We went to Sheridan Lake, for the whooooole day yesterday. That's so how we do things, all the way 110%, no rushing us, man! We got there about 11:30'sh and left at 6:00. Saylor and Stone left with Amy and Adeline to spend the night with them in Deadwood. Sage and I came home, ate some crock-pot goodness, watched the first season of Weeds (LOOOVE IT! and Oh! the Music!) and shared a gourmet chocolate bar.
After every episode of Weeds was over, he'd say "Can we go now?" He really wanted to go be where his brothers were, and I kept explaining to him that we'd go in the morning. It is precious how much he loves his brothers. He's just a bit beside himself when they aren't near.
So, this morning, we're heading to Deadwood to catch the Days of '76 Parade and pick up our boys. Then, I'm hoping to spend the day at home milling around, pecking away at some neglected duties and relaxing. But...I have two boys who might have entirely different ideas of how our day should look, so we'll see.
Gotta get dressed and get going!
Peace...
July 28, 2007
July 27, 2007
Thursday
Sage had 2 hats on, and looked so cute sitting here with Max. He humored me and sat for a shot, too!
We searched for crawdaddies yesterday. The boys thought it would be fun to try their fishing poles, baited with ham. Yep, crawdads enjoy ham. They pulled in several.
Watching and waiting...
This is the lovely pond that's just blocks away from our home. We love it! It's home to some HUGE snapping turtles, too; which we've had the privilege of seeing. They are so prehistoric looking...very cool!
Sage wanted to bring along a toy to play with, so we played a while with these before he requested we go over to the park to play on the slide.
We searched for crawdaddies yesterday. The boys thought it would be fun to try their fishing poles, baited with ham. Yep, crawdads enjoy ham. They pulled in several.
Watching and waiting...
This is the lovely pond that's just blocks away from our home. We love it! It's home to some HUGE snapping turtles, too; which we've had the privilege of seeing. They are so prehistoric looking...very cool!
Sage wanted to bring along a toy to play with, so we played a while with these before he requested we go over to the park to play on the slide.
The children pictured here are all friends of ours. Mary came with her 3 sons, and Christine came with her 2 sons, her daughter, and another little girl. I'll get some photos of the mama's one of these times!
Here are some contemplative little people. Wonder what they're discussing? From left, Henry, Saylor, Haakon and Willow.
Here are some contemplative little people. Wonder what they're discussing? From left, Henry, Saylor, Haakon and Willow.
July 26, 2007
"Advice to Myself"
"Advice to Myself" by Louise Erdrich, from Original Fire: Selected and New Poems. © Harper Collins Publishers, 2003.
Advice to Myself
Leave the dishes.
Let the celery rot in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator
and an earthen scum harden on the kitchen floor.
Leave the black crumbs in the bottom of the toaster.
Throw the cracked bowl out and don't patch the cup.
Don't patch anything.
Don't mend. Buy safety pins.
Don't even sew on a button.
Let the wind have its way, then the earth
that invades as dust and then the dead
foaming up in gray rolls underneath the couch.
Talk to them. Tell them they are welcome.
Don't keep all the pieces of the puzzles
or the doll's tiny shoes in pairs, don't worry
who uses whose toothbrush or if anything
matches, at all.
Except one word to another. Or a thought.
Pursue the authentic-decide first
what is authentic,
then go after it with all your heart.
Your heart, that place
you don't even think of cleaning out.
That closet stuffed with savage mementos.
Don't sort the paper clips from screws from saved baby teeth
or worry if we're all eating cereal for dinner
again. Don't answer the telephone, ever,
or weep over anything at all that breaks.
Pink molds will grow within those sealed cartons
in the refrigerator. Accept new forms of life
and talk to the dead
who drift in though the screened windows, who collect
patiently on the tops of food jars and books.
Recycle the mail, don't read it, don't read anything
except what destroys
the insulation between yourself and your experience
or what pulls down or what strikes at or what shatters
this ruse you call necessity.
Advice to Myself
Leave the dishes.
Let the celery rot in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator
and an earthen scum harden on the kitchen floor.
Leave the black crumbs in the bottom of the toaster.
Throw the cracked bowl out and don't patch the cup.
Don't patch anything.
Don't mend. Buy safety pins.
Don't even sew on a button.
Let the wind have its way, then the earth
that invades as dust and then the dead
foaming up in gray rolls underneath the couch.
Talk to them. Tell them they are welcome.
Don't keep all the pieces of the puzzles
or the doll's tiny shoes in pairs, don't worry
who uses whose toothbrush or if anything
matches, at all.
Except one word to another. Or a thought.
Pursue the authentic-decide first
what is authentic,
then go after it with all your heart.
Your heart, that place
you don't even think of cleaning out.
That closet stuffed with savage mementos.
Don't sort the paper clips from screws from saved baby teeth
or worry if we're all eating cereal for dinner
again. Don't answer the telephone, ever,
or weep over anything at all that breaks.
Pink molds will grow within those sealed cartons
in the refrigerator. Accept new forms of life
and talk to the dead
who drift in though the screened windows, who collect
patiently on the tops of food jars and books.
Recycle the mail, don't read it, don't read anything
except what destroys
the insulation between yourself and your experience
or what pulls down or what strikes at or what shatters
this ruse you call necessity.
July 25, 2007
Oh, whoa is me...
I'm outta coffee! And everyone is still sleeping, so I can't make a coffee run. And if that's the greatest of my woes, then I'd say I'm living a pretty damn good life! But, when the baby wakes up, I'm running to get a cup to tide me over, then I'll pick up some fresh roasted beans from our local roaster. They're wholesalers, too, so if I buy 5#, I get it at the wholesale price of 7.99/#. I can already smell the sweetness of some organic Mexican fair trade beans brewing up!
We went to the pool yesterday with Kendra and her three sons, Cole, Zach and Luke. They all had a great time with each other; they always do. We might do a movie with them sometime this week, as well. A cheap movie, that is! Our lovely little Elks Theater has $3 seats. We've got a couple big theaters, too, but we like to wait a bit and drop less cash to see a new release.
We played a dvd game last night and one of my questions was about Elaine Davidson, and how many piercings she has (she holds the world record). I guessed right, then we had to google her and find a picture. Pretty incredible!
We started to listen to Redwall last night, but most of us fell asleep before really getting into it. We'll try again tonight.
We went to the pool yesterday with Kendra and her three sons, Cole, Zach and Luke. They all had a great time with each other; they always do. We might do a movie with them sometime this week, as well. A cheap movie, that is! Our lovely little Elks Theater has $3 seats. We've got a couple big theaters, too, but we like to wait a bit and drop less cash to see a new release.
We played a dvd game last night and one of my questions was about Elaine Davidson, and how many piercings she has (she holds the world record). I guessed right, then we had to google her and find a picture. Pretty incredible!
We started to listen to Redwall last night, but most of us fell asleep before really getting into it. We'll try again tonight.
July 23, 2007
Off to the lake
We're heading up into the hills to hang out at Robioux (eek, that's a hard one to spell, but it's pronounced Ro-Bay) Lake. I'll have to check for the real spelling when I'm there. Anyway, it's supposed to be another scorcher here today, so the temps should be somewhat gentler up there, and we'll be in the water all day, so it'll be good fun.
I've got the cooler packed with carrots, strawberries, grapes, watermelon, sugar snap peas, sandwiches, some chips and a few sodas. We've got our big jug of ice-cold water prepared, the boys are all running around here in their swim gear and we are ready to go! Dinner's in the crock-pot, waiting to nourish us when we return home, tired and hungry, full of happy memories and sand in places I won't mention! ;)
One quick stop at Albertson's for some ice and to pick up a movie for tonight (99 cent Mondays) and then we'll head up the hill, listening to Bowling for Soup ALL THE WAY THERE! Saylor already informed me we'll be listening to number 3 the whole way!
Enjoy the beautiful day, all!
I've got the cooler packed with carrots, strawberries, grapes, watermelon, sugar snap peas, sandwiches, some chips and a few sodas. We've got our big jug of ice-cold water prepared, the boys are all running around here in their swim gear and we are ready to go! Dinner's in the crock-pot, waiting to nourish us when we return home, tired and hungry, full of happy memories and sand in places I won't mention! ;)
One quick stop at Albertson's for some ice and to pick up a movie for tonight (99 cent Mondays) and then we'll head up the hill, listening to Bowling for Soup ALL THE WAY THERE! Saylor already informed me we'll be listening to number 3 the whole way!
Enjoy the beautiful day, all!
This is Why.
THE DAILY GROOVE ~ by Scott Noelle
www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove
:: Goodness Is Inspired, Not Required ::
Situation 1:
You ask your friend what she wants for a birthday
gift, and she says, "I would treasure *any* gift
from you!"
Wouldn't you feel inspired to give her something
very special?
Situation 2:
Another friend says, "I hope you're getting me
something *good* for my birthday... I just *hate*
tacky gifts!"
Wouldn't you feel like giving this friend a pile
of fake dog poop?! :-)
The point is that you feel most inspired to please
others when you don't feel pressured or coerced --
when you don't "have to."
Children are no different. They love to please others,
especially their parents, so long as their inspiration
to share pleasure isn't confounded by implied threats
of punishment, reward, or withdrawal of approval.
Today, let go of all "required goodness" by affirming
that your child is inherently good, and is *free* to
express that goodness... and free *not* to express it.
Remember that the best way to foster children's
authentic goodness is to let them see how much *you*
enjoy expressing your own goodness.
http://dailygroove.net/inspired-not-required
Feel free to forward this message to your friends!
(Please include this paragraph and everything above.)
Copyright (c) 2007 by Scott Noelle
www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygr
:: Goodness Is Inspired, Not Required ::
Situation 1:
You ask your friend what she wants for a birthday
gift, and she says, "I would treasure *any* gift
from you!"
Wouldn't you feel inspired to give her something
very special?
Situation 2:
Another friend says, "I hope you're getting me
something *good* for my birthday... I just *hate*
tacky gifts!"
Wouldn't you feel like giving this friend a pile
of fake dog poop?! :-)
The point is that you feel most inspired to please
others when you don't feel pressured or coerced --
when you don't "have to."
Children are no different. They love to please others,
especially their parents, so long as their inspiration
to share pleasure isn't confounded by implied threats
of punishment, reward, or withdrawal of approval.
Today, let go of all "required goodness" by affirming
that your child is inherently good, and is *free* to
express that goodness... and free *not* to express it.
Remember that the best way to foster children's
authentic goodness is to let them see how much *you*
enjoy expressing your own goodness.
http://dailygroove.net/inspire
Feel free to forward this message to your friends!
(Please include this paragraph and everything above.)
Copyright (c) 2007 by Scott Noelle
July 22, 2007
A Month in Review...
In June, before we went back to Sacramento, Grandpa treated us to a visit to the Cosmos Mystery Area. Here's a cool photo of just some of the freaky stuff that goes on there!
Back in Sacramento, swimming at the pool where we were parked. Fly Baby, Fly!
Getting his funk on!
A wee bit of warm up in the sun. I used to love laying on the hot concrete to warm up when I was little. Heck, I still do!
Daddy and his babe.
Back in Sacramento, swimming at the pool where we were parked. Fly Baby, Fly!
Getting his funk on!
A wee bit of warm up in the sun. I used to love laying on the hot concrete to warm up when I was little. Heck, I still do!
Daddy and his babe.
Water sliding while parked at a friend's farm near Kennebec, SD. On our way to Minnesota, late June.
Saylor driving us to a stock pond to try some fishing. We put it in first gear and he did the rest; gas, brake, steer! He did great!
No luck fishing in SD, but this beauty was caught in Northfield, MN. We stayed in Northfield for about a week right before the 4th of July. Stone was so proud of his bass!
And Saylor had good luck fishing, too! They caught bazillions of bullhead, nearly every cast in promised a bite! That makes for fun fishing!
Clearing off the bug juice.
Saylor driving us to a stock pond to try some fishing. We put it in first gear and he did the rest; gas, brake, steer! He did great!
No luck fishing in SD, but this beauty was caught in Northfield, MN. We stayed in Northfield for about a week right before the 4th of July. Stone was so proud of his bass!
And Saylor had good luck fishing, too! They caught bazillions of bullhead, nearly every cast in promised a bite! That makes for fun fishing!
Clearing off the bug juice.
In Northfield, MN. John's beautiful Mama Shirley visiting from Virginia. Here she is chopping up 4# of strawberries for some strawberry shortcake. 
Saylor was outside just after a big rainstorm in Northfield, and ended up with a bit of a mud splatter!
Our time in Bemidji. We arrived there on July 4th. Here are the kids painting in the sun, one of many great memories had from our time there.
More painting fun...
Saylor finally gets the black hair he's always wanted! It's nearly back to his blonde already, with the sun and swimming we've been doing.
Saylor was outside just after a big rainstorm in Northfield, and ended up with a bit of a mud splatter!
Our time in Bemidji. We arrived there on July 4th. Here are the kids painting in the sun, one of many great memories had from our time there.
More painting fun...
Saylor finally gets the black hair he's always wanted! It's nearly back to his blonde already, with the sun and swimming we've been doing. 
July 19, 2007
Oh, The Joy...
We had a blaster of a thunderstorm yesterday, and the boys had a wonderful time in it! They were under the umbrella some, in the rain some, running around and laughing together some, just having a ball! I always say I love rainy days because then I can actually keep my boys *inside*. Hmmm, guess that ain't truly so.
We stopped at a thrift store yesterday and scored some great buys! Here's our new lite brite for only $4! Stone worked on this rooster for most of the evening, coming back to it when he'd pass by, putting in a few lights, then moving on to something else until the mood struck again. I wanted to leave it right there, glowing all night it was so pretty! But Sage thought it was fun to start removing the lights, so I tucked it safely away in another room. We also picked up a couple wooden Tonka vehicles and Pictionary Junior (for $3)! Woo hoo! I loves me a good deal!!!
Cousin Jarod spent the night last night and they are now having some serious mud fun! John would have a heart attack if he saw this, but when the cat's away... :) No, I'll tell him about it. But he usually doesn't like the kids playing there and creating muddy swamps and such, but all that dirt is just there begging to be watered and enjoyed!
We stopped at a thrift store yesterday and scored some great buys! Here's our new lite brite for only $4! Stone worked on this rooster for most of the evening, coming back to it when he'd pass by, putting in a few lights, then moving on to something else until the mood struck again. I wanted to leave it right there, glowing all night it was so pretty! But Sage thought it was fun to start removing the lights, so I tucked it safely away in another room. We also picked up a couple wooden Tonka vehicles and Pictionary Junior (for $3)! Woo hoo! I loves me a good deal!!!
Cousin Jarod spent the night last night and they are now having some serious mud fun! John would have a heart attack if he saw this, but when the cat's away... :) No, I'll tell him about it. But he usually doesn't like the kids playing there and creating muddy swamps and such, but all that dirt is just there begging to be watered and enjoyed!
July 17, 2007
Tuesday, July 17
Saylor is loving WoW. We went out yesterday and bought a head-set so he can chat with others (Hayden & Kyra) through Skype while playing. Sooo cool! And sooo easy! And sooo free! (except for the head-set).
Not much time to post more right now, I've got three boys that want to go to the park pond on a quest for crawdads. We're hoping to go now, while it's only 90 degrees. It's supposed to hit 103 today. We'll be coming home to watch a movie when that happens. We rented Ghostrider and Catch and Release last night from Albertson's. Gotta love their 99 cent Monday rentals! We watched Ghostrider last night, and we'll draw the shades, cuddle on the couch in the ac house and watch the other one today.
All's well...
Not much time to post more right now, I've got three boys that want to go to the park pond on a quest for crawdads. We're hoping to go now, while it's only 90 degrees. It's supposed to hit 103 today. We'll be coming home to watch a movie when that happens. We rented Ghostrider and Catch and Release last night from Albertson's. Gotta love their 99 cent Monday rentals! We watched Ghostrider last night, and we'll draw the shades, cuddle on the couch in the ac house and watch the other one today.
All's well...
July 15, 2007
Another 8 Hour Road Trip
...and I think it'll be the last for a while! .....long, dreary sigh....
And, what does one do when coming off of an 8 hour road trip, (from the Twin Cities back to Rapid City)?
Why...run through the sprinkler, of course! Yep, the boys and I (again, without John, double long, dreary sigh) are back at home now. The reasons are many and varied, but basically, we need to keep our nose to the grindstone and *make* more money right now, while pulling back on the spending reins. That said, we arrived here about 9:30. It's dark out, but quite warm, 85 degrees, I think? Our grass was crispy under our feet, so I said I was going to put the sprinkler out for a bit. "Can we run through the sprinkler?" Stone asks. "Of Course!" I say, "Why not!!! What can be more fun than running through the sprinkler, in the dark, after a long day in the car!" So, we did! And it was fun!
Now Stone and Sage are in the tub (surprise!) and Saylor is patiently waiting for one last patch to go through so he can get on WoW! (thanks, Traaseth's!) He's been itchin' to play since we left Bemidji yesterday (sniff...)
Ta ta for now!
Hugs and Love...
And, what does one do when coming off of an 8 hour road trip, (from the Twin Cities back to Rapid City)?
Why...run through the sprinkler, of course! Yep, the boys and I (again, without John, double long, dreary sigh) are back at home now. The reasons are many and varied, but basically, we need to keep our nose to the grindstone and *make* more money right now, while pulling back on the spending reins. That said, we arrived here about 9:30. It's dark out, but quite warm, 85 degrees, I think? Our grass was crispy under our feet, so I said I was going to put the sprinkler out for a bit. "Can we run through the sprinkler?" Stone asks. "Of Course!" I say, "Why not!!! What can be more fun than running through the sprinkler, in the dark, after a long day in the car!" So, we did! And it was fun!
Now Stone and Sage are in the tub (surprise!) and Saylor is patiently waiting for one last patch to go through so he can get on WoW! (thanks, Traaseth's!) He's been itchin' to play since we left Bemidji yesterday (sniff...)
Ta ta for now!
Hugs and Love...
July 10, 2007
Helooooo Out There!
We’re tucked away in Bemidji, MN in the driveway of some wonderful unschoolers. Saylor, Stone, and Sage have played ALL DAY, EVERY DAY since we’ve gotten here. And, this is the house for playin’, too, let me tell ya! There’s the trampoline, the pool, and the woods to explore outside. Inside, there’s really too much to list! The Wii (oh! So much fun!) the PS2, big ol’ flat screen for watching movies, sewing materials and art supplies aplenty, guinea pigs and a corn snake, too! Saylor and Krya have been sewing bags and have plans to sew up a few more and sell them! ;) Last night before we headed to the bus for the night, Saylor said “Kyra, tomorrow, let’s sew all day”. He’s into it. We all watched as the snake was fed yesterday, the boys thought that was pretty cool!
Before coming here, we spent a few days in Northfield, MN near John’s brother’s place. John’s mama, Shirley, flew in from Virginia on the 30th so we got to hang out with her for a few days. We left there on the 4th and then she flew out on the 8th. Sage and Savannah (Jim’s daughter, about 1 month older than Sage) didn’t quite hit it off, so had to be closely watched when they were playing together. Sage was getting easily frustrated, not sure why? But, at two years old, I guess he really doesn’t need a reason. It’s our job to *be there* and help him through those moments! I only wish everyone else would have gotten that, instead of resorting to the “your kid is mean” crap. I could go on, but what’s done is done and I’m sorry for those who refused to see what an amazing child he is. ****big sigh**** Ok, moving on!
So, here we are, now, surrounded by gentle, loving, open-minded, open-hearted people! That’s always such a refreshing gift! I thank the Universe for bringing people like this to our lives. We’re so stinkin’ lucky!
(right at this very moment in time, Stone, Sage and Kyra are watching Shrek 2, Saylor is outside with Tim (dad-on-duty) chopping up a fallen tree, Kelli's doing her pool duties, Alec is engaged in WoW, Abbi is reading a big fat book and the house is filled with the aroma of cooking-all-day-long-in-the-crockpot chicken rice soup. How sweet it is...
Before coming here, we spent a few days in Northfield, MN near John’s brother’s place. John’s mama, Shirley, flew in from Virginia on the 30th so we got to hang out with her for a few days. We left there on the 4th and then she flew out on the 8th. Sage and Savannah (Jim’s daughter, about 1 month older than Sage) didn’t quite hit it off, so had to be closely watched when they were playing together. Sage was getting easily frustrated, not sure why? But, at two years old, I guess he really doesn’t need a reason. It’s our job to *be there* and help him through those moments! I only wish everyone else would have gotten that, instead of resorting to the “your kid is mean” crap. I could go on, but what’s done is done and I’m sorry for those who refused to see what an amazing child he is. ****big sigh**** Ok, moving on!
So, here we are, now, surrounded by gentle, loving, open-minded, open-hearted people! That’s always such a refreshing gift! I thank the Universe for bringing people like this to our lives. We’re so stinkin’ lucky!
(right at this very moment in time, Stone, Sage and Kyra are watching Shrek 2, Saylor is outside with Tim (dad-on-duty) chopping up a fallen tree, Kelli's doing her pool duties, Alec is engaged in WoW, Abbi is reading a big fat book and the house is filled with the aroma of cooking-all-day-long-in-the-crockpot chicken rice soup. How sweet it is...
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