We are moved in!!!

Yes, we are really moved in! It is very hard to believe that after living in a little house (760 sq ft) for two years and building (and the stress and choices with that) that we are in our forever house! Yeah.

We now have the Internet.
We now have a dishwasher.
We now have a microwave.
We have more than one bathroom.
I can kneel beside my bed as it's not on cinder blocks. (Because clothes had to go under the bed because there was no room for a dresser).
I have all our books up to read as we desire.


We plan on having lots of parties.  (The first one is on election night.  Please come!)
We plan on reading lots of good books.
We plan on laughing and giggling lots.
We plan on praying, praising and singing to God.

We have named our land/house: Telaret.  This translates to: give God the complete praise.  See the hearthstone below. Huzzah!

Please visit Olivia's/Liberty's blog to see some pictures.  She will get a picture of the front of the house soon.  Here is a picture of the library though. It is one of my favorite places in our home.

Blessings~

Boston and Our Home

We have been having a great time in Boston.  My daughter has done a great job of posting about our trip on her blog.  There are a lot of pictures on there  Check it out here.

Here are the latest pictures of our house.  Kudos to my mom for taking pictures while we've been gone.

House Building

Just wanted to let everyone know our house is being built.  They broke ground for it this past week.  My hope is to be moved into it by October General Conference.  We are excited.  I would show you a picture but our digital camera broke.

That's not a picture of our house.  It just reminded me of a hobit house.  So I thought I would at least post a picture of someone's house.

P.S. Mr. Patriot and I had a lovely trip to Hawaii a couple of weeks ago.

Yummy Sorbet!

I finally broke down and bought the family a food processor.  I am excited.  The boys weren't as excited as I was....

I hope to make all kinds of amazing foods.  Liberty christened it by making a yummy sorbet.  She added in lots of frozen fruits (that we always get from Costco for our morning green smoothies) with heavy emphasis on the Marion berries.  She added some flax seeds and viola a yummy dessert.  I'm not a big fan of ice cream but this raw food treat was super yummy.

Our Schedule

Below is our Monday thru Thrusday schedule.  On Friday the kids get up early and we have scriptures and breakfast at 6:45 AM and then head for classes and hour a way.  Saturday and Sunday are much like the begining and the end of the days listed below.

  M-Th Daily Schedule

7 AM        Get up

                Core

8 AM        Breakfast

                Family Scripture Study

                Goals

9 AM        Family Work

                Personal Learning

NOON       Lunch

                Read a Loud

                Family Work

1 PM        Exercise

Free Time

                Free Reading

                Service

                Visit Family and Friends

6 PM        Dinner

                Narrations

                Family Work

7 PM         Family Activities

                Service

                Free Reading

                Free Time

8 PM         Journal

                Free Reading

9 PM        Prayers

                Lights Out

Helping Kids Journal

I have been a pretty faithful journal writer since at least high school.  Sometimes I went in spurts and wrote only every couple of months, but for well over ten years I have been pretty faithful about writing nearly every day.  I love journaling and I think that it is important for emotional and spiritual health. I’ve blogged about it on my other blog several times.  I am grateful to my mom who taught me to write in my journal every Sunday.

Liberty is also a faithful writer.  The boys in our family struggle however.  I feel it is important for them to learn to do this regularly though, especially since President Kimball encouraged it so much.  Through the years I’ve tried to help them get into the habit, but it hasn’t been successful.

The main reason they don’t like journaling is:

1. They don’t like to physically have to write anything more than they have too.  I think this is a boy thing?
2. They don’t know what to write.

I guess the first one they just will have to get over, but for the second one I’ve determined that when they write helps solve the problem. So for the last two months or so(?) we’ve struck upon another idea that seems to be working out better than the other ideas.  On days when it is possible they are in bed at 8 PM.  They then write in their journal.  Then they can free-read until 9PM.  After that personal prayers and lights out. On nights when we are out later (mutual, scouts, basketball practice, ward activities, etc.) we just head straight to the prayers and the bed part.  In the end they journal about four times or so a week.  This is a much better average and it isn’t as painful for them. 

But back to the what to write. I encourage them to either write about their day or to list five blessings they are thankful for that they saw that day.  I find they have a lot more to write about and they do it more willingly at night then in the morning as part of their “school work.”

Again creating the habit is the most important part and then the testimony of it will come and they will seek it out to do it on their own, and in their own way.

I Am Not Afraid of the Pressure Cooker...I Am Not Afraid of the Pressure Cooker....

I really want to learn how to can.  I think it is very important.  I also have a very irritating daughter that wants to sew, can, make butter, milk a cow, gather eggs from our own chickens (which she hasn't talked us into YET) and other annoying things like making homemade cottage cheese.  I would just rather sit on my laurels and read a book, but noooooo she takes the prophet literally about being self-reliant. I would prefer just to study about it.

So here I am trying to "teach" her how to do all these things that I don't know how to do. Of the many things she's twisted my arm into doing I have found that I just might like canning.

We did a bunch of peaches, pears and tomatoes this fall and it was kinda fun. Kinda.  It still required work and I'm not sure I'm into that.  (Although I know I really, really need to be.  I am getting better).

So this winter I've decided it's time to practice using the pressure cooker.  I admit I am slightly afraid of it.  But I swallowed down my fears and processed 3 batches of potatoes-of all things.  I have plenty of them-like 500 pounds plenty- so they were a good thing to practice with. They turned out fine. I won't win any fair prizes for them, but it's a start.

I have 200 empty jars and I figure it's time to fill them. Next on the list: stewed chicken, carrots, kidney beans and pinto beans.  I'll let you know how it goes.

In the meantime...."I am not afraid of the pressure cooker.....I am not afraid of the pressure cooker....."

Because He Can

Leader decided to make himself a hammock off of his bunk bed.  He's a silly kid.  Here he is writing in his journal before bed. 

They are on count down.  Only 10 more months until the four kids don't have to share a room any more!

Determination Turns 12!

Determination turned 12 recently.  He was able to be ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood by his father and lots of family standing in.  The same day it was a baby blessing for my niece.  It was a neat day.

Determination has enjoyed doing is duties so far.  Today he went out and collected fast offerings (free will money donations from people in the community) with another deacon and their leader.  When he came home he had really big eyes.  I laughed and said, "What? Did you get chased by dog while you were out?" I was totally kidding.  He responded, "No, two actually."  He laughed and told us a very funny story.  I think that is only the beginning of  the very many adventures he will have as a priesthood holder.

'Like' the Kendrick Brothers

Technically I have a facebook account. I haven’t accessed it in over 14 months and I have no idea what the password is.  (Obviously I can get that, it’s just a convenient excuse).  However, I secretly loathe facebook. 

Anyway, I’d like to say that I had a point with the above paragraph, but I don’t think I really did.  I get sidetracked when I start thinking about facebook.  Here is the point though:  Our family really, REALLY, REALLY likes the Kendrick Brothers.  I am sure they have a facebook page so if someone could go on and “like” them on behalf of our family that would be great. 

So who are they anyway? I mean the Kendrick Brothers not facebook. They are the writers, directors, producers, etc. of the following movies,

Flywheel (not very well known)

Facing the Giants

Fireproof

Courageous

Their movies are part of the outreach of the Sherwood Church in Georgia.  The Kendrick brothers learned that the public, and especially the youth, were more influenced by the media in regard to choices and morality than any other way.  So they got the wild idea to start making movies to reach people.  At first it was just for their little community, but the response was so positive that the movies starting reaching out farther and farther.  What’s amazing is that in these movies everyone involved is a member of their church.  Everything is donated.  Most of the actors (or camera men) are just people from their church with no real training.  The later movies have included professional actors like Kirk Cameron though, but I think everyone is still on donated time.

Kudos to the Kendrick Brothers for their ministry efforts.  If you enjoy watching movies I invite you to watch their movie trailers on the links provided and see if one of their movies is right for your family.  Each movie's production quality gets better with each one.  It is amazing to see what they have done with the resources they have.

They have positively impacted my life and my family’s life.  They have challenged me in my faith and caused me to ask some tough questions regarding whether I believe, “that through Christ all things are possible.”

And they are just soooo funny.  I invite you to also watch the special features, because that is where you get to know all about them.  If you watch all the movies you can catch spoofs of their other movies inside the new movies.  Also many of the actors are in all the movies and so it’s fun to find people “you know” from previous movies.

Family Pictures

Here's a couple of family pictures.  We had sunlight problems.

Happy July

Our big plan to have the internet installed was foiled.  Alas, it looks like no internet anytime soon for our family.  

Our unedited 4th of July Family Picture

We have been having a great summer!  It is especially wonderful because we didn't participate in 4-H this year!  We are enjoying the hot weather, the campfires, the laughs, the swimming, and the silliness of families.  Here's a brief recap:

Family:

• Enjoyed a week with some friends from out of town
• Saw a production of the "Music Man"
• Went to a concert about the life of Chopin
• Attended a Music Fest Concert
• Had a great Family Reunion with "my side" of the family
• Working on our second session of swimming lessons just because we can and we want to!
• Lots of time weeding the garden-we finally have tomatoes this year!
• Finally bought a Vita-Mix blender and we use it all the time for everything we can
• Continuing to take a lot of piano lessons

Mr. Patriot:

• Bought an additional business and has been working hard!
• Led the hike with Hank at Girl's Camp this year again
• Playing lots of basketball when he can
• Turned 37
• Still eats a lot of ice cream, but he's definitely doing better about cutting back.  We haven't been to Cold Stone since the middle of June!!

Me:

• Went to girls camp
• Read lots of books
• Drove the horse trailer to the vet's and back and survived (and so did the horse)

Liberty:

• Turned 13
• Completed her second year of Girls Camp
• Finished her Personal Progress; Bishop's interview scheduled for next week
• Taking an online History Course through Williamsburg Academy (when we have internet she is the one using it now)
• Hurt her hand; it was a possible hairline fracture (made her cranky because she couldn't play the piano for a while).  The Doctor told me that she has a good two years of growth for sure left (based on her growth plates) and she will definitely be taller than me.  She's 1/2" shorter than me now and had I had hoped she had stopped growing!
• Trying to get her horse bred and doctored (see her blog)

Determination:

• Went on the 11 year over nighter with the Stake Primary with his dad
• Finished up his requirements for his First Class Rank in Boy Scouts
• Completed his first merit badge: swimming
• Loves Louis L'Amour and is reading lots of great books
• Is in charge of the lawn (mowing, watering)

Imagination:

• Enjoyed Cub Scout Day Camp
• Continually making forts, arrows, bows, ladders, travois, etc from scraps on the land
• Bought himself some suspenders at the thrift store and loves to wear them! He thinks he's "Farmer Boy."
• Wanted his growth plates x-rayed to see when he would "start" growing.

Leader:

• Enjoyed Cub Scout Day Camp
• Turned 9.  My baby is 9!!!!
• Rides his bike everywhere
• Catches bugs and creepy crawlies constantly
• Sports new glasses that he manages to remember to wear

Hank:

• Continues to roll in manure
• Takes long naps
• Went on the hike to girls camp and loved all the attention from the Young Women
• Learned how to be a cow dog and helps us get the cows in the right field when they get out

Review: The Phantom Tollbooth

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was going to write a fantastic review, (because that's what I do-write fantastic reviews, haha), but then I saw the back cover and it summed it all up. It reads,

"For Milo, everything's a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he's got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason! Somewhere along the way, Milo realizes something astonishing. Life is far from dull. In fact, it's exciting beyond his wildest dreams!"

My children really enjoyed this book as I read it too them. There are clever lessons to learn, silly people to met and many play on words. If your family enjoys fairy tales this might be an enjoyable book for your family.

View all my reviews

Love, Imagination

Imagination, age 10, loves to write stories and "express" himself.  Here is a sampling of two things he recently wrote.

Dear Mom,

I am fantastically glad that you are my mom.  You make me feel happy all the time.  I am also happy that you do the dishes for us.*

God choose you to be our mother to prepare us for the final days.

I love you.

Love, "Imagination"

This was the Father's Day poem he wrote today in primary,

As life gets rough,

and you get gruff,

Remember Jesus and what he had to do.

And when they say boo.

Just remember Jesus

A whole lifetime through.

*My children do not like to wash the dishes.  They will all do anything but the dishes.  So I do the dishes (they clear, put things away, and empty the dish drainer though), and they do everything else in the house.  I enjoy the dishes so it works out.  No laundry.  No bathrooms.  No trash. No dusting.  ..... Every body's happy.

It's Circus Time

Liberty beat me to the punch on posting about this already. Here's my very short and sweet version:

Last night we enjoyed the circus as a family along with Mr. Patriot's father, brother, sister and brother-in-law.  We thought it was fun.  Of course there were things I didn't like, but all in all it was a good experience.  We ate a lot of really bad for you food like carmel apples, peanuts, cotton candy, snow cones and popcorn and it was really good. : )

Imagination and Leader were able to ride an elephant and they thought that was great.  Imagination said it felt like riding a really big draft horse.

Meet Hank

We have the world's greatest dog!  I'm sure many of you have one of them too!  His name is Hank and he is a pure bred lab.  No code name for him.  We have owned him since he was around six months old.  He is now six years old.  We name all of our creatures after famous people. (One dog was name Porter Rockwell). Since Hank was already named when we got him (long story) we had to improvise.  His "full" name is Henry Knox.  Ring any bells to those who study Revolutionary War History?   Let's see who can be the first to tell us what Henry Knox did for our great country.  If I had stuff lying around I could give someone a "free-give away."  Haha.  You can just know that you are smart and not get a prize. : )

Hank is wonderful with kids.  Kids love Hank!  They can pull his ears and sit on him and he just lies there.  (Please stay away from our cat though!)

Hank has chronic ear infections because he loves swimming in the water so much.  He loves to fetch sticks out of the water.

Hank stays with the kids when they play outside and keeps an eye on them.  I'm not sure how really.  Sometimes he gets in has much trouble as the kids!  At the end of the day he comes home as tired as they are.  Playing is hard work!

Hank has a bad habit we will mention.  He loves rolling in manure.  Not so good.

We love Hank and we are glad he is a part of our family.  We hope every one who likes pets has a pet as wonderful as Hank.

Camping

 We enjoyed our first camp out of the year.  Mr. Patriot was determined to go!

Liberty enjoys working with the fire.  I think she has a little pyro in her.  She keep saying, "If only we had brought the diesel."

The boys enjoyed hiking around camp.  We were the only ones out.  I guess everyone was worn out from Memorial Weekend.  Hank, our trusty dog, enjoyed going with them.

We enjoyed yummy campfire food.  Grandma and Grandpa showed up for a quick visit.  It was fun to see them.

We stayed warm and had fun.  I'm sure we will be going out again soon!

It's Garden Time

It's that time of year....We planted a little later than we normally do. We have had a lot of rain and wind. It is still freezing at night also. We did finally get it done this week though. It was a snap! This year we planted: Corn, potatoes, squash, zucchini, carrots, onions, cilantro, lettuce, radishes, green peppers and tomatoes. Liberty has big plans to make loads of salsa; one of her favorite foods. I just hope the tomatoes survive the wind, cold and the transplanting. Now we just need to weed consistently throughout the year...hmmmm.....

Feeding Baby Lambs

For four weeks we were able to help out some friends by bottle feeding some of their lambs while they worked during the day.  We learned a lot about sheep and baby lambs! What a neat experience. 

In exchange for feeding the lambs our friends are going to teach us how to spin wool and make hats out of it and other items.  What a great skill!  It has been on our list to learn so it was a win-win for us!

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day! We enjoyed the annual service at the community cemetary.   Mr. Patriot was again in the yearly memorial service.  Our little cemetary is filled with people I have know through out my life.  What a special time of year to think of them!

We also enjoyed a hot dog roast with family on our land later in the day.  One day we will actually live there! For now it is fun to go there and enjoy campfires with family though.