Tag Archive - friends

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Black Beans* & Black Olives
Vegan Griller Patty & Ketchup*

Elijah & Collin

Elijah & Collin

On Tuesday, we went to the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum (where one of the staff recognized me & mentioned that she loved my challenge that I sent the museum) with our neighbor and her grandson. We had a pretty good time and I got to spend some more time with my neighbor who is one hip lady!

Our neighbor said that they were going to go home, eat and then go to the store…once we were dropped off and getting food around for ourselves, Elijah said, “do you really think Collin wants to go to the store with his grandma…we should see if he can play Legos with me while she shops”. I called and it was a done deal; Collin skipped over after he ate dinner and the two boys played Legos, built with blocks and did a little drawing.

This is a perfect example of kindness & respect begetting kindness & respect…I know that I’ve mentioned before that Elijah doesn’t like going to the grocery store (or any major shopping place for that matter), because it is literally an assult on his senses. I arrange my shopping plans so that I get everything done on William’s days off, so that Elijah can stay home with him or so that they can be dropped off somewhere to hang out while I get business taken care of. Elijah thought it was only fair to extend that arrangement to his friend while our neighbor went shopping. I think it was a very kind & compassionate moment for Elijah — he didn’t want to see his friend have to endure (I’m assuming he thinks most kids are effected by stores the same way he is) going to the store when there was a clear option for him to avoid it.

I love my son :)

 

Keira’s 3rd Birthday Party

In spite of yesterday being Learn Nothing Day, we decided to go celebrate one awesome little girl’s 3rd birthday. Unfortunately, not only did we have fun, but we learned stuff…not to mention all the stuff we leanred pre/post party. Oh, well…maybe next year we can try harder ;)

Keira wanted a pink & yellow bicycle cake; her mum Erin worked her ass off and made it happen!

Keira wanted a pink & yellow bicycle cake; her mum Erin worked her ass off and made it happen!

Keira (elephant)

Keira (elephant)

Finnegan (dragon), River (young aleister crowley) & Banyan (as her usual sweet self)

Finnegan (dragon), River (young aleister crowley) & Banyan (as her usual sweet self)

Sarah (soft-serve ice cream)

Sarah (soft-serve ice cream)

Keira makes her wish.

Keira makes her wish.

Elijah (who was a ghost, but not pictured as such) decides to appropriate some of Williams (who was a ghost hunter) ghost hunting gear.

Elijah (who was a ghost, but not pictured as such) decides to appropriate some of William's (who was a ghost hunter) ghost hunting gear.

And then there was music…


I ended up going as myself, but slightly more Gypsy than usual.

I ended up going as myself, but slightly more Gypsy than usual.

 

Park Date

Last Thursday we went to the park with our friend Sarah and her son Ernesto. It was a great day…hot, but great. After the park Elijah & I went and stopped in at Village Candy and I ended up spending way more than I really wanted to, which has become the norm at that particular store ;)

Elijah roaming the creek

Elijah roaming the creek

Ernesto posing for a picture

Ernesto posing for a picture

Nesto exploring whats under the creek rocks

Nesto exploring what's under the creek rocks

 

:: Friends ::

Today was a nice day to spend some time with friends. I remembered that I had my camera at the last minute, but I was able to catch a few snap shots of sweaty kids having fun.

:: Bridge ::

:: Bridge ::

:: Stepping Off ::

:: Stepping Off ::

:: Climbing ::

:: Climbing ::

Keira

:: Keira ::

:: Blocks ::

:: Blocks ::

 

Life, Stuff & Adoption

I’m finally getting around to cleaning and unpacking my office/studio. We have lived in our current house a smidgen over 2 years now and I am just now getting around to my space. It kind of feels good, but oddly not as good as it felt helping Dear Other Half clean out and somewhat organize his studio.

I’ve decided to cut back on hosting my Unschooling meet up. I’m only hosting it one day a month and at the park instead of my home. After debating on what to do once it turned more ‘homeschooling’ and not so much ‘unschooling’, I decided to just give us some space, but not drop it all together. Hanging out with families who aren’t Free or trying to create Freedom for themselves is not all that fun, yet it is rather draining.

We haven’t been back to the UUCNH Playgroup since our second visit. Oddly enough, this isn’t because we don’t want to go again, but rather because life has just been more important. We’ve had things continually popping up on Tuesdays that either conflict or just seem more important. We are not wanting for things to do these days. Life is abundant and the need to fill up time/space with awkward, rule-ridden playgroups, just hasn’t presented itself.

I’m contemplating leaving the not-so-”Hip Mama“, Hip Mama Meet Up that I am a member of currently (don’t join a group by the name alone). Though I have met some awesome (dare I say “radical”) mamas through this group, on the whole, with the commitment it takes, I am starting to dread it. The constant shit storm of both hate-mail and love-mail, as well as comments is enough to make anyone’s head spin. I once again have found myself in a space where apparently I “speak” for several (a surprising number in reality) group members who seem to not want to “take the heat” for having/expressing divergent ideas — ideas that wouldn’t be so divergent if it was really a “Hip Mama”, Hip Mama Meet Up. Then there’s also the fact that practically everyone has little babies or children off at school…not the best recipe of success for a “Hip Mama” with an Unschooling son who will be 6 years old in 2 months.

I have left my Etsy shop on vacation mode. I am making some more stuff, redoing some descriptions and needing to take some photos for new additions. I’m making headway, but its been slow going. Again, with that Life business…it just seems to keep happening ;)

Money has been tight around here lately. We spent an obscene amount of money on our ice cream party and we have both the NEU Con & Unschooling Cruise, as well as, Elijah’s 6th b-day and William’s 30th b-day all coming up over the next few months. I really wanted to find a way to attend Faith Void’s Enjoy Life unschooling con in September, but I just don’t see where the money could materialize from. I’ve put it out there for the Universe to mull over, but She can be cruel at times — Just, but Cruel.

On a personal note, I am really tired of not being pregnant. I have resolved that one of us is infertile and to just let it go. Somehow, though, the depression hasn’t followed out the door as well. Apparently, no amount of magical thinking, ceremony, spiritual sacrifices or sex (and doing so at various times…even when I think it would be crazy) is enough to make this body agree with my head/heart. Four pregnancies, one child & approaching 30 years old…The Universe has spoken, telling me to fold up my genes, they are no longer needed. Adoption. It seems to be the answer and what I have always planned on doing in the first place. However, I don’t like how the money factor of adoption makes it feel very “black-market”-ish. Are there people out there who are giving their children (I say children, because EVERYONE wants babies, but I’d much rather Grace/rescue a child 12mons – 5yrs) up for adoption and NOT want some weird & arbitrarily assigned monetary fortune? I’m NOT joking or trying to be callus.

Personal note continued: I was contacted by a 20 yr old women when Elijah was 3 months old. She was 1/2 way through her pregnancy and we had been talking online and over the phone. Out of the blue one day she announced that she had decided to place her baby up for adoption. She really wanted me to adopt her baby. Here’s where things get interesting. She didn’t want any money. She wanted me to be her midwife. She wanted me to provide prenatal care, support, space and to attend her birth. She wanted me to Love, Mother & raise her baby. For lack of a more eloquent & respectful word, Barter. My time, expertise, Love and Mothering capacity for her baby. I thought about it deeply for 12 days. I discussed it with no one…not even William, who will no doubt read this and have some thoughts, if not words. On day 12, I told her that I couldn’t; though as blessed as I felt and as gracious as she was, I couldn’t. There were things in my life at the time that I was unsure of and I had a 3 month old I was still getting to know. Usually the Universe nor Buddha provides these moments to us a second time…rarely a first time. I am feeling the sting from the Universe’s slap in my current hour.

Jakýkoliv V?le Být , V?le Být

Peace & Love

 

Sweet Eldridge’s Ghost

William and I are in a movie…short film. It can be found here. William is Lotus and I am behind the counter in the coffeeshop.

 
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