Check, check

Today Will and I weeded the flower gardens together...here's a bit of the dialogue:
"Mom, I am movin' right along."
"Awesome, Will."
"You can't even catch up to me Mom. See look, I'm on Cassie's(next door neighbor) rocks now! They've got some weeds too. Should I do some so-viss (service)?"
"Great idea Will."
"O.K."

On the way home from our hikes (two small ones) the kids were being a tad unruly which ensued a little "let's be grateful and not demanding so that Mom will still want to take you places" talk by Adam. Two minutes later Will says from the back seat, "Mother dear...." I can't even remember what he asked for but I was shocked into laughter.

Check for service. Check for "UP" words. Will's happy and so am I.

UP summer adventure

Here is what my kids are working on this summer. I planned it after we saw the movie UP. And for those of you who have done the health challenge, you'll recognize a few of the parts.
They get a check for each thing and if they get 9 checks in a day, they get a balloon on the board. 18 balloons means they've earned a bottle of pop with a bottle cap and an adventure.
physical:
1. exercise
2. an in n' out job (we rotate inside jobs/outside jobs daily)
3. eat healthy
spiritual:
4. search (scripture study)
5. ponder
6. pray
Mental/emotional:
7. learn (read)
8. special project (anything from the boys taking something apart to Bridget writing a story)
Social:
9. one on one family time
10. UP words
11. service

It's working quite well. They earned their first adventure on Thursday. They each got a cream soda (with a bottle cap of course) and then we hiked to see Bridal Veil Falls (walked a few hundred yards, rather). Then we went to the Draper Library and found some books...the kids were so excited about their finds. Then we found a baseball diamond where the kids raced from base to base, then we found a park to play on and went home. It was fulfilling! Everyone was exhausted and happy!

P.S. The kids set up air mattresses in the basement the Sunday after school got out and have been sleeping on them ever since. It's now the bunk house. I love it because it's easier to read to them when they are all in the same room. And the best part is their rooms are staying spick and span! I love summer!

Spring Break

Whew...prepare yourself...there are alot of pictures here. And a bit out of order. For example...no, the kids did not take a long nap in the middle of the day at Disneyland...that is the night before when we arrived late and they were out the second their heads hit the pillow.

A few fun notes...
About a half an hour after Will attempted to pull the sword out of the stone...we were trying to decide what to do next and Will said, "I want to go back and see if anyone got the sword out yet!"

Luke tried skim boarding and loved it. You throw the board down on the thin sheet of water that's left behind as the tide is going out and jump on it for a ride. (basically)


Luke took all the star wars pictures. We hope the little boys enjoy them. He and Will loved the experience of watching the Jedi train kids who were able to fight off Darth Vader and Darth Maul. Will continues to practise his new lightsaber fighting skills on me...."Right shoulder, Left shoulder, right leg, left leg...he's awesome at it."

More journaling to come...