Actually I’ve never known these ladies single.
We met in playgroup. Their youngest and my oldest were the same age, they were my first official mommy friends that I made on my very own. And now those kids are 8. I’ve know them at least 8 years. Supermom threw a birthday party for my oldest the year he turned two, because I was due on that day. And laughing at me all the way has supported me through grad school, teaching, preschool, elementary school, homeschool the Turtledash and now moving. Motorbutt some how got dragged along on our runs and now does Half marathons and marathons and Run Run Runs. She is always there in the background ready to lend a hand or an ear or a shoulder. Our relationships have evolved from diapers to preschool and now further.
The Turtledash was awesome this year. The pictures are harder for me to look than in years past, because each one reminds me of something awesome that I’m leaving behind.
*All the single ladies-Beyonce.
Inspired by Soulemama’s moments
Sun break.
The little kids race, they keep getting bigger, what is up with that?
My Funny Valentine
Seymour, first kid’s dash
The big kids.
The anniversary of Mt St. Helens did not pass unnoticed at The Burrow, lest you forget last year’s festivities.
Our Spokane buddies being of a like minded ilk were game for a backyard Volcano.
Then we played in the front yard in our pjs. Short pjs. No flannel or fleece in Spokane. The place they keep the sun. The moon, the rocket ships and the stars.
Back on Earth, we studied geology in the driveway. Our trip to Spokane was just right. Just the right amount of time with friends, just the right amount of time to explore. The Freedom our new life has lent is lovely, taking life at a bit slower pace then we did before, works for us. Three months into Homeschooling and I don’t have an ulcer yet, I think that is pretty good.
It certainly affords us the time to visit and really enjoy. To focus and connect. I was nervous at first that things would be ‘wrong’ but I feel more confident each day and everything feels so much more right. I don’t know what the future holds for us (who does) but the present holds contentment. And that is good.
*Santiago by Armik
It’s a goat! That eats trash. Or leaves, or anything you find on the ground. It vacuums it right up. These clever City Engineers and their plans to make all children stewards of the Earth. A goat! Fun.
Butt (ha!) the fun didn’t stop there. The Stitches plus one little blondie toured Spokane and did all the touristing things that kids enjoy. Like the carousel.
Except my oldest son, he was a little nervous. “Make sure the belt is really tight, because this ride is a little bit fast”. So I told him, to hang on tight and squeeze with his knees just like riding a real horse. “But, this isn’t a real horse, look it has a pole going throught it.” Oh. Right.
Watching there Spokane River Falls was more his speed.
The Gondola ride was pretty great too. Although the wee girl with us, was a little nervous. And frankly the not so wee girl was a little nervous too, nothing like being suspended above a rushing water to really make a Mama’s heart palpitate. I was happy to have someone to hold onto.
I am constantly made aware of the Newness, that the world is to the boys. The way they take everything in, enjoy cheesy tourist trappings and marvel at nature, reminds me that once it was all new to me as well. And taking the time to view things through their eyes is an important lesson for me. And that view? Is good.
*The Elephant Song -Eric Herman
Last week we traveled to Spokane to visit the fabulous TurboMarz and her small but vivacious entourage of adorable little ladies. (My Five year old was not so enamoured with the world of pink, princesses and ‘girl stuff!’ “Don’t you have any boy fings?”) And we will of course cover The Stitch’s descending on Turbo and her tousled haired crew soon but first! We will cover the fact that I went to a pretty groovy store in Spokane called The Homeschool Bookshop
It was a thrift store! For Homeschoolers! And they were having a garage sale. We got some pretty awesome books there, including used Magic Treehouse (still a favorite) and some great DK Knights and Human body books.
There was some weird and wacky stuff there. Turbo’s “Filling your Hope Chest” find sticks out in my mind. It was great for me to be able to actually look through some curriculum and see up close and personal some of the things I’ve heard about. Also it was a used bookstore having a garage sale! Hello! The Gem I did take away from this voyage though was a book called A Patchwork of Days by Nancy Laude.
I really like this book, I’m about halfway through it and it is a collection of 30 stories of homeschooling families circa 1995. Each family is different in not only their approach to homeschooling but their approach to life, priorities, and daily life. It is a fascinating read and also exactly what us new, completely freaked out Homeschooling moms want to know. What exactly are other Homeschool families doing with their days?
Because so far? Homeschool feels a lot like cheating. I used to think being a SAHM mom felt like cheating, I mean it’s hard, and tiring but, I can’t tell you anywhere I’d rather be. (okay maybe somewhere with sun, you know once in a while). Then I thought this WAHM thing is totally cheating, not only am I earning money in my pajamas but I can do it when I want (when it’s raining) or take the day off and as long as I get my work done? They pay me!
But this WHAHM? (Working Homeschooing at Home Mom-of course) Well this is really cheating. I am spending all day with my kids, playing games, reading books, doing experiments, as well as working? I get paid and it’s all legal!
Life is good…pass it on.
Smooth-Rob Thomas
Inspired by SouleMama’s Moments.
Our Spring is over, a whirlwind week of destroying the basement and making The Burrow into a destruction zone. While my laptop is not an actually casualty of the cement dust that has settled over out lives, I’m fairly certain that the dust may have dealt the final death blow to My Sidekick. But we will persevere. I’m almost positive.
Lola’s chicken
With the end of Spring Break comes the end of Spring Break Camp. Our Christmas Camp was such a success that my ho-mama-mies and I planned a Three day Spring Break Camp. The Theme? Birds.
Mrs Q’s camp Shirt
Legolas-Chickens complete with chicken dance
Miami mama-Ducks-complete with duck races
Me-Angry birds (It’s a real thing!)
Shirts were made, plans were finessed, mud was administered. Yes it rained everyday and my youngest son was returned each day to me, with a bag of muddy, mucky clothes. Other child? Spotless. It’s amazing really.
My theme really was Angry Birds, my HM assures me that Angry Birds is teaching my children angles and trajectory, but I threw some State Birds in as well. (Get nuts.)
Campers watch the Scrambeled States movie
The Spring Break Campers watched the Scrambled States of America, my son loves this movie, I don’t know why, but it’s true. Then we talked about the states we live in Oregon and Washington. The birds in those states.
And then we moved directly to building Angry Bird Towers. Because that is how we roll.
Notes the ‘line’ of rubber boots to seperate individual areas.
*Chicken Dance-silly weddings everywhere
Everyone likes a ball of yarn.
