Happy Springtime

Happy Springtime!

We had a family in our ward moved to a farm during COVID and they gave us a tour.  They have about 160 animals and counting.  It was fun to explore and learn a lot about this type of lifestyle.  This is a  dream of Derek's, to live off the land.  I was nervous that he would be totally sold on the idea after this experience, but it is the kids who are dying to having a farm.  It is so impressive with the work and dedication it takes to live this lifestyle.

Since we visited, the girls have been begging to get goats, chickens, and a donkey.  I joked with Derek that we should pay the family to let the girls live with the family for a week and then let the girls experience the hard work and rethink if they really want a farm.

I absolutely love seeing what families are passionate about and how we all can learn from one another.

 

These turkeys are HUGE and they were the first to welcome us the farm.  They followed us throughout the tour.  It was like they were little dogs, which is rare for turkeys because they usually stay away from people.

They had a ton of quails and they girls got to hold some.  They girls got to fetch the eggs in the cages. They were sweet to give us quail eggs to try for breakfast.

They also have baby goats.

They have a donkey named Jenny.  

The donkey is like a watch dog for all the sheep and cows.  Their neighbors donkey killed a cougar watching over their herd. 

This pig is HUGE!

At the end of the tour, they have us delicious chocolate milk from their cows.

Quail eggs

For my birthday each year, we got to the Azalea Gardens, but it was closed because of the snow storm that occured a few months ago.  So we went and explored another path and went on the campus of SFA.  While we were walking we happened upon a duck pond.  It was so fun and beautiful. 

The kids favorite swing

The kids pretending to attend school/be the teacher.

Beautiful duck pond.

A kind man gave the kids bread to feed the ducks.

They found hidden duck eggs.

We played on the ROTC obstacle course.  It is fun to see the kids do workouts and increase their strength and confidence. 

Derek and I could barely lift of this wheel together.  It was so heavy.

Another place we like to go and hike is Mission Tejas State Park.  We like to go on this trail and play in this lookout point.  The kids pretend that it is Little House on the Prairie.  I love their imaginations!

They are playing church

Easter Egg Hunt

The enjoy of watching the kids struggle to find their eggs

Ashlyn paid for an course online called Kidentrepreneur where is teaches kids how to be an entrepreneur.  She loved it and created her own business of selling dog treats.  She bought all the ingredients to make her treats.  She was super excited!

Homeschool Group projects

Derek got a colonoscopy done this past week.

Derek's experience

This kids got spoiled by their Grandma Martinson.  Thanks for the Easter surprises!

They enjoyed painted the birdhouses

Found a toad by our swimming pool.

The kids going door to door selling doggie treats!

Knocking one door at a time.

We made Easter bunnies and we made a few for our sweet neighbors Evelyn and Tony.

Claire wrote this week note.

Claire found a caterpillar.

Derek and I went for a walk for our lunch date around the zoo park and we saw the gator chillaxing on the log with the turtles.  We also so the baby gator on another log.

We have never seen it outside the water before!

This is my favorite part of the jogging path of the gym.  

Isn't it just beautiful!!!

There is a homeschool group event that happens once a month at a local skating place. 

It was our first time attending the kids all had a blast!

WE LOVE HOMESCHOOLING!

It has been such an amazing experience for our family and it has been so fun to see my kids flourish in so many areas of their lives.  We love the amount of time that we get to spend together and the many things that we are learning together.  It really is a blessing to homeschool!

For Derek and I's birthdays, we went on an overnighter and our babysitters babysat the kids and they had a wonderful time.  Derek and I feel so grateful for Hannah and Savannah.  They love our kids so much, do so many fun things, and inspire my kids to be their best.  We love them!

One of the twins got their pillowcase out and they decided to design it with pictures and colors. 

Happy Birthday to this guy!  We are so grateful for this great man in our family.  He works so hard for our family, but he also plays so hard with us.  We love you Derek!

He went to the gym in the morning and he got a free peanut butter cup shake.

His staff got him a peanut butter cake and he LOVED IT!!!

The kids made this banner for DAD!

Plate lickin good

Derek wanted a simple birthday and he enjoyed reading all the cards and letters he got.

My friend sent me clothes for Emmett and she added a few girl clothes.  These girls are so excited about the swimming suits!

By Desi

He finally has this thing to himself.  This is how he likes to ride it. 

He is wearing 2 swimming suits and boots

A boy from TEXAS

I made the kids start in the grade they were in when covid began.  Ashlyn finished her 3 Level and got to go on a special date to Olive Garden.

She has worked so hard at math.  It hasn't easy for her at the beginning, but now she really enjoys it!

We went on a family hike to a place called Boykin Springs.  It has a water path that is fun to play in and we did a 5 mile hike.  This is the longest that the kids have hiked and they did it with great attitudes.  Derek and I were so impressed!  Even Emmett and Desi did amazing! It was so much fun to hike to an old, deserted saw mill.  It was definitely different than we imagined.

To keep the kids going, Derek would give them one gummy bear to suck on.

Lunch at the old saw mill

Emmett loves to lick the salt off the crackers.

Since homeschooling and our family digital minimalism movement, I feel like the kids' creativity is skyrocketing.  The came up with this idea to do pillowcases with sharpies and create their own drawings and handlettering. They spend many days creating their "dream" masterpieces.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We created rainbows, played musical clovers, and played tic-tac-toe.

Ashlyn got stuff to make her own resurrection garden from her teacher.  She loved making it!

Fun memories in nature and books. 

This girl finished her 2nd grade first book. She is really thriving in math!

 

We went to the zoo with a group of homeschoolers and while we were there the kids picked an animal to do a report on.  The girls picked their animal: Ashlyn - elephant, Brinley- cheetah, Claire- giraffe, Desi- Zebra.  We met up at the park a few weeks later and gave a report to the group and played on the playground.  It was fun to see all our kids get along and practice the skill of public speaking from the research.  It was also fun for me to get a little time with other homeschool moms.  

I am so grateful for this time to homeschool.  It has been something that I have wanted to try, but had more fear of social and giving up "me" time.  But this huge transition for our family has been such an amazing blessing.  I absolutely (and the kids would agree) that we love all the time that we get to spend together, I get to help and assist my kids in their learning, it creates more conversations from their studies, friendships are strengthening with the kids, and so so much more.  At this point I don't want my kids to go back to public school because there is so many pros.  But I never will say never...he he.

Derek and Ashlyn going at it again...chess

More hiking

For school, we are starting a new unit on bugs.  We got an ant farm kit and then went to our yard to gather the ants. 

Current favorite outfit.  I am afraid her teacher will think we only own one outfit. ha ha.

She is so fun and enjoys going to preschool.

Derek and the kids are reading the third book of Little Britches.  They are really enjoying the book.

The kids and I are reading Little House on the Prairie and we are on the 5 book called The Long Winter.

We really enjoy reading to our kids. 

Happy Birthday to me!  35th birthday!  Derek and I looked up what a middle aged woman is and it is 35...so I guess now I am officially a middle aged woman.

The day was perfect.  It was more relaxing and great!  I got to take a bath while Derek did homeschooling Woohoo! and then Derek surprised me with a scheduled massage and this cake.  

For birthday, we don't do cake in our family, but I went to a birthday party and they had a cake from this local company in town and it was so delicious.  I have been craving it since.

So the cake was super delicious and the day was wonderfully spent with me and my family!

Mega Tic-Tac-Toe

Desi won and Claire was cheering her one.  It was so cute! Desi's face just beamed with delight!

I am just so grateful for my life.  I am truly blessed to have these wonderful peeps to be with all the time.  I am grateful for the life that Derek and I are creating together.  My life is way better than I ever imagined! Life is wonderful!