Omega's decoration

After a little while playing outside in their playhouse, Omega comes to me in the garden and says, "Mom, do you want to see my decoration?!!!" What else can you say, but "Of course!" So, she leads me to her "fancy" home and here is what I see....

What was really cool was the use she made of these other things....

They found these rusty "antique" decorations in the junk pile behind the barn. When we bought this house there was a moving van with busted windows, flat tires, and packed full of  stuff sitting on our property. We went through all the boxes and basically burned whatever we could. There was a huge bonfire for about three days (including stuff from inside the house like doors, baseboard, carpet, etc.) I happened to get some nice dishes out of it though :) The remains of that pile are still sitting there, on our to-do list to get rid of.

I'm often impressed with the thought that my kids do not need store bought toys. Their imagination is so active that they can make anything be what they want it to be. I've still never heard my kids utter the words I used to say all the time as a kid "I'm bored."

Do not give the children playthings that are easily broken. To do this is to teach lessons in destructiveness. Let them have a few playthings, and let these be strong and durable. Such suggestions, small though they may seem, mean much in the education of the child.  {CG 102.1}

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.

.

"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} 

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.