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

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The Challenge - recording Joseph and the Old Testament [song]

A couple of months ago the Primary chorister at church challenged the children to learn the three songs with all the names of the books of the Old Testament, New Testament, and Book of Mormon. She happens to work at an engraving store, so she is giving each child who accomplishes the task an engraved dog tag necklace with their name and the Primary theme for the year "I Know the Scriptures Are True".

Joseph and Sarah thought that was a pretty cool prize, so they spent the entire afternoon that Sunday listening to the three songs over and over and over again. They both passed off the Books of the New Testament song only a few weeks later. Then they kind of forgot about the challenge until one of the Primary kids earned their own tag. Joseph came home with renewed determination to learn the other two songs. We sang them constantly for the next few weeks - at bedtime, in the van, during play time, and lunchtime, and bath time, etc. I memorized all the songs too, even that one ever-elusive line in the middle of the Old Testament song. Finally, I made a cheat sheet of sorts to help Joseph cement those last few difficult ones. I wrote down the first letter of each books name in order. A few days later he was ready to sing it for his music leader.

We had stake conference this Sunday and afterwards I noticed that Joseph was wandering off from us. He never does that! How odd, I thought. Then I saw him walk up to his music leader. He wanted to sing for her but he was so nervous and the chapel was full of loud people, he sang quietly and she couldn't hear him. Once I got them to move into another room, he did great! He sang the books of the Book of Mormon song and the Old Testament song all on his own. I am so proud of him! He'll get his little tag next week. So far only two other primary kids have earned theirs and they are both in Senior primary. Joseph is only 4 years old.

Sarah is close behind. She knows about half of the other two songs. With a little more practice and persistence, she'll be ready to sing them soon, too. Even Kathryn knows bits and pieces of the songs now too. One of her favorite lines is: "Samuel, Samuel, Kings, Kings, Chronicles"

I wanted to record Joseph singing the Old Testament song (since it's the hardest one) for all of you to see, but we had some issues getting a good take. See the three videos below:
(You may want to watch at YouTube.)

He gets upset when Sarah sings something "wrong" = gets nervous and hides under table

Now, he wants to sing alone, but someone insists on singing with him = meltdown

In my bathroom, with the bedroom door locked so the other kids can't come in and make noise. 

He is suddenly very camera shy and mumbles the words, but he makes it to the end.

(Let me know if these videos come through. I made them "private" on YouTube, so I'm curious if you'll be able to see them.)

I'll post a video of Sarah singing one of the songs soon.