Joy School

Over the holidays, I got to thinking...wow, my little girls probably watch more tv than they should lately. :)  

So I recommitted myself to do something that I had planned on doing at the beginning of the school year with them.  Start Joy School!

What is Joy School?  Well, the real version is found here:  www.valuesparenting.org

My version is much simpler.  The premise is that you teach your children where and how to find joy in life before they start worrying about ABC's and 123's.  Or at least at the same time.  So that they have felt those joys, which builds them up, and then head off to school to learn more of the academics.  

I loved this concept!  So I looked up the 15 different "Joys" and each week on Wednesday and Friday mornings, the girls and I discuss them.  Which is followed by an activity of some sort to reinforce the principle.

We are on Week 2 - and the Joy we have been learning about is the Joy of our Bodies!  We have discussed that God created our amazing bodies.  What the 5 senses are and how they help us experience the world.  How to care for our bodies.  Etc.

It has been so fun!  It is easy, and so effective.  My girls are learning to understand and appreciate their bodies, while at the same time spending quality time with me. :)  I am loving being their "teacher".  Isn't that what a real mother's role is anyway??  I love those moments where you really feel like you are magnifying that calling.  One of life's truest joys.

Here they are "decorating" their special bodies. ;)

Another day we went to the swimming pool to talk about how the joy that comes from exercising our bodies.  We were there about 20 minutes before they decided that it was too cold too swim. :)  

Not all the stuff we do are home runs but our batting average so far on Joy School is pretty high. ;)

High enough in fact, that Morgan and Jake want me to do Joy School with them on their days off from school!  I might just have to do that.  It is really quite fun. :)

I sure love this mothering job.  It can be hard but it truly is a joy.

On to the Joy of the Earth!

A New Year, New Goals, and a New Word

It has begun.

We are well into the beginning of 2013.  I have said this before but I LOVE January.  The feeling of renewal, recommitting,  and the energy of starting something new just permeates my whole being!

This year is no different.  And boy, oh boy, do I have lots of things I want to recommit to and start fresh. :)  My poor husband probably thinks I get a little carried away...which I probably do, but that is ok with me.  Is it that bad to want to be so much better??? :)

Good thing life is long, because I have big plans for it. :)

Let's start with the kids and family goals.

The Daily Chart system we have been using to teach the kids how to work hard, is working like a charm!  I truly love it because it is simple, yet effective.  It lends to tons of life lessons we want them learning - responsiblity, accountability, hard work, the joy of a clean and orderly home, self-discipline, how to earn and manage money, how to save and put the Lord first in financial matters, the list goes on and on and on.  "Daily Jobs" being the vehicle for that learning.  

So what are we adding?  Putting their goal charts on the opposite side of the page from their Daily Charts so that they will think about these each day, Scripture reading time to count for a portion of their required reading minutes each day, Family Scripture Study at 7:30 am each morning (instead of at a random time, usually during breakfast when there are lots of interruptions) , pre-prayer discussions on what we should express gratitude for and what we need that day (as opposed to the same repeated prayers the kids usually offer).

They sure came up with some great things themselves to work on.

I wonder when I should start having the little girls do these charts as well?  Not yet.  I am not ready to try and keep up on that yet.  Which at their age, that is exactly what it would be. :)

Trev is always really self-evaluative, but I usually don't know the "specifics" of what he is focusing on.  I just know a couple things he has been talking a lot about include decreasing his sugar intake, getting training for his races he has coming up fast, and focusing on priorities.  Prioritizing family and personal growth over a "fun" lifestyle.

Now for me.  Getting comfortable.  This might take a while. :)

This year my new "word" I will be focusing on is:

"LIGHT"

I am not certain the full range of what this means, but I do know that I felt strongly that this is what my Heavenly Father wants me to think about this year.

Last year it was "Positive" and that was sooo beneficial for me.  Thinking back on how much that word helped me makes me really excited to see what my new word has in store.

Here is what I think it means so far:

1.  Receive and embrace light in my life.

2. Be a light to others around me.

3. Eat light.  

4. Help make others' burdens light.

5. Let my light shine, don't hide it.

6. Look for light in my life that I may have overlooked.

7. Capture more light in my photography.

8. Last, and definately the most important one, come to know better the source of all light - 

My Savior.

I feel like my Heavenly Father wants me to come closer to my Savior by studying light.

Like I said, I am unsure of what this will entail.  I am unsure as to what turns, climbs, and drops this roller coaster might take.  And although I am a little nervous, I am excited to see what this year of "LIGHT" will bring.

I am ready.  I hope. :)

Winter Break in a Winter Wonderland

The past couple of years our Utah winters have been rather mild.  Last year's in fact, was a little too mild.  We had a TON of forest fires this last summer to prove it.  So we decided it would be best to pray for snow...and boy did we receive!

Not only did it snow but the temperature has been in the teens and twenties for about a month now...so none of it is melting. :)

So most of the winter break was spent either sledding, or inside playing with Christmas toys, and working on finishing the kids' goals. 

This coloring castle was by far one of the ten Christmas gifts.  EVERYONE played with it.

Here is Claire fully enjoying eating a delicious breakfast of "bloody eggs" (that is what Jake likes to call them - I find the term revolting).

One of Jake's goals was to learn oragami.  It turned into becoming a paper airplane expert.

He also honed in his football skills...with minimal collateral damage (while throwing the football with him in the hallway we accidentally hit a picture on the wall - it fell and broke, but we were able to repair it.  No harm done).

One of Morgan's goals was to learn how to draw "Dr. Seuss-Style."  She is a natural.

To finish out the year we celebrated New Year's Eve with a few families in our ward.  It was so much fun.  The kids loved being with their friends and we loved hanging with ours. We rang in the New Year at 10 p.m. and headed home.  We are becoming so old, but that is what having young kids will do to you.  Bedtime becomes a necessity. :)

Well 2012, you were good to us.  Thank you.  

Here's to a New Year with all it will bring!  We are ready.  Welcome 2013!!!