We've been here for about a month and a half now, and we have 10 chicks (pullets) and 6 turkeys and 5 rabbits.
This morning I was reading to the boys when Todd yells out, "We have a horse in our front yard!" The neighbor's horse got out. We watched the lady catch it, and then all went out to pet it and talk to her about horses. Katherine really wants to learn to ride horses. Todd says no horses, but I think with Katherine, it's inevitable that we will end up with a horse.

group mentality

Here is a post from a homeschool mom and my response:

Subject: [waldorfhomeeducators] a question on computer games

 

Hello,

 Now here is a topic which will undoubtedly bring out all kinds of> stances. I am not asking if video games are good or bad (I don't think they are inherently evil), nor am I asking> what policy I should have. I do let my kids play some games on the computer but I control the amount of time they spend> playing them. 1 hour on weekends of minecraft, and a 1/2 hour reading program each day mid-week. My> question goes to those of you who do allow some computer games at home, what have some of you done about games that brought out competition and "agression" in your kids?> >> > My 11 yr old boy is really interested in minecraft and some friends of his> have introduced him to minecraft Hunger Games. We haven't read the> book nor watched the movie (my kids are still too young 8 and 11) we> know all about it cause a few of my kids' friends have watched it (in our community my children are the only kids I know who don't have wide access to screen entertainment). Now those children have told my sons about how exciting it is to play hunger games on minecraft. So I> checked it out on youtube and google and frankly I find the premise> repulsive. I know there are lots of servers who offer the game but on the> first link I read I found a server who defined the games' objectives as "be> the last man/woman standing" and "expect a bloodbath", etc.> >> > If any of you know minecraft, it is not a violent "looking" game, things don't look like bomb scenes after they fall apart, they look like broken legos. 

1-But in all conscience, I can't condone this kind of "game" for my kid. 

2- But I also,> know that playing mildly or even full-on violent video games does not> make kids into psychopathic serial killers. Boys are> somehow moredrawn to these kinds of games and it doesn't make them bad,> it's just the way they are wired. 

3- But given the amount of daily bloodshed> throughout the world and out of respect for victims of violent deaths I just don't like my 11 yr old boy playing this> particular version of the game, or any kind of game that involves the> violent elimination of an opponent.> >> > My kid feels like the most oppressed child in the world (he isn't, his> parents love him and care for him, we do our best and strive to do even> better). I have explained kindly but firmly that I just don't believe> people should "play murder", just like I suppose a vegan family does not> believe animals should be exploited for human use or a religious family> does not believe their God or Gods should be taken lightly. As David H.> Albert said in one of his homeschooling books, we wouldn't allow kids to> "play rape" or "play genocide", why is"playing murder" so different?

I sent this email to an unschoolers group and I got a few responses in favor of the game and kind of a fear based response that boys are competitive and agressive by nature so video games are a safe and controlled way to help them let off steam, if I don't let him play that game he will try to get that competitive/agressive urge satisfied elsewhere. This response made me a little wishy washy for a while, I don't want this to become a power struggle between us, but for now I am "sticking to my guns" no pun intended :-) and will not allow that version of minecraft or any other game of that style. I explained it to my son's friend, a 12 year old, who told me I shouldn't be worried about the boys playing the game because they can tell the difference between real life violence and violence on a screen. ay, ay, ay.

> Does anyone who has gone through this with boys have a suggestion, an experience to share, wisdom?

> >> > thanks, kat

 

My response:

 

I have 9 and 11 year old boys and so I totally understand this situation!!

 

1. When in doubt, go with your gut feeling. As a mother, you know what is best for your child. It's better to err on the safe side. Anyways, computer games are a privilege, not a right. If I ever feel video games are being destructive in any way (fighting about it, getting in the way of doing what needs to be done, going over allotted time, etc etc) then I have a "no video game" time period for a while, because it is a privilege not a right.

 

2. You may try this: Tell him that he probably feels "oppressed" because you are making the decision for him. Tell him that you are going to let him make this decision because you feel he is ready to start making some of his own decisions based on what his conscience and moral standards are, and that he needs to decide what his values and moral standards are. This will be the first of many decisions he will have to make in his life about his values, and it is good to know before the situation arises what his values are. BUT, that he needs to make that decision informatively, and so you want to talk to him about it first, and so he can decide what he wants his values to be.

 

Then, I would talk to him about "group mentality". Tell him about Hitler and about how social scientists are still studying the group mentality behind it- how could so many people think that this was ok. Tell him about slavery, and that people had slaves "because everyone else did" and that they tried to justify slavery and how "justifying" something that is immoral is still immoral- and that it blocks you from knowing (and doing) the truth. And that in Massachusetts in colonial times, people thought that others who were not of their religious faith should be persecuted, and even killed. But that there were people like Anne Hutchinson, and Roger Williams who started the Rhode Island colony, and others who rose above the "group mentality" and dared to think differently than what everyone else thought, and even speak up for what they thought was right, even though it led to both Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams being cast out. But now they are in the history books as heroes. (It helps to tell the stories of these people, really playing up the hero part)

 

Now "everyone" thinks that the Hunger Games are "ok" and that playing a minecraft Hunger Game is ok "because kids can tell the difference between real life violence and violence on a screen". Then I would say what you said:  we wouldn't allow kids to "play rape" or "play genocide", why is"playing murder" so different? If you play rape, you still know the difference between rape in real life and rape on a screen, right?  The problem is in the principle.

 

It may seem like "everyone" thinks that the Minecraft Hunger Games are ok, but making a decision based on group mentality (everyone else is doing it, so it must be ok) is very dangerous.

 

Also, and here's my own thoughts on Hunger Games, that the author was trying to show the group mentality principle in the people (in the book/movie) who watched the Hunger Games. If people stopped watching the Hunger Games, the Hunger Games would end. But no one stopped to think about how the Hunger Games effected the people in them, or their families, or their villages. And that the people had not only become callused to violence, they loved it! And I think that in reality, a lot of people are not only totally missing that point, but becoming no better than those people in the book/movie who watched the Hunger Games, by making things like Hunger Game Minecraft! I think we have become so callused in our culture from watching such violent movies and playing violent video games that we have become like those people in the Hunger Games- mindless and immune to the effects of violence in a culture. I cringe when I hear people say how much they love the Hunger Games movie, that they've watched it tons of times, on and on. My husband read the book and we (unfortunately and against my better judgment) watched the movie. My husband read the book and got the message I talked about before, but also about a message about war- that maybe she was also trying to say that sending our young 19 year old troops off to war to kill other young troops, is a lot like the Hunger Games. I was traumatized by the violence in the movie- and I'm so shocked that people let CHILDREN watch that movie. The violence was disgusting, so I'm not sure why people say they want to see it over and over- just like the  people in the storyline who watch the Hunger Games. Was the author trying to say that we have become a culture callused, and even violent loving, and instead of getting that message, everyone has gotten really into the violence of the book/movie??

 

One of the reasons I homeschool my children is to get them to think above the group mentality- to think about what is right, even if it is not what "everyone else" thinks, and to question, and to use their brains and to speak out and stand up, like the heroes in history who stood up for slavery, and were against religious intolerance, and those few who stood up against Hitler's genocide.

 

advice to teenage me

I saw this picture of me as a teenager and I immediately felt a bunch of emotions. I remember what I felt as a teenager, and now as a mother myself, I have advice to give her:
1. You don't have to look like a movie star to be likeable. You don't have to have an outgoing personality to be likeable. You are a sweet person, with a lot of talent and you don't have to try and be someone else. Just be yourself. I know you don't feel like people like you and that you are an ok person just how you are, but you will find a lot of people throughout your life (outside of your small town and your small group of insecure teenage friends) that will love you for who you are and appreciate your unique personality, gifts and talents. Be who you are and love yourself and it doesn't matter what others think of you, or what you THINK others think of you. What others think of you doesn't change the truth of who you are. Just be yourself!!
2. Mentors are important- they ones you have now, and the ones you will have in the future. Adults that will be your friends and help you understand who you are and help to develop your talents, and just do things with you and teach you. As a mother now, I want to do and be everything for my kids, but thinking about me as a teenager, I needed other mentors as well. I can't be everything for my kids. I also need to be a mentor for other kids that aren't my own!
3. I have advice for her mother and dad: spend lots and lots of time with me and together as a family. I am craving love and relationships and acceptance. I'm going to be a jerk, and do stupid things, but I need you to be patient and love me anyway. Do things with me- teach me how to sew, knit, draw, go to the movies with me, etc etc. Especially do service with me. In my journal as a teenager I said that I wanted a boyfriend just so that I could make him cookies and have someone to do things for.
I need love and acceptance in a way that my teenage friends can't provide. We need to be together as a family and I need one on one attention and conversations. Keep me busy doing things with me- or I will find someone that won't be good for me just so I can have a connection with someone. Be my friend. Find a way to talk to me as a friend, not a parent. Don't just talk to me when I'm in trouble. Make me feel important and special by what you say to me and what you do.

Katherine's journal

I love you (mommy).

Tell me about what you like to play:

I like to play favorites. I get to be the teacher. I call itfavorites.

Who are the students?

Just my family.

What do you teach?

Herbology (from Harry Potter)

What do you teach in herbology?

Potions

Tell me about your toys:

I have a dolly, I have lots of dollies, I have myself, and Ilike taking pictures.

Tell me about Alex:

Alex is my good brother.

Tell me about Nathan:

Nathan is my good brother. He likes to play with me.

Tell me about Abbie:

Abbie loves me.  

Fun learning

The boys were making a "video game" with the PowerPoint program. You chose your monster creature by Clicking on the picture and then you chose your enemy by clicking another picture. It would lead you to the page that said either you won or you lost. They were really into it And getting really good at it. So Todd decided to teach them how to program a webpage to do that same game but better. The boys really loved having Todd teach them how to program and they were really good at it.

The boys asked Papa to help them make wands on the laithe. They had fun and made cool wands.

'Tuzis

The kids LOVE taking baths in my parents' jacuzzi!

April Author's Guild- family history

Yesterday we had a GREAT time doing a "family history" themed author's guild! This was the assignment: April 11 Family or Personal History Writing: Using writing to preserve family and personal life stories

Writing: Interview some family members and record a (or some) family history story(ies), or make a personal history; collect family stories and gather them, with some pictures and other memories, to make a family book. (Keep adding to them throughout the year and make copies of your finished book to give to each of your family members for Christmas.) 

Here is one help: https://zapthegrandmagap.com/downloads.html

We read our stories to each other. Some kids wrote their own immediate family stories (how mom and dad met, some funny stories about them and their siblings); some interviewed an older family member (grandma, great-aunt) and wrote down their story; one girl made a poster of her great great grandma with pictures and facts and stories about her; I shared the family book that I had made and bound and gave out as Christmas gifts. 

For the activity, we played games and did activities that have been done for years and years. I had little signs and baskets set up all over for the kids to do them as they wanted to. I also had folk songs playing.

Weaving:

 Jacks, yo yos, marbles:

Quilting: I cut out squares of fabric and had the kids color on them with fabric crayons. I'm going to make a quilt out of them for Alex and Nathan to remember Author's Guild in AR and their AR friends, like in this picture:

instructions here: http://craftywench.typepad.com/knittingwench/2008/05/kindergarten-teachers-quilt-with-kids-artwork.html

 My great friends here in AR- Jenn and Tia:

Tia and Jenn are having fun doing cat's cradle:

The kids and adults are doing string games: cat's cradle and jacob's ladder

candy sticks I forgot to give out:

 Checkers:

more weaving:

 Blind Man's Bluff:

Hand clapping games:

Then we made homemade butter (put whipping cream in a sandwich bag and shook it until it turned to butter and buttermilk. Pour off the buttermilk) and put it on homemade wheat bread Todd had made.

Then we made homemade ice cream with strawberries:
http://spoonful.com/recipes/homemade-ice-cream-bag

Then we went outside to eat it and play these outside:
Hopscotch:
http://www.streetplay.com/thegames/hopscotch.htm
and jumping rope
http://www.gameskidsplay.net/jump_rope_ryhmes/

There are other games we could have played, like kick the can, etc. but we did these activities for about 2 hours and didn't even do all of these! It was SO much fun!!

My date with Abbie

This month I took Abbie on a date to ice cream and Italian food (yes the ice cream was first) and then the dollar store to pick out prizes for potty training. She wanted me to take pictures of her menu at the restaurant of her coloring on it. I was tickling her and she was laughing too hard and she spit up on the floor. I told her just to leave it (i would do it) but she had to get a napkin and clean it up. She's been going in the potty the last couple days really well So we went to the dollar store to pick out some toys for her to have when she doesn't have any accidents. She picked a rake, a ball, animal crackers and 2 pinwheels. When we got home she went straight to the potty so that she could get one of her prizes! She was in a good crazy mood when we went on our date! I love spending time with my little Abbie!

Bike riding and Nathan

Here in AR Katherine and I have been spending time together going on bike rides around the neighborhood. We always stop at the ditch so she can pick and chew on wild onions. This day the boys wanted to come too. Nathan wanted Katherine to stand in the water with him so he was holding her hands. Nathan is such a good, sweet brother! The other night he asked if he could put the girls to bed so he and I could play a board game. He told the girls it was time for bed. But they whined and said no! So he cheerfully said okay who wants to play train? And the girls jumped up and put their hands on his shoulders. He led them around the house for a little while and then led them up the stairs to their beds. Then Abbie couldn't go up the stairs and so she started to cry. Nathan said do you want a pillow ride? And she jumped on the pillow and he took her upstairs flying on the pillow (I helped). Then he read them stories and sang them songs and put them to bed And they were quiet and went to sleep!! He has a gift with little kids! Here is a picture of Archer with Nathan- they're buddies.

We're in Arkansas!

We arrived here in AR October 15 and now it's April 9. Right now the girls are watching wonder pets on TV- their favorite show. Abbie is sick, poor girl. The boys are doing their school work.

I just was going to the bathroom, when Avery came in with poop in both hands, rolling it, saying she had a poop accident.
Nice.

So I thought the boys were doing school upstairs. I just tell them they have to get their chart done by 8pm or they get a number. If they get 5 numbers they go to public school.

Abbie's first date

Abbie is going on her first date!

Don't smile Katherine!

Pics

Guess who found my phone and took 275 pictures.

Oct 1 tradition

We have a tradition of eating Halloween doughnuts and drinking apple cider and watching Ichabod and the headless horseman the Disney version on October 1. Katherine thought it was Halloween day and she was so excited. She thought that's what you did on Halloween day.

Dollies

The girls were rocking their dollies to sleep. See if you can catch the name of Abbie's doll.

Testing

Seeing if this works. Today we went to Nana's house and we went out to eat

learning

I recently read that kids can learn more than we think they can. So when Ryan challanged the boys to learn all the countries in Africa, I decided to see how much they could handle. Normally I would have had them just memorize about 5 at a time, but this time I kept adding just one more, or just a little later in the day would add a few more. By the end of the day, Nathan had them all memorized and Alex had gone to bed just before learning all of them. Had he stayed up (Nathan and I are night owls but Alex isn't), he would have had them all memorized too. You know, I wonder now how many Katherine could memorize. I'll try it.

Summer Token Economy

Alex and Nathan’s summer token economy

30 minutes= 1 token

White: Jr. Master Gardeners OR 4-H OR boy scouts

Blue: math drill

Purple: 5^th grade math

Orange: read nonfiction book

Green: read fiction book

Red: write (a story, letter, etc.)

Yellow: practicing instrument

Katherine's tokens:

15 minutes= 1 token

Pink: reading lesson

Blue: journal

Purple: Little Keepers

Red: Reading to Katherine

REDEEM:

Swimming: 2 tokens of different colors

Icees: small 3 tokens of different colors, medium 4 tokens of different colors, largest 5 tokens of different colors

Lagoon: 5 tokens of each of the 7 colors

Scooter: 2 of each of the 7 colors

Camping: one set of all the colors

Hiking: 2 tokens of different colors

Costumes: 1 set of all the colors is $20 toward costume
(the boys really wanted Captain America and Thor costumes)

Ice skating: 3 tokens of different colors

Bike ride date: 2 tokens of different colors

Other activity (dino museum, etc.)- negotiable

CANNOT BE TRADED IN FOR MONEY

CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO A SIBLING if you want them to come with you on your activity

ENDS AUG. 31

2011 in review

2011

a little about me:

Name: Alex

Age: 9

Favorite food: Daddy's eclairs

favorite activity: pillow fights with Nana

Favorite Color: light blue

Favorite Book: Laura Ingalls Wilder books

Highlights from 2011:

greatest lesson learned: When I practice piano I can get good at it

hardest thing of the year: cleaning

favorite memory: going to Lagoon with Daddy; and Nana and Papa coming to visit

What I loved most about 2011: getting the Scorpion Pyramid Lego set for Christmas

Looking forward to 2012:

want to learn: Daddy's cooking

want to get better at: piano

Biggest Goal: read more (because he loves to read!)

2011

a little about me:

Name: Nathan

Age: 8

Favorite food: Daddy's eclairs

favorite activity: playing with Joseph

Favorite Color: a lot of the colors

Favorite Book: Laura Ingalls Wilder books

Highlights from 2011:

greatest lesson learned: about the ocean

hardest thing of the year: school

favorite memory: the trip to New York

What I loved most about 2011: getting the Scorpion Pyramid Lego set for Christmas

Looking forward to 2012:

want to learn: everything from school

want to get better at: school

Biggest Goal: tithing

2011

a little about me:

Name: Katherine

Age: 3

Favorite food: milk (?)

favorite activity: “sleepovers” with Shannon

Favorite Color: pink

Favorite Book: Caps for Sale

Highlights from 2011:

greatest lesson learned: how to write

hardest thing of the year: cleaning

favorite memory: riding horses and the Daddy Daughter Dance

What I loved most about 2011: I liked to cook with Daddy

Looking forward to 2012:

want to learn: cook more with Daddy

want to get better at (want to learn): reading

Biggest Goal (want to do this year): cook with Abbie on the play kitchen

2011

a little about me:

Name: Abbie

Age: 19 months

Favorite food: suckers

favorite activity: playing with Katherine

Favorite Color: probably pink because she knows that color

Favorite Book: she loves lots of books

Highlights from 2011:

greatest lesson learned: lots of words

hardest thing of the year: sharing

favorite memory: riding horses and cooking with Daddy

What I loved most about 2011: I turned one!

Looking forward to 2012:

want to learn: to go potty

want to get better at: talking

Biggest Goal: saying yes and no appropriately

Jan. 2011 the boys were in their first year of Friday school. Alex had just gotten a keyboard for Christmas, and he and Nathan started lessons a few months later. They were also in the middle of their first year of pottery class too. Katherine was still doing the Mommy and Me dance class here in spanish Fork that she started the end of Oct. My dad had just finished the finale of Biggest Loser, and took over the parenting of Avery a few months later. In Jan. the only pet we had was a goldfish:). We also started looking for houses with land because we had no place to put the trampoline we got for Christmas. We read the Laura Ingalls Wilder series through the year (and other books) and we all LOVED it! I think it was the end of Jan. that Nathan bought the 6 hens. I can't remember when we got the bunnies, but we had to get rid of them in about May because a neighbor complained we had too many animals.

In Feb. Todd and I had our tenth anniversary. and we got Manzo puppy.

In March, we took a weekend vacation to Bryce Canyon, and later in March my parents came to visit.

In April for Easter we incubated some eggs and they hatched a few days before Easter. That was a lot of fun. They were kept inside in a big plastic bin, and outside we had the bunnies, the fish and a dog. We were still looking for our house with land:). We found a plot we liked, but when we prayed about it we got a "not now" answer.

In May was the Daddy Daughter Dance recital- the highlight of Katherine's life so far.  Katherine also had her regular dance recital. Abbie turned one and had a family birthday party.

In June, Nathan started violin lessons with Monte Belknap. Alex had already been taking piano from Mandy Nash. This was also when the kids' bears spent the night at the library. June was also the Princess Festival, when Todd took Katherine to the Daddy Daughter Ball.

July was Katherine's third birthday party- a dancing party at the place where she took dance lessons. She LOVED her party and still talks about it. Todd took the boys to the Father and sons campout.

In Aug. Katherine started ballet at a ballet studio. Alex had his NINTH birthday, and had a late-over party that lasted until midnight. It was a fun party. Nathan had his first violin recital and played May Song out of the Suzuki book. I think it was Aug. when we first started the horseback riding with Jaci, and started doing it once a month as a family activity.

In Sept. the Todd took turns taking the boys to the BYU football games. The boys started the next year of Friday school, which included sewing and cooking, art, making things work, nature study, social dance and lego robotics. They love all their classes except art, because they don't like the teacher (but they love art). We also went on a really fun church history trip. We went from Utah to New York without stopping! We went to Palmyra, then Kirtland, Ohio, then saw Tawnya and her family in Iowa, and Todd and Tawnya ran the half marathon there, and then back home.

October was the Park City condo. We had an extra large room this year (at no extra charge) and our own hot tub on the balcony. Allison and her family came to visit and we had so much fun, that we wished they could have stayed longer. The boys cried when their cousin friends had to leave. We also did the First Feast in Payson Canyon with the Homeschool group and a Harvest party also with the homeschool group that were both very fun. This year for Halloween I was in a bad, bad mood, because Abbie was crying (teething?) all night and day, and I didn't have enough sleep and just had kind of a bad day. So Todd and Danielle took the kids trick or treating while I put the candy bowl outside and I went inside and shut the door and had some quiet time. I love Halloween, so I must have had a really bad day, looking back now! The girls were cowgirls and the boys were cowboys.

In Nov., we did lots of Thanksgiving activities and it made Nov. really special. Each day we read a talk on gratitude. Katherine and I went to see the Nutcracker in Nov and again in Dec. Alex had his first piano recital in Nov. and played Happy Farmer. We had Thanksgiving at Jane's house with Todd's family. This was the first year it was at Jane's house, usually it's at the grandparent's house. We've been able to see them every week (the grandparents) because alex's piano lessons are at their house.

In December, the boys earned their cubscout badges: Alex his Bear and Nathan his Tiger. Nathan turned 8 but is getting baptised Jan. 8. His birthday party is tomorrow: he wanted a late-over like Alex, so we decided to do a New Years Eve birthday party. Both boys played in sacrament meeting: Alex played silent Night on the piano and Nathan sang one verse and played one verse on his violin of The Nativity. The boys were in A Christmas Carol play with other homeschool kids and they loved it, surprising to me. This month we did a lot of Christmas activities and it was a lot of fun! Nana and Papa and Avery came for Christmas. For Christmas the boys got the Scorpion Pyramid lego set (their favorite toy) and the girls got a play kitchen. Katherine got a horse and doll rider (instead of a real pony in her stocking:)). Abbie got her own ballet shoes and ballet tutu. The boys also got lots of games and each a model to build. My parents got all the kids presents, and for us we all went skiing the day after Christmas. We've also gone with my parents and Avery horseback riding and ice skating while they've been here.

My new years resolution: more outside time this summer and less schedule. Last summer I wanted to go camping every weekend, but because we had something scheduled every weekend, we never went! This summer I want to spend all day camping, hiking, gardening, and just being outside.

dear future me

Dear Future Me, (in 10 years)
Right now Alex is 9, Nathan just turned 8 and will be baptized Jan. 7, Katherine is 3 and Abbie is 19 months (and yelling at me right now. ok, I got her down and hugged her and she's off playing and eating a cookie). We have Rocket back (we got him about a month ago) and we have Manzo (almost a year old) and a bearded dragon, 6 chickens, gerbils, fish and a hermit crab. My mom and dad and Avery are here to visit and dad looks great! I'm still not used to his slim figure! (Now Abbie is in my lap.) The boys are playing a pretend game that they're "on a boat riding around down super fast rivers and down waterfalls" (Alex's words)- it's wild. We're homeschooling and I love being with my kids. I'm coveting homes with land right now. We want to get 5.25 acres in Payson, but we got a no answer when we prayed about it, and we're not sure if we can afford it, or afford to move because there's a lot we need to do to fix up our house. Alex is getting really good at his piano. He just played in sacrament meeting for the first time last week. He played Silent Night. Nathan is coming along with his violin, and he played The Nativity in sacrament meeting, singing one verse and playing the violin and the other. He doesn't like the violin as much as Alex likes the piano, but he's doing well. They both have different strengths and it's wonderful to see them develop. Nathan is a great runner, and makes goals for himself with running- how far he's going to run- and does it! Last July he ran a 10K and ran the whole way! School, especially math, and writing and spelling come easily to Nathan. Alex is great at building. He can build some great things with legos, models, electronics set, anything. He has a real talent for building. Recently the boys were in the play A Christmas Carol with some other homeschooled kids and they really loved it, but especially Alex. I'll have to get him into more plays- I had NO idea he would like that! They also like to ice skate, ski, draw and paint (they're good at art too), do pottery, ride horses, garden and take care of animals. Katherine  is a little ballerina. She loves dancing, and has loved it since she was 2 years and 3 months old. She also really loves horses and animals. She loves to check for eggs in the chicken coop multiple times a day. She's a real animal lover. She also likes music, and likes to "play" the piano. She's also a very good helper, emptying the dishwasher when it's clean without being asked and always putting her dish in the sink. Her favorite color is pink. She is an extremely adorable little princess/angel/fairy. (As I typed that, she just farted really loud:)).  Abbie likes to do anything and everything Katherine does. She likes to dance right now too. I wonder if she'll really like dancing as she gets older. She's talking a lot and really well. she likes horses, and when we started doing horse lessons she was too scared to touch them, but every time she'd get more and more brave. This last time she rode on the horse by herself! Jaci was leading the horse though, of course. Katherine and Abbie just started to play together. They will play chase and giggle too.
Todd just got promoted to boss at Prosper. He likes it and does really well at it. He still loves to cook and is getting better every year. He took an oil painting class last month and liked doing that again. I had to make him do it because he didn't want to spend time away from us:). He's a very good husband and so patient with all my many shortcomings and "ideas and projects". He's very supportive of me. He stays busy with work, extra work, cooking and helping me.
I've been doing author's guild for the boys in their boys club again this year. It's been fun and they like writing a lot more. I stay busy with homeschool, doing fun things with the kids, and keeping everyone alive. I'm really into gardening and animals and planning for a farm:). We started doing horse riding lessons as a family I'm really very very happy. (except for the cleaning part.)

Nutcracker day

*went to the Nutcracker
*read Nutcracker books
*had a Sugar Plum fairy tea party: tarts bought at Kneaders, sandwiches cut out with cookie cutters, hot chocolate with whip cream

Mrs. Claus' Kitchen

*Read books about Mrs. Claus and Christmas cooking

*Made Christmas aprons

*Made goodies to take to the neighbors (candy cane shaped cookies, reindeer cupcakes)

*Deliver to neighbors

Polar Express night

* watched the (bad) Polar Express movie while eating caramel popcorn in individual christmas bags (bought from neighbor kids)

*Read the book

*supposed to play train, but didn't

Today was our ward party, complete with a visit from Santa. Nathan wouldn't see Santa because "it's not the real Santa, so he's not going to get me what I want anyway. Why tell him?" Abbie panicked and screamed like she was about to die. Katherine was scared but still sat there, too scared to say anything. Alex thanked Santa for all that he had given him, and afterward told me Santa had bad breath and it probably distracted all the kids so they couldn't think about what to tell him. Later today he told me he's going to make a present for Santa.

The Elves' Christmas Workshop

*Made Mrs. Claus' Maple Sugar Cookies (from The Christmas Chronicles). They were fun and easy to make with the kids. They rolled them in balls and dipped them in the sugar. Only dip the top in the sugar, instead of the whole ball (in red and green sugar of course!)
recipe here: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/maple-cookies/detail.aspx
Mrs. Claus makes these cookies for santa and the elves.

*Made wooden toys bought at Michael's for $1 (and less)

*Decorated stockings- bought stockings and glitter glue at the Dollar Store.

*Learned Joy to The World verses 1 and 2, sang Christmas songs and listened to Alex play Silent Night on the piano.

*Drew and painted our own Christmas cards.

*Read elf books.