A day of family learning.

Learning in the home is such a blessing.  To be able to watch my children struggle and learn is such a amazing feeling.  I love working with them everyday and discovering new and exciting things each day.  I love watching them grow and take responsibility for their own education and I love watching them learn something new!!  These are just pictures that we have taken during our school time.

Addler getting things done, he loves to just get it done so he can have the rest of the day to live out his day in his world!!

Maestin started Williamsburg Intermediate Academy this year.  It has been a huge learning curve for him, but the education is amazing.  This is a picture that he had to take for an assignment on his home, city, state, and community.

A picture Maestin took of the Samaria mountains for an assignment.  We live in a beautiful place.

His assignment on earthquakes.  

Addler finally decided to take off and just read.  It is amazing what happens when they are inspired.  Grandpa Price sent him home with book by some rodeo greats talking about their journey to become world champions.  Addler devoured the Roy Cooper section.  First time he decided to read on his own and he jumps to a biography!

Holdan loves to just quietly work on little things, weather it is drawing, coloring, building or playing he is always busy discovering and playing with his imagination in full force.

His cabin, I think he had to help Maestin get started on his house for his earthquake assignment.

Winter days...make silly boys.

 Taggert climbed up on the counter being silly and I asked him what he was doing and gave me a silly face.  So I had to take a picture and he gave me his funny camera face.

This is his smile for the camera.

There is my nose mom!

Cheese!! He is so cute and we all just love him.  Maestin will love that picture some day.

And of course if the camera is out Holdan wants in.

He had to play a song for mom.

The fishing pole works!

Well I guess the new pole worked.  Grandpa Tubbs came out again to go fishing and Ruxton was ready to go.  And the new pool pulled in a whopper!  He was pretty excited.

We had had a lesson on lungs and gills the day before, so it was a great chance to show Holdan the gills and talk about how it works.

The mighty fisherman-dude!  Love this kid, and I had to cook it up, and he loves it!

Ruxton's Birthday

Well our wild Ruxton has turned nine.  The funny thing is he didn't want to turn nine.  He says eight is the best year of his life and is the best age ever.  None the less he is nine going on twenty he thinks he is as big and should be able to do all the things Maestin does or even dad at times.  He generally can.  He is a hard worker and a lot of help.  He may be brave and courageous, but soft and caring on the inside.  We love having him in our home and each year brings a whole new string of stories to be laughed at and and adventures to shake our heads at.  He is the life of our family, and is a huge blessing in the Tubbs family.   

Waiting to open a present from Grandma and Grandpa Tubbs.  We had the fish that he caught with grandpa Tubbs, with chicken and rice and a carrot cake.

Taggert excited for presents.  Holdan likes it too.

Mom doesn't wrap presents, they come in bags.

A new fishing pole again this year since he threw the other one in a river fishing last year.

A new bike...yea!

Grandpa and Taggert checking out the new pole.

Addler and Grandma Tubbs

Getting ready to light the birthday candles for the birthday song.

Holdan and Taggert Playing

What is it with kids and totes and laundry baskets?  Taggert is getting to the point now where he wants to join in on the games and playing.  Holdan is really good to play with him and they have fun.  Families are so fun, always someone to play with. 

Holdan and Taggert sitting in a tote that is broken...shocking.

These two are too cute not to love!

Winter Nights

 The new year is before us and our family has a love hate relationship with winter. We love the short days and shortage of work.  ( Is there ever really a shortage of work on a ranch?)  But the cold and being inside drives the boys crazy.  So we take each day and just try to enjoy the time we have together, with reading, games, and just hanging out together in the long winter evenings.  I had the camera out this evening and decided to take a picture of Taggert and then had to take a picture of my handsome man.  We are really the ones that love winter and the short days.  We get to spend time together.  It is great being married to your best friend.  There is never a shortage of things to talk about.

Taggert loves, loves milk.  He gets a sippy or two each night, can't go to bed without it.

My hot man!

Trying to ignore me...ya right!

See he can not ignore me for long!  I love getting a smile out of this man!

This is a special picture!  Austin was doing daddy interviews, and Taggert had to have a turn.  I had to interrupt and take a picture.  It is amazing what following the older boys and example does in our home.  Our boys have such a good day.

Brothers...a little bit crazy!

Taggert is definitely lucky to have four great big brothers, they play with him, feed him, dress him, cuddle, love, put to sleep, entertain, laugh...the list is countless.  These four spend a lot of time with him.  Sometimes when they are playing with him I will think man how fun that must be to always have someone that has the energy and wants to just goof off and be silly, that would be so fun.  But this day I am guessing he is thinking some days it has its disadvantages!  He thought it was fun at first, but then he wanted out.  They thought they were so funny!!