Wolf Spiders!!

Grayson found a wolf spider..... here is the picture to prove it! But apparantly the wolf spiders eat the black widows- so maybe we should get a few for pets!! :)

tea party

She was actually sitting on the little orange chair!!

A few days ago I walked into Gloria's room and found Cami having a "tea party" with Gloria's barbie's. She had moved the table out of the barbie house and was sitting at the table with the barbies, I ran to grab my camera. She is so cute.

Horses

The kids have to groom the horses before and after they ride, that includes brushing and cleaning the hoofs and putting the gear away. It teaches them how to care for a horse and will hopefully prepare them for when they get their own horses.

This horse is named Petey. He is a sweet pony with a great temperment.

We Finally got the kids in Riding Lessons!
Before we ever moved to California, we told the kids that when we moved here there would be horses, swimming every day, and lakes and boats and wild animals. They have been SOOOOO excited and so good about everything since we moved here. The only thing on our list that we had not done, that they asked us about every day is the horses.It has been hard finding lessons for them- but we did it!! They have been going to riding lessons for a few weeks now and LOVE every minute of it. They are learning English riding- after they learn English, they will move onto Western. English is the more difficult style to learn, and so we are doing that first so hopefully Western will come naturally after that.
Here are some pictures of the kids at lessons yesterday!

Willard Bay

We went to visit family this past month... here are some pictures of our adventure loving kids and cousins. They had a great time boating! They are definitely thrill seekers, constatly yelling for more!

first day of school

School has started!

It has been a very interesting week! All 3 of my kids started school this week. We have been going to bed early, waking up early and keeping very busy.
Gloria started 1st grade, her first time going to a public school as I home schooled her last year. She is loving it, but there are a lot of things that frustrate her. She came home today so mad that the teacher is still reviewing the alphabet and numbers. She reads on a 3rd grade level and can easily add and subtract, so she is bored when the teacher is reviewing.But she loves hot lunches, recess and friends. She loves her teacher and she really really wants to ride the bus.
Gray and Cami started preschool this week. Although they are in different classes, they are in the same building at the same time. That is a plus. They are both doing really well and while they are in school I get to go help Travis out at the office. It has been a lot of fun!

Family Night tonight

So for family night, we did the story of Daniel and the Lions Den. We printed out the pictures used at this link http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2045-1-3473-1,00.html and told the story of Daniel. Just for fun, every time I said the word LION I had the kids ROAR!! We discussed how Daniel chose the right even when there were consequences and how we should all choose the right even when our peers try to pursued us not to!
After our lesson we played "ROAR"- a game that is very much like Simon Says. We have one child sit at the front of the room with a stuffed animal right behind them. Everyone else starts at the opposite side of the room. When the Lions back is turned (the child is turned around) we can all run and try to steal the stuffed animal- but when the lion turns around and ROARS, who ever the lion sees still moving has to go back to the start. Whoever steals the lions animal gets to be the lion next.
After that we went out into our yard and had a lion hunt.... looking for the mountain lion den in our HUGE front yard!! Luckily we did not find it!! :)
My computer is not happy today, and so I cannot do pics, but maybe tomorrow!!

worlds biggest pinecone

We have been to Yosemite National Park several times since our move to Cali. IT is beautiful and really makes you stop to think about how small we are in the grand scheme of things. There are times when you are over 12,000 feet in the air- and all that I can think is- why don't they put the road further from the edge?!!! It makes me sick to my stomach. But it is beautiful and such an amazing sight to see.
The world's biggest pinecones are found in Yosemite.
We love the huge trees, but are excited to go to the Redwood Forest and see some bigger ones!

while my computer is working

I am going to attempt to download some of Travis's Graduation pictures.... I have been trying for months with no success. So, hold your breath, cross your fingers and don't bump the computer table, let's see if this works!
Let's really press our luck and see if we can do two pics!
It worked!! We had such a fun day, we had family and friends out in Ohio to celebrate with us.
I am really pressing my luck with these pics, but let's try another, our computer is being so friendly today!
We love our daddy, congrats again!!!

another card

I am trying to post pictures of cards, doing so one at a time, hoping it works! Here is another.

A few cards I made

I have really been in the mood lately to make cards. The girls and I sat down and made some today. I decided to post a few of them on my blog, because really- next to my KB and Pilates, this is my passion!! So, I hope you enjoy!

Setting an Example

Today in church Gloria wanted to go on the stand and bear her testimony for the first time. She wanted to do it by herself, but Travis went up just for moral support. He ended up bearing his testimony as well. When they came back to our bench, Cami immediately stood up and started walking to the front, dragging me with her, saying "My turn Mom, Now it's my turn". I pulled her back and tried to distract her- it did not happen. She would not give up! "Cami go up now, mommy. I want to talk, too!". So, after 3 or 4 more people, I finally took her up, where she proceeded to talk into the microphone saying that she loves Jesus and "I love you". It was cute, I of course took my turn as well.
As I was thinking about that small act of Gloria's, it made me think of how our example truly affects others! Cami has never before wanted to go up and "talk" to everyone, but as soon as she saw her big sister doing it, she knew she wanted to as well.
We seem to take for granted how much our examples do affect others. It also works in a negative way, friends or siblings who make wrong choices also set that example. I am so thankful that my children set a good example. I am also thankful for our Savior and his perfect example so that we can always have someone to follow!