Looking for Better Grades
We have been struggling getting good work out of some of our kids at school. About mid-year the effort wanes, handwriting gets sloppy and work is rushed. Here's my latest idea and goal chart. The...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Snowy Day
We were beyond excited to wake up to 4 inches of snow Wednesday morning. Forecasters had been saying we could get hit but out here you don't believe it till you see it. Just wait and see. It's like...
View ArticleShe's a walker!
My kids all seem to take their own sweet time to reach their milestones. Crawling, walking, talking. It seems like it's not until I do something or intervene that changes come. Two weeks ago...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Where does the time go?
Where did the time go? "If I sit here long enough maybe I can figure it out." Elise says to herself while the kids continually mess with her.Maybe it was spent listening to Ashton and Taison pour...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Christmas Memories
December seemed to fly by this year. We got a jump start by decorating the weekend of Thanksgiving and it seemed we got more time out of beautiful decorations. Our Dollar Tree Christmas...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Piano Lesson Rewards
When I began teaching piano, I had lots of help and ideas from friends who also taught. Together we collaborated on what we could do to help overcome the biggest challenge to learning an instrument:...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Teaching piano with my children in the house
I get the question every once in a while of how I can possibly teach piano with 5 children of my own at home. It's not the most quiet atmosphere or the most orderly, but it does work out fine. I only...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Steve and Kathy's trip to DC
This year we have randomly had 3 of our siblings out in 6 months. Two of Jon's and one of mine. We feel SO lucky to be able to host them and spend time with these wonderful examples in our lives....
View ArticleBeing Mom of My Five
A few days ago I was remembering how tricky things seemed after each child in our family was born. Each new person added to our family stirred things up, changing our family forever. The love...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Another Great Memorial Day Campout
We enjoy a special camp ground by a lake called Lake Sherando during Memorial Day Weekend. The campsites are large, flat for good non-rolling sleeping bag sleep and quiet and close enough to help the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Uplifting Words on Loving Children
As part of a schedule of reading uplifting things in the morning, I have been slowing alternating between reading from the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon and Doctrine and...
View ArticleGetting My Son Interested in Chapter Books
Starting in the younger grades, my son struggled with reading. Finding books and characters he liked that were not just comic books was a struggle. He didn't like picking up a book and meeting new...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Trying Out Swim Team
A few good friends had participated in swim team in previous years and we thought we'd give it a chance this summer. I thought swim team was reserved for really good swimmers but found out kids...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Where did the Past Six Months Go?
What happens when you lose your camera under the toddler's car seat? You search for it for a few months, use your phone's camera and find it when you finally vacuum out the car. So you end up with...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Halloween 2013
Halloween is here again!My friend Lori found this Minnie costume at the last minute for me! Elise was beside herself in love! She just got a Minnie Mouse stuffed animal for her birthday and has been...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Virginia Beach 2013
Jon's parents had some time-share time we needed to use while they were serving an LDS mission and we were able to schedule a place right on Virginia Beach. With a kitchenette, we were able to eat...
View ArticleJust Another Week
What exciting and scary adventures we've had this week! Thursday afternoon I was interrupted my self-allotted one hour quiet time, put my feet up and rest from kids and cleaning to a phone call...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Talent Show Time
Our Elementary school puts on a fabulous Talent Show each year at a local high school auditorium/stage. This year with Ashton moving on to middle school it was just Taison and Corynn from our family!...
View ArticleDealing with Miscarriages
The past couple of years we have felt like having one more person in our family was right. Last spring, I found out I was pregnant at the same time my sister announced her first pregnancy. It...
View ArticleStart the Play and Walk Away
Today after yet another fight between my youngest two, I remembered something that had helped a while ago. Fights between the kids seem to happen after 15-20 minutes of being left to their...
View Article
