11.29.2011

Why Every 8-Year-Old Should Have E-mail

Found this in my inbox today:

I love you yes I do!

You make me very happy!  You never make me take a nappy! 

Because you are so very smart my love for you is bigger than w@lmart!

You are so cute I could puke!  (Extra points for using "puke" in a poem!  Atta' girl!) 

la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la!!!!!!!!! 

Heaven must be missing an angel (that's you). 
brenin

Have I mentioned that I really really really reeeeeally like this kid??

Girl Time

This is a little late in posting, but a couple of weeks ago Bren and I had a little date.  She's been asking forever to get her hair cut by my hair girl and also to work on her own blog.  I thought it woulld make for a great date, so we both got a new 'do, and then we headed to the Macs to enjoy some Wi-Fi and french fry!  :-) 


She's just mildly excited about this idea.








The kid looks about 5 years older with
her new cut, but still super duper cute!




The older Bren gets, the more I have to make a conscious effort to "balance the scales" a bit with the time I spend on the girls.  While Luca still requires a great deal (a GREAT deal) of my time and energy, Bren can disappear with a book for a couple hours and I'm pretty sure could thrive in her own apartment any day now (and probably negotiate a pretty fair rent in the process).  ;-)  It's really nice to step away with her for a bit and be able to hear what's happening in her beautiful heart. 

And remind her that she's not allowed to move out until she's 45. 

Maybe 47, I haven't decided yet. 


11.25.2011

Happy Birthday....VERY. Happy. Birthday.

To say I had a happy birthday this year would be an understatement. 

Think absolute serenity. 

Think room service. 

Think ginormous pillowy bed. 

Think  Heaven. on. Earth. 

This ducky about sums up the experience. 



My sister spoiled me absolutely ROTTEN (and I have to say I LOOOOOOOOOOVED it!!!!).  She booked us a suite at a premiere spa which we decided was best described as "a monastery with product."  :-)  Seriously, you can't help but meet your spiritual self at this phase of relaxation. 

The spa requires you leave cell phones, iPods, cameras, computers....all those things that buzz in your ear incessantly and prohibit complete and utter clarity....back in your room. 

....then they surround you with the most gorgeous surroundings you can possibly imagine.

...and then they let you lather yourself in as much lotions, exfoliators, soaps, lotions (there was a LOT of lotioning happening) and spa splendor that you can find. 



Delightful. 


Oh, and then there was this.  The bed. 

I have asked this bed to marry me, but it hasn't responded yet.  I wasn't sure I was going to be able to leave it, but with some therapy I may be on the road to recovery. 



And the bathroom.  *sigh*



You may think it strange that this post contains not 1, but THREE pictures of the bathroom, but maybe after you meet "the shower," you will understand. 

It has its own lighting.  Because it can. 



It also has 4 million jets and shower heads. 
I'm certain I was in flight at one point.  :)




Everywhere you looked....beauty.



The drive up. 

We had a surprise 5 inches of snow fall the day before (the first of the season!), and it blanketed the whole experience in magic!  We took a NIGHTtime swim in the heated pool, and the freshness of the air, the snow on the tall pines all around us, the steam rising off the water, the fire crackling beside the pool....it was literally like a dream, surreal and inexplicably beautiful! 



Our view....I love that they lit up their woods!!! 
Makes me want to do the same with our woods!




And this may seem shallow to post a picture of my "goody bag" contents, but each and every piece is such a testament to how well my sister knows me.  (She even got me NyQuIl so we could sleep the GOOD sleep on our little getaway!!!!  This chick is GOOD!!!)  The jacket I fell in love with while we were up north this summer, and she remembered (of course) and had it shipped....each little piece is so me....I was definitely feelin' the love! 


 
My sis is the reason I do lots of things in life, but most importantly, she's the reason I wanted a sister for my girls.  I want this love....this down to the CORE "soul" connection....this "sisterness" for them more than anything else on Earth.  It's unspeakable gratitude that I have for her....she is light and laughing until your stomach hurts and infinite love. 


She's my miracle.   

 

11.06.2011

Homeschool Underground


Field Trip to Cave of the Mounds!












The whole thing looks like a scene from Star Wars...unreal!  :)















Catching "cave kisses" (drips of water). 



The giant cave was discovered by miners in the 1930s, and the kids had the opportunity to do some mining of their own after the tour. 



Luca's treasure, a piece of iron pyrite (also known as "fool's gold"). 















Orienteering

We spent Thursday learning about orienteering with our KONOS group.  I have to admit, I had to Google the word when one of the mom's suggested it as part of our frontiersman/tracking/trapping unit.  :)  Turns out it is SUPER fun and a GREAT skill to have! 

Brooke set up 3 different courses and did such a great job teaching. 


And THIS was our classroom for the day....aaaah, life is good!  :) 




















Team Purple 




Wind in her hair and adventure in her bones. 



"The beginning of knowledge is the discovery
of something we do not understand." 
-Frank Herbert-

Halloween Catch Up

Trick or treating at the Big Cat Rescue! 





This guy was actually just yawning, but it made for a scary pic!  :) 




Does it get creepier than this?? 








Trick or treating in our neck of the woods
















 Surveying their goodies.  :)



A few tricks...




...and a LOT of treats!