Epic Post for our Epic Adventure 2013/2014

We are having a themed learning experience this year in our family.  It is based on the hymn "Behold a Royal Army" and the educational model by Karen Kindrick Cox.
 


I had been hearing about epic adventures as part of family learning throughout the past year.  I got really excited about the topic "A Royal Army" one Sunday in church and I started developing a plan.
A good friend and her family jumped in to participate with us and created some wonderful synergy. 
Along the way I had evidence of the Lord's hand helping us move forward.  I connected with my cousin in California who has used Epic Adventures with her family for the last six years.  I also met a new friend who lives down the street and realized that she is Karen's daughter who continues to teach her family through Epic Adventures.

We are half-way through our experience now and we are already looking forward to continuing each year.  Here are some tidbits and photos from our adventure.

One of the planning sessions with Candy and I took place at Thanksgiving Point Gardens.  The kids had fun exploring and Candy and I took a central station at "The Secret Garden."  It was a rainy day, but so beautiful!  

I'm really grateful to the Maxfields for sharing the Adventure with us.  Candy has great ideas and encouragement every time I need it.

 

Fisher and the boys

We started our adventure with a "brain week," a lesson at a neat park on how our brains work and how learning takes place.

Then the big day arrived and the kids were issued their assignment or call to serve in the Royal Army. 

 

 

After eating our "Army chow" we went to meet the Maxfields for the swearing-in ceremony.

 

Then boot camp...
 
 

a fuzzy picture of Jordan in the armor of God
 

the Armor of God picture that Tessa likes

Our visit to the Provo Mission office with a tour from the AP during the missionary month


We were really lucky to hear from my parents about their trip to the Mediterranian Region "in the footsteps of Paul." 

We sample fig cakes and goat cheese and various candies. 

The next month the "spirit" of Christopher Columbus came to visit. (since our costume department was a little bit lacking)  The kids ate pizza from Genoa, Italy where Columbus was born while learning about his mission to find the new world. 

apple sailboat snacks :)

During our service month, Tessa dressed as Mother Teresa and showed the belongings and diet of her followers.  The boys dressed up to do some role plays too.

We learned about the Church's humanitarian efforts at the exhibit on Temple Square and did our own service too. 

Jordan is earnestly reading the Book of Mormon this year to prepare for his coming baptism.  It is fun to see him adopt the stories as his own and remember more and more facts and names now. 

December was our month to learn more about Christ as our commander.  We read some wonderful historical novels set at the time of Christ.  For family scripture time we followed the "25 days of Christ" website with an ornament for the tree and a video from the Church bible videos each night. 
We didn't know how it would be "Epic," but it has been an enormous blessing to have some purposeful family learning experiences together.

Growing

Leisel is getting more independent and wants to try to feed herself.

Tessa LOVES playmates when the boys are at school!

Cousin Orion is One now!

Aunt Haley had a baby shower and then we welcomed baby Olivia into the family!

Michael earned his Wolf rank and advanced to Bears.

"Preschool time"

Jared and I decided to try making sushi at home.  And the kids love it too!

A quick photo we sent to dad saying "hi" during work at Christmas break 

     

Halloween

We did it!  We finally put together a family costume for the annual Halloween party at Uncle Ron's.  The photo isn't fabulous (and neither were the costumes), but hopefully you get the idea.  My mom remade the suit jacket for Jared and I forgot his tie.  We even learned the song "Edelweiss" for fun to get us into the spirit of the costume. 
Jordan was a good sport about the idea and Michael only went along under duress.  Knickers and lederhosen are not his idea of a cool costume.  I think it was a success.  Any ideas for next year?

It was a real treat to visit neighbors with Aunt Linda and cousin Orion.

We enjoyed visiting the Brown's horses in the afternoon.  Tessa got a ride in her princess dress. :)

The Kids

I had to take the annual photo of the kids around their birthdays.  And Grandma's house always has nice spots. 

                                                              
                                                            I love these kids.

                                    We have another year of fun and growing ahead!

p.s. Grandpa is showing off his newest gun.  classic.

Boy Scouts

Michael and Jared got to participate in the commemoration broadcast for the 100 years of scouting in the Church.

They are taking a break outside the conference center (It was a fire alarm) during one of the rehearsals.  That's the "wolf" hand sign Michael created.  Hands are a great toy to always have on hand.

Some of the other scouts and leaders from our neighborhood. 

This event made the last few weeks in October a bit more hectic, but Michael and Jared really enjoyed the experience and gained testimonies of the Lord's work in scouting.