Yeah for Saturday!

It couldn't have been better timing to study Jacob 5 this week.  We have done A LOT of pruning, digging, and dunging!

A LOT of dunging.

And A LOT of pruning.

Saturday we spent raking and cleaning out all the leaves and debris so they wouldn't "cumber" the ground.  And we finally finished!

It was a gorgeous day to work in the garden.   Even came away with a few spring sunburns.  And to think last Saturday it snowed!

Homeschool Day #4

Definitely needed to shake it up a bit so we went on a hike up Sagemoor Hill first thing on Day 4.  It was so good for everyone!

Fascinated with the roaring water.

I was so grateful for Bryant.  Rex started to get a blister from the stabalizing shoe he is wearing for his broken toe.  (Guess they aren't meant for hiking.)  I put him on my back for a little ways up the hill but was tuckering out fast.  Bryant came back down and put Rex on his back.  I told him we could take turns but he hiked the whole way up with Rex on his back.  I couldn't believe it.

Without any rests!

It was a long ways up a steep hill.

It was a very rewarding view on a gorgeous morning. 

So proud of all my troopers.  Bryant packed Rex all the way down!

The boys actually found agates on the ditch road on the way home.  Taking a pause here to admire their treasures.

If we have to be quarantined, it's a great place to be.

Thanks to Sariah, our homeschool had some spice this week.  This sign-in made me laugh a bit.

Friday afternoon we broke 60 degrees so of course the water came out.

 Bryant, Sariah, and I enjoyed this meme after our first week of homeschool.

Homeschool Day #3

This is what we woke up to Thursday morning, a 5.7 earthquake in Utah.  Amidst all the coronavirus craziness...

After several hours of writing a 5 paragaph essay (of which we only wrote 4 paragraphs) about how certain species of animals work together (crows, elephants, and orcas), we were all ready to go out to the garden.  We finished up all but one row of pruning (excluding the blackberries).

Hyrum did finish up the lid to his chest.

Homeschool Day #2

Homeschool moms have always told me it's either homeschool or the house.  I get it.  This morning we pulled out the map of the United States and a map of the original 13 colonies and compared then and now.  We marked some significant coastal cities and labeled the colonies and read a bit about them.

Bryant had his own thing going.

Hyrum moved through his work pretty quickly and got to paint the wood box that he made in Scouts awhile back.  He was excited about that.

We had our afternoon devotional, and learned about Mathew from Hank Smith's Audio Book, Living the Parables.  Then we headed out side for some hands on in the raspberries.

Rex digging up the canes growing between the rows.

Bryant was late to the party, but at least he showed up.

Hyrum raking the canes so they do not "cumber the ground."  (We've been studying Jacob 5 this week.)

Afterwards I went and played baseball with the little boys.  I play permanent pitcher and they take turns hitting and running on their 3rd hit.  The last two day when we have been in the backyard, the other neighbors' families have been in their backyards.  Freeman's shot off some rockets today.  The boys were excited about that.

And, I think we wore 'em out good.  Two out during bedtime stories of King Solomon's Mines.

We woke this morning to hear that there was a 5.7 earthquake in Utah and that the trumpet fell from the Angel Moroni on the Salt Lake City Temple.  Later we heard there was an earthquake in CA.  Also heard that "most" missionaries serving in Africa will be coming home.  A world in commotion, no doubt, and yet it's peaceful and happy here.  A wonderful and valued blessing.

Home School Day #1

While the stores look like this.

We are doing this: 

Drawing pictures for Elder Hales while Mom reads to us the story of St. Patrick from "10 Great Souls I Want to Meet in Heaven" by S. Michael Wilcox.  We learned about how centuries work (that 432 AD is in the 5th Century), some geography (Great Britain, Ireland, France) and the story of an amazing man.

Hyrum working on his Thomas Jefferson report.

Sariah will be our technology teacher and today she set up accounts for Rex and Lyle so they can start improving their typing skills in a fun way.  Thank goodness for Sariah!

Bryant working on his book report, "The Recovering Idiot," for Ben Casper.

Sariah hosting a fun math "quiz."

We just found out that the library is closed for the duration of this and that the church is cancelling Talmage's VISA application.  We are not working on getting our books online.  Hope to start the one Talmage recommended, "King Solomon's Mines."

Home Church

Our first ever full "home church."  We've done home primary before when kids are sick but we've never had a sacrament meeting in our home before.  James and Bryant blessed the sacrament.  We listened to President Hinckley read President Benson's "Beware of Pride" talk since we have been studying Jacob this week.  It was a neat thing for me to see President Benson, President Hinckley, President Hunter, President Monson, and President Packer on the same screen.  I love those men.  Afterwards James did Primary singing time and we learned "Beautiful Savior" and then he taught us about the Allegory of the Olive Tree.  We are very spoiled to have a seminary teacher for a dad.  The kids were understanding it and intrigued.  It was pretty great.

Snow on March 14th

I would love to know the statistics of having snow on just two days in 2020.  February 4th, the anniversary of Rebecca's passing, and March 14th, her birthday.  What are the chances?

Rex and Lyle were out before breakfast.  Pulled their snow clothes and boots out of storage but around here we jump on any snow opportunity we get.

Lyle

Rex

By afternoon everyone was content with a book.  Gave me a little hope for our 6 week COVID-19 lockdown.  Actually, I'm really excited for some homeschool fun.

Lyle

Hyrum

Bryant

Rex

Went for a frigid walk up the Sagemoor hill.  It's a beautiful view but the weather is NOT good for orchardists. 

Frost control makes a virtual Narnia.