Unschoolers: Suckling=Win, Outnumbered=Loss (Vlogging Another Video, Yay!)

Dad plays dodgeball with the kids, while mom takes care of the new addition to the family, Orson.

Dashiell Maverick @ 17 Months Old Today

This little boy sure has my heart.

After kind-of a rough few days--

thinking about Diego, 

and Elijah;

today was just what I needed. 

Dashiell took a long nap, 

and he’s been smiles ever since. 

We’ve been cuddling, playing, 

and just being. 

His favorites over the past month: 

peek-a-boo 

looking at books (chewing on them, eek!) 

water play (of course) 

bananas 

playing with cars 

the sandbox 

strawberries 

hugs 

drinking water 

watching movies 

being outside 

breastfeeding 

playing with musical instruments 

dancing 

melon 

animals (smothering them) 

babbling 

apples 

running 

watching the bunny-rabbits in our neighbor's yard 

scribbling 

phones 

and . . . 

I tend to kiss and hug him a lot, a lot, a lot. 

Even more-so lately, 

and he has started to give me the occasional kiss, 

which melts this mama’s heart, of course. 

Cecily was mad because he hadn’t given her a kiss yet. 

They enjoy playing together. 

As does Sylvan. 

Of course, there are always times when the older kids don’t want Dashiell to mess with their stuff. 

But, overall, they all enjoy each other’s company quite well. 

One of the benefits of unschooling=closer sibling relationships.

Unschoolers YouTube Videos--A Beginning!?

We've been taking a lot of videos for a few months now.

Thinking we'll just start with the more recent stuff to begin with;
although there are some oldies, but goodies.
We will be sharing those at some point too. Here is the first one, yay!

Let us know what you think, by commenting.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Happy New Year! 2012!

Yikes!
How time flies.
Hoping to get back to blogging again.
I've been sick.
We've been sick.
I started feeling like my usual self last night.
Feeling good.
Really good.
I think I've done my time, being sick this season.
Thanksgiving.
And Christmas.
Not fun.
Nor fair.



So I'm hoping that feeling better will mean more time for lots of fun in the coming weeks.
I've been working on some new projects.
One of which I'm hoping to reveal here soon.
It is kind of big.
And kind of scary to me.
Yet fun, and pushes me.
I love that.



Anyhow,
We brought in the New Year last night as a family.
Myself, Word Geek, Sylvan, Cecily, and Dashiell.
Simple.
Nice.
Relaxed.
Just the way it should be.

Hope you had a wonderful day.
Whether you set goals or not.

I'll leave you with my new favorite photo of the kiddos I took on Christmas Day.

12 Years

It is hard to believe that I met Word Geek,
12 years ago today.

We enjoyed a nice autumn walk today.

And had a few photos taken of JUST us.

My favorite...




Who was the super rad photographer, you ask?

Our amazing 8 year old, unschooled son, Lizard Man.

My Birthday is Today!

Can you believe I'm the big 3-0 today!?
I can't.
But, really it is only a number.
And I don't feel old.
Well, 30 really isn't old anyhow.
When you think about how long people live, compared to years ago.
30 is still young.

This photo is of me with my siblings...


I'm looking forward to many more happy birthdays to celebrate!


Have an awesome day!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my dad’s birthday.



He is an amazing dad who has taught me a lot in my life.
I love the dad that God blessed me with.

New Years Eve and Welcoming the New Year with Resolutions!

New Years Eve night we just relaxed at home. I dozed off, and Word Geek woke me up with a sweet kiss on the cheek to wake me and wish me a Happy New Year.

New Years Eve was a long, emotional day for me us as we went to Brevin’s funeral. And of all days in the years we have lived here, it was kind of eerie coming home to find a sled in our front yard, all by its lonesome, that isn't ours. It definitely made us think of Brevin even more.

I would have liked to have taken a nap when we got home from the funeral, because I was also worn out from the visitation the night before, but somehow I couldn’t sneak a nap in, even an evening nap would have been nice.

We ended up finishing off a season of The Office, which is one of my favorite shows. It just cracks me up and I think that Word Geek and I really needed the laughs. We also watched a movie, but sometimes it doesn’t matter how interesting a movie is if I’m tired.

Do you have New Year Resolutions? I try to have at least one thing I will try to do or work on harder after the New Year has begun. Last year it was getting back into being more creative, in which I think I accomplished in 2008.

This year is going to be focusing more on the kids and our family. Here are three goals for the New Year so far:


1. Praising our children more for their good behavior and the good things they do.

2. Spending more ONE on ONE time playing/doing activities with each child.

I’m going to ask Lizard Man some things he wants to do with just Mom and just Dad this year and then we will make it happen. I think sometimes Love Bug hogs me and daddy too, which we love, but at the same time I know Lizard Man misses out. For example, I had Lizard Man in my lap last night and Love Bug was by daddy, as soon as she saw Lizard Man on my lap, she had to be on my lap too.

Making each child feel special with ONE on ONE time is important to me.

3. Spending even more quality time as a family together.

We do this a lot already, but I think we should make it even more of a priority. Sundays are family day at our household. I'm hoping to relax, play, read, play board games/cards, go to the park, and do lots of other activities even more with my family.


I hope everyone is having a Happy New Year and appreciating family and friends so much more, I know I am.


Happy New Year! God Bless YOU and your family in the year 2009!