We have one new homeschooling family this year and they will just be with us for one year but we are enjoying every moment with them! They go to Faith Christian but with all the regulations they chose to join our coop this year. Adam and Luke are older and part of Clairana's Essentials afternoon writing/grammar class. But then they met Nephi and since it has been so fun to watch.
Dennise stays home and her husband is a dentist in town. Their boys are so great.
They have several acres on our same side of town.
Nephi got to learn how to ride a dirt bike at their house this past week.
Still working on memorizing the states and capitals. 
Levi's birthday was last week and was on our normal coop day and Levi had a very early meeting so life was a little hectic.
We got up early to sing to him and let him open presents before we all headed out.
In the evening, Nephi had a dirt bike playdate with a friend so we loaded up the girls and went to try out the new Mexican restaurant that just opened down the road. It ended up working out great because they only allowed tables of six regardless if from the same household. Stupid Covid rules that make really no sense.
The kids all picked out things (besides Cecily) to get Levi for his birthday and the running theme was kitchen items.
Pizza Stone with all the accessories - we have wanted to start pizza night at home for a long time and with the new restaurant getting a fancy pizza oven we have all heard about it.
Tortilla press & holder - we have been grinding our own corn so this was the next step in making our own.
Clairana got him a pancake dispenser which he looked at when we were in Pennsylvania.
Cecily got him a pillow with hopes he sleeps better.
I want to remember today, a few months ago I was told that my retina was detaching and we would start to watch the progress and determine when surgery would happen. My grandmother on my mom's side had this same issue and I remember her not being able to see at all and having huge magnify glasses in her house and never attempting to even write a check. She had the surgery and according to my mom it was a mess that went downhill from there. I read everyday to my kids and for myself and it is such a part of our lives that to think of losing that broke my heart. Even if not this year or in ten years it was still hard to hear. Anyways, I am so thankful for my eye doctor that I really like and that I know personally even though he would not be the one to do the surgery when needed he said he would be part of my journey the whole time. I am thankful for Levi today, he met me at the eye clinic to wait in the suburban with the kids while I went in to have more test done. Before I went in he put his hands on my head and gave me a priesthood blessing of comfort. I am so grateful and want to remember how strongly I love him and no matter who is around or where we are he will always pray with us or give us blessings.
After the most thorough eye exam I have ever had (even more thorough than when I was getting PRK) it was determined that my detachment was just slightly more than three months ago and I could wait to be seen again for another six months.
Thankful. Life is such an emotional roller coaster.
We made our first Lemon Meringue Pie together! 
Homeschooling Life - Learning to draw the United States
Nature Journal Study - Ponds 
Bella has become the newest artist. She has been writing her name and letters everywhere. It is so sweet to see little learners just jump in without being guided. Homeschooling is such a way of life and not just during certain hours of the day. This week was our 14th anniversary so we met Levi for lunch because his day was packed between work and church events.
So of course we went over to East End and they gave us a surprise dessert!
This man has a birthday now in between two girls and Halloween and our anniversary - who would have thought that October would have gotten ...
