heno

babies and dolls

This morning we had some very special visitors. Jess, Maddie, and Max drove out to see us. This was the first time we had seen Max in the flesh. This is the same Max that inspired my first haiku in maybe 18 years. (I am old). This sweet boy was very chill, spent his time nursing and being cuddled by his mama. A very happy and content little man. And look how cute!

Maddie was right at home. She explored the house, the toys, and the animals, did some serious cream cheese eating and some delightful piano playing.
Jess, I regret I didn't get a picture of her. But if I did have a camera on hand I would have taken a photo as she told the perfect story of Max's birth, for during those minutes she seemed to glow. It was a happy birth at home, 2 hour labor. Yes, 2 hours. Her daughter Maddie was also born naturally at a birthing center. No hospitals for this mama. And this mama's mama had all 4 of her children at home too! Two awesome mamas!

Then, this afternoon while Henry slept I started and finished this doll for Greta. She named her Cutie, has been holding her every minute since I sewed the last stitch, and she says she loves her more than...she loves me. Hmmmmm....I guess I take that as a compliment.

take me back to amsterdam

more panda portraits

more amsterdam bicycle love

the oompa loompas had it right

This morning with busy hands trying to gather snacks and water for our trip to the park, Greta insisted I read just a tiny bit more of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We left off last night where Mike Teavee had just been made small and was transported into the TV. She was dying to know what happened next. Henry was biting at my ankles, and she couldn't wait just one more minute while I please just get this water poured and lid closed! Finally I took the book, sat in the middle of the kitchen floor and said, "OK, two pages!" I admit I did this begrudgingly at first because well, I was busy for goodness sake. But I try, oh ever so hard not to turn down any requests for reading time. So I read, Henry mysteriously disappeared and Greta sat to listen.

And this is what we read:

The Oompa Loompas sang...

"The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set–
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.
In almost every house we've been,
We've watched them gaping at the screen.
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare until their eyes pop out.
(Last week in someone's place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)
They sit and stare and stare and sit
Until they're hypnotised by it,
Until they're absolutely drunk
With all the shocking ghastly junk.
Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink–
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSES IN THE HEAD!
IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!
HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!
HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!
HE CANNOT THINK–HE ONLY SEES!
'All right!' you'll cry. 'All right!' you'll say,
'But if we take the set away,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children? Please explain!'
We'll answer this by asking you,
'What used the darling ones to do?
'How used they keep themselves contented
Before this monster was invented?'
Have you forgotten? Don't you know?
We'll say it very loud and slow:
THEY...USED...TO...READ! They'd READ and READ,
AND READ and READ, and then proceed
To READ some more. Great Scott! Gadzooks!
One half their lives was reading books!
The nursery shelves held books galore!
Books cluttered up the nursery floor!
And in the bedroom, by the bed,
More books were waiting to be read!
Such wondrous, fine, fantastic tales
Of dragons, gypsies, queens, and whales
And treasure isles, and distant shores
Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
And pirates wearing purple pants,
And sailing ships and elephants,
And cannibals crouching 'round the pot,
Stirring away at something hot.
(It smells so good, what can it be?
Good gracious, it's Penelope.)
The younger ones had Beatrix Potter
With Mr. Tod, the dirty rotter,
And Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland,
And Mrs. Tiggy–Winkle and–
Just How The Camel Got His Hump,
And How The Monkey Lost His Rump,
And Mr. Toad, and bless my soul,
There's Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole–
Oh, books, what books they used to know,
Those children living long ago!
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
Ignoring all the dirty looks,
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks–
Fear not, because we promise you
That, in about a week or two
Of having nothing else to do,
They'll now begin to feel the need
Of having something good to read.
And once they start–oh boy, oh boy!
You watch the slowly growing joy
That fills their hears. They'll grow so keen
They'll wonder what they'd ever seen
In that ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive television screen!
And later, each and every kid
Will love you more for what you did.
P.S. Regarding Mike Teavee,
We very much regret that we
Shall simply have to wait and see
If we can get him back his height.
But if we can't–it serves him right

Just for the record, we do not have a TV in the house. I do allow Greta to watch certain dvds on our computer that we deem appropriate, and this is typically while Henry is taking a nap. But I must admit, and this photo is proof, that I have let Henry sit with Greta to watch "Peep and Quack" while I get some dishes out of the way. I know, it's terrible!! I love this photo though, it tells so much. It reminds me that even the computer, though not a TV set, is still just a boob tube.

5 years and 5 days ago...

Our Greta Rose was born. At 10:59 am she arrived. A clear and warm September morning in Santa Monica. It was love at first sight. She had the blackest hair, the prettiest pink skin, and the longest eyelashes I had ever seen. We couldn't take our eyes off of her those first few days. I took dozens of pictures of her just sleeping. A perfect and beautiful miracle that has brought our family more joy, happiness, and purpose than we could have ever imagined.

Greta, my daughter, I can write a book filled with the reasons and ways that I love you. For every day I spend with you is a gift. Five feels like such a big number and you have become such a big girl. Literally. You are very tall! You are growing more confident, smart, creative, and kind everyday. I see gentleness and empathy with your brother and with your friends. Your papa and I (or as you sometimes refer to us as 'Zach and Rachel') could not be more proud or in love with you. Thank you for the gift of you, our precious flower, Greta Rose.

Oh, The Temptation from Steve V on Vimeo.

Helloha

It is no secret that Greta loves all things Hawaiian. So I have downloaded countless Hawaiian songs from i tunes. Both traditional music as well as any song even related to Hawaii or Hula dancing. In our Hawaii mix that we listen to in the car, we have several Don Ho hit songs. Today we listened to Tiny Bubbles over and over again. She likes when I sing along, Henry sometimes chimes in, though she is a bit shy when it comes to singing herself.

But this afternoon I witnessed the cutest thing ever in this world. Driving home from the plant nursery, cruising down York, listening to Tiny Bubbles for the 97th time, I look at her in my rear view mirror and I see her lips moving and very faintly hear her singing along in perfect timing to Don Ho's cool and melodious tune. It was adorable. Maybe it's just because she's my kid, maybe you just had to be there, maybe it's because she turns 5 on Sunday and lately I can't help but notice what an amazing, sweet, funny, and beautiful little person she is, but with that glimpse of her in the rear view mirror my heart melted.

As we got closer to home, without any prodding from me, she proudly announced how she had been singing Tiny Bubbles as well as the other song "with the Hawaiian girls" that is sung all in Hawaiian. Now, I didn't witness her singing along with the Hawaiian girls, but I totally believe her.

Tiny Bubbles...in the wine

Makes me happy, makes me feel fine

Tiny Bubbles...make me warm all over

With the feeling that I'm gonna love you till the end of time

Have a groovy weekend all, and as my girl would say...HELLOHA!

clouds

This morning with our homeschool group we will learn all about the different types of clouds and make some of our own!

Another Cloud Reel... from Delrious on Vimeo.

fall

Today Henry stumbled while in a yogurt shop and smacked his forehead on the hard tile. I picked him up to comfort him, he was crying, and I noticed he had a good sized bump. I kept holding him, he kept crying and that bump grew bigger and bigger and redder and purple. I had never seen a this kind of rapid and dramatic change in a bump before. I could see that my friend was just as surprised as I was. Thankfully she had arnica tablets that we could give him right away. I quickly decided to take Hen to the ER to have him checked out. Greta went home with our friends.

During the 45 minute wait in the ER I could see that he was going to be fine. He was acting like himself, playing games with me, wanting me to take him to see a picture of balloons down the hall over and over again, he was drawing on his leg and on my neck.

So, he checked out fine and we went to pick up Greta. Henry fell asleep in the car. His bump was already looking better, swelling had gone down.

Greta had been worried for her brother. When we got home they were playing in her room and I overheard her asking him if he was ok and if he was still hurt. She offered to to sit him in a very comfy spot and tell him a story. She started with the story and then she yells..."MOM, HENRY IS PEEEEEEING!"

So Henry and I took a shower. I washed away the stress of the afternoon from myself and I washed away from Henry's hair the frozen yogurt that I had smeared on to get the swelling down.

I took them for an evening walk and we stopped to visit with all the neighborhood cats.

I think I have given Henry more kisses today than any other day in his life.

My poor little boombola.

yummy

I'm feeling excited for fall and the warmth of soft wool. I have promised Greta a new hat and scarf for a trip up north in October. This means I'd better have something for Hen too!

Before I even step into a yarn shop I must finish Greta's quilt! I'm almost there.

Maybe, just maybe I can order some home spun and dyed yarn from this chica.

Delicious!

flowers...i mean angels in the attic

If you or your kids love dolls and can spend hours getting lost in tiny worlds then this museum in Santa Monica is for you...or your kids.

Happy Monday.

haiku for zach

husband, father, son, and friend

giant gentle heart

to the moon we all love you

do you like my hat?

I believe that Greta just might have a future in funky yet functional hat design.

indoors

That is where we have been spending our days. The air remains thick with smoke and somedays ash. On the days we just can't take it any more we head to the beach. Today we decided to go to the Annenburg House in Santa Monica. Twas wonderful to breath the salty sea air.

Tomorrow, the Autry. Greta's new favorite destination. I have to say, it's mine too.

unschool

With my Greta approaching 5 and with the school year starting for most, lately there have been many of these conversations;

Is Greta getting ready for kindergarten?

me: Well, I'm homeschooling so no, she won't be going to kindergarten.

pause.

But you will still be doing school right? Some kind of curriculum?

me: We are actually doing something called unschooling...

Thats usually when there is another pause and with that a concerned and somewhat confused look washes over their face.

So I usually proceed with my usual spiel on what unschooling will be like. I try to assure the listener that my kids will indeed become educated, smart, and socialized without compulsory schooling. This is hard to do. So I thought I would pass on this nice and tidy website that offers some Frequently Asked Questions about unschooling. I also really enjoy this blog. The fact is that each family that homeschools or unschools is going to do things differently, simply because all children are unique and so is their learning style. There are no definitive answers.

Greta and Henry will take us down interesting and adventurous roads for sure as we follow their lead, offering guidance and inspiration along the way. They will live, experience, touch, explore, read, play, learn! And of course become well balanced, compassionate human beings with lots of friends.