Live Nativity

We had the opportunity to participate in a live nativity with some of our homeschool friends.  It was a really fun experience.  Westley and Jenna were really into doing their parts well.  Westley was always the first off to where we needed to be.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Rae Family
This year has still been a year of to settling in and figuring out a new place. It has been two years since we moved to Utah from Georgia, but have only been in our new house since February.
Ben has been busy doing great things at his job as the Aquatics Manager for the city. He was named 2013 Employee of the Year. He was also called to be Young Men’s President in September and is very busy with that assignment. He enjoys the time he has to spend coaching the kids' sports and working in the garden.
Jill is still singing with Heritage Choir and is enjoying her night out once a week for practice. She has also continued to participate in the homeschool co-op. She is teaching a class and is on the board this year. She also started a website this summer for homeschoolers in the area. She also stays busy with homeschooling the kids and all that comes with kids and family.
Jenna likes to spend most of her time playing and reading. This year Jenna played soccer and volleyball. We are proud of her for going out of her comfort zone to play these sports. She has continued year-round ballet and added tap this year. In co-op, she took homemaking and art classes along with PE. Jill is grateful someone took on the task of teaching sewing! She also finished her first piano level and is well into the next one. In school, her favorite subject is Latin and she has stopped complaining about math even though it is still not her favorite.
Westley has really started to enjoy sports. He is constantly throwing or kicking a ball around. He played soccer, baseball, and football this year. He also worked hard on his swimming and is currently in the last swim level. He did his first triathlon (swim, bike, run) this past October and placed 2^nd for the 6 and under and 21^st out of 82 kids aged 12 and under. He is a goal-oriented kid and likes to push himself to do his best. We are constantly amazed at how well he is doing in school. In co-op he took art and science class and loved playing with the boys.
Charlotte is getting big! We cannot believe our youngest will be five soon. We are pleasantly surprised that she likes “doing” school! We cannot seem to find enough workbooks to keep her busy. She has also started reading. Charlotte LOVES to dance! She has started ballet lessons this year and she spends most of her free time dancing around the house. Of course, she is dying to add tap, gymnastics, jazz, etc to her list of classes. She also loved going to her preschool class at co-op.

We are grateful for the blessings and opportunities the Lord has blessed us with this year and look forward to the future!

Employee of the Year

Ben was named Employee of the Year for the entire city this week.  He was super surprised.  Of course I thought he deserved it, because he works so hard and does a great job.

SNOW!

Well supposedly it does not snow here… but it snowed a little last year and it has snowed twice this year.  The second time was five inches!  The even cancelled church because of the snow.  Jenna and Westley went out to play for a few minutes, but Charlotte did not go outside until most of the snow was melted. I guess she does not like snow.

Dance

Both girls are taking dance classes this year.  Jenna is doing ballet and tap and Charlotte is doing ballet.  With their dance classes, they had the opportunity to dance in two different Christmas Festivals that go on here. Sorry, we did not get a good picture of Jenna, just one of her on stage.

Colonial Birthday

For Jenna’s birthday this year she wanted a colonial themed friend party.  We hand delivered invitations written in cursive on parchment paper. During the party we made ice cream, butter, and bread.  For a pinata Ben made little crates that the girls had to throw to break open.  Just like the Tea crates thrown overboard during the Boston Tea Party.  I also made a ginger cake from scratch.

Air Force Base

We went on a trip to see Ben’s uncle be baptized and decided to visit a museum at the Air Force Base near his house while we were there. It was pretty cool to see all the different planes.  I do not think the kids appreciated it as much as Ben and I, but they were pretty good.

Zion National Park

The National Parks have a free entrance day on Veterans Day, and since Ben had the day off we decided to go to Zion. We had a great time.

The fall seems like a great time to see wild life! We saw wild turkeys, squirrels, birds, and deer. Including a time where a deer ran right past Jenna, only a few feet away from her.

 The kids also earned Jr. Ranger badges on this trip. They had to accomplish a certain set of tasks and workbook pages to earn their badges. Overall we had a fun time.

Dixie

When we drive home from co-op every week the kids see people climbing up a giant rock with DIXIE written on it.  They really wanted to climb it too, so one day Ben got off early and we climbed the DIXIE.

Science Fair

My friend and I decided to put on a science fair for homeschool families.  It was pretty laid back, no competition, just participation.  The kids came up with what they wanted to do and Ben and I helped.  Jenna actually did most of her project on her own.

Halloween

For Halloween this year Jenna was a clown, Westley was Mario, and Charlotte was different princesses (whatever one she felt like being for that day). We had a great time Trick or Treating with grandmas and cousins.

Flag Football

Westley played flag football for the first time this fall.  He really loved it!  He mostly played center and was pretty good at hiking the ball.  He did catch a pass or two during the season and scored a touchdown during the last game.

Westley’s First Triathlon

 

Westley completed his first triathlon yesterday and did great. I am so glad he did not get lost or crash into anyone. He did really well. He was 21st overall, for ages 12 and under. And 2nd in his age division of 6 and under.  He had to swim 50 yards, Bike 1 mile, and run 1/2 a mile.  He did the whole race in 15:16.

Farm Field Trip

Our homeschool group went on a fun farm field trip this fall.  The kids had a great time.  We were the only group at the farm, so there was plenty of space and freedom.  The kids really enjoyed the corn maze and feeding the animals.     

Make-up

Charlotte did some make-up all by herself.  It was actually kind of cute.

First Day of School 2013

Here are the kids on our first day of school.

Canned Food Storage

Thanks to Pinterest, I decided it would be great to have some canned food storage against the wall.  Ben took the idea of a small unit and turned it into a full wall, floor to ceiling can holder, and rotation system.  The best part is Ben found a great place to put it so that it is inside the house.

Free Lunch!

I LOVE finding cheap and free deals.  I do not like to pay full price for entertainment or eating out, so of course we took advantage of the Chick-fil-a Cow Appreciation Day.  We just had to dress up like cows to get a free lunch. Ben was with us, he just is not in the picture.

Summer Playing

When it is not too hot I can sometimes get the kids outside to play.  It has been REALLY HOT here this summer.  Westley did a soccer camp this summer and here is a picture of him on his last day.

Jenna learned how to twirl a hula-hoop on her arm and here is her showing off.

After Westley broke Charlotte’s bike, she had to move to a bigger bike and she is still a little nervous about riding it.  But she tries.

Fiesta Fun

As a fun end of school year activity we took the kids to Fiesta Fun (a family fun center).  We golfed, rode bumper boats, and played games.  We all had a great time.  The bumper boats were really great; I was surprised. I think we will have to make it into a yearly tradition.