Hemp Hoe Down 2006

We went to the Hemp Hoe Down a couple weeks ago, at a campground just went of Sturgis off of Interstate 90. Had a very, very good time. Ate some yummy food: Thai spring rolls, buffalo burgers from the "Organibus Kitchen". The kids ran and ran and ran and played and played and played all day. They found endless ways to keep themselves occupied near the creek. It was a beautiful, sunny day spent with friends as a few of the others from The Mother's Collective were there, too. Alex Whiteplume spoke about his experience of growing hemp, only to have the DEA come in and seize it, twice. It's now being battled out in the court system, hoping that the courts will declare HEMP and MARIJUANA to be two separate things, and so cannot be treated the same. Hopefully Alex and his family will finally be able to reap the benefits of this amazing crop.
In the photo, we are stripping the fiber off of hemp to make hemp paper. Saylor and Sage were both into it!

First Lemon-Ade Stand

Saylor is on the quest to earn money! He wants an iPod, so we are coming up with all sorts of ways he can get one. I told him I'd help him by giving him some of my money, he's got birthday money left, and then this morning, he says "Hey! I could have a lemonade stand!"
"Yes, you could!", I say.
"Can I have one today?"
"Of course!"
So, we gathered the necessary supplies: frozen pink lemonade (whew! 2 left!) paper and markers for the sign, and called on grandma to deliver by some cups. His first customer was the UPS man who I yelled at and told him he needed to come on over across the street and buy some lemonade. He was so sweet, and happily did so. We explained that Saylor was saving up for an iPod and so he bought his 25 cent lemonade, and told Saylor to keep the rest of the dollar for a tip. Saylor had that very cool, very proud, 'can you believe it' look on his face. It was so fun to watch him. He made $7.75 in just under 2 hours. Not too shabby, I say! Stone generously volunteered his time to help his big brother out. He was the delivery boy for the car that pulled up and ordered 5 cups, and also helped Saylor with the pouring and luring people in! Saylor wasn't to sure about the 'marketing' (or, yelling at people to come over and buy his goods), so I did that and Stone helped out, too. Stone is always up for getting people's attention. He, unlike Saylor, doesn't mind all eyes on him. Kind of like his Papa! Saylor's more like me in that way, not so comfortable with so much visibility.
At dinner, Saylor was making plans for his next business venture. I guess we'll see where this all takes us!

On Consciousness

I've been thinking quite a lot about being conscious these days. I remember feeling these things, and thinking these things the last time I lived here, in this place, in this house. For the past year and a half, we have not been living *consciously*, or I should say I have not been living consciously. And now, it's returning to me. The feeling, the need to want to live with meaning. In the little things, in the big things. It feels really good to have this shift.

Outside again

We took a quick drive up to Hill City today to visit a friend who will be opening up a health food store there. Very cool spot, and HC doesn't have a HFS yet, so it should go over well! Then we went to the park to help Haakon celebrate his 6th birthday! We all got yummy organic ice cream bars, and the kids played some games and again found their way to the creek. They were all pretty muddy when it was all over with, but well worth it!
Got home in time for the boys to mingle with their baby chicks/duck for a while, then John arrived home from SF. I whipped up some Indian tacos for dinner, then off to the Idea Wild slide show at the Journey Museum. The slide show was fascinating (if you are a grownup), and the kids sat well enough through it! Then, Melissa from Wildlife Adventures brought out some live animals. A large parrot, named Reggie; an Euroasian Eagle Owl, a pigeon, and some type of rainforest lizard at the end (from the rainforest, oops, can't remember what kind?) Stone bought a t-shirt, and in so doing, helped to fund a project to provide binoculars for scientists in the field who are interested in biodiversity. Now, we're all tired and home. I put Sage to sleep first, then went down to get myself ready for bed. Made the mistake of opening up the fridge and saw the 2 Napolean deserts I picked up from the Alpine Inn while in Hill City today. So, out came my fork! Mmmm, my favorite! Saylor and Stone are watching a bit of tv, and will be up when they feel ready for bed. As for me, I'm ready now! Goodnight!

Baby things

This afternoon Pam called, and sweetly offered to watch the boys while I finished painting, or rather, adding the last of 4 steps to the last wall and a half in the dining room. It's done, finally! I'm such a procrastinator sometimes. Then I asked her if she'd stay for dinner, and she said sho thang! Anyway, I threw some leftovers from the fridge into some organic chicken broth, and voila! Soupy soup for suppy sup!
And, now onto the "baby things" title. We went to Runnings and got some baby chicks and a baby duck. I thought we'd get three baby ducks, but Saylor and Stone each chose a chick instead, then I grabbed (gently!) a baby duck for Sage. Yeah, he screams if it comes near him, but I sure think it's cuter than cute! We got them all set up in the bathroom for the overnighter (Max is still sleeping in the house, and that's the only door that shuts downstairs). Will work on getting them situated in the garage tomorrow. The boys are loving them so much already, carrying them around everywhere they go, snuggling with them on the couch. They haven't named them yet, though Stone did mention he was going to call his chick Frozone. (y'know! from the incredibles) Mostly he just likes to call it baby chicken and watch it waddle around dropping baby chicken poop all over the floor, while I run around with my wet rag and BioKleen to pick up the pieces! Anything for my boys! :)
The sun is making its way back to us now! Expecting some upper sixties this weekend. 82, to 32, to 69! Crazy stuff.

Switcheroo!

It was 32 degrees today! And windy, and snowing, and raining, and then snowing, then some rain, and a little hail thrown in there for good measure! Oh, and lots more wind. Gusts up to 70+ miles an hour, I heard. We had to take Max to the vet for a check, he's got a funky little cough, but he's on the mend, now. Nothing serious. He's been quite happy sleeping on his dog bed inside by the door. We've got the fireplace going today, so snug and cozy it is here! I love these kinds of days. Excuses to NOT go outside of the house, and just have to hang out and veg together. When the weather is good, the boys are outside all the time, so it's harder to keep up with them sometimes, and they would rather be hanging outside than inside with their boring old mama, so I like it when they're stuck with me! hehehehe!
During dinner we had a very cool conversation about having babies at home versus hospital, and also breastfeeding. Saylor asked me "what did your grandma do with you?" (What he meant was "what did his grandma do with me?) I shared what I knew. That I was breastfed for about 3 weeks, and then fed with a bottle. Then Stone shared how much he loved nursing, and was proud to tell Saylor that he even still knows HOW to do it! Saylor responded by saying, "you do? i don't remember how anymore" Then Stone sat there and gave him step by step directions, demonstrating with his cute little lips on this invisible air nipple. It was adorable! Then, suddenly Stone says, "Yeah, I loved nursing! Maybe I could nurse right now!" And of course I said, "you can nurse whenever you want". So, he gave it a try right there at the dinner table. I wonder sometimes if his need was fully met? He definitely has a boobie fettish. My beautiful boy!

In the Creek

Today was a beautiful, beautiful day! Zanskar and Teo spent the morning with us, then we all headed to Sioux Park for a bit before Poppy came to pick up the twins. Sage fell asleep en route, so slept in the sling for a quick nappy before waking up to dicover where we were, then of course, he was off and running!
The boys meandered their way down towards this very shallow spot of creek, and waded around in it for a while with a couple of others brothers that were there. They were so into finding all kinds of different, intersting rocks, and then chucking them down stream. My wonderful Stoney boy couldn't resist the temptation to lay in the water, so he did. In all his glory, there he was, fully clothed, tummy down and loving it! I'm sure it had to be chilly, it is only April after all! But, they enjoyed it, and I enjoyed watching! Sage stayed close to the edge and also reveled in the chucking of the rocks! It was 82 degrees today!

Happy Boys

We've had so many really good days since moving back to Rapid City. I'm sure that the boys mirror my energy, and it's been more than obvious recently. They have all been happy, giggly, kind, loving, and so much fun. Even little Sage seems to be feeling the effects of coming home, though he was only gestated in this house, and spent the whole of his life in Sioux Falls, but I'm convinced he likes it better here! :)
Saylor and Stone spent most of the day hanging out together and playing "what can we cut up" with fancy cheese slicer tooly things. It was so cool to hear them talking to each other, using kindness and consideration and cooperation. It was just lovely.
John left early Tuesday morning, and so the boys and I have been on our own this week. He'll get back tomorrow and we're all ready to see him and have him back in our big bed. We've had a full week, here's the rundown:
Tuesday:
drop dad off at windmill truckstop, swing by BK for Croissanwich (saylor HAD to have one), Menards run for booster seat for Stoney boy, and more stuff? can't remember, man, i need to blog daily!
Wednesday:
Zanskar and Teo spent the morning with us, went to the park for an 'all dayer', came home and mama was wiped out, so wanted to get Sage down for a nap, but he wasn't havin' it, so, up we go, popped up some popcorn, outside until dusk. It was a gorgeous day and we enjoyed every minute of it. Had a great conversation with Jen re: midwifery stuff/doula stuff. She's a gem of a woman, and I'll miss her very much.
Thursday: (that's today)
planned on going to the Line's Ballet rehearsal, but the boys played right on through the morning, then I looked at the clock, and oops! 1:22 (started at 1) So we agreed that lunch at the Saigon would be a good alternative. Egg drop soup was yummy, tea was even yummier, and they have a great spot that has toys in it for wee ones to occupy themelves with for a bit. Another trip to Menard's for Max's collar and a dogbed, as well as paint for the dining room (which Pam has so graciously given the gift of herself Saturday to come and help me with! thanks again, darling!) Monica's house for some yummy lentil soup and learning some incredible things about Xango (super duper healthy juice made from mangosteen (sp??) Then, in the dark and in the pretty heavy rain, a quick trip to Albertsons for some organic 1/2 and 1/2 for big mama to have in her morning breve. And of course, the kids chose a few things, too.
Friday:
Planning a trip out to Rebecca's to just be together and talk and eat, I'm sure! Isabelle doesn't have school tomorrow, so the boys are looking forward to playing with her in their wonderful little children's fortress of a home!

*****Some Random Thoughts***** (ha! aren't they all?)
As I was hanging some sheets on the line this afternoon (just in time for them to be rained on over and over throughout the remainder of the day), I smiled to myself to be back in this space. Even the bird calls I was hearing were safe and familiar. That's how it felt to me. Like my old buddies, the birds, greeting us and welcoming us back. We have a birdhouse right outside our kitchen window that is home to a busy mama/papa. Saylor noticed them a few days ago, and said that they probably moved back in when they realized we were back. When we lived here before, there was a family in there, too. Saylor actually rescued one of the babies that had fallen out, so he's quite attached to this family.
There are so many other things I think of throughout the day that I really want to capture and get down in words here, but then I sit here and they all escape me. Perhaps I need a computer that fits in my pocket to get down all of those fleeting words and moments? Ah, well, for now this will do!

Breathing Babes

I got on the computer quick before bed to see what was up with our park plans tomorrow, and then checked hannahbearski's blog. www.hannahbearski.blogspot.com
Diana wrote about how she spends a minute or 100 crying at her computer in the mornings and how she misses hearing Hannah's breathing (her computer is near her bed) while she's on her computer.
This I read as I sit only feet away from my 3 sleeping, breathing children and I could only weep.
Words don't seem to work right now ...

On Coming Home

Our trip across the state went well. Sage slept a good portion, and was well entertained for the other! When we could see the city lights, everyone got pretty excited and then we had to do "3 cheers for Rapid City!" Then Stone held up his arms (think showing off ones muscles) and said "I am the guard of Rapid City" in a very guardish, heroic kind of way.
When we arrived in Rapid City, it was dark and there was a bunch of snow on the ground from the big storm that had just passed the weekend before. We weren't home for 10 minutes, and both Saylor and Stone were OUTSIDE playing, in the DARK, in the SNOW! Our yard here is very small, but they stay amazingly busy in it. They've been outside so much these past days; more than they'd played outside in SF for months. We're all loving being home!
Our house is somewhat put together. Boxes still in a couple of rooms, of course, but we have a peaceful place to land in the living/family/dining room, and our bedroom. It feels so good to be here in this house again. My body just knows this house in so many ways. I gave life to Stone in this house. While I was pg with Stone, I saw an intuitive consultant who told me "this is the home that you will heal in". I did.
We've spent time with lots of friends already, too. Pammy K. helped get things looking beautiful! (thanks, darling!) We hung out and played with Kendra and her boys; and today we went to a Mother's Collective potluck in the park for Monica's birthday. Always in awe over the amazing women in this special little group of ours! Also got to see the Martinez girls in their new home for a couple of hours this afternoon. The kids were merrily slopping through the mud and spreading apple seeds. The moms (and dad) enjoyed the last bit of warmth from the sun as we sipped our beers. It was a lovely, lovely 70 degree, sunny day here today! Gotta love that Rapid City weather! I'm so thankful to be back in it! Gratitude, Gratitude, Gratitude. I'm feeling it all around! :)
Ahhhhhhh, it's good to be H*O*M*E.

Suffer

"In a nutshell, people whose lives are hard, boring, painful, meaningless -- people who suffer -- tend to resent those who seem to suffer less than they do, and will make them suffer if they can. People who feel themselves in chains, with no hope of ever getting them off, want to put chains on everyone else." -- John Holt, Teach Your Own, Introduction.

*************************************************************************

This statement rings so true. I have had many experiences, especially regarding the choices we make as a family, that will point right back to this statement. Hmmmmm? Perhaps this is one worthy of printing and framing? So I can see it often enough to keep me seeing the beauty and truth of the path we've chosen.

Flow

Have you ever had a moment in time where everything just flowed so perfectly it nearly took your breath away? I had a long moment like that tonight. We finished dinner (the boys and I, John's out of town) and I started cleaning off the table and tidying the kitchen. All around me I had these 3 marvelous little boys completely absorbed in their chosen tasks. Saylor was having a little steam inhalation time (stuffy nose) which then turned into an experiment with more eucalyptus oil, another bowl and a dish towel being added into the concoction. Stone was playing with playdough at the table, wrapping up different tools in a blanket of purple playdough. Sage was busy (for well over an hour) working at his little work-station (two chair seats serving as just the right size table for him to stand by). He had markers, playdough, clay, and various sizes of cups and bowls. He was going back and forth and putting little pieces here then moving them to here and then poking them with his marker, and then taking them out of that cup and putting them into this bowl. So busy!
I was filled with such a warm feeling of gratitude during this beautiful moment I like to call ~ flow ~.

Sidenote:
Saylor prepared a very special dessert for this evening. He chopped up some fresh strawberries, crushed some malted milk easter eggs, smashed up some Hershey's Kisses with caramel, and stirred it all together. YUMMY! He was so proud of himself and kept saying, "how do you like it? it's good, huh?" Then I'd take a bite (another bite) and then comment on how great it tasted all together, then I'd hand him the bowl back, and he'd just sit there and watch me finish my bite, and then say "it's good, isn't it?" Noticing now that he wasn't eating any of it, just getting joy from watching me enjoy it so much. I told him I felt bad that I was eating all of it, and he said he didn't feel like any sweets right now. So, I happily finished off the bowl! :)

What we did today...

ate breakfast together
experimented with food color
mixed colors together to create new colors
smiled
made toilet paper sculptures
painted with Q-tips
played outside
bundled sage (the plant, not the baby)
rode our bicycles
enjoyed each other
ate our annie's mac & cheese on the deck in the sun
lit a fire in our chimenea
read books
watched Pink Panther cartoons
played Neopets
talked about trusting our inner voice
played Starfall.com
cozied up in bed together
fell asleep in each others arms
and too many other things to list! :)

Sunday

We've had a nice Sunday. Our day started with yummy egg/biscuit sandwiches, lovingly made by our very own Daddy-O. We skipped out on church today, and headed, instead, to the mall for a syrup/coffee/playland run. Back home at noon to meet with the realtor and get our house on the market! Sign is in the yard, and we're hoping for a quick sale! Then, Sage and I headed upstairs for a little nappy, while the big boys went to pick out a new bicycle for Stone. He got a very cool one, with flames, of course! :) Dad put it together for him, while we all spent some time outside together. It was a nice, sunny day. Sun, lovely sun! Saylor said he was hungry for chicken wings, so off Dad and Stone go to the store for just the thing. Saylor and I read a book together about the Underground Railroad. He's quite suprised that people would treat other people that way. He thought maybe he would have bought some slaves and then let them all go. He said he wouldn't have any whips, or shackles, or masters. He would just let them go. Yep, I love my boy! Now Dad and Saylor are cooking up the chicken wings, on the grill, and we'll be feasting soon. Stone and Sage are here with me, sitting on the couch together, watching the Pink Panther cartoons on DVD. I just looked over and Stone was trying to give Sage a kiss, and Sage loves to kiss back; all open mouthed and everything. That made Stone laugh, which, in turn, made Sage giggle. Cuteness!

Unschooling Article Interview

{The West Coast Bureau Chief for the Chicago Tribune based in Los
Angeles is writing an article on Unschooling. Following is my response to the questions he asked.}

My husband and I have 3 young sons. 7yo, 4.5yo, 15mos. We've been unschooling our children since birth, as it is a very natural progression of the lifestyle we adopted when they were born, which is 'attachment parenting'. AP is all about trusting your children to know when they need what. For example: a baby *knows* when he needs to nurse, for how long, they don't need *us* to put them on a feeding schedule. We nurse on demand. Also, a child knows when his nursing need has been completed. This is child led weaning. Some children wean as infants, others (more common if allowed) will wean when they are toddlers, 3 or 4 years old. We trust our children to know when they are ready to move out of our bed, into their own. We trust our children to know when they are ready to walk, talk, feed themselves, it's all on their own timetable, and *every* child is different. They won't all do these things at the same time, so why would we expect them to *all* be, for example, reading, when the public school says they should. So, we just extend this trust in our children to know that they will signal us when they are ready for new information (which is constantly) then it is up to us to provide a very rich and interesting environment for our children to have access to.

The reason we 'decided' to unschool, again, comes from how we'd been living our lives since they were born. My children have been the experts of themselves since they were born, living joyfully, learning all the time. Why, just because they turn *5*, would I turn them over to 'experts' who will tell my energy filled boys to sit down, be quiet, eat/drink/empty your bladder when I give you permission. My children have the freedom to be who they are and love who they are, without others telling them that something is wrong with them just because they aren't 'doing' something that the 'experts' say they should be.

A typical day for us can look quite different from day to day. Every day, we follow what the boys are excited about that day. Some days, it's long days at the park, others it's a trip to the library and hours of reading snuggled up on the couch. My 7yo enjoys Neopets right now, so he's proficient at getting to that site by himself, and checking out the new game of the day, as well as keeping a close eye on how many 'neo-points' he is racking up. We cook together often, we engage in very messy projects, with no worry about the end product; the process and the fun we are having together is our focus. Currently, the boys are active in our local homeschool gym days, Tae Kwon Do, playgroups, story times and volunteer activities. We are free to go where we want, when we want, and we are grateful for that.

Before children, I was a Kindergarten teacher. I now do Doula work (professional labor support) more as a hobby and a passion of mine. I also spend time supporting other mothers in their mothering journey.
We are a one income family.

If you need more, or clarification, let me know, Vince. I would love to see the completed article, if possible.

Thanks!
Karen

Mmmm. . . Sweet Memories

Picture this:
A grateful mama all snuggled up with her three little sons. The littlest nursing contentedly, half asleep one moment, completely asleep the next, but still doing that little 'suck suck suck' thing that they do! The middlest one laying so close to me using my stomach as his pillow, watching tv one moment, snoring the next! The biggest one hanging in there (as he always does!) just to have some hang time with mama! So, he gets up and heads downstairs. I say "where are you going?" (rhetorical, I know EXACTLY where he's going!! to the fridge to get a nibble of the chocolate chip cookie dough we'd made earlier today). He says "I'm going to go get something", I say "Oh, would you get the cookie dough while you're down there?" He says, "The whole bowl?" Mama says, "Yeah! The whole bowl!"
So, there we sit, the littlest and middlest having sweet dreams, while my first born and I indulge, with our fingers, in the tastiest memory! Mmmmm, good!

Dads First Words

This is my first posting on our blogg so bare with me.
As my lovely wife has said we have 3 wild ones and finally I can understand my Mother and Fathers pain of having three boys which were a lot like the ones we have now. There never seems to be a dull moment in our life but although we hope for one at least every month. Each one has there own personality and we try to embrace it, at times though it can be very trying but I know in my heart there untarnished souls will result into three Great Men some day that many will appreciate. I sure do love my boys.

"Mom, I'm moving the moon!"

Oh, these are the things I never want to forget! On this beautiful, crisp, moonlit fall night, the boys and I were outside lighting a fire in our chimnea. While Saylor tossed in the sticks that had been collected earlier, and Sage was snuggled cozily against me in the Moby Wrap, Stone played with the Moon. He was looking up at it, and moving back and forth, back and forth. Then, he told me, with such enthusiasm and truth, "Mom! I'm moving the moon!" He showed me how he was moving it. Walking this way, the moon would disappear behind the tree, moving back that way, there it was again! Indeed, he was 'moving the moon'.
I'm thankful that our life is a life of freedom. We can go to bed when we feel tired, and sleep until our eyes pop open. If not for this freedom, I fear I never would have gotten to live this beautiful memory. Thank you, Stone!

Happy Day at the Park

Today was a gloriously beautiful day, most of which was spent playing with friends at the park. We met John for lunch, first, as he was off to Pierre for a meeting tonight.
Saylor had his Taekwando (sp?) class this morning. He's doing so great and it's fun to see the smile on his face when he learns and lands a new move/kick, etc. After the park, we stopped by the movie store and picked up Robots. We've watched it twice already, but have it for 7 days, so who knows how many more viewings will occur! We'll see!
John and I had a great conversation this morning over coffee (everybody else stayed in bed, RARE!) It was much needed and felt so good to re-connect with him.
Little Sage is really getting into dancing. Anytime he hears music, his little head starts bobbing, and if he's standing, he does this sort of half squat, on the beat with his head bobbing thing! ADORABLE! He's growing so fast! 11 months old already. Can't we go back? I wish!
Tomorrow we have our All Souls playgroup, which I always look forward to. I will be doing some volunteering at the Sierra Club tomorrow night, while Dad and Boys have some time together. Hmmm, what will they do? Perhaps watch a good movie! (Robots!)



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We're Home

Our vacation is over, and I've spent the day mourning its passing. I was in a funk today, for sure! Trying to take all of the lessons learned this past week and apply them; living joyfully, in the present, while wanting to put my family back into the car and hit the road, wasn't easy.
The boys have Kindermusik tonight, and I'm looking forward to a little time (quiet time) to cuddle with the baby and do a little reading.
Whew, a long day, but grateful for every minute!
Namaste!