Morgan goes to Kindergarten

 My little Morgan.  She sure looked so cute and big to me this day.  I can't believe she is old enough for school.

 Here she is with her best bud Autumn waiting to go to class.

The best parts of school to her was her teacher did the chicken dance, recess, and Noah G.  She loved making new friends, liked playing with Pressley, liked showing her toys to her friends and having lunch at school.  Her favorite subjects in school were art, music, and drawing worksheets. The only thing she didn't like about school was moving her clip, which she said she only had to do twice!

Home school 2014 Recap

 You can't home school if you don't have some strong systems put into place, is my opinion!  So last year I tried to really get some chore systems going, get cooking on auto pilot , and organize some spaces for schooling.

 Can't wait to post what I did to downstairs this year for their school room.  Just putting up this bookcase last year was heavenly.  With all the books and paperwork that was coming in I knew I needed to get some really great things put into place so I wouldn't get overwhelmed with the mess!

 It made me so happy to see them sit down and really apply themselves to their work.

As the newness of homeschooling wore off  it wasn't so picturesque should I say, as the year moved on.  But all in all I liked it so much we are doing it again this year.

Last year was good because I think we got used to being around each other so much that our relationships got better.  The boys got really good at doing household chores, and they can now sit and listen when we have family discussions.  There testimonies have grown and I really love having them home.

This year I need to step up and get better at being more structured on time, and consistent in our routines.

Call/ Collet Reunion 2014

 I LOVE my family! I also love getting together and being able to catch up with them all.  I don't think doing it once a year is enough though.  The Call reunion last year was held at Grandpa Ford's pond.  There is a swing, an outhouse, shade and lots of cousins to run around and play with.

 My Aunt Kathleen is someone that I wish I could see a lot more.  She was a pretty, fun Aunt to be around when I was growing up.  She never talked down to me, and always treated me like I was special.  I hope that I can be that kind of Aunt for my nieces and nephews.

 Shana Jean....oh ....how I love this girl! She knows how to make me laugh.  I will always remember drinking our Coke and crying together because I had to go back home from being with her family for the weekend.

 This beauty is such a good woman.  Love you mom!

 Now here are my pictures from the Collet reunion. (I need to start taking better shots) I don't know why I love this picture of Jake but I do!  So blessed to have him as my brother!  He is another one that I love to laugh and be goofy with.

 Tatum....what more can I say about this boy.  He is my heart, I love him.  So glad Mike and I started out strong and disciplined with the kids in the beginning else it would have been chaos now.  Once upon a time bedtime was at 7, now its much later.   Kids used to sleep in their beds, now Tatum has slept with us from day one.  The funny thing is I don't mind that we have changed and got softer.

Michael is such a good dad!  He takes good care of the kids and is good about doing one on one things with each of them.  Good, good man right there.

 Dani is so fun with the kids.

Cortney had been coming to family functions again and it has been so good to be around her!  Love family time...just wished we got a little more of it.

Fall Things

I hate getting behind in blogging because then it becomes such a chore to catch up!  I will do that later though, now I want to touch on the big things that have been taking up our time....like homeschooling, the word of wisdom, and an update on the kids.  

Homeschooling.....yes, it has overtaken my life so far!  It is great, and hard, fulfilling, and stressful, and filled with lots of doubts along the way.  I am VERY glad that I thought long and hard about it and got an answer to the question of whether to home-school or not, because I didn't anticipate all the doubts that would come (I wonder if its because I am doing something so against the norm).  So having that confirmation that this is what I am suppose to be doing right now helps me when I feel washed away in self doubt.  All is well, we are learning and lot of things that we wouldn't be if they were in school right now!  I will need to post all the fun pictures we have been taking.  

Michael and I just finished up a 3 day cleanse!  I am so proud of us!!  For over a month now I have been studying the Word of Wisdom.  (It is counsel from Heavenly Father on what we should and should not put into our bodies.)  I have been completely fascinated by what it means for me and how I should feed my family. Its funny when I really start trying to understand a principle or a doctrine of the gospel how certain people, books, articles, etc. come my way to give me greater understanding of whatever topic I am thinking on.  (God is so good that way!)  We have been eating super healthy, things that I would never try before but now I find them absolutely delicious... I pray this kick will last.  I plan to do that cleanse every six months now....feels so good to clean out and reset your system.  

The kids....wow I have got AMAZING kids.  Cole, is writing stories.  He loves to write scary stories right now he is four pages into one.  He is such a thoughtful kid...not the quiet, I am going to be still type, but the kind that is constantly moving and going and trying new things type.  I do believe he is a lot like me...poor boy.  Polar bears, space, mine craft and legos interest him at the moment.  

Carson, loves to be outside jumping, scootering, jumping on the pogo stick, or playing with his brothers or sister.  He is an active kid as well.  He is the quiet thinker though...it is so cute to watch him think about a concept and come up with the most poignant questions to help him understand it further.  He is my kid that likes to go up and bear his testimony every fast Sunday.  He has a good testimony and he likes to share it! 

Morgan is off to school now in the afternoons for Kindergarten.  She enjoys it except on the days that she needs to go in the mornings.  She is such an easy going little girl.  Takes correction so well and is always wanting hugs and kisses.  I love her super girly side.  She is very much into the Frozen characters and loves to put lip gloss and perfume on. 

Tatum is such our little baby even at 2 and a half now.  He sleeps in our bed with us, and I swore I would never do that with a child, and I LOVE it.  He is the best little cuddler.  He is very behind with his speech but we have in a program that is helping us with that.   He is getting a few more words down.  He is also showing that he wants to start trying to model our speech.  He is such a smart, expressive, little, thing and we all know what he wants by his cute little body language that no wonder he hasn't pushed himself to start speaking more.   

My hubby is the man.,,that's all there is to say with that.  We have our ups and downs but we are growing and learning how to do this together.  He is my perfectly matched partner in this world, I needed him!  I love him. 

Puerto Rico

 Where to begin?!  Why not with the food.  It was very different especially for this picky eater. Once I tried a few things I was able to get into the different tastes. I especially enjoyed how they make the chicken over there...and of course the fish is AMAZING!

 The ocean is amazing to me.  It is so breathtaking.  There are lots of ocean pictures to come.  We ended every night on a different beach.

 I love this guy!

 This little corner place was across from where we stayed so we ate there a few times.  It was so fun to experience something completely out of my comfort zone. Keep in mind the farthest from home before this trip was Arizona for me.  

 Shame on me for trying to remember all the names 5 months after the fact!  This was a fort that was really fun to explore and walk around.  (If it wasn't so hard for me to make time and blog I would look up the proper name...being lazy on this entry.....sorry.)

 This was our first day of going exploring.  I attempted to do my hair and make up this day, no good.  After melting as we walked, I learned not to take time getting ready.

 Thank goodness for Walmart... it can be found anywhere I guess.

 It was so dense and green there. Really special to see.

 This cave was so huge.  We took a tour through it and it was neat to see where light touched, there was growth, where there was no light, no growth.  

 Michael loved this shot.

 This trip was one of a kind for us.  We had not been alone together like this since before kids!  It was really needed.

 On this island we went to we would see horses just grazing, and wandering where ever they wanted.  They were like stray dogs.  Loved it!

 This was probably one of my most favorite days.  We rented scooters and just scooted around on them for awhile.  I want to go back..... bad!

This is the place we stayed for a night on the island of Vequies. I want to go back and stay for a whole week just there.