Zoo Trip

We did make it to the zoo. It was great fun and we got to go with my two sisters and their families. We began by trying on hats. Tempting, but we resisted. Off to the play area. Great photo shot and fun to play in. Getting us excited for real animals.

We love getting a drink in the lion's mouth.

This elephant was great fun. It makes noises and then finally sneezes out its trunk at you. The kids loved it.

We also got to go to the elephant show. It was fun. The elephant is 19 months pregnant. They are expecting a baby to be born this summer. Apparently the gestational period of elephants is about 21 months. It will be fun to go back and see the baby. We ended up with a pass for the whole year so we will be going back.

The bird show is always amazing and exciting. We all enjoyed it and the whole day was grrrreat! (Did you know they don't have a lion? King of the beasts is just not there, disappointing.)

Our North trip

While job hunting with Milly and visiting Natalie we got to go to a great park. They had fun equipment to play on but the trees were a real favorite.

It really is too bad that trees take so long to mature. Wouldn't it be great to have big trees in our own yard?

Our photo shoot was fun. Although I know that you should judge the artistic quality and choose the best, sometimes the subject is just so darn cute that you have to share all the pictures. This is Sunny. Maybe someone out there can tell me what I should look for to find the best picture to tell the story. Mom always said it has to tell the story.

Tall one got to do baptisms with Milly. I'm so grateful that she has instigated more of these temple trips.

Wow, doesn't she look professional with her own desk and name tag? If you need a good house in her town she can hook you up with a realtor.

for grandma

our park day. great park. great company. Pictures for Grandma.

for my health

This is the first and biggest change I have made. I am having at least one green smoothie every day. It feels so good to be getting my fruits and veggies into every day. I am one that forgets to eat my fruits and only veggies when I remember with my dinner. Too often that consists of lettuce ripped up just befor we eat. It gets old and so do the few dressings I have. With the green smoothies I get fruits and vegetables that are easy to absorb, refreshing and yummy. I have noticed that I have less desire for sweets and other treats. I haven't been willing to cut out a lot of other meals or count calories or fat but I have been learning to listen to what my body wants and when it is full. I have inherited a desire to enjoy good food and when it tastes good I go way overboard. I would say that it is a bit like an addict trying to get more because it feels so good (at least in my mouth). Later I feel run down and fuzzy headed. Actually that is one of the reasons I want to be eating healthier. I want to think clearly. I want to understand and remember the things that are important to me. Having basic health and a clear mind have been my first objective. My secret hope is that a side benefit will be losing weight. I haven't yet lost much but I have stopped gaining which was a big concern through the winter and I just kept creeping up on the scale.

In my efforts to help my body look better I am exercising regularly. I don't do a lot but I do some every day. I have enjoyed Total Body workout on BYU tv and Emily shares her cellerciser (mini trampoline). We went hiking last week and I realized I need to get outdoors and do some walking for those muscles too. I do the tv workout at 5 and I am waking up on my own without an alarm. I attribute that to good eating choices.

I am also trying to avoid fake food--highly processed foods, food coloring, artificial colors and flavors, high fructose corn syrup. I'm am including some of the links I have read from that make me want to make these changes for me and for my family.

high fructose corn syrup

Lara's weight lose secret

experience without artificial colors and preservatives and flavors

smoothie ideas

I keep my smoothies fairly simple.

2 cups water

handful or two of spinach

handful or two of frozen fruit

(including half a frozen banana for creaminess)

1 cup plain yogurt when I have it

a squirt of agave or honey (especially when I use the plain yogurt)

I then blend it really well in my vitamix. A good blender is essential. The bosch also does a good job. Now that it is getting warmer I may add some ice to make it more slushy. If you don't like it to be bright green then add berries. Blueberry/raspberry mix will turn it deep purple. Although the shock factor of drinking something bright green is kind of fun. It makes up about a quart of green smoothie. I can drink it all but often my kids will beg for some. I share grudgingly but secretly grateful that they too are getting good whole foods.

There are lots of ideas and good information on the internet.

PS just click on the pink words to follow the link.

Preschools done

Our illustrious graduate
a few more . . .

This was before they doned the cap and gown. The performed several numbers and were very cute.

And here he is receiving his certificate. Very cute.

Our Co-op

We have had a lot of fun with our homeschool co-op this year. We use The Four Year Plan for LDS Families by Ken and Teri Ebert. We have been doing it for at least 4 years and enjoyed our time together learning and sharing. We do English, science and history each year with its own emphasis. This year was biology, family history/modern history.

Those who put forth the full effort received more education but getting together each week all were enriched no matter how much preparation was invested.

I believe biology as been a real favorite from dissecting, to body systems to plants it has been a great adventure.

We have been doing it with the Lutes and Westra families. They also have all boys. Missy D has been our only girl but she hasn't minded and jumps right in.

Shelly put together a nice book of histories for us. Each unit had assignments to right a biography of someone in that time period and also assignments to get to know and write about our own family and ancestors. It is a real treasure.

These pictures are from one of our last units. For biology we were studying biomes and environments. We enjoyed looking at all the different life forms we could find in this area. Granted the water was a big distraction/attraction and once again, learning was a lot of fun.

There is nothing quite like hands on learning, truly experiencing nature and creation and developing friendships.

Back back yard tour

The orchard. Our apple trees blossomed well but the peach may have died as well as the new cherry trees. The pear and apricot seem to be okay. We will wait and see.

The bees are busy as can bee. We got another set of boxes and another queen bee. they seem to be very productive and we are excited.

That's radishes, peas, and maybe broccoli. Mr. O doesn't believe in labels. He would rather wait and see what comes up. Hopefully soon it will be real obvious.

The compost pile is looking great and we are grateful for it. It is helping to get good soil in our new green house.

These are the seed we started inside. they have struggled a bit. They did sprout, I guess the rest is up to us to figure out how much water, sun, heat and whatever.

We visited the local nursery for some quick starts. Doing tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, cantelope, summer squash in the green house should extend the season and get us a jump start. We are in danger of freezing into June so it's a battle to keep things going.

Mr. O is having fun building our green house and wanting to start the garden. He gets so enthusiastic this time of year. Unfortunately we often get worn out as the weeds flourish. We are hoping to keep getting better at the weed battle but for now we are combating the short growing season by extending it with a green house.