We're back...

Well, it's been almost a year since my last blog post. I'm not sure exactly why I stopped last fall, but it was probably a combination of lots of things - our first year homeschooling, coaching Joseph's soccer team, Sarah starting dance classes, Joseph and Sarah starting piano lessons, attending a homeschool co-op every week where I taught a Spanish class to 3rd-6th graders, teaching an online Spanish 101 course for the college, writing the Primary program, singing in the annual Christmas concert, arranging and performing in a flute trio, and David getting called to the High Council (meaning he is super busy on Sundays) -- either way, blogging fell off my to-do list.

So, I decided to start again. I'll tell you a little about what we're up to now and do a "flashback" post every now and then to share some pictures and stories from the past year.

For Grandma Carol - This is the bike you helped Kathryn buy.

August has been a crazy month. We went to Redding for a week and celebrated Joseph's birthday there. (That trip deserves it's own post...I have tons of pictures!)

At the lake

They built this in Redding...can you guess what it is?

7th Birthday - Wild Kratts "Cheetah Power" cake

Along the way, Sarah and Rachel got sick and had terrible coughs, which they passed to the other kids while we were all trapped in the van for the 12 hour drive.

The week after we got home the older kids went to a "Little Farmer" camp at a friend's farm here. They had a great time learning about all the different animals and life on a farm. They got to collect eggs, milk the cow, pick veggies from the garden, make butter, and do lots of fun crafts too. (Sorry, I didn't get any pictures of that). But, their favorite part was swinging on the rope swing that went over the creek and then "accidentally" falling in the water. =)

This past Tuesday was Sarah's first day of school. She is attending an elementary level Montessori school that recently opened here. Her teachers are great and her class is small (11 kids, 2 teachers), with mixed ages from 1st through 3rd grade. So far she is really enjoying the peaceful routine, personal attention, and ability to choose her own work during most of the day there. One day she went on a nature scavenger hunt with her class at the adjacent city park. Another day she played a rousing game of chess with a classmate.

First day of 2nd grade

Joseph and Kathryn are starting homeschool on Tuesday, and little David will start preschool at Montessori in the mornings a few days each week. We decided to NOT do soccer this year, at least not formally. We plan to play a lot of family games in the backyard. Sarah's going do ballet again and, new this year: Celtic soft shoe and hard shoe (tap). All three of the older kids will be taking piano lessons of some variety (either a private lesson, group class, or lesson with mom).

David and I are "back to school" too. Classes have started at the college again and David is teaching his regular load. I'm teaching Spanish 101 online again (this is my 3rd year now). We're doing a homeschool co-op again this year. So, it's looking like another busy fall. I'll try to keep you all updated.

Heather

PS If anyone wants to opt out of the automatic email updates when I make a blog post, just let me know by replying to the email. OR, if you don't get an email and would like to, let me know that, too.

Family Goals

This year we asked the kids what goals they wanted to work on for the year. Here is what they said. Joseph and Sarah came up with theirs almost entirely on their own. We obviously helped write Kathryn's and baby David's.



Sarah said:


1. Play with baby David without picking him up or moving him.
2. Only play with the kitties outside.
3. Learn to ride my bike without training wheels.
4. Finish my “Kitty book” at school.
5. Help Mom with laundry and pick up my clothes.
6. Help brothers and sister only when they need help.
7. Stay in my bed at night.
8. Do all my piano lessons.

(Sarah and Joseph both got piano lesson books for Christmas, they are really excited to start learning piano and have already had one lesson with Mom).

Joseph said:

1. Make streets when I’m big.
2. Ride my bike with no training wheels.
3. Read my scriptures with Mommy everyday.
4. Stay dry at night and not wake up wet.
5. Finish my “Kitty writing book” at school.
6. Read a book by myself.
7. Make my bed everyday without Mom.
8. Practice using a quiet voice in the house.
9. Finish all my piano book lessons.
10. Always play in the backyard, not the front yard, so I can be safe.

I'm not sure where #1 came from, he's never mentioned anything like that before, but tonight the first thing he declared was that he wanted to "make streets" this year - we suggested that was something he could do when he was older and he worked for Grandpa Chuck.

Kathryn's Goals - that Mom will get to help her with...

1. Learn to use the potty both day and night.
2. Give up my pacifier.
3. Wash my hair at least twice a week.
4. Practice sharing.
5. Use my words instead of screaming.

I think that potty training is one my least favorite parenting jobs - it's even worse than changing diapers, I think. Or maybe I just had a bad experience trying to do it with two kids at once the first time around. Life has been so crazy that I haven't made much of an effort to help Kathryn potty train, even though I know she is ready -- I haven't been ready for the time commitment that potty training requires, especially since we're still dealing with some nighttime bed-wetting by another child.

David's Goals

1. Learn to walk.
2. Learn to say some words.
3. Learn to spoon feed myself.

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Now, one of my goals is to write in a journal at least weekly. I would also like to update this blog weekly with pictures (hopefully) and little stories from the week. I'm going to start calling this blog The Wiseman's Weekly Wrap-up. I plan on writing the weekly wrap-up each Sunday night (or Monday at the latest) -- so check back often to hear the latest Wiseman family news.