home sweet home...

We just returned from a fabulous vacation in sunny San Diego. We spent a week at the Lawrence Welk Resort in Escondido... (thanks for letting us use the timeshare week- parents in law!) We honestly could have stayed at the resort without ever leaving.. it was fabulous.. classes and activities for the kids, golfing for dad, a spa for mom, 6 swimming pools and a 140-foot waterslide (heated of course), hot tubs, a Broadway-style theater, restaurants, a fishing pond... you name it.

I said we didn't NEED to leave the resort, but that doesn't mean we didn't. I like my vacations packed with action! We went to the beach, the San Diego Zoo with uncle Brett and aunt kt, Seaworld with Debbie (and family) and who can take a trip to Southern California without a little Mickey Mouse? Oh my goodness... it was perfect. Seriously, Deb and I were leaving Disneyland saying, "This IS a place where all your dreams come true!!"

I have WAY too many pictures.. so they will be coming later. I wanted to post them as they were happening, but Aaron wouldn't allow it. I was grounded from blogging while on vacation... kind of. I guess it would never be smart to say, "We're on vacation and not at our home... go and rob our place.." I kept trying to justify it by telling Aaron that everything we own is worth about $15 total. I would actually like someone to take our dirty old couches off our hands. But alas, I do everything that my husband tells me to because he is in charge. really.

Anyway-- a fraction of the pictures will be posted soon. It feels good to be home and back in business.

an Eternal Perspective...

Sometimes I feel so insensitive and selfish. Here I am, blogging about my opinion on a certain book, when there are others that REALLY have something to say. Let me direct you to a blog that will enlighten, testify and bring tears to your eyes.

My friend, Arah, has been through the most incredibly trying experience. Today she is burying her newborn daughter. Little Olivia Kamille suffered from Potter's Sequence and lived for 1 hour and 53 minutes before returning to Heavenly Father. The funeral is this morning in Spokane... how I wish I could be there to support and show my love for her! When you have time, you must check out her amazing blog. I sob like a baby every time I read it so be prepared to cry...

She's very open and candid with her grieving process. She answers questions people don't dare to ask parents who have lost a child (along with some you shouldn't ask.) She also posted pictures of the beautiful casket that was made by her father. She is a rock and her testimony is so bright. With her permission, I am sharing her blog with others because I know we can all learn and grow from her experience and example. If you have time to read it, please leave her a message of support, even if you don't know her!

Arah- you are so incredible and you have given me an Eternal perspective on life.. You remind me how important my role is as a mother. I am so grateful for your example and your strength. I truly feel blessed to have you as my friend. Please know that I am thinking of you, Matt, Brinley and the rest of your family.

Family Fun for FREE

I thought I would share a few creative, fun and inexpensive things that we do with our boys...

▲Making HUTS What is it about being under a blanket that is SO exciting? Is it just boys or what? You name it, we have made it into a fort of some sort... kitchen table, trampoline, beds, couches, etc. It's really not that hard and it's fun to get flashlights and tell stories under the blankets, even in the middle of the day. Food is also better inside a hut.

▲Number/Letter games we write numbers/letters on scrap paper and the kids go searching for them... but you can't get them out of their hiding spot unless it's their turn. This is great for
counting and learning the alphabet. (We have made it more complicated over the years-- like spelling certain words and having to find the letters in the right order. We also are do math this way. Example: What is 5+4.. find the right number....)

▲Red Rover How do you play red rover with 3 people? Easy. Two hold hands--and the other person is across the room, waiting to be called. We like to mix it up by replacing their name with an animal.. and they must act like that animal while running. Talk about a good time! My boys love to swim like dolphins and stomp like dinosaurs-- and Zack usually always ends up being a puppy, no matter what we ask him to be.

▲Treasure Hunts! We make up our own clues and hide them around the house. Sometimes they are simple, such as "the next clue is on the washer." If I feel really creative, they have rhyming and riddles. If I want my kids out of my hair for a bit, I send them on a task oriented riddle, "In order to get your next clue, you have to make your bed." When the job is finished, they are SO excited to find out which task is next.. this keeps them busy AND helps with cleaning. Usually at the end of the treasure hunt I hide a package of fruit snacks or another small treat. Ben and Luke now send each other on treasure hunts which is lots of fun for me!

▲Singing silly songs This started mainly when Zack joined our homeschooling routine, but I was so surprised to see how much my older boys love it! We spend lots of time singing "Do as I'm Doing" where they each take a turn to do something crazy (it's usually running around in a circle, while hitting their head☺) As long as I am doing it with them, it's fun. We also love monkey's jumping on the bed, popcorn, and once there was a Snowman-- (which can also turn into "Once there was a baby" or cactus, or tree.. but these grow bigger instead of smaller.)

▲Games- We LOVE games and I feel so lucky to have kids to play with because my husband is not such a fan... (but he's coming around.) We play Pick Up Sticks, Memory, Go Fish, Spoons, Mastermind, Sorry, Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, etc. It's usually best to do this when the baby is down for a nap, but sometimes he's included..

▲Art! Coloring is a MAJOR part of our every day lives. I probably throw away 30+ sheets of paper everyday and crayons are a must have in our house. Sometimes we create new animals.. Luke is in charge of drawing the head, Ben the legs, etc. We assemble our parts and give it a name. We love to paint, cut, glue and play with homemade playdough. I love to be at the table with them doing these things.. it really can be fun!

▲DANCE parties When there's tension with my kids, I usually blast music and have a dance party. For those of you who know me, I am not the best dancer-- but that's doesn't stop me from bustin' a move with my kids. This is more fun when Daddy is home because he has moves like it's going out of style. Dancing together can be so much fun (and helps you burn a few extra calories..) If you're feeling bored or down, whip out a good Christmas CD and turn up the volume.

▲Hide-and-Go-Seek (flashlight style) When it gets dark, this is their favorite thing. One person counts with the flashlight and there are NO other lights on in the house. Our kids usually hide in the same 3 spots but for some reason, it's still exciting. Zack is now playing along and knows how to be super quiet until you find him. We love this game so much that it is now a strictly reserved for FHE. My boys seriously count down the days until Monday night.

And last but not least..

▲READING! If my kids could chose any activity, it would be story time. They love to be read to and I believe it's because I try to make it exciting. I use silly voices and ask lots of questions ("Why do you think she did that?" or "What do you think will happen next?") There are so many good books out there and the next time you feel bored-- pick up a book! The library is our absolute favorite place to go. If the library is a frustrating place for you to take your kids... here are some tips. Create an account online.. do all your preparation before you go- and have the books waiting ON HOLD for you at the front desk. This way, you're not dragging the kids around, searching through the shelves. Spend your time there browsing and reading. Most children's sections are created for you to hang out there.. just relax and read together. We could NOT homeschool without a library.

So, that's our top ten list.

WHY do I homeschool?

I get asked this question a LOT. There are actually hundreds of reasons why I educate my kids at home... but to make things simple, here are my top TWO.

1. Time
Time is precious and the time my children would spend in school is just too long. It's not that I think going to school is a total waste of time, but it does take away a lot of their childhood. Although this had nothing to do with my decision, I recently found out that children in elementary schools in Vegas get 20 minutes of recess- 20 minutes of their 6+ hours in school! You only get to be a kid once and by homeschooling, I feel like I am giving my children the gift of time-- they are free to spend their time however they please. Riding bikes and painting is what they prefer to do right now... but as they get older, I hope they have the freedom to develop talents that they otherwise wouldn't be able to do if they were in a public school setting.

I am SO free with my own time as a mother. I don't answer to anyone else's clock. I don't have to chauffeur kids back and forth to school or plan my day around the bus schedule. I love being able to do what we want to do, when we want to do it. I believe I am more laid back as a mother because I don't feel rushed to get out the door... (although this does happen on an occasional Sunday morning!)

Family time is HUGE! I was standing in line at the grocery store at the end of the summer when I heard two women talking about how they can't wait for school to start so the kids will be "out of their hair." I understand why these are common feelings among some women, but my heart literally sank in my stomach. I LOVE being with my kids and I think they know how much I enjoy being around them. At least 90% of our day is spent together.. and family time is priceless to me. I think the school system takes a lot away from the family life.. not just during the days, but also in the evenings with homework. We have very little stresses or deadlines. We just get to learn together at home and it is such a bonding experience!

2. Learning
Education comes SO easy and naturally for children. They are brilliant little sponges just begging for more information. Learning should be exciting and thrilling! But it's hard to be passionate about something when you are sitting in a desk all day, (even when you have the best teacher in the world.) I believe that information sticks with them only when they are interested in what they are learning. Homeschooling allows the child to direct what they learn about and for how long. Some days we spend hours (literally) learning about bugs, stars, dinosaurs or whatever else happens to be of interest at the time. And my kids retain the information because they are usually fascinated with the subject. If they don't seem captivated, we move on to something else. Education can become dull when it's forced.. and I don't ever want my kids to be turned off to learning- especially when they get older.

I think most people find it odd that I homeschool. Many homeschooling moms have a negative outlook on the public school system-- usually from their own experience. I absolutely loved my school years and believe I did well. My grades were decent and college wasn't a struggle for me.. but my graduation day from BYU was not what I expected it to be. Instead of feeling proud of myself for all my hard work, I was very disappointed. All I could think about was how much I didn't learn. We all know my social skills were developed, but what about my character? I had just spent most of my life in school, but the information I retained was so little. That was the day I began my education... and I feel so blessed to be learning with my children, everyday.

DISCLAIMER: We decided to homeschool for very personal reasons-- basically because we knew it was right for our family and our children. I hope not to offend anyone because I know every situation is different and I do not judge parents who send their kids to school. Hopefully this sheds more light on homeschooling and how wonderful it can be. That doesn't mean it's easy!! Please don't think I sugarcoat it because it's a lot of work, but the rewards far outweigh the sacrifices.

I am so interested in what you have to say and questions you have.. please comment! You can also email me @ janetleeshumway at gmail dot com I have lots of books to recommend and even more encouragement for those of you are thinking about homeschooling your kids!

PS. Happy Birthday, Annie Bateman!

hot Rod

One of Aaron's good friends happens to live here in Vegas. A couple of days ago, he got in a terrible biking accident and shattered both arms. He's since had 2 surgeries and will have a couple more to repair all the broken bones. Aaron was able to visit him at the hospital today and give him a blessing before heading to the operating room.
The poor guy is completely helpless... and can't even get himself a drink of water.
Luckily, his camelback is coming in handy.

We're praying for a quick recovery! He has a superwoman for a wife and two sweet girls waiting for him at home. We're thinking of you Rod and Carrie!
Get better soon!