Week ending 8-25-19

Kylie went to stay with Sara for the week and one time when Talea was being super cute I took her picture and sent it to Kylie to entice her to come home.:) We missed her! 

Spinning 

Wednesday: Reading books with Lauren, one of Sam's therapists. 

Everyone reaching over the railing hunting for blackberries. 

This picture didn't come out how I wanted but I loved watching my 3 older girls pass Talea between then, all vying for her attention, playing with her, and talking with each other. I love how they're all best friends. 

Kait and Kenna wanted me to take pictures of them going off the diving board. 

We only go swimming a couple of times a year so we're not good swimmers. 

Tilly going off the diving board. 

I love this picture of Alexis and Talea so happy in the pool together. 

Thursday: Off to nature school! This week I only had the younger 5 and it was so fun getting to spend so much time with them and teach them about nature. We had a great time. 

Makenna 

Samuel 

This is a plant that gave Makenna a rash but I don't know what it is. I'm struggling learning the names of Utah plants and haven't found good books to teach me. It was super easy in NC for some reason. 

A little creek we sat by and played in. 

Eating lunch 

Andy and Sam 

Makenna eating her fettucini she brought. When she climbed up on the log she accidently dropped her container and her noodles and green beans fell out. She was able to rescue the noodles without much dirt on them, but the green beans weren't saved. It was so funny. It was the only food she brought so wanted to eat it anyway. 

Talea 

Kaitlyn sketching our surroundings.  

Makenna waiting while roll was taken. Her first day of gymnastics class! She and Kaitlyn were beyond excited. I've always wanted our kids to get to do gymnastics too so I wanted to cry of happiness through the whole thing. 

There is just makeshift equipment set up at the rec center, so it's not a real gym but it's cheap and they loved it. 

Friday: Eating dinner with another girl Spencer brought over (far left.) As soon as he's 16 he'll be dating every Friday night for sure. He already has a lot of girlfriends. 

I loved looking out the kitchen window while I did dishes and watching all the kids jump on the trampoline with Abbie. 

 

Saturday: We saw this air balloon coming down near our neighborhood then jumped in the van to chase it. The little kids loved that. 

Picking from our garden that's at Brother Tarbet's house. 

Emma Walker, our homeschool friend from NC flew in and is staying with us a few days before Kylie takes her down to BYU this week. She's never been on an airplane or seen Utah so it's really fun having her here.

Week ending 8-18-19

We had a pretty laid-back week. No appointments or errands or much going on except school. 

We got colds and mostly stayed home.

To follow the missionary tags the little boys got from primary last week, Makenna and Kaitlyn made their own this week. 

Dancing to Spencer's music. 

Monday: Alexis cutting Spencer's hair. I'm really tired of giving 5 boys haircuts every month (I don't know how families do it with more than 5!) so I've recruited Alexis to help me out occasionally. I did Sam's, Andy's and Tom's and Alexis did Nathan's and Spencer's. I did like stepping outside to seeing the little sister cutting her big brother's hair and hear them happily chatting. They're going to high school together this year (a few classes) and I'm looking forward to seeing how their relationship grows and changes with the older 2 girls gone.

Friday: Sam and Andy went to MamaJo's house to hang out with her (she's 70 :)) and she lent them her squirt guns. 

Kait's edible playdoh creations. 

Saturday: The view from my window as I was leaving to go on a hike. The 5 little kids (and sometimes the older ones) always have to "go running" with whoever is leaving whether it's the garbageman, family, friends, the therapists, or the mailman. They run down the street to this corner as the car drives away and shout good-bye. 

Pictures from my hike. 

 

A creek coming down the side of the mountain right through the middle of the trail. 

Looking down the other side after it crossed the trail. 

Looking up at the creek as I crossed it. 

The prettiest part of the trail. 

I took pictures of a few plants that I sketched so that I could show them to my nature school class when I got home. I really enjoyed sitting and sketching, listening to conference and pondering. 

I also sketched these trees. 

 

 

A beautiful meadow full of butterflies that I couldn't capture on film. 

The log bridge I crossed.