The Swing Set

It was time.  We're in our "forever" home and the kids are still depressed about not having a castle.  So getting a swing set seemed like a pretty logical idea.

But before we could get down to business, there were two poplars in our backyard that we wanted to cut down.  Both had holes in them that we could tell were caused by bugs plus rot.  Come one bad hurricane and we knew our house would be at risk.  Luckily, we just so happened to inherit amazing neighbors on all sides of our home and one of them happens to be a pretty experienced tree cutter.  He told us he'd take care of it himself.

We knew the trees were in bad shape but we didn't know that they were this diseased.  You can imagine how relieved we are to have them cut down and waiting for a good bonfire with marshmallows.

 Then Ben and my dad got to work.  And I'm so glad I already knew that when they say "This will take 10 man hours" it really means that it'll take the better part of a decade -- even between two experienced men.  They worked ALL day and completed the playhouse section of the swing set.  

Then today while the kids were napping, Ben finished work early and headed out to finish it.  The kids were surprised/thrilled to find that they could play on the swings and immediately invited a neighbor over to play.

They're in love.

The kids have already waited on me in the lower floor.  Who knew you could make milkshakes and salads out of just plain air?

Our neighbor jokingly asked us today when we plan on installing a third floor.  As long as MY third floor is completed before they get one, I'll be a happy woman.

President Uchtdorf talking about Thaddeus Hill. No big deal.

It's not everyday when your mom brings you a copy of the church news and says, "Oh by the way, President Uchtdorf talked about Thaddeus Hill during the dedication of the Fort Lauderdale temple dedication."  Thad is named after Thaddeus Hill -- my ancestor who was the first person baptized in the state of Florida.  His story is incredible and it's because of him that I got a scholarship to any of the BYU's of my choice.  So I'm extra grateful to him for not only my membership in the church but also because I got to go to college cheaply and so will my kids.  :)

So when I had that dream a year ago that we were supposed to name Thad after Thaddeus Hill, I guess it wasn't that big of a shock.  Anyhoo, I wanted to record this on the blog since it's pretty awesome that a member of the first presidency talked about one of my ancestors.

Yay for my two Thaddeuses!

Beach Vacation.... I mean..... Homeschooling Conference Notes

Is there anything harder than taking off a couple of days from motherhood to go up to Virginia Beach with a friend to attend a homeschooling conference?  Goodness gracious.  There was all this sun in my face, and the water felt great, and Jen and I had a hotel right on the beach.  It's tough work but someone's got to do it.

*Sigh*

In all seriousness though, it was great.  And while I truly enjoyed being at the beach the real highlight was the conference itself.  The area that we live in is surprisingly starting to boom with more families choosing to homeschool.  It was great being in an environment where people don't look at you like you're insane for choosing to homeschool or like you're "that one family that so-and-so used to know who homeschooled and was crazy."  

On that note, ever since I wrote this post I have had several people interested in our journey, so I thought I'd write down some of my notes from the conference.  I was given an inch-thick booklet that is full of notes, so consider this a small taste of what I learned.  In other words, if you're thinking about possibly homeschooling, go to a conference.  You'll get so much more info there with people who are real.  So here they are in no particular order:

• The most important way to teach is with love.  If you're not doing it with love, start over and do it a new way.
• It doesn't matter if you have a child who's super ahead of behind.  Once they're adults, they only remember 5% of what they learned in school.  Homeschooling gives them the freedom to move at their own pace and doesn't make them feel like a failure around peers.
• Homeschoolers have a much lower chance of experiencing depression.
• Don't feel pressured by others saying that your child isn't going to be well-socialized.  They will be socialized.  And do you really want them to be socializing with all the kids at their school anyway?  Is that who you want your children to turn into?
• When you're an adult, you don't just hang out with people who are within 1 year of your age.  Homeschooling gives kids the chance to learn how to learn with people of all ages and make them feel comfortable together.
• If you spend more than 2 hours a day helping your child with schoolwork, you're ALREADY homeschooling!  Homeschooling only takes a few hours a day.  
• One myth is that homeschoolers don't socialize.  There are several ways that they can socialize -- co-ops, jobs, church, and neighborhood functions on top of the typical hanging out with friends.
• To make sure that everything gets done in the day, do the most important thing first.
• Just be cheerful.  If kids are struggling with their emotions, ask them if they're being a rock (strong and stand their ground) or a bulldozer.
• Have a "runaway day" when you're having a tough day or a great day.  Go to a museum or the park or the beach or wherever.
• Have kids set their own goals of what they want to achieve by the end of the year.  Then focus your curriculum to help them meet that goal.
• Think about what you want your children to be like as adults and then give them the education that will get them there.
• Each specific curriculum is most likely not going to work for each of your kids.  They're probably all need something slightly different.
• Choose something that works for both you and your kids.
• It will not be peaceful and perfect every minute of every day, but in the end your kids will love each other so much more.
• Don't feel bad if you have a failed day.  Guilt is for criminals -- not you!
• Have a routine with young kids --  not a schedule.

I still have a lot to learn, but I'm excited to start figuring this out.  I have a year before we get down to business but I know that I want to make my own homeschooling system/schedule and find the right curriculum for our family.  And once again, let me state that I 100% believe that homeschooling isn't right for everyone and that I'm not stepping on a soapbox by posting this.  I know that parents always know what is best for their children and this just so happens to be what Ben and I feel is best for ours.

A Final Visit With Ben's Parents

Ben and I knew that this visit with Ben's parents would be very bittersweet.  We love visits and we're so proud of the sacrifices they've made to support their decision to serve a mission, but two years is a long time to go without a visit.  So we basically stuck to just being together at home so that we could squeeze in as much quality family time as possible.

Hong Kong is one of the most expensive missions in the world.  Mum and Dad were told that they should expect to pay $1300/month on groceries for just the two of them.  Wowzas.  Ben and I already knew that we wanted to make them one last Ukrainian meal since they probably wouldn't have the time to make perohe in Hong Kong.  

Of all the things that Lily wanted to do with Grandmum and Pop Pop, she was adamant that they make a Leprechaun trap.  She and Skyler were thrilled when the Leprechaun visited leaving behind a few pennies, a note on a post-it, and green pee in the toilet.

Ben's family has an Easter tradition where instead of going on an egg hunt, you go on a paper hunt.  Each slip of paper says something different, but if you find one that says, "It's a bunny!" you earn a chocolate bunny.  Mum and Dad brought three chocolate bunnies and the kids went on a hunt.  I was shocked that Ella was the first one to win her bunny!

"What do you mean we have to take a picture before we can eat our chocolate?!?!  What kind of torture is this?!?!"

 They heard Thad cry a whopping two times the whole trip.  I think that defines Thad pretty well.

Dizzy Thad

Ben and I watched them drive off at 5:30 AM after Dad had given Ben one final father's blessing and we were all a little teary.  We already know that Mum and Dad will be amazing missionaries and that they are going to do a world of good for the missionaries and general authorities all over Asia.  I can't imagine a more perfect mission for them than to be Mental Health Advisors.  The kids won't see them for two years, but the plan is that Ben and I will fly over next year.  

We love you Mum and Dad!  Return with honor!

*snicker snicker*

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is one of my favorite days of the year, because I don't give myself a guilt trip over being spoiled.  Coming from someone who apologizes over everything and never wants to be a burden on someone else, this is the one time when I feel like I've earned whatever I receive.  I LOVE Mother's Day.  Plus, being a mom is what I've wanted to be my whole life and I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to raise four kids.  

I only had two requests for Mother's Day.  The first was that Ben hold Thad for the last two hours of church.  The second was the menu for my breakfast.  Ben made exactly what I wanted and then added a watermelon smoothie to go with it.  I will officially be living off of them at the pool all summer long. 

 Things that Lily made for me at school.  The purple one on the very right is from Lily's best friend asking if we can have more play dates, oh and by the way Happy Mother's Day.  Ha!

Our roses next to our porch are in full bloom right now and look gorgeous.  Crossing my fingers that the deer don't chomp all of them off the bushes this year!

I love the stage my kids are in right now and I just wanted to list a few things about them that make me grateful to be their mom.

• When we tell the kids to stop talking and go to bed and we can still hear all four of them in their rooms giggling and talking.  Or when we can hear Lily and Skyler reading stories to Ella and Thad in their cribs when it's lights out.  Rule-breaking has never been so adorable.
• When Lily accidentally gets hurt and Ella runs up to give her a hug.
• When they run laps downstairs and Ella tries desperately to keep up on her tiny legs.
• When Lily will stop anything she's doing to help anyone in the family.
• When Thad is just Thad -- perfect.
• How Ella and I crawl up the stairs together and she puts her face down sideways on one of the stairs and I do the same so we can smile at each other and give each other nose kisses.
• How Skyler wants to serve a mission "on a farm and in the forest" and when he's in college he's "going to live with Nanni and Papa."  
• How tenderhearted Skyler is toward animals.  He loves all animals dearly.  Even the vulture that disemboweled the squirrel in front of our porch was received with, "aaawwww's."  I can't say I'm that loving.  
• When I can hear Ben singing hymns to Thad downstairs as he falls asleep in Ben's arms.

Nothing will ever trump motherhood for me.  (Well, maybe being a grandma, but I have some time before that happens).  I am so thankful for these four priceless gifts I've been given.  

Baby Super Powers

Babies are amazing.

They have this super power that makes you melt and forget every cry, scream, and whine they make.  All they have to do is fall into the world of slumber and I'm a puddle on the floor.

Gah.

One day I'll be in control of myself.  One day.

Playing in the Rain

I know I'm weird when I say that heavy rain is my favorite weather.  One day this week we had heavy rain all day.  It was one of the best days ever.  So while Thad was taking his morning nap, Skyler, Ella, and I headed out for some splashing and tag in the rain.

I think the success of the day can be measured by the 3 different dresses Ella had to wear that day.  Ever since I had Yes Day with Skyler I've been trying to do things out of the norm that make the kids happy.  It's made a positive difference in how Skyler sometimes reacts to me saying no.  I'm crossing my fingers for more warm rainy days ahead.