Tea with Gammy (and big girl Gwyneth)

We took my mom to her first tea house experience this last week for her Christmas present.  She loves tea, has a teacup collection from her mom, and has tea parties every time the girls go over for babysitting.  Our day at the tea house was a perfect day.  The weather was sunny and nice.  We weren't rushed.  The girls were all fancy and felt pretty.  We sat at a pretty table with pretty tea sets and yummy, girly food.  Agatha had impeccable etiquette and manners.  Gwyneth ate quietly and didn't break anything.  My mom got to enjoy her girls and a beautiful tea.  It was everything I dreamed.  I wish everyday of parenting was this shiny.  Today, on the other hand, was back to reality.  Homeschooling in PJs, messy house, tons of chores, busy outings with late arrivals, pee pee accidents, a minor burn on my 1 year old's hand, screaming for two and half hours afterward (yes, you read that right-she was inconsolable), late bedtimes and work on the couch late into the night instead of sleeping.  Each day brings its own color and my world is rainbow.

Side note:  Gwyn is not a baby anymore!  She does flips at her Little Gym class, goes pee and poo on the potty, communicates with ASL and verbal words, sleds down huge hills in the snow on her own inner-tube, makes valid jokes and knows she is funny, refuses high chairs and sits on a normal dining chairs and even has a preference toward purple everything (what to do with all the PINK hand-me-downs from her big sister-RIT dye here I come!).  I am excited for this next stage of toddler!  Gwyn is precious.

Hollywood...Here comes Agatha!

My daughter Agatha has always liked to perform.  She sang Silent Night in front of crowds of 800+ at Age 3 and has not looked back.  For a year or so now she has been asking to be a star in movies.  We were hesitant at first, thinking she didn't know what she was really asking for and that we couldn't make it happen anyway.  But, out of the blue a talent scout approached us in the mall.  We had meetings.  She took classes so we could see her commitment.  She thrived.  She performed more locally in live stuff, but still wanted to go to Hollywood.  I didn't want to do the thing where we send out head shots and pursue it so strongly on our end at this age so we just waited.  We decided to home school for other reasons (like having a family day since Adam works full days on Saturday AND Sunday), but because of that decision we have the flexibility we need.  We were chatting with a home school friend at the pumpkin patch and she had a manager who was great for kids.  I said casually that I would like to get in contact with her because Aggie wanted to pursue that.  She emailed me and we sent the head shot in and wa-la! we had a meeting in Hollywood.  We got signed with a manager after the first meeting, but still needed an agent.  We went down and met with a coach in the Hollywood Hills in a fancy house under the Hollywood sign.  It was surreal.  The manager linked us up with a big name agency to start, cause why not?  I'll leave the name off since I'm not sure claiming that on the Internet is a good idea, but let's just say reputable!  Oh my gracious, big!  And they want my Agatha.  It was her first big audition and I was half preparing her for the disappointments that are inevitable...but, she got it!  I am sure there are bumps ahead and we are keeping it real for her.  But, wow!  Today is a celebrate day!  I am proud of her for having a dream and being willing to work to get it.  She has already given up things to make trips to Hollywood and knows what it takes.  She wants it.  And here it is for her.  I pray for her everyday that the right roles will come along to allow her to shine and still stay true to her good nature and beliefs.  I pray she will be strong and beautiful and not caught up in it all.  I pray people don't judge her or us too harshly because she is a pastor's kid.  I pray for her.  But, Aggie is amazing.  Anyone who knows her, knows that.  I know she can do anything.  I pray provision and protection.  Pray with me, please.

Update:  After one week of auditions she got a callback and a commercial.  It was a personal injury lawyer out of Baltimore and not a high paying job, but more than enough.  It was very fun and professionally done.  We were shuttled from various locations for shoots, had wardrobe and full make-up and hair in a trailer, ate yummy fish and chicken prepared for us, met with a on set tutor, ate too much craft services and shot in a set hospital.  She had lines and had to act "sad".  She did beautifully, focused, didn't wiggle, didn't overact and had a great time.  There was a huge, professional crew and they all clapped and cheered when she wrapped.  It was a great first experience.  Adam and I really want to instill in her that acting in an artform and she is an artist.  We don't want her to do this to be famous and end up some annoying mainstream pop star, but to become an artist.  Even if she doesn't choose this artform long term, at least to walk away undertanding the beauty and strength of conveying emotions through acting.  I think she tasted this with this first heavier piece...and she is gorgeous on film.  The producer could not get over how great she looked and I was taken aback.  She is cute in real life, but the camera makes her breathtaking.  I am proud-she did well. 

Fall Fun

Fall is a fun time to be a kindergartner-or maybe a kindergarten teacher! There are so many fun themes to teach on and since we are homeschoolers-so many fun field trips. We have gone on sooo many but these two were really fun and Fall picturesque.

We went to Tanaka Farms pumpkin patch and I love the big black wheelbarrows you get to take through the patch. We all got the perfect pumpkin and are going to carve them tomorrow night at our annual pumpkin party while sporting out tye dyed jack-o-lantern tees from Family Fun.

We also went to an educational farm called Centennial Farms on the OC Fair grounds. They had all the traditional animals, crops and red barns. We saw a cow get milked and pet chicks. It was GREAT!

I hope you are getting out there in the community this season. As much as the short days and change of weather bring on my seasonal sadness, I do love the outings and colors and walks of autumn. Having a 5 and 1 year old are a fun time to be a mommy. I will cherish these memories forever.

I know...where have I been?

I really hate that my blog has said "I have so much to do!" since August 16th! It is just that with homeschooling a 5year old and taking care of a 1 year old I have little time to sit like an adult at the computer. And what time I do have I am working...for River Springs. I barely get my personal email checked or glance at facebook. But, I love blogging and reading so here I am.

We have been up to so much fun stuff with homeschooling! I figured it out and we are doing like 8 field trips a month! And with regular outings we are out in the community alot. We have gone to Disneyland with cousins, gone to football game fore Adam's cousin at which Agatha was invited on the field to cheer with the cheerleaders (so cute), Legoland with the Foors (we sorted over 1000 legos and graphed them by color and type for a follow up to that one-whew!), a Family village festival on cultures, the San Bernandino Museum with the Foors, the Huntington Library/Art Galleries/Gardens with the Speirs, a pumpkin patch trip with The Grove Homeschool Group, the Riverside Museum for dissecting owl pellet and making clay scat (poop-yes it was fake) of types of animals, Riley's Farm for apples and colonial farm life tour with The Grove group again, the Chinese Moon Festival and Chinese Food (the pic), and on and on. We are having so much fun.

Aggie is really learning to read and write and I am so proud. She reads to Gwyn all the time and Gwyn can't get enough of books. Aggie is doing great things at Gymnastics and did a flip on the uneven bars that even I was impressed by! She is so curious and really becoming a lifelong self lead learner which is a big objective with me for homeschooling. She and Adam especially dive into subjects with such fervor and have done projects on pee and volcanoes and other fun ideas.

Gwyn loves Farm animals and says more sounds than words at this point. She is a non verbal communicator and has no problem getting what she needs with grunts and facial expressions! She starting using the sign for thank you and it is so cute. She is kinda potty training and is so proud when she is successful. She has starting smiling like this picture when we say "say cheese" and is really becoming a little person. I love to watch her bouncy little trot as she pokes curiously around the house. She is very meticulous about art and already draws her version of the family and dogs (which she loves).

Life is good-but I am really trying to find a balance. I have so many hats at this point. I know I should get rid of one-but which? I like each one in its own way. I just wish I was slower. I wish I had more time-but don't we all?

My face painting skills

Look what I did! Agatha always pines over the $20 face painting masterpieces at Disneyland so I took a picture of the example last time and recreated it-glitter and all. I was quite proud and so was she-plus we didn't have to pay $20 for something that washes off or itches cause my kid has my sensitive skin. I love these face paints I found through a local chilren's museum. They are soap based, but not waxy-so they don't irratate and they don't smear. Have fun being the coolest and cheapest mom on the block. You can be your own party clown-without the nose.

Family update...life keeps of rolling by

I have been caught up with life and work, so here is a family update for all the fam out there...

Gwyn is eating fingerfood now...she never wants our help anymore. She crawls all over the house and is the cutest thing ever. We have even left her with my Mom at our house for a couple two hour dates. It is amazing how fast you can get in and out of the car with no baby!

We started homeschooling after the holiday break and whenever we do piano Gwyn crawls under the bench and puts her head against the piano...another musician on our hands? She loves rhythm.

We had dinner at Taco Station with Mark, Angie and Nolan Lamberth. It was so nice to catch up with such sincere friends. And only Nolan could entice Agatha into a cowgirl dress up instead of a princess-but it is still pink!

We went to the snow in Running Springs with the Foors. I love Emily. No one else would pay admission with me just to be a part of the fun when really we each went down the slope only 3 times and spent the rest of the time nursing, rocking and appeasing our infants who where not excited about the cold, wet snow that reflected bright light in their eyes. Ahhh, infancy!

Aggie had a blast riding with Haley and Noah. I miss the five families-with out of town moves and starting school our old tradition of Snow Day has been reduced to two instead of five.

Adam taking his turn with Gwyn so I could hit the slopes. We took her down twice. She was not impressed.

I threw Holly Rodrigo a baby shower. She is due on Feb 22 and looks amazing. She has gained the perfect amount-of course- and is glowing. We "went green" and played games like "change the cloth diaper" and "think of 10 ways to go green with baby". We even ate off our compostable "paper" products made from corn and sugar cane. It was fun and I got to catch up with old friends like Keri Quesada who came with her 3 week old baby and wore zip up jeans...at three weeks. Can we say WEIGHT LOSS ENVY?

We had dinner with the Reids...who we love and whose daughters are clones of ours. Can you even find Aggie in this picture? Bryan and Cristi are so laid back-the girls made a sleeping bag clubhouse in their master bedroom walk in closet all night. I love them!

Aggie had her ballet/tap/gymnastics show day at The Little Gym. She is doing so well. But, more than anything I noticed her empathy. She was so concerned about any kids who got hurt or were too shy and ran to their parents. So much so that when I caught her eye I had to redirect her to do the steps again. I love how much she cares.

Katie and Hannah came with a flower for Aggie. They made her day. She adores the Boone girls, so do I. Thanks Stacey. We got you on email, when is the blog coming?

Lots of friends and family playdates and visits in the last couple weeks. I got my hair cut...I had work meetings on my own (Adam took Gwyn)...the garage still has no door or window...the christmas lights are down this year (thanks Scott Ellis)...I finished the old set of Learning Records and now have another set to write...life keeps on rolling by...

Pretty Pink Feminists

I have always raised my four year old to believe in herself. I never forced girly-ness on her, but as you can see by her blog she has definitely chosen it. She is one of the fanciest, pinkest girls I know. But she still is going to "change the world and make it so lots of girls can be pastors" (something that still needs to change in our evangelical Christian circles). She tells this freely to everyone and recently told me she wants someone to write a book about her life because she is going to change the world like Fa Mulan did for China (she impersonated a man and was in the Chinese army in 380 AD). I am glad my feeble attempts to keep the feminism alive by reading books like The Paper Bag Princess mixed in with the Cinderella and Fancy Nancy has worked. I suppose it is not really feminism, but personism as my friend Bill Catling says. I am the first one to stand up for my wonderful parenting partner and husband when people so rudely say "Is Adam babysitting the girls for you?", no he is just parenting them, Dads don't babysit. Women and Men have their special talents and roles, but we all should partner in life with parenting, finances, decisions, leadership, you get the drift...off my soapbox.

Fall colors in January

This is for all you northern CA/Oregon people that complain that we have no Fall in Riverside. Just come over to my house in January and I'll have plenty of fall raking and jumping for you to frolick in. I know it is late, but beautiful just the same! The girls had so much fun jumping (Agatha) and eating (Gwyneth) in the leaves. My real motivation was to finally have some dry stuff for my compost mix!!!

Her laugh is so pure enjoyment! She said, "Mom, this is just like in a book!"

I have had to swipe many leaves from her throat! They can't taste good!

PS. I know I have missing from blogdom for like a month-I'll post some of the things when I am lacking in material later-but things have been crazy with my CLAD classes and every waking moment that hasn't been mommy duty, social outings or Christmas stuff has been my 12 units. But, I finish today!!! Hooray!

Thanksgiving at Pilgrim's Place

We found this quaint little festival in Claremont called the Pilgrim Festival at Pilgrim Place. Aggie learned about the Pilgrims and Indians by riding on this fun Mayflower ship build on a Cadillac that held at least 40 people, doing fall crafts, seeing Pilgrim costume on the seniors working the festival, and visiting a Indian Camp with a hut, skins to dry, fish model over a fire and story with craft. So fun, hey? There was this great drumming circle that traveled the country doing their half hour presentation. They were intense. They had an opening incense ceremony, wore certain colors, and took their song very seriously. They were kinda goofy, but because they took it soooo seriously they were cool. Isn't that funny how that happens? We read Thanksgiving books on the drive and when we got to Indian story time my cute, little daughter promptly answered CLAMS when asked what the Indians ate. I was so proud of my little unschooler. Sometimes I am impressed with what she hears. I feel like she is not listening, but-oh-she really is.

On that same subject I have totally infiltrated her little brain with my Christian Equality. She now "plans" to be a "woman pastor at the Grove because there are really not girl pastors and she has to help change the world like Mulan and Ruby (one of the first Chinese Women to attend university)". Part of me is proud and amazed at how much she listens to me, and part of me is scared for her as I have set her up with high goals that may take a bumpy journey to accomplish.

My little 80s girl

I dressed Aggie for school today and she picked this adorable outfit for picture day. Doesn't she just look like she should be hangin with Debbie Gibson? Adam started singing Tiffany...Running just as fast as you can, holding onto one another's hand...Funny how style comes back around. The pins on her jean jacket with the pink cons. Such nostalgia.

My altar call Jack-o-lantern

I love teaching with metaphor. I try to learn from the example Jesus gave by always using this effective teaching technique whenever possible. A friend of mine shared a way to go through basic beliefs in Christ while carving a pumpkin. It sounded good, so I tried it this year as we were alone for carving. (We usually throw a big party for Pumpkin Carving as I LOVE it, but took a year off with baby and all-we will do it next year!!!) But, I am glad we did.

Basically the metaphor is that everyone has goopey yuckiness (sin) in their pumpkin (heart/soul/life) with some bits of good-the seeds. The pumpkin can't clean itself out, or any other pumpkins for that matter. But, someone greater can come along and clean it out (God). It is nasty and gross (Jesus had to die) to do, but must be done to make way for the jack-o-lantern. Then the pumpkin is carved into something new and beautiful to become the jack-o-lantern (just like we are formed into a new and beautiful creation). And only when we let that carving happen (the changes in our character by loving and helping others) can the light shine out (the light of hope and Jesus' story). As the metaphor grew more and more complex with our conversation and carving it even made me more and more thankful for the beauty of God's gift to me and a desire to let my light glow beautifully through.

She responded with such great discussion and questions. It was awesome. She said the sweetest and most sincere prayer that she wanted to be carved like a jack-o-lantern and let her light shine out without the yuckiness inside. It was beautiful.

As I tucked her in I told her that in the Bible it says that God wrote HER name down in His book and the angels were dancing around in celebration and that whenever she was truly sorry she was forgiven. Her eyes sparkled in the nightlight glow. She was so excited she had to get up and tell Daddy. As she drifted to sleep she said "Where do you want to go in our dreams?" (we often meet up for playdates in our dreams) and we decided to go to the party in heaven. We are going to glitter so brightly we are like stars and have long hair with curls and beautiful legs and arms to dance around. Sounds fun. You can come too if you like.

Halloween at Preschool

Aggie had Halloween celebrations today. We made these spider crackers for our contribution to the healthy snack genre at the party (so Family Fun of us, ey?)...

...and attended a funky little costume parade with three songs. I love her preschool because it is so old timey. It is like a piece of my childhood served up on a plate for her. They still use a record player for the background music, they sing outside with no accompaniment facing all directions, they parade through the parents once and then leave us to stare at each other while they trick or treat around the facility and then come back to sing...the production is awkward to say the least. But the awkwardness is the charm. I love it. It just feels healthily slow, loving and child centered.

The heartbreak of your child...

I told my daughter today that another of her close friends was moving away-and pretty far this time. It was horrible to witness the heartbreak. It came up in a story we were reading and I thought-OK now is the time. As I told her I could see the realization on her face and then this low wail started to come. It got so loud I had to close the hotel window and just let her cry it out and tell me how bad it hurt. She said, "If he moves how can I ever marry him?" and "Now only one of the five familes is left with us." and "My heart is hurting so much because it is broken." It was gutwrenching because I feel the same emotions. I just held her and comforted. I told her things like "We will visit." and "He will be back to see his grandparents." But, it is hard to watch your child deal with these times of loss of such young friendships. Harder even than I expected.

My little Musician

I have always wished I were more musical. I played the piano and the clarinet for a while in grade school and took 3 years of voice in college-so I can read music and carry a tune. I guess that is musical by some standards. I practice guitar occasionally and have taken lessons. I want to be able to play a strong rhythm part on acoustic so I could play along with a band or accompany myself singing simple folky songs. But I think that is as high as I should aim at this point. I am more the visual artist. But, I have always been related to and attracted to real musicians. I dated quite a few and married an awesome one. He has to bring some sort of guitar on vacation or he can't really relax (on this one he has a ukulele for by the pool, keyboard and full size electric to lay down tracks on his laptop) The people that surround me in life often have musical lives. I have a dad and sisters who all exude musical skill and talent. And now my little girl is blossoming into quite a musician. She has taken piano for almost a year now and loves to create her own music, play little melodies and is beginning to read music. She started violin at the end of the summer and even though it is a challenge she is getting things I don't even understand. This morning Adam was playing the guitar and Aggie just started singing free melodies along with his chords. She is always on key and follows him as much as he follows her. They can just create music. She sings all day (I mean ALL DAY). And if I can think of a cute little song in homeschooling she learns whatever we are doing so much quicker. She knows so many melodies and can recognize them anywhere. I am in awe. She wants to be a rock star and I know she can-just remember to send a shout out to your old mom and sing me You are My Sunshine.

Little Sew-er

I am making Christmas Lists for the girls and this is on Aggie's. Isn't it cute? It would be so fun to sew side by side. And it is pink-Aggie says "I don't just like pink, I love it!" My Fancy Pink Girl!

Sisters

I am always "protecting" 4 month old Gywn from the craziness of her four year old sister Agatha. But, judging from this picture I think I need to lighten up. I need to lighten up about lots of things, but that is beside the point. I think I need to let their sisterly adoration blossom under my watchful eye. They are beautiful together.

My little Wonder Woman

She really is. Agatha is so gifted. She moves through music with singing, violin and piano in ways I only dream of. She is active with dance and movement beyond words. She is so smart that I am positive she will surpass me before I am done homeschooling her. She already reads some, writes some and understands abstract concepts my kinders didn't. She is so empathetic to friends that she is always involving the new kid. She is fun and her giggle is infectious. She tells amazing stories and she can talk with an adult longer and more sincerely than I ever could. People love her and I do too. Go check out her new blog that she has started as a part of our homeschool activities.

PS. Don't get me wrong...my above seemingly perfect child has opposites to all those amazing qualities including the annoying need to be the center of attention all the time, a overly loud voice that is constantly going, and a dramatic/emotional side that brings on big tears at playdates (which she inherited from me!). But, in our house we celebrate both sides of personality traits because without the bad, you wouldn't have the good.

Where are the Undies?

I dressed my Preschooler in a rush today to get her out the door (we spent our morning watching a huge tree get cut down across the street). After she left with Dad I was cleaning up and putting her dirty clothes in the laundry...I found everything but the undies. Now we have friends coming over tonight so I really wanted to find the undies so they didn't sit on the couch and find dirty undies stuffed in the cushions or something. I looked everywhere-no undies. I picked her up from school and she came home, went to the bathroom and called to me--"Look mom, two undies!!!" She wore clean undies over day old dirty undies all day at school-NICE! Good job mom!