A Springy Winter 2015

We basically had no winter.  The only winter storm to hit the Treasure Valley was in November before we came down and that storm didn't hit Valley County, which is really unusual.   The kids and I went up for the Winter Carnival and were lucky we made it before all the sculptures melted.  We were only in Eagle for a few months before heading back up to Norwood where there was already no snow in March.  We even turned some water on that early!  We did some homeschool activities with Common Ground Homeschoolers including hosting a wooden spoon doll crafting day and going to a soccer clinic.  It was fun to get together with other homeschoolers but it was hard to get into school in the short time we had down in Eagle and all the moving back and forth.  It was an easy calving year with the nice weather.  We were lucky to catch a natural calf birth out in the field after a hike one day.  The children had their first piano recital and did very well.  I have so appreciated Mrs. McKee's working with our unique nomadic situation.  When we got back to Donnelly there was finally some more snow which gave the kids an opportunity to build a snowman and have some fun in the snow.  

One day Alice said, "Mommy I want to make an owl."  So we did.  That's the good part of homeschooling - doing projects and following their interests.

We managed to make it to McCall Winter Carnival before all the sculptures melted.

Hiking at Spring Valley ranch.

BSU STEM Exploration Day - constructing a catapult and exploring chromatography.

Early spring day at the reservoir.

We got to watch the cow in the middle, who is dropping her calf, from start to finish giving birth.

Two cool kids.

All dressed up for homeschool Valentine's get together.

King of the mountain.

Ranch daycare.

Cousins!

First recital!  They both got superior ratings from the judges the next day too.

Fractions and art

Turning water on the Stringer place in March!

First and last snowman of the year

Kitty adapting to the late spring snow

Clyde's aspen grove painting

Wildlife sighting on the way to the grocery store

Alice didn't like this trade.  I think pink might be Harry's color!

Clyde's first Rocky Mountain Oyster cooked over the branding fire

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Easter Egg Hunt at the Wises

"New" tractor we bought from Mumsy.

Mrs. McKee said Alice's hibiscus clip looked cute.  Later, Alice told me, "I prefer not to be called cute."  I asked what she would prefer and she responded, "Tigerish."  Here's to my fierce, opinionated, stubborn, and delightful girl!

Halloween 2015

We had a couple Halloweens this year.  After our anniversary party Alice sent out invitations to a Halloween party.  The Crocketts and Overalls joined us on the 30th and Mumsy painted up Alice's face and Clyde wore his Harry Potter stuff. 

We trick or treated in Donnelly again.  Alice switched up to "fancy bat" and Clyde wore his vampire cape that he helped pick out the fabric for.  

We carved pumpkins for the Pancake House pumpkin display. 

And a few weeks before Halloween the piano teacher had a performance party the kids participated in and dressed up for.  Clyde's a cowboy and Alice is a flamenco dancer.  They did great in their performance.  I listened through the door because it was for students only.  

February 2014

Blah..... that's how I feel about February generally.  It's cold.  We're calving.  We're feeding.  This February we had some record setting rain falling on top of the frozen ground.  So we spent a lot of time shoveling snow and then diverting floodwaters.  It was a hard month for homeschool.  Too much time inside and just sort of hit a wall.

 But, on the bright side, the kids did really well in their weekly swim lessons with Mickey - thank you Mumsy!  And, they started piano lessons and they really took to it!

The month started off with bare ground and cold temperatures... one night the sky looked like it was on fire.  We love our sunsets here in Eagle.

 We got to spend time with our Hanson and Jones cousins.  Cassidy and Coltin joined us for STEM Day at BSU which was awesome.  My kids were excited to get to "go to college" for the day.

We got some pretty good snow.

We tested out some building techniques we learned at STEM Day on our cousin Ellie. 

 Ta-da!!

We met our friend Heather for lunch and headed to the "Pop Up Park" at Edwards Greenhouse.  It was warm and bright with wonderful grass and flowers - a great contrast to the mucky February outside.

For Valentine's Day we had a special breakfast, lunch with Mumsy and Aunt Shelley and triple fondue for dinner, two cheeses and chocolate.  We did some Valentime's crafts along with our Olympics crafts.  The kids loved learning about the Greek Gods and the Olympics.

We went to zoo and got to see a baby anteater!

Here's Alice waiting for Clyde's piano lesson to finish so she can have her turn.  She's reading a "Jack and Annie" book (officially known as Magic Tree House books).  She'll sometimes read two of these in a day.  The piano teacher is Mrs. McKee at Harmony Ranch in Eagle.  She actually knows some of Ben's relatives just by coincidence.  She's very good, formal and strict which we needed since I'm such a loosey-goosey homeschool teacher.

Well, I started this off an a kind of negative note, but looking at the photos, it looks like a pretty good life all the same.