Crochet!!

Yesterday my friend Darleen came over because she wanted to have me help her a littler with her blog. As it turned out Ice Princess learned a little something new too. She learned to crochet. I never really was interested in knitting of any sort so I have never been able to show her how do do anything like that. After Darleen and I had chatted for a while and I finished letting her pick my brain she took out her crochet needle and began knitting. Ice Princess had had enough of the video games that the other kids were playing and got up and sat down next to Darleen.
"How do you do that?" Ice Princess inquired, showing real interest. And that is all that was needed. The next thing you know Darleen had explained it well enough to her that she was off and running. And loving it. She was so thrilled with herself. And so happy Darleen had explained it to her. This is what unschooling is all about. Waiting for the child to show an interest in something and helping them achieve their goal. No force necessary. Life is good.

Here is Darleen showing Ice Princess how to crochet.

And here she is today after a quick trip to grap her some yarn and a crochet hook.

ooohhh pretty...

Your Brain is Purple

Of all the brain types, yours is the most idealistic. You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense. Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places - or a very different life for yourself.

What Color Is Your Brain?

A new phase

I have never been here before. What I mean is, I have never raised pre-teen girls before. Especially in this unschooled environment. When they were younger and we first changed to this way of living and learning as the girls would find something new they would joyfully bring it to me. And ask what I thought about it. What ever "it" was. And now as they are older, they seem to need my input less and less. The value that my opinion used to have on what they found interesting has decreased. The mommy market has crashed I'm afraid to say. But, this was my goal wasn't it? To help my kids become independent thinkers. To know what they value as important and know what makes them happy. So in this I can say that I have planted my flag on the top of mount independence, and shouted FREEDOM from the hilltop. And then I turn around and see the steep mountain I must climb down. We traveled up here together but the walk back is mine alone. So for now I will start heading back. Walking slowly, and every once and a while turning around and taking a few steps back up when I hear, "Mom, how do you spell, ----" Shouted from somewhere in the house. So as I leave them this afternoon to run a few errands and get my hair done. I will kiss them in the foreheads and whisper to them I love them, because they are still sleeping. I know they were up late last night enjoying their lives as the Mighty Waltons.

Silly Girls

I was already awake when Ice Princess woke up this morning. She cuddled up next to and placed her soft cheek on my arm.
"I had a wonderful dream last night, mom." she said in a sleepy voice.
"Oh yeah? What was it about?" I asked her, running my fingers through her golden hair.
"I dreamt that in the future there won't be any kids that will have to go to school."
"I wonder how different our world would be?" I asked her, wondering what she had pictured.
"Everyone would be happy, like me." she she with a wide grin.

Later at the table my girls broke out in a sort of singing rhyme. Just to let you know Link is a main character on a video game called Zelda.
Here is a picture of him.

I know the drink.
It is never pink.
The favorite of Link.
It is a drink.
From the elusive mink.
Yes, he loves this drink.
A powerful drink.
Milk of the mink.
What do you think?
It will make you wink.
And even blink.
Link's best drink.
Of the elusive mink.
They were saying this over and over. Giggling. Changing the lines. Creating new ones. And it was all spontaneous, and composed by my little girls. I was laughing they were laughing. I love my silly, silly girls.

Zebra Question

I asked the zebra,
Are you black with white stripes?
Or white with black stripes?
And the zebra asked me,
Are you good with bad habits?
Or bad with good habits?
Are you noisy with quiet times?
Or are you quiet with noisy times?
Are you happy with some sad days?
Or are you sad with some happy days?
Are you neat with some sloppy ways?
Or are you sloppy with some neat ways?
And on and on and on and on
And on and on he went.
I'll never ask a zebra
About stripes
Again.

Shel Silverstein

Thankful

I have had a very peaceful day today. I have been feeling very centered, very relaxed after a very stressful week. And there is something else I am feeling. I have felt this same sensation every time I sat down today. This feeling that somehow seems so unfamiliar to me. But, I am not sure why. And yet it feels so good, so nice. Maybe, I am ready to really stop feeling the pain that grieving for my father has left me.
As I set my ice cold glass down on the small side table next to me and reach for my thick novel that I am currently reading I have this wave consume me. I sit there grinning from ear to ear. I am feeling thankful. Truly thankful. Not for material things but for everyone that I have in my life. For Mark my devoted husband. For my children, they teach me something new every day. For Darleen for opening my eyes to new possibilities. For Miranda for starting the life learner group and for helping guide me when I have questions. For Rachel for reminding how to grow and change. For Tara for the possibilities of new friendships. For Amy and her hugs. For Elizabeth because she is so easy to share my heart with. For Kalena that is reminding me to love everyday. For Kime and Stephanie for their friendships. For Rebbecca for my first family sleepover. For my mom who brought me into this word and stayed home with me when I was young(yes, I truly look back on my childhood with happy memories). For my Dad who taught me the importance of being trustworthy and honest. For the wonderful friendship I have with my brother and his wife. For my perfect little nephews. For my grandparents and all the advice they still give me. For the love that God has for me. For the life I have, the life I live, all the friendships and love. My cup is overflowing. How I have missed this amazing sensation of thankfulness.

WoW, it's Ice Princess

I was looking through some older pictures and found this video of Ice Princess that was taken two years ago in the Dominican Republic. Looks like fun...