Camping at Zion

The last weekend of September, we took a camping trip with 10 other families in Jonathan's squadron to Zion National Park.  We were not able to book a group site soon enough, but we did all manage to get single campsites pretty much next to each other.  We even had an extra "hospitality" site where all the food and fun took place...as well as the nightly "quiet hours" ticket warnings when we weren't being so quiet.  With all those kids and even a few dogs (not Bailey---she's too much to handle with the girls) there was much fun had. 

 One family brought bikes and scooters, so our kids mooched.  We shared our frisbee.

 Mmmm, a yummy camping breakfast.

Juliet's little buddy, S.  They are 1 month exactly apart in age.  Both have blond hair, blue eyes and are both little peanuts.  They are nicknamed "twinsies".

They found this log and made it into a teeter totter.

 Oh yeah, its really pretty here!

 Just a few of the kids getting ready for a hike.

 Kylie and Ava waiting for the bus to take us all to hiking trails.  We must have had like 40+ people from our group pile onto the bus.  Noise followed us everywhere!

Still pretty!

Family pic by the Virgin River on a hike.

 Don't fall in girls!

 We took a paved hike (for all the strollers) to this point, where you can continue on up the river. 

Ava being brave.

After this days hike, we went back to the lodge for ice cream.  I think Juliet is enjoying hers, what do you think?

 Kylie doing hair of some friends.

 Scenery.

 More.

 We took another hike with one other family the day we left.  We didn't want to rush home to unpack and do laundry.  The rainbow was a hit with the kids.

 Juliet just couldn't keep up.  Yes, that's her toosh hanging out!

 Another family pic.  We are all a hot mess!

 Eating lunch at the Emerald Pools.

Looking up!

 Back to the grass for ice cream and play time.

The girls and their buddies, S and J.

I love being in squadrons where we take trips together!  We did a lot of camping when we were stationed in Idaho and its so much fun, especially for the kids.  Can't wait for next year!

Funny Ava quote

We were just doing a history lesson on the Minoan civilization (this history hater is learning so much too!) and I was trying to explain how Plato hypothesized about the lost, sunken city of Atlantis.  As I was telling the story, Ava says "Mommy, Plato thought this?"  I told her yes and she replied "Mommy, play-doh does NOT have a brain!  It can't THINK!"

Jonathan home!

 Jonathan got home from his 2 week TDY to Tyndall this past weekend.  A friend snagged a couple pictures of him coming in and landing his jet on the flight line.  I didn't bring my camera, which I'll never do again, regardless if we've been given the OK for a photo pass or not, because I'm incredibly jealous of the other pictures the other families got!  The girls made a welcome home sign which he was able read while taxiing in and seeing them run to him was priceless.

Sunday at church, our pastor was speaking and he referenced a verse.

Genesis 2:18 - "It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him". 

I wonder if the military missed that memo.  :)  Its been great having him home.

Our 4th week of school began this week and things are going great.  So far, we've kept up with everything and I'm not feeling too overwhelmed!

That's all for now.

School Starts

Last week marked the official start to our 3rd year of home school.  Kylie began 2nd grade and Ava began 1st.  Juliet continues to work on letters, play with manipulatives, or relish in having the play room to herself for a few hours a day.  Our first week went really well and I feel very organized this year.  I'm still able to squeeze in 3 mornings a week at the gym.  All three girls have gymnastics Monday nights, Ava starts soccer practice this week, and Kylie has piano Wednesday afternoons too.  I've joined 2 more home school groups to have access to activities and meet other families.  Don't we sound so unsocialized?  Can't you picture me in my long denim skirt and my girls super quiet and weird....yeah, I didn't think so.  Sorry, I had to throw that in there because I still get asked "how do you socialize your kids"...mind you this is mostly from people who don't really know my kids.  You know, those loud, friendly, chatty little girls that tag along with me everywhere!

 Their "red book" and "purple book" curriculum-Writing/Language Arts and Grammar.

 Mystery of History.  I think I'm going to learn just as much as them-I'm not a history fan!

This is the time line we will be doing for their history curriculum.

 Astronomy.  We started this last year but it was a bit too much, so we're going to finish it up in the next few months.  

 Ava's reading comprehension and extra fun writing activities.

Doing some reading comprehension work.  She has done amazing!!!  I don't read the story or the questions to her.  She does it all!

We are also doing math, bible lessons and Kylie does extra free writing.  Since starting the new curriculum for writing (the "purple book" above) she's done a lot better with her own writing.  We had some writing struggles last year and I didn't know how to deal with it.  My friend let me borrow a book about this certain curriculum and I would have thought it was written for us and our struggles, so I bought the products that went along with it.  I had Kylie doing the 1st grade work in only 3 months this summer to catch up.  Now we are on track and I'm happy with the results!

 And I had to throw a picture in of Jonathan flying.  He left for a TDY last week and we went to watch the jets take off from base.  He could see us from the runway and the girls screamed their faces off when daddy "waved" to us and rocked his wings back and forth. 

Beach Baby

Spoiled-that's what we are.  Being that we live so close to family, my mother-in-law and I are able to often meet up and swap the girls at a half way point between our homes.  While she takes the kids to California in my van, I take in return, well, nothing except for their convertible BMW!  The girls have gone to stay with their grandparents on numerous occasions for various reasons this past year and everyone loves it.  I'm so grateful that Jonathan's parents are always more than willing to take the girls AND keep up with them!   

 

The most recent trip was for a week, then Jonathan and I drove home for Labor Day weekend.  The girls initially went to stay with them while Jonathan went to visit his brother in Washington, and I went up to Salt Lake City with my friend Cindy to hear Beth Moore speak at one of her conferences.  We extended their portion of the trip and I was able to prepare more for the girls' school (stare at a computer for 2 days straight!) then Jonathan and I drove to meet up with everyone for the long weekend.  Of course that meant we hit the beach!  Aunt Heather and Nama and Bopa joined in on the fun too. 

 

 Being that Jonathan was right back in his element, he felt it was time to teach the big girls to ride boogie boards and body surf (belly surf as Kylie kept calling it!)

 

 

 

She didn't want to stop!

 

 Even Aunt Heather got in on the action.

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This one, however, needed a little more coercion.

 She did it once, did it well, but was done.  

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Then there is little miss independent....

 

 She always finds a good balance of playing with her big sisters and playing alone.  She wandered the beach with no fear.

 We got smoked by a wave.  Sorry honey!

 The kids loved playing with the gross seaweed.

 Races, because everything is a competition.

 And chasing and wrestling-one of the things daddy does best.

  Juliet stands with her hands on her hips a lot-sasser!!

  At what age does this become uncomfortable?

 Just a little sandy.

 Natural beach jewelry.

  BBQ goodness.

 She was doing this cute pose all on her own!

I love the looks on their faces.  I'm not sure what they were looking at though.

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We also went swimming at Nama and Bopas house.  We weren't having any Vitamin D deficiencies this weekend, that's for sure!

 

Daddy, you are so funny.

What a great way to end the summer!