Wilderness Survival

Loving Boy Scouts

It is keeping us on our toes!  Takes us places we have never been before and are glad that we only have to be there through one more boy.  Kudos to all that have a family full of boys.

This time it took us camping.  Matthew is earning his Wilderness Survival merit badge and one of the requirements was to sleep outdoors in a primitive shelter constructed from nature and his survival kit.  He is so clever but craves instant gratification (get's that from me) so he never really takes his time to create to his full potential.  Whatever, is a term used by me a lot in scouting.  You may use the term as a scout term also if you would like.  It actually comes in very handy when working with boys, WHATEVER!  "I am done, how does my shelter look?"  It looked, well, thrown together.  I tried to be honest in a nice way and got a bunch of; well, but, you don't understand, this is how it is suppose to look...... OK, than it is good, whatever you want.

Of course I am not going to pretend that my feet were not near frost bite that night (my Eagle scout husband says that's not possible, WHATEVER!).  I hate complaining which makes me wonder why God made me so good at it.  On the up side the day after the cold night was absolutely beautiful.

We had a wonderful time and pictures speak louder than words.

When we go camping there are so many wonderful things to come home to; a roof, cleanliness, water, shower, my bed, and so many other things.  NOTICE that I did not say toilet, this time I came home and honestly I did not miss my toilet.  He was a little upset by my welcomings to all of the others that I missed; the toilet cringed when I hugged my bed and pouted when I filled my shower with words of affirmation.  I just didn't miss my toilet this time.  WHY?  Because I had LUGALOO, the best piece of camping gear we have ever purchased.

Oh how wonderful to have somewhere to sit when sitting is needed.  Not having to deal with the goings on of kids and the wilderness potty.  I really thought a wedding ceremony was going to take place right there in the wilderness me and my lugaloo.  (You can be married more than once as long as your other marriages are to unaware things of the unaware sort.  Like puppies, bunnies, kitchenaides, netbooks, and of course lugaloos.) 

Camping was a blast and as always, "We really should do that more often."

Outsmarted 4to1- Is it really that easy?

I have been a reading maniac these past months. I have been studying on my own and with a group to learn all there is to learn about leadership education. Honestly, it just seems to easy. They read and they learn; no tests, no worksheets, no drilled learning. We read, write, discuss and do a project. It just seems to easy, could it really be that easy?

Since we have been implementing this program in our home everything has changed. Especially our attitudes; I am no longer forcing, begging, pleading, bribing or grounding. I am inspiring, laughing, encouraging and learning with them. They know what they are studying and they have their books. They read, they hear, they watch and they learn.

So, does it really work? Do kids really learn without worksheets, tests and drills? Could it really be that easy?

Kendal putting on her "cowgirl boots"

Mom: I think that boot is the right one.

Kendal: No, it is my left boot and it goes on my left foot.

Mom: How do you know that is your left foot?

Kendal: Because in the car when you say turning left that is the way you turn.

Really, I started saying I am turning right or I am turning left at random times when I am driving and VIOLA, Kendal learned from hearing and watching.

It makes so much sense I know we all have those times that are kids say and do something brilliant (or un-brilliant) and we wonder, where on Earth did they learn that? It's just that easy!

Mom: Wow, that is awesome that you know that!

Kendal: (Wearing her "cowgirl boots", her hand on her hip, a little tilt of the head and.... )

"A girls got to know what a girls got to know"

She does a click with her tongue and a snap with her finger.

At times like this I can't help to wonder;

What will she become?

Funny of the Day

It would be so awesome if I was writing a post all about how my kids are bilingual now. They all speak English as a first language and Spanish as their second, that would be way cool. Instead, I post this funny bilingual of the day.

Today while in my room hanging up clothes I hear Kendal, "Mom, where are you?" Sometimes I don't answer, I just wait, It is fun! Today I answered and she came into my closet in an outrage,

"Maggie wont let my barbies speak Spanish."

Now I have to admit I have heard her pretending to speak Spanish in the backyard with the dog on numerous occasions. Also to her Prince, I think he is Hispanic. Back to the action....

"I can't make Maggie allow you to speak Spanish while you play barbies."

"Please, I will love you forever" she pleaded.

So I went, "Maggie, Kendal's barbies are bilingual"

Maggie replied with, "What does that mean?"

"Kendal's barbies speak English and Spanish."

"Mom, I told her if she really spoke Spanish I would let her, but she doesn't" explained Maggie.

Kendal pipes in, "I told her I would tell her what my barbies were saying."

Maggie, "That is just plain annoying!"

I loved barbies growing up and seriously if anyone ever tried to speak a pretend language I would have kicked them out of my barbie space before they knew what happened. So, I told Kendal that I agree with Maggie it would be hard to play barbies with someone that pretends to speaks Spanish.

Kendal taking a big breath, "Fine I will try not to speak Spanish."

What a relief!!

Adios Amigos!

Spring

Spring is in the air and in my step.  These past few weeks have got me up and moving and excited for a change in weather.  I remember last spring and all of the field trips, outdoor excursions and family fun.  I love spring time, Easter is on it's way, general conference is just around the corner, spring cleaning is calling out to us and the outdoors are inviting us to play.  So, spring up and enjoy the season of spring!

S cience Fair
MY LB has had more spring in his step than I.  He has been helping the kiddos with so many projects, some just for fun.  This years Science Fair was all about dad helping out.  Tin can communication and rocket science, both right down his alley.

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the actual night of the Science Fair so you will have to take my word on it being "great".  My kiddos never cease to amaze me with their social skills and ease at speaking to an audience.  We are loving our homeschool group!

P inewood Derby
Spencer has to be one of the friendliest, kindest and most polite boys that I know.  He came home from scouts the other night and let me know he finally has best friends.  There are only three boys in his den right now and they are all dynamite kiddos.  We are loving the ward and the friendships that are blooming.

A bit about the car, The Speed Fin was a fast car but that is not all, it was also a warrior car.  The tires had a slight wobble that sent it off the track more than once.  However, it only crashed into and sent another car off the track one awesome time.  I think they have been playing to many video games.

R ios, Tres Rios Nature Festival
Everyone should attend this event!  It is so much fun and gives children the opportunity to experience outdoor activities that they might not have the chance to do otherwise.  Fishing, archery, canoeing and many nature exhibits that offer learning and fun.

So much fun!

I  llness, Chicken Pox
Yes, our two sweet little girls had the POX!  I was taking Kendal to the bathroom and I noticed she had five or six bumps on her legs.  I said, "Did you get bug bites?"  She let me know that she has some and Maggie has some on her back, it must have been more than one bug.  Curious, I went and picked up Maggie's shirt and her back was covered in Chicken Pox.  Maggie didn't even know they were there.  BIG BUMMER!

N ight out on the town
MY LB and I have had some great times at the expense of his work place lately.  This weekend we were invited to two special dinner events.  The first was an award ceremony that admittedly was extremely boring and really challenged my ADHD, which I didn't know I had until that night.  The second night was an amazing, black tie event with a silent auction, very artsy.  It was very nice and we even got to get in some romantic dancing.  It was a wonderful night!

This silent statue guy was really challenging my behavior.  It's really hard to be good when you want to throw something at someone.

G arbage, recycle fashion show
We spent the week before Tres Rios Nature Festival designing some extremely trashy outfits.  The boys did their costumes almost completely on their own, I was so impressed.  They designed them and when I told them impossible they made it happen.  Maggie and I worked on hers together and got in some great girl time.  Luke Air Force Base puts on the Recycle Fashion Show and it is really fun, plus the prizes are great.  All of my kiddos placed and had a great time!  Maggie got first for her age group YEAH!

They actually make their way up on a stage and show their costumes to a pretty good sized crowd.  Matthew always eats this up and does a few crazy moves that makes the audience clap.  Maggie just wants to get it over with and Spencer could careless what anybody thinks, they either like it or they don't.  I am so proud of their willingness to exploit themselves to such trashy behavior.  Love them!!!