My first week in Alaska!

I only have the internet when I’m at school, so I’m here on a Sunday uploading pictures finally! They’re out of order. I’m hoping I can update this regularly so check back for more updates! 
 

At the Pittsburgh airport on Jan 3, about to leave for Alaska with Manzo!

Boarding the plane!

Leaving Pittsburgh!

Taken from the hotel window in Anchorage at about 10am

Willow, driving to the sled dog experience 

Leaving Anchorage, driving to Willow. There were moose crossing signs everywhere 

I had to have fresh Alaskan crab leg

All the sled dogs tied up

A sled dog puppy! His mom ran in the Iditarod 

Me with my sled dog team :)

Manzo was exhausted after traveling to Alaska from Pittsburgh 

I also had to try fresh Alaskan salmon! The server said it had just come in that morning! It was AMAZING!!

Manzo and a huge mountain of snow in the hotel parking lot 

This was my tiny bush plane from Nome to St Michael

Landing in St Michael

Manzo loves to roll around in the snow! Here he is rolling around in the snow on the frozen ocean

Walking around outside my apartment in St Michael. There are a bunch of dogs that run around and there’s a litter of puppies that live under a shed that my roommate feeds so they don’t starve to death

Just past those houses is the frozen ocean. The sun never gets past about that high before setting again

Manzo in the cargo area behind me on the bush plane. He’s 12 years old and he was a trooper

After I got picked up at the St Michael runway (no airport, just runway), this was the drive going to the village

Beaver pelt: all the students spend time in the culture class every day where they learn the Yup’ik language, dance, sewing mittens and boots made out of animal pelts and guspock (sp?) made out of regular fabric, etc. The school supplies the material and the fur pelts are expensive!! It costs about $300 for a pair of adult size fur mittens!

sunset over the frozen ocean

Mitten pattern on the back of the beaver pelt waiting to be cut out with a razor

Litter of puppies

Stray pregnant dog on the frozen tundra

Boat frozen into the ocean shore

The drive from the runway to the village of St Michael (Taciq in Yup’ik language). Nothing but white frozen tundra with grasses peeking through

The bush plane from Nome to St Michael. People can order pizza or sushi, etc and have it delivered from Nome and they’ll deliver it on the next plane to the village 

My first aurora!!!

Caribou/reindeer tracks

Bathroom pass is a rabbit foot

The school is called Anthony Andrews and it’s preK through 12th and about 150 students. Each class is a grade. The smallest class is 2 juniors, the largest class is maybe 15. I’ll ask for sure. The academics is maybe 2 grade levels below the norm, so a lot of the kids with higher academic levels will go off to boarding school after 8th grade, but that’s up to them. I think the boarding school is free for them if they’re accepted. Mt Edgecumbe is the most popular boarding school they go to, but there are also Nenana or Galena. Our school is great and our administrators are amazing and have turned the school around a lot, from what I’m told.

Walking on the frozen ocean

In Nome, you switch from Alaska Air to a bush plane company- Bering Air. Their airport is one big room and a hangar for planes.

Eskimo art in the Bering Air waiting room. Planes may be scheduled at noon, but could leave 3 hours early or later, or rescheduled depending on weather. Flights are always flexible and weather conditions always change and determine whether or not you can travel. The other new school counselor was stuck in Nome for three days before she could fly to Savoonga, on St Lawrence island. The Bering Strait School District includes St Lawrence Island (closer to Russia than Alaska) and Little Diomede island.

My first day some kids drew me pictures! ❤️❤️❤️

Flying over the frozen Norton Sound

Frozen grasses on the tundra

Inside my school

Getting off the plane In Nome and walking to the one room airport

 

Manzo on the frozen ocean (Norton Sound)

Manzo is glad to be in his new home and done traveling!!!

A panoramic picture of the Bering Air one room waiting room

In my school

My first aurora

A guspock (sp?) the pattern is the same but can be any fabric pattern. It’s traditional and the kids learn to sew it by hand in the school’s cultural class

Yup’ik values mural in my school

Flying into Nome over the frozen Norton Sound

Yup’ik language in the cultural class

Art in the school of the ice chunks in the frozen ocean

Coming into Nome and a sunrise at about noon

Mural in my school

Frozen Norton Sound

Frozen Norton Sound from the plane

My office!

The bush plane I took to St Michael- it was so tiny that they had to take out a seat to get Manzo’s crate in, and take his crate apart to get it in. The plane was only a little wider than manzo’s crate

Another teacher who had some frozen salmon thawing in her sink. Over the summer the people here go fishing, hunting and berry picking and they’re mostly subsistence eating here

The frozen ocean

How to order pelts

Seal mittens

A picture a cute little boy drew for me- it’s him giving me a flower :)

This is what I saw when I got off the plane in St Michael- nothing but white! Nothing could be seen but white and it was gently snowing. There was a man with a van there and a woman with a tiny toddler on a 4 wheeler (they mostly use 4 wheelers and call them Hondas. Only the health clinic and school has a van). I really felt like I had landed on another planet! 

A traditional kayak/canoe hanging in my school

The pregnant dog that’s very sweet

Manzo in his snow boots going with me from the Nome airport to the Bering Air airport

Frozen Norton Sound

Manzo and I walking on the frozen ocean 

A panoramic picture of the road and frozen ocean in St Michael. I walk everywhere (to school and to the store) but sometimes people will give you a ride on their Honda (4 wheeler). All the kids walk to school and some get rides on a Honda. It could be windy or snowy and -20 or more and they still walk to school and back. Some people in the village don’t have electricity and or running water. Most do, but the village didn’t get running water until 2006.

The satellites are pointing down bc we’re so far north. 

Where I live and where the school is on the gps

Flying to Nome- some rivers etc

Yup’ik language in the cultural class

Leaving Anchorage! Some ice on the ocean but not nearly as much as the Norton Sound

Here the philosophy is you share what you have and you help each other out, even among the staff. A neighbor (special Ed teacher) brought me this yummy salad and some roast moose (it was also yummy!)!! I love this philosophy and want to bring that back with me. It’s a very big value here. I also think that the staff at the school are like family bc of the living situation. My roommate (whom I love!) is the high school science teacher.

The arctic wolf in his natural habitat ;)

Manzo loves exploring here and loves the cold weather and snow

Painted drums on display at my school

Nome airport 

Out on the frozen ocean. 2 boys (teacher’s sons  who are here from Japan) are sitting on a mound where the ice has buckled

Water lines are above ground and in insulated boxes

Manzo waiting for the bush plane

Roast moose (yummy! Tasted like roast beef)

Puppies 

Getting off the plane in St Michael. The pilot gets your luggage out of the back for you, and any supplies that were shipped to the village (a box of vaccines were there for the health clinic which are nurses and sometimes a PA but we don’t have one right now. If you need to see a dr you fly out or Nome can fly in medicines).

The first day I saw the sun in St Michael! The sun doesn’t get much higher than this)

Each morning the students say the pledge in English and in Yup’ik

The ice buckling in the ocean

There was a baby died (from SIDS I’m told) when I got here. Funerals are three days long and the first two days are just singing hymns in English and some Yup’ik but many don’t speak Yup’ik anymore 

On the frozen ocean

View from my office window

My first aurora!

Manzo in the back of the bush plane

The shore line coming into Nome

The school was named after a man in the village who was named Anthony Andrews

The front doors of the school and pretty stained glass windows

 water lines going into a house

Seal mitten

This summer's program for all the kids (and me):
6 hours every week of each:
Cleaning:
Clean out fridge, clean and organize basement, garage, wipe walls, etc.
Learning new skills:
Little Keepers, life skills list, Duty to God/Personal Progress, Faith in God, boy scouts
Outside recreation:
Build treehouse, hiking, kayaking, fishing, gardening, airsoft wars, swimming
Learning:
Math, reading, drawing, art, writing stories, scriptures, memorize scriptures, New Era, Friend, conference talks, learn something you’re interested in, piano
Service:
Helping someone clean, yard work, visiting, writing letters, volunteer work, etc.
(And video game time is earned minute for minute for reading a book off my list)

Daily life skills list

Todd and I came up with a list of daily life skills we are going to teach our kids (or out-source the things we don't know ourselves) before they leave our house. We'll put the list on the fridge or wall and check it off for each kid. 

Daily life skills:
-how to set goals

-Basic building skills (like how to build a dog house, chicken coop, etc)

-how to fix a hole in the wall

-how to install a toilet

-how to plan financially- how to create and live on a budget, plan for retirement, what investements are

-how to live frugally

-how to start and run your own business (basics)

-how to do your own taxes

-how to vote and research the candidates

-how to read music

-how to grow a garden for food

-how to can food

-how to maintain a home landscape (prune roses, trim hedges, mow and edge, fertilize grass, how to make a pretty landscape, etc)

-basic sewing skills

-basic computer skills:

          1. how to clean the exterior of computer stuff

          2. how to create a webpage

          3. how to create an excel and word document and use powerpoint

          4. how to create a blog/do facebook/pinterest/twitter

          5. how to do a basic photo editing program

          6.  computer terminology

          7. computer parts and what they do

          8. how to buy a computer

          9. how to set up and start a computer after you buy it

         10. how to unplug and move a computer and set it up again

         11. how to scan a document and send it

         12. how to reset a computer because of a virus

         13. how to avoid a virus

         14. how to install and uninstall a program

         15. how to install Windows

         16. how to resize a picture

         17. how to send a large file

         18. how to back up your files

         19. how to use a Mac and a PC

         20. how to set up a wireless network

         21. how to keep your computer updated- which updates to do

         22. cookies and how the internet works

         23. what to do when your computer freezes

         24. how to set up an email program and how email works

         25. how to add a device (printer, etc)

         26. internet safety

         27. how to manage and store photos, music and documents

         28. phone knowledge- how to set it up and use it

-how to buy a house and understand a mortgage

-how to buy a car

-know what a credit score is, how to find out what it is, how to improve your score, identity theft

-how to plan a menu, shop and cook it (in a budget, nutritiously and with what you already have)

-basic cooking skills and how to use kitchen tools and appliances

-how to use tools for building and fixing things

-how to take care of clothes, iron and do laundry

-how to organize your house, papers, etc

-how to recycle- what can be recycled and where to take it

-circuit breaker

-basic electrical work (i.e. how to put in a light fixture)

-how to look for a job, write a good resume, do an interview, negotiate salary, ask for a raise

-Car fixing and maintenance:

      1. how to change the oil and when

      2. how to change a flat tire

      3. how to change wiper blades

      4. how to change light bulbs

      5. how to change fuses (and when necessary)

      6. how to change the brakes

      7. how to change the air filter

      8. how to put air in the tires and when

      9. how to register a car

     10. shopping around and getting car insurance

     11. how to check oil and fluid levels and how to add more fluid

     12. tires: checking tread, alignment, rotating and balancing

     13. parts of a car 

     14. battery: charging and changing and jump starting

     15. what to do if you get in an accident

     16. more details on how to fix a car (ask Papa)

-how to clean a house and set up a cleaning schedule

-how to buy a hotel room, rental car and airline tickets cheaply

-how to plan a vacation

-camping:

   1. how to set up a tent

    2. how to build a fire

     3. how to cook on a fire

    4. how to catch a fish

-how to put stuff together like IKEA furniture

-study skills

-CPR and first aid

-how to change a diaper and take care of babies and young kids

-when to go to the dr and things you can do at home; basic family medical care

-how to plan group events and practice it

-friendship and social skills

-how to tie a man's tie

-navigate with a regular paper map

-how to stop a toilet from overflowing

-how to drive an automatic and a stick shift

-how to swim

-how to ride a bike and maintain and fix a bike

-how to calculate a tip

-how to tie basic knots and when to use it

-how to operate a fire extinguisher and how to put out a grease fire

-manners (if they were eating dinner with a future client/boss/in-laws)

-how to frame a picture and hang it

-how to install things on the wall: shelf, curtain rods, etc

-how to cut boys' and girls' hair

-how to braid hair

-how to set up a BBQ grill, cook on it, and how to cook meat to rare-well, how to smoke meat

-self defense

-how to shoot and care for a gun

-how to figure out N, E, S, W without a compass

-how to navigate public transportation

-health insurance- terminology, how to use it, how to buy it, etc

-how to be healthy and how to lose weight so if you need it later in life (or now)

-how to chose and apply make up tastefully

-Basic Spanish

-vacuum- clean filters and replace belt

-home appliances- how they work, how to install, fix and maintain them

-how to paint a room

-know where the states of USA are, countries of the world, their languages, religion and culture; learn the basic tennants of most religions

-know how to play chess and checkers

-how to fix a leaky faucet
-how to repair damage shingles on a roof

-how to wrap a gift

-how to debate, argue and disagree respectfully

-how to set up and manage a bank account, write checks, set up automatic withdrawls, understanding fees, etc

-basic rules and how to play most sports

-basics of good relationships and a good marriage

-basics of good parenting

-time management

-sex education

-how to find an apartment rental for college

-how to take care of a pet and basic dog training

-basic accounting

-how to work hard

-how to do what you say you'll do

-how to make a decision

-logical fallacies

-how to recognize negative thinking patterns and how to change it to healthy thinking patterns
-how to keep up with current events
-how to avoid a scam (email, internet, sales pitch, etc)
-how to teach yourself something new

Scriptural knowledge:
1. Know all the scripture stories (be able to retell them)
2. Have 100 scriptures memorized (scripture masteries)
3. Have 20 hymns memorized (we made a list)
4. Know how to pray and listen to the Spririt and a daily habit
5. Know how to study the scriptures and a daily habit

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.