Literally Running Around in Circles

How was your weekend?

We relaxed.

Grilled out at Ledges State Park.
Which happens to be another one of our favorite parks in Iowa.
Although, under some construction due to more flood damage.
Once again we enjoyed the amazing weather.
We were going to hike, but didn't.
Due to "Archery in Progress" signs at the park.

And we relaxed some more.
Well, Word Geek worked some of course too, at his second job.

It was a nice weekend though overall.

Here is a video from the weekend.
Love Bug literally running around in circles.

Since turning 4 years old, Love Bug rarely takes naps.
She falls asleep totally exhausted.
Especially after park visits like above.


Video taken by Lizard Man.

Camping at Backbone State Park in Iowa - Day 1 of 2

Backbone State Park is the oldest State Park in Iowa.
Dedicated in 1920.

We went camping there last weekend.
It is one of our favorite parks in Iowa.

$6.00 camping fee per night.
I think it is the cheapest camping fee we have EVER paid.
And we've camped A LOT.
October is considered off-season for camping in Iowa.
That is why it was so cheap.





Relaxing.
And clapping.
One of Punctuation Mark's favorite things to do.
Especially with daddy.





Love Bug spent a lot of time in the playground area.
Lots and lots and lots of sand.


Lizard Man did too.
But he tries to avoid the camera at times.
And it worked this particular time.

I wish I would have brought more sand toys.
But the kids did just fine with what we had.



It was the best weather for camping.





One of the best camping experiences for us.
And I know the weather had something to do with it.
No mosquitoes.
Not even one.





This is one of my favorite photos from the trip.
Love Bug in her pink polka dotted pj's.

She's roasting marshmallows for me!!
I am the only one in our family that likes S'mores.
So far.





Simple S'mores.
Using striped chocolate shortbread cookies.
And marshmallows.
My friend, Katie's mom Annette taught me how to make them.
I call them "Simple S'mores".
Easy for little hands.
And oh so yummy too.

Left Photo=My S'more
Right Photo=Love Bug's





And off to bed.



Photos from Day 2, to come sometime this week...

Video #2 @ Backbone State Park

On our camping trip last weekend...

Punctuation Mark babbling and stands up on his own.
Lizard Man putting a tent pole together.
Word Geek says raaaaaarrr!

Unschooled Lizard Man Reading

While camping, I captured this video.
Lizard Man started reading to Punctuation Mark.
Love Bug came over and listened too.

Very happy I thought to grab the camera.
Will treasure this moment forever.

Unschooled Lizard Man wrote me a Letter

Found the following, one morning on our family computer.
I thought Word Geek had told Lizard Man how to spell words from a different room, while Lizard Man was at the computer.
Nope.
I found out Lizard Man did this all on his own.
Sure there are mistakes.
Sure it is about a game.
But super proud that he wrote a letter to me.
All by himself.
And that he wanted to show dad too.

Note-I did switch Word Geek and Lizard Man's real names in the letter.
But I'm sure you get the idea.

Word Geek and I are so proud of his love for learning.
The letter had us both grinning from ear to ear.
He has taught himself so much.
Of course--we are helping him along the way.
But, it is really neat when he accomplishes something totally on his own.

Love Bug Learning to Write

Love Bug is eager to learn.
Wanting to read.
Like her big brother.

She has been learning to write words.
Not only the traditional way.
Many of us were taught.
But,
I call it-- the computer way.



One day, a couple of weeks ago.
She wanted to write on Word Geek's laptop.
Apparently, she sees us write on the computers enough.
I wrote words on note cards for her.



It was hard at first, for her.
Because the keys on a computer are upper case letters.
And this mama wrote lower case letters.
So I wrote both the upper and lower case letters down for each word,
on one note card.
But, still a problem.
They didn't look right on the screen.
They were ALL lower case letters.
Turning the "caps lock" on fixed that problem though.
And made it super easy for her to write many words...



Butterfly.
Rhino.
Scooby Doo.
Family member's names.
And many more that I can't think of at the moment.



Love Bug recently discovered You Tube.
There is a post for another day!!



Anyhow, I wrote YOU TUBE on a note card.
Thinking she would write it in the Google search bar.
Like what she's done in the past.
But, instead she wrote it in the address bar.
You know, where you put a web address...
Although, a little off with too many "W's".
I thought she did quite nice.
For me not teaching her this:


Something I'm thinking she may have picked up from big bro, Lizard Man.

I'm "Busy" aka. Dizzy

Love Bug has a different language all her own.
I have to translate for a lot of people.
Busy=Dizzy.

I sure wish I had the energy she has.

Video recording by Lizard Man.

It's true. She's a public nose picker.

Right out of the blue,
With a straight face,
Love Bug admitted quite proudly yesterday,
"I'm a BIG nose picker."

I laughed. A LOT.

Because it's true.

She's a germ spreader.
But man, I love her.

Wordless Wednesday

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Linking up here!

Bitter Sweet 16

It is crazy to think that it would have been been my nephew Diego's 16th birthday today.

He died suddenly, a natural death, at the tender age of 8.



I think sometimes, what is there to learn from his death???
Ever learning.


I tell myself so often to appreciate family and friends.
And again, to NOT take anything for granted.
Because we never know when the good Lord will take them.
To their true home.


I try hard to enjoy our kids.
Never taking them for granted.
Which is hard at times.
But, I do try.
To let them live the life that was meant for them.
Not to have them be what I want them to be.
Or do what I think they should do.
To support them in their passions.


Somehow, someway, it has led our family to unschooling.
I think Diego's death had something to do with this path.
The road less traveled.


Kids keep us young and make us look to the future.
I love their-
goofiness.
tenderness.
love.
tantrums.
Yes, even their tantrums.

Their-
creativity.
playfulness.
willingness to learn.
lack of patience.
happiness.
independence.
kindness.
and their life.


I tell myself to not be sad that Diego is not here.
He is in heaven and enjoying all of it, I'm sure.
Whatever all of it--means.
And someday I will reunite with him.
What a GRAND day that will be.



But I sure miss that kid.
Yesterday, today, and always.
Here on earth.
A LOT.

A Whale at the End of the Rainbow

Love Bug watched an episode of Reading Rainbow today.
The episode happened to be about one of Word Geek's latest fasinations,
whales.

I won't recap the episode.
You can watch it here:

Reading Rainbow - Season 7, Episode 56: Humphrey... by Deon_Flood

But, Love Bug really loved the story.
And the gears started turning in her head.
Right after hearing the story of Humphrey The Lost Whale


Love Bug: "Mom, I wish we could have a whale."
Mama: "Where would we keep it?"
Love Bug: "In the bathroom."
Mama: "Where in the bathroom? In the bathtub?"
Love Bug: "No, in a container. We could get a baby."
Mama: "The babies are bigger than our bathtub."
Love Bug: "Maybe we could get a really big container."


I love her unschooled mind and creative process.
I continue on trying to be more open-minded.
Trying hard not to tell her that certain things aren't possible.

We watched the episode again tonight with the whole family.
And I'm thinking watching Reading Rainbow episodes might become a regular event, each week at this household.
Everyone enjoyed it.

Humphrey the Whale is quite an interesting whale.
Word Geek has told me that humpback whales are the most social of all whales.
They sing to each other--also stated in the episode of Reading Rainbow.
Word Geek calls humpback whales, the bards of the sea.

And what ever happened to Reading Rainbow?
It was cancelled in 2006 due to budget problems.
But hey, Reading Rainbow fans!
Reading Rainbow is being reinvented for the iPad with LeVar Burton's help.

“The educational system is just not getting it done. If we’re going to reclaim our place in the world, in terms of how we educate our children and how we prepare them for the future it’s going to get done through a private-public partnership." ~ LeVar Burton

Armory Field Trip

We visited an Iowa National Guard Armory Friday.
Mama.
Punctuation Mark.
Love Bug.
Lizard Man.

We've driven past this particular armory many times.
Gates are always closed.



Word Geek was at work.
He's been working a lot.
And working very hard.
I really wish he could have come.



Love Bug & Lizard Man fought.
They drove me bonkers!!
That's why we usually go on field trips with dad.
He helps with distraction.
Or holds Love Bug when she needs to be held.
They were tired.
Very tired.
They got bored.
It was a rather long tour.
2 hours 2 minutes.
And they fought more.
I think now.
I should have taken photos of them fighting.
To show them later.
These shots caught a tiny bit of it.



But-
There were some neat moments.





And cool things to see.









We learned many things.
For instance, did you know?
The National Guard is the only branch
of the many military branches (Army, Navy, Marines, etc.)
that can be called upon by the governor.



We received food rations to try at home.
3500 calories worth.