:: day trip ::

One day we went to work with Jeremy up to another mine for him to give a training.  We played at the parks and enjoyed the library for the day.  Then after work we went up and he showed the kids the pit of the mine.  It was such a great day together and a little getaway for me.  I love to have my kids all together having fun.  I imagine that is how heaven is when we are all able to have our families together again.

He will love me for this one!

dreaming of {summer}

Last week we ran away with Jeremy and enjoyed some much needed family time.  While he "enjoyed" his conference for work we played and enjoyed the warm sun.  It was so fun to pretend it was summer for a few days.  The pool was heated and the hot tub was fantastic. The kids splashed and swam while Graham and I enjoyed watching, reading  and eating.  I know some people think going anywhere with 6 kids equal complete craziness and how in the world could that be relaxing, but I soaked up every minute of it.  This little resort was in the the middle of the cutest retirement community.  We went on more walks then I can count all through the neighborhoods.  It was gorgeous there!  Plants and trees where blooming everywhere.  

I am getting more and more impatient for school to be over.  I realized during that trip I really do want my children's precious time.  Jeremy and I came to the decision that we are going to provide a home education for them.  We have dabbled in it in the past and have given up feeling we didn't have enough support or know how.  With the ways things are and the fact we want a more flexible family life, we have decided that is the best option for our family.  The kids will finish this school year out and we will begin this summer.  We will do year-round learning.  There are amazing local families who have been doing this for years, plus new families we can learn from and with.  I regret not sticking with it from the beginning, but now I really know that this is what we want for our little family.

I am looking forward to learning right along with my children.  I am excited about the places we will take them.  What a blessing it will be to see them learn and grow myself.  I feel like we have them for such a short time before they blossom and leave home to continue there mission here on earth.  I want every precious moment I can with them.  I know that home education isn't right for every family.  There are lots of opinions on the whole idea.  But I believe that no matter if it is food, diets, parenting, education, budgeting, ect it is such an individual thing we can not say what is right for anyone else.  I love that we are all different and all we can learn from each other.

We took the kids to the Mission San Xavier del Bac on our way home.  The building was absolutely gorgeous.  The history was very interesting.  I had to laugh though.  We asked the kids what they thought about it and Carlee speaks up and say how weird the music was and why would they have a dead guy in there chapel!  It made me so grateful to have  the gospel in my life.  Going there only makes your testimony grow.  And it was no comparison to the temple and the beauty found with the walls.  I love that my kids could see and feel the difference.  I love these kids so much!  And of course my wonderful husband for supporting and leading us on all our adventures!

soaking up some sun

Saturday found our family out to our favorite place.  We cooked lunch over an open fire, we built things, we ate popcorn, we had races, we drew pictures, we all learned how to properly build a fire, we shot the gun and soaked up the sun.  

It was a gorgeous day.  Graham played with his cars in the warm sand making the cutest car sounds with his little mouth.  I love that boy!  Hunter found some old rusted metal pipes and was building things with them.  He is so creative and can entertain himself with whatever is around him.  The girls drew pictures and had races up the steep hill.  Fisher tried to eat all the popcorn he could and insisted on walking around with no shoes.  He has the toughest feet.

Later that afternoon we took them down to the water.  I don't know how they could stand it, but they all put there feet in and said it wasn't cold. That is how bad they wanted to play in it.  After a while they all got out and decided to build sand castles with the one cup we brought.  It was a perfectly peaceful day.  Every time we go out there it is like the time stops.  You are surrounded by beautiful rocky mountains with no view out.    It is lovely there.  A place to stop and really be at peace with yourself and family.

Jeremy and I talked and laughed, played and teased.  I have always felt like when you get away from all the cares of the world and get out into nature you are closer to your Heavenly Father and you can let down your guard and be who you really are inside.  This little bit of Heaven of earth for me is freeing to my soul on days when everything else seems to be caving in.

I don't know if it is me getting older or what but in the past few months I have had my eyes opened to many things in my life.  The biggest is with my children.  I can't get enough of them.  I feel like they are growing faster then I can blink.  I am savoring each day with them and each little moment we have together.  Our ages span from 11 years-20 months.  All six of them is so unique in their personality and they each bring something special to our family.  Things that used to stress me no longer do.  My heart is open to them in a way never before.  How I wish I could have understood what I do now 11 years ago.  I am go grateful for the new view.