Friday, March 20, 2009

Leno and #44

I just pulled this from facebook. I am amazed at how relaxed, articulate and humorous Obama is. I know they say Reagan was an orator, but he was nothing compared to who we have now.

Grace. Respect.

Anyway, watch if you wish.

***The flack he got for one sentence in this is a bit much, in my honest opinion. Do they actually believe he has little respect for the special olympics? Was it a wise choice, probably not. Still. I think it is sad when we hold people to such a high standard that they never have a chance to be human and err. Just my $.02***


Wednesday, March 18, 2009

So Cute

I just had to include this. See if it doesn't cheer you up a touch.

A Kite to fly by...

So we went inland to Mandy's house today. We met Renee and her crew, too. These are the three about to be 10 kids...Violet, Kai and Robbi. We have a great time with our friends. We were talking about how they can play for hours and hours and still be going strong. It's tough for Kade to leave this home...and so we are making plans to spend more time there. We all like it there!

While there we talked a bit about the birthday things. We made a few of these cool kites, too(which we had to play with today!).

Materials:

8.5 x 11 paper (we love color, so use construction paper)
Pencil/pen
ruler
tape (we use box tape)
skewer (trimmed to 8". We have found pruners to work best for the trimming)
string (10 feet - more or less depending on space and the size of kids)
a plastic bag (cut in a circular long single piece. Put knots in the bag every foot or so. Measure out 6' for the tail.)
small piece of cardboard (we used a close pin)
hole punch

1. Fold the sheet of paper in half widthwise. Place fold to your left.
2. Keeping the paper folded, measure 1" in from fold and mark it (A). Measuring along the bottom of the folded sheet measure in 2 1/4" from right (the open edges side) and mark it (B).
3. Place the ruler so that it connects (A) and (B). Using the ruler to help guide the crease, fold the top piece of paper over. (This leaves one half unfolded and the folded part as an angle.)
4. Tape along this new fold, securing the fold and making a lip underneath.
5. Place the skewer perpendicular to the taped fold and connecting the two corners. Tape into place.
6. Tape plastic bag tail to the bottom of the kite.
7. Flip over the kite and fold the flap back and forth until it stands straight up.
8. Fold a piece of tape over the flap about 3" from the top of the kite. Punch a hole through the tape 1/4" from the folded edge.
9. Tie one end of the string through the hole.
10. To make the string winder, tie the other end of the string around the middle of the cardboard, securing it with a strip of tape. (We just tie it to the clothespin and wind it on there.)
Take it out for a spin!

Pictures to come..,

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Changes

Well, this one is personal, so if you aren't into that kind of thing...skip to the cool post about the Original Egg Game or the one about the San Diego Conference.

For a few years I have been noticing things changing in my body. It started with the hot flashes and night sweats. Not every day/night, but enough for me to say - WAIT! Now, I'm not sure if the weight gain is from not being able to exercise forever or if it is due to this process my body is now going through. I have noticed other signs as well, that are probably too much for the www, so I wont talk about those.

I am one who doesn't mind growing older. I welcome the wrinkles. I don't mind the grey (although you can't see it anyway, for which I am slightly bummed). This new stage of life isn't one that I dread or fear.

What I didn't expect, though, and don't particularly enjoy are the massive mood swings, the full blown weepy days and the hazardous absentmindedness that I definitely go through. I am not fond of being a hazard. I don't like being in the car and forgetting where I'm driving to and have to drive along hoping I remember before I get to the exit at which I'm supposed to get off. OK, so that may be a tad exaggeration, but not by much. I definitely forget what I'm saying in mid conversation. I definitely have to think about where I have put things. Not good. I also feel that the mood swings from elation and joy to rage are also huge. Sometimes I can even feel my face flush with the power of my emotion. So far, I have not focussed this on the kids or Jeff, and rush into the bathroom or outside to breathe a bit. However, my voice can still be heard by those precious ones and the tone is not very pleasant. I also find I'm not reacting to things well. This can be hurtful, too. Now, thankfully, it isn't often all day or even every week. But enough for me to take a good look at myself and say, girl you gotta get some help!

So, if you know me, you will know what a huge step this is. I did end up at a Naturopathic's office. Thankfully, Jeff is willing to go with me. This is grand because he has the outsiders view to offer. He also can remind me of things I meant to talk about (see afore mentioned absentmindedness of the previous paragraph!) and he can help me in my quest to do what Dr. Dunn suggests.

I have other things going on, but have found out they may be all interrelated a bit. I have lower body temperature, which implies thyroid stress. I know because of the RSD my body has been under a ton of stress and if my memory serves me right the adrenal glands are incredibly active during times of stress...as well as produce the bodies natural form of cortisone. So, my adrenals have been under massive usage for a long time. Now with hormonal changes, they are being asked to do even more...and they are not responding as well as they might.

All is better, now, though. There is a great little cream I'm using. I still go through times of major trouble keeping on task and staying focussed. But at least I am not all over the page as far as moods go.

This has caused me to not write here much. I am most sad of this for it means I don't have what we've been up to. For life truly doesn't stop because my body is going through some adjustments.

We have had friends over and we played as well as made a cool heart pizza. I have made more food than I can even talk about. The three kids and I have gone to park day and frozen our tuckies off. While there we played some games, chased some kids and did our best to stay warm. We have celebrated a birthday of a good friend and enjoyed the celebration with Cameron's big family. We have made experiments with everything imaginable. We have brought home yet more cool rocks. We have dressed up and pretended to be all sorts of crazy things. We have won the Lego City part of Lego Star Wars on the Wii. I was able to help do it! Then we made a new record of doing it...and are trying to get to under 30 minutes. We have played the DS, Wii and a couple of board games. We have colored and played with clay. We have spent some time together swimming and being a family. We have had Rus here to have fun with. We have had hair dying in our home and look awesome! And...Jeff and I went on another date. How cool is this? Very.

There are thoughts and plans to see family this weekend coming up. There's a trip to NM via a stop in AZ in April. There's a conference coming up in May. Let the busy travel time begin!

PLUS, who could forget that Kai is turning 10! We are going to celebrate on the beach with 2 other friends who are also turning 10.

Could life get any sweeter?! I don't think so...

Saturday, March 14, 2009

We are playing

The Original Egg game. Now this is *way* too much fun. Check it out here and get you one!

These are pictures from his website...



Unschooling Conference here in San Diego!!!

Conference Diva, Flo, let us share this with any who wish to read. I honestly am thrilled and can't wait to see our friends here and share our slice of heaven.

***

Have you heard? There's an UNSCHOOLING Conference this Sept in San Diego!!

Good Vibrations Unschooling Conference
Sept 10-13, 2009
Doubletree Hotel near Del Mar

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS IN LESS THAN 6 WEEKS!!

Start a new tradition--Be here for our inauguration--Start making memories! Be a founding family of the Good Vibrations Unschooling Conference.

This is your opportunity to mix it up with other unschoolers in a swirl of trust, support and celebration! Our fabulous speakers are ready to inspire with radical thoughts, ideas to end resistance and wisdom to make your unschooling life the best that it can be. I can feel the energy and excitement already as I picture the day at the beach, the wildly entertaining talent show, the dancing, the funshops, round-table discussions, unschoolers happy and free, kids trusted and loved! It will be amazing! Did I mention the beach, lounging by the pool? And surfing lessons? Yeah, those, too.

All the exciting details are here: http://GoodVibrationsConference.com

I'm especially excited about Roya Sorooshian. She's a grown unschooler who will be one of our main presenters- an absolute delightful person who is living a joyful, productive and busy life! Come see what unschooling looks like when it's all grown up. :) And her mom, Pam Sorooshian will be speaking, too, sharing the wisdom she's gleaned through her many years of unschooling. Other speakers include Jeff Sabo, Miranda Demarest, Rain Fordyce, Beth Fuller, Erika B Perkins and Sandra Dodd, all ready to deliver positive, inspiring unschooling messages. You will be refreshed and renewed!

My favorite funshop? Hard to choose. Team Twilight? HSM Dance Party? Knitting? Oh, I know- International Candy Tasting!

This conference is where you'll pick up lots of good vibrations and lots of unschooling friends. We can never have enough, right?

So head on over today to join us in the sun and sand at the discounted rate: http://goodvibrationsconference.com/store.php

Oh, and don't forget to reserve your hotel room, too. And join the discussion group to get in on the chatter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goodvibrationsconference


Feel free to pass this message on to your lists and friends.



See you in September!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Text twist

gets me tonight, friends. Go have some mindful mindless entertainment here...

We have been busy, just am too tired to write more now.