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.

Impromptu Mother/Daughter Day

Love Bug and I had a pretty amazing day together.
We went to a few garage sales.
And she got some beautiful clothing.

We got out the finger nail polish.




Love Bug's nails.





My nails.





We had candy.





Love Bug dressed up.





And we created Barbie rubbings.





I'm hoping we can do a day like this again soon.
I love one-on-one time with each of the kiddos.

Word Geek and Lizard Man played a roleplaying game with friends.
They had a wonderful time.
So it was a win-win kind of Saturday.

Fascinated with Matty B. on YouTube

Word Geek found a new rap artist that the kids are fascinated with through YouTube.
He goes by "Matty B."
He is 8 years old.
He has a pretty cool older cousin that goes by Mars,
who does a lot of the work behind the videos.

This video has someone you guys might recognize, Vanilla Ice

Here is my favorite.
Gotta love a pet rock named Chuck Norris.
And how they change the words of the original songs.



It kind of surprises me that he's not homeschooled.

Our Park Visit to Ledges State Park

Punctuation Mark and daddy.

Grilled hamburgers.





Explained things to the kiddos.
Ever-learning.





Played.





Played and drank chocolate milk.





Did some bonding.





Put make-up on.





Relaxed.





Used our chompers.





Played some more.





Smiled of course!





And took lots of photos.
Lizard Man took this one.



If you ever get the chance, stop at Ledges State Park.
It is an amazing park.

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!

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

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.

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.