Keep reading...

I've just published six new posts today...maybe that is enough to catch us up for the last full week? Yet it is only a sampling of the things we've been up to! Wish you were here in person to experience it all...

Stay tuned, too, 'cause tonight we have friends over to help celebrate Halloween with us!!! It's a costume party for all. Heehee. We are a tad excited!

Carved...

We started out our evening with a list of things we had to get for tomorrow. When the boys got back, we ate and then started carving! Here is Jeff doing his favorite (honestly) job of the process...


Kade's was done first, so here it is.



Kai's has sharp teeth!



Mine is like a vampire...



Here are the three in the dark with their candles lit.



Here is the final product!



It's almost time...

More pumpkin time...

Well, what's getting ready for Halloween without a bit of Halloween hockey? Like the hockey sticks?!

Message in a bottle

Here is Kade's first written message to me. I think this may be only the second time he's written a message to anyone...and the first he's written all by himself.



If you can't quite see the writing, it says: I'm going to the bathroom.
He kindly left this outside of the 'fort bedroom' he constructed. So good of him to think of me!

The last lego building gathering

Today was our last formal/organized lego get together. They were allowed to build whatever they wanted today. If they wanted the challenge Jeff put to them, they could try and build a vehicle that could knock off others on this beam. It was a fun time. Kai, however, had no interest in building a car type thing. In the car on our way there Kai said he wanted to make a spider. Now, it's tough building a spider that moves out of legos...so he had some help...first from Jeff and then myself.







All together we managed to come up with this:



Here is a fuzzy picture of the cool winged creation Cameron created.



Kade has no trouble getting involved in this challenge. He now prefers me to help him get it together so that the majority of the time he can actually get to play with his creation.





Caleb and Kade are battling on the beam to see who can remain on and who gets booted off. Kade's had claws that came up. Caleb had his claws going down.



Cameron really enjoys building with legos - and it shows. He is always ready to challenge himself. He is also ready to be creative. His even has a person on board!





































These gatherings are not just for the young...but also the young at heart. Here is Adam working on one with Flint...who must be getting pieces to use as I took this picture.



After Jeff packs up all the cool legos and leaves us, we eat and play together. Thanks to Gardenia and friends, we are able to have a space that is fun to play in. Today, the boys decided to play with water. Cameron and Ella have this cool rocket launched water toy. You put the rocket on its base and turn the water on. The water is forced up through the base and the rocket goes flying high (about 15 feet or so). Long story short...we had some wet kids! Here is Kade and a few others as they are setting up and getting squirted.





I guess you can tell we live in Southern California...it's October and the kids are playing in the hose water!!!



Other kids decided it was more fun to play other games. Here is Violet slamming Kai (in fun of course!) in a game they created on their own. Kai and Violet are often found together talking about Pokemon or other things. They discovered today that they both like pot stickers and other Chinese foods.

I know the boys had a great time with all the lego building. However, I think we are all ready not to have to get out of the house every week to do so. Maybe Santa(s) will be willing to combine their purchasing power and bring us the kit so we wont have to go out and hire Jeff to bring them to us...they can be found HERE

Legos last week

Mandy was good enough to take these pictures for us. Last week we built launchers that could launch wheels and break into the castle (that they also built). I think you can imagine the glee of the kids as they were able to not only make things fly into the air, but cause destruction as well!

food...once again.

Here is a great soup. Made with black beans, veggies, barley, cumin and love...

Kai's creation

Kai decided to pick up some legos today...and used all the regular sized legos we have (that aren't already made into something) to make this pyramid. I should add that the 'regular sized' means that there are one bys and two bys in there. The structure itself is a two by width, so there are many more legos being used here than it looks from this angle. It also makes it a touch more challenging to guesstimate how many are in use. He was really proud of his building and had to show Jeff his structure. They proceeded to try and guess how many legos it took to make it. Kai has decided we should leave it on display for a bit to enjoy...so we shall!

Yum...

Again with the food, you say? Well, in truth this is part of my learning to savor and enjoy the food I choose to put in my body. So, if you read here, you'll just have to wade through it!

It is autumn. I love cranberries, so this smoothie-to-be is perfect. It has bananas, cranberries, freshly made almond milk and sometimes a touch of chocolate. It is sweet and tart all at the same time...and incredibly delicious.

Pumpkin time

Last weekend we went on an adventure to get our pumpkins. We traveled to Bate's Nut Farm to have some fun. I didn't get many pictures, but here are a few. The boys had a great time. Kade wanted to feed the animals, Kai wanted the kettle corn, we found all the stamps hidden in the maze, rode the hay ride, slid down the huge bouncy slides, Kade bought a rubber band rifle, Kai salivated over the $400.00 wooden rubber band machine gun, and we found our pumpkins. This year Jeff said he didn't feel up to carrying the 90 pound pumpkin, so we each chose one we could carry. Kade actually made it all the way back to the car carrying his! He was really, really wanting that pumpkin. The boys also enjoyed some cotton candy. Even though we had a great time...it wasn't quite the same without Baba...she was with us last year. Still, we certainly enjoyed ourselves. Maybe we will get the chance to carve said pumpkins this week...

Park day yesterday

We had a great time...and met new families and saw families for the first time in months. This fun time was even more special because Abby was a part of our group. Abby is the niece of one of our regular Moms, so she is not used to being with all of us. She was a trooper in that she had just had a tooth pulled and wasn't feeling her personal best. I had brought the camera, since we rarely get to share our park experience, and I'm glad I did. Abby was just sitting there, kinda deciding whether she felt up to playing or not. I handed her the camera and asked if she wanted to take some pictures...and this is what she has created. Thanks, Abby!


Unschooling park day October 20, 2008 from Beachbum on Vimeo.

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Added since this was first published.

I forgot to include that Kai listened to "When in Rome" about 18 times before we got home that night. He asked if I could include it in a slideshow...so that is how it came to be a part of this one. The music is by Nickel Creek from their album "Why Should the Fire Die?"

Great Friends...

This was taken a year ago. I can't believe how much closer we have become. Thanks for the friendship!

iQ

These are great little cars...I would really like one. Universe, are you listening?!

Check out the iQ here.

Photos of fun times

I wonder...how can one go from this:






to creating this?




Well, for Kade and Kai - unfortunately Kai didn't want to be photographed right then - this transition happened in mere minutes. Soft blocks rock, I'm told. They can be used to make buildings, walls, cities and forts. No need to worry, imaginations are free and active here!

We also went to build lego creations again this week. It was so much fun! Here are the pictures from that adventure too. We met up with new friends who were visiting from AZ. The boys hit it off seamlessly with Conner and Quinn, so I'm sure we will be keeping them in our close circle of friends from now on.



Jeff, the facilitator, in the middle of the kids.



Kai with his walking dude.



Conner working on his. Kade is in the background.



Adam helping Flint and Kade checking out magnetics.



Jeff helping Caleb.



All get to do things at these gatherings. All needs are met. Too cool.



Cameron and Caemon with their walking dudes.



Josh putting on additions to his.



Quinn finding the right piece.



Ella, Siena, Erowin and Pete.



Kade, Adam and Flint. Flint put wheels on his and was unstoppable!



Kade




and again...




It's walking!



It's about to run over my foot!



Turning around for another shot at my foot...



Happy Kade!



Kai, Conner and Caemon.



the boys again.



Sloan and Shan - thanks for visiting us!




Speaking of friends...we miss you, Shipp family!