TreasuresInTerraCotta

I shouldn't hate birthdays as much as I do.  And it's not for the reasons most women quintessentially hate birthdays.  It's not about getting older or the passage of time.  It is really all about expectations.  Call me crazy, but I just want the day to be special.  I have had trouble defining what I want to be "special," but the more I ponder it, the more it comes down to being known.  I want to be known and celebrated.  I don't want to choose the restaurant, I want someone to suggest the one they know I'll love.  I don't want to have to ask to not cook, I want it to be offered.  I don't want to do things out of obligation, I want to have a day of joy.  I don't want to ask for a gift and be given that exact thing, I want to be known enough to have inspired gift-giving.  I don't want to have to ask for everything, I want it to be offered, as a gift, because I am known.  That is the gift! No wonder I...

Just a quick note to say Happy St. Nicholas Day! We love St. Nicholas Day! We celebrate it a bit differently each year, but it is still so refreshing, even after almost 10 years.  It helps us to focus on giving instead of getting.  It helps us find ways to serve.  It helps by focusing our gift-giving to our kids on a day other than Christmas.  By default it also requires that shopping be finished by December 6 (more-or-less), which frees up a lot of my mental energy that tends to ruminate on "What are we going to get for...?" It's also super fun to leave shoes outside doors and watch the Veggie Tales St. Nicholas story.  And my boys love leaving St. Nicholas gifts.  In years past we have left little packages on the doorsteps of friends.  In the spirit of St. Nicholas we leave gifts in secret (except when mama's would be creaped out by anonymous gifts with their children's names).  This year we're doing something different.  We wil...

Our first travel day we drove to the Grand Canyon and had a nice camper spot in Trailer Village right in the Park. That first evening we drove to the Bright Angel Trailhead and walked over to the rim.  On the way we almost ran into some elk (quite literally) and then these deer almost walked right up to us.  I guess that's what happens when animals know they are safe in a National Park.   Our first glimpse of the canyon at sunset. The next day we spent the whole day enjoying the park.  The boys rode bikes all over the place.  Tyler spent the day indulging the constant "Can we go for a bike ride" and simultaneously avoiding the rim...because, you know, it's a long way down! First thing in the morning, Truman and I walked to Mather Point to take in the views. We got a little lost and walked about a mile out of the way but we ended up with some pretty views, sited a few condors, had our picture taken and picked up a Junior Ranger Program book for...

We've been doing school outside for over a month now. Southern Arizona in April and May is beautiful!  And with a little shade, the mornings have been perfect for working outside.  Not to mention that the trees and plants are all blooming and we've taken special note of the birds and butterflies that are visiting our yard.  We moved the table into the grass and it gets wonderful dappled shade all morning.    And a quilt usually hangs out in the grass too.   We all seem to be better workers outside.  It's like we crossed a threshold and suddenly concepts are making sense, handwriting has improved, we are a lot more productive, and we have a lot of "recess"! Science and mess-making are easier! Reading, math, coloring, cutting...taking shelter from the seeds falling from the trees.   Bikes and markers everywhere!  Sometimes life is messy.  I hadn't plan...