School days

I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to spend my days teaching my kids.  It's been a bit of a roller coaster this past month but I think things are getting better.  

the short story, When I first started the school year the calendar was crowded and a bit intimidating to say the least.  But I was optimistic it would all work out.  

OuR schedule looked something like this

Monday: workout, lessons, lunch, quiet time,  reading/writing time, free play

Tuesday:  Alphabet preschool, lunch quiet time, math, free play

Wednesday Workout, ballet, lunch quiet time reading, free play

Thursday:  FILA (families inspiring leaders of America) commonwealth school

Friday: workout, pack lunches, sunlit learning school, math free play

We also wanted to squeeze in piano lessons at some point.

After a few weeks of the FILA school I soon realized it wasn't the best fit for our family.  So we withdrew and I'm loving the relaxing stay at home day thursdays are becoming.  

In a nutshell we still have lots we need to improve on, like reading EVERY SINGLE DAY.  

But we're getting closer.  and I love what we have surprisingly added into our learning I never knew we needed to learn.  I'll let the pictures tell you about some of my favorite moments.  

Learning to jump rope.  Life most important lessons are those that encourage us to keep trying

throwing rocks:  a passage of childhood 

We found an amphitheater and the kids performed impromptu skits.  There was no fighting and each child fulfil their role

Coloring while listening to conference.  

Helping Grace overcome her dislike for writing.  The bigger the letter the better. 

Tuesday's alphabet day coloring fall books 

Playing with Papa's legos for the first time

"look what we can create"

Listening to Gwenevere read

Everett helping me make rolls for Canadian Thanksgiving.  

He liked using the knife

Digging in our neighbors back yard and finding warms

D is for Dog origami 

We discovered Maestro's Classic stories To cultivate a love of music through education and  joyful performances, to expand and develop  listening skills and encourage adults and children to listen together.

My motto for this school year

And there is so many more memories I didn't capture on camera.

1.  Reading books with Everett we read for about an hour everyday.  He loves to read

2.  Discovering the Life of Fred Math series.  

3.  going on walks everyday down the the bus stop to greet friends after school.

4.  Leaf rubbings

5.  Sewing halloween costumes together

6.  Watching Grace do addition in her head.  "You had 4 babies,  Gwenevere, the baby that died after Gwenevere, Me and Everett.  How many babies do you want mom?"  I replied, "I once wanted 5 or 7 but now I don't know anymore."  Grace thinks for a moment and then says,  "If you have one more baby you'd have 5 babies mom."  

7.  Watching all three kids build train tracks for hours at a time  ( and I deleted my pictures of this before I added them to the computer.)  :-( 

8.  Watching Gwenevere get her very first piano lesson.  And then watching her practice almost everyday on her own.  :-)  

9.  Watching Everett play with friends.  We've had a lot of friends over this past week.  

10.  Learning for myself:  I got to attend the temple and a flood of new thoughts and ideas came running to my mind.  learning I want to continue to learn.  Wanting to learn what my kids want to learn.  For Gwenevere it's piano, for Grace it is dance and for Everett it's learning to be kind.

I've also felt an increasing power of evil bombard our home over the last month.  I've had a very difficult time "not yelling"  and it effects my kids in so many ways.  to correct this terrible habit that seems to be seeping into my life, I'm trying extra hard to stop as soon as I realize i'm yelling, to apologize quickly and to rephrase my words to be more loving.  I'm not perfect but I have a plan and I am trying.  

I've also noticed James and I don't always see eye to eye like we use to.  I feel it is also the adversary trying to tear us apart.  To correct this unfortunate event, both James and I are striving harder to thoroughly express our desires to each other, to spend one on one time with each other each day, and to pray together.  

I feel these harder temptations lately are present only because of our increase desires to do what the Lord wants us to do. Therefor we must press on.  Hurrah for following the Lord's plan. 

Amara's Harvest Party

A few weeks ago my friend invited us to a fall Harvest Party.  I put it on the calendar but forgot to RSVP.  Luckily two days before the party our paths crossed and once Amara knew I was coming asked if I could bring my camera.  I was so excited.  James picked out my lense and got my settings set so I could have fun.  I posted most of the pictures on Facebook but thought I'd add my favorite ones of the kids on our blog.  Thanks James for the camera help and thanks Amara for inviting us we had so much fun. 

PS James did take several of the pictures posted below

James playing with camera settings in the car

me trying to serve my kid alcohol  ooops.  I didn't even think the punch could be spiked, lesson learned don't assume anything, luckily Grace hadn't tried any of the punch before the mistake was caught. 

Everett's "house"  he made with the couch pillows

Notice she's drinking water now.  lol

guess what Gwenevere wants to be?

A BUNNY

Amara explaining the rules of the game

Gwenevere won a monkey for the treasure box

I LOVE buttons.  Someday I want to have a button collection

Gwenevere's hand

 

Guess what Grace wants to be?

what a fun play structure 

we had a wonderful time.  Oh and I forgot to bring in the Apple Pie!

Me and my Girls

Everett Sprained his shoulder.  Yeah I never knew that was possibly but apparently it is.  And it's extremely painful.  Poor guy.  Since he's in a lot of pain, and James is our favorite doctor around here.  He took the day off of work to help take care of Everett.

The girls had school today, so we said goodbye to the boys and headed out the door.

After school we dropped of some donations and went shopping at Value Village.  We ended up finding some sweet high heel church shoes for Gwenevere and a couple good books for Grace.  It's always fun to shop with my girls, and surprisingly less stressful with only two kids.
( I don't know if it's Everett or just the fact that there are three kids, but I have come to despise shopping lately.  It's just so stressful these days.)  So I was happy to enjoy our little outing.

After a good shopping spree we stopped by our friend's house the Johnson's to visit and play.  OH how I love Jill. Best family friends Ever.

A few weeks ago I got the urge to take my girls out on a date.  They got all excited and we planned to go out to eat at Applebee's for our date.  While we were driving to Jill's house it accord to me that this would be the perfect time for a girl's date since James already had Everett.  I texted James and of course he gave us the okay.

So to make things really fun we invited Jill and Chloe to join us.

Grace hiding behind us

It's so nice to feel happy to spend time with my kids.  I don't always want to be around them and after a weekend where I thought I might never enjoy their company again it's great to see how quickly my feeling toward them change.

Even after we got home I wasn't in a rush to put them to bed.  Instead I helped them brush their teeth and get pajamas on.  Then I stood next to Gwenevere's bunk bed for half an hour while I listened to her read to Grace.  Then I tucked Grace into her bed down below and laid with her until she fell asleep.

I really had a good day.  I love my little girls and it was nice to spend so much time with them.

Cousin Lexi comes to play, conference weekend

Stephanie had a Jamberry conference in Seattle and asked to spend the night with us.  We thought it would be fun to have Lexi come too.  It was during conference weekend so we had to pick somewhat quiet activities.  The kids loved painting pumpkins and then they found a way to get very very dirty so they could have a bath.  

Grace did an excellent job decorating her pumpkin

Everett was tire and cried most of the time he was painting because he wanted more paint.  LOTS more paint.  there just wasn't any way to make him happy

When Stephanie returned from her Jamberry conference we watched the second Saturday session and then we all drove down to Portland.  Stephanie was so kind as to take both girls in her car with Lexi so James, Everett and I enjoyed a quiet ride together.  

We spent the night at Red Grandma's house.  In the morning Grandpa Roemhildt (aka James' Dad)  came over to make breakfast and watch the first session of conference with us.  

I'm not sure who make more noise, Grandpa or the kids.

At one point I was tired of telling the kids to be quiet and sit quietly next to Grandpa so I told Everett to come sit by me.  With horror on his face he ran straight to Grandpa yelling "Grandpa"  you could almost hear the remaining thought  "Save ME."  LOL  we all had a good laugh

After the morning Session of Conference we took a quick trip to Green Grandma's house.  It was lovely to see her.  I know her time here on earth is coming to an end and I want to make sure my kids get to know her and spend as much time a possible with her.  James is also hoping to record her telling some of her childhood memories since she is such a wonderful storyteller.   This last visit to her house made us realize we need to create those memories now and not wait for someday.  We said goodbye to Grandma and Uncle Gary and hurried back to Red Grandma's house to watch the second session of conference.

Everett was extremely tired and I could tell he wasn't going to fall asleep very easily, so I decided to take him on a walk around the neighborhood.  The walk was peaceful and he fell asleep within minutes.  

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to conference this past time.  I think it was the most I've gotten out of conference in a long while.  I'll post more about that later.

After Conference all the cousins came over for Birthday celebrations and a BBQ.

Playing outside

Grandma Sharolee helping Austin

candid cousin playtime 

Rebecca was so kind as to take some family pictures for us sper of the moment.

And then we went to the High school football field to have some friendly competition.  

The night was warm and beautiful.

I think we all had a good time.

Foggy Day

Walked outside this morning with Everett in my arms.  When he saw the fog with excitement he asked "what's this?"

I love watching my kids discover new things.  It makes the world feel so fresh and new.