Week ending 10-23-16

In our scrapbook we have pictures of almost every child grabbing the popcorn bowl around 8 months. So when we were having popcorn the kids yelled, "You have to get the traditional popcorn picture!" Anderson is 13 months, but here is his picture. 

Monday: breakfast with the family. One thing I've always loved about homeschooling is consistently having breakfast together every single morning. I look at all these precious children and think how much I love them, am grateful for them, and what a great day we're going to have. 

Friday morning: Hanging out on the couch in similar faded dinosaur sleepers. I have no idea where they came from. We've never had 2 boys in a row before so I didn't know we had similar jammies in consecutive sizes. I don't even really like the sleepers, but I thought it was cute that they matched. 

Saturday: Gymnastic finals competition for these 5 gymnasts. We videoed the whole thing so we only got a few pictures. Alexis put the whole thing together, picking out their outfits and having them compete on vault (couch cushions--see 8-21-16), monkey bars, and floor (tramp.) 

Makenna on bars. 

Sunday: After the primary presentation the 5 children came home and put on their own program with their babies as the primary children. Alexis has been writing their parts for a month. She takes her play primary very seriously. Sunday isn't complete without playing primary. Here Kaitlyn's baby is saying her part at the podium. 

Alexis leading the songs. 

Samuel plays primary too, but these 4 are the ones who were in the real program today. (Even though Samuel ran up on the stand during Kaitlyn's part and wouldn't come down for awhile.)

Here is a video of Kaitlyn singing the first verse of "Jesus Once Was A Little Child." I tried putting the video of both of them singing on here, but the file was too big. I might have gotten it to post on facebook, though. They sang this today in the real primary presentation.

Week ending 10-16-16

We had a great week. Fall is here and I'm trying to cram in all the fall activities I want to do. It came before I was ready and I'm afraid it'll end all too soon. We love fall.

Monday: In the middle of school Anderson walked through the school room pushing this doll stroller. Alexis put him in it and pushed him around a bit but those pictures were blurry. I fixed the settings and had her try to put him in again but he was done with the stroller riding. He's a big kid so I'm surprised he didn't break it. Good friends gave it to us as a hand-me-down 12 years ago. 

After school the upstairs was quiet so I went to check on Kait, Kenna, and Sam's room. Kaitlyn and Makenna had let Samuel wear their dress up and got him situated in a nest with books so that they could be in the windowseat undisturbed. 

Makenna and Kaitlyn playing in the windowseat. 

They informed me this was the girls' couch for FHE. 

I'm guessing Nathan took this picture looking down on Andy-Man. 

Tuesday: Kaitlyn and Makenna making wands for their dolls. 

Wednesday: Anderson with his two favorite toys: the plunger and a pop-up toy. Too bad it's blurry. 

One hand on the plunger, one hand on the toy. 

The 5 or 6 younger kids went on a fall walk and collected leaves then did the traditional leaf rubbings. 

Thursday: Anderson looked so cute sitting by Alexis reading a book but crawled towards me as soon as he saw me. 

My 9 kids happily eating dinner. I love cooking for them and serving them. Nathan usually comes home around 7. 

When he gets home Anderson begs to be held by him and won't be put down all night. 

Friday I took the 6 youngest kids to a park on a ridge, full of gorgeous trees. 

First we had fun running down this trail.

And taking pictures in front of these pumpkin orange trees. 

Anderson about to fall backward. 

Then they climbed back up this dirt trail.

Waiting at the top for Samuel and Alexis to climb up. 

Anderson trying these berries and spitting them out. 

I couldn't get over the views as I walked around this park. Autumn is beautiful here. 

All different shades in just one plant or tree. 

On the playground the kids played hurricane. 

We're super upset that we missed the one that hit NC, so on this windy day they packed 72 hour kits and ran around in the wind and rain. 

Here they show me how high the water is in their home. They eventually climbed on the roof of their house, eating their 72 hour kits (granola bars, beef jerky, fruit cups) 

Then they tied themselves together and swam for my life boat when I rescued them. 

It was a really fun park outing.