So I dropped off the map.

I have been way to busy living life to write about it, so my poor little blog has been neglected. Also it has become fodder for porn-in-code posting commenters, which is why I now moderate my comments before they are published.

News in my life:

I have gotten WAY into raw food, and am loving it. Also am loving the weight loss that comes with it. It has been so fast I am almost concerned. But mostly I am just loving it.

I have been reorienting on how I look at homeschooling. Again. I am focusing on how Pablo learns rather than what he needs to learn, and trying to figure out more creative ways to work with my kinesthetic/visual-spacial boy. He wants to get the heck out of 3rd grade, and if he stays this motivated, I bet he does soon.

I'm sure there is way more to say, but this is all I got for now.

And anyone posting comments in code will officially be considered to be writing porn on a wholesome site. Uncool, dudes. Bugger off.

Because everyone needs a song about the periodic table!

This is Pablo and Beebz's favorite new video. Wanna place bets on how long it takes us to learn it?

Summer Dress

I just finished Beebz's first summer dress. It was super easy, once I got over the weirdness of sewing knitting with a sewing machine. This pattern bears repeating.

I am also working on a knitted polo style dress. I am at the point where I believe it will never be finished, so I guess I must be getting close!

Me? Radical?!

There was a show on discovery called "Radical Parenting" a few weeks ago. Now, I was really excited, because I thought I would see something new and innovative. But then I watched the show and I was SHOCKED. Because it was basically me, represented by 3 families. Not totally, but way more than I thought it would be.

I mean really. Attachment parenting is RADICAL? I thought that was just good, attentive parenting. Pretty standard for any full time parents. I mean, I know full time parenting is pretty rare these days, but has it really gotten THAT unusual? Yes, these folks were a bit unusual because they used Elimination Communication, but that isn't a tenant of attachment parenting. It is just for parents who want to up their difficulty level and try for bonus points.

And the segment on gender neutrality?! That one kind of pissed me off, because I thought that was going be some mindbender about androgenous kids named Jamie whose parents won't tell people whether Jamie is a boy or a girl. It was just some parents who let their boys PLAY WITH DOLLS. Really?! THAT is radical? All boys don't play with dolls? They didn't even have nailpolish on the boys' toes. Give me a break.

The only ones that were even approaching radical were the unschooling parents. Now, just as EC was mixed into the attachment parenting segment, there were multiple things going on under the "unschooling" heading. These parents believe in no structure at all, for anything, down to hygiene. That's all well and fine for them, but that is not what unschooling is. Unschooling is about letting the child choose their learning path, and about learning via experience. It is not just a total free for all for the kids. So I guess these folks were kind of radical. I mean, the schooling part was pretty reasonable (tho a wee mite further than I would go with having no academics at all, but whatever). Having no structure at all whatsoever? Yeah, OK. That is kind of radical. But not called unschooling.

All in all, I was left wondering just how far out I am on the bell curve. Exactly how many standard deviations am I from "normal" in my parenting? Wherever it is, I am happy here.

Stomach viruses suck.

Man, oh man do I hate it when the family gets sick.

I really can't complain, though. In all of his 6 years, Pablo has now vomited a grand total of 3 times. Ever.

But 3 out of 4 of us got the nasty little bug, each 2 days apart.

I am "recovered," meaning no longer actually sick. I am not, however, back up to full speed. That will take a few more days. The kids ARE back up to speed, so keeping up with them will be a challenge.

My sainted partner stayed home and took care of all the healthy people while I moaned in the bed. Look closely next time you see her. You will totally see a halo.

Apparently the Universe was listening part 2...

When Pablo's birthday party FINALLY came around, we asked to borrow a table from my partner's brother. They brought this amazing table that bears a strong resemblance to the tables in the lunch rooms of my youth. You have seen them and used them. They collapse but are big and super sturdy. We used it, and when we made plans to return it, we were told that we can have it on permanent loan.

I was thrilled. I have really been wanting to create a space for homeschooling, even though we are pretty informal, because I think it is important to hold a space for it. We had been using the dining room table, which got pretty messy and confusing when we had projects and meals going simultaneously. So, I set of the table in our music room, and tried my best to organize everything without actually having any bins or drawers etc.

Then my birthday came around, and my friend Karen became a miracle worker by offering me 3 sets of awesomely cool plastic drawers. These things are awesome. They transformed my homeschool space into a paragon of organization. The kids and I are thrilled.


YAY for a school room!! We have used it all week and just love it. This has become the most popular room in the house.

Apparently the Universe was listening...

A few weeks ago it snowed like crazy in Dallas. I was insanely jealous. So the universe sent me SNOW!! One whole day of snow. The kids started out kind of wimpy and wanted to come in after only a little snow play, but it was really wet snow so our hands were all freezing. We made a teensy snowman, and went inside to warm up.



In the afternoon, we got awesome powder. The kind that stays nice and dry as you make it into a snowball but nice and wet once it slides down the back of your neck. We had a massive snowball fight, and at Beebz's request I made a snow puppy and a snow turtle. The turtle was no big thrill, but I am pretty fond of the puppy!

Girl Fight!

This winter we have been pretty obsessed with Wii Fit Plus. It is an awesome way to get exercise and be indoors at the same time. We all have our favorites, along with nicknames for the games we like the best.

Beebz's favorite is one from plain old Wii Fit, where you sit on the balance board and focus on a candle. It is called Lotus Focus. The point is to be still and peaceful, even with distractions (the game does some funny stuff to try to surprise you, like footsteps in the background, panning around the candle, and other things. She loves it. And she is not bad. The only mystery is her name for it: GIRL FIGHT!!!

Ah, the Zen of Girl Fight. It makes sense in a way, since we are in a constant struggle between that part of us that wants to be peaceful and our monkey mind that distracts us for any reason or no reason at all. It is an internal struggle that we face. That part of us that wants to be distracted, the part of us that wants to focus, and all the parts in between, all working together to create the tapestry of our lives.

Who knew what an amazing philosopher she could be?

Edible Elements for his Birthday!

Hi. My name is Mindful Mama and I am a compulsive birthday cake maker. It was this project that let me know I must have a problem. This is 110 mini cupcakes. I am certifiably certifiable. It took about 7 hours total. It was, however, totally worth it. (For those who don't know, I make a the kids' birthday cakes to represent their favorite toy/thing for the year. They get to pick.)



We had a great party, complete with science experiments and lots of playing in the (rare these days) sunshine. It was small enough that I actually got to hang out with people, which seems rare for our parties. Most importantly, Pablo loved both the party and the "cake". Never again with the cupcakes, tho....

Next year I am hoping he picks a chess board. White and dark molded chocolate pieces. Awesome. (Yeah, I know. I told you I am ADDICTED.)

her new smile

Last year it became apparent that Beebz had an enamel defect on one of her front teeth. The tooth just crumbled in a matter of days. The dentist said we would probably have to hospitalize her and take the tooth, but that we should wait as long as possible. Basically, if it started hurting her, it was time to take action. Otherwise we should wait for her little body to have be stronger to deal with anesthetic etc. So we waited.

She turned 2. We went to the dentist. When they cleaned her teeth, she sat there like a trooper. They even managed to get an xray of her snaggletooth. The dentist decided she could possibly fix it in the office, and that she could very likely save the tooth! It was worth a try.

BEFORE: (left most tooth of the front 4)


AFTER:


She was amazing, sitting still the whole time with mouth open wide. The dentist said she is the third 2 year old she has ever done this with. We are just so very glad we didn't have to do the hospital thing. And we love her new SMILE!!!

Simply Beautiful

and exactly what I needed on a very hard day.

Done!

Man, I totally forgot to post finished pics of my hat! Here you go.


I chose the best model in the world.

Free from Kitchener!!!!!

I freakin' love cables!! SO very fun. This is my new favorite thing to knit, officially! I am done with the band portion of my new hat, and I am so so so excited!

An extra fantastic bonus reason for my excitement, besides doing cables, is that knit like a pirate taught me to graft. No more screwed up kitchener for me!! From now on, I graft. Go on and find where the graft is below. I double dog dare you!! I will give you a hint. It is not where you think it is!! WOO HOO!! I love grafting!!!!!

Five plus one cannot possibly be six.

Because that would mean my little baby Pablo is 6. And that can't be. So, I am thinking maybe we could bend the laws of mathematics, and therefore change the entire structure of the universe? Go back in time?

Aw, ok... I guess he IS 6.

Happy Birthday, little boy. This is all going so very, very fast!

This is so like me.

It started so innocently. I went to visit a friend. I took my knitting. Like you do. As a back up project (I always travel with at least 2... yeah, I know. Addicted.), I grabbed some yarn I had bought for the love of the color (a dusky pink). I had thought of socks, but then decided on a hat like Beebz'. A simple spiral rib, super cute. The pattern had been given to me by a dear friend.



Well, I accidentally ended up leaving the pattern at my friend's house. Related is the fact that I did not knit at her house, but I did show her the pattern. sigh.

You must understand, I am a stubborn person. I like to do things MYSELF, even if it is reinventing the wheel. (I will pause for a moment for everyone who knows me who is laughing at just what an understatement this is. Done? K. I will go on now.)

I wanted to start the hat, and knew that I wouldn't need the pattern until it decreased at the very, very top. Except for the number of stitches to cast on, I could do 9/10ths of this hat sans pattern, no problem. But did I call either friend to ask how many stitches to cast on? No. Don't be silly. That would be...rational. Ha. I don't ask. I figure it out for myself. See above.

So I went on Ravelry.com (LOVE IT) to peruse patterns to see how many stitches might make a reasonable start. While on there, it occurred to me that I really didn't LOVE the brim of the spiral hat, and that a little Celtic knotwork brim might be really nice. After drowning in hat patterns, I emerged with a brand new project. Gone is the simple little hat. I am now doing THIS!

Have I ever done cables before? NO. Will this stop me? Ha. Stubborn, see above. I started last night, and cables aren't nearly as scary as I thought. This is several rows in, and they look like they are supposed to look!





FYI, knit like a pirate is pretty darned funny, and should be read even by non-knitters, just for the humor value.

I am grateful for gratefuls!

My daughter may be the best person ever to help me develop into a more spiritual, mindful person. She knows how to be present, and to be grateful for what is. It all began with a little pre-meal tradition of saying things for which we are grateful. Beebz has expanded this exponentially, with her announcing: "I do gratefuls!!" randomly throughout the day. It can be anything from her brother, to her dolls, to the sunshine. Then she runs off shouting, "blessed be!!!!!" as she goes onto other things.

I have read many times to use your child's voice or some thing they do as a reminder to check in, find your breath, and renew your connection to yourself. With this kiddo, she all but knocks me on the head with the reminders.

This actually dovetails nicely into my new commitment to do 1 minute meditations throughout the day. It all comes from the book One-Moment Meditation: Stillness for People on the Go. My partner got it for xmas, and I started reading it. So far, so good, and Beebz is better than a bell or chime to remind me not only to meditate, but to do it with a spirit of gratitude.

Thanks, baby girl, I am grateful for you!

How Pablo's Resistance to Sleep Aids in Homeschooling

It all started like this. Any parents knows that one of the classic stalling techniques is to ask questions. Pablo has recently become a MASTER. As a dodge, I gave Pablo a notebook and pencil and told him to write down any questions. I promised that I would answer all his questions the next morning. I honestly had no idea how amazing the questions would be and where they would lead.


Night 1: only 7 questions. All were about whether you can choose when your baby is born. So we talked about C sections, why some people think they are a good idea to do in a non-emergency way, and the risks associated with making that choice. And how I made the choice to let both him and his sister come naturally, without cutting me open.




Night 2: questions 8-30 (see pic above). No, don't worry, there weren't actually 22. Most said things like "14: see 15. 15: see 16" I was laughing so hard I almost woke the rest of the family. My favorite was "What do you mean when you talk?" At least, that's what it looked like. Pablo's writing is great when in a straight line, but he was writing all tiny and crazy and in little boxes he had drawn. What he meant was "How do you make yourself talk," ie how do we produce sound.

So this morning we looked in our handy "How We Work" book, and discovered the wonders of the larynx and vocal cords. We explored how the sounds we make are shaped by our lips, tongue, and mouth, all without us really thinking about it. We had so much fun creating crazy sounds!

Other questions were about light. How do light bulbs work, why do they break, how are LEDs different from regular (oops, still need to look that one up!), how do light switches work, etc....

So this morning we got out our handy hand me down jr circuit board and built a light. We learned about conductivity, open circuits, closed circuits, etc. Who knew this was how I would spend the day?!




The best part is that Fridays are our days off from homeschooling, assuming we have gotten our stuff done. I had thought he would need a break. Turns out, he would only need a break if I were the one creating the schedule. I don't think he even realized any schooling took place. This is such a great reminder of how easy it is when I don't fight against the flow of life with my kiddos.

Oh, and some other questions included: what is in pillows?, how do you make things comfy?, and do you like these squiggles over here on the side that I drew? God, this child makes me laugh.

Another birthday party has come and gone

We celebrated Beebz's birthday yesterday, with a wonderful party at home! Many family and friends made it, all at Beebz's request. We had a great time, but as always, I didn't feel like I got to spend time with anyone. We had a houseful, thanks to Beebz making the guest list. I don't think she realized everyone would come at once. She was pretty overwhelmed with the number of people that fit into our house. I was happy to see everyone, but I was sorry to see some faces missing. There were people I wanted to invite so that I could see them, (she wouldn't even know them since it has been so long!) but because Beebz is still a big ol' introvert, so I didn't want her too overwhelmed. Since she asked for about 30 people to come, I figured I shouldn't add to the chaos with my own personal additions.




I managed the requested dollhouse cake, with only a few hiccups. I had planned it all out, since my usual cake issues are caused my me not letting things cool enough. Icing a warm cake is fine if you just want it yummy, but it won't be pretty. So, this year, I learned my lesson. I made the 9x12 cake the day before. I made the icing the day before. I was freaking ready. But then my partner and I both decided that one 9/12 cake wouldn't be enough, so the morning of the party I made a second cake. I used it as the base, and managed to get everything cool enough. I also found my favorite food coloring spray paint to color it. I love this stuff. It is fun to use, and makes for a funky, groovy looking result. The house has a tilt to it, but it didn't actually FALL, so I count it as a success. My biggest problem was in keeping little fingers off of it. "Just a little taste" adds up to a lot of holes in the icing, especially once you start coloring it!

Thanks to everyone who came! It was a lovely time, and I am so grateful for all our wonderful friends and family.

Why the holidays aren't over

So many people are back to the daily grind this week, but I feel like I am still right in the middle of the holidays. Why? Wellllll....

Because I still have xmas presents to wrap.

Because I still have xmas presents to deliver.

Hell, because I still have xmas presents to MAKE.

Because New Year's Eve hasn't happened yet.

Because New Year's day hasn't either.

Because I still have a birthday party (or 2) to host.

Because I am still punch drunk from being around SO MANY PEOPLE after months of mostly being around just the kids.

And even tho I am home alone with the kids and back to "normal," it feels FREAKISHLY abnormal and maybe if I pretend that it is only because we are still in the holiday rush, it will (hopefully) make me feel better.

awwww. I just heard my little girl ask her brother to sit in his lap for some snuggles and he of course immediately agreed. Just seeing them all snuggled up makes me feel all peaceful and happy. What a nice break from the holiday grind!

I guess my baby isn't a baby anymore.

She is 2. TWO. Wow. How could this have happened? I don't remember authorizing this. Really. Two. geez.

We had a lovely birthday with her yesterday, despite the fact that the kids are completely FRIED from being out of town for a week. We went out to lunch and to a toy store so she could pick out a kitty (she ended up getting a family of 4 Calico Critters or some such somethings). We played a ton of Wii Fit Plus (she loves to watch, and begs for people to play!). BTW, you GOTTA get this game. It is way better than the original! We snuggled and napped and had ice cream. Then the kids' godparents came over for dinner. It was lovely.



Dear Beebz,

I love you, my little girl, impossibly, more every day. You are wonderful, and no one could show me a more loving, sweet spirit. I am so grateful on a daily basis that you chose our crazy family to join. Thank you, my baby. I mean, my 2 year old!

Namaste,
mama