Who's There??
Giraffe!
Giraffe Who??
Giraffe Any Idea What these Big Round Orange Things Are For??
Friday, October 29, 2010
Ridge's First Halloween
Knock Knock...
Who's There??
Giraffe!
Giraffe Who??
Giraffe Any Idea What these Big Round Orange Things Are For??
Who's There??
Giraffe!
Giraffe Who??
Giraffe Any Idea What these Big Round Orange Things Are For??
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Inspiration
I've been inspired once again by the words of our church leaders....I want to try and keep life simple, enjoy the little things along the journey, and spend time doing things that matter most! Above are some links to some of the best advice for a happy life. My goal is not just to hear, but to hear and DO!!
So I'm finally getting to a back to school post. And now for the most popular question----Why do we home school? Excerpts from this talk given by our past prophet Gordon B. Hinckley , sum things up in a nice compact nutshell...
An Atmosphere of Growth.
"What a marvelously interesting thing it is to watch young minds stretch and strengthen....When I was a boy we lived in a large old house. One room was called the library. It had a solid table and a good lamp, three or four comfortable chairs with good light, and books in cases that lined the walls. There were many volumes- the acquisitions of my father and mother over a period of many years.
We were never forced to read them, but they were placed where they were handy and where we could get at them whenever we wished.
There was quiet in that room. It was understood that it was a place to study...There were books of history and literature, books on technical subjects, dictionaries, a set of encyclopedias, and an atlas of the world. There was no television, of course, at that time. Radio came along while I was growing up. But there was an environment, an environment of learning. I would not have you believe we were great scholars. But we were exposed to great literature, great ideas from great thinkers, and the language of men and women who thought deeply and wrote beautifully...
Begin early in exposing children to books. The mother who fails to read to her small children does a disservice to them and a disservice to herself. It takes time, yes, much of it. It takes self-discipline. It takes organizing and budgeting the minutes and hours of the day. But it will never be a bore as you watch young minds come to know characters, expressions, and ideas. Good reading can become a love affair, far more fruitful in long term effects than many other activities in which children use their time....Parents, work at the matter of creating an atmosphere in your homes. Let your children be exposed to great minds, great ideas, everlasting truth, and those things which will build and motivate for good.
The Lord has said to his people, "Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." (D&C 88:118) I wish to urge every parent within the sound of my voice to try to create within your home an atmosphere of learning and the growth which will come of it. "
("The Environment of Our Homes" by President Gordon B. Hinckley
Ensign, June 1985, pg.3
There is a link to this talk at the top of my blog because I couldn't figure out how to insert it here!)
I love watching my kids learn, grow, expand, get excited about learning...and I love doing it along with them, each child learning at their own pace. It has been a joy to be inspired together by great minds of the past through reading great literature. I love the added benefits of spending time together and developing strong lasting relationships. When the kids are grown and on their own, I would hope they continue to ask questions, find answers, and share their excitement of learning with me still! What a rewarding, challenging,and unique opportunity it is to spend these primer years with my children!!
PS We've found the words of Pres. Hinckley to be true! As we have read together as a family in the evenings we have been uplifted and inspired! It is our favorite time of the day! This year we have been hooked on Ralph Moody series. It is a biography of his life growing up in the early late 1800's and early 1900's. We have found that reading aloud opens up opportunities for us to teach and discuss the importance of family,values, hard work, honesty, and building character. Get started with Little Britches!...warning...once you start, you may be hooked!
So I'm finally getting to a back to school post. And now for the most popular question----Why do we home school? Excerpts from this talk given by our past prophet Gordon B. Hinckley , sum things up in a nice compact nutshell...
An Atmosphere of Growth.
"What a marvelously interesting thing it is to watch young minds stretch and strengthen....When I was a boy we lived in a large old house. One room was called the library. It had a solid table and a good lamp, three or four comfortable chairs with good light, and books in cases that lined the walls. There were many volumes- the acquisitions of my father and mother over a period of many years.
We were never forced to read them, but they were placed where they were handy and where we could get at them whenever we wished.
There was quiet in that room. It was understood that it was a place to study...There were books of history and literature, books on technical subjects, dictionaries, a set of encyclopedias, and an atlas of the world. There was no television, of course, at that time. Radio came along while I was growing up. But there was an environment, an environment of learning. I would not have you believe we were great scholars. But we were exposed to great literature, great ideas from great thinkers, and the language of men and women who thought deeply and wrote beautifully...
Begin early in exposing children to books. The mother who fails to read to her small children does a disservice to them and a disservice to herself. It takes time, yes, much of it. It takes self-discipline. It takes organizing and budgeting the minutes and hours of the day. But it will never be a bore as you watch young minds come to know characters, expressions, and ideas. Good reading can become a love affair, far more fruitful in long term effects than many other activities in which children use their time....Parents, work at the matter of creating an atmosphere in your homes. Let your children be exposed to great minds, great ideas, everlasting truth, and those things which will build and motivate for good.
The Lord has said to his people, "Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." (D&C 88:118) I wish to urge every parent within the sound of my voice to try to create within your home an atmosphere of learning and the growth which will come of it. "
("The Environment of Our Homes" by President Gordon B. Hinckley
Ensign, June 1985, pg.3
There is a link to this talk at the top of my blog because I couldn't figure out how to insert it here!)
I love watching my kids learn, grow, expand, get excited about learning...and I love doing it along with them, each child learning at their own pace. It has been a joy to be inspired together by great minds of the past through reading great literature. I love the added benefits of spending time together and developing strong lasting relationships. When the kids are grown and on their own, I would hope they continue to ask questions, find answers, and share their excitement of learning with me still! What a rewarding, challenging,and unique opportunity it is to spend these primer years with my children!!
PS We've found the words of Pres. Hinckley to be true! As we have read together as a family in the evenings we have been uplifted and inspired! It is our favorite time of the day! This year we have been hooked on Ralph Moody series. It is a biography of his life growing up in the early late 1800's and early 1900's. We have found that reading aloud opens up opportunities for us to teach and discuss the importance of family,values, hard work, honesty, and building character. Get started with Little Britches!...warning...once you start, you may be hooked!
Fiddlin' Around
Fiddle Contest Fun!!
The kids worked hard and had a good experience! Anyone who can get up on the stage in front of judges is BRAVE!!
SHORTNIN' BREAD
We had so much fun getting this song ready for the "novelty" division. Kami always talks about how she wants to get up and perform on a stage...so here was her chance!
It's kind of hard to see who is who, but from left to right it is Kami, Lindsey, Spencer, Porter sitting on a stool playing wooden spoons, then me on the keyboard. Lindsey plays violin first, then Spencer (he wasn't standing close enough to the mike so it sounds too quiet) then they play together. It was fun....nobody placed in the top 5, but the kids all got to pick out any milkshake at Dairy Queen like I promised if they would get up there!! It was fun to work together and make music. Go Johnson Kids!
The kids worked hard and had a good experience! Anyone who can get up on the stage in front of judges is BRAVE!!
SHORTNIN' BREAD
We had so much fun getting this song ready for the "novelty" division. Kami always talks about how she wants to get up and perform on a stage...so here was her chance!
It's kind of hard to see who is who, but from left to right it is Kami, Lindsey, Spencer, Porter sitting on a stool playing wooden spoons, then me on the keyboard. Lindsey plays violin first, then Spencer (he wasn't standing close enough to the mike so it sounds too quiet) then they play together. It was fun....nobody placed in the top 5, but the kids all got to pick out any milkshake at Dairy Queen like I promised if they would get up there!! It was fun to work together and make music. Go Johnson Kids!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Puzzle Man
Well I had to do a post on cute Dallin. He has really been progressing lately, and it is so sweet to watch! His talking has exploded and he can finally communicate better so he doesn't get so frustrated. He is going through a puzzle phase...he loves to get out these puzzles and will concentrate and focus until they are all done...by himself!! He is learning some of his letters, loves to be read stories, and also, the other night he spent an entire evening excited that he could draw "eye, eye, mouth!" (A face). He was drawing a picture of a face over and over on a big endroll of newsprint and was so proud.
It is fun to see him growing up! Now if we could just get him over his fear of sitting on the toilet....
It is fun to see him growing up! Now if we could just get him over his fear of sitting on the toilet....
September
Kids in the Kitchen
Ta Da! Fresh Peach Pie! Spencer did this all himself, including plopping peaches into hot water to peel off the skins.
Lindsey started a cooking group (17 home school girls!!) that meets once a month at our house for a recipe exchange, and it has really ignited her love for cooking! They are compiling cookbooks, and Lindsey has already cooked this "No Fail French Bread" and "Gingersnaps" a couple of times (recipes that her friends shared). YUM! She is quite the cook, and I don't mind kids in the kitchen when they can do it themselves without help and clean up, too!
Porter was excited to grate the zucchini for the best zucchini brownies! Another great way to use up your squash!
Ingredients
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups shredded zucchini
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup margarine
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, mix together the oil, sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, 1/2 cup cocoa, baking soda and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Fold in the zucchini and walnuts. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until brownies spring back when gently touched. To make the frosting, melt together the 6 tablespoons of cocoa and margarine; set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, blend together the confectioners' sugar, milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in the cocoa mixture. Spread over cooled brownies before cutting into squares.
Goat Training
Part of the kids daily chores are working with the goats. Thought these were cute pics!
Ta Da! Fresh Peach Pie! Spencer did this all himself, including plopping peaches into hot water to peel off the skins.
Lindsey started a cooking group (17 home school girls!!) that meets once a month at our house for a recipe exchange, and it has really ignited her love for cooking! They are compiling cookbooks, and Lindsey has already cooked this "No Fail French Bread" and "Gingersnaps" a couple of times (recipes that her friends shared). YUM! She is quite the cook, and I don't mind kids in the kitchen when they can do it themselves without help and clean up, too!
Porter was excited to grate the zucchini for the best zucchini brownies! Another great way to use up your squash!
Ingredients
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups shredded zucchini
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup margarine
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, mix together the oil, sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, 1/2 cup cocoa, baking soda and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Fold in the zucchini and walnuts. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until brownies spring back when gently touched. To make the frosting, melt together the 6 tablespoons of cocoa and margarine; set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, blend together the confectioners' sugar, milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in the cocoa mixture. Spread over cooled brownies before cutting into squares.
Goat Training
Part of the kids daily chores are working with the goats. Thought these were cute pics!
Land Cruisers
We've got two new landcruisers in the family...
Ryan sold our good ol' VW van, and bought a snow machine that can get down our driveway in the winter...
An '89 Land Cruiser, running strong- it's got a perfect body with no rust! He bought it from the original owner who pampered it... He is excited!
Our other landcruiser--
Ridge is 8 1/2 months old now, and has been cruising around the hardwood floors, very content to go explore for long periods of time. He isn't crawling, but rather has chosen the hard floor induced "plop scoot" on his bum that Dallin did when he was a baby.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Final Summer Fling
The end of August, Ryan took the 3 oldest kids (along with the other four legged kids) on a backpacking trip into the White Clouds. They had a great time, and came back good and dirty...with their own inside jokes and stories to tell and laugh about...a great way to spend time together with dad.
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