Shumway Family Update

Man! I was on a role posting over the summer, but totally slacked off once we got going with homeschool in the Fall. Things have sure been busy!! All good things, though, all good things! I had some really good intentions to blog over Christmas break, but never got around to it. I thought I would take some time right now to do a little update of the past few months. Here are SOME select highlights of the things we were up to:

Warning!! There are going to be a LOT of pictures :). Sorry, I've been asked for pictures by many of you, and since I don't post a lot on Facebook, this is a good place for me to share them with family and friends. And, for those of you who have requested pictures of Joseph and I, I included a few just for you ;). 

They never all cooperate when picture taking, but they are pretty cute. This was our homeschool group trip to U Pick Red Barn in Idaho Falls. This is our third year going here. Always fun! 

Halloween! Elsa and Anna for the third year in a row. This time they are in Frozen Fever attire. Anthon wanted to be a T-Rex, so Buddy from Dinosaur Train was what we went with. He cracks me up :). 

Date night at Bar J Wranglers in Jackson Hole. Love this man!!

Fall walk in the mountains of beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming. Our dog Clara, who is not quite a year now, enjoyed being with us on our hike.

This is a picture of us at the Star Valley Temple Open House! Love having a temple only five minutes from our home! It is such a blessing and such a beautiful and uplifting reminder of the love our Savior and Heavenly Father have for us. Being able to go more frequently has brought me so much comfort, peace, and solace. 

We were so excited to participate in a "live" Wax Museum activity with our homeschool group. The kids each got to pick a person in history that they wanted to learn about. They studied about them and put together a little first person report that they presented in costume at the activity. So much fun! 

Sacagawea and Cleopatra 

Anthon even did a little report on Buffalo Bill Cody. He loves jumping up and giving speeches on Speech Days, which we do monthly with our homeschool group.

Sacagawea, Cleopatra, and Gladys Aylward all hanging out together. Nora and Aspen are BFFs ;). 

Getting into Christmas stuff now. Here are the kiddos with Santa and Mrs. Clause. Nora informed me that this Santa was not the real Santa because he had a fake beard, haha. He was just working for Santa, because Santa is so busy and needs helpers to find out what the kids want for Christmas. We were at a church party where the kids got to come in their jammies. 

Christmas Eve tradition of pizza and performing the Nativity at Grandma Shumway's house. Anthon wore his shepherd costume for two seconds and then tore it off because he didn't want to be in the performance.  

Angel and Mary

First Night of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve

Christmas! The kids asked for very educational gifts this year :).

The coolest snowflakes EVER!! I found these on the car window right when we got back from church. I love when Christmas falls on a Sunday! It helps bring the whole spirit of Christmas and the reminder about what we are truly celebrating it for into our day. Especially for the kids. So grateful for my beautiful Savior and for the tender mercies that he extends to me daily.

These Cuties!!

 

Just had to include this beautiful Wyoming Sunset. Pictures never do justice to sunsets I believe.

Joseph graduated from Wyoming L.E.A.D. in January!! It is a Leadership Education and Development program that lasted for 14 months. Joseph was so privileged to be selected to be a part of it during this last course. He learned a lot and made some wonderful friends and connections through the experience. They got to go to different parts of the state every month and learned things about business, agriculture, leadership, politics, etc. Joseph even got to go to Washington D.C. and South Africa!! Not going to include all those pictures, but he had an incredible time on both those trips! Here are some pictures during the graduation. This first one is of his class (5 members of Wyoming L.E.A.D. Class 14 were not able to attend the graduation). 

Just really liked this quote.

WooHoo!!

Just a little fun celebrating Nathan, Joseph, Stephanie, and Sally's birthdays.

Kind of random, but this is what happens when you have sisters, hahaha.

Playing in the snow. Gotta love the snowman family they made in the MIDDLE of the road :).

This HANDSOME guy working on the farm!

Another homeschool group activity we recently did was go to Jackson Hole to take a sleigh ride through the Elk Refuge. So much fun! The kids got to learn a few things about some different kinds of animals and how they adapt, hibernate, and migrate during the winter.

Nora, Aspen, and Fanny

Feeling the fur of some kind of animal.

Anthon kept getting on the "phones" at the visitor center to listen to different animal sounds.

Mountain Goat!!

The sleigh ride was COLD, but super fun! There were SOOO many ELK!!!