Homeschool Group- Dinner and Board Meeting

Last night, one of my fellow board members invited us to dinner and to hold the board meeting at his home. Families were encouraged to come as well. He grilled chicken, veggies, and had fruit and chips. It was a very delicious meal. It was also a lot of fun.

During the board meeting the kids played games, jumped on the trampoline, and had a Nerf battle. The spouses got to chat and get to know each other better.

Marie-Anne

Nursing Home

We still visit our friend, Sharon, who is in the nursing home, weekly. Her room is so bland that the kids started bringing art on blank index cards every time we go. Then they started bringing extra cards to give to her roommate. Now they give the cards to all of the residents and nurses we see. Other residents know Alex and Sabrina by name and stop to talk to them. The nurses' cart has several of their cards taped to the side. 

It is a simple thing, but it really does bring joy to those who receive one.

Marie-Anne

Nursery

Sabrina and I had fun being in nursery. This time we had two toddlers and a baby. Sabrina got some hands-on learning in dealing with a child, who wanted his mom, and didn't want to be in there. After a few minutes and some distraction, he was perfectly happy. I also showed Sabrina how to change a diaper, which is something she has not yet done. 

Sabrina is great at playing with the toddlers and entertaining them. She also helps clean up.

Marie-Anne

Swimming

The kids are getting better at swimming and can go for longer periods of time. Frank is also teaching them new strokes.

Marie-Anne

Ronald McDonald House- Cookie Crew and Caring Cards

Today, we met our friends at the Ronald McDonald House for the Cookie Crew. We made Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. They were very good!

We also brought supplies for the kids to make Caring Cards while the cookies baked. We spent two hours there today.

Marie-Anne

Game Night- Carcassonne

We played Carcassonne twice for family game night.

Marie-Anne

Crystal Palace Skating Rink

We bought the Summer Pass from Crystal Palace, which allows us to go six times at a much cheaper rate. We have discovered that if we get there about the time they open there is hardly anyone else there. We typically stay 2-3 hours. The kids skate almost the entire time, but I only skate about half the time.

Marie-Anne

Black Mountain Pool with friends

We met my friends, Jessie and Nicole and their families, at Black Mountain Pool. We had never been to this pool before, but our Summer Pass covers all community pools in our city. Needless to say, the kids had a great time, (and so did I).

Marie-Anne

Swimming Lessons

Alex and Sabrina had another swimming lesson at Whitney Ranch Pool.

Marie-Anne

Congressional Award Program

The Congressional Award Program is open to any U.S. citizen ages 13.5 -24. The participants set goals in each of these four areas; Voluntary Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Exploration/Expedition, (which are day trips or overnight trips planned by the participant). To achieve the Gold Medal, presented by Congress, participants must complete 400 hours of Voluntary Service, 200 hours of Personal Development, 200 hours of Physical Fitness, and 4 nights/5 days of Exploration/Expedition. The participant works with an adviser of their choice, who is an adult not related to them. Visit their website for more info: http://congressionalaward.org/about/

For Alex, we are planning on taking about four years to complete the program. That way, it isn't stressful and if something happens to prevent him from completing it; he will still have more time. Using this  time frame he will need to complete 8.5 hours of Voluntary Service a month, 4.5 hours of Personal Development a month, 4.5 hours of Physical Fitness a month, with the Exploration/Expeditions thrown in when needed. 

He will be volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House. He chose the Ronald McDonald House for his volunteering for several reasons. 1. He can do the Caring Cards at home. 2. Being part of the Cookie Crew helps develop kitchen skills. 3. Everyone there is so nice. 4. There are other volunteer opportunities available so there is room for growth. 5. It's fun!

Alex's Personal Development will be reading nonfiction books and writing book reports on them. He can have two goals at a time, so he might include taking safety courses from the Red Cross as his secondary goal.

Alex chose learning to swim as his Physical Fitness goal. We have yet to decide if roller skating will be a secondary goal or will count as P.E. 

We are still working out the details of the Exploration/Expedition. Alex will plan a few day trips to either National Parks or State Parks. Later he will plan a camping trip. These ideas are subject to change.

Alex chose our friend Angel to be his adviser. Angel is already someone that Alex looks up to and knows well. Angel is also someone that we, Alex's parents, trust to speak into his life and who will hold Alex accountable.

I like that this program will help him mature and experience some things he might not otherwise have chosen. Also, since these are goals that Alex has set, he will be more engaged in bringing them to pass. 

The Congressional Award doesn't seem to be a well known program, though it should be. From what I read, less than 400 people received the Gold Medal last year, even though this program is open to all U.S. citizens from 13.5-24. 

Marie-Anne

Utah- Utah Lake

We had about an hour and a half before we were to pick Frank up and drive home. So, we drove past his work looking for a park to hang out at. Instead we found a boat launch on Utah Lake. We wandered around there until it was time to get Frank.

We had a great time in Utah. We crammed every moment with as much fun as we could. It was also nice that all of the museums we went to were free. We only paid for the farm and to go to lake. Even our hotel was free since it was a business trip and Frank will be reimbursed.


Marie-Anne

Utah- Thanksgiving Point Farm Country

Thanksgiving Point Farm is a working farm that is also a tourist attraction. Sabrina was very excited to go. They had all of the typical farm animals; chickens, horses, goats, sheep, cows, ponies, turkeys, rabbits, pigs, ducks...  They even had some bunnies that did not have their eyes open yet.

Sabrina got a pony ride with our admission. She was quite pleased to get the pony she wanted, Trigger.

We also got a wagon ride.

Marie-Anne

Utah- BYU Museum of Art

I've said it before, and I will say it again, "If  some of the stuff that passes as art can be called art; then my kids can become famous artists too!"  Seriously, one artist took photos then placed weird stuff on it then snapped another photo; yet they have a whole section of the university art museum dedicated to them.

However, there were also some very nice paintings by people with real talent too.

Marie-Anne

Utah- Museum of Peoples and Cultures BYU

We visited another small free museum on the BYU campus; the Museum of Peoples and Cultures. Both kids did the handouts provided.

Marie-Anne

Utah- Hotel Pool 2

The kids got to enjoy the hotel pool again before getting ready for bed. Thus concludes our first day in Utah.

Marie-Anne 

Utah- Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum BYU

After we picked Frank up we visited another museum, the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, which was very big for a free museum. I was greatly impressed. If we had not all been tired by this point we would have stayed much longer.

Marie-Anne

Utah- Hotel Pool 1

Alex and Sabrina spent 30 minutes in the hotel pool practicing their swimming and floating.

Afterwards they practiced their cannonballs.

Marie-Anne