Jocelynne bites into one of my Trim Healthy Mama cupcakes. The secret ingredient was supposed to be spinach, but I substituted kale. Big mistake.
I told Logan to hang up all of the coats that were on the ground. He is just incapable of complete acquiescence. (He's wearing 4 coats and a hanger.)
Dane sits quietly during ninja class. He has earned 2 stripes on his white belt!
Jocelynne participated in a community workshop where she was able to build an electric guitar. She sanded it, stained it, and then performed with it during a concert at the Starkville Community Theater.
Her singing and guitar solo were a hit! The director received compliments about "the girl in the red dress."
My assistant coach (he did a lot of the coaching) talking with our team after a game. Logan and Tristan were superstars this year and led the team to a second place finish. I'm hoping next season another parent will volunteer to coach. The boys complained that I emphasized the "play nice and have fun" part too much when they wanted more "go out there and beat your opponents into the ground!"
Tristan takes a free kick.
Looks like a good one!
Logan battles for the ball.
Ready for the ward Trunk or Treat. I stayed home and wrote my seminary lesson.
Dane learning how to make whole wheat blender pancakes as part of his homeschool curriculum. He loves to be in the kitchen!
He's the best at making the boys' bed, too!
Jocelynne and Chloe's seminary class. They meet at Sister Leigh's home every morning.
Waiting for the bus, first day of school (5th grade and 1st grade).
At the Noxubee Refuge on a pretty Sunday afternoon.
Dane, enjoying his hotel stay our first day in Starkville.
The girls giggling in a friend's bed during the homeless portion of our move.
Landon and I went to the Indianapolis Temple right before we moved.
Chloe has perfected the 1-eyebrow raise. Here she's celebrating the 4th of July with our neighbors.
Michael with the fam on July 4th.
Joss and Hannah get photo bombed.
Easter baskets from our neighbors in Indiana.
I'm resurrecting the blog after nearly a year of neglect. When trying to think of what kept me so busy that I couldn't find time to write, I think it comes down to homework and moving the first half of the year, then seminary and soccer the last half.
The other day a kid asked me why our tires lose pressure in the winter. I explained that because the molecules of air inside the tire move slower as they cool, they exert less pressure on the tire walls. I realized that the only reason I knew that was from doing so much of Jocelynne's homework with her last year. Joss and I had too many late-night study sessions with our old friends physics, chemistry, and geometry. And then we moved to Mississippi. Here the only class she needs help with is math. I can count the number of times she's even had to do any homework. Same with the other kids. The lower academic standard has been wonderful for some of the kids, but others are bored and want to be challenged more.
Logan complained that he was spending a lot of time just sitting idly at his desk at school, having finished all his work and not being allowed to work ahead. Meanwhile, Dane was getting weepy on the bus and at school, complaining he was spending too much time away from home. So at the end of August I took them both out of school and began teaching them at home. Props to you homeschooling moms out there -- it's harder than I thought.
