray!

 Scarlet's Mary Queen of Scots report.

Scarlet tidbit: She loves clip boards.

We are continuing to work on our watercolor.

 We made an Easter garden.

We had a memorable Easter celebration with friends and family. We had some Passover activities and ate fish and honey comb together.

Banana Pops for Riley!!

Choir with Sis. Appleton was a wonderful experience for the kids- her love of music is contagious. It was extra special to sing with so many close friends too.

This is Jessie the most brilliant Amazing Maisy ever!! We were star-struck!

The boys receiving piano Scholarships at the Music Festival.

One of our very favorite birthday girls.

"Mom can we have mangoes? It's what Daisy's heart desires."
~Hazel

I love finding little corners like this around the house and yard. Happy, playful imaginations.

Dinner with our good friends Pathmini and Surath from Sri Lanka.

Scarlet had the fun idea to wrap the trampoline in a tarp like a fort. Leave it to Scarlet to cook up something exciting to do on a rainy day.

The kids slept in hammocks unusually high up in the trees this summer. 

Hazel named her Christmas hedge hog from Grammy and Baba Salt.
Salt has an awesome trick- his sequins shine on the walls.

Some friends are like angels in you life.

Charlie LOVES driving. We make the best team because I LOVE not to drive.

Charlie wrote to one of his favorite Canadian Composers and got such a neat letter back. It even had a music book in the letter.

We found baby birdies in the bird house.

We got to celebrate Henry's birthday with him. No one opens gifts as gracefully as Henry. 

Picnic with the the Taylor's.

The homeschool track day was a day to remember. We all ran our hearts out- Hazel especially!

Scarlet placed first in her age category but showed up at the finish line missing a shoe!

Hazel and I enjoy making fairy lands in the yard. We took a trip to the greenhouse to find the perfect flowers to plant- we chose Lobelia and yellow Petunias.