Rachel's Party

Rachel decided that she was going to have a party this year. And she started inviting people over a month in advance. She made little notes herself and handed them out. It was hilarious. Of course, we had to make a few changes. She wanted to do it at the park...which is not possible in the cold of the winter here in November. So we had it at home. And I had a blast finding fun ideas on pinterest. The biggest trick was keeping David out of the cake! All the girls had a great time. I made fairy headbands for all the guests and they looked so cute! We played Fairy Bingo and Don't Eat the Fairy (don't eat pete) I busted out with a banner and some decorations. The girls I am sure didn't care about those, but the moms all appreciated my efforts. (Hey, I'm a Minson...we love to have parties :)). And Jacob was our Photographer. He's getting good! We painted everyone's face which was a total hit. Thank you to my sister in law Audrey for giving me courage to try it. We love it. I can't believe Rachel is 6!!!!

Rachel Nicole McNeill. Born November 3, 2005. We called her Rachel Nicole for months after she was born, never just Rachel. She gave us quite a scare as a baby with breathing issues and having Bronchiolitis, and many other things... she was always such a Calm baby. She certainly is Strong Willed NOW! She is my self-motivated child. Always wanting to be helpful. Always hurring to get her work done. (Good thing too because she can leave quite the tornado in her wake!) She loves to play with our little Baby P we babysit. She loves to play Barbie's and Pet shop's and to Draw. She is quite the artist! She reads... A LOT!!! She is super smart and always has been. She is a beautiful girl who loves to do her hair and wear skirts...every day of the week!

We LOVE YOU RACHEL!

School pictures

Rachel, loves to learn. She is on the last unit of her math book that she started in the end of May. She loves to read and play dolls and play the piano. She's a get it done kind of girl. She loves to lay on my lap and snuggle (when she can get David off my lap!) She is in Dance with her best friend Graycie. I can't believe she is not yet 6!

Abigail is my Mini Me. She's determined and kind hearted, and oh so sassy! She is reading the Little House on the Prairie Series. She is 3 books in and loving it. She reads to Rachel every night. She too is taking Dance and loving it. She's my helper. She loves to crochet and is working on a baby doll blanket.

Can you say trouble! David is a wreck! He is totally addicted to starfall and can navigate the whole site. He is so good at memory games. ( I think Rachel must have passed that gene on to him!) He loves to wrestle and have "his piano time!" He's all boy. And he melts my heart. He loves to be read to and wants 3 books every chance he gets.

Boy is this kid an athlete. Jacob excels in every thing he tackles. He just has to decide he wants to! He's been earning money to buy a new mega dega scooter and he can hardly think about any thing else! In the car, during school, at mealtimes, If he could yell to me from the shower, it would be about the scooter! He is a great brother to his little brother and he makes sure to torture his sisters like every big brother should. 

We are enjoying homeschooling. I love being able to spend so much time with my kids. They are really good about helping me get some down time in the afternoons before the craziness of piano lessons begins.
Winslow just finished a record month in the office. HURRAY!  We are so proud of him!
We are anxiously awaiting our trip to grandma and grandpa Minson's house in Wyoming!
In the mean time we have been camping up a storm and hauling wood. DIRTY!!!!! I am so grateful my washer and dryer have held up to the task!

Getting it together!

This summer has been awesome! We have really enjoyed swim lessons and now all three of my big kids know how to swim. (Jacob already knew how, but now he is KILLER! He is so fast. I wish we had a pool closer so he could be on swim team.) I broke down and paid for David to take lessons. It was worth every penny. He was hilarious!! I myself got VERY WET when we would attend family swim. It was a great time for me to help the kids practice what they had learned. Jacob really enjoyed jumping and diving off the HIGH DIVE with his friends. We spent hours every day playing at the St. John's park. And we made lots of friends while we were there. My new friend Mendie was predestined to be my friend. I'm sure of it! It was super fun for me to spend time with her and pick her brain about home schooling while our kids rode scooters around the park.
I decided to keep Rachel home this year. She is doing so well with the homeschooling and because we are doing the Co-Op, I wanted her to get to be a part of it too. (plus she's so stinkin smart!) We are LOVING the Explode the Code Books. (Mom's this is a great one for teaching your child phonics!!!! Rachel is a big fan!)

We went to Albuquerque and to Grants last weekend where all of Winslow's siblings and spouses attended a sealing session with his parents. It was so incredible. Amazing feelings were had by all! We are so looking forward to Bryant and Audrey having their new baby sealed to them next month!!!
The biggest excitement of the weekend was Winslow and Clifton being "detained" (meaning handcuffed and placed in the back of a police cruiser) for shooting at a train. Okay so what they were actually doing was shooting out the car window with a blow gun (which isn't actually Shooting it's DARTS for heaven's sake!) and they were aiming at PRARIE DOGS!!! But a concerned citizen decided they were armed and dangerous! So the police came to check it out. Kind of funny when it was OVER!

I am trying to learn the art of Sourdough. Any helpful suggestions are welcome :)

Winslow has been super busy at the office and we are VERY GRATEFUL!

We went camping this weekend and RACHEL, JACOB, and ABBY all went down the ZIP LINE. They are braver than I am. And the Bishop and our ward PILOT flew overhead and dropped candy from an airplane! Super Fun!

What have you loved about summer?

Sunday

So it's Sunday. Let me take you on a tour thru my home. Abby's playing chords on the piano over and over, because I finally got off the piano after playing and singing for at least an hour. Dinner has not yet been put away, my crochet project is sitting on the couch begging me to finish it. David's couch and tent are in the hallway, there is a large train set up in the girl's room and David, Rachel, and Jacob are watching a movie in my room. And for all the craziness of the day, it's all right. Another half hour and I will round them all up and we will tidy it all up. The sun is beginning to set and the weather is perfect (sorry I have to brag a little, during the winter I'll be wanting to switch places to where it is warmer.)

Today I heard Angels sing. Our primary is so amazing. 3 year olds singing their very best so they can get a turn to pick a song out of my magic pocket apron. Super cute nursery boys and girls singing Scripture power and pumping their fists into the air. It melts my heart. And then Senior primary singing with all the energy of their hearts Love is Spoken here. That song gets me every time!

Winslow and I went prairie dog shooting this weekend and the only one I got was running when I shot it! Winslow loves to go shooting and I enjoy the time with him. I must say the tender part of me prefers to shoot targets :)

We have been taking Swim lessons in St. John's. The kids have had a lot fun learning. Our town hasn't had a pool in three years so it was time my kids learned to swim (only Jacob already knew how.) Tomorrow we will begin our second session. I gave in and David will be taking a preschool class (blow bubbles, jump in, etc) He's been such a trooper this last session to sit and watch everyone else swim.

Piano lessons have started and I am crossing my fingers that we can juggle it all. I am watching one little baby a couple of times a week. (have I mentioned that yet?) Anyway, he is sweet as can be and we all look forward to the days he is here at our home. (It's lets me have a baby and still get sleep at night!)

Homeschooling is going well. I am looking at adding Explode the Code for Rachel. And we are joining a Co-Op in St. John's of homeschoolers. I'm really looking forward to it. The main lady Mendie is a Charlotte Mason follower so it's been fun to pick her brain. Thank you Sandy for the advice to start off slow. My kids may start freaking out when they realize there is more to come ha ha ha. It's been pretty easy to do math, english, and reading all summer. I bought an inexpensive laminater from Wal-Mart and I am enjoying being able to finally print and protect all the files I have been saving!

I am working on getting my body into better shape. I am hoping to get a bike and a trailer to go biking with my kids. Looking to set up another trip to the Grand Canyon as a motivator, or maybe we'll pick somewhere new.

There are moments I am totally in love with my children and moments I see my younger self in their bickering and fighting and I want to pull my hair out in frustration. But I know the moments are fleeting and I am trying to enjoy each moment as I feel them slipping by all to fast!

moving in and out

Add caption

Cabin in Heber

making Snow Cones

So now begins the work of moving everything back in. Winslow's parents were fabulous enough to come to our house and help Winslow pack up tons of our stuff and take it to their house in NM in case the fire made it into town. Now comes the fun part, putting it all back! In the mean time I've decided it's time to clear out a lot of excess clutter that is in our home. I've filled three bags so far. Pictures of the fire to come later. Thank you so much everyone for your emails, phone calls, dinners, prayers, and for all your love! We are so very blesssed

Homeschool Plans

So what I have found out with home school is...

That you can drown in the amount of info there is

Each child is different in what they like and what the need

You can spend a whole lot of money or not, depending on your likes and dislikes

And everyone home schools differently

 

I have struggled and prayed and prayed more and spent hours and hours searching thru reviews and blogs and talking to trusted and loved friends who are homeschooling their own children in order to make good decisions for our family.

So for any of you who are interested here is our plan

I am loosely following the Charlotte Mason philosophy. 

English/Grammar/Spelling is accomplished thru dictation, copywork, and memorization of scripture and classical poems. I am using Milestones English Language Lessons for the LDS Child  to accomplish this. Rachel is working on the Writing Road to Reading for Phonics and writing letters ( she is just learning the phonics cards, we aren't writing all the rules I'm not sure how in depth we'll get, but I like it.)Rachel is a game person so I have been making up games for her to play. I made flash cards for all the phonics (my book is borrowed so I needed to make my own set anyway) I plan to laminate them and then put magnets on the back so she can switch them around to make words (nonsense or real) on our white board. I have downloaded tons of phonics pdfs from K and 1st grade websites. Rachel is good to go after learning the rules once and I want her to have fun stuff she can do while I am working with Abby and Jacob.

We are using Math U See (which is a hands on planned math curriculum) Thanks Mindy for introducing this to me. Rachel has been doing the program for a little over a week. SHE LOVES IT and Jacob and Abby are itching to start!

We will be reading Classical books both individually and aloud. 

We will be studying US History and Geography ( I have a book for that too that I will be borrowing and we will learn the states and capitals but not until this fall). And reading the Doctrine and Covenants for our morning Devotional. (again in the fall) for the Summer I have printed out all the Articles of Faith and we will be memorizing 1 each week. So each morning for devotional we will talk about what the A of F means and do lessons on them.

And I am looking into science programs, but we won't do that either until the fall (we are going to enjoy as much outside time as we can!) (I have a book I can borrow from a friend called All God's Creations so we may do that.) For the summer (for science) they will each have a journal and we are doing Square Foot Gardening. They will each be in charge of a box and will need to water it, tend it, and record the growth progress of their plants, and of course they'll help harvest it too! I hope to also take them on some hikes for nature. 

We plan to do swim lessons and ride bikes to the park daily (in the morning!) for exercise. It sounds like a lot, but each child has a daily and weekly schedule that allows me individual time with each and some things we do all together. Oh... and all three are taking piano lessons. Whew! 

The only program I have had to buy was Math U See. I am very impressed with their stuff, everything else I have borrowed (MELL I downloaded the file and they copy it into their own composition book.) So we'll see how it goes and switch things around as necessary!

Each child has a tote with all their individual stuff in it (just a small tote that easily fits into the book shelf. Remember I don't have a lot of extra room!) 

For those of you who are super interested here is our summer schedule

(please note, for the summer "science" is just writing down their observations and drawing pictures of what their garden looks like, might take 15 minutes max!) Also note because we will be spending time with swimming lessons and at the park, these activities will not necessarily be all in one block of time. For example I plan to do scripture study in the morning before we play at the park, Then the first block of time may two blocks before lunch, then everything else later in the afternoon.

You may think I'm crazy, but I have to have a schedule so I don't feel overwhelmed. I may write up a totally new one in 2 weeks, but for now it helps me feel in control of my life. My kids do very well during the summer when they know what comes next. Having a schedule made all the difference for us. Plus I'm a control freak. LOL!

Monday

Rachel

Abby

Jacob

15-20 minutes

Family Scripture Memorization and Scripture Reading

20-30 minutes

Math & or WRTR

Copywork

Dictation

30-45 minutes

Reading & Comp Time

Math/English

Play with David

30-45 minutes

Handicraft/ Game or Flashcards

Play with David and Rachel

Math/ Grammar

30-45 minutes

Reading

Reading

30-45 minutes

Tuesday

Rachel

Abby

Jacob

15-20 minutes

Family Scripture Memorization and Scripture Reading

20-30 minutes

Math & or WRTR

Copywork

Typing

30-45 minutes

Reading & Comp Time

Math/Read

Play with David

30-45 minutes

Free Play

Play with David and Rachel

Math

30-45 minutes

Science

Science

30-45 minutes

Handicraft

Reading

Wednesday

Rachel

Abby

Jacob

15-20 minutes

Family Scripture Memorization and Scripture Reading

20-30 minutes

Math & or WRTR

Copywork

Dictation

30-45 minutes

Reading & Comp Time

Math/Read

Play with David

30-45 minutes

Handicraft/ Game or Flashcards

Play with David and Rachel

Math

30-45 minutes

Reading

30-45 minutes

Thursday

Rachel

Abby

Jacob

15-20 minutes

Family Scripture Memorization and Scripture Reading

20-30 minutes

Math & or WRTR

Copywork

Typing

30-45 minutes

Reading & Comp Time

Math/Read

Play with David

30-45 minutes

Free Play

Play with David and Rachel

Math/Grammar

30-45 minutes

Science

Science

30-45 minutes

Reading

Friday

Rachel

Abby

Jacob

15-20 minutes

Family Scripture Memorization and Scripture Reading

20-30 minutes

Math & or WRTR

Copywork

Reading

30-45 minutes

Reading & Comp Time

Math/Read

Play with David

30-45 minutes

Handicraft/ Game or Flashcards

Play with David and Rachel

Math/Grammar

30-45 minutes

30-45 minutes

Catching Up

Okay, I know it has been forever since I took time to catch up. This last week our computer was infected with a nasty virus and we had to wipe it all, so it's going to take me some time to put up pictures but I will try to catch up on all that's been going on.

We have been traveling nearly every weekend and although we have enjoyed our adventures, I am so excited for some time home. In December we learned Winslow's parents were going to sell some property they owned. But it involved a huge project. The amazing husband that I have has given many of his weekends to helping his parents. The kids and I were able to go with him some of those weekends and enjoy time with Grandma and Grandpa. Winslow also coached Jacob's basketball team during this time. 

I decided to get politically involved with the schools and help look for solutions to the every growing Budget issues and the need to increase the quality of our education in our schools.

I have been babysitting 4 extra kids and putting together an Etsy shop and selling custom orders every week to people just here in town. AND drumroll please, getting ready to homeschool my kids. This has been a big decision, one that has been months in planing, praying, and preparing. I am grateful for so many fabulous friends who have supported me and helped me navigate my way thru the many many many options. My kids are so excited for homeschooling to start. I believe that homeschooling is such a PERSONAL decision. Everyone I know has different reasons for homeschooling their children and each of these reasons are individual for each family and child. I would have thought you were crazy if you told me 5 years ago that I would be homeschooling. But since then I have had seeds planted that this last year grew very strongly in my heart. And I feel impressed that this is the time for me to spend with my children.

This month I have also had the opportunity to sing with an amazing singer Nancy Davis. I was very humbled when she asked me to sing with her for her father in law's funeral. And later in the month we sang for the Adult session of stake conference. 

We were impressed to go to Bryant and Audrey's baby blessing in COLORADO where we spent fun time with all of Winslow's family.

This last weekend we went to Albuquerque to the Zoo and the Natural History Museum with Abby's second grade class. Winslow's mom and his sister Evelyn (and her kids :)) came and joined us at the zoo. Ev and I spent Saturday together shopping all around town and enjoyed going to bead stores. 

And Sunday Mike and Kara came to visit us with their family. 

2 weeks from now is the Regional Dance Festival for which Winslow and I have been dance instructors for the RHUMBA for the last 2 months every Wednesday night for Mutual. 

My dishwasher has been out since Mother's Day and I've been washing dishes by hand and longing for the ease of my dishwasher ( I've lived YEARS without it, but I sure do miss it, it takes so much more time to wash it all by hand and my dry hands and tired feet are anxious for tomorow when it should FINALLY be fixed!)

We've been working hard getting our garden starts so we can plant a garden this weekend among the many house projects that have been left undone with all the traveling.

Busy Busy Busy!

Spring Break Friends

 

 

Okay so if you've already read Mary's Blog

then you have seen these pictures. But let me tell you my side of the story :)

Mary is a fabulous friend! 

It was she who reconnected with me after both of us having moved and lost contact. (we had email contact but when I was working I pretty much lost contact with the world I was so busy! Thank you to all my fabulous friends who hung in there during that year and a half!)

Mary and Jeremy came up to go camping by Big Lake and they took the time to come see us. 

Well that was all it took. Mary added me to her friends and family plan and when one of my good friends moved far to the Phoenix Valley I started calling Mary to get me thru some of those crazy moments in life. 

Mary gives me lots of inspiration to be a better mom. And she shares some of my same anxieties!!!! : ).

We have enjoyed spending time with the Saline family both at their house and at ours, Our kids actually thought they were our cousins because we spend so much time with them. They are great friends and we really enjoy their company. 

Mary and I love to play the "if we were neighbors game." Since we live so far away we know exactly what we would do if we were neighbors. Including Pepsi Runs for those days when motherhood is a little overwhelming. Dinners out just us girls. Baking, Laughing, swapping, homeschooling our children together, and much much more! But for now since we live so far apart, we pretend during our times together, that we're neighbors, till the short time together comes to an end, and then we go back to phone calls and letters and emails and blogs that allow us to enjoy being close even when we are far apart.

This year for Spring Break I desperately needed a break from LIFE!

I was totally burnt out on babysitting (I've had 9.5 hour plus days since Jan and it was taking it's toll as well as cold cold weather that had kept us cooped up inside!) I have taken on a HUGE project of helping research the 4 day school week for our district. And I was ready for no phone calls, no extra responsibilities and some R and R!

So, we planned to go down to Pima, AZ and see the Salines over the end  of Spring Break. Well, then I got a call from my Babysitting Mom and she didn't need me for the last half of the week. Poor Winslow, I left him home and got the heck out of DODGE! To Mary's house I ran, well drove. The only real tragedy was that I left my purse at home. Thankfully I brought my wallet!

Mary and I spent hours chatting and rocking on her outside rockers and we watched the kids build forts in the playhouse, swing on swings, jump on the trampoline, and even run in the sprinklers. (it was too cold for me!)

We went the to Temple and Mary made all sorts of Yummy food. Her chicken salad was the best I have ever had. We made fry bread. Mary taught me to make HOMEMADE YOGURT. We crocheted. We really did laugh so so so hard at movies. The kids had a fantastic time. No expensive theme park or grandiose trip necessary. Just good friends. good Food, and good times.

We've decided we must do it again!

Thankyou to Jeremy who watched all 10 kids while we went GIRL SHOPPING and I found the cutest pairs of pants for a steal of a deal!!!

Thankyou to the whole Saline family for putting up with us for 4 days. Thankyou to my wonderful husband who knew how much I needed the break.
I came back refreshed and ready to take on the world again.

Talented

I am so amazed by the talents of my friends. Today I will be showcasing the fabulous Talents of my good friend Mindy Kidd. Having known Mindy since I was nine I know she is extremely talented in many aspects of her life. She is a fantastic pianist, she has a beautiful singing voice, she can dance (which I've always admired, because I only aspire to dance :)), she knows how to make people feel special, she is loving, kind, and compassionate. She is a wonderful mother who spends lots of time with her children and inspires me to be a better mother. She is indeed a true friend. One of her many many talents is photography. So if you live her way (South Jordan Utah) or know anyone who does. Send them her way. She does amazing things, and captures true beauty!
Recently Mindy took some pictures for me for my crochet shop. THANKS MINDY!!!! and here are the results of her amazing work~

Miabella Portraits

(801) 707-1048

to see more of her Incredible work go here www.miabellaportraits.com

or Check out her blog:  www.miabellaportraits.com/blog

Call Today for your family, wedding, baby, any occasion pictures!!!!

A new View

I got to go to the Gila Valley Temple Friday. Amazing. Mary, Jeremy, and I all did initiatory work. The temple workers were so wonderful. I felt so strongly the powers of Heaven at work. Needless to say by the time we were through I was bawling. Such powerful blessings are bestowed upon us within these sacred walls. Every time I go to the temple I feel a renewed sense of my purpose here on earth. I want to be better. I want to refocus my life. I feel so loved. How grateful I am to be sealed to my family FOREVER!

Old Maid

So... I played Old Maid this weekend. I think it was my first time. Winslow and Jacob had gone to NM for Saturday. So it was just me, the girls, and David. It was sooo quiet! I got so much done. Washed EVERYONE's Bedding, switched out mattresses on the kids' beds, mopped floors, did a gazillion loads of laundry. Learned how to make my own games from cool new clipart. (see older posts). And played games with the girls. We had fun playing old maid. Especially after I realized there were more directions on the back of the card. Ha ha ha! It was funny to watch the kids worry about if they were going to be the last one left with the old maid. We played it again on Sunday. Jacob loved it. It's such an easy game to play.
I kind of feel like an old maid. David has energy for days and I have been so tired lately. ( Probably because i stay up so late Crocheting!)
We've also added a new addition to our house. "His name is TOBY." David named him and has refused to entertain any other ideas. So, Toby it is! He's a fun cat and the kids really love him. Winslow (not the cat lover in our family) constantly finds the cat on his lap or under his feet, vying for his attention. The cat loves him. HA!
I am so excited to finally have an ORANGE cat. I love orange cats.

It's Spring Break and we are surviving WIND! Holy wind batman! We might blow away. No JOKE! So we played games inside and did some tidying of the house and tried to call Grandma for her birthday. Tomorrow's low is supposed to be 19! Yikes, a little too chilly for me. We are excited to spend time with the Saline's and visit the Temple. And I get my piano tuned this week. YEAH!

Getting Ready for Etsy

okay so i have been trying to set up Shop. If any of you have done this before please feel free to leave helpful comments and tips! I found Photoshop Online today. SOO helpful, so I tried my hand at some easy photo editing. WAY better than getting lost in my editing program. (I spent an hour trying it that way first!) Here are some photos I worked with. Obviously the last two needed a different background. We'll do that next.
Mindy that's your diaper cover directly below.

The Miracle

I'm so happy to share with you our happy happy news!!!! Some of you may have noticed the HOPING TO ADOPT link on my side bar. Winslow's brother and his wife have been wanting to adopt for some time. Their story is amazing. Their first precious angel only spent a few brief moments here with us on earth. I still recall with tears that day in the hospital holding his tiny, tiny body. His mother sacrificed so much for this little one to gain a body. Doctors told them they should end the pregnancy as it posed a great risk to Audrey's health. With much prayer and fasting, they knew this little baby needed only to come to earth to gain his body and then to leave this mortal life. Audrey's life was in terrible danger and finally it was time for him to be delivered. It was a precious and amazing experience. I am grateful I got to be there to share. Because of complications of their first pregnancy, every pregnancy after that was precarious and often life threatening. 3 more wonderful children entered into their family, but not without some very scary times. We almost lost Audrey multiple times.Although Audrey and Bryant knew that it was not safe for Audrey to continue to carry a baby, they felt so strongly that their family wasn't finished. They have been on the waiting list for over 4 years. They have "matched" a couple of times but things haven't worked out. Just a few months ago they matched again. And once again there was heartache, decisions were changed. And then a miracle took place. Thru the adoption that fell thru a new opportunity arose that otherwise would not have been there. And 2 weeks ago Audrey and Bryant drove hundreds of miles to welcome their new baby into their family!
Adoption is a huge part of my family. I am so grateful for this miracle in the lives of those I love! I am so happy for Audrey and Bryant and for their new sweet baby.
CONGRATULATIONS GUYS WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

Farmer Sequence Game

Okay so I made this game today. I'm trying to get ready for next fall with Home Schooling and Teaching Preschool etc. I decided that for Preschool I want to send home a file folder game every month.This was my first try. I learned a lot. I also learned that I may have to save my pesos and get Adobe. I have a free program called Gimp and it worked fine...but it doesn't save in PDF so in order to upload it to SCRIBD to save it, I had to make it into a Word Doc. Then I learned I should have made it 1 Word doc and not 4. Sorry. Well, I hope you enjoy it. I am sure excited to use it. Sequence is Rachel's favorite game. My brother Mike and his wife Kara have Sequence States and Capitols. AWESOME!!! What a great learning tool!

Farmer Sequence Game

Farmer Playing Cards 1

Farmer Playing Cards 2

Farmer Sequence Game Instructions

Rachel's new hat

Rachel loves to be my hat model. I've been trying out a new pattern with a brim. I use all my odds and ends to do my trail ones. Rachel LOVED this one so she is excited to get to keep it! what a fun girl!