Tessa turns 8 and her special baptism day

This is Tessa in her element, celebrating something special and surrounded by special people.  

Tessa was so lucky to turn 8 a week before the general women's meeting.  She got to go with Grandma H. and cousin Gracie to the broadcast.

Tessa wanted me to get a photo with her and a sweet neighbor friend.

Horses are a new found love.  We have enjoyed reading Black Beauty and The Black Stallion together lately.  And of course there are the Spirit shows she found on Netflix.

 Tessa anticipated her special day all year!  She was baptized on November 4th by her dad.  She had cousins, friends, aunts & uncles, Grandmas & Grandpas, and one great grandma and great grandpa there to support her.  Tessa had read the Book of Mormon all the way through during the year leading up to her baptism, and she decided to share her testimony on the following fast Sunday about feeling the Spirit to know of it's truth.  Tessa really understood that she was making an important choice by being baptized and she wants to continue doing things to follow Jesus Christ.

Reading a baptism book gift from Grandma after lunch

So glad Jared took this photo with Great Grandma Keller!

Leisel's day

Leisel starts the fall birthday celebrations in our family.  She was so excited to turn 5 in September.  We give her a hard time cause she is such a tiny gal with a soft heart, but she does a pretty good job of keeping up with the big kids around our house.  She knows what she wants and does a pretty good job of finding a way to get it. ;)  Leisel sprouted a few inches this year and decided it was time to do some big girl things like ride a bike without training wheels, learn to read, and play the piano.  We are learning about this smart gal that when she decides to do something she will go for it, even if it means teaching herself.  Leisel is still as loveable as ever.  She gives wonderful hugs and sweet notes.  We are so grateful for her smiles and so grateful to see her continue to grow.  

PJ and Pancake Party with cute neighbors

relays and pillow fights

birthday fun with cousins 

Labor Day end of summer Bash

Grandma Clark organized a water balloon volleyball tournament for the family on the Saturday before Labor Day. ...pretty sure there was some good BBQ going on there too. ;)

Then on the Monday holiday, we were able to get boats out for one last trip to the lake with the Harstons.

  

 Grandpa brought oreos!

The girls did their best to catch baby fish in the leftover lunch bags until the last minute of our outing.

Solar Ellipse 2017

We were able to watch the ellipse as a family at the Garden at Thanksgiving Point.  It was amazing to see the phenomenon at one of our favorite beautiful places.  

 

getting back to school outings

We finally made it to the Renessaisance fair this year (back in August)!  

Jonathan loved the jousters!  

The Viking village at the fair

fun booths

visiting the queen of the fair

playing at the Gateway children's museum after a Biztown meeting

visiting the Ogden Union Station on one of Michael's temple trips

Youth Council / 4-H / SVLA

In February last year I started meeting with a few other homeschool moms to organize a school group for our older students.  It became the scholar school called South Valley Leadership Academy.  I helped to gather a group of teens who would be our Youth Council and we started planning and preparing.  

This is our first activity with the community, a hoedown youth dance at Datus Archery.  

Fisher came!

After the hard work at one of our youth council meetings, we created an at home spa night.  

Our first year youth council has four girls and no boys ;)

Some younger sister's included

Summer night-games activity

The younger kids usually found good friends and great things to do during our SVLA board meetings.  

  The youth council helped host a retreat for moms and scholars at the Harston Heartland Lodge during the second week of August.

 

 We started our Tuesday classes and I helped to mentor a 4-H club as an elective with nearly 30 students!  Gratefully I was able to recruit Grandpa's help with the woodworking project.  He helped around 20 kids construct beautiful boxes with hammer, nails, stain, and hinges etc.  

One of the other two groups we had going in 4-H was sewing.  

2 benches constructed in a few hours!  (with Jared's help this time)

Our friendly county extention agent, Vernon Parent, taught about portfolios.  

field trip to woodcraft

I didn't take photos of students in our pottery unit, but this was an awesome field trip to Ben Behunin's studio.

The youth council coordinated a service project to the Road Home shelter in November.  We brought lunches for the families and helped sort donations.    

The new SVLA youth council took up their positions in November. (yea Michael!) They had a fun battle activity after the training meeting.