Holding our breath in the name of science...

You might say we've been holding our breath, waiting for this day to arrive. If you love science and science fairs, our hats off to you!

 

Our youngest twig just finished her last science fair project!!! Wahoo!! If you see us dancing in the streets, that's why.    :)

It's not that we dislike science...it just not our passion.

The twigs did learn to follow their interests over the years and studied subjects ranging from fire starters...

 

...staying warm on freezing nights in a sleeping bag...

 

...the effect a bird feeder's color has on attract birds...

 

...the effect gum chewing has on a person's ability to focus...

...to the ultimate nail polish (Revlon)...

 

...and more, as our school has students do science fair projects through the 9th grade.

I do have to acknowledge science fairs have been good to us in return for our efforts. The twigs all got opportunities to participate in the Ritchey Science and Engineering Fairs at WSU and won small scholarships and even a cash prize (which she delightedly spent on more nail polish).        :)

There are no tears, however, in our saying goodbye to the science fair days.   :)
Wahoo!!!
...dancing...dancing...dancing.............

Wisdom and camping with scouts...

A few weeks ago we headed out to the island for Family Home Evening. We talked about dreams and goals. Lifetime, 10 year, 5 year, and 1 year dreams and goals. A few of the "lifetime" dreams/goals I mentioned just to get them thinking were:
- have a close, personal relationship with God
- swim the English Channel
- be a gopher farmer
- have 8 children (yes, it's true, I shamelessly admit trying to plant in their young minds the desire for
                          many children so I can have many grandchildren!)

We skipped rocks and enjoyed the sunset while we talked about our Exemplar, Jesus Christ. In Luke 2:52 we read "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" and agreed that our goals could focus on increasing in wisdom (mental), stature (physical), favor with God (spiritual), and favor with man (social).

I asked the twigs what "wisdom" was and how we get it. They talked about wisdom being different from knowledge, then Hunter's observation on how to get "wisdom" took the cake.

He said...

..."You learn wisdom by going camping with your scouts."

I was speechless.   :)
Wasn't sure if he was totally joking and I should burst out laughing...or if he was serious, in which case the "bursting out laughing" response would not be ideal.

So I intelligently said, "Oh yah???"

He affirmed in all seriousness, that's how you learn wisdom.

So, I give thanks again to all the Scout Leaders who have taught my boys many things, one of which is...wisdom. Thanks, men!!

xoxo

Valentines gift...

For a Valentines gift this year we skipped the flowers, dinner & a movie, jewelry, weekend get away ideas and went for an annual pass to Antelope Island. It's gorgeous on the Island in the Spring and we can not get enough.

The twigs got to put a few miles on their new footwear (hiking boots for trek).

I love hiking pictures of the twigs from behind! What's with that? No clue...but it's totally true. Maybe it has to do with that's my usual view when we're hiking so it gives me some kind of deja vu.   :)

The twigs got their rock scrambling in.

The bison's wooly coats were thick even down their legs. They were marvelous looking with their thick winter beards.

There were just a couple of birds around that evening.

This was Rascal's first visit to the Island. He approved of the Valentines gift. Come visit the Island with us!

Signs of Spring...

They're back!    :)

One of our favorite signs of Spring is having birds come to nest in our birdhouse. Happy Spring!

Hope the jabberwocky (here) stays away from these two!

Footwear and a flick...

One of our upcoming summer activities the twigs are most anticipating is "Trek." We felt the need, after seeing pictures of handcarts plunking down steep river rock covered trails, to get the twigs some appropriate footwear now and start breaking them in.

The twigs have some relatives who would get a smile out of this picture. One of them worked at REI for a time and said REI stood for "Reinvest Employee Income."     :) 

I suggested that our girlie send a picture of her new boots to her Aunt Marti and daughters. The girlie rockin' these boots would bring a smile to their faces just as quickly as a pic of the girlie in a gorgeous prom dress.      :)

After the favorite footwear was chosen, we headed up the canyon to watch a wild ski movie. Wow, I love this beautiful world!

A whole city of rocks...

We lucked into a sunshiny day in January and had a captivating audio book to listen to (Okay for Now by Schmidt) so we took off to find some rock cause you know, we love rock. 

I was grateful that the girlie was willing to take the hit and "walk" the dog.    :)

We went to the City of Rocks (Castle Rocks) and were joined by Scott and April. It was like food for my soul.

This was the entrance to a "pre-historic human shelter." Places like this stick with me, leaving me hugely grateful each night for a soft bed, warm blankets, and a roof over my head.

The back side of the shelter enticed the twigs to do some bouldering/scrambling.

Figuring out the best way to the top...

 

...where they could hurl ice sheets off the boulder.

Scottie and the Mr. swapped Bishopric stories.

My favorite story, however, was Scottie's interpretation of pictographs he shared in a Idaho lava tube a few years back with a pictograph expert. If you get a chance to ask him about it, do. It's a hoot! 

A park ranger found these pictographs just a few years ago at the City of Rocks (Castle Rocks).

Loved taking a ramble out yonder with these people!   :)

I "heart" you...

Valentines morning we woke up to this...

Our girlie got up in the middle of the night to sneak around and give us a "heart attack."    :)

She's a keeper! Love ya'll and Happy Valentines!

Mmmm...I love how Tolstoy said it!
“A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbor (and family) — such is my idea of happiness.”
-Leo Tolstoy

But Mother Teresa was probably closer to our reality.
“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.”
-Mother Teresa

His "I'm getting an idea" face...

I'm blessed to have funny funny brothers.

Here is one of them on the far right of the picture...

One can only guess this must be his "I'm getting an idea" face...

Our girlie has the cutest giggle when she's being teased.   :)

Love my funny funny brother!    xoxo