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do schools kill creativity?

family portrait

This past Friday morning we met fellow home schoolers and experienced some culture! Korean culture that is. Caltech in Pasadena offers some amazing art and music performances for kids.

This day we saw traditional Korean musicians and dancers. The women wore their brightly colored hanbok. They looked like flowers dancing on stage.

Being that I worked with a Korean family closely for 9 years while working at the flower shop, and visiting Korea one summer, many summers ago, it was very special to get to see this show. And as you can see from the photo below, Greta was pretty excited about it too.

There was no photography allowed, so I pulled these from their website.

nice wheels

Henry is getting very close to walking on his own. For now he is using the push cart that Greta used when she learned to walk. He likes to push for a few steps, stop and let go, balance for 3 seconds, then take off again, repeat. He is feeling very proud of his new skills and steady legs.

This afternoon Zach and Greta went out to run some errands, so Henry and I went to the cafe for coffee and some playtime. Across the street there is a bike shop. I have been thinking about getting Greta a bike for a while now, her legs are getting too long for the tricycle and she has ridden others and loved it. So feeling spontaneous and wanting to shop local, Henry and I crossed the street to the bike shop. Sure enough someone had just brought in a small pink bike for resale, hardly used. We chose some green grips, they attached the training wheels and we were good to go.

When Greta and Zach returned from their errands she found her surprise out on the deck. I think her first words were, "What is THAT?!"

She rode around the deck until it got dark. She was so worn out from riding in circles, she came in ate dinner, watched a little cartoon, then literally crawled into bed.

Awesome. She loves her bike.

charlotte marie

Here is lovely little Charlotte, just 10 days old with her beautiful and proud mama, Veronique.

Francois and Veronique were beaming with pride over their little girl. It brought back memories of those first few precious days with a newborn, wanting only to cuddle, stroke, and stare in awe and your sweet new baby. We are so happy for our long time friends that have waited so long for their Charlotte, and here she is and they are so in love.

I didn't get a chance to hold Charlotte. Zach couldn't make it because he had a cold so I was on Henry duty, walking him around the house and letting him play with the fun light fixtures.
As soon as Zach gets well we will pay them another visit and I hope to hold wee Charlotte. What a cutie!

Congratulations Francois and Veronique!

ooooooochie!

teeth

Come on out...we know you're in there.

henry and I...

one year ago today.

I know 5 lovely pregnant women right now. The baby quilts are in the works. I am currently working on one for Charlotte Marie. She was born not even two weeks ago. Tomorrow we will meet her and I can not wait!

this is your captain speaking

The command came in from the other room to put my seat belt on and my glasses because we were "headed for a redwood tree and we need to protect our eyes."

hide!

recipe for awesomeness

Combine the unexpected with the mundane.

Add a song from a beloved childhood movie.

Throw in some dance.

Mix in children and adults alike.

Serves up awesomeness.

Saw it first on Deborah's blog.  She cried too.

Fun fact;  Zach and I stopped at that station on our honeymoon.

my new favorite duo

How have I never heard of these gals?  I could listen to them all day.  This video makes me wish we were in Portland.  I love the woods, I love these voices.

partay

This past weekend we were invited to a kids party.  The there was an Indiana Jones/Adventure/Safari theme going on.  Being that the invitees were all around 4 years old, I'm doubting that any had actually seen the Indiana Jones movies, (melting faces, hearts being torn from chests, monkey brains...) But the 30 and 40 something parents, undoubtedly big fans.

Here we are entering the party.  Greta hiding behind my skirt.

The museum curator ( Brody)  setting up the scavenger hunt.  
Greta, dressed as a Turkish cowgirl.  Fun fact: the vest belonged to Gma Peg, it's part of a traditional Turkish outfit,  she lived in Turkey as a girl.
Scary clown face painting.
I think my favorite shot, this cutie was quite a ham for the camera.
Fun fun fun.

seven years ago today

I married my soul mate.

Happy Anniversary, my sweet love pie.

reunited and it feeeels so gooood.

Ollie met one of his brothers and his only sister for a play date last week.   Henry was having a terrible time teething that day so we stayed behind.   Apparently I missed quite a show.  There was the initial raised hair down the spine and the usual getting to know each other phase, but they soon were romping around the yard together having the time of their lives. 

Here's Iggy checking Ollie out.

Sweet Bella giving Greta a kiss.
Iggy, typical alpha male.
Bella exhausted.
Looking forward to the next pup play date.  

beauty and the breast

I stumbled across this blog while perusing Mothering's website.   Wonderful photographs of breast feeding in times past. Also you'll find some very archaic and disturbing methods of baby care.  We've come a long way (or haaaave we?)

I love the mothers expressions in these.  Beautiful.

if ever a wiz there was

This past weekend we were paid a visit by our friend Melanie.  She bestowed upon Greta a box. Not just any box, but a box full of never opened smaller boxes each containing a character from the Wizard of Oz.  Melanie is very aware of Greta's love for this story and decided to pass these dolls on to her.  I believe she said they were purchased by her mother 20 years ago.  This was a very special gift indeed.  Greta loves surprises but doesn't really like all the attention that sometimes  comes with it.  She was pretty quiet when she saw the dolls, stared at them, overwhelmed by this dream come true she went into body contortion mode. Inside I think she was doing somersaults.

Gathering them for a photo shoot.
Me, posing like a poser.
Playing.  Nonstop till bedtime.
The whole gang.
This gift for Greta felt so big, so sweet, so thoughtful.  She's crazy about these dolls.

Hairdos were quickly changed.  Dorothy lost her braids and the bad witch got two ponytails, creating a less villainous look.  They travel around with us in a big bag.  Good times.

Thank you Mel, for the fun visit and for the gift that will keep on giving.  

i love my family.

happy monday

exhibit A:

It didn't take long to figure out where the kids caught their colds this week.  I had a bad feeling when they jumped into those balls.  Everyone knows that those things aren't being sanitized at the end of the day.  Maybe this Pilates and Play class isn't as "perfect" as I thought.  

*sigh*

dolls are people too