These guys worked so hard at raking the yard. Ashlyn's lawn mower broke so we have been cleaning up the yard by hard work. It started to downpour and everyone got soaked, but they just kept working hard. I was so impressed.
I have been reading a book called Breathe and it is all about the correct way to breathe properly. While we were in Utah I got a massage and the ladies that was giving me a massage told me that she has been working on me for an hour and I am still not totally relaxed. She started asking me about my breathing and she noticed that I don't breathe deeply and it is very shallow. She informed me about the benefits of deep breathing and so it inspired me to read a book (and it went along perfectly with my life course that I have been taking).
On of the suggestions was to do yoga and so we started doing yoga a few times. I love how to kids enjoy doing it with me. We enjoy this girl named Yoga with Adriene on youtube.
In the evening, we started a tradition where we read after dinner. Derek found a book that we could read as a family on the tv. Each kid took a page to read. It has been great!
Enjoying so presents that they got.
As a family we started a daily devotion by reading from the book The Daily Stoic. It is quotes by ancient stoics/philosphers teaching about mindset and focusing on what we do have control over. Derek and I will each take a day to teach the kids. It has been a time that the whole family looks forward to. So many lessons about life. The kids created posters to go along with the 3 main principles
1- Control your perception
2- Willingly accept what is outside your control
3- Direct your actions properly
We then will sort the theme of the day into one of these three principles.
It has been so much fun and this is totally up Derek's alley. I enjoy learning from him and seeing him thrive off of these principles.
During our evening prayers, the kids will express appreciation for the Daily Stoic! WIN!
Ashlyn got this really cool lamp from Grandma and Grandpa Martinson. Ashlyn loves it! Thank you so much!
This girl finished her handwriting- now she will learn cursive! She is excited
I am really enjoying this book called Sapiens
Outside in nature is nourishment for our family's soul.
Our old babysitter Sable sent the girls a book that she bought on her mission called Gangsta Granny. We have enjoyed reading it as a family.
This is what a typical homeschool morning looks like in our house
The girls did a hibernation unit at school and make these adorable displays about an animal of their choice. The are so creative.
Brinley: owl
Ashlyn: spider
Desi: bear
Claire: skunk
Cute pic of Emmett. Look how blond he was
These girl had a cleaning appointment and they did a great job.
The have the best dentist!
They had this system down getting 5 kids done...
Ashlyn's birthday date was a lot of fun. She is turning into a beautiful young lady inside and out. It was so much fun to have these "grown-up" discussion. She is very mature and can ask us questions too. It is like talking to a good friend. Derek and I really enjoy one on one time with her.
We went for a hike. We are at a fun stage. Ashlyn loves holding my hand when we go for walks and I am just soaking this time up!
They have this HUGE chair along the path
We were trying to make me look like a giant and Ashlyn small like in movie Elf. It didn't really work well ha ha
After dinner, we went to Orange Leaf and just chatted. It is super fun!
This is my favorite type of protein shake and they stopped selling it in the store and online. I was so sad.
Derek had this great idea to build a fire in the fireplace. It has been so cold here lately. In all the 5 1/2 years of living here, we have never built a fire. We got the chimney cleaned and tested it out. It was enjoyable, but our whole house smelled like smoke. Even this day (almost a month later) I can still smell the smoke.
Honestly I don't think we will do it again, but it was fun while it lasted.
I just realized that Ashlyn's birthday pictures are in random on this blog post. But she got Harry Potter legos and has enjoyed building and play with them.
We went to the Cherokee Safari for Ashlyn's birthday. It was a lot of fun to get out of the house and celebrate her 11th birthday!
He wanted to give Ashlyn a birthday kiss!
He wanted to put on sunglasses and be matchy-matchy
Ashlyn wanted to by Frozen Trouble while dinner was in the oven
This girl loves broccoli! She wanted to get every last drop of it...
Thanks Granny and Kelly for the birthday card
On Ashlyn's date, she asked a lot of questions about money. She is very motivated and interest in money. During the date, Derek had this idea of matching whatever the kids decide to put into index funds.
He was giving a family night lesson about the stock market and showing us charts of the market. We really want the kids to have a good understanding of money and develop the habit of saving.
The kids were so excited after the lesson, they got their money to invest their money!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLYN!!!
I can't believe she is 11 years old. I am so proud of the person that she is. I admire her in so many ways. She is always trying new things like painting, crafts, sketching, writing stories, tennis, bracelet making, creating her own business, reading books, and much much more. She is one of many talents, but she has the sweetest personality. She is hard working, kind to her siblings, very helpful, fun to be around, knows how to put me in my place ha ha. I love her so much!
On our date we asked her how she has grown this past year and she talked about having difficult conversations and learning how to talk through things. I admire her so much because that is something that I am still working on. I really appreciate when I have said or done something unkind to her, she will pull me aside and want to talk in through. She does it so maturely. She is very grown up in a lot of ways. This girl is going to go far in life because of her passions, desires, and driving for living her best life.
Thank you so much Grandma Martinson for your Valentine Package!!!
We feel the love!!!
Talent from Desi...
Emmett finished his Preschool course and got to have a date with Mommy!
He wanted to go to chick-fil-a and orange leaf.
I enjoy hanging out with this little buddy of mine.
Nana and Grandpa these kids love their Christmas PJs
Sketching Saturday
Ashlyn and Derek learned how to sketch an eye. It took them a couple of hours and worked really hard together. Derek loves doing hobbies with the kids that they enjoy doing. It is also bring back his hobby of drawing.
They both did a great job!
Another fun hike as a family. This was another one of those moments that you just want to soak up. It was really being in the moment with the family and enjoy each others company.
I was telling the kids that when I see stumps like that, when I was a kid I would imagine that I was a cheerleader trying to balance a stunt. ha ha we all had to give it a try.
Love these two.
This girl finished her Kindergarten Math and she was super excited!!
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