Reny's a Maine adventure

the boys each collected a couple of dollars from their banks to walk down to Reny's and buy a new toy. They each took turns making their own purchases, I am really proud of them.

2 is a magic number

Special Mars moments:

-sand shoes at the lake "i'm wearing my shoes in the water"
-Mars climbed up and stood on the hood of the car all by himself while I got Moon out of the car, he was very happy with himself.
-at the shop he had a little sand pail and he put it on his head while walking around saying to noone in particular "i'm the king" over and over in a sing songy way.

seeing, believing, receiving

We watched the movie "Nim's Island" the other night and everybody loved it, the animals, the ocean, marine biology, folklore, and of course the fantasy of living on a secluded island and building a home. The kids watched all the special features repeatedly and discussed the details among themselves and told me all about it. Sun was really moved by the lizards in the film, bearded dragons to be exact. He fell in love with them and the idea of having one as a companion so much that he spoke about it for days non stop had a name picked out and everything. So we decided to take a 40 minute drive to a pet store that had a baby bearded dragon to see if he felt that way after seeing a real one. Well, he did, after walking around the pet store and looking at and talking about all the animals, J and I were going back and forth on whether or not bringing home a bearded dragon was something we were prepared to do. We decided that while we may not think it was the best thing to do, we were not there because of us, we were there for Sun and it is important for him to realize that his desires are attainable, and so Sun has a new little bearded dragon friend named Staple Thrower.
We talk about the subject of receiving every so often and how we've been trained throughout life to feel guilty for wanting... and receiving. It is important to us that our children do not feel guilty or bad for wanting, that they know that they can have anything they want in life, it doesn't make you spoiled or selfish or greedy. Everyone deserves to feel happiness and joy, what that is to each person may be different, but should never be limited. Everything is possible if you just put your mind to it.

"i'm up here Fidoula"

today Moon woke us up talking to the cat, we had some coffee and some food and Star and Sun walked to the shop with J

mmm elbows

you know that feeling when you walk into the kitchen and haven't been to the store in a while and you think to yourself "there is nothing to eat", but there isn't time to go to the store and everyone is waiting to be fed?
well this is what we put together from what little was left...
1 box of elbow macaroni
1/8 of a container kraft parmesan
1 cup of milk
1 tablespoon of corn starch
salt & pepper
a bag of fake ground meat

we cooked the milk, cheese, corn starch, salt and pepper ...put it on the pasta and added the fake meat... it was good and filling and we didn't have to go to the store!

water ways after rainy days

It has been raining for a week and a half. the transition to the next season begins, the days are darker and colder and you can faintly smell fall sneaking in. The brook behind the shop has turned into rapids and overflowed it's bank. There is a small loop off the brook which has also overflowed. With the help of the 12 year old boy at the neighboring shop my sons discovered the loop makes a great water slide sort of thing. The water is moving so fast and deep that it carries you around and you can get out at the bridge, or flow under it. Our friends stopped by the shop to visit with us and we all enjoyed playing in the immense amounts of warm warm brook water. It was a very sweet day.

hi mork i'm in york

C's family flew in from california and rented a house in york beach maine. so we all packed up, couped the chickens and went to be with them for 10 days. we kicked it off with a trip to short sands, everyone was so excited and the boys were finally going to get boogie boards. Yaya, Auntie E & Star went to the beach shop to get boogie boards, C & Sun went to the playground, Mars and J stayed at the beach. While at the playground Sun was very excited because he always wanted a boogie board with a shark on it, to C's surprise they found one, just one shark boogie board, Star picked a pirate board which he loves, we can't get enough of skulls and crossbones in our family. after the beach that day we walked over to beach street to get started on going to the first of 3 candy stores. the boys each chose candy filled water guns, for C it was an assortment of sugary novelties, Yaya chose fudge of course and E chose salt water taffy, alas J left empty handed, good thing C planned on that while filling the bag. We took the trolley back to the nubble lighthouse and then walked to the house. we collected Bapa and walked to fox's for a classic maine beach dinner, then back to the house to chill and watch a movie all together. we spent most of our time in york walking, to the beach, to the lighthouse, to the shops, we ate taffy and fudge and candy, we went to the arcade and bowling and wild kingdom, we had two family reunions and the kids LOVED playing with cousins! everyone was so happy to be with Yaya, Bapa & E, and Moon warmed up to everyone pretty fast.
Moon's highlights: she learned to side sit and let someone other than mommy hold her.
Mars' highlights: a little plastic purse full of candy, dedicated Lucius time at the arcade, finding a purple shovel on the beach after losing the new shovel he was so happy to receive!, going in the ocean, living with Yaya & Bapa and E, bowling and boogie boarding.
Sun's highlights: the purple york beach sweatshirt, playing with cousins and the candy necklace.
Star's highlights
: getting a boogie board, staying with Yaya & Bapa, going bowling & the arcade.
J's Highlights: boogie boarding, the hot dogs at the cook out, fruit salad, lobster, ice cream, corn chowder, finding a sand dollar for C, walking, getting a gas grill from the side of the road, the painting guy, thunder and lightening, the Nubble lighthouse, being a joyful family all together somewhere other than home.
C's highlights: the candy shops, brownie sundaes, pizza, walking everywhere, smelling the ocean in the air, awesome crazy thunder and lightening storms, BOOGIE BOARDING, finding a sand dollar for J, eating, seeing my children being free and joyful and being free and joyful myself, having my parents and sister around.
we had an amazing and joyful time and are looking forward to seeing them again soon!