Merry Christmas!!!!

The Hoop House

My darling husband humored me yet again, and helped build a hoop house!  Yea!  I am so excited:)  I want to be able to grow lettuce and cold weather crops through the winter.  Last year I used a grow shed, but didn't like that so much, because I had to use electricity to keep it warm, and there was no natural light in it, so it was not very enjoyable to spend time in it.  So EXCITED!!!  :)

First, Nathan built a base out of pallets someone had given us.  Then we arched hog panels over the top.  I twined the touching sides of each panel together, and then screwed metal stapping at the bottoms to attach it securely to the wood frame.

 Then we were ready for the plastic.  I ordered a green-house grade on amazon.

 We used slats of wood to screw tight against the frame to hold the plastic tight. I also went back and forth Many times over the top with twine, to secure the plastic to the hog panels so it won't go anywhere when the wind blows.  It seems to be working good so far!

 Saturday we got the door on, just in time for the 13 degree night coming up! :)  The plants survived just fine!  Yea!

The Law of the Fast

"Fasting in the proper spirit and in the Lord’s way will energize us spiritually, strengthen our self-discipline, fill our homes with peace, lighten our hearts with joy, fortify us against temptation, prepare us for times of adversity, and open the windows of heaven."
Joseph B. Wirthlin

I love how powerfully Elder Wirthlin explains why we fast and what blessings come from living the law of the fast. 

Words of a 5-year old

While doing school this week, in science we had  been learning about invertebrates.  Then it was time to start on vertebrates.  We were comparing differences, and all of the sudden, Jed excitedly pipes up:  "Mom, I know something without a backbone",  me-"what?"  Jed:  "Paper!"  Me-"what?"  Jed: "paper does not have a backbone!"  haha-he got me there:)

Later on, since the guys were away, we got to watch Anne of Green Gables, and when the kids were asking why she wouldn't get married, we talked about choices and priorities, and Jed came and gave me a big hug, and said, "Thanks for getting married, Mom."  Now wasn't that the sweetest thing ever?  Since when do 5 year olds talk like that?  :)

 Jed has improved dramatically in his coloring skills-I can't believe how well he is staying in the lines!

Learning Co-op Fieldtrip... looking for salmon, finding bears

We had a fantastic fieldtrip last week.  We went to South Lake Tahoe to see the "salmon run", as they swim upstream to spawn.  There were a lot of salmon, and it was really cool to see them.  But what gave us the greatest thrill was the 2 bears that we followed around and saw on and off.  At the end of our hike, we were walking on logs and crossing the pond until the bears came to use that same area.  Believe me, we backed off!  It  was crazy and fun!

The scenery was breathtaking! 

 We didn't think we were going to get a close up of a real bear, so we took this:)

 check out all those salmon!

 watching the bears fish

 I guess the bears wanted to play on the logs too!

 Had to take this for my friend that has a son named Taylor.

We got to see "Meet the Mormons" on Saturday, and it was really a great movie.  I enjoyed it and felt inspired by the service and sacrifice of the people in it. It helped me want to be a better person.   I  hope you get to see it too!  :)

Date to Sacramento

Nathan and I went on an overnight date to Sacramento.  We got to go to the temple and it was wonderful.  We stopped at Sutter's Mill and enjoyed walking around seeing the sites there.  We tried to find a waterfall we were going to hike to, and even though Nathan found it at home on google earth, our phones couldn't find it, so we were out of luck.  But it was a great little get-away and we were, as always, very thankful to be safely reunited with our children.