June

We found a young house sparrow dead in the backyard yesterday. We had a little ceremony. Brian wrapped it in paper and he before he shoveled the dirt over it Archie leaned in and said very softly, "Goodbye little birdie, please be careful." Duncan said, "Look out for moles and those worms that will eat you!" Then he ran inside to make some signs.


I captured this cool action shot when Duncan and I were on a field trip at Tryon Creek Park while Archie played at Grandma's. Not sure what is happening here other than a 7 year old in movement on a pile of dirt in the woods.

Life is Good

We had a great time at Life is Good. The weather was fantastic, we swam in the pool, we took turns attending a couple of workshops, and we recharged our batteries, so to speak. Exactly what we needed! It was so nice to be among so many families focused on compassionate parenting and nonviolent communication. We all learn so much through just being near other people who respond to their children and partners with calmness and peace instead of stress and frustration. And of course Brian really enjoyed the SSUDS meeting - a place where dads could share, vent, ask, and learn from other dads. And have a beer.

I took pics at Esther Short Park but that is about it...the camera mostly stayed in my bag. The boys especially enjoy the water play area -

And they slept well in the hotel -

back from the beach

We're back from yurt-ing at the coast. It rained the first day and night but the sun came out for the remainder. We visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium too but our camera has seen its last days, so alas, no pictures.

We were able to force it into a few last gasps and got these, from a lovely day on the beach. Duncan flew a kite higher and longer than I've ever been able to manage, but again, no pics of that. Any cheap but decent digital camera suggestions?

Archie likes the beach-

Duncan LOVES the beach -

And they both like Dad's skateboard-

warmth

A sunny day. Ahhhhh.....and some lovely sights we're enjoying in the backyard -

I just set up the sandbox with some new sand. The boys played in it for a long time and were very pleased. However, it seems so tiny now with both boys in it...I've been hinting to Brian that perhaps he can build a bigger one this weekend while I'm at work. Last weekend it was nice out, I didn't work, and we got SO MUCH DONE. Amazing. I wish we could do it again this weekend but it will have to wait. But today, today is nice.

The boys collected bugs and created a little temporary habitat for them -

It even had a snail -

And now Archie is pretending to go to the grocery store like this (you know, they way I dress when I go) -

snoopy and the gang

A drive-by photo post - We've been doing a lot of comic strip art around here lately.

Here's the artist at work-

Its the whole Peanuts gang, with books, trophies, etc. And don't forget the flying Snoopy!

easter

Easter was nice. It was bunny-shaped pancakes for breakfast and an egg hunt in the backyard. We colored eggs the day before and also added some chocolate candy eggs to the mix as we were hiding them. The general approach each year is that Duncan finds the eggs up high and Archie finds the ones lower down. There were several times when Duncan would spy a sort of obviously-placed egg and tell us he was leaving that for his brother. Those moments of generosity are savored around here!

D preferred the ones in the trees -

Arch just had fun with the whole thing -

no pics

Our photo program won't open! This makes me feel sad and frustrated - I think it may be related to the updated antivirus program. Or not. I've been futzing with it on and off today to no avail.

Today we were going to do a few different fun things....the Family Health Fair at a local hospital (selling bike helmets for only $5, and we need new ones), the kids spelling bee at Mississippi Pizza, the library, and then coloring eggs.

However, Archie is feeling pretty cruddy with very runny nose and cough and just general malaise, so a trip to the library was plenty. Our local library will be closing tomorrow for one week so we had to stock up. I think right now I have over 60 books out on my account, and that isn't counting all the kids books on Brian's account too!

So we'll rest, Duncan will draw/make books, and then we'll just color eggs when Brian gets home. That's enough for one very mellow sniffly Saturday.

subsist

Most (not all, but most) homeschooling families that I personally know get by on one income. I know there are all sorts of other arrangements, including ours. Brian works full time and has a side gig a few times a month teaching cooking classes. I work at a local medical center an average of 20 hours a week - every friday and then every other weekend also. So one week I work 10 hours in one day, the next weekend its 30+ in 3 days.

It isn't easy. I read the papers and know I should be lucky to have a job at all but I must say it doesn't feel that way sometimes. I admit that coming off that 30+ hours in three days I feel pretty bedraggled and burned out and also pretty lonely. I asked for that schedule so I could be with the kids during the rest of the week, and considering the current economic climate I feel guilty even moaning about this. But yes, I miss my family and those weekends aren't easy for any of us. Brian gets zero break, ever, and he deserves to rest up and relax with his whole family. He works hard.

So I'm constantly brainstorming for what we can do differently and to find out what other people do, spend, etc. I browse the frugal boards and there is a TON of information out there and its very helpful. But. I wish browsing that information would just solve our problems for us! I also fantasize about living in a yurt again, all of us just going all Grizzly Adams and getting away from it all.

Back to the present, we already have no luxuries other than high speed internet. No fancy cable (fine by us), etc. Our cell phones seem to be an expensive monthly bill but we tend to rely on them and don't have a land line (I've compared plans and this is the usual price). We don't have the toys many people have and we live in a modest ranch in an un-trendy part of town. Regardless, I'd LOVE to not work so much, or not at all. Brian makes decent money for what he does but you know, we aren't orthodontists or anything.

In other news the boys played playmobil together, and apart, for at least an hour today. Peacefully. Peacefully being the operative word!

I'm just going to sit with that thought for a moment.