School Routines

Power of Moms website posted an article that I wrote a couple of years ago about back to school routines.  It is a great reminder to simplify and focus on what matters most.  

Due Date

Today is August 8th.  This is the day that I am due to have baby #8.  Last week I was having contractions and sure that she would be born very soon.  I had swollen feet and was very tired because in addition busy summer activities such as swim team for three kids and swimming lessons for three kids I have been to 21 doctors appointments in the last month!  Some appointments were routine pregnancy appointments, some were well child checkups that I scheduled for my school age children months in advance, an orthodontic appointment, and the vast majority of appointments were for Hyrum.  He has been suffering with health problems that started over a year ago, but have dramatically escalated since April of 2015.  He suffers from daily headaches, stomachaches, and sores on his legs and arms.  I had high hopes that we would have his health concerns all resolved before the baby is born and he starts school, but it hasn't happened.  We are just trying to hang on until August 26th when he has a scope on his stomach.

Thankfully my mom came this week to be here incase I went into labor.  I didn't end up going into labor, but it has been such a blessing to have her here.  Sometimes you just need to spend time with your mom and this is one of my favorite times we have had together.  I would have missed it if I had ended up having the baby early and been in the hospital:)

My mom was ready to entertain kids with an awesome art project.  She taught the kids how to color on thin plastic and then cook it in the oven and it shrinks in size and thickens to make either key chains or charms for a necklace!

She had a fun little grab bag of prizes for the kids.

We went to the park and the library.  It was fun to just do simple everyday activities together.

We went to the mall to get school shoes and enjoyed having another adult to take kids to separate stores.

She read Secret Garden to the kids, I also listened in.  Even though I am 33 I still love hearing my mom read to me.  It brought back many fond memories of childhood.

We also spent a couple of afternoons cooking together so that next Monday when my in-laws have to leave and Justin is back to work I will be able to easily fix dinner!  

Most of all she helped me to relax and enjoy the last week of summer and not worry about the fact that I hadn't gone into labor!  

 We went and got Hawaiian Ice.

While my mom was here Tanner set a goal to earn $62 dollars for a Lego set.  He worked so harding doing dishes and anything else that I asked so he could earn enough for the Lego set that he wanted.  I paid him all of his hard earned money and he was ready to order his set from Amazon.  After spending sometime in his room he came down and told us he had changed his mind.  He wanted to save all of his money for his mission!  We were so proud of him!  

 The kids played outside with Grandma and made fun videos of them jumping.

 We took plenty of walks.  (It didn't help me go into labor!)

 The kids love playing games with Grandma!

I was also able to accomplish some projects to help us be organized for back to school!  

Lydia

7 pounds 15 ounces

20.5 inches long

Preschool Plans

I received an email from a friend this week asking me about starting a preschool group.  I have enjoyed teaching my kids preschool for the past 11 years and here is a review of some of the curriculums that I have used and liked:

I am still trying to decided what curriculum I want to use with my little 4 year old this year.  I enjoy them all!

 Pictures of some of last years preschool kids!

I have used the Joy School curriculum with some of my kids and I love the values and stories that it uses.  The Eyre's have just revised the Joy School Curriculum and it is now call Joy School 2.0.  The good news is that the new program is even cheaper than it was before.  

I have also adapted the "Five in A Row" curriculum for a preschool curriculum.  It was written as a homeschool curriculum, but can easily be adapted.  It is based on classic children's literature and you use one book per week to teach about many different subjects.  

We have most often just made up our own curriculum, there is so much available on the internet it is easy to just assign lessons like this:

Week 1:  Letter A, Number 1 (animals)

Week 2:  Letter B, Number 2 (balls) . . . 

Another idea that some of my friends have used in the past is FunShine Express.  It is more expensive, but sends you everything you need to teach preschool.  

I also like the Core Knowledge book "What Your Preschooler Needs to Know."

Here is a post I wrote called, "Picking a Preschool."

2015 MOM ADVENTURE #1

You might remember that last year I wrote at article for Power Of Moms called, "Mom Adventures."  It is about a summer tradition that we have had for several summers to set aside one day a week that I focus on my kids and we have an adventure together.  Here is our first adventure for this summer:

We have been taking walks each morning this week by a beautiful lake near our home.  We usually end up walking about 2 miles.  Today we were determined to make the full loop around the lake which is about 4 miles.  The kids weren't worried about their ability to finish the course, they were worried about my ability to finish the course!  I am a bit slower when I am pregnant!  The kids were awesome, they pushed the stroller to give me extra speed and literally ran circles around me!  We completed the course in 1 hour and 5 minutes!  Which is quite remarkable considering the extra weight I carry, the stroller, and the fact that we had six kids! (one of the boys was at basketball camp)

We had so much fun and felt such a sense of accomplishment.  After picking up our basketball camp boy we went through a drive thru for hot dogs and went to a park we had never visited before and enjoyed the perfect 65 degree weather!  

BYU Women's Conference

Looking back to my trip to Utah at the beginning of May:

The night before I flew out for Women's Conference I was able to go to the temple with my daughter and the rest of the youth in our ward!  It was a perfect way to start my weekend.  

I met these two wonderful friends in Utah.  

It was amazing to be apart of this large gathering of amazing women!  

I can't describe how thrilled I was to run into my dear friend Dinah!  It completely made my day!

We sat right behind Sister Peterson who just returned from serving a mission in our ward! 

So many individuals blessed us with their knowledge and wisdom!  

My mom and dad drove all the to BYU to come see me!  

I was able to see my brother Kaden and his wife, Carianne.  

We ate delicious food.  

We stayed at Elise's mom's house and I gleaned so many organizational, decor, and cleaning ideas!  

The pictures don't begin to show how amazing her house really is!