Creative Endeavors

Wow, a big burst of creative energy today! I came home to find them deeply immersed in some dramatic scenario involving the usual suspects, Charlie Pie and Smoochy-poo.

Then I came upon a couple of drawings of A's. First one of Mr. B, her beta:

Then one using her favorite canvas...

A wrote another installment in her retelling of the story of how the main Greek gods (Zeus and his siblings) started out, this time from Rhea's point of view. (After discovering that Cronus had been swallowing her children, she wrote: "Whell, you can emagon how mad I was. I stormed away to find my husband. He was lounging in his boodwa! I rushed at him to confrunt him and knoked his boodwa over. I was fuming in my room and trying to think of a way to protect my coming baby when an idea hit me so hard it almost knoked me over." OK, maybe we still need a little work on the spelling) Now A is playing her clarinet and M is drawing dinosaurs. Funny what a little taste of sun will do to a kid.

Idle Parenting

Today I embraced idle parenting, to good effect, I believe. The cold and rain was supposed to return this afternoon, but we had a reprieve and so spent the day outdoors. I lied around on the on the porch reading, and the kids did exactly what I'd like them to do every day: built forts, made flower fairies, and searched for bugs. Then the cousins came out to play and they all worked on a play together. A truly good day. Maybe spring really will come to stay some day.

Shrimp Feed

When we were in Austin one time we went to a seafood place for lunch and the guy at the counter came out and dumped a steaming bowl full of crawfish, shrimp, crab legs, corn-on-the-cob, and red potatoes right on the table. We'd never seen such a thing! It was incredibly delicious and a tradition I could certainly embrace. We wound up with plates tonight for putting butter on corn and for melon, but we still managed to get a pretty authentic Texas moment. But darn, I should have put on some Bob Wills for atmosphere. A great old-time Texas band used to play on Friday nights at our favorite barbeque restaurant and people used to dance Texas-style--even the little kids knew how to two-step. I never want to live in Houston again, but I do get a bit nostalgic about Texas now and then...

Good Luck Day

Today was one of those days when luck was on our side. First, I was late to pick up M from his Sunday school class because I was helping in A's class, and M got scared and thought we had forgotten him and started to cry. Fortunately, his teachers are the parents of a girl in A's class and they knew where I was, and delivered him to me, pale-faced and teary and very relieved to see me. 

Second, we bought some clothes for the kids after church and I left the bag of new clothes in the mall food court and didn't discover it until we came home (after a stop at OMSI). I rushed back, with no hope of finding it, to discover that some good soul had turned my bag into the lost-and-found. I'm sure the person who turned it in isn't going to read this blog, but if any of you reading this has ever turned something in to lost and found, let me thank you on behalf of everyone who has even benefitted from such kindness!! It was a huge relief to discover that I hadn't just throw the money away that I spent on those clothes. 

Finally, A tried out a new cake recipe for a vanilla cake with chocolate cream cheese icing (thanks for tip, Mariko!) and despite substituting just about every ingredient in some way except for the eggs and cream cheese, it turned out really delicious. As we were eating the cake before bed tonight, A noted that this was one of those days when everything turned out OK, even when you though it wasn't going to.

Trip to Seattle

Here are a few pictures from our recent trip to Seattle. The night before, as I was trying to figure out what we were going to eat and do for 8 hours on the train, I was wondering why I thought this was such a great idea. But, it turned out to be so much fun, I'd do it again in a minute. A big part of the fun was having two traincarloads of homeschooling friends along with us, of course! We didn't actually know everyone, but we knew about 1/4 to 1/3 to start out and quite a few more by the time we were home. 

Here is a picture of my husband when he was 6 years old. Oops, I mean, here is a picture of 6-year-old M!

We went to the EMP with Auntie S and cousin M, and ran into some friends on the way to the catch the bus back to the train station. This is the back of the EMP building, if it can be considered to have a back. It was a really amazing building, and it was so much fun to play the instruments they had set up on the third floor. It would have been cool to have other instruments to try besides the ones in rock bands, like strings and brass and wind instruments, though I can see that these would be a lot harder to do, logistically and hygienically. 

Having fun with friends on the way up. It was a long ride, but it was amazing how little whining and fighting I heard. A little between siblings, but that was it. It was funny to walk from the other train cars, where it was almost silent, into the noise and chaos of our cars. But it was a happy and manageable chaos.

Homeschooling in Portland

Someone who is thinking of moving here asked about homeschooling in Portland, so I thought I'd share my perspective, limited as it is to the part of town we live in, for the most part, and focused on activities that interest my particular kids.

From what I can tell the homeschooling community is thriving in Portland. There are so many resources and classes and park days that it is really hard to limit your schedule to something that is manageable. I think it can take some time, though, to build a good social network, which has truly been the most important resource of all to us.

For out-of-towners, Portland is divided by a river, and people often tend to look for activities on their side of the river, and there are some (very non-universal) differences between people who wind up on the west side versus those who tend to wind up on the east side. Although this is a gross generalization and many people don't fit this mold, alternative and non-main-stream and sometimes less affluent people often seem to wind up on the east side of town, especially in the urban neighborhoods closer in. The west side has more traditional suburban family-oriented neighborhoods that have less of an "edge," for lack of a better word. East side families are probably more likely to be politically liberal and less structured in their approach to schooling, while west-siders may have a higher proportion of conservative and religiously-based homeschoolers. The homeschooling moms I've met have been pretty universally really wonderful people, whether conservative Christian or unschooling Pagans, so no judgement are meant by these generalizations! My impression is also that the west-side moms may be a bit better organized than the east-side moms, as evidenced by some very long-standing and well-attended events (like Cook Park park day) and a wonderful homeschooling resource center, Village Home. However, more and more organized activities are occuring in and around east Portland, and Village Home is looking for an east-side location and hopes to open up classes in inner-east Portland next fall.

Beyond Village Home, the offerings are rather amazing: classes of all kinds at many community centers around town, fencing, swim team, archery, aikido, OMSI science classes, ice skating, roller skating, rock-climbing, girl scouts, campfire, and much more all have day-time classes/times especially for homeschoolers. Also, one-time or periodic field trips are often arranged, like train trips to Seattle and a tour of the Tall Ships. People frequently post information on smaller classes or events they are offering, such as cooking classes, scrapbooking, dragonology, hikes, and game days. Last summer there were at least four different homeschool park days in different parts of town. One of these routinely had 40-60 people show up, as I understand it, and the one I attend probably had 25-40 people every week last summer.

All that said, I think it can take some time to find your way to the families that will be your main social support system. It is tricky to find a family where the moms hit it off, the kids hit it off, you live in reasonable proximity to each other, and your schedules mesh well. It also appears to me that there isn't an overabundance of teenaged homeschoolers, at least on the east side. Our local homeschooling organization has begun sponsoring several dances each year, and by all acounts these are really fun, so hopefully that will help teenagers find like-minded friends.

Anyway, others feel free to correct or add to my impressions. I think it would be entirely possible to find like-minded homeschoolers in whatever area you wound up living in Portland, and it would be extremely easy to fill up your week with activities. And most of all, I've just found so many really, really nice people among Portland homeschoolers. I just wish I had more time to invest in more of these friendships!

Sibling Moment

With great outrage: "Even when I clearly expressed my displeasure by shoving him out of the room, he continued to do the Bottom Dance!" A, expressing the joys of having a younger brother.

Outdoor Adventure (a.k.a. Let's See Where This Trail Goes)

We had our first outdoor adventure of the season today, the first of many this spring and summer, I hope. And I have to say we kicked things off in classic Mom O (that's me) style. We usually do something fun after church, and since it was so beautiful I talked M into choosing nice outdoor spot by the Sandy River where we can climb around on rocks, and this is right by an old caboose you can play on, for double the fun. (We take turns choosing what to do, and it was M's turn to choose). 

So we headed out of town--the long way because I forgot about the freeway entrance that is just 2 blocks from the church, and instead drove through downtown and across the river and made my way to another freeway entrance. Then I took what I though to be the right exit, but whoops, this wasn't right, it must have been the last exit. Oh, well, we'll just find a nice hike somewhere along this road, since I know we'll eventually come to an area that has a bunch of hiking trails. Boy, at this point I'm really wishing we had some water and a snack, if we're actually going to go on a hike instead of just playing by the river at the end of a little town. Oh, and it would be nice if we had better shoes for hiking in.

Oh well, I'm sure we'll find something good. We pass one hiking spot and it is packed with cars. No way, let's find something less crowded. Ah ha! A wide spot in the road and a little trial! No other cars, so we have the place to ourselves! I pull over and we all pile out and head up the trail. It only goes about 10 feet.

OK, pile back in and drive on. A remembers a trail around here that their dad took them on last year and we decide we'll try to find it. Success! We see a sign that says Horsetail Falls Trail, and it is only 0.8 miles. Great! We find a parking place, pile back out, decide we're not thirsty yet, so we can handle this short little hike.  At least it will be wet at the end (where A remembers being able to go behind the waterfall), so we'll be able to cool down, if not get a drink. A doesn't remember the parking area looking like this, but maybe we're coming at it from the other side? Anyway, not to be deterred, I urge on the team. About 20 feet in to the hike M decides to do a tricky little gymnastics move and tumbles over the side of the trail, but manages to grab a branch before falling all the way down to the road (which fortunately wasn't all that far). That's OK, a small mishap early on can be a good thing if it keeps you out of trouble later. 

We climb up and up and up, then things level out a bit and it is lovely being in the beautiful woods. Boy, it sure seems like we've gone more than 0.8 miles. Finally, we hear the roar of water, and come around a corner to a spectacular sight of a stream rushing between two mountains of rock. A little bridge crosses over the stream about 20 feet above the water, with deadly drop-offs leading up to the bridge on both sides! We kind of inch our way onto the bridge, bravely march across, and inch our way up the other side until we get back into zigzagging up another hill. We regroup a bit up there. Well, M is thirsty and has to go to the bathroom in a way that isn't so easy to do outdoors, but he can wait a while. A is hot and tired, but really, really wants to be able to walk behind that waterfall. So we press on since the trail has gotten easier, and we just know we must be close.

Needless to say, we never did find the waterfall you could walk behind. Maybe it was 0.8 miles to the start of the trail that will take you to Horsetail Falls? We turned around after we'd been walking for about an hour, mostly uphill (with no water and bad shoes). I can't tell you how often our outings turn out this way. I like to think I have a great sense of adventure and know how to be flexible when Plan A doesn't work out. In fact, I just take the wrong exit more often that I care to admit, and then the thought of backtracking to get to the original destination seems like a drag, and surely there is plenty of good to be had off this exit, too, right? Thank heavens my kids indulge me these adventures, and we almost always have a good time. And, the kids have another funny story to tell their kids about how Grandma used to lead them on these crazy adventures, even confident that she was going the right way... (or anyway, that this way will be just as good)

R.I.P.

We'll miss this sweet little fella.

Forget about Pancakes

Why have I been slaving away over pancakes for all these years!? Pour, pour, pour, flip, flip, flip, add oil, pour, pour, pour, flip, flip, flip, splatter oil all over the place, pour, pour, pour, flip too soon and get a gooey middle. Contrast with waffles--pour, put down the top, relax and do you nails for a couple of minutes, ta-da! Perfect little beauties, with heart shapes, no less! 

Rock Stars and Hair Models

The kids spent the afternoon taking pictures of each other as they jumped off of a chair. Whew, watch out Harvard! Here are a couple of favorite shots:

Channeling Rod Stewert

You know, the weird thing about this picture is that it wouldn't let me edit out the red eye. The resolution here isn't as good as I have on iPhoto, but let me assure you that this is a seriously freaky picture. Notice the buttoning job on the suit coat. 

Mom, Get the Hair!

A was frustrated with M because he couldn't get a good shot of her hair flying up after about 50 tries, so her legs were pretty worn out at this point, but I kind of got the hair...

Nineteen Everlovin' Years

Yesterday was my and my husband's 19th anniversary. Yes, we did get married on April Fools Day on purpose, in case you were wondering. D just saw me typing away on the computer and asked if I was writing him a love letter. I'll give it a whirl.

Our 19 years have definitely had ups and downs, but as much as we get exasperated with each other at times, our connection is so strong. We have really different brains--I'm linear, logical, even-tempered, conflict-averse, optimistic, and rather dull. You are none of those things. You are observant, expressive, creative, cynical, and funny. I'm none of those things. 

I love watching us at an art museum. In each room I start to the left of the door and work my way around the room piece-by-piece, and tend to like the ones that have pretty colors in them. You go in some totally random order, as for as I can tell, and have very strong opinions about what you're looking at that don't seem to have much of anything to do with whether there are pretty colors involved. I love watching us on bike rides. I pedal along at a steady pace, watching for traffic above all. You speed ahead, then lag behind, looking everywhere BUT at the road and the traffic.

We've found a lot of common ground, too, however. We totally understand each other's basic values, some core personality traits, and of course our feelings towards our kids. And where we differ, we've given each other some insight into how the other half thinks and feels. I think it's fair to say that I've learned to value of creating and expressing, and you've learned to value of critical thinking. Kinda sorta, anyway? And in the end, I'm sure there is no better partner for me. I know that I need independence and I appreciate that you've allowed this, even when you've wanted more connection. I know that I also need a partner who challenges me, and life with you has never been boring. I may complain at times, but in truth, it is what I need. I love the fact that I can still be totally surprised by your reaction to books and movies and events in the news. Without you, my life would be out-of-balance, colorless, and lifeless.

How's that for a logical, even-tempered, and rather dull love letter? Anyway, I really, really do love ya! 

On-line Writing Course, Assignment #1

I'm doing an on-line writing course with A, and yesterday we did the first official exercise for the class. It is designed to illustrate how difficult it is to communicate clearly, and to point out that communication is the goal of writing. We drew simple pictures that we then described to the other person so they could draw what we described. On the first try you see all the things you failed to describe accurately, and then you try again. This was fun, and we came to some useful conclusions (like, it really helps if you give the person an overview of what you're going to describe in detail first), and it showed me something about what is different in the way A and I view the world.

The picture that I drew was just randomly arranged geometric shapes and straight lines--no picture, no story. For both of A's drawings, she arranged geometric shapes into a picture, first a flower and then a frog. I'm not sure exactly what this illustrates, but I see that I'm a "just the facts, ma'am" kind of person--no adornments, little imagination, lots of linear thinking. A is much more tuned into stories and people. For me, writing is about conveying some specific information as clearly as I can. For her, it is about telling a story and bringing characters to life. This is very cool, and I hope I can help her nurture this impulse of hers. The class we're taking isn't focused on fiction, but nonfiction writing is so much more interesting when the writer has a story to tell and is really interested in showing you what the people are like. And, when I think about the non-fiction A has shown an interest in, it has been in writing about real people who have fascinated her, like Louis the XIV and Eleanor of Aquitaine. So I think she'll be perfectly happy to work in the relm of non-fiction.

The other good thing about this class is that the instructor has urged us to make writing our top priority for the next 6 weeks. This will be great--something different is always welcome, and A has been asking and asking to do more writing. So far so good.