Being a child among them

After visiting with Faith, we had a enjoyable afternoon with my Dad in San Jose. We met at the park to play and chat. I remember being at the park a lot with my Dad when I was a little girl. I was always saying, "Daddy, watch what I can do!" and my Dad would give the most enthusiastic praise for my proud accomplishments. One thing that endeared me to my Dad was how he always wanted to do what we wanted to do. When we were little, it was going to the park and getting frozen yogurt. As we got older, we'd go to the movies and shopping. I always considered him to be fun. Consequently, I've always enjoyed being with him! I see the same thing with my kids.

My kids LOVE silliness. I'll admit, I'm still learning to be silly but David is a pro. I think half of my video clips are of him throwing them around, twirling them around, riding them on his back, tickling them and doing all sorts of things I would have never thought of, while they are hysterically laughing and saying, "can you do that again?".  One time Omega actually said, "I want to sit next to Daddy since he plays with us." The obvious implication was that I was boring, Dad was fun.

Janice let us borrow some DVD's called Character First. They are excellent resources for teaching character qualities. I knew that animal stories illustrated each character quality but I didn't know it would just be a guy talking. At first Omega and Orion were a bit disappointed that there were no pictures. However, as they guy was telling a story he said something that Omega found HILARIOUS and she just cracked up and from that point on, she begged to watch the DVD's. I've discovered that if kids see you be silly, you've won their heart.

While Connie and I talked, Grandpa endeared their hearts to him by playing with them.

Notice Connie joining in the fun. She is a ball of energy and life. Her vitality and vigor definitely serve as credentials for her unique health advice.

After the park we went to a tree job with my Dad. I used to work with him every so often as a groundsman (drag the cut tree branches to a pile so they are ready for the chipper).

Orion watched intensely, appreciating every moment of this loud machinery.

One of the fringe benefits of that tree job were these little swing chairs they had on their porch. We were able to have a fun moment together.

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"If they would gather the children close to them, and show that they love them, and would manifest an interest in all their efforts, and even in their sports, sometimes even being a child among them, they would make the children very happy and would gain their love and win their confidence. And the children would more quickly learn to respect and love the authority of their parents and teachers."  {Child Guidance 265} 

Disc Golf

Still recapping our California trip.....

While David listened to farming lectures I played disc golf with my sister Faith and her family. She's professional. She's won tournaments! She plays like 3 times a week and her trunk is FULL of disc golfs. She's even in the Chains Movie. If you watch the minutes on the trailer, she's at 1:58-2:05. So, I thought "If I only have one day with my sister - I'm totally going to play disc golf with her."

In high school, we always played frisbee with my Dad out on our lawn. I'm a decent frisbee thrower if I say so myself. So when I thought of disc golf I figured...no big deal. You throw a frisbee into a basket. That sounds easy. Little did I know that it takes intense skill, technique, strategy and power! Check out Rob's aggressive form here (my brother in law).

I took one of Faith, but I think she deleted it when I wasn't watching...

Here's my pathetic attempt at throwing my disc golf far and straight....mine curved left and landed in a grove of trees where we had to hunt for it. This spot is called "Top of the World." It overlooks Santa Cruz.

We were at De Laveaga Disc Golf Course which happens to be "one of the most highly rated disc golf courses in the world. It is famous for its inspiring natural setting, as well as for its uncompromising challenge."

Kaylee, Faith, Sequoia, me, Orion, Omega

Kaylee, Rob, Sequoia, Omega, me, Orion

Kaylee, my niece throws a pretty good side arm. 

Rolling your disc is an actual technique used by pro's. Orion is practicing it here ;)

 Oddly enough, I thought "putting" would be easiest, but it's actually pretty hard! Faith gets it in every time ;)

So...that was disc golf.

Our time at the beach

Time is slipping by and I still want to give recognition to the rest of our visit in California.

The kids loved sleeping in Neena and Grampa Jim's motor home. I think this is one of my favorite pictures of the whole trip. Snuggling in the morning, talking to each other, awaiting the discoveries of a new day...


After spending four days with my Mom, the kids blew kisses and hugs out the window while my Mom pretended to be knocked over with each kiss. They really like that game. In fact, they didn't want the fun to end as Neena and Grampa got farther away so they started blowing kisses to God and the angels. Talk about cute.

My friend Tiffany showed such gracious hospitality by giving us her king size bed while she slept on the couch!  She's really the only friend from high school I've visited. I have kept in touch with others on Facebook and such, but have not seen anyone else personally since we parted ways 13 years ago. Now we are both Mom's.It was great to spend time together again, even if only brief.

My husband attended a conference for farmers called Eco Farm near the beautiful Asilomar beach in Monterey.

 

 

David was teaching them the "get as close to the water as you can but when it crashes and starts chasing you, run away before it gets you" game. They were having so much fun....until...

Omega tripped and fell and got all soaking wet. Luckily we had the suitcase in the trunk and she changed out pretty quickly.

David had to go pick up Jane and Jonathan so we stayed at the beach until he got back. When he got back we had to rush so he could get to his first lecture on time. It wasn't until several hours later when I was several hours away visiting with my sister that I realized I had forgotten all of these clothes on the chain. I called David, semi panicked and asked if he could run down to the beach and see if they were still there. He called me back and said,
"Well...the only thing missing........"
long pause...
(I'm thinking, "Oh no, someone took Omega's new jacket...it's brand new from Christmas....")
 "Is you." 
Ahh....relief...and a little smile crept on my face because I love it when he flirts with me :)

If you're at the beach, you can't help but sneak in a romantic moment right? ;)

Here are some pictures while David was gone

The beach girl in me felt fulfilled as I reclined on a rock with a sweatshirt for a pillow, the sunshine kissing my eyelids while I listened to my kids making sand castles. Ahhh....that is what I call relaxing.

Cultivating life skills

Omega began to show an interest in sewing so we started with hand sewing a felt bird and then stuffing it with cotton. I don't have time to take a picture and upload it so here's a rough example of what it looked like.

I put dots all around the border and she went in and out with her needle and thread and did a great job. She enjoyed it and I could see she had the mental understanding and physical coordination to keep learning. So I told my Mom and she got some fabric ready for Omega when she came.

I didn't appreciate it then, but I sure appreciate it now to have been taught the basics of sewing when I was little. I still can't seem to put a zipper in a skirt correctly but I have been able to successfully sew curtains and couch pillows for my house and hem my husband's dress pants. Hopefully someday when I get a new sewing machine the kids and I will become more skilled. (It's having issues currently)

So, to begin Omega's dolly quilt project my Mom wanted Omega to pose for a picture with the fabric. Normally Omega is very talkative and cooperative but suddenly she froze. She wouldn't talk or pick up a piece of fabric. I didn't realize it till later that she was feeling very overwhelmed at the thought of making a "quilt". She felt intimidated and nervous. But at the time I was boggled as to why she was acting like it was such a big deal to take a picture. David explained to me that she takes after him. "If someone told me to hold up a piece of fabric and smile I'd act the same way." Then it all made sense. He and I are so different in regards to pictures. He hates posing. I love it. In fact, I'd rather pose than have someone take a candid picture of me. Luckily, Orion takes after me and at just the right time he walked in and broke the ice. He started acting silly and wanted to pose with the fabric. Omega melted and saw how easy and fun it was. 

Then the more serious teaching began and Orion left to play with his new excavator.

So, first Neena showed Omega how the bobbin works.

 
Then how the fabric would be sewn together
and how the needle goes up and down.

Omega just paid attention.













Then they started the actual sewing. Omega did a great job with the pedal. She didn't make it go too fast or too slow and let off at just the right time.

 And here is the finished product!

Thank you Mom for taking the time and having the patience to teach me and my daughter to sew! It is a skill that may seem outdated an unnecessary, but one that I think makes one truly womanly :)

Cultivating a love for nature

On our drive to Oakhurst, I  mentioned we stopped at the mall. Just to give perspective of how significant that is, let me explain. We live 30 minutes from a small town where the only places we visit are Safeway, the hardware store, the bank, the post office and sometimes the library and Alco. I only go into town once a week usually. Rarely do we go to Tucson which is an hour and a half away. When we do there's no time to leisurely shop. I have a list of things I need to get and it's a wham-bam-thank-you-mam exhausting kind of day. 

So when we went to the mall, there was this guy at a kiosk trying to sell David a flying helicopter. I admit, it was pretty neat. Orion was of course enthralled too.  Then there were the pretend cars that go up and down when you put money in. There was a toy shop, and for me, lots of clothing shops. I could see the desires of my kids, and myself climbing...wanting more...and more.

One of the highlights for the kids was riding the escalator. You can't ride the escalator without trying to go down the one that is trying to take you up. It's just so much fun, right? I was at the bottom watching David and the kids as they tried to make it down, but alas, there was someone who wanted to go up. It was an older lady dressed really sharp. I didn't really study her enough to be able to describe what she looked like exactly, but I do remember distinctly the impression I had. Very forcefully, as if in big bold letters flashing above their heads, I read "YOU DO NOT BELONG HERE." I thought to myself, "Wow, I didn't realize we were such country bumpkins." The contrast was just too funny. Here she was, her hair, clothes, nails, make-up and shoes all spoke of distinction, refinement and artificial sedentary life. In contrast, my husband was wearing his work clothes: Carhart boots, stained jeans, a thermal shirt and an unshaven face. The kids were wearing their rain boots and had already gotten food stains on their clothes from breakfast.We just didn't fit in at the mall.

I'm proud to be a non-city dweller. I do not want my children to grow up feeling like they need "stuff" to make them happy. Or thinking that they need to look fake in order to be considered beautiful. That is one reason I'm thankful for the opportunity to visit my mom and step-dad.  They provided fabulous opportunities for us to enjoy the beauty and simplicity of nature. Consider this concept:

For breaking the spell of fashion, the teacher can often find no means more effective than contact with nature. Let pupils taste the delights to be found by river or lake or sea; let them climb the hills, gaze on the sunset glory, explore the treasures of wood and field; let them learn the pleasure of cultivating plants and flowers; and the importance of an additional ribbon or ruffle will sink into insignificance."  (Education, 247) 

So here we come to phase one of our vacation which included time with Neena (my Mom) and Grandpa Jim (my step-dad). We got to enjoy the wonders of Yosemite. The week before we left we all watched a National Geographic video on Yosemite so the kids were looking forward to seeing it in person. 

Beauty #1: Snow...and sledding!  Orion enjoyed the danger and excitement of sliding down a hill a little more than Omega. She preferred just eating it. She certainly went down, but not as many times by herself. David would take Orion to the top of the hill, get him situated on his sled, let go and he would come flying down. Jim and I were at the bottom ready to catch him from going into the little creek or pick him up quickly in case he fell off. One time the sled bonked right into my shin and I still have a bruise two weeks later.

Beauty #2: The giant Sequoia trees. Did you know they are the fastest growing trees in the world? They can grow up to 1-2 feet per year until they are between 200-300 high, then they grow out. They are also the biggest in width with bark as much as 4 feet thick.When there are forest fires, they don't burn up because the bark has tannin in it which is fire retardant. But, the pine cones actually need the fire in order for them to open up, drop seeds and reproduce. Pretty interesting huh?

David was rather amused by a sign on the fence that said to keep away from the base of the tree because they didn't want soil compaction. Yet the fence was only fifteen feet away and the walkway was paved. The parking lot was not too distant either. So, he went to the ranger booth and asked them about that and they humbly admitted that they were discussing that contradiction in their staff meetings and were developing a plan to be more consistent.

Beauty #3: Mighty granite rocks and serene ponds.

We ate a delicious lunch of avocado, tomato and tofu scramble sandwiches with wheat thins and grapes over on the picnic tables past the bridge. Of course the tables were covered in ice so we sat in the sunshine on the rocks near the water.

David tried to teach the kids how to skip rocks. They were more impressed with the sound of the rocks going plunk right down into the water, five at a time. We all enjoyed the peaceful scenery and fresh air.

Beauty #4: Wildlife. We saw deer, birds and even a fish splashing out of the water, but the coolest of all was a bobcat hunting in the snow! That was quite a treat :)

Beauty #5: Cascading Waterfalls



The falls at Yosemite were beautiful, but on our last day in Oakhurst we took a hike to some other falls closer to my Mom's house. We packed a lunch and enjoyed them up close.

 David built a bridge for us to get across the rushing stream to see what was supposed to be "hot-springs" but they were more like warm springs. Not quite as impressive as we were hoping for, but it was still fun.

Omega and Orion have developed really good balance and climbing ability. They are like little mountain goats. They liked finding little "caves" to hide in and pretend they were bears.

Spending time in nature was delightful and refreshing. We forgot all about the toy helicopter, the escalator and new clothes. Those things lost their appeal when we were surrounded by the glories of creation.