Kids and Kool Fieldtrips

A few months ago we decided to quit Connections Academy and go back to homeschooling. It has been great. Recently we have started fieldtrips. These have included visiting the Children's Museum and the Natural History Museum. I've included some pictures below.

Melissa dressing up at the Children's Museum.

Jeshua blowing bubbles and playing the steel drums.

Matty having fun.

Roberto the pilot.

Future scientists

Thomas and the new dinosaur.

Eating Bernstein Bears style

Nena's first Oreo-no second :)

Thank you for raising me up

 

This week Rebeca’s home room teacher asked us to write in with the lyrics to our favorite song and a paragraph about why. After a lot of thinking I decided mine was You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban. Why you may ask? Because of my love for all of you. I am who I am because of everyone of you and the positive influence you have had in my life. Thank you for being my shoulders to stand on and for your listening ears. Thank you for raising me up. I am who I am because of you.

I love you.

Here are the lyrics

You Rise Me Up

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.
There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

Group Hug

Life goes on

I was catching up on my blog reading yesterday when I realized I was sadly neglecting my own. In part it is because I love to add pictures, as picture viewing is more what I do when I catch up on blogs. The reading is secondary.

My time these days is filled with school-helping my kids-cleaning house, cooking....I'm sure you all know the routine. Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know we are still around. Since my last blog post we had a baby-Beautiful Victoria Eliza. She is almost five months old and the best baby ever. She is easy to please and loves to lay on the floor and play. Everything makes her laugh. She is very loved. Along with her birth we have celebrated 6 birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. We now have 2 teenagers living under our roof-I am enjoying it-and life is good. I'm still dreaming about starting my own internet business and writing a book, but for now raising a family is consuming my time.

Thank you for all the beautiful Christmas cards. I love seeing how your families have changed and how you have spent your year. I leave you with no pictures this time- Sorry.

Until we meet again, God be with you.

Summer Fun

Summer is flying. The kids have been spending as much time as possible at the pool, and I go once in a while with the youger ones. They all love it and I am usually the first one ready to come home. The pregnancy is going good. Luckily I have a great family that really pitches in and helps with the cooking and cleaning when Mom has to sit and relax. I had another ultrasound on Thursday and she is definately a girl. That explains why I am so tired. Melissa is very excited to have a little sister. About a year ago she asked me when I was going to get her a girl baby. It took a while, but she is getting her baby girl.

It was great to see everyone that came down for Dad's birthday and family reunion. Hopefully we can all get together more often.

There is nothing like family, and it is great keeping up with so many of you on facebook.

Enjoy the rest of your summer.

Meet Papi and Chloe

A few weeks ago we spent the day on Mt. Charleston. The weather was great, and we even found a snow patch to play in.

ChloePapi

These are our new puppies. They are Shi Chis- Chihuahua and Shi Tsu mix.

Our zoo is growing and these are our latest additions. I know our kids are so spoiled with pets, but it is a great opportunity for them to learn responsibility. They have had to stay up late, get up early, clean up messes and are working to house train them. They are doing a great job. They really wish they had a farm so they could add chickens and horses to the list. Maybe some day.:)

Life here really has been good. We just keep on keepin' on, learning as we go. The hot weather arrived earlier than I was hoping for, but at least I have air conditioning and can stay inside most of the time.

Not much more to share.

I remeber back a few years ago when all my children were little and people would say to me, "if you think it is hard now just wait until they are teenagers." I am finding just the opposite to be true. The older my children become the better they become. I really love the poeple they are becoming.

Just over a week ago I attended the YW General Meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with my two oldest girls. It was wonderful; full of love, kind words, and encouragement for the beautiful young women. Afterwards we discussed what touched their hearts and mine. It was a joy to hear them share their thoughts.

I feel very blessed to have my children in my life, and I look forward to the coming years along with the joys and the challenges that mold us into the great people we are born to be.