January Happenings

Here's what's been happenin':

We haven't had a YMCA membership for a couple of years, but Roger's job had a great deal where they pay for a lot of the price for a family membership, so we just had to sign up and take advantage of the deal. Usually you pay almost $50/month for a family, we are able to pay almost $30/month and the company pays for the rest! They also hold us accountable--we have to check in four times a month in order to keep our membership. So far, the kids and I have been hitting the gym 2-3 times a week. Being homeschooled, we can go to the Y during the early afternoon when it's not crowded. And, Lauren is old enough now that she can work out with us on the gym equipment, so it's been  awesome! I was working out on some weight machines and looked over and saw Lauren singing as she was working out on the eliptical; not out loud, but just mouthing the words, but also sweeping her arms to the side like she was performing. I started videoing her and she didn't notice at first, but then realized I was doing it. She is so funny--doesn't care where she is, or who's watching, but she's always up for a performance. I found out afterwards that she was listening to the song Let It Go from the movie Frozen.

This past weekend we went to Kansas City so the Wichita Community Children's Choir, which Lauren is a part of, could perform with three other choirs from around Kansas. It was a day trip, and the concert was really short, but it was fun to drive to KC and hang out for a few hours. The church was absolutely beautiful, but too small for all of the kids and audience members. Plus, no microphones were used, so when the adults would introduce their choir and tell us the songs they were going to sing, we couldn't hear everything, I think because the church was so expansive that voices just carried away like the wind and couldn't be directed to one place. I love Lauren's director because she also is a choir teacher at a middle school, so she knew how to project her teacher's voice in the church and she was the only person we could hear clearly. However, when the choirs sang, hearing them was not a problem. Each choir sang two songs, and then all choirs joined together for one song. Enjoy the videos!

We have just not had much of a winter at all this year. Evan has enjoyed going outside to practice soccer with his goal, or as this picture shows, throwing his knives at wood logs--in shorts and no jacket!

Our favorite football team, the Denver Broncos, was in the playoffs, so I just had to go to church dressed in orange and blue, sporting my Bronco earrings. Then, after church we watched the game and Evan had on all of his gear, plus his blanket, and Broncos pillow pet he's had since he was little, and he and I literally were jumping up and down for joy when the Broncos won! We are so excited for the Super Bowl this weekend!

Lauren's Dance Pics

Lauren finished up her dance year with Encore a couple of weeks ago with a two day recital that was about 4 hours long each day! Crazy! We went to the recital on Saturday which started at 2:00 and finally left at 4:40 when her second dance ended. We left because she had to get to a birthday party at 5:00, but the recital still had 20 dances left! Then, Sunday was Mother's Day and I told the studio owner we would not be there that day. I think I would have gone absolutely out of mind sitting through hours of the same dances again. Needless to say, she will be trying dance at the YMCA next year. We went and observed their recital a couple of weeks ago, and I was so impressed with what we saw. Lauren's taking a dance prep class twice a week every week in June and then trying out for their competitive dance team in July. Even if she doesn't make that team, we will still keep her at the Y and put her into their dance academy. She's very excited and really wants to make the competitive team so wish her luck! Here are her dance pics from this past year. They wanted the girls to wear red lipstick, mascara, blush, eyeshadow, and false eyelashes were optional! I had a hard time with this, but finally gave in. We really did put the make up on as natural and light as possible, but you can definitely tell she has on red lipstick and eyeshadow. She looks absolutely beautiful, and I'm so glad she didn't have to end up looking like a clown with a bunch of colored gook on her face! The theme was "Let's Go To the Movies," and her ballet performance was to a Harry Potter theme, and her tap performance was to a song from The Mask. She loved the costumes, but the feathers from the red costume shed everywhere! Despite everything, she danced wonderfully and I'm proud of her.

Our Week So Far

Sunday was great! It was kids day in big people's church that morning. Evan is on the youth worship team and did a great job. You can see some videos of the morning here. Then, that night was life group at our house. Usually for December we have ham as the main meal, but I suggested let's keep it simple and do soups and chilies. One person said it was going to be 70 degrees (in December!), so I said let's grill and that's what we did. One family had a bunch of meat they wanted used up, so they brought 16 assorted steaks, and several pounds of ground beef for hamburgers; another family brought chicken, and we grilled them all up at our house. I, of course, did something I am notorious for doing with life group--tried out a new recipe. It was yummy!

Monday we went to co-op for a couple of hours. Evan met with his robotics team for the last practice of the semester until we start back up in January. That morning, a friend called to ask if her son could come over for a little bit while she took her daughter to the dentist. We were glad to because he is on the robotics team also, so we just took him with us until his mom got done at the dentist and made it to practice. They had a fun time playing Nerf war until it was lunchtime and then time to leave for robotics. Then that night Roger took both kids to scouts. They both belong to the homeschooling troops which meet at the same church we attend co-op in. Yea! I got a little bit of time to myself.

Tuesday is the day we stay home and catch up on laundry and school. That afternoon, Evan was really tired so I made him take a nap. When he woke up he had a fever. He still has it, but it's never gotten above 100 degrees, thank goodness. He hasn't complained of any other symptoms. A tiny bit of aching, and commented once that his throat was a tiny bit soar, but really he's functional.

Wednesday, is swimming this month at the Y PE class. Evan stayed home for 1 1/2 hours while I took Lauren to the Y and ran to the store while she had class. So glad that we live closer to town now because the Y is only 7 minutes from our house. I'm also glad that Evan is at the age where it doesn't bother him to stay home by himself for a little while. In fact, there are many times when I just need to run somewhere for maybe 30 minutes and he asks to stay home.

Today was another day at home. Evan was supposed to go downtown for 4 hours to help his scout troop set up a women's event taking place at our convention hall, but still has the fever. While he was going to do that, I was going to take Lauren on a field trip to Michael's arts and crafts store with our co-op, and then when Evan was done with his job, we were going to join Lauren's scout troop for a tour of our city's newspaper office. I'm okay we didn't do any of that. It was so nice to be home and lazy today. I did go out for 30 minutes tonight to get the kids and I some shakes from Sonic. A buck crossed my path on the way to town. We haven't been to Sonic in a while, but since our last time there they have put in a drive through which is about time, in my opinion. Then I ran into our local Dillons/KwikShop to get a couple of things including some children's Tylenol. I didn't see any, so I asked the pharmacist about it and she said, "Do you want the brand name?" I told her no, and she said good because it's very hard to find now because the brand Tylenol is doing away with their liquid medicines. Interesting.

Tomorrow Lauren will go to the Y PE class. Even if Evan's fever breaks, I like to follow the rule of not exposing him to others for 24 hours, so he can't attend. Then Lauren has a sleepover birthday party to go to. She told me today that she hopes she doesn't get sick because she will be very sad and cry if she has to miss her friend's party. I hope that doesn't happen too!

Saturday we have no plans. YEA! (Well, besides picking up Lauren from her sleepover, and Roger possible going hunting). The person painting our old house called today and told Roger that as long as the weather holds, he will be putting the paint on Saturday. He has caulked and trimmed. I have to admit I have missed the cooler autumn weather, but am thankful that the weather has been so warm that our house could be painted. However, this weekend the temps are supposed to change. It's predicted Sunday for the high temps to be in the 30s/low 40s and possible snow that night. Oh well...we'll see what happens.

Rock Climbing

This week in homeschool PE, Lauren climbed to the top of a rock wall for the first time! I also took a video of Evan, (although this was not his first time).

YMCA Waterpark

Our plan this summer was to visit the YMCA waterpark many times this summer. Well.....our first, and probably last, time was yesterday. A friend from homeschool co-op asked if Evan could come join them at the waterpark, so the kids and I went. While Evan and his friend played together, Lauren and I played. She was happy to find out that to go on the lazy river by yourself there is no height requirement, you just have to be 8 years old, which she is now. I am so glad that she now enjoys going down waterslides, and swimming under water. Every year she seems to get braver when it comes to the water. After a little while being there, two other homeschooling families from co-op showed up. I was able to visit with the moms for a long time while Lauren had no problem going off and doing things by herself, and once in a while joining up with the older co-op girls to play. We were there for 2 hours. I was worried the water might be chilly since the outdoor temps were in the 80s when we first arrived, but it was actually quite refreshing. Lauren and I did venture into the indoor pool for a brief time, and that water was nice and warm.

Field Day

Our YMCA homeschool PE class had field day today. It started off with the kids being able to paint a bowl from Color Me Mine. I think they get to pick them up next week after they have been taken back to the shop and fired in a kiln. Then we headed outside for a 50 yard dash, egg/spoon race, 3 legged race, trivia contest, trying to get the teachers wet with water balloons, a wet sponge relay, and tug of war. After that the kids got to play in the sprinklers for a little bit and then we headed inside for a potluck lunch. 

The teachers had divided the kids into teams by colors ahead of time. Evan and Lauren had to wear blue shirts for their team.

Lauren (in the red cap) talking with her partner ready for the 3 legged race.

I am not sure how this tied in with the trivia game, but each team had to have 2 volunteers to get a "pie" in the face and Evan volunteered.

Didn't get a front shot of his face, but it's covered with the "pie".

Everyone lined up for the 50 yard dash.

This is not all of the students, but quite a few of them.

Everyone received certificate of achievements.

Rock Climbing

The kids' homeschool phys ed class is doing rock climbing again this month. Evan can still make it up those walls with no problem and has gotten faster. Lauren has gotten a lot higher up the wall and faster than when they first tried it last year in January, and even when they did it again in October. Here are some videos showing the two of them climbing. In Lauren's video, I don't know if you can hear what's going on, but she stops, we encourage her to go higher, and this happens about 2 or 3 times before she wants to come down. While she's on the wall, she's saying, "This is torture!" and "You're killing me!" It was quite funny. I'm hoping by the end of this month she'll make it to the top, but for now we are so excited she's getting as high as she is now.

 

Homeschool Field Day

We have so enjoyed the YMCA's homeschool fitness class this school year. To end the year, they had a field day followed by a wonderful potluck lunch. Games included 3 legged races, egg/spoon race, wheelbarrow walk, tug of war, bubble gum blowing contest (finding the gum with your mouth in some whipped cream), and the fire department came out and squirted the kids with the truck. Evan and Lauren had a blast!