Rock Pounding 2013

Six weeks he waited for this hot dog!

One of the greatest things we have done while homeschooling is to go rock hounding with Grandpa Don and Grandma Meredith.  Anticipation for this great event started soon after Christmas, with Puppy and Grandma making a special trip to the military surplus store for supplies.  I don't think Puppy quite understood that the trip wouldn't be until mid-February.

For about six weeks he would say things like, "Mom, can we talk for a little while?"

"Well sure, honey, what is it?"

"Let's talk about what we're going to to on the rock pounding trip." (You gotta love Puppy speak.  The way he talks is so pronounced my cousin calls it an accent.)

Then we'd have a long talk about what he wanted to bring and what he wanted to do on this two-night three-day trip.  We were so worried he would end up disappointed.  Thankfully our worries were unfounded.  We had a great time!

We headed out to Barstow Thursday night, so we could get a good start in the morning.  Good thing we did, because it was COLD and WINDY out there!  We spent as much time in the car trying to get warm as we did out looking for specimens.

Friday morning found us in Boron, California.  That's right, home of 20 Mule Team Borax.  Cloth-diapering, laundry-soap-making mamas everywhere will tout its usefulness.  I had no idea that borax was used in things like fiberglass, enamel glazes, and in forming compounds during medical lab tests.  Watching their operations, even from a distance, was awe-inspiring.  It is amazing to little ol' me that Heavenly Father gave us an earth full of treasure and the intelligence to know what to do with them.  Plus, the giant tire out front was a great playground.  Some of the children thought that was their favorite part of the trip.  You can see from Steve's face that we old folks were suffering, though!

Giant tires are fun for the whole family

My enthusiastic Puppy

 The afternoon found us out in the desert.  This is always my favorite part, as I love treasure hunting in the desert.  In all my days I never thought that I would love visiting the desert, but I do!  I don't think I would like living there--it would be too hard to garden, but our two rock-pounding trips have been some of the happiest days of my life.  When my whole family is out in the desert, I feel close to the majesty of God's creation.  The desert is not a gentle place.  Winter's winds are harsh and penetrating.  Summer is deadly hot.  But the power of creation is made manifest in the striations of geologic time-mapping made evident only through great physical force from underneath the earth's surface.  You are put in your place as a speck in history as it were.  I like knowing how small I am sometimes.  It eases the worry that I am not doing enough to make my mark.

My mountain goats at the top of the hill

As wild as the desert is, I feel very, very safe there.  We always go in the winter before the snakes are out--really there is so little wildlife it is eerie.  The children love to climb to the very tip-top of the hills we are exploring.  They are like little mountain goats!  They have no fear, and they just hop around easily.  I don't even feel like I need to follow them.  I can see them and they can see me.  I have always loved the mountains and the ocean, and pretty much dismissed the desert as being just plain ugly.  But here's the thing.  In the mountains, the kids can't go far because you can't see them, and it is easy to become lost.  I love the ocean, but now that I have children I find it terrifying.  It's just me against five crazy kids and the untamed sea.  (Steve hates the beach--too much sand--so is never anxious to go.)  But out there on the desert, EVERYONE is happy.  Even Steve, and even little Mike.  He's as much mountain goat as the rest of them!  And he loves to pick up rocks and try to rub in the shine.  He inspects each rock very carefully.  Steve will disappear up cliffs and around the side of the hill, then come back with all sorts of interesting finds.  All that arrowhead hunting as a kid has given him a great eye!  My great dream is to someday find a desert tortoise.

Ree Rock (That's what he always says when he finds one)

This reminded us of a Roman temple

The highlight of Friday evening was crazy Mike pretending to eat pizza from the mural on the ceiling of the pizza place in Barstow.  He can be a real goofball sometimes!

Rocky ground-no sweat!

Some of the rock formations were green

Saturday we headed into Rainbow Basin.  There is no collecting allowed, but the rock formations are so interesting.  There are supposedly fossils out there, but we aren't really experienced enough to find them.  There was some good exploring to do and we were able to stop at the campground for the much-anticipated hot dog BBQ.  Grandma and Pup had bought a little disposable charcoal grill that made terrific little hot dogs!  Grandpa Don is the best grandpa ever, and had bought a little pop-up tent that he was willing to put up (in high winds, mind you) for the whole HOUR that we spent picnicking.  Picnicking makes it sound very relaxing, but in reality we spent most of our time chasing our garbage so as not to leave the campsite in worse shape than we found.  We're good scouts in this family.  Puppy was happy.  Grandma and I sighed in relief.  The Pupster had not been disappointed!

Dad and Steve talk rocks

Mom is always laughing at how many kids I try to fit in the tub

Saturday afternoon we visited Calico Ghost Town.  Although the town itself is mostly touristy gift shops, they did have a little train ride that showed more of the outlying town.  We were able to peek into some of the dens (for lack of a better word!) that the miners would "live" in.  Basically they would find an outcropping of rock and then build stone walls around the outer edges to create a very primitive sort of shelter.   The way wind blows up there, I would take any kind of shelter.  I'm sure the rocks would stay fairly cool in summer, too.  We went down an old mine shaft that has been preserved, and I wanted to cry the whole time.  Once again I am glad there are people made of sterner stuff than I am!  Calico was surprisingly low-key about exploration, so the kids were able to practice their mountain goat skills (haha, get it?) some more.  I stayed at the bottom and hyperventilated.  We had quite a good dinner at the restaurant there, too.  My pulled pork sandwich was very good!

We came home Saturday night, ready for a full day of singing for ward conference.  The girls were all in the choir.  Singing "Beautiful Savior" with my children seemed a fitting end for a weekend filled with the wonder of God's creation.


Thank you Grandpa Don for helping us take these wonderful  trips.  I hope there are many more to come!  Grandma Meredith, I'm so glad you come and share your story-telling with the children.  We love you both so much!

Face Your Fears in 2013

Our motto for the year is inspired by Aunt Emily's chance encounter with a possum while staying at our house. Index finger thrusting toward the garage, Puppy instructed his aunt: "Face your fears!"  He wasn't going to let an ol' possum keep her from getting him his ice cream!

It works really well because you can yell it at the hesitant child and they think you are being funny, not mad.  Humor always helps, right?  We've already used it in several circumstances including going to primary, going to the dentist, returning to homeschool and eating hamburgers.

Puppy's Birthday Party Was a MONSTER Hit!

We had a few of Puppy's little friends over in the morning for a monster-themed party.  The older girls proved that they really know how to throw a party.  We spent a month brainstorming ideas, and then Lauren and Liffy went to work.  They had a bean bag toss, and pin the eyeball on the monster, we made monster masks and feet and then hunted down a homemade monster pinata.  Caroline enjoyed having one of her friends accompany her little brothers to the party.  Puppy was so sweet when he opened his gifts.  He would look right at the giver, then reach out and touch their hand as he said his thank yous.  We ended with pizza and monster cupcakes, of course!  The goody bags were monster crayon totes that I stitched up in a threadstorm the week before the party.  It was fun to sew again, but I can see why I haven't sewn since I started homeschooling! 

Later we went to the park where Puppy got a bicycle!  I thought for sure the bike would be a waste, but he wanted it so bad we bought him one anyway.  Turns out he's really good at it!  It has training wheels, of course, but he figured out how to pedal and turn really quickly.  He rides almost every day.  He wears his helmet--and a life jacket--every time he rides!  Michael enjoyed riding the baby seat on Grandma's, now Lauren's, bike.  I even rode a little, and I haven't ridden a bike in years.  Our tradition is to fly a kite at the park for Pup's birthday, since that is what the girls were doing with Grandpa when they heard the news about a little brother. 

Puppy's birthday was a wonderful day.  You just couldn't have asked for a nicer day.  We love that four-year-old boy of ours!  Just don't call him James.

Here's Looking at You, Kid

Just for you, Mom!

Cloud Watching

  

on a lovely spring afternoon

Thankful for:

• cardboard
• kitchen windows that overlook the back yard
• chickens that go back in their coop at night
• my dad-he's coming tomorrow to make over my laundry closet!
• dead electronics cum homeschool science activity 

Puppy Makes Pancakes

 

I totally rocked preschool homeschool for about fifteen minutes last week.  Puppy and I read Curious George Makes Pancakes, then we made "pancakes" complete with blueberries.  Puppy even fashioned a griddle out of construction paper and flipped pancakes with an honest-to-goodness pancake turner.  He never gets that job!  Our fantastic blueberry pancakes were then smothered with syrup--just like a pancake ought to be.  This was a really fun activity for a little boy who doesn't like all those adorable (to me) printables that you find on the internet.  This boy just wants to PLAY!  The only problem was we were having so much fun that we distracted the older children from their SERIOUS studies.

Mike's New Hangout

Michael really likes it under the kitchen sink.

What the Girls Are Up To

Lauren made this doll for a friend who was having her tonsils removed. She works so hard on her things!

Caroline sewed herself a little kitty cat doll. It was her first big project.

Liffy shows up every morning with a new crocheted dishcloth for me. Hooray! I needed some of those!

Puppy

In his wimmin wrunks.

Ain't She Great?

Lauren wrote a persuasive essay for school.  For your reading enjoyment, I present to you:

Why You Should Have Children

 By:  Lauren Haskins

Can you wait until Mother’s and Father’s day? Children take this kind of thing seriously. You may think children are hard.  Children can be at times, but mostly they're sweet and loving.  Here is a small introduction on what we'll be talking about today-first, I explain how being a parent helps you become a responsible person. Next, I explain how children are "a blast to the past."  Lastly, I want to discuss other people’s opinion about children.  I believe children can be exciting and fun.

                Having children helps you become a responsible person.  Children need to be taken care of. First, it's part of life to get sick.  Children need extra help when they are sick. Children also need to be cleaned up after. Kids do make messes, and they can be stubborn and not pick up. Last, children need to be fed. This makes you responsible for this one reason—children can be very picky. This makes it your job to satisfy their every needs.

                Having children also provides you with "a blast to the past." Children can be a window showing you your childhood.  You're able to play games such as tag, baseball, and childish board games. Children love cartoons—they'll expect you to watch. You may not always want to, but you will find they are funnier than they seem.  Lastly, you read books to your children. My mother reads children’s books to make sure they are appropriate for me to read.

                Some people believe that children have downsides. They think children make a lot of messes. Children also get sick a lot and their stomachs are weaker than grownups. Children also need constant attention and can also ask for things in a negative way.  All of these reasons are why being a parent is so satisfying.  Children need a lot of love and care and they need good people to give children that care. Even that seems hard sometimes, but I think parenting brings a lot of happiness and love.

Children start new lives and many new opportunities. I believe children are fun and exciting! I believe there are various reasons you should consider having children. I have described the joy of having children to the best of my ability. Remember, children keep this world alive. Happy Mother's and Father's day!

Flying Kites

We fly a kite for Puppy's birthday.  The girls were flying a kite when they heard the news of a baby brother.  He brings so much joy and sweetness to our lives!

Easter Sunday

Easter

By: Liffy Haskins

        This is a little story about Easter. Jesus did many miracles for people.  Before Jesus died he atoned for our sins.  He also had the last supper with his apostles.  That is why we partake of the sacrament every Sunday.  The bread represents his body and the water represents his blood.  But three days before Easter, Jesus died on the cross.  He died on the cross because lots of people didn’t believe him; mostly, the king did not believe him.   Lots of people were very sad after Jesus died.  The people that were very, very sad were his parents and his apostles.  On Easter, Jesus was resurrected.  And that is Easter’s real meaning.

Three Years

Puppy's Birthday is today!  Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we?

Three years ago.  Daddy is surprised at how much he likes being the proud papa of a baby BOY!

He walked at nine months, and on his 1st birthday he amazed us by climbing up the slide!

At two he was fascinated by oo-ahs.  But I couldn't find an oo-ah, so the girls and I took him to a zoo with some farm animals.  I think he had a good time, what do you think? 

And now?  Well, this just may be our best year yet!

Piano Baby

Mikey-Mikey Sitting Up

I LOVE THIS BABY! (it's a good thing he's cute, though)

Caroline says his eyes look like M & M's.  Funny Mikey.

Even Michael Has Homework Already!

Lauren and Michael

He's already doing fifth grade math!  Seriously, though, isn't Lauren just so cute doing her homework while holding Michael?  

We really like the new table, but the floor is not holding up at all to more regular use, just look at that!  Someday...

Two Boys

James and Michael

When I hold Michael (which makes it sound like I sometimes don't hold Michael--hah!), James likes to climb on my lap and say, "Two boys," in a very satisfied way.  (Someone help me, I still don't know how to punctuate properly; and I think I gave all my style guides away long ago.)   I think he's glad there are two boys.  I'm glad, too.

12 Years Ago

I love this picture.  After three years of waiting, we were finally married!  When the children see this picture they say two words:  temple and happy.  I think that just about sums it all up.  

12 years and five children and a whole lot of water under the bridge have given us more perspective and understanding.  We love the family we have created and look forward to seeing where it all leads.

A Small and Simple Thing

 

James Built a Temple

James tells me that this is a temple.  We've taken the children to visit the Los Angeles Temple twice since Michael was born. In August, just before Liffy was baptized, Lauren gave a us special tour of the temple grounds based on the tour she led for the primary back in June.  What a great experience that was for her.  I'm so grateful for inspired Primary leaders who had the older Primary children lead the younger children on the tours.  She learned so much about the temple from it, but the most important lesson she learned is that testimonies are strengthened when they are borne.  We enjoyed spending that afternoon at the temple with our family.  

Our Family (I promise we're all there)

On Steve's birthday we took a special trip to the newly re-opened Visitor's Center at the Los Angeles temple.  What a lovely place to spend an afternoon.  The Church has created a marvelous center for learning more about the Gospel and its purpose.  There were so many things to see and do, we're going to need to take a second trip!  

These early experiences with the temple clearly have an effect, since James now builds temples out of blocks.  I hope the time spent learning about the temple will carry my children through more treacherous stages of their life.