Seriously Considering Homeschooling

So, I love Israel's teacher, he loves school, I know it's good for him and in this town that's the only place he has playmates, but I'm seriously considering yanking him out.

We got a threatening letter yesterday from the principle about reporting us to SARB School Attendance Review Board because Israel has missed 6 days of school. 3 were for my Grandmother's funeral (which they know) 1 was because of a crazy long, horrid doctor's appointment so he could stay in school (also excused), and 2 were for our Sacramento trip. So, only 2 unexcused absences and he's in kindergarten. If reported to SARB we'll receive a $330 dollar fine for not being responsible parents. I'm so ticked off. We have to commit for 90% attendance or pay the fine.

So any advise out there? I'm so mad, but I promised Stan I wouldn't talk to the principle until next week.

Homemade Magic

I turned this into this

with a little help of a neighbor's wheat grinder. I've been itching to try it since I bought a bucket of 45 lbs. of wheat (and let it sit in my pantry for 2 months)

Then I turned the flour into this

and we have been loving our homemade whole wheat bread.

I made 4 loaves, anybody want a slice?

So I did it

For those of you who didn't know- I love to read. I eat books. Mom used to say I hibernated in my room all the time with my books. Stan often groans when I'm reading a really good-I can't put this one down book- he'll probably have to make dinner, and clean the house, and bath the kids, and put them to bed, and . . . well you get the idea. But what I also really enjoy is talking about the books I read. I do goodreads, but I don't like to tell much, because I don't like spoilers- even the flaps tell too much.
I've been missing my book clubs (and my Wymount people) so when I found Shealynn's online book club I joined and convinced a few other people- thanks Katie and Amanda- to join too. Yesterday I joined the discussion on Twitter about this book.
Twitter is new to me and a bit weird, but it was so cool to be tweeting? with ladies from all over that had read the same books and were doing this book club. We have a small showing- just 5 or 6 last night, but I really enjoyed it. If you like to read teen books, maybe check it out. (there's a button on the left side) Next month we're reading Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Vampire Acadamy. Plus, Shealynn does all these book giveaways. In fact this week she has a giveaway a day going on. I'm entering them all- even though I've never won anything. here's her blog www.shealynnbenner.blogspot.com Anybody else want to read with me? I'd love to discuss these books with you too.

Snow in California?

On Columbus Day Sarah and Matt from our ward invited us on a trip to Amboy (remember Amboy Amanda?). The plan was to hike the Amboy Creater- one of the youngest volcanos on earth. Just the day before Eliza had asked if there were volcanos in California, so she was excited to be going to see one. You can read about it here. It's a mile hike in and Israel and Eliza both did a great job getting there. Julia rode on daddy's back after the 1st half mile. There are 25 miles of lava fields surrounding the Crater and we got to hike into a volcano-how cool is that? You can walk all around on the 2 lava dams formed from the 2 no longer flowing lava lakes. On the way home we stopped by the salt flats we'd seen on the way to the crater- Israel was convinced it was snow, so Marine Matt let him taste it and he got a big handful- poor kid.

Israel is in one of the 2 lava dams formed from dried lava lakes.

Israel at the salt flats. Just for the record we did have a salt fight.

Trick or Treat Bags

This year for Halloween I had a decision to make- buy 2 more of those plastic pumpkins that take up all that space and are annoying to store- or find a better solution. Thank you craft blog for giving me the basic idea for my "better" solution. I made Julia's bag the pattern size, but made Israel and Eliza's bigger. If you'd going to make one for a child 3 or up I'd definitely add a few inches (I added 2). My kiddos has a great time picking out their own fabric (2.44 a yard at Walmart). The bonus of these bags, besides being cute and individualized for each child is that they take almost no storage space during the 11 months of the year we don't need them:)
A similar bag is for one of you. If you'd like to enter my first giveaway- tell me your favorite Halloween and why. Winner drawn at random Thurs at noon. I'll mail to out Friday so you can have it by the 31st.

Eyes closed!



A few of the decorations we picked up from the dollar store on Thursday. We went back the next day to get a little more and they'd already replaced their Halloween items with Christmas decor. Can you see the eyeballs in the goblets?

Ode to the Bathroom Floor

Oh tile so hard,
Oh smells so strong,
Oh child so happy,
While I wish you would pee.

Potty training, oh potty training,
when will you end?
Potty training, oh potty training,
when will you end?

Julia Michele,
Could you just go,
Does it have to take 4 books,
Could it maybe take just 2?

Potty training, oh potty training,
when will you end?
Potty training, oh potty training,
when will you end?

I try to be cheery
And finally we hear
The most wonderful music
That means we are through.

I leave the hard floor,
I wipe the little bum,
And we wait for a while,
Until we repeat it all again.

Giveaway

No, not here, but at The Benner Daily- 2 books from her book club I'm doing (and my library doesn't have them, so I' d love to win )

Also, I'm going to be doing my own little giveaway in the next few weeks, so check back soon.

Quick Update

10-7 Israel lost his 3rd tooth. He lost it on the bus on the way home. Unfortunately it had been picture day so he was wearing a brand new white polo shirt .
10-8 Robin volunteers all day long in Israel's class- Mrs. T is a Saint. I don't know how she does it with 27 students. I'm in awe.
10-9 Snake Visits- Girl's Night Out at our house 1 gopher snake. Boy Scout Camp Out- 1 baby rattler and 1 tarantula (age unknown)
10-10 Rock climbing in Indian Cove
10-11 Find out the niece Emily was in American Fork High Band Bus Accident. Thankfully she is okay. She has now been in a bus that has rolled And gotten to ride in an ambulance. She has bumps and bruises, but is mainly okay. Emotionally I know it has to be really hard. She and 2 siblings lost a Band Instructor that died trying to save the bus after the driver passed out behind the wheel.
10-12 Hiking to Amboy's Crater one of the youngest volcanos in existance. Julia split her chin open in the bath tub. After calling her dr. we were told all they would do was superglue it since she's only 2. So we did it ourselves. Put a new background on our blog thinking this will be great- for Halloween and Thanksgiving, then saw Happy Thanksgiving up the left side. Just pretend it says Happy Halloween as well.

2, 4, 6 (8) who's birthdays do we celebrate?

Julia, Eliza, and Israel of course. We've had a happy week of birthday adventures and even a big ol' road trip to add to the mix. We did all the presents of Monday of Julia's birthday. Israel was going to wait until his birthday, but watching the girls open theirs and knowing he could too was too much to resist:) It was easier that carting presents up to Sacramento, that's for sure. We went with Stan to the AAMFT Annual Conference. We stayed at a hotel with a pool and spent a lot of time in it. We also enjoyed the continental breakfasts. We ate and ate.
I'll let the pictures tell the rest.





The Golden Gate Bridge with Stan's freshman year roommate Mike Lindsey
Sequoia Nat'l Forrest

see the snow in Stan's hair. Israel was very excited that it snowed on his birthday!
I had to sneak in a picture of my roses. I just love these ones. They're in the front yard. See the yellow center? And the smell- it would be worth a car ride.