Carson Family

Jason

2011-03-12T12:58:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of Jason and his snow cave, that I received in my email. If you enlarge the picture you can see his camping pad inside. It is amazing to me that he dug this to sleep inside. Looking forward to finding out how long it took to dig.

Update

2011-03-11T16:29:00.000-08:00

If there is one word that would describe me it would have to be a procrastinator. Every week I say I am going to do better but then decide that this isn't the week to worry about it, to many other things to get to. So here I am loading pictures onto my computer and I see Christmas pictures uploading and wonder how it could have been so long. So this will be a quick catch-up to what has happened since.

There is a lot of changes getting ready to go on in the Carson home. In 2 more months Jason will start his terminal leave from the military. Now when you get to a place when you can say you are retired (not that he actually gets that luxury) that is a very weird thing. Pray for us that we will soon find a job. :)

At the moment Jason is trying his skills at snow caving with the boy scouts. Should be a unique experience for him. Besides that he keeps very busy with work, his calling as a young mens president which includes Boy Scouts, finishing up his 'tickets' for Woodbadge, trying to find a job, fixing a bathroom, and being a dad and husband.

The rest of the us are going threw our days learning and growing.

The next two pictures are of our Jeffrey getting awarded his Bear Rank in Cub Scouts. I am so prod of him.

Fun in the snow. We took our sled up to the Olympics for a few hours and played around. I was a little nervous when the snow got to deep for our car and we got stuck. That was the longest 10min of my day.

The boys had a white elephant for their classes during Christmas. 13 kids in our livingroom, wow, but they all had a blast. Ask Jeffrey sometime about the barbi he got :)

Our cutie boy.

Our Daisy, growing way quick.

Jonah at his pian0 recital.

Jeffrey at his.

Snow day

2010-12-12T20:49:00.000-08:00

Here are the boys enjoying some snow that we had a few weeks ago. Jason was at work 30min. away but that day it took him 5hrs to get home. 5hrs in the car trying to get home, think you would be aggravated? Not Jason. He enjoyed the snow and the challenge of getting threw the craziness the streets were. Even his doing a 180 in his jeep didn't seem to bother him.

This is a picture Jeffrey drew in a drive way. I love it!

The sledding was a blast. All enjoyed it.

My Grandma

2010-11-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

Look at this woman. She is one of the best people you could ever meet. Boy did I love this woman. I would say she had the life that all of us should have. She has children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren that adore her. If you met her, she touched you heart. I could write all day about how wonderful she was. When I think of growing up, at any stage of my life, I think of my grandma. When this woman passed on I know she had a line of people waiting to welcome her home. I love you grandma.

Rudness

2010-11-09T20:46:00.000-08:00

I don't know if it just because he is a boy but my Jeffrey has this wonderful like to burping. It is driving me crazy so one day after he did it so loud that the guy standing across the street heard him I told him that I wanted him to write a paragraph why he feels he needs to do it. I thought I would hear complaining and he would say he would never do it again but he didn't. No, he thought that would be "cool." So here is him report.

I burp because I like to see how loud I can burp. I also burp because it is good for you. I can not really tell when a burp is coming and when I can, it is so loud that it still comes out. It is good for you because it gets gas out of you. Burping is rude because it sounds bad and makes a loud noise.

A few days after this he told me that he had burped 50 times but only 1 came out.

Kids!! :)

Family Additions

2010-11-07T21:51:00.000-08:00

So we have added two new member to our family. I really wasn't up for more children to have to take care of but I was out numbered. I actually am getting to where I love having them, that is until there is a mess to clean up. A kitten and a puppy, yep like having babies. Luckily most responsibility goes to the boys but a mother is never out of the loop.

Here Jonah is with Alice, we got her from the Human Society. She is such a sweaty. Loves to be snuggled with, she will come up to you and cry for you to snuggle with her. Right now she is sleeping on Jason's chest while he sleeps on the couch.

Here is our Daisy. She loves her Jeffrey, she follows him around everywhere. She sleeps with him every night. Poor Jeffrey, even if he is sleeping she will go up to him and pretty much lay on top of his head. Not sure what she is. The mother's owners didn't even know she was pregnant. They thought she was getting fatter but didn't realize it till they saw her stomach move. They think she is part black lab. She was the only one who had the white stripe on her head. She also has a little spot on her back and 2 of her paws are white.

Cute Pictures

2010-11-07T21:42:00.000-08:00

Just a few pictures I wanted to share.

We recently joined the climbing gym down the road for some PE activity. I am loving it. Of course I am only able to last a short while, until by fingers get stronger and hands get tougher. The boys are doing really good at it. It is great to watch them climb. We have been going a month and I just passed my belay test so now the boys are able to climb and not just bolder. I only get to climb when the homeschool group gets together and go since the boys aren't old enough to belay. No complains here though since bouldering is a great workout. I have to say I am impressed with the climbing gym. They have a homeschool membership. Such a great deal and they even let you rent the shoes and harnesses for free. LOVING IT!!!!!!!!!!

Here Jonah is falling off the wall. Luckily with bouldering you can't go to high.

The boys and I went to a pumpkin patch and played around. The corn maze was a lot of fun. Here the boys were racing around on trikes around a circle.

What a wonderful face.

Tubal Cain

2010-11-07T21:18:00.000-08:00

The Carson family got to do a backpacking trip during Jason's leave to Tubal Cain Mine/Tull Canyon. On the hike we went to check out a plane crash, such a sad story. B17 Bomber crashed returning from a rescue mission in Canada, 5 survived and 8 died. Go here if you want to read up on it. Anyway, on a happier note, it was a great time together. All except the sleeping. Jason is very concerned about the weight he carries, the lighter the better, can't blame him there but somethings are better suffering threw. Out of his 100 different tents he has he loves his tarp ten, only a cover and no floor or walls. Since I was really worried about that he brought me a shell to sleep in, of course I got to carry it but well worth it, it was. During the night the darn little mice were crawling on my head and with ever sound I jumped. Not my best night of sleep.

Us at our campsite.

My 3 wonderful boys

The clan.

Here is a picture of the plane crash.

Such a beautiful view.

My Jeffrey

Worn out Jonah

The End

Here Jonah and Jason with their packs. Check out Jonah's pack. His keepy (it is a blanket I got from the Navy Marine Corp Relief Society before he was born. When he was born he wouldn't sleep unless he was snuggling with me. At 2 weeks old I gave him that blanket and I can see it so clearly; he turned to that blanket and went to sleep and has been sleeping with it ever since. He doesn't snuggle with it but still keeps it in his bed. When he got older I wouldn't let him take it out of his bed and ever morning he would ask "keepit" and that is what he still calls it today)

Wings

2010-11-07T21:12:00.000-08:00

This year for science we are doing Aplogia Zoology 1. This was a science experiment we did comparing the difference size and shapes make in flying. It is always hard to explain the reason behind a project when the result is different than it should be. But we had a good discussion about wings and the boys always love hands on learning.

Birthday Boy

2010-11-07T21:04:00.000-08:00

Who is that scary looking creature? It's Jonah, the boys who recently turned 6yrs old. Jonah is such a wonderful and loving boy. As always, I am so proud of him. He is such a smart thing. Still follows his big brother and wants to do all he does. Jonah has recently started writing little notes to people. His first one was to his dad asking him if he could stay up late. He is doing great at his reading. During family scripture study he even gets excited for his turn to read out of the scriptures. We love you Jonah!

Such a cute thing he is. Here he is lining up his presents, wrapped and decorated by his brother.

California

2010-11-07T20:38:00.000-08:00

The boys and I visited some friends this summer in California. The 3 of us drove, have I ever told you that I hate sitting still for long, if I haven't then let me tell you now, I hate sitting still for long amounts of time. It took us 2 days to get there and 1 day to get home. Can I tell you that having a GPS is awesome, if I haven't then let me, having a GPS is awesome. I get lost in my hometown, just ask my mother in law, she thinks it's funny. Anyway we stayed for a week and had such a great time. It was awesome to hang out with a girlfriend and talk and watch movies. When Kathryn and I get together there is just something about staying up late, eating junk and talking. Looking forward to her trip here next year and spending a few days at Great Wolf Lodge.

Us at China Town where the people are many and the trinkets are cheap.

Tavie and Jonah on a playground. That girl is a blast to watch, she is so dramatic.

Yeah, you read that right, Ghirardelli, a place that's whole focus is chocolate. Lets see; we had ice cream with chocolate syrup, whip cream and nuts, the chocolatest (is that a word?) hot chocolate ever and if that wasn't enough we went into a room that was lined with different flavors of, yeah you guessed it, chocolate.

The boys on the Golden Gate Bridge. That is a darn long bridge. The boys and I started at one end and ran/walked to the other and then walked back. Poor Jonah was begging me to stop and turn around but I wouldn't let him. I was so proud of them and knew they could do it. There were so many people on that bridge.

The bridge spans over 6700ft. WOW! More info here.

Vacation

2010-07-27T23:01:00.000-07:00

We got to finally go see the Grand Coulee Dam light show in Eastern Washington. Something Jason has been wanting to do for a while now. We camped out for 2 nights and enjoyed some camping, beautiful scenery, wind and lots of sand.
This Dam was HUGE. This part of the dam, when the light show was going on they let the water in so that it was the backdrop for the light show. The laser light show was not what I expected. I was really impressed. I was just expecting lasers to be going all over but it actually had a purpose. It gave the history of why the dam came to be and it did this by having pictures done using the laser lights and there was sound to. It was definitely educational.

Vacation

2010-07-27T22:39:00.000-07:00

Here are the Dry Falls. If you can enlarge the 1st pictures you can find out about them. It is pretty amazing. This goes back to the Ice Ages and a body of water in Montana. They had some before pictures and how the fall looked before it became the "Dry Falls" absolutely beautiful.

Here is how it looks. We camped not to far from the back of the fall so we drove around to check it out. It is amazing how this formed; sheet of ice moved into Washington, Idaho and Montana. A large lake in Montana helped the formation of the Dry Falls. When the lake grew it broke threw the ice damn and rushed into northern Idaho and Eastern Washington. "As the floods in this vicinity raced southward, two major waterfalls formed along their course. The larger was that of the upper coulee, where the river rared over an 800-foot cliff. The eroding power of the water plucked pieces of basalt front he precipice, causing the falls to retreat 20 miles and self-destruct by cutting through to the Columbia River valley near what is now the Grand Coulee Dam." information was taken from the Washington State Parks and Recreation pamphlet. They can explain it much better than I could, they also understand it a little better.

This was taken at a lake on our way home. This is Diablo Lake the water is so cool. It is a blue-green. The color comes from the powdery -stuff (sorry not sure what that stuff is called, there is some kind of big name for it) that come from rocks grinding together. When the light hits the powdery-stuff it makes it appear this color.

Vacation

2010-07-27T22:33:00.000-07:00

Here are some amazing views we were lucky enough to see on our trip.

Here is a baby deer right up from our car as we were driving around checking out different spots.

Which one of these are not like the other!? I thought this was pretty cool. It was a wind mill garden. They were made out of all kinds of different things; pie plates, cups, spokes, and tea kettles. I thought they were neat. I love people's creativity.

Another amazing view.

Grand Coulee

2010-07-27T22:20:00.000-07:00

Here is our campsite and the lake that was at the campground. Check out the view in these pictures. Unbelievable.

Here is the boys and dad (Jonah's feet are in there if your look closely) making scooby snacks. Jason and Jonah went on a boyscout camp out (Jonah was able to go because mom and Jeffrey were at cub scout day camp) and learned how to make these from an experienced camping leader. All there is to these things are wheat flour and enough water to make dough, you then throw them on the coals, yep right on those suckers, they decided to do them on the lid of Jason's dutch oven, a little less messy. The boys love them. Jonah chose them for our Family Home Evening treat. We made them right on our stove top .

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

2010-07-02T06:18:00.000-07:00

THIS BROGHT TEARS TO MY EYES. I WANT TO REMEMBER THIS EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY HARD MOMENT.

My Story

2010-06-22T08:26:00.000-07:00

My story begins just over 16years ago when I met the most amazing man on a blind date. We decided to get married, I was just right out of high school. Not only was I getting married to a man but I was also getting married to the military. A few months later we moved to Hawaii. There I decided I wanted to go to college. I started, and did pretty well, much of a surprise to myself. I went diligently for the time we were there. When we were getting a little way out from having to transfer I decided to quit my job so that I could go full time and finish before we left the island. Transfer time came and I decided to follow my husband. I only had 2 classes to go to finish my AA but I figured I would just pick up in Washington, boy was I stupid. (Rule to any councelor seeing a military person, espcially, tell them it is not that easy). I get to Washington and go straight to the college and want to finish my last 2 classes. I don't remember it but I am sure I was laughed at. "What you wont accept any of my credits and YOU WANT ME TO START ALL OVER!!!!!!!" After gaining my composure, I am sure that took a long while, I signed up for my first credit. I did go to class but after sitting in it for a few days decided I could not handle starting over from the beginning so I dropped out of the class or did I just stop going? (I could have really used that little voice to tell me not to be so stupid but even if it was there I didn't listen) Anyway, how ever many years later and 2 kids later we again move to Hawaii where I decide I am going to finish what I started. I head over to the college and go to a councilor and tell them I want to finish my 'last 2 classes'. Darn that person followed me from Washington to Hawaii and was laughing at me, again. Actually the guy was very apologetic and told me that they changed all my classes to 100s and my classes were no longer any good for the AA in accounting and then he said those darn words, "You will have to start over." Do you know when I left Hawaii I was paying $19 a credit and that darn school wanted $100 and I would have to go non stop till we left, taking full semesters and paying over $200 during the summer. Then I started to laugh, I think I might have hit a little hysteria. After some composure I put my tail between my legs and went home. There was hope for me yet. One of the places Jason got one of his degrees from had started a spouses program. After talking to them all my credits were taken in one way or another and books were free and credits were about $69. Doable. So I started. And I finished.

It may have taken me 16years but I finished and darn am I proud of myself :)

What does the future hold for me? Well I will continue being a homeschooling mother to 2 wonderful (crazy, wild) boys and a wife to my wonderful husband. (What about moving onto that bachelors, someday)

2010-06-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

This is a video that Jeffrey took of the deer

house

2010-06-22T08:17:00.001-07:00

Check out was in our backyard. Right there eating our bushes. To bad he got a hold of our fig, cherry and apple tree, too. He wasn't so cute after that. Some people in our family are hoping that he will come back when it is in season. He was so beautiful. The boys and I even went outside and stood at the edge of the porch to watch him. Crazy to think of what little space they are having to live with around here.

kids fun

2010-06-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

Jason's squadron had a softball tournament/family day. The kids couldn't have been happier. There were all kinds of bounce houses to play in. Here the boys are in some gladiator bouncy where they got to knock people off the platform they were on. I had to close my eyes a few times. Especially when some older kid got up with Jeffrey. Being mom and me I had to make sure I let the kid know his mom was standing there. (Sorry Jeffrey but that is what mom does :)

Jonah

2010-06-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

Here is my little boy. He finally lost his 2 bottom teeth. (To bad the new teeth were already coming in behind. Looks like there are going to be braces in his future.) Check out those huge blue eyes. It was funny when he lost those teeth and he was going to get to put them under his bed for the tooth fairy. We had just watched The Toothfairy the day before so Jeffrey wanted to stay up all night to catch him. He was hoping that he would catch him in his hockey gear.

Jonah

2010-06-05T08:24:00.001-07:00

Jonah

Look at this cute picture. I just love it. This was taken while the boys were playing with the camera.

home improvements

2010-06-05T08:15:00.001-07:00

Jason had a few days off last week and decided he was going to bust out a wall. It has been something he has wanted to do since we took the first walk threw of the house. Our kitchen was totally closed in except for a doorway out to the dinning room and one to the entrance of the house.

Here are the 2 holes he started with, making sure he didn't cut threw the wires.

This is taken from our dinning room before he cut all the board out.

This is taken from the inside of our kitchen.

Here is the finished results with the trimming and counter top and the painted wall.

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jason always impresses me with his talents and abilities.

scouts

2010-06-05T08:03:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of my cubscout den. These were taken at our May Pack meeting. The boys got to make rockets. (They launched them by putting water and air in the bottles). The boys had so much fun. It was a blast watching them shoot off.

Here is Jeffrey handing over his denner rope to the new denner. (He is the one who's back is facing you). Check out that blue thing the boy in the light blue shirt is holding. That was made by my wonderful hubby. It's a gong. When the boys get an advancement or award they get to hit it. That is their favorite part.
Hey there I am!!!!!! I am the one standing next to the women in the red jacket. (I am the taller of the two.) We were recognized for going to Woodbadge (I got to hit the gong :)

Here are my cubs (both wolf and bear) holding up their rockets. They are dry so you know this picture was taken before launching.

Jeffrey

2010-05-31T07:26:00.000-07:00

Ok here is a strange, funny poem from my Jeffrey

Want to Find My Cat
I want to find my cat
I want to find my cat
I looked in the laundry hamper,
hat and in the roast beef he
was not there so I looked at
the park in the slide under the slide
he was not there so I went home
and played a video game and
heard a voice say, "That is a cool game
can I try." I wheeled around and there
was my cat and I said, "Yes!!!"

2010-05-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

cI wanted an outside table to enjoy. I found this one on craigslist. This is the underside of it, the top looked pretty much the same but not with the spray paint on it.

This is how it ended up. Isn't this funner? I so need to learn how to take pictures. :)

2010-05-24T15:17:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of what we have been doing lately for the house in one way or another.
This is our school room. Jason did a great job building a wall to wall desk with matching shelves above it. It is awesome.

These three are just things I made from stuff I found at the Goodwill, the bottom one it what they looked like when I bought them.

This one is of our Jeffrey at the Pinewood Derby race. He won out of the Wolves in our pack and one 3rd out of, I believe 12 wolves. YEAH JEFFREY!!

scouts

2010-05-24T15:10:00.000-07:00

This month my dad and Jason's mom came out to visit, they were kind enough to come out so we could go to Woodbadge. Here are some pics from when we went hiking with Kathy.

Us in Port Townsend.

A flower from Lower Lena Trail

Jeffrey on the trail.

2 of my boys.

scouts

2010-05-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

For six days Jason and I had a great opportunity to go to something called Woodbadge. It is a scout leadership training course. We did so much, the days speed bye and when I think about it somethings blend together. I had so much opportunities for growth during those 6 days. I got to do a skit, a song, a project and a flag ceremony in front of over 40 people. Out of 40 students there were 4 girls. So I felt a tad bit out of place in the beginning. The 40 of us were put into patrols of 5 people and those were the ones you got to spend the whole time with. That was interesting, especially if someone in that group doesn't mesh well with others. Jason and his bright ideas challenged all to a polar dip. I wasn't sure if I was going to do it but I have the patch to prove to myself that I did :) Here are some of the pictures from those 6 days.
This is Todd, he is holding the rocket that we made, this was the first one, the one that didn't go off. There is no failing in Woodbadge just trying until you succeed :)

Here is the OWL patrol, this is Jason's patrol :) They thought they were so cool. (they actually were but don't tell him I said so :)

There were students and staff. We were the students and we were thought of as 12-18 year old boys. This was all set around a troop. Just like in boyscouts. So we had dressing up, the staff mostly did that. We even had campfires with skits and songs.

The owl's rocket

This is where we were Camp Parson's. It was beautiful and full of Bald Eagles. It was amazing. They were flying all over, even babies. I couldn't believe it.

family

2010-05-24T14:49:00.000-07:00

My boys. I just love this picture. All my boys dressed in their Sunday Best. I'm not sure what they are doing. This is one way that my Jason leads by example, one of his many ways :)

school

2010-05-06T11:22:00.000-07:00

JeKids are so funny. They sometimes act like the don't understand what you mean and sometimes they actually think they don't understand or know how to do, whatever it is for them to do. (Did you happen to follow that :)
Jeffrey was given the assignment of writing a report. The first thing out of his mouth is "I can't" and "I don't understand." Usually I would explain but we had already went over some sample poems. So I told him to take it to his room and work on it. I was really impressed with what he came back with.

HOW A SNOW FLAKE FALLS

How snow flakes falls is
no mystery because when winter
comes they need to glide like the bird
and when they fall they shine
like diamonds in the sky.
by Jeffrey

SEA SHELLS IN THE WIND
Sea Shells in the wind
sea shells in the wind
The wind is like the sea's roaring,
waves are howling winds,
the ocean blue is the ghostly fog,
and the sea shells sinking to the ocean floor
are the birds gliding to the ground.

2010-03-07T20:03:00.001-08:00

You have got to watch this. It made me cry. BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!

The Lord's Prayer

2010-03-05T05:53:00.001-08:00

I found the article in a magazine that I read and I just had to share some info I learned from it. IT is called Jelly Belly? by Chrystle Fiedler

It talks about the fat cells that we have and how they are like sponges. And how there are "three times in our lives that we develop these fat cells, ... in uterus, during childhood at about age 4 or 5 and when you are an adolescent. If you're exposed to a high-fat diet in these stages your body will produce more fat cells. You are training your body to take in more fat and store energy."

This is some great information to know for our children. Yes, we want to give them healthy choices because we love them and want to teach them good healthy eating habits but we also want not to give them those extra fat cells, darn how I hate those fat cells :)

I thought this was really good info and just wanted to pass this on.

poem

2010-02-28T19:23:00.000-08:00

Once a month there is something that is called Roundtable. For those of you who are familiar with scouts you might know what this is. It is a once a month meeting that you can go to for updates on what will be going on in the coming month for scouts. Anyway they hand out a packet with some great ideas for den leaders and cubmasters. This month had a great poem I wanted to share. Our theme for March is "Take Flight".

CHILDREN ARE LIKE KITES by Santa Clara County Council

You spend years trying to get them off the ground.
You run with them until you are both breathless. They crash ... they hit the roof ... you patch, comfort and assure them that someday they will fly.
Finally, they are airborne.
They need more string, and you keep letting it out.
They tug, and with each twist of the twine, there is sadness that goes with joy.
The kite becomes more distant, you know it won't be long before that beautiful creature will snap the lifeline that binds you together and will soar as meant to soar ... free and alone.
Only then do you know that you have done your job.

I also really like this
Prayer: Dreams Taking Flight
"Thank you, God, for the dreams of the people who gave us the possibilities of flight. Thank you for the birds that inspired them as examples of how to do it. And thank you for the courage of those who kept trying until they succeeded."

Jeffrey

2010-02-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of projects Jeffrey has done for Scouts. The flowers are for a patch, he has to plant and keep a flower bed.
Here is a cake that he made for our Blue and Gold Dinner as well as for the the 100 year birthday of scouts. He decorated it in like the blue and gold segment the boys were able to earn from me.

funny video

2010-02-28T19:11:00.000-08:00

This video was taken while the boys ate airheads that they got for Valentines Day.

(ok so I have never uploaded a movie to the blog so if you get an empty space where the video should be you can just use your imagination.)

Jason

2010-02-28T19:08:00.000-08:00

Check out my handsome hubby. He had to go to a fundraiser event for work and got to wear this spiffy uniform (he doesn't think of it as spiffy but what does he know).

Camping

2010-02-28T19:01:00.000-08:00

So what does an awesome father who has had no time but to go to work and fulfill his church callings do with his first free time in weeks? He takes his boys camping.
We are lucky to live right down the road from a state park. Here the boys went off on their bikes and camped out for the night. When I asked Jeffrey if he had as much fun as he hoped he said that it was even funner than he thought it would be.
Dad giving the 'shaka' sign.

The boys coming out of the shortcut that goes from the park to the road in front of our street.

Here is our dinner picnic. You can see their tent in the background.

Jeffrey giving a face :)

2010-02-28T17:22:00.000-08:00

Check out my Jonah. He just completed his Kindergarten Hooked on Phonics. We are so very proud of him, he worked really hard to finish this. Does he not look the cutest. :)

sprite bread

2010-01-26T21:37:00.000-08:00

Here you go Megan :) This is the best and easiest bread ever.
Soda Bread

3c self-rising flour ( use 3c all purpose flour, 3t baking powder and 1 1/2t salt)
2T sugar
1 can soda (i have used sprite, pink lemonade, ginger ale)

mix, put in a sprayed pan, and throw into the over at 350 for 1hr. So easy!! The boy's favorite.

Bread

2010-01-24T16:13:00.000-08:00

CHECK OUT THIS BREAD. I am so proud of this thing. I have been trying to make whole wheat bread for some time. It has always come out flat and hard as a rock. I wasn't ever sure if it was because I was grinding my own wheat. Well we have food storage specialists at church and this sister is unbelievable. Anyway she shared her bread recipe and I am so hooked. Every time I make it I can not get over how soft and good it is.

If you are interested here is the recipe:

Now if you have a Bosch you can double it and get 4 loafs. This is for my Kitchen Aid

In a quart jar or large measuring cup, place:

1/2 c warm water

1T Dry yeast (Red Star Active Dry Yeast)

1/2 T Honey (flavored honey works great, too)

Set aside so yeast can start growing.

Place 3 1/2 C of whole wheat flour in mixing bowl

Add 2 1/2 C of the hottest tap water you can get

Mix on low speed until flour is all mixed in.

Add yeast mixture and mix--will be very wet.

Add:

1T salt

1/4 c canola oil

1/4 c honey

Add:

1/2 c vital wheat gluten

Another 1/2 c of whole wheat flour

Options (but I always add)

4T ground flax seed

6 T Potato Flour

2 Vitamin C Tablets (crushed)

Mix well

Then add four (about 1/2 c at a time) until dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Add until the dough starts pulling away from the side of the bowl and leaving bowl nearly clean.

Once the dough is pulling away and still slightly sticky knead for 10min (this makes a big difference) on low speed (or follow directions on your mixer)

After kneading is complete, if dough still feels too sticky to shape into loaves, set dough in large, oiled bowl, cover and let rise until double. This first rise will allow some of the moisture to be absorbed by the flour (this is a step I do each time) (This takes about 45 min to an hour, depending on how warm it is. I place mine in front of my gas fireplace).

After dough has risen and is doubled, punch down and let rest for 10min. Then shape dough into loaves using oiled hands.

Place in 2 loaf pans sprayed with Spray

Cover and let rise until loaves are above the edge of the pan.

Heat over to 350. Place loaves in hot over and bake for 30-35min.

Immediately remove bread from pan, cover with towel for 10 min on cooling rack. After 10 min take towel off and let cool completely.

Sounds like a lot of steps but I have found that it is worth it. I hope you enjoy :)

2010-01-24T16:07:00.000-08:00

The boys have been crazy about legos lately. I should have taken a picture of their lego area. They made under Jeffrey's bed legos only. It is covered in lego pieces and directions. Jason and the boys made lego boats and actually floated them. I didn't get a picture of that, or of dad's boat sinking, since I was not home but here are a few that I did get a picture of.

Jonah is doing really good at following lego directions. This is one that he did on his own. I love when the mind works. Here is one of the boats in the water.

Here is a car that Jeffrey made, (isn't my wall a great color)

His pyramid

Museum of Flight

2010-01-24T15:51:00.000-08:00

So we actually got to take a field trip with dad. He had the day off of work and we took advantage of it. We finally got to go to the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Boy was it amazing. I had no idea there were so many different planes out there. I am so glad that we went with Jason because he was able to give the boys so much more information than I was.

Here are the boys standing in front of one of the airplanes that grandpa (Jason's dad) worked on while he was in the Marines. It was really neat being able to go on this plane. This was one of the old President planes. Not sure which one it was. There were 3 planes, I think, and before you went on it showed which Presidents had which plane. Talk about history.

These pictures are of Jason favorite plane.

This is Jeffrey's plane. He thinks it looks really cool and it is the fastest ever. He informed me that there have been only 3 shot down.

Could he be a future pilot?

Jonah

2010-01-15T14:56:00.001-08:00

Hello there. Boy has it been a while and boy have there been much changes. We moved into our, hopefully, home that we will be in for the next 20yrs. Having 5 addresses in the last 3yrs is to much. We are hopeing to lay down some roots. We figured we probably should make some roots since Jason retires from the Navy next year. YES I SAID NEXT YEAR and I am doing a very happy dance :) We are all doing good. Jason is doing very well. Getting things in line for the coming year. Hopefully it will be a smooth transition. He is working with the young men at church and for the most part enjoying playing. He is in the Venturing part of scouts which mean playing, hiking and all that stuff that he loves. I am getting ready to start another college class and am the Den leader in cubs. I think one of the funnest callinga I have had. Still homeschooling my 2 roudy boys. We just started another new curriculum. We decided to do what is called WAVA. So far so good but then again we haven't done a full week yet. I think it will prove to be good for us. Jeffrey is busy in scouts and school and piano as well as Jonah. They both have such creative minds. I am looking foward to seeing where it takes them.

2010-01-15T14:49:00.000-08:00

Here is my little cubscouter. He is doing really good in scouts. He already has his Bobcat, Wolf, tuns of belt loops, and 2 arrow points. Doesn't hurt that his mom is his den leader.
Here is Jeffrey at his desk doing schoolwork. Doesn't he look like he is having so much fun. He must love his teacher.

Here is Jonah sporting all his stickers he earned for good work in school.

2 of my boys. Don't they look sweet.

Jonah making one of his many faces. :)

Little Critter

2010-01-15T14:43:00.000-08:00

So here we have some little critters who have decided they want to know what it is living in this house. Here is a squirrels that sat right at our sliding glass door and just watched us. I guess we weren't exciting enough because he hit the window with his little paw, not sure if he expected us to do some trick or what.

Here is a raccoon that is on our back porch, he came a couple of nights. We must be weird looking creatures because like the squirrels he sat there and looked at us for a while.

Christmas 2009

2010-01-15T14:29:00.000-08:00

So here is is about 3weeks after Christmas and I am just getting around to getting pictures. I am looking back at these pictures and am sad at how much I didn't take. It was a good Christmas though. Many things to be thankful for. Here is a picture of one of the boys's presents. They opened all their gifts from under the tree. They got mostly all stuff for a Wii but no Wii. They couldn't figure it out. Jason and I were asking them if we were suppose to take the Wii stuff to some one's house that had one. Then they noticed that the piano bench, the one we placed cookies on for Santa, was in front of the TV. There sat a controller and the Wii Game. The little santa figures were also turned around looking at the TV. We decided Santa must have took a little break and played the Wii while eating his cookies. Multi Talented that Santa is.

Jason with his RV offroading movie.

The boys opening Wii stuff.

The ginger bread house we built during Family Home Evening. It was hard keeping everyone from eating all the candy.

My crazy Jeffrey. He is the Christmas tree skirt.

art

2010-01-15T14:24:00.000-08:00

Here are some art projects the boys have done recently. This first one is a picture Jeffrey did wen he was doodling. I really like this one.
This is a sculpture of a stingray done by Jonah.

Here is Jeffrey's stingray.

Here is a sculpture of a beaver's home and a person floating on a raft done by Jonah.

This is Jeffrey's beaver sculpture. He has a person on a raft looking at the beaver home threw binoculars and then there is a fish in the water. He has the fish's tail and head sticking out of the water :)

Fort Worden in Port Townsend

2010-01-15T14:08:00.000-08:00

The family took a much needed day of play and went to Port Townsend (my favorite town here in Washington). There is a old military base that is now a public spot. There is camping, boating, old officer homes to rent and much other fun things. This is were some of the movie 'Officer and a Gentleman' took place. There are even old bunkers to play around.
This is the beach that the men in the bunkers were looking out to.

Here is my Jason. Isn't he cute. (that is a statement not a question (something Jeffrey is working on in LA :)

Dad showing the boys how to jump off the bunkers

The 'boys' coming up from inside the bunker.

Jeffrey inside the bunker. This is kind of spooky because it is pitch black. It is awesome to think of the many different people that stood in here many many years ago and what it is they were doing.

2009-11-08T15:14:00.000-08:00

Some pictures I wanted to share. Our Jonah on our way out in the woods.

Here is all of us before heading out to explore the woods. Are we not a site :)
These are some flowers that Jason brought me home just because, the best reason I think. I love them. It is funny how we change over time. I never was much for flowers, thought they were are waist of money. Now I love to have them in the house. They make me smile. Thanks hon.

Aren't they beautiful. Such a variety.

field trip

2009-11-08T15:07:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of the boys at a field trip we went to at the Tacoma Glass Museum. That was an awesome place to see. The art was unbelievable. I am always amazed at the talents people are blessed with. Here is a horse that an artist did right in front of us. It was an awesome thing to watch. It was nothing and then he worked it into this piece. Sorry the pictures aren't better.

He did this in front of us. This bubble is a piece of glass. He blew it until it shattered. All the kids thought it was so cool.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-08T15:01:00.000-08:00

It is awful, I am an awful mother but I don't have pictures of the boys dressed up for Halloween. Jonah dressed up in things from his dress up box, something that he does all the time, speaking of he is sitting here watching a movie in his turtle man costume and a superman cape. Jeffrey was a soccer player, which he has been every Saturday for 2 months.

I do have a picture of Jason and I, we were on our way to a Halloween party. I am a rock-climber and Jason is a motorcycle dude. Got to love the hair. He is so funny when he wears it, he has to swing it around and play with it.

Birthday

2009-11-08T14:53:00.000-08:00

So what does everyone get the pleasure of having, whether we wont it or not, every year? A Birthday. Jason's was the 19th of October. I think we gave him a good day, besides the time he had to be at work.

There has been a lot of changes in the time since his last birthday. All in all I think it has been a good year. I, more than anything, wish you Jason a wonderful year and so many happy memories. Love you so extremely much.

Motivation

2009-10-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

So this has become by little motivation journal. So if I hear something that strikes me or if I need a little motivation boost here is where I will come. Jason does a much better job at motivating me but here is where I can come back and reread. This meaning that it may become a little boring for others to read, sorry.

At the moment I am listening to my Ipod and there is this song on there, can't remember who it is, that it hitting my motivation meeter. It talks about being in the here and now. "And if the moment brings tears then taste them as they fall let them soften your hear, if it brings you laughter, then throw your head back and let it go." I LOVE THAT. "This is the only moment we can do anything about, I don't want you to miss the miracle of the moment." (Hey I think that is the name of the song" "There is only one out there waiting and the moments yet to be and all we need to know is He is out there waiting and to him the future is history." That made got me thinking. The Lord knows all that we are capable of; what we are able to do and who we are able to become. Let us not disappoint him by not giving every moment our best.

That was a little jumble of my thoughts as I am listening and typing at the same time. Multitasking isn't really my strong point :) HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Motivation

2009-10-20T14:52:00.000-07:00

So I am known, to myself, to be so focused and dedicated to my new goal in life. Well when day 2 comes I am slowly slipping and by day 3 I am thinking "what goal was that" So I am doing what Jessi needs to do to keep it together and stay on track. Yesterday was a very busy day so I didn't get out to run, I did do a 3omin tape in the morning but I was also suppose to run. So when night time came and I didn't want to venture outside in the dark alone what did I do? I put on my running shoes and a movie and jogged in place for 35min. I felt so dumb, especially with Jason lying in bed watching the movie/ reading. He was great though, said I needed to do what I needed to do. Oh and he also said I needed to switch places so I didn't wear a hole in the carpet. When it was all done I was so glad I stuck with my plan, no matter if that meant the torture of feeling a little weird. YEAH WHOOIE

Here is a quote I found in a magazine. "Ask not what the world needs, ask what makes you more alive. Because what the world needs is people who are more alive" That is so awesome. There is such a difference in life if you choose to be apart of it and if you just choose to just go threw it day after day.

2009-10-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

I recently started reading this book called "Toss the Guilt And Catch The Joy A Woman's Guide to a Better Life" by Merrilee Boyack. This book is so much more than I thought it would be. I have been thinking about how there is so much to do in this life. Our Father in Heaven has given us a smorgus board of options. Things to learn, experience, shair, teach, DO. I have some friend that next year are going to participate in this really neat running experience. I have been nervous to say yes because of being nervous. Nervous of training for it, nervous to have someone else rely on me, nervous because I have never done it before, bla bla bla. She gives a quote by John Greenleaf Whittier, "Of all the sad words of the tongue and pen The saddest are these: "It might have been!" She goes on to tell of this testimony of a woman. She told of her goal for the year. "I want to live this year with no regrets." "I want to say the things I should say to people, especially tell those I love that I do love them. I want to try the things I want to try and not look back at the end of the year and wonder why I didn't. I want to stop doing the things I don't want to do. I just want to look back on this year and say, I did it! No regrets." YES!!!!!!!!!!! I love that. I am constantly thinging of the things that I want to try. I pull out magazine pages of things I want to make. I spend more time thinking and no time doing. We have so many different seasons in our life and right now is a busy one but that is no excuse not to work on something. I have a piano waiting to be learned, a guitar sitting against my wall waiting to be practised on. It is time to start. Which one will I choose? We are so lucky to have so many options, I just hope I can remember that I want no regrets and to choose one thing and go with it. Wish me luck.

school

2009-10-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

This year we are trying out a new curriculum and are loving it, thanks Melissa. It is from Winter Promise, http://www.winterpromise.com/ . We are studying God's Animals all year long. It is so amazing the things we are learning. He has made His animals so wonderful, from their defenses, to the way they raise their young. It just testifies to me the absolute amazing greatnesst of our Father in Heaven.

One of the projects we got to do was a Diorama of animals in the African Savannah Here is Jonah's. I thought he was paying attention but then after making this I wasn't so sure I think I missed the chapter that they were able to hang from the sky. I think it still looks good.

Here is Jeffrey's. He did a really good job, they even put some animals on the floor where other animals were standing over them feeding.

fall decor

2009-10-06T09:47:00.001-07:00

When my mom came in May my living room consisted of a couch, 2 school shelves, a piano and a computer desk. She helped me do some decorating. She has an unbelievable eye. Ever since then I haven't been able to do enough. I am so enjoying it. When Jason first got home from sea he liked it so much that he didn't drop his sea bag and leave it for the weeks. That made it worth it. The Goodwill and garage sales have become my friend. Here are some little things that I have done to decorate for fall. Now I just need to learn to take pictures so that they will look as good. I do have to say that I am so looking forward to getting school out of my living room. I really should be packing instead of adding things but I am so excited about the change in seasons that I just can't help myself. This is my kitchen table. I got the tablecloth and the from the Goodwill for about $2. Not a good picture but when Jason got home he commented on how good it looked. Yeah!!!!!!!

Here is a Longaberger Basket the my mother-in-law gave me a while ago. It was Jason's Easter Basket. I grabbed some pine with pine cones on them and put a candle in the middle.

Pier One is so Awesome

I added a cheap $.50 garland that I got from the Goodwill to this lamp. I found this sign, IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS, from Ross for less than $2.

I took this container, Goodwill for not very much a while a go. I put corn in it and with a candle in the center.

This was a flower vase from flowers from Jason a while ago and my $1.50 set of flowers.

Just a few things but they change the feel of the room and I am enjoying them.

pictures

2009-10-06T02:12:00.000-07:00

I had some pictures I wanted to show.

This is one of us on top of the Space Needle. We had to go there for a Reinlistment. Hey here we are again, all except Jonah, 1/2 his face got cut, as you can tell. These are Jason's pictures that he takes himself.

Doesn't he look so very handsome.

Here is a picture of a Steller's Jay. The boys feed them sometime in the morning. Here Jeffrey put some leading into the house to see if they would come in to get it. It took a little while but they did. I am so glad I was able to get a picture of this.

My Jeffrey :)

This is Jonah at a football game. He doesn't like the game so much, he is ready to go back to soccer. He likes the constant moving of soccer.

2009-10-02T05:52:00.000-07:00

http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Digital-Supplement/Thanksgiving&Christmas.html
Above is a link to get on a list for a holiday supplement, not sure what kind of stuff will be in it but it is from the homeschool magazine that I subscribe to and love. Thought I would share.

cleaning recipes

2009-09-20T21:43:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you but I hate buying cleaners. If I can make my own I much prefer it. I do have this dishwasher soap that I have been buying from Costco, when I went last week I could not find it. I was going to try a new one but decided to try my own instead. I tried it and really like it. Give it a try:

2c borax
2c baking soda
4 little pkgs of unsweetened lemon kool-aid.
Mix together

Veggie wash
1T lemon juice
2T baking soda
1C water
Put in a spray bottle

Deodorizer
1/2 to 1C liquid laundry softener
1C vinegar
2 to 3 C water
mix in spray bottle

15yrs

2009-09-18T07:48:00.001-07:00

Wow, Jason and I just celebrated 15yr of marriage this year. I can not believe it has been that long. I have to say that was the most wonderful day. I wanted to get married at the beginning of a new day so I decided that 7:00 am was a perfect time. We got married on the beach looking out at the water because I didn't want to be looking at walls. I was in a clearance dress that I found at the Express and Jason was in his shorts, both bare footed. (Sorry I have no pictures to show, that was when I was doing 35m film, you know ancient times). Oh and if I could show you the pictures of my reception. It was potluck. I do have a video of the reception. It was filmed by my brother, who was 14 or so along with his friend and my even younger brother so you can use your imagination on that one. My wedding was a total of $120.00. I had just turned 19, Jason was 21, we had been engaged less than 2 months. Thinking about the whole time still brings a smile to my face and my heart. If I had to do it over again, what would I change; to remember more about that day. How grateful I am that Heavenly Father has blessed me with such a wonderful, loving husband. When it comes to this family he is always thinking about the boys and I first. He is a man above men. I just pray that my boys will grow up to be the man their father is, what a blessed life my future daughter-in-laws will have.

To cool not to shair

2009-09-18T07:41:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture of Mt. Rainier. We were not to far from there during our off-roading weekend. The boys sleeping, this was after our first run.

My cuties.

What a cool picture.

My three main men

Jeffrey's creative side

2009-09-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey is in charge of craft time, which he has once a week. This week his craft was making masks. His looks so cool. Jonah's is actually a neat looking one, too, it is just hard to see, he is a one eyed tiger. Jeffrey's pirate with a beard and blood on his mustache ( he was fighting) and check out that cool eyebrow.

This is my pretty one, sorry no blood or wild animals. The boys put there special powers on the back of their mask. Little kids are so creative and easy to entertain, most of the time.

This is superman/robin hood/Jedi

Crafts

2009-09-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

Here are a few things I have done lately. A little bit of fun.
Here, I hope, is the end to canning for this year, it is great being able to can and having an abundance with to be able to do it but it is sure nice when it is done. These are my flavored applesauces; raspberry and peach.
I love those little craft cards you get for free at JoAnns. This craft cost me less than $5.oo to do.

I keep scrap paper and we have a stack of it. I keep it under our school shelf. It was always getting spread out on the floor but I didn't want to buy a container to keep it in. So I took a box and covered it, am I a genious or what, did I spelle genius right?

Offroading

2009-09-18T07:10:00.001-07:00

So what do you get when your spotter, well didn't spot?

You can't call the sport of off-roading to boring, unless of course, you have a huge group of people and you spend a long time in line waiting to get up that so have to do obstacle. Here is a poor kid who was going around to help a friend of ours get out of a mud hole. He didn't see this huge hole on his spotter's side, so down he went. All of those around were just wide eyed wondering what in the world he was doing. HE DIDN'T SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (this kid was 18, just got this vehicle from his dad and to top it off, he left a note for his parents telling them he was going off-roading and would be back on Sunday.)

It took them an hour to flip it back over. We started our with 4 in our group and at the end of this there had to be 10 vehicles checking this out. (CAN'T MISS THE SHOW)

My birthday

2009-09-18T07:00:00.001-07:00

Last month I celebrated my 34th birthday. My boys were sweet, they both drew me a picture and wrapped up one of their cars. Jason surprised me with a bike I have been wanting. A really comfy cruiser. He picked this one out himself. Not a bad job at all. It is so nice to ride, a little heavier than my other one that I can pick up with one finger but a lot more confortable on the butt.
So Jason has been fitting us all with bows, still hasn't decided on his, this is my new compound. I am a ringer for shooting, just check out the board behind our haystack, the one that holds the target and luckily we found the one that I completely missed the board and shot into the woods, you should have seen that thing fly.

2009-09-10T06:21:00.000-07:00

Ok I found this great idea on a blog that I check every so often. She said that she has baskets in her pantry containing everything for a quick meal. That way when she is short on time or something unexpected came up than she just had to pull out a basket and there is everything she needs. All I came up with is pasta and spaghetti sauce. Anyone have any other ideas?

2009-09-04T11:04:00.000-07:00

We had a church activity last weekend. It was a lot of fun and a whole lot of running. Jeffrey and I started the day with a 5k, it was great. We did really good. Jeffrey ran the whole way and I only sounded like I was going to die for 1/2 of it. (I have not kept up with running since we moved here, working on changing that).Here is Jeffrey in his age group for the sprints

Each ward had a color, ours was hot pink, Jeffrey was not happy with that. So to get him to wear it we let him put pink stinks on it.

Here is Jonah in his age group sprint. We also had relays, we did the family relay. Jonah started the first leg and we told him to just follow the lines to me but he thought that was to long so he decided to run right across the grass to me. It was so funny. Unfortunately no one got a picture. One sister told us that she was trying to get a picture of her son that was in the first leg and when she was going to take the picture she saw Jonah running across the field that she was laughing so hard she didn't get a picture of anyone.

2009-09-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

Tuesday Sketch. We have finally gotten back to Tuesday Sketch, even though it is more like Thursday when we finally get to it. This time it was on something black and white. Here is Jeffrey's, it is a Pokemon, of course.

Here is Jonah's, he copied his from Jeffrey (he does everything Jeffrey does)

Here is mine, my canning pot.

2009-09-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

So what does a rented property with 2 fig trees, 2 peach trees and 1 apple tree brings you?

This is how I am spending my extra time lately. I am also apart of a fruit co-op. So I am getting a little more than I can keep up with right now but what a blessing. We will have enough fruit to keep us until next year.

Learning at home

2009-09-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

There are so many things that I love about being able to have the boys home to learn. Here is our new thing. We have these beautiful birds (Steller's Jay) around our house. Jeffrey has started putting out peanuts for them in the morning. If he is late getting them out they will let you know. Here is one of them coming to get them. Here Jeffrey is lining them up on the rail.

This is him outside doing his independent work. He loved sitting out there because the birds were coming right above his head to get to the nuts.

old things new

2009-09-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

TAKING OLD THINGS AND MAKING THEM NEW

I have been amazed at some blogs that I follow where people have taken old things and made them new, updated them, added their own creative ideas. I have been wanting a bill organizer and when I went to shop around for one and the only two I found where over $20 which was more than I was interested in paying. While at the Goodwill I found this one for less than $6.

With some spray paint, ribbon and scrapbook labels I made it more to my liking.
Another idea that I saw that I really liked was taking an old box spring and taking the spring part out of it and putting it on a fence and then planting morning glories so they will travel up the springs. I have the springs now I just need a house with a fence.

TAKING OLD THINGS AND MAKING THEM NEW

2009-08-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

So what have the Carson's been up to lately: Well let us see. Jason is now officially in dry dock, which means that his sub is out of the water and he will be home, crossing fingers, for the next 2 years. He is now 2 year away from retirement, we think that he is going to be in 6mths past his EOS date, I think that is what the letters are (when he gets out) but it is both good and bad. Good because it will be alittle more retirement and very bad because we thought deployments were over but they may not be. He is a hunt of his own bow since he provided everyone else one but not himself. Me, we are back to school both the boys and myself. As I have said before that is just a little to much school in one day for me. I am taking Philosophy, boy that is intersted. I think, I haven't quite figured it out yet. I am in the middle of canning the abundance of what the Lord has provided us with; apples for apple butter and applesauce, figs, blackberries, jams, cherries. Pretty soon it will be pears and more apples and hopefully some tomotoes for sauces. Jeffrey is keeping busy with school, soccer, scouts, piano and pokemon. Jonah is busy with school, flag football, piano and what ever else interests him that day.
We are also in the middle of trying to find a house. We decided, for now, Washington is where we want to retire so now all we have to do is retire and then find a job. We do love Washington and all that it provides. Well until the next update. Enjoy the pictures.

Birthday boy

2009-08-28T06:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Jonah!!!!!!! Happy Birthday to You!!!!!!!

How is it that my little baby who was just learning to walk is now 5 years old. This boys is a ball of energy. You should see what we have to do while learning. There are days that I have to make him run around the house and yell answers to me, do jumping jacks as he is counting and his piano teacher has him stomp to notes as well as play football catch during other music learning times. This is the same boy that when he was a baby they had him do a cat scan because they thought he was blind and then were worried because he wasn't talking by a certain age and then wasn't walking by 1. There is no delay in this boy. He figures it out when he does and just like his brother it comes on his own time and with the learning that works for him. Jonah is a character. He can make you laugh and make you want to pull out your hair. Jonah your mom loves you so very much.

Jonah's reading

2009-08-28T06:44:00.000-07:00

Here is Jonah getting to put another sticker on his reading chart. He is doing so good. I tell you teaching reading, along with spelling, is not one of my strong areas. There is so many exceptions but when you see your kids read it is so worth every minute. I remember when Jeffrey read his first word and I cried, he couldn't understand why I was crying. It is so amazing when you are able to experience your children learning.
here is my baby with all the books he has read so far.

Way to go Jonah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeffrey's Baptism

2009-08-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

This was such an amazing day. I was so proud of 2 of my men. Just thinking about the day brings tears to my eyes. Jeffrey I am so proud of you.

My boyscout

2009-08-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey: My Boyscout

When you turn 8 at church you get to go into the boyscout program. I am so very excited for Jeffrey's time in scouts. I hope that he has lots of fun and lots of experiences. He is doing really good so far, here is a picture of him earning his Bobcat at his first Pack Meeting. (Hopefully at the next one he will get his Archery, BB Gun, soccer, and Chess belt loop as well as his Soccer Pin. )
Here he is getting ready for his skit. Those kids come up with the craziest stuff. Here he is impatiently waiting for the smores and homemade ice cream. There Jonah is peaking around the corner.

Here are my cute boys. Man how they have grown. (Jonah was out riding his bike yesterday and I realized that his seat was to low, when we got it it was to high but wouldn't go down anymore.)

Homemade playdoe

2009-08-28T06:22:00.000-07:00

So what does a Sunbeams (I teach the sunbeams 4&5yr olds at church) do to occupy her class. Make Play doe. Boy was I a hit. This was so easy to make.

1T alum (a spice, just in case you didn't know that, I had no idea)

3T oil

3C flour

2C boiling water

1pkg of kool aid

Mix all together and let it cool.

I might add more kool aid next time to make it brighter or add all but the kool aid and divide the ball to make different colors. (I didn't have any trouble with the color bleeding on anything).

Summer Wonders

2009-08-28T06:13:00.000-07:00

You have got to love the summer. What is not to love; sunny days, staying up late, exploring, relaxing and (for a homeschooling mom) the chance to learn. Here the boys are at beach park and there are some ladies there telling them all about the creatures you can find in the ocean. My boys were great. It didn't take them long till they were picking up everything. We learned how to tell the difference between a female and male crab (the female has a triangle underside and is a little bit puffier)(I feel your pain there ladies). It was a great day.

quote

2009-07-30T09:57:00.000-07:00

I found this quote in the 'Old Schoolhouse' magazine I subscribe to, I think this is going to be the theme for our school year.

“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder . . . he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.” – Rachel Carson

What Beauty

2009-07-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

What beauty our Father in Heaven has blessed us with. This is a picture of the view from our backyard.

Rainforest Cafe

2009-07-26T20:18:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how many of you have been to a Rainforest Cafe but we went for dinner one night this month. It is awsome how our children grow and mature. The last time we were there Jonah was a little baby, if he was even born. Jeffrey was so scared of the animals around the place. This time it was Jonah who was scared and Jeffrey kept telling him that they were not real and he shouldn't be afraid.

2009-07-26T20:17:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture (I did it again, underlining and not knowing how I did it, does anyone know :) of Jason and I trying on the hats, if you can not tell Jason is wairing a pink one.

Does this not look good?! No mom I did not eat this by myself, I think I could of, but we all shaired. It is called a Lava flow. It is ice cream with brownie on the side and hot chocolate running down. Man was it good.

Day Camp

2009-07-26T19:43:00.000-07:00

So here is Jeffrey at his first scout day camp. He had so much fun. I am sure most of you are familiar with scouts but for those who are not (I would be included in that, there is so much to learn, I am looking forward to it) they get do all kinds of things, learn and experience. They have books that they get to sign things off. This camp provided not only a wonderful time and experience but he opportunity to sign off many things. Jeffrey already earned the Archery Belt Loop (more on that later), the BB Gun Belt Loop (more on that one, too) and is one thing to do to get the Outdoor Activity Award, not to mention almost earning his first gold arrow (for fun electives) and signing off about 10 more things in his Wolf Scout Book. I am looking forward to maybe being able to go and volunteer next year. I am hopping to get Jonah in Tiger Cubs and then I can go to. I think I will have as much fun :)

Here is Jeffrey and some of his group doing a skit.

Here is his group giving their cheer. They were the Strong Men (the theme was Circus). There cheer was "We are the strong men, lift lift lift, we are the strong men, lift lift lift, oops don't drop that bar, oops don't drop that bar, augh.

The problem with day camp

2009-07-26T19:42:00.000-07:00

THE PROBLEM MOM HAD WITH DAY CAMP
So ask Jeffrey what his #2 favorit thing to do at day camp is and he will tell you shooting the BB Gun. So what did dad do? Took them out to get there own. Jason had one of these when he was younger and enjoyed it, so he thought his boys should have one, too. Mom can't say to much, she enjoyed shooting it, too.
Showing off their new toys
Ready, aim, fire

Dad being the big kid he is

So what is Jeffrey's #1 favorit thing about Day Camp you ask. Archery. So what is dad researching. You guessed it. Bows. We all will hopefully be owners of bows here in the neer future. (While our stuff was in storage here in Washington, while we were in Hawaii, all 9 of Jason's guns were stollen. Poor Jason is fitting everone with a new hobby using the insurance money the storage company gave him). Wish us safety :)

2009-07-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

So here is the picture of the birthday boy. Doesn't he look so sweet. We are so very proud of him.

2009-07-08T22:57:00.000-07:00

JULY - What does July bring us. Well if you live here in Western Washington this is the time that we get to enjoy the beauty that God has given us. This gets to be the time that Washington is so breathtaking. And if you live in the Carson household then July will bring your babie's 8th birthday. On the 9th my baby will turn 8 years old. What an adventure it has been to watch Jeffrey grow. He is such an amazing boy. He takes after his dad in so many ways; he is blessed with a memory that is unbelievable (definately does not get that from me), his ability to be a natural at so many things amazes me, too. I can remember the day Jeffrey was born. If I would have known Jeffrey then I would have know that you can not rush that little boy. He knows when his time is and that is it. I spent most of the day in labor and hardly progressed. I ended up having a C-section. He came out screaming his lungs off. From the beginning he knew what he wanted. What a smart little boy he is growing up to be. I so look forward to what the future holds for him. I believe that he will do great things and bless many people.
HAPPY BITHDAY JEFFREY. I LOVE YOU. AND I LOVE THE PERSON YOU ARE!

2009-07-08T22:48:00.000-07:00

Jason's Latest Project

The day before we were shipping Jason's jeep from Hawaii his steering column decided it had had enough. When he put the key into the ignition all it would do is turn a complete circle. Jason being the genious he is, put in a toggle switch and a push button to start his baby. He finally got around to putting in a new column. Unbelieving to the both of us it slid right in and so far so good. (If you know anything about old vehicles you will understand.)

2009-07-08T22:39:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey's Soccer Camp

If you were to ask Jeffrey what his favorite thing to do he would tell you "playing soccer" The boy loves soccer. He could spend all day long kicking that soccer ball of his. The local minor soccer leauge, the Pumas, put on a soccer camp for the kids. What better way for Jeffrey to spend 3hrs a day for 5 days than playing soccer. Of course when I asked him if he was getting enough soccer he said he would only get enough if he was playing for 6hrs. It was a blast to watch. The Pumas are from all over, some are from Africa and England. They had the best sense of humur. They had the kids do the funniest things.

This is Jeffrey's team, they were Team England winning the world cup. (They collected points all week long and the team with the most points won).

Team England

Team England showing there support

2009-07-08T21:55:00.000-07:00

Backpacking At Lower Lina Lake

So We decided to end Jason's stand down with a backpacking trip. We did a 3 mile hike, gear and all to a lake. Jeffrey is turning out to be our little scouter. He decided he wanted to carry his own pack. He carried it for most of the way. Jonah did most of the hiking on his own. He spent most of the second day picking himself off of the ground so for the last 1/2 mile Jason carried him on his shoulders, along with his own gear.

Break Time

My Boys

Almost at the camp sites.

Along our hike we kept finding these leaves made into faces. On the way down everyone decided to contribute there own to the trail.

2009-06-23T11:05:00.003-07:00

Pictures I just had to show

We had so much fun on this trip. Just driving around and checking out Oregon, stopping at a different camp site everynight. Making memories. The pictures I have don't do justice to the things we saw but wanted to shair with you some of our memories.

Here is a picture of the boys at the a beach in Oregon

It was cold, not that they minded.

At one of our camping sites we had huge rocks, of course, the boys loved climing them.

Jeffrey waving

Check out this snow wall, more snow then I have ever seen.

We weren't able to camp at Crater Lake because the sites were still snowed in.

THE FAMILY

2009-06-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

Sea Lion Cave

This place was neat. Right on the side of the road there was a shop, you go in and there is an elevator you take down and you end up in this huge cave. Looking out there is this big rock with all these sea lions on it. It was awsome to see, not so much to smell though.

Here we were in the cave and looking out at them.

2009-06-23T10:49:00.001-07:00

Crater Lake

This has to be the most unbelievable place to see. The beauty is breathtaking. God has blessed us with some amazing sites and this is definately at the top of the list.

Just a brief history: "Mount Mazama, the volcano that used to be, began over 1/2 a million yrs ago during the ice age. Glaciers periodically gouged its slopes but had melted away by the time of Mazama's climactic eruption 7700 yrs ago. The eruptin spewed out more than 18 cubic miles of pumice and ash, leaving a void into which the mountain collapsed. The resulting depression, a bowl-shaped calders, was 4000 ft deep and over 6 miles wide. The water of Crater Lake began to collect int he caldera soon after eruptions ceased. The lake is the deepest in the United States-1932ft. Only 6 lakes in the world are deeper." (from A Guide To Crater Lake the Mountain That Used To Be by Ron Warfield)

here you can see where a point. the mountain towered a mile over this point

2009-06-23T10:34:00.001-07:00

Pictures of camping sites while on our driving trip

So we finally got to take (sorry about the underlining, I have no idea how I did it which means I don't know how to get rid of it) our much waited on driving trip. Our main goal, besides just getting to be together as a family was to see Crater Lake (which was the most beautiful thing ever). These were some of the camping spots we stayed it. There were 2 spots we didn't stay in a tent but I have to say I am a tent girl myself but the other 2 where neat to try out and much cheaper than hotels.

This place is called a Yurtz. It had a bunkbed and a futon.

This is the boys staying out of the rain.

This was our favorit site, it had a swing right next to our spot. It was our first night.

This was what we stayed in the lastnight. It is a shed put on stilts. This was a fun sight because we had a field right in front of us with little games.

garden

2009-05-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a project that I did alone. I have to say that because well I did it alone. No it is not hard to hammer nails and put 4 boards together but it is still my accomplishment. So here is my squarefootage garden box.

This is the ending result:

And this would be the beginning.

Yeah for me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-05-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

Ok so here is a story from my little Jeffrey. The same one who every time we sit down to write a paragraph about something ends in battle; him crying "I can't do it" and me frustrated. He came out of his room one day and handed me 3 pages of a story he had written. This is one of the many benefits of homeschooling. The paragraphs him and I did together were out of our Grammar book, ones that were layed out for us. His story was about what he wanted to write about on his own time.
Anyway here is is"
I went walking in the park and I saw a light saber it was green. And I saw General Grievous, he pointed his light saber at me. I grabbed the green light saber and fought him. I won. Yeah yeah yeah yeah. The End.
Jedi Warriors. I went outside and I heard people yelling and I saw oby-1-kunoby, he was fighting General Grevious, he pointed his finger at me and I was a Jedi. I jumped beside obey-1-kunoby and we both fought General Grevious. We fought for 1hr. We defeated them and the Droids came, we blocked fires every second. We fought for 3hrs. The droids were falling but we were not done fighting, yet the droids surrounded us but we fought our way out and the droids shot their own teammates before they knew what was going on. The droids were gone, obe-1-konobie disappeared. I followed him, I can not explain where we were or how we got there and I am destroyed many evil bad guys after that but I am out of paper so I guess this is the end.
Some names may look like they are changed, it is not to protect the innocent but because Jeffrey and I have our own way of spelling.

Jonah is reading

2009-04-27T21:03:00.000-07:00

Jonah is moving right along with his reading. I am impressed with how fast he is picking up on it. He just finished his 4th book today. We keep them sitting out for display. He loves to read them over and over again. Long are the days gone where I can spell things out so they wont know what I am talking about.
Here is Jonah reading to his big brother. Jeffrey is so good. He will sit and listen patiently and help out where Jonah needs it.

The program we are using came with a spot to put stickers. This is one of Jonah's favorite parts of reading. Look at that face. WAY TO GO JONAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Art work

2009-04-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

This bird is a part of our continent unit study. It is a Scarlet Macaw and it is found in South America. Jeffrey decided he would add an apple, since they eat fruit and a branch that it could sit on.

Here is a crown that Jonah made for me

And this is my absolute favorite. Jeffrey drew this for me. He was copying an old drivers license that he has of his dad's. I love this picture. I am trying to find the perfect frame.

I had to show off some of the boy's art work. I am always amazed with the things that Jeffrey comes up with. I have plenty more but these are a few of my favorite.

Kids Deployment

2009-04-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey had an opportunity to get a small taste of what a homecoming was like. Military kids were offered the chance to take part in a kids deployment. Your father or mother had to have been deployed at one time or another. They were dropped off early in the morning and taken on a bus to a certain location. There they learned a little about the Navy; subs and surface ships. They even got to have a taste of bootcamp. When the day came to a close they were then loaded on a bus to come back and be "welcomed back". Here there families were waiting with signs and balloons. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it.

Here is Jonah holding up the signs he made Jeffrey. Doesn't he look so
excited to have his brother come home WELCOME HOME JEFFREY! WE MISSED YOU

Here is some of the kids. Jeffrey is in there somewhere

I think this was such a great thing for the kids to be able to experience. Luckily for us all it was only for 8 hrs and not 6months.