Catch Up!

It's been a little bit since my last post, so this will be a catch up one. We have sure been busy lately and I think it's just a life style change that I'm going to have to get used to. Wednesday's seem to be my one day a week that is not so hectic, and today we ended up with a doctor's appointment:(

This was an attempt of getting a picture of all of us that went on our last field trip to Lowell Observatory. To keep with our theme of studying the solar system, we went to our home town observatory, which is really pretty cool! (We discovered Pluto over here!) The kids highlights were watching some solar flares through a telescope, seeing the enormous telescopes, and of course our picnic at the park!

The two best buds in the world!

This is a picture of the girls at the "Science in the Park" on Saturday. They are fishing for Arizona's prize fish (and of course candy, too!). Flagstaff puts on an annual Science Festival where a good majority of the town participates. It goes on for 10 days, with several different activities every day. It's pretty neat and a little overwhelming. There is no way you could accomplish all the activities.

Here is the girls showing off their bird nest that they made. If you will notice, they used the pretty, man made feathers and lots of glitter. I tried to encourage them to use the real stuff, good leaves and sticks, but they told me they needed a beautiful nest! Daddy calls them a peacock nests!


Here is one of the birds that was at the park. Live owls always look fake to me! I seem to have to take a double look every time (are they really real?)

Tobyn just chilled through it all and was a good sport. He has found his tongue, can you tell?

This is us at the hospital's "Fantastic Voyage"! The hospital puts up stations throughout on the human body and teaching the kids about the medical field. I can tell you that Taylin, at this point in life, will not be our nurse or doctor. I think most of the stuff just scares her. She definitely did not want to have her ears checked, or blood pressure taken, and was just frighten at the sight of real vocal chords! Rayna on the other hand, was very eager to volunteer and was intrigued at most things.

Amongst all the busyness and outings, Tobyn managed to get his nap in. I think I've got another thumb sucker and a blankie boy! Well, I'm off to bed because we have another field trip in the morning!

Turning Over!

Tobyn's wiggling around so much now! He is getting good at turning himself in a 360! He is still working on turning from his back to his tummy, but he is getting close! He has pushed himself from his tummy to his back once, and he was so shocked at what he did! He hasn't been able to figure it out again, though!

You gotta love that face!

"Yeah, I did it!" (with a little help from mom!)

Field Trip to Meteor Crater

This past weekend on Saturday, Amanda and I took the kids to Meteor Crater. It's about a 45 minute drive away, so we loaded the kiddo's up in Amanda's suburban and headed out. Meteor Crater is a place where an asteroid hit the ground 50,000 years ago (? I guess if you choose to believe that) and there is basically a big hole in the ground. The kids definitely took the idea of a big hole in the ground home! Learning in action, right?! The kids had lots of fun hanging out with each other. Things are always so much better with close friends. There were a couple of strangers who looked at Amanda and I, and I think they thought we were crazy to have taken six young children out there by ourselves! Even with crying babies, runaway babies, and a few fits from no naps it was a successful event!

Standing in front of the meteor, you can see some of our obstacles we encountered! But hey, we're all in the picture! The funny thing is a couple had offered to take a picture for us and he really wanted to help us get a good picture, but I think Amanda and I just wanted it over as fast as we could to avoid anymore issues with the kiddo's! Six kids in one picture, not an easy task!

Best little buddies!

Hey, at least everybody is looking this time!

Sweet little Nathan loved exploring, too! Those cliffs just made his Mama a little nervous!

climbing around

Touching part of the meteorite that was left behind! The kids got to experiment with some of the meteorites in their interactive visitor center. They learned that the meteorite can actually act as magnet!

First Family Field Trip!

I guess one of the advantages of being home schooled is the opportunity to take a lot of field trips! We actually have several field trips planned for the coming weeks. The kids seem to retain things better when they are learned in action! We are currently studying the solar system (space), so on Friday night we had a family night and went out into the forest and had a camp out. We had hobo dinners cooked on the fire and roasted marshmellows! We then starred at the stars and tried to find the constellations and shooting stars! Taylin wasn't to thrilled with letting the fire go out so that we good see the stars better, but she was with being able to make out the big dipper for the first time! I think we all had a pretty good time, but as we were loading up, Daniel asked me if this field trip was for the girls or me? I guess I got a lot out of it!

Tobyn's already enjoying the wilderness! (I decided he needs a more manly beanie, though)

Even Chase got to come!

All three of them crashed out from their late night of star gazing!

Tobyn's 4 months!

Tobyn turned four months on Monday, can you believe it? I can't! Where does the time go! He is so precious. As of yesterday, he was 11lbs 12oz at his doctors visit. He still is barely on the growth charts, but he has grown considerably considering his start at 4lbs 2oz! He has almost tripled his birth weight, most babies don't do that until they are a year! He has a very sweet personality, very easy going and full of smiles that melt your heart! He makes everyone in our family stop when in passing just because he is too cute to pass by without talking to him. He loves his sisters and his daddy, and just within the last couple of weeks he has decided he is not to into strangers! He even cried at my mom! I don't remember that happening with the girls until they were older. Just today he has really been finding his voice and learning to squeal! It's actually very cute! If I was guaranteed another baby as easy as Tobyn I would do it, but for now I am loving every minute of him!

4 months ago! Look at the difference.

This morning!

It's been four months and the girls are just as enthralled with him!

First Day of School At CCA

Today was Taylin's first day of school at Cornerstone Christian Academy (an enrichment program that meets once a week for homeschoolers)! She had a blast! When I asked her what her favorite thing was, she said crafts! Go figure, I don't think I could have figured that one out!

Doesn't that face just say it all?

Hannah and Taylin before school

Our First Completed Unit!

On Friday the girls finished their first unit of school, Creation! They made cute creation books and they both did book reports on them with our friends the Finney's. Then to end our unit we went on a fun walk playing I Spy for things that God made and things that man made. The four of them then made a chart of those things! This week we're moving on to the sun!

The girls' books

Labor Day Weekend

Daniel went to California for labor day weekend for a high school friend's bachelor party and to hang out with his family, and I ended up with a house full! My sister's family and parents came up for the weekend (which was nice, I didn't desire to be alone). We attempted to get our boat working, but were not successful (which I guess was okay because it rained so much this weekend)! We did have lots of family time. We had a little family surprise party for my sister's birthday, we played lots of cards, went to church, the kids went to youth group activities and we did make it out to the county fair! They left on Monday evening, it's always so sad to see them go. But it was very nice to see Daniel come home on Tuesday evening. The kids were just as excited as they ran out to the car to greet him! I wish I had that on video!

At Lake Mary, Rayna loves her sand!

What do you do when the boat doesn't work?

A mud fight of course!

Playing pretty as a princess with the girls

If these aren't good cousins I sure don't know what is!

Dressing up sure is not their style, but they sure are good sports to make two little girls happy!

Tobyn loves all the extra attention!

Face painting at the fair! The girls thought they were so incredibly beautiful! They wouldn't let me wash it off at bedtime!

Riding a few rides at the fair!

First Week of School

We completed our first week of school last week and we are on to our second week! Things went fairly well, the girls were excited and enjoyed learning new things and I actually was patient (for the most part)! So, the nostalgia is over, and I'm praying that God continues to show up and help me keep their excitement and attention! I'll let you know how it goes!

The girls on the first day of school. We tried to make it exciting for them and let them pick out their own special clothes for the first day!
Our school room!