The Zen Life

State Fair Visit 1!

2009-09-29T14:00:00.001-04:00

Jonah's first State Fair Extravaganza!! (Or at least the first one he remembers!):

Smilin' in the parking lot! We haven't even gone in yet!!!

Inside and still smiling!

Our first stop: Dinner (Colossal Fried Twirly Potatos smothered in cheese and bacon--we called it Heart Attack in a Bowl! Jonah called it DEEELICIOUS!)

Butter Sculpture:

Sculpture made out of butter:

More of the Lard Art:

Ah! Now here's the really important part of the Dairy Building:

Mike and I opted for a different kind of sundae: A Beef Sundae!! (This was such a hit that we recreated it at home and had a Sundaes on Tuesday dinner night: Beef Sundaes for dinner, Hot Fudge Sundaes for dessert):

Dairy Silliness!

The first "ride" of the night: An enormous trampoline at sunset!

And now for the "real" rides!

The Zoo. Simply Awesome.

2009-09-25T20:06:00.000-04:00

Hey Look! We found Nemo!

And there's Dory!

Meredith's reflection looking at me!

The Aviary

And a red-bellied something- or - other

Heading out side to check out the penquins

Not THOSE penguins!

Nope!!!!

Not THOSE penguins either, Meredith!

There they are!!

Wait! Where?

Hmmmmmmm

There they are!!!!!

ICE CREAM!

Tigers!

And Bears!

Oh My!

(love that little girl peeking over our shoulders!)

Elijah Finds a Cicada!

2009-09-25T16:12:00.001-04:00

Evening Bath . . .OR . . .What Happens When Michael is Left Alone in the Bathroom With the Kiddies

2009-09-25T15:54:00.000-04:00

Nothing more to say really . . .

Ahhh Summer . . .Gotta Love it!!

2009-08-06T08:56:00.008-04:00

Ode To Summer:

Summer
How we love thee
Let us count the ways:

Drive-In Movies

Silly Faces

Trips to the Playground

Slides

Eating Fresh Fruit

Trips to the Beach

Catchin' Toads

New Bikes

Bike Riding

And Smiles!

How We Bask In The Awesomeness of the Universe

2009-07-27T13:35:00.003-04:00

Ahhh Waterfalls . . . .

And Hiking!!!

As our vacation came to a close we ended as we started: visiting another of the Favorite Places: Bushkill Falls, PA.
Elijah helps everyone with a drink before starting out

We visited last year, and now I am sure we will go again before fall (and probably during fall!)

We left so much undiscovered (to explore another day), and yet we left SO FULL of everything that we saw and experienced, it seems impossible that we could have fit anymore in!

Token touristy shot (on chairs made of tree stumps still in the ground):

Sharing a hug on a bridge (Jonah was keeping Dad company as the rest of us were on a viewing pennisula that had a limit of 6 people. The rest of us were already on the spot, and Jonah could have come too. But he didn't want to leave Mike alone. Sweet Boy).
and a chat:

Two boys contemplating:

My Family:

During last year's visit, Garrett set up this shot of himself (and it came out beautifully). He decided he wanted an updated version!

Meredith in her backpack (quite the way to travel!)
Elijah Resting:

One of my "Artsy" Shots--just a little snippet of the beauty:

Checking out the river (Ryan and Jonah are engaging in a "gravity experiment" as they spit over the side of the railing:

Daddy and Elijah checking the map

One of the very very few pictures of me (I am usually behind the camera) as we stopped for a rest and a snack

Elijah engages Jonah in a chase around a tree:

It ends with Elijah grabbing Jonah's hand and saying : "You gotta go this way Jonah. Take my hand, I'll help you because you are my friend". This sums up Elijah's personality perfectly.

We end our day at the falls with ice cream and fudge at the Hershey's shoppe (our family-created tradition. We end most things this way!)
I know how you feel kiddo!

Grandma's Pocono's Palace!

2009-07-24T11:20:00.009-04:00

We extended our vacation to take a trip to the Poconos to visit Grandma and Grandpa Sirotkin.

Here they are taking a stroll along one of the lakes

Grandma Sirotkin welcomes us!

Ryan gets a hug from Meredith

Peace!

Garrett and his cousin, Jack, find a cricket

Ryan comes to check it out.

Meredith chasing bubbles.

Cousin Will shows Meredith his new game

BEACH DAY!!!!

Meredith stops for a snack (little monkey ate 3 bananas!!)

We LOVE visiting!! They live in an area that is just teeming with things to do and see.

The boys LOVE to explore the forest/ravine that is the backyard!

CAMPING!!!!!

2009-07-23T08:20:00.007-04:00

Oh My God We Love Camping!!!!!

We took a shorter Camping (in My World, Camping is a pronoun deserving of a capital--as is My World) trip this year--Meredith still a bit young for the full week. But we still had The Most Fun Ever.

Nick's Lake in the Adirondacks is on of our Favorite Places.

Our campsite was lovely: close to the beach, playgrounds, and showers! (New bathrooms/showers!!! YAY!)-- By the way: this is NOT a picture of our campsite! But it is a lovely shot of one of the picnic areas near the lake.

We hiked,

ate Smores (with Rolos and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups),

played (with planes, bubbles, sticks, the girls in the next campsite over . . .),

read (Sage's note: yes this is me reading Jen Lancasters Such a Pretty Fat--hilarious, btw--with a Sam Adams Cherry Wheat-yum!- in one cup holder, and the top of organic potato chips in the other. At least they are organic. LOL!!)

and explored the glory of nature and ourselves away from all technology (and energy vampires who will remain nameless).

Happy Kids!

In a word: AWESOME!

The Jewish Mother

2009-05-29T11:54:00.005-04:00

While in VA Beach we found this restaurant/bar called The Jewish Mother. Of course, we HAD to go!! It was Passover, we're Jewish, I'm a Jewish Mother!! I thought I should get a discount. They didn't.

I am a Jewish Mother. I do not look like this! Ha!

Very cool stained glass window!

The food was okay, but overpriced ($100 for lunch!). But it was fun, and we were on vacation!

We were there during Passover. We thought it was hysterical that "The Jewish Mother" was decorated for Easter!!

This is my favorite picture of the older boys!:

Every time we go out and the kids get a drink that is served in a bottle, they become a bunch of "drunken hooligans". The act cracks us up every time!

Our little "Pebbles"

Either Elijah is getting in on the "drunken" act, or all the excitement just wore him out! Either way, the booth seemed like a good place to nap!

Our Journey Under the Sea (and through the Marsh . . .and along the Beach).

2009-05-22T12:05:00.012-04:00

Oh I have been so remiss in posting! I love posting about our Joyous Adventures through Life! (But I like just Living in the Moment of each Adventure MORE!!)

One of the Awesome things about our Hotel/Resort was their mascot. This beautiful tortoise named Tonka:

Meredith liked Tonka too!

While in VA Beach, we found this awesome Aquarium and Marine Science Center. It was 2 building connected by a boardwalk through their marshland. Very Cool Stuff.

The Education Stations:

Petting Rays: they feel like bologna!!

Elijah meets the baby turtles!

There was a neat exhibit where you could use the same type of equipment marine biologists use to gather things off the bottom of the ocean floor.

Here Garrett is trying to pick up a sponge while his brothers cheer him on

Sharks Sharks Sharks
This was a really great presentation about sharks--truth and myth!

The boys petting Horseshoe Crabs:

Meredith gives the aquarium a round of applause:

Along the Marsh Trail to the next building:

Mike and the boys inside a replica of a Native American hut called a Yihakan. They were either long (like this one) or round. The round ones were used as healing huts.

Walking back to the car with Daddy and a treat!

An interesting sign we saw all over VA Beach. There were also signs posted to "explain" this sign. I didn't think it needed any explanation. Apparently we were wrong. I thought they meant that VA Beach didn't allow cartoon characters swearing. Nope.

I was a bit annoyed by the sign. I didn't realize that you could just post a sign and negate the Constitution. Their explanation had to do with trying to create a "family friendly" atmosphere. Apparently "family friendly" and The First Amendment are not able to exist simultaneously. Pretty high handed of Big Brother if you ask me (which they didn't LOL).

DC Adventures, Part 2

2009-04-15T08:34:00.006-04:00

Our boys in front of the White House:

Meredith thought the people were more interesting:

Elijah had a great time using this barrier around the Washington Monument as a swing!
The boys in front of the National Archives (see 'em? They are the 3 little dots all the way at the top waving at me!):

There is the close up! One of our bigger disappointments was the wait to get into the National Archives (over 2 hours!!). We are planning another trip back where we stay longer--and add in more sites that we didn't have time for this trip.
The Daddy Camel!:
Walking alongside the Reflection Pool on our way to the Lincoln Memorial. The kids recognized it from pictures--Mike and I were reminded of Forest Gump!! (We managed to stay out of it though!)

Inside the Lincoln Memorial:

Shots taken from inside the Memorial:

DC Adventures, Part 1

2009-04-11T12:51:00.003-04:00

Our first trip to DC started with much excitement!

Yes, we all actually do fit into our car!!

We step out of our hotel doors and within three minutes this is what we see . . .

Mike says : "Keep your eyes open, boys! I think we have a motorcade coming!"

Sure enough . .He was right!! I didn't get the secret service guys (there were about 4 SUVs full of them)--I wish I did--they were cool! (In a totally scary sort of way). There were also about 6 other motor cycles cruising all around, blocking off the road from other cars.

In person, it looked like Obama in the car. When we zoom in on the pictures, it looks like Biden (could be someone on staff blocking the view of Obama--we both swore we saw him at the time)

In any case, it was pretty darn exciting for the kids! (and us too!!)

Hey look-- I finished a sock!!!

2009-04-04T14:21:00.003-04:00

I love knitting socks. Round and round and round and soon you have something from nothing. I finished my first sock last night. I thought I would be filled with all sorts of flighty nonsense about how I was ever going to do the other one--matching no less--so that I could have an actual pair. But, nope. I just was feeling very accomplished!

I knit a sock. (and I liked it!).

Happy 1st Birthday Meredith!

2009-04-04T12:52:00.006-04:00

We had a very girly tea party. . .

okay, okay it was more like a very girly cupcake party--given that there was no tea and 2 dozen pink cupcakes decorated with flowers and butterflies!

Blow out the candle ... then you can eat it.

Wait, you want me to do what?!?The cupcake, Meredith, eat the cupcake
Oh yeah, I can do that.

Like this, Meredith!

YUM!Now can I dance on the table??

The Rorschach Cupcakes!

2009-04-04T12:31:00.004-04:00

This is what I found when I pulled Meredith's birthday cupcakes out of the oven!

I swear I am not making this up!!!Look, a heart!!

Nor did I create these intentionally . . .

A swan's head (or a flower bud --perhaps a tulip?--dipping over)

A couple of islands, one which has a volcano erupting!

And no, none of them are of Jesus . . .

although, this one is very interesting, indeed . . .

Okay, so do you see the dophin/shark in the middle of the cupcake? Below that is a person wearing a long skirt or overcoat standing there. See the feet? Follow the skirt up and to the right is an arm. Above that (in the crack of the cupcake) is the head--and a slight face!

Pretty neat, huh?

Gym Time!!!

2009-04-04T12:23:00.003-04:00

This is how we cover our physical education requirement: by having a whole bunch of FUN!!!!

Just your average day. . .

2009-04-04T10:46:00.004-04:00

First--we wake up! (Don't you just hate bed-head?)

Then--it's time to read the morning paper (while Jonah checks the stock market)

Maybe some shopping . . .

Then home to put the groceries away in the kitchen (or ON the kitchen)

Feed Meredith's pony

Then it is time for a ride

Happy Pre-Birthday Meredith or Every Little Girl Needs a Pony

2009-03-20T13:14:00.005-04:00

Okay--so the next few days are going to be a bit out of order!

Meredith started walking two days ago--but I still need to get video!! Tonight I will do it!

But until then . . .

The Pony!!!!

Meredith turns 1 on Tuesday (stay tuned for the Tea Party pictures!), but we don't believe that all good things come to those who wait. We believe that all good things come to those who open boxes and put things together as soon as they come home!!!

The result: Meredith's First Birthday Present: Her Pony . . .

Ode to a Cupcake! Or The Sirotkin's Pot of Gold

2009-03-12T21:52:00.006-04:00

Here at the Sirotkin house Cupcake is like manna from heaven. It is a pronoun. It is a perfect little package of sweetness (much like our children!). And this week it was turned into the end of the rainbow!!

Backyard Ice Skating

2009-03-06T08:43:00.003-05:00

Two years ago we removed our above ground pool (after a particularly poor NY summer where we spent only two days in the pool!!). We intentionally didn't fill in the "hole that first year--hoping to fill it in with water in the winter so the kids could skate on it. And of course, that first winter had incredibly warm weather--no freezing!!

Fast forward a year--and with all the projects we had going with the house--we STILL haven't filled that hole in (this Spring it will be for sure!). But after a winter of heavy snow and then several days in the 50s and then several days in the 20s --we have our frozen pond!!!

And there was much rejoicing by the boys in the Sirotkin household!

The Mostest Fun Ever!!

2009-03-01T20:34:00.010-05:00

A day at the MOST (Museum of Science and Technology)!

Elijah learns about gears

Dancing and playing the Xylophone!

Jonah and Elijah learning about pulleys and gravity

Sense of Smell!

Walking into the heart!

Discovering the Brain (and Nerve Center!)

The nose knows!

Jonah and Elijah in front of a green screen (the TV shows them playing basketball in the NBA!!)

Jonah and a fetus! (when will I ever say that again?!?)

Artist workspace

My favorite blacklight poster. When I asked Elijah who this was, he said "ummmmm". I said "This is Barack Obama. He is our President." Elijah said "Yeah. He's a Hero!"

The Shadow Wall

Jonah and his model trains! (He has loved trains forever).

<3 <3 <3 Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!

2009-02-14T14:35:00.006-05:00

We love us a day that celebrates LOVE!!!!!

The boys spent part of the afternoon decorating some DELICIOUS sugar cookies to commemorate our day--and look how awesome they are!!

Who needs Cupid when you have sweet boys making cookies for you?!?

The Flying Trapeze!!!

2009-02-07T23:52:00.005-05:00

Not to be outdone by his sister, Elijah also flies through the air with the greatest of ease! (courtesy of a very cool indoor trapeze created by his Daddy!)

Like this, Daddy?

I got it now!

Weeee!

Ta Daaaa!

I'm swinging!!

SWING!!!!!!

2009-02-07T23:16:00.005-05:00

Snow, Cold, Cold, Snow--YUCK! (well the older boys like it. . .)

But it doesn't allow us to build the playground for the little ones!!!

Or does it????

Tonight Mike and I had the Awesome idea to bring the mountain to Mohammad--or the playground to Meredith as the case may be!

Here is her newly installed swing (mounted to the entryway that connects the playroom and living room!)

YAY!!!!! I'm Swinging!

Is that a monkey on my head???
(actually, we keep that hanging there because otherwise Mike bangs his head on that light fixture EVERY TIME he walks in there!!!!

Weeeeeeeeeee!

Push me, Daddy!

Okay, Elijah--You push me!!!

These Days!

2009-02-07T15:29:00.007-05:00

Just an average day at the Sirotkin house: Elijah and Meredith hamming it up for the camera; Jonah playing "snowball fetch" with the pups!

The Rockin' Sirotkin's!!!

2009-01-26T09:37:00.006-05:00

One night we had a Rock Star Party, complete with tattooing and a concert!!! I was lucky enough to have a backstage pass --the benefits of being the Mom of a very talented family!

Here Ryan and Elijah are warming up and tuning instruments and doing a sound check while Jonah gets a snack before the concert begins!

Ryan is our resident "Guitar Hero" (Okay, we prefer RockBand to Guitar Hero--but it sounded good!)

Garrett and Jonah --Rock On!!! (Check out the tattoos!)

Ryan expressing his inner Rocker as his brothers play on!

Jonah and Garrett scoring high points with their fans! Okay, not so much with Bruegger, who is far to interested in Cat-O-Vision (the dog with his head in the cat door!)

Ryan dancing in the "crowd"!!

Meredith has her own version of "RockBand" consisting of this stand that has a keyboard and microphone, among other things.

Here she is giving a concert to Bruegger and Daddy!

Basket Case!

2009-01-26T09:14:00.004-05:00

Elijah LOVES to get into the laundry baskets when we are doing laundry. Often we will give him "rides" with the clothes as we are taking them upstairs.

On this particular night, Elijah thought the basket looked like a great place to catch a nap!

Meredith took some notes from her brother!

In the playroom, we have a basket of "her" toys. I think she was trying to tip it over to get to the toys and just decided it would be less work for her to get in!

The Little Helper or Don't Feed the Animals . . .

2009-01-11T17:41:00.005-05:00

Oh boy.

So, Elijah--ever the little industrious boy--decided Meredith was hungry. She was napping at the time . . .

I had thought Elijah had gone upstairs to get his blanket, until he came down with this (empty) in his hand announcing "He has had ENOUGH!" (Elijah is not so sure about pronouns--so everybody is a "he"--especially Meredith).

I said: "Elijah, did you give those to Meredith?"
Elijah: "Yeah, he was Hungry!"

Me: "I think she was tired; she was napping."

Elijah: "Nope, she was hungry; but she's had ENOUGH!"

Meredith is actually pretty tickled about the breakfast in bed.

Elijah decided to join her!

Ah, well. No harm, no foul!

The Color of Elijah

2009-01-08T15:46:00.003-05:00

We decided to turn our back family room into a game room. The kids got XBox 360 and RockBand2 for Chanukah--so we got them a new HDTV to hook it up to (the front family room's TV is hooked up to the Wii). We brought in our full size Air Hockey table from the garage, and brought up this game table from the basement (it has interchangable tops for Knock Hockey, Billiards, Ping Pong, and foosball). Elijah fell in LOVE with Pool!
It is a bit small for the older boys--although they still love to play it --but they are trying to convince us to get a full size Pool table! (We did find a full size pool table/ping pong table for a really great price--so stay tuned!!).

Happy Birthday Garrett--Bonus: Happy New Year, too!

2009-01-08T15:24:00.003-05:00

We rang in the New Year--and Garrett's birthday--with an Awesome sleepover party complete with Mimosa's (non-alcoholic for the kiddos), chips, candy and Hot Fudge Pound Cake Sundaes (Garrett's own creation)--YUM!!

Happy Happy Birthday!

Garrett is our X-Games, Skateboarding Dude--he was thrilled at this gift Jonah picked out for him: a skateboarding computer game that uses a mini-skateboard as the mouse (WAY COOL!)

Party Time!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!--Ryan celebrating 2009--check out the streamers in mid fall! We all had a blast with the poppers!

iTunes to go with Garrett's new iPod Nano (which he, by the way, had eloquently engraved with "School Sucks!" on the back!)!!

Mike with the *real* Mimosa! Happy New Year!!

Jonah continuing the Celebration into the wee hours of the night (we didn't go to be until about 3:30 am!)!

Our champagne flute from our wedding--used often and well (Did I mention how much we LOVE Mimosas?)!

Happy November Birthdays!

2008-12-04T07:42:00.009-05:00

We have two Shiny Birthdays in November! Jonah turned 9 and Elijah turned 3:

For Jonah's birthday, he chose a Star Wars the Clone Wars themed sleepover (very Awesome indeed!).

Our table ready for the party (you can't see the 6 bottles of soda and huge bowl of potato chips!)

Jonah's cake (a Lego Clone Trooper from Star Wars: The Clone Wars). We LOVE "Ace of Cakes" here--the boys are always challenging me to create cakes that are Duff-Worthy!

Combine that with Jonah's love of Legos (especially the Lego Star Wars video games) and this is what you get!

We light it up! We had about 10 tween boys here that night! What a loud, rollicking, Joyful night that was! We set up a Star Wars marathon--Most of the boys fell alseep by 1am. Our Jonah and Garrett were up until 3am!!! They Love that Claim to Fame!

Jonah gets a Sims game for his DS from Ryan! Garrett got him Tony Hawk for the DS, and Elijah got him MySims for the DS. Are we sensing a theme here?

Grandma and Grandpa Sirotkin got Jonah this model of the solar system complete with a listing of the exact location of all of the planets for each month through 2010. Jonah actually recognized that Venus and Jupiter were going to be visable in the night sky before it was announced in the news!

Elijah's Birthday fell on Thanksgiving this year! What fun! Turkey and Pumpkin Pie AND Cake!!

When asked what kind of cake he wanted Elijah was very kind: "I want a Triangle Cake!" Later he decided it should be yellow and it should have a "1" on it (because, as he explained "I'm number 1!!")

When it was finished (or almost finished) he realized it needed some tweaking! So he made it perfect!

Elijah LOVES to blow out the candles!! (ANY candles!). In this case, they were Shabbat candles! We couldn't find the birthday candles I bought!!!!

In our home, if you are up when it turns midnight on your birthday--you get to open your presents then!! Of course--the kids always stay up!! This year Elijah got a Dora House (Dora is Elijah's FAVORITE!!! Here he spends the midnight hour decorating it!

Love,
Karen

Reason # 467 Why We Unschool/Homeschool

2008-12-01T13:23:00.005-05:00

I love this video!! I want to carry it around with me in my pocket and hand it out to anyone who asks me why I homeschool or how can I be sure my unschooled children with learn "the basics". Just Click on one of the Players in the window--Be sure to pause the purple music player (scroll down--it's on the right!)

Letterboxing

2008-11-25T16:22:00.006-05:00

One of the all-time coolest activities we have gotten into this year is Letterboxing. It is like a treasure hunt--complete with clues! The treasure is a box that contains a journal and a stamp.
Each letterboxer (or letterboxing team--our family is a team) has their own journal and stamp (ours is shown above).

We use a couple letterboxing websites to find the clues for letterboxes in our area (or in an area where we are visiting/vacationing), and then a-hunting we go!

Once we find the letterbox (not an easy feat), we stamp the letterbox stamp into our team journal along with a date and a note or two about the quest to find it.

We stamp our family stamp into the letterbox journal, and sign our names, date and where we are from.These are just some of the Letterboxing Stamps we have found!

The boys just love going to find letterboxes around our city.

They love the National Treasure movies and there is a similarity to that!
They love trying to solve the clues and hunting for a hidden "treasure"! Heck--so do Mike and I!!!!

We found this "altered" stop sign while letterboxing in Syracuse. Mike turned the car around after we had passed it so that we could get a picture of it! Quite the "treasure" to find!!

After the 7th and final Harry Potter book came out, a handful of the stop signs in our neighborhood were "altered" to say "Stop Voldemort"! We LOVED those signs! (They have since been replaced and we miss them.)

The Unschooling Way!

2008-11-23T21:15:00.013-05:00

Okay--so it has been awhile! Admittedly, I have some catching up to do! My goal is to get it all caught up before November ends! Let's see how I do!!

In October, we took a LOVELY camping trip with some other Homeschooling families in the Syracuse area. We had such a great time!!!

I think the whole experience can be summed up by Ryan, who told Mike: "I REALLY Like playing with the other homeschooled kids. They don't pick on my like the kids in school do."

That was a bittersweet moment for us as a family. Ryan and Garrett's mom still refuses to trust in the boys, and honor their wishes to be homeschooled. The frustrations that they feel from their "teachers" and the other kids grow from being in a system that cannot (or will not) honor Who They Are. ::sigh::

We still continue to honor Them when they are with us. And listen to them and their frustrations. Our biggest hope now is that the damage that is done by being in school and by having a parent who doesn't listen to and trust in Who They Are can be mitigated by what we provide for them while they are with us.

So, back to the camping trip! The boys Love Love Love to camp! It was Mid-October when we went, and the boys found a Monarch!!! We were a little concerned that he was a bit to far North for the Migratory pattern. But as Unschoolers--we do not judge Any Being taking It's own time!

On this trip we also discovered Letterboxing! The Joy in Discovery was endless! (This is our stamp!)

The boys loved this personal kind of "treasure hunt". We have continued this since returning home (Blog on Letterboxing to come shortly!).

The first night there we had a pot-luck dinner. The boys had pork-fried rice made by a couple of teen girls in the group, meatball subs, pasta dishes, chili, chips--and of course SMORES!!!

We also put together a Halloween party for the kids!

Oh the Joy of dressing up and eating Candy and Cupcakes!

And--we can't forget about the Silliness!

The Wonderful, Glorious, Joyful, Silliness that comes so naturally when everyOne is allowed to Be Who They Are!

Love,
Karen

Unschooling Parent Job Description

2008-10-30T09:10:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Anne Ohman, Pam L, and Alicia B. on the Shine with Unschooling Yahoo Group! They posted their reponses to the questions "What is the definition of an Unschooling parent?" and here is what they had to say (in some cases I have rephrased the response to make it "fit" neatly into my format, but none of these statements were written by me). :

Unschooling Parent Job Description

From that place of knowing what is real and what is True as defined by my children's hearts, I place my feet in the direction of the next right thing to do and I move forward.

Alway remember that this is actually my job description as an unschooling parent: To trust in my children.

It is my job to help my children get what they need and desire in order to live a joyful life.

It is my job to nurture and encourage that which they love to do.

It is my job to be a student of my children and learn about them and learn from them.

It is my job to learn about real learning, watching how the connections are made in my children's lives from focusing on the Joy and allowing their lives and spirits to unfold as they grow and learn.

It is my job to be the person who gives my children the freedom to really learn by playing around with the world.

It is my job to love and support my children as they explore the world on their own terms.

I am not the controller of my children's lives. I am the one who actively brings joy into their lives.

It is my job to first ask: "How can I connect with my children today, expand their worlds, bring joy into their lives, nurture and encourage what they love to do?"

*Enthusiasm* is the best part of my job description! *I* set the tome for my family's energy, and it is not only my job description as an unschooling parent, but my path on my own spiritual growth journey, too, to take each step forward with enthusiasm for live and for the world and for all that I am and for all that I have and for all that we are, collectively . . .

Children are NOT empty vessels that need to be molded and filled. They are the seeds that are packed to the hilt with potential energy. We need only to love and nurture them for them to grow into their life and into the lives around them.

Randomness . . .

2008-10-22T20:37:00.004-04:00

Winter is on our doorstep. . . and now so is the wood for the fireplace!! LOL

Home Sweet Home

Our first fire of the year

Elijah waves a flag

I love my life!--and my car!

This is the cake I made for Garrett's soccer team's last game (Mike and I coach)

They were undefeated. If you ask Garrett or Jonah they say that the team was "undefeatable". Some say it's poor grammar. I say it is a positive attitude!

So every fall we bring our fish in from the pond. This year we had a surprise when we brought them in . . . .

BABY FISH!!!!!

The Moon from My Window . . .

2008-10-19T11:25:00.003-04:00

Shhhhhhh.

Breathe.

In deeply,

slowly,

through your nose,

through your diaphragm,

pressing your belly button to your spine.

Out slowly through your nose.

Relaxing your abdomen,

so the air fills your lungs naturally

as you breathe out . . .

Rinse and Repeat.

Yom Kippur Hiking (or How to Trade Atonement for Beauty and Love)

2008-10-13T09:06:00.011-04:00

We had planned on going to the Teen Service for Yom Kippur up until about an hour and a half before it started. Then we decided to ask the boys if they wanted to go to the Teen Services.

Ryan said yes at the same time Jonah and Garrett said no. Sheepishly, and feeling rather empowered that "no" was a valid answer, Ryan quickly said, "Well, no. Not really."

So we decided to get out into nature!

We went to Beaver Lake Nature Center and took a beautiful hike along their "Bog Trail" (mostly on a boardwalk through a marchy Fen).

We talked about starting anew. We talked about changes we would like to make in our lives and how to make those changes. We talked about accepting and then releasing any negatives from the past year.

We decided that the biggest "negatives" were the times when others wouldn't let us Be Who We Are. We talked about times when we let others decide who we "should" be, rather than listening to our own inner Voice.

We talked about ways we can let others Be Who They Are.

And we talked about being each other's cheerleaders as they explore their Uniqueness.

We assured the boys (and Meredith, too) that our number one job as parents was to be their personal cheerleader, in whatever they choose for themSelves.

And we explored the beauty of our day and our surroundings.

And explored.

And discovered.

And (dare I say it?) --Learned!!!

And came home with a greater sense of Self!

Elijah Feeds a Baby!

2008-10-12T22:51:00.004-04:00

This is so funny! Our little Elijah came to me as I was feeding Meredith and said "I want to feed Meredith too!"

And, yes, that is hear the 2nd Presidential debate on CNN in the background (Go Obama!).

What a sweet, funny, little helper we have.

A Zoo Life or How to spend Day 2 of Rosh Hashannah!

2008-10-06T17:41:00.006-04:00

The Zoo, the Zoo, the Zoo! Oh how we Love thee! Let us count the ways:

Check out the reflection of Garrett in the window, next to the snake!

Ryan and Ms. Lion sticking their tongues out at one another (I swear the lion started it!)

The boys are looking at the monkeys--but I thought these were a better shot!

Meredith enjoyed the zoo---not so much the flash!

Rock climbin' at the zoo!

This little crevice in the rock that the otter is sitting in usually has a waterfall coming through it. Every time we come to the zoo this otter (or the other one--I have difficulty telling them apart!) climbs up here to block it. The boys find it hysterical that the otter (in their mind) washes his butt this way-LOL. Otter enema? Maybe he needs more roughage!

I love this sign! I think--in many ways--it captures the essence of otter unschooling!
I want to put a similar sign outside of our house (or our local elementary school):
"If you can't spot our children, you may have to look outside the box!"

After the zoo (and the gift shop) we went to Target. The boys (most of them) bought big bouncy balls. I think that big bouncy balls are the best toy ever! Apparently the boys agree--except for Jonah--he bought beef jerky instead!!!

Rosh Hashannah, Gold Coins, Tashlich, and Apple Pie

2008-09-30T16:03:00.006-04:00

It's Rosh Hashannah! L'Shana Tova! Happy New Year!

So many things to be thankful for today (and tomorrow). Rosh Hashannah itself is a blessing in that it allows us to keep Ryan and Garrett out of their unshiny schooly place for 2 days--YAY!

Today we went to our temple and celebrated with services. At first, we were going to have Elijah in the babysitting room; Ryan, Jonah, and Garrett in the teen service, and Meredith and us in the "adult" service. But as I was sitting there waiting for services to begin, I was feeling completely dis-connected. It was feeling ALL wrong!!! Rosh Hashannah is supposed to be a joyous celebration--so why was I all bummed out?

Then I realized--EUREKA!! I was bummed that the family was split up among three SEPARATE rooms!!! Mike and I talked about it and decided it would be much more fun to celebrate together. So we got up, left the Sanctuary where the adult services were, went and got Elijah out of babysitting and joined the older boys in the teen service. It was wonderful! The boys watched as the teens led an AWESOME and AWE-some service complete with singing (a little dancing) and a lot of JOY! Elijah danced around and twirled until he was dizzy (causing much laughter from us). And little Meredith played around on the floor and on our laps, flirting with everyone who was near.

After, we went to Starbucks for hot cocoa and coffee (a new year treat from me) and then Michael went to the bank and got the kids the new gold president dollars and carrying cards (a new year treat from him).

It was a fantastic day!

Later, we went to the lake and celebrated Tashlick. For those who don't know--Tashlick (tash-leek) is where you take a little bread, think about some not-so-great things that have happened over the past year, attach that memory (or the energy of that memory) to the bread, and toss it into moving water to be carried out to sea and never heard from again! It is a pretty beautiful tradition.

This year, I wanted to add another element. So on our way to the lake we talked about times when others don't let us BE who we ARE. We talked about the times when others put THEIR expectations on US and how that made us feel. We talked about when others try to make us do things we don't want to do, or things that are outside of our Authentic Selves. We also talked about the times that WE tried to make others be or do something that wasn't true for THEM.

These were the moments that we decided to cast aside. We threw away letting others take away from our authenic Selves, and we threw away any desires to control others. We threw away anything that wasn't true to who we ARE. And we laughed at the seagulls and ducks eating our bread.

Then we got our pie ingredients to make a "Apple & Honey-Sweet Life-Rosh Hashannah Pie". And even though I had to go through 2 failed online recipes for dough before just using one I made up on my own (THAT WORKED!!--if that isn't a testiment to an unschooling life, nothing is!), it was really,really good! What a Joyful Day! What a Great start to the new year!

Tomorrow, we are going out exploring into our world--Stay tuned!

Weekend celebration (both loud and quiet)

2008-09-27T11:10:00.003-04:00

"I can't believe no team has ever beaten us!!!" & "Mom, I don't want to go to swim lessons today."

Two comments from my two 8 year olds--each celebrating their OWN identity and what it means to be joyful! Garrett's soccer team won again (they are undefeated!) and with each win, Garrett finds more excitement, more desire, more "woo-hoos!" about his part of a TEAM (a connection he really likes to make!). We don't push or suggest that "winning" is somehow better than not "winning". But for Garrett--it IS a marker for success. Or rather, the not winning (in his mind) is a mark of failure. Now, I could get into a whole rant here about how public schools ingrain competition into the public psyche, and kids end feeling like they are either winners OR losers and there is nothing in between, and the whole good-bad dicotomy of the system--but I would rather focus on Garrett feeling all shiny! And it is not for me to define what is success for Garrett. Or even to decide for Garrett whether "success" (as define by popular culture) should be important to him. What IS important is that, regardless of the reasons, Garrett was allowed to freely choose to play a sport (or not), freely participate in that sport (or not) , and has come away from each practice and game with a whole barrell full of warm fuzzies about HIMSELF! YAY Garrett!

For Jonah's part, he had his own moment of complete personal freedom when he decided he didn't want to take his swim lesson today; instead, he wanted to do other things (play the DS and the Wii). His statement was made with some apprehension. Would we honor his request, would we get angry, would we force him to do something that he really did not want to do? In the past (before learning about and realizing the personal power of unschooling), I am sorry to say that our reponses would be just that. But today I can honor who Jonah IS and so I said "Okay", followed by the reassurance that he did not have to do anything he didn't want to do. We realized that we may have been remiss in not talking to the boys about our philosophies about parenting and life and learning. Especially given that we have made (over the past year or so) a change from what we once thought it was to be a "good" parent.

The discussion was a lightbulb moment for all of us! Ryan said that he would rather not go to swimming today either (and is now happily playing the Wii!). It was really interesting to talk with him about our (Mike and I) ideas about our family. More and more we see him really seeing the disconnect between his own personal freedoms and what happens to him at school. Today he said "I really wish I could be homeschooled, too" (with a great big sigh). We promised him (and Garrett who echoed that sentiment) that we wouldn't give up. We would continue to ask and ask and be their cheerleaders for a more free life.

And now everyone is all happily shining joyfully as they each do the things THEY want to do (Elijah and Garrett swimming, Jonah and Ryan playing video games, Mike at the Y, and me home writing and cleaning). I love how I get reaffirmed every moment of everyday that not only is the unschooling path the more righteous path, but also the easiest path to follow! Now when I hear others talking about how parenting is the hardest, most challenging job in the world, I think: "You're doing it wrong!". Parenting is beautiful, joyous and EASY once you stop trying to control the outcome!

Love & Light,
K.

Apple pickin', long grass, laundry, and love

2008-09-26T10:04:00.005-04:00

So it is Friday again. Amazing how that seems to happen about every seven days! Yesterday, Mike and I went with Jonah, Elijah, and Meredith to pick apples with our local homeschooling group. We had tons of fun which I can't show you because I forgot my camera! Oh well. Actually--it is okay. I like to think of those moments without my camera as moments I am actually a part of my children and their (our) experiences (rather that separated by a lens).

So an apple-pickin' we went! The McCouns (my favorites) still weren't ready, and the Jonamacs (we like those just because of their name) didn't look to great, so we ended up with Galas--which are tasting pretty delicious! Jonah has decided that the best thing we can do with those apples is bake a pie. So a pie we will be baking!

Jonah has also decided that with the success of the pumpkins we are growing he is ready to take on a tree! So we are starting our apple trees seeds (along with some beans and wheat). We have granny smiths, too--so I think we will be trying both those and the galas.

Beyond that, the house is a wreck, we still have about 5 loads of laundry to do (we ALWAYS have about 5 loads of laundry to do!), the grass is long, the leaves are falling into the pond, the hallway needs to be vacuumed, and I still have 3 courses of curriculum to write for the new classes I am "teaching" online. But the kids are are GREAT!

We just can't seem to pull ourselves away from them to get anything done around the house. The neighbors probably don't understand--but then again, they are moving (and our kids are GREAT!)--so what do we care?!!

Tally Ho!
Karen

A Blogging we will go . . .

2008-09-23T22:15:00.002-04:00

Well, let's see how this turns out! I started another blog earlier in the year--I think I posted twice and then had a baby! Seems I got kinda busy after that. Not that I am any less busy--but let's just say that things have settled in here at the ranch.

Our family now complete, we are happily living and loving our days! The local public schools have started up again, which means Ryan and Garrett leave us for 6 hours each day to go to a very Un-joyful place. They wish that weren't so. Garrett especially, as he asked us specifically if he could be homeschooled AND if we would ask his mom for him (he had already asked her with not so great results). So we championed his cause! And we are still waiting for a reply. . . ah well. It tis what it tis. The best we can do now is support the boys within that space. Simply put, we honor the decisions they choose to make while they are there, and be their voices where the system wouldn't otherwise allow.

The return of the ps year also means that we get to take back the wonderful joyful places we love to go: the parks, museums, libraries, YMCA, etc. etc. And Jonah, Elijah, and (soon) Meredith have the run of these places! With other homeschooly kids too! YAY!

In any case, welcome to our happy joyful Blog!

K.