As soon as the sun appeared and Justin woke up, Geoff surprised Justin with last night's late night rocket creation-- Courage Rocket! Geoff, Justin & Max all went immediately out to the big dog park near our house to give the rocket a test run. It was a huge success! And meanwhile, I got to take a nice, long shower all by myself. I'm telling you...I could get used to this! What a great way to start out the day!
Well evening came and Max Justin & I enjoyed a fun racing stroller ride with the resurrected stroller and it worked beautifully--Just like new. I guess I got my new stroller after all--President Hinckley style.
Last week, when I was at LeiLani's house in Utah, we went for a walk with babies in our strollers and drove through a patch of thorny weeds. My wheels got totally infested with 'goat head' thorns and the vines got jammed into the wheel bearings. Max's ride there after was similar to that of riding in a Jeep on a rocky dirt road in Africa, potholes included. Upon returning from our trip, I tossed the stroller in the garage thinking to my self, "Finally, I have valid justification for a new stroller!" I was actually even excited at the thought.
WELL, this morning we were about to begin scripture study and couldn't find dad. Eventually, and to my horror, we found him in the garage with tweezers and pliers in hand performing surgery on the wheels of our beloved stroller. I knew immediately that my dreams of a new stroller would never be realized. So, I did the only right thing I could do... I brought the kids outside and there assembled together in the garage for scripture study and we read 2 Nephi 28 as dad monotonously pulled out every last goat head, and untangled and discarded every last vine. As we read about the Nephites who were consumed with pride and "considered not the poor"--I couldn't help but feel grateful for a wise, frugal, and humble husband. President HInckley's quote fits him to a T!..."Use it up, wear it out. Make it do, or do without." I really want to have an attitude more like this and be more thrify and wise...Geoff is such a great example of this. What a blessing to our family!
We have decided to introduce burritos into our Monday night menu and have them every other week with pizza on the alternating weeks. So tonight was burrito night. Geoff asked if I made the tortillas, which I answered with a proud YES! Justin brought his head up with a shocked look on his face and exclaimed, "You made these??? But, they taste NORMAL!" He couldn't believe I made them. I guess I'll take that as a compliment.
Justin gave the lesson for Family Night. He had us each color a piece of paper with the word "courage" on it in block letters, while he read the story, "The Village that Vanished." He was so cute to emphasize the lesson taught about having courage. It is fun to listen to Justin read as he does so with great expression.
Dad was in charge of games, and chose to first make a "courage" rocket--continuing the courage theme into games (which he ended up stayed up until 11:30pm to perfect the rocket), and then play the game Zarahemla. Geoff FINALLY broke his losing streak and won the game. Of course I gave him a break and played with much mercy and compassion versus my heated competitiveness and brilliant stratagem.
We had a yummy pumpkin bar for dessert, and since it turned out to be a delicious treat (you never know when I create these things if they'll actually be considered a "treat"), we took some to our neighbor, Karen.
In my eight years as a mom, I've never had a child go poop in the tub until tonight. Max let it all out, looked at the tub water, and immediately started to cry. I wasn't sure if the site scared him, disgusted him, or simply frustrated him. Needless to say, his bath came to a quick halt.
This morning Justin thought it would be good to do something nice for Dad. We've been working on redesigning our house plan and have been struggling to get it how we want it. So Justin decided to do a 3-D Lego model for him. He was sure to include a slide from his bedroom window to the yard outside. Personally, I like the vibrant plethora of colors--kind of like a Spanish Villa!
We all went out to our Hidden Springs lot to take some measurements and re-think our plan a bit. We really want to get things rolling! We love spending time on the land though. It's very peaceful!
In home school, Justin and I do a "thinking" activity each day. These last activities have centered around Robert Frost's poem, Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening. We had memorized 2 of the stanzas and were working on the 3rd. I told Justin that he could win a bonus 5 minutes if he could learn the fourth today as well as the 3rd. Without even looking at the poem, he recited the entire poem to me. I couldn't believe it. I asked him if he secretly learned it, and he said he didn't-- he just accidentally learned it. His capacity for learning and remembering amazes me!
So I gave him 10 minutes instead of 5. The minutes are a reward system I use when Justin does well with his work. He earns minutes that he can do something fun he'd like to do with Geoff or I or his friends. For example today he choose to build a Rocket Booster--a project he's been wanting to do for quite a while. So Geoff took him to home depot and got the pipes and stuff they needed for the project.
This "booster" can shoot the rocket over a four story building. It's really pretty neat!!! Justin was very excited!!! Even just by blowing in a single pipe you can send the rocket flying powerfully through the house as illustrated in the picture below.
Justin named his rocket, Space Star.
Max loves to be able to communicate. He currently knows three words of sign language which he uses all the time: more, milk, and down. In this first picture, he is signing more. Usually you would just bring the ends of your fingers together, but when Max wants more, he wants more and NOW, thus he claps his hands together with much vigor until he receives MORE of what he wants. 
Here, he is signing down (he wants to get down). It is SO NICE to know exactly what he wants!!
I wish I had a good picture of him signing milk, because it is so cute. You squeeze your palm as though you are milking a cow. Only when Max signs it, he is very hungry and desires to make it known and understood...so he squeezes his palms tightly together and holds his breath and tightens all of his muscles. Often he will precede this determined way of signing by clapping first as if to say, "More milk! More milk!"He is so darn cute!
For Stand and Deliver today we had a PJ party and brought our favorite books to share. All the kids gave great reports. I couldn't help but take the picture above--these kids are so brite and so cute! We came away with some really good ideas of good books to read in the future.
Our group has grown by two (fabulous) families and 8 more boys!! We love our group!
We spent a wonderful couple of days at Joe & LeiLani's home. They have such an incredible talent of making us feel comfortable and at home. I loved spending time with them, and our kids loved playing with each other. They've got a great little family!
Traveling home, Max Justin and I had a great relaxing trip...amazingly enough. Justin is So GOOD with Max, and entertains and plays with him so tenderly, so carefully and with so much love. It warms my heart to watch them together. I am especially thankful for Justin's care when I am seat-belted to the front, and they to the back.
We drove 3 hours to Twin Falls, and stopped to eat and fill up with gas. We met Laura Olsen and some of her children at Wendy's. I LOVE Laura and adore her children. I often wish we lived closer to each other. Nonetheless, I take the random moments of reunion when I get them with a grateful heart that the Lord blesses me to mingle with such great people and caring friends.
Max slept the last two hours of the trip home--miracles do still happen!! I wasn't expecting Geoff to be home when we arrived, but he surprised us. I really missed Geoff and was so glad to be with him again. Home is where I most want to be. I am SO blessed.
Justin & Kailey decided to do a "science experiment" coloring food, and decided to make a snack for Lincoln and Kaytlin for when they got home from school. They made blue applesauce, pink yogurt, green eggs, blue cucumbers, yellow water and bluish ricemilk. Yum!! Kaytlin would have NOTHING to do with the food, and Lincoln was a very good sport and tried a bit of everything except the eggs. They're talking about starting a restaraunt. 
Here is Joe & LeiLani's new little girl, Makenna KalaKiana Numbers, born on February 1st. She is a cutie for sure, but from the look on Justin's face, I'm not sure it's the right time for us to try for another baby! 
As soon as the sun appeared and Justin woke up, Geoff surprised Justin with last night's late night rocket creation-- Courage Rocket! Geoff, Justin & Max all went immediately out to the big dog park near our house to give the rocket a test run. It was a huge success! And meanwhile, I got to take a nice, long shower all by myself. I'm telling you...I could get used to this! What a great way to start out the day!
WELL, this morning we were about to begin scripture study and couldn't find dad. Eventually, and to my horror, we found him in the garage with tweezers and pliers in hand performing surgery on the wheels of our beloved stroller. I knew immediately that my dreams of a new stroller would never be realized. So, I did the only right thing I could do... I brought the kids outside and there assembled together in the garage for scripture study and we read 2 Nephi 28 as dad monotonously pulled out every last goat head, and untangled and discarded every last vine. As we read about the Nephites who were consumed with pride and "considered not the poor"--I couldn't help but feel grateful for a wise, frugal, and humble husband. President HInckley's quote fits him to a T!..."Use it up, wear it out. Make it do, or do without." I really want to have an attitude more like this and be more thrify and wise...Geoff is such a great example of this. What a blessing to our family!
Dad was in charge of games, and chose to first make a "courage" rocket--continuing the courage theme into games (which he ended up stayed up until 11:30pm to perfect the rocket), and then play the game Zarahemla. Geoff FINALLY broke his losing streak and won the game. Of course I gave him a break and played with much mercy and compassion versus my heated competitiveness and brilliant stratagem.
This morning Justin thought it would be good to do something nice for Dad. We've been working on redesigning our house plan and have been struggling to get it how we want it. So Justin decided to do a 3-D Lego model for him. He was sure to include a slide from his bedroom window to the yard outside. Personally, I like the vibrant plethora of colors--kind of like a Spanish Villa!
We all went out to our Hidden Springs lot to take some measurements and re-think our plan a bit. We really want to get things rolling! We love spending time on the land though. It's very peaceful!
Our Friday Co-op had a fun day learning about hibernating animals. We saw a family of nesting owls, and a fox's den (very cool!) Then we went to the Boise green-belt to explore and enjoy. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. I could easily come here every day. It reminded me so much of the place I took Justin and Oakley all the time at Rock lake right next to our home in Island Woods. I can't wait to come back!
This "booster" can shoot the rocket over a four story building. It's really pretty neat!!! Justin was very excited!!! Even just by blowing in a single pipe you can send the rocket flying powerfully through the house as illustrated in the picture below.
Justin named his rocket, Space Star.
The weather outside is so inspiring! We have loved going out into the much anticipated warmth! Soccer is quickly becoming a favorite. Max, our coach, is quite encouraging. Every time Justin makes a goal, Max claps and screams! Justin is a good little soccer player. He talks all the time about what he would do if he were on Abraham's team. I can tell he is contemplating the thought of actually playing on a team.
Our job is to introduce things to Justin so he can begin the process. We let him choose his pleasures and then we work with him so he can feel confident to proceed further. It is fun to play with him and work with him...he is so much like Geoff.
Here, he is signing down (he wants to get down). It is SO NICE to know exactly what he wants!!
I wish I had a good picture of him signing milk, because it is so cute. You squeeze your palm as though you are milking a cow. Only when Max signs it, he is very hungry and desires to make it known and understood...so he squeezes his palms tightly together and holds his breath and tightens all of his muscles. Often he will precede this determined way of signing by clapping first as if to say, "More milk! More milk!"
For Stand and Deliver today we had a PJ party and brought our favorite books to share. All the kids gave great reports. I couldn't help but take the picture above--these kids are so brite and so cute! We came away with some really good ideas of good books to read in the future. 
We spent a wonderful couple of days at Joe & LeiLani's home. They have such an incredible talent of making us feel comfortable and at home. I loved spending time with them, and our kids loved playing with each other. They've got a great little family!
We drove 3 hours to Twin Falls, and stopped to eat and fill up with gas. We met Laura Olsen and some of her children at Wendy's. I LOVE Laura and adore her children. I often wish we lived closer to each other. Nonetheless, I take the random moments of reunion when I get them with a grateful heart that the Lord blesses me to mingle with such great people and caring friends.
Justin & Kailey decided to do a "science experiment" coloring food, and decided to make a snack for Lincoln and Kaytlin for when they got home from school. They made blue applesauce, pink yogurt, green eggs, blue cucumbers, yellow water and bluish ricemilk. Yum!! Kaytlin would have NOTHING to do with the food, and Lincoln was a very good sport and tried a bit of everything except the eggs. They're talking about starting a restaraunt. 
Here is Joe & LeiLani's new little girl, Makenna KalaKiana Numbers, born on February 1st. She is a cutie for sure, but from the look on Justin's face, I'm not sure it's the right time for us to try for another baby! 
