True to my word, I started my Turbo Fire program on December 1st! The jury was out for a few days because the moves were fast and I had a lot of new choreography to learn. Surprisingly after doing it for a little over a week, I am able to keep up pretty well. It is super fun- mostly kickboxing and hip hop mixed together. Great music, and I really, really like the trainer Chalene Johnson. I thought she was going to be a little too peppy for my tastes, but she really gets me motivated and keeps it fun. I will be doing it until the end of February and will be in my size 6 sexy dress a week and a half later for my hubby's big graduation!

Chalene also came out with an awesome book called "PUSH." It is basically a 30 day goal setting seminar in book form. Savanna and I are reading it together and watching a series of videos she put out that go along with the chapters. You read a chapter per night and do the "homework" she assigns and by the end, you have a blueprint for success. It's been a great project to do together. Savanna really has amazed me with some of her goals, and I'm excited about her being exposed to another mentor to walk her through the steps of achieving them. Savanna is starting to get the hang of her Charter School as well. Balancing her time has been a struggle with having school 2 days per week and assignments that are due on specific days. I'm not sure she was quite ready for all of this required work, but she is learning some great tools and skills in the process. Many pros and cons when teaming up with a public school. But I keep reminding her that it is HER education. She can make it as deep and interesting and complete as she chooses. Her teacher is great, and is willing to personalize lessons to help Savanna achieve her educational goals. There is the political mumbo-jumbo (attendance, state testing etc.) and busy text book type work which I think is such a waste. But, good things are happening and overall I feel good about her being here right now. We are going to give it until the end of June to decide if there are more pros than cons for continuing with the Charter.

Savanna is still involved in her youth colloquium. I am leading one this week about The Secret Garden and then in December we will read and discuss Anne of Green Gables. I loved the message of The Secret Garden. I read it with the boys and for those of you that haven't read it, it is basically about a young boy and girl who have fixed beliefs about their health and capabilities. They find this Secret Garden, and as the plants and animals come alive in the garden these youngsters find that when they change the way they THINK, they begin to come alive too. They call it magic. I asked the boys what the magic was and Brad responded quickly, "It's the garden, of course!" Ben interrupted, "Nope. It's believing in yourself. That really comes from Heavenly Father." That kid really does get a lot more than he lets on some times!

I am sad to say, that we held our last adult colloquim. I have been hosting it for two years, but the members have been dwindling and the last two said they weren't available for next year. I thoroughly enjoyed those meetings, and have tried many times to invite others to join us. People are just so busy, and frankly I don't think they see the point in reading and discussing classic literature. I'm thinking of selecting one or two books next year and doing an online book group. Maybe a Facebook group or something informal where people can comment when they have time, and I can post some questions or thoughts of my own. Not sure just yet.

Our goofy boys. James recently found out that he was the oldest member of his class at the academy. Apparently the other cadets now refer to him as Grandpa which our children thought was hilarious. Here is Brad doing his impression of Grandpa, aka Dad. :)

He runs fast for a Grandpa!

November 28 - December 11, 2011