Sand Castles

Another exciting thing worth trying.

Thank you to Unplug Your Kids for posting this tutorial for Hard - Permanent Sand Castles.

Paper Flower Tutorial Link

Ok, ok but there are times when this is just the perfect accent to something.

And as uncrafty as I can be, I think I can handle this one.

Dozi's paper flower tutorial.

What to do with scratched CD's?

The Handmade Dress has a great tut on how to deal with scratched CD's. I haven't tried it yet but I'm putting it here so I can find it again.

I've got to make this!

A fabric basket. I am totally in love with the concept, shape and firm look.

Pink Penguin's Tutorial for a fabric basket.

Oh, they are only young once.

I wish I had a picture.

Both kids fell asleep in the car today on the way home. J (10.5) spent the night at a friend's house and was up until 4. He's my early to bed (10-11pm) kid. Jules (8.5) had an overnight here. Although, she went to bed at about her normal time (1am) she was awake before 7am.

I remember one of the last times I fell asleep in the car as a kid. I might have been 12 years old. My sisters and I were cuddled up in the back sleep... and we never cuddled. My mom was so inspired that she captured it on film prior to waking us up and making us walk in. I think I was holding out in hopes that someone would carry me into the house I was so tired. lol no such luck.

It is just not the same to fall asleep in the car as an adult.

It is friday. October 10, 2008

Friday Fill In

1. One of the best concerts/plays/movies I ever saw that I really didn't think I'd like was Charlotte's Web at South Coast Rep.
2. Mom's Farm Bread is a recipe I recently made (or meal I recently ordered) that was delicious!
3. It's time for(some song from Hair that I don't quite know the words of is playing in my head.) it must be time for bed.
4. Cool breezes on a hot October day is quite refreshing.
5. If I never hear the word bitch again, it'll be too soon.
6. To one side of the curving road was an ocean vista, and on the other was a bench
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to curling up with a good book, tomorrow my plans include cleaning the house and Sunday, I want to go to the beach and curl up with a good book!

Friday Five

1. What is the one most important thing by your side right now? My bee sting kit.
2. Why is it so important? Because I'm allergic to bee stings.
3. Can you live without it? So far I have, but I really don't want to risk it.
4. What is the one thing you can't live without? Joy.
5. Who is the one person you can't live without? Jeff.

Think: Page 16 Sand in My Bra

From The Aunties by Anne Lamott.

Ms. Lamott wrote

I was trying to spend less time thinking about what I see and more time
thinking about why I see it the way

I have not read any further. I had to stop and reflect on the above statement.

I was trying to spend

less time thinking about WHAT I SEE and

more time thinking about WHY I SEE it the way.

Definitely, something worthy of self exploration.

The book, "Sand in My Bra and other Misadventures" funny women write from the road. edited by Jennifer L. Leo.

So far, so entertaining. I am on page 16 after all so that is a good sign.

Just a little chewing of the cud.

Life Without School: Checklist for New Unschooler

We are not "new unschoolers" I don't like the term "unschool" but I can get behind the term "unschooly"

I thought I would take a little bit of time out of my evening to reflect on the checklist that Becky presented in the above link.

1. Remove the word "educational" from your vocabulary.

Ohh, that is a tough one. As much as we were unschooly while doing a public charter I am forever scarred on this point. I spent so much time fitting their activities into subjects that it is only now that I'm realizing that I need to deschool even it the kid don't. I find it interesting to note that fact after another parent just used the term about herself last Wednesday at Dragon Tree. We used a charter for ds for 4 years and for dd for 3 years. We started because we needed a way to keep mil appeased. She is a retired local K teacher and it was easier to find a middle ground that to potentially cause a major problem in the family. We stuck with it for as long as we did for dd's speech therapy. When there was a failure to provide those services the last year I had to realize that time, experience, and development were making a much larger difference that most of the therapist we were assigned. I had to accept that like so much of our lives I was ready to release and trust the process.

2. Slow down and relax.

True. True. True. That is something that many of us,
myself for sure, need to be reminded of on occasion. My kids have been
making that clear the last two weeks that they needed to slow down and
relax. Sometimes I'm slow to pick up on that need.

3. Make sure that cool stuff is within reach.

That is so much easier at 8 & 10 than it was 5 & 7. Much of it was out of sight, so out of mind in those earlier years.

4. Make time for the things you enjoy.

YES! This is true for parenting in general but especially when we are spending this much time with our children. Sometimes it can be easy to forget about making time for things I enjoy. I strive to do so and have throughout my parenting journey but it is still something to keep in mind.

5. Have fun.

:) YES! Find the Joy. Find the Fun. Concentrate on the positive.

6. Don't be afraid of being called a flake.

That is a trigger for me. Flake, applied to anything relating to parenting sets me on edge. I will say, that I am not "afraid" of being called a flake from someone uneducated (oh there is that word) about our path more so afraid of potential problems that could be caused by someone who takes it upon themselves to decide that they no what is best for my child and they deem that what we are doing is "flaky".

7. Allow yourself to be imperfect.

More great words of wisdom.

8. Remember that what other people think of you is none of your business.

Hum. My bolding. Wow. What other people think of me is none of my business. What other people think of me, is none of my business. Interesting. What other people think of ME is none of MY business. That one has some great potential and I'm definitely going to have to spend more time thinking about that.

9. Chose the relationship over your need to be right.

So true. This applies adult relationships as well as those with our children. Good point.

10. Trust your children.

LOL DS has been teaching me this from the get go. From his birth to learning to read and ride a bike. I'm sure DD has been doing the same but I'm less aware of major landmarks with her than I was with him.

It has been a long two weeks.

The ebb and flow of being homeschoolers and trying to meet everyone's needs.We are making great strides "academically" but behavior/follow through is in the pits. Sure, by this time I know that is the way it works but *gosh* it has been tough.The kids have been unwilling to get the basics done, eat/dress/teeth/pack lunch/water, in a timely manner so we can go on our outings. Jerick will only light a fire for volunteering at the Sr. Center. Jules for After School Club (aka Storytime) at the library. Of plethora of additional activities that we have available to us each week, those are the only two that they move for. They are so wrapped up in reading and creating that I can't really get mad, but I sure can get frustrated.In the end they did have to go to 2 park days in these last 2 week. The first at the beginning of this strange pattern. The second because I wanted to hear an Unschooling talk that was taking place that day. We've long tended to be Unschooly but I would not define what we do as Unschooling. For the same reason I stay out of conversations with people who are convicted that Unassisted Birthing or Attachment Parenting are the end all be all and that there is a checklist associated with each. I've seen to much, black and white, in definitions on unschooling that I've stayed away for the last few years.The funny part is that, of course, once I backed off, they started getting along better than they have in months. Down time, space, time to create and explore. Amazing how much listening to their needs and trying to meet them will give you peace. I've even found a way to balance my working out with the families needs. Crazy and wonderful. Transitions are never smooth. The most difficult part is that, just like when they were infants, once I get it down and under control, they change and I get spun until I get my expectations under control again.

Friday 10/3/08

No Friday Five today so will have to go with just the ...

Friday Fill In

1. October __is not summer______

2. _All horror movie stuff __ scare me!

3. Leaves are falling all around, it's _windy and they are not leaves they are palm fronds.__

4. My favorite horror movie is __nonexistent____ because __they do not exist in my special bubble.

5. _Sunny days, blue skies, with a light breeze___ = good memories.

6. It was a dark and stormy night _and I was cuddled in bed.___

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _going for a walk with dh , tomorrow my plans include _trying not to be disappointed at all they things I will not be able to fit in_ and Sunday, I want to _eat donuts, drink coffee, while I read the paper in a quite home.____!