Jan-June in a nutshell

In a really short and quick nutshell, the beginning of 2014 was full of homeschooling, homeschooling co-ops and activities, winter fun, spring fun, and home projects along with selling off most of our things before moving to VA.  We were anticipating a lot of change, a least hoping for that change when the year started, but we didn't really know anything until March, and even then we didn't find out until late May that we would be moving to Virginia at the end of June.

We lived in a bit of a whirlwind during those months, especially with homeschooling and all that was needed to keep our kids learning.  I had a lot of fun during these months as we focused on Black History month--the civil war period and slavery as well as Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement.  The kids loved that unit of studies and continue to talk about people like Harriet Tubman that we read about.   We also studied about Mt. Everest and China and Nepal where these mountains are found.  We were blessed to have Bro. Tamang in our ward talk with us because he is from Nepal and he hiked to base camp.  There was also another man in our stake that actually summitted Mt. Everest that presented pictures and info to us right before we left Utah.  Those experiences were a few highlights of the year.  

Waldorf continued to prove to be a wonderful blessing for the kids to socialize and play with other kids, as well as learn to appreciate and love nature.  I needed the time on Tues and Thurs mornings that they attended to go to the temple and to get things prepared for all the changes with the foreign service.  Their teachers were wonderful.  Ms. Julene (Rhea's), Ms. Krystelle (Savvy's), and Ms. Lindsay (Thomas').  

Here we are celebrating the Festival of Lights with our Waldorf friends:

The school was held in Ms. Julene's home.  The kids had snacks and lunch every day.

In May, we had the "Mayfest" to end the school year.

On Mondays, we also joined up with a co-op at the Canyon Grove Academy for a few hours.  The kids took a few classes there--a lego class and a Newton and DaVinci science class.  Thomas also took an American government class that used legos and a writing class as well.

 Sledding in February with Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt Natalie's family:

Skating at Classic Skating in Orem for Valentine's Day.  Grandpa, Grandma Becky, and Aunt Natalie's family joined us there.  The kids got to give and receive Valentines from other homeschooling families: 

 Visiting Bri in SLC at the Small Claims court there where he volunteered as a judge once a month.  His young men that he worked with took a trip to see him, so I took the kids for our first time as well.  It was very cool seeing dad in his black robe and gavel in action.  The kids obviously had fun with it as well.  :)

 The end of the year piano recitals.  Rhea was in her 2nd year of "Let's Play Music" with Ms. Johanna and Thomas and Savannah performed recital pieces they had been working on with Ms. Rachel Mecham.  Thomas played "Clowns" by Kabalevsky which was a pretty intense song that challenged him and took him to a whole new level of playing.  We're grateful that he had that challenge before leaving Utah and Ms. Mecham.

 Of course we had the annual pinewood derby as well.  Thomas got the "most unique" award.  Here he is with two of his good friends, Carter on the left, and Sawyer.

 For a week, we had to leave the house while our hardwood floors were getting fixed and refinished because of a dishwasher leak.  We stayed in a hotel by Thanksgiving Point for a few days and then again at my dad's house in Sundance when the floor had to be fixed again.  The kids enjoyed the swimming at the hotel and playing around at the gardens of Thanksgiving Point.

 Sundance:

 Because of the issues with getting our floors fixed, the flooring company tried to make it better by giving us a little discount and tickets to see Peter Pan at the Hale Center Theater.  We loved it!

 Visiting our favorite park in Saratoga Springs once last time.  We loved climbing the pyramid!

And during all of these months of fun, I began getting the house ready to rent out and sold off most of our belongings---couches, tables, home decor, bedroom furniture, etc.  We made many trips to D.I. as well!