Picnic at Chateau

We had a beautiful early Fall weekend!  I decided to bring my camera with me to Chateau so I could get some much needed pictures of the kids.  It has been too long since my last mini photo shoot.  I have been so busy on many other creative projects with them that I have forgotten about my love of photography of my favorite subjects!

Unschooling

We are now in week 3 of homeschool.  I think that I felt every human emotion the first 2 weeks trying to find my way.  This is something I have been planning and thinking about endlessly the 3 months leading up to it.  Here is what I have learned:

1.I need to trust myself.  Doing something like deciding to take your child's learning into your own hands can be overwhelming.  I am constantly reminding myself that children learn best when they are ready.  I need to stop comparing them to the other kids and what they know. That is an ego based way to live life and I don't want to live in those confines.  Through my actions, the kids will hopefully learn that too. 

2.  I have learned a great deal about myself. I need to be more open to the kids individual interests.  When I started a couple weeks ago, I was following the Waldorf cirriculum to the T.  That did not work for us.  Until I learned to let go of that, we were all unhappy.  I was bossy and felt sad that the kids didn't want to do the fun waldorf things that I wanted to.  So now, I use the stories, the lessons, the basic ideas of waldorf because they are so wonderful and we do it our way.  This week we are all happy!

I am teaching the kids the how to communicate in the world that we live in. I am teaching them to read through their interests... Pokemon games, dog breeds, and games. We read Aesop's fables, Grimm fairy tales and make plays with our favorite toys to act out the parts.  We are Christians but have learned that nature has many of the many answers to our questions too.  I am teaching gratitude by exposing them to the unfortunate circumstances of life, like sick kids at a hospital, YouTube videos of starving children, conjoined twins, etc.  it may be harsh and scary but it gives them and me  a sure dose of gratitude.  I am teaching them to use their creative talents so they can give to others.  I am learning so much about myself through this process.  How I can be better.  How to live in a new paradigm.  It's amazing how much growth can be had when we drop the "rules and construct" that have shaped who we are.  There is so much more out there when we ditch the rigidity of minds. 

Life is good and it is our individual choices that can make a huge difference in life. 

Our painting...

The never ending painting.... Oh how I enjoy all the changes and evolution of our painting.  This is it today.

Ava is on the swing, I am catching a glowing star, syd is dancing, Luke is going to be climbing the ladder to the moon, Steve is swinging on a branch but he will be gone soon and will be fly fishing soon :).  We are the family of 5 arborvitaes in the background.  Much more to come.  It is the painting I never want to end for some reason as much as I would love to see if finally hanging hanging in the bee's room.  

Buns

Thank you Buns for all you do :)

My prayer

It's so hard when your kids are sick especially with strange diseases.  Sydney has been plagued with thrush since she had her DTaP shot in July. Plagued because it won't go away.  I thought it was just a stubborn disease until they found out it is recurrent due to her low immunoglobin IgM.  We are on a mission to find out why and hopefully the only reason is because it is typical of autism. Amazing how much Austism and the weakened immune system are related... And then the darn shots that I wished I had clued into way back when  Luke was a baby.  Everything happens for a reason and this is our path.  All I can do in the meantime is thank God for all the signs and ask for patience and understanding. Everyday is a gift and that is why they call it the present!  Please give our little Syd some strength, and some understanding for Luke and Ava as we get through this together! Xoxoxo. 

Dahlia's, roses, and flagstones oh my!

We have found such joy in our garden this summer.  Watching plants and flowers start from seed and the beauty of others we have nurtured! 

The path that Steve and I built from the multitude of rocks!  

Gods grace

As Ava and I enjoy the unexplainable....  

2014 Summer Fun!

We have been having a great time with our close friends this summer.... playing with critters and finding geocaches!  Also, visiting the Pacific Science Center!

Camping- Denny Creek 2014

It was our second time back to Denny Creek for a weekend of camping.  We were hit with some rain, but were prepared.  It didn't chase us away!  We hiked to the waterfall again. Daddy, Jonathan and Luke went fly fishing waist high in the Creek.  Luke really enjoyed it this year.  What a great activity for him especially because his brain is always so busy thinking of what to do next.  Fishing is all about the waiting and he actually liked it!  Yay Luke!

Drama :)

Sydney turns 4!!!

June 30 was Sydney's 4th Birthday!  We had a small part with her closest friends, Naomi, Wyatt and Talia.... and of course, Luke and Ava.  We painted nails, applied body jewels, tattoos, and hair chalk.  The party was decorated in Sydney's favorite color, pink. We ate heart shaped sandwiches and pizza's.   

Sydney had a great time and was a very well behaved birthday girl, thanking everyone for the presents.  This was the first time she showed how excitement when opening gifts!  She received a dress, anna and Elsa dolls, mermaid barbies, glitter crocs, a new cup and a keyboard!

Her favorite things are babies, barbies, Anna from Frozen, Pink, Shoes and cups to drink out of.  Some things never change!  Oh, and Mommy...

This girl is still very much so sassy!

Like the old days....

Cruising on the train and country Village....