The New House

Well we have moved into are new house and finally are starting to get more settled in and gradually getting things put away. We have been without Internet, phone and TV service for the last two weeks so that is why I haven't posted pictures sooner. So here are a few pictures of the main rooms in the house before we moved in. I will try to take some more once I have all the walls decorated.

The Kitchen

The Family Room

The dining Room

The living room

First day of Public High School

Yesterday was Alyssa's first day of public high school. Although I have loved homeschooling her the last few years, and spending time with her at home, I really felt like she was just becoming to comfortable with her surroundings and not applying herself to her schoolwork. I think she was beginning to feel bored with school, and life. She really is my social butterfly and she was starting to feel caged in.

We found a unique kind of High School. It is very small. They only allow no more than 20 students per grade level, so no more that 80 students for the whole high school. It is called a "Big Picture School" and what they do is try to focus on what the child is interested in and incorporates their learning around that. They are able to take on internships two day a week as part of their learning experience. And really get more one on one time with their teacher and mentors. It sounds like a great way to learn about a lot of different things, and a fun approach to school. So far she really seems to be enjoying it. She said everyone has been really nice and welcoming, and that's what any mother would hope for for her child in a new school.

It is sometimes is hard to make choices about what is best for our children. Life is adventurous sometimes, and constantly full of changes. So begins another journey....

Move # 18!!!

Move #18 that is a lot of moving if you ask me! Nevertheless we are moving again. In my hunt for houses we found a house that I think will work really well for our family. It isn't very far from where we live now, and is a little closer to the church. I am looking forward to the extra room. Our new house has 6 bedrooms! The older girls are all very excited about having there own room. Another thing they are excited about is the in ground swimming pool in the back yard! It is an older home, maybe not quite as updated as the home we are in, but it is very roomy, and I am happy. Now the dreaded task of packing and sorting through all our numerous belongings. Yeah! Let the work begin!

Happy Belated New Year

Well here comes a new year 2009 is here can you believe it? This year for New Years we invited the Brethren over to play games and have sacks. It was fun to vist with everyone, and everyone stayed until midnight so I guess it was a sucess.

I wonder what this new year will hold for us? We will probably be moving to a different house sometime between now and summer. Our lease is up on this house next month, so we are looking around again to see what are options are. It looks like the price of rent has come down a little since last year, so we would like to go for somthing a little less if possible. Although I dread packing up again, it is always exciting to be in a different house. I guess I just like change.

I wonder what is in store for our assemely? Will our church continue to grow? Will there be new familes moving in? Will any move away? Will there be more who continue to join this faith wether they have been raised this way there whole life, or have come in from out of the world. The possiblites seem endless.

I wonder what new friendships may be in store, and what old frindships will continue to grow and be rekindeled.

I feel very blessed looking back on last year. Our little assembly has grown in size, and I feel our spirtual strength has been increased. My husband has been blessed with steady labor for his hands, our children are healthy. And we have been blessed with a home filled with family and brethren from time to time. I look forward to 2009 and what new blessings may be awaiting us. Although there are sure to be trials that come our way this year God will make them blessings in his own time.I look forward to those blessings.

Busy In A good Way

Things around here have been so busy. With the holidays that have passed and the ones yet to come it seems like I am just running all the time. Last week my parents were here. It was good to see them again and have them in my home. Adriana had her birthay while they were here. I can't believe she is already 7! We celebrated her birthay togeter with Roman's with a party, and then we all went roller skating. I hadn't been skating in long time, so I was pretty pleased that I didn't fall even once. Later in the week we made a trip to visit my grandma. It was a quick visit, but it was good to see her again. Wendsday before Thanksgiving there was a bapisim, and then another one on Sunday. Then we had an ordinance supper on Monday, And last Friday Dennis and Trina hosted a Christmas party for all the Broteren here. It has been great and so up lifting to be able to spend so much time together. So like the title says...Iv'e beem busy, but in a good way.

Sewing 101

This year as part of our homeschooling the girls had expressed interest in learning how to sew a dress. So the other day they had a great sale going at the fabric store on patterns and fabric. The girls enjoyed glancing at the pattern books, and learning about different types of fabric. They have each chose a different pattern and fabric and have begin to cut them out. I would like to try to work on them about once or twice a week. I hope they turn out great...but we will see. I'll try to keep you posted.

This is the pattern and fabric Alyssa chose.


And this is the pattern and fabric Shelbi chose.


The girls at work

Pictures

Well I finally talked Sean into it and we got a professional family photo taken. Sean really doesn't like to get pictures taken, but he really was a good sport about it, and I think we got some pretty good pictures.

Our family Photo. I couldn't get my computer to crop the pictures, so they really look better printed up.