Faeries, Pi and Weekend Fun!

 

 

So, I mentioned in my last post that Goose is performing in our charter school's performance of

Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.  And, on top of lots of other writing

assignments, all the kids were required to turn in some sort of project relating to

Shakespeare or this particular play.

And since Goose is playing the faerie,  Peaseblossom, she chose faeries as her

subject.  I am in love with this project!!! 

 

 

She studied the history of faeries and made this beautiful display,

complete with real faeries!  She used battery-operated tea lights with cotton over them to make

them glow.  I also love the faerie door at the base of the tree.  I am so proud of her!  She did it completely on her own.  She is also very proud of herself! 

 

 

 



Of course, we had to make pie on pi day!

Apple pie, as requested by Binky.  We also listened to some very funny youtube

songs about pi.  Binky and I also drew some circles, measured the diameter, radius and

found pi! And we finished the pie the next morning for breakfast.

 

 



Today was beautiful!

We all hopped in the car, with Cody the dog, and headed to the bay.

The water was warm and very shallow.

Cody loved it!

 

 



 

Is that a happy dog face, or what?

 

 

Daddy, Goose, Binky and Cody had a great time playing

Frisbee in the water.

While I was watching them playing, I thought to myself,

"This is our moment."  It was a wonderful feeling, living in that moment!

We played, laughed, snacked, ran, played catch later with a friend at the park.

Goose and Binky didn't argue once all day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was the perfect day. 

Now back to the week ahead. 

 

Weekend

Well, our weekend was pummeled by the "Pineapple Express."

An atmospheric river that made its way here from

the Hawaiin Islands.

Lots of rain, rain, rain.

And since we are studying weather and climate, I thought this would

make an excellent lesson!  So Binky

made a diagram of the "Pineapple Express."

You can read  more about it here, if you like.

 

 



 

So while we were indoors, listening to all that rain, Goose

broke out some holiday decorations.

This is Binky's favorite christmas item.

I bought it for him at the Nutcracker several years ago.

 

 



 

 

 

I made some salt dough ornaments and we

had a blast decorating them!  Grandma came over with her

craft box and we went a little crazy with all that paint, glitter, and beads!!

I love how they turned out! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These two ornaments are for my two nephews.

I hope they love them!  I had so much fun making them!

 

 

 



 

 

 

I even made some for us.

It was a nice time.  Holiday memories in the making.

I asked the kids what they would like to do this holiday season

and we came up with a few ideas so far. 

 

Make snowflakes

birdseed ornaments for the birds

solstice walk in the woods

gift making for family and friends

light the lights for Hanukkah

watch Elf

go ice skating

 

Joy, over at You know how we're an art family...

has a beautiful list of advent activities she made with her family.

What special activities do you do with your family this

time of year?

 



l i f e

 

Life is a little crazy right now.

When isn't it, really?

My mother's husband has brain cancer.

He was diagnosed 2 years ago with stage 3 anaplastic

oligodendroglioma. 

He had surgery to remove as much as possible as soon as he was diagnosed

and then 1 year of chemo.  It was an oral chemo that was very easily tolerated.

And then all was mostly well.  About a month ago, after one of his

usual MRIs, we could see that the cancer had started to grow again.

We knew it would eventually.

So he went in for surgery last Wednesday and his home now.

The surgery went very well at UCSF.

He had the best possible surgeon.

Joe, my step-father, is now scheduled to start brain radiation

in less than two weeks.  Treatment is EVERYDAY for 7 weeks.

And now they have opted to add chemo again while he is doing the radiation treatments.

I don't know how this will affect him. 

From what I have read online, it will not be easy for him.

But he is still young, in his mid fifties, and healthy otherwise.

But in the end, we all know this will take his life much earlier than

expected.  It is a lot to deal with.

I haven't even mentioned it here because then it becomes more real.

I am very concerned about my mom and how she is

handling everything.  We are going to visit tonight or tomorrow, depending on

how Joe is feeling. 

As for me, I am starting my chemo cream for my face today!

My insurance did not want to cover the prescription at first.

But my amazing doctor got on the phone and made it happen!

 

On a happier note, we are getting ready for Halloween!

Binky only needs 2 more things and then both kids are all set.

Goose will be a gypsy and Binky will be Jester, a comic book character.

I can't believe how grown-up they both look in their costumes.

I will post pics later.

I am looking forward to the distraction.

Watching all the kids with happy faces and fun costumes.

I hope your celebration is filled with fun!

Happy Halloween!

 

 

 

 

 



s k y and s c h e d u l e s

 

 

While sitting in my room the other evening I could see a pink glow

seeping through the blinds.

When I peeked outside, the clouds were aglow with beautiful

shades of pink.

 

 

And the moon was gorgeous!

 

 





 

 

A day or two later we headed down to the water

to fly Binky's new dual-control kite.

There were a lot of sailboats out there!

How I wanted to be on one of them.

 

 

This is the new kite!

Binky is so excited about it.

He is quite good, too.

He told me his kite was really pretty up in the sky.

 

 



 

 

Here he is doing his thing.

 

 

 

 

We have been very busy.

Our lessons and groups and classes have begun

and I am just trying to get back into the

swing of things.

Goose is quite busy this fall. 

Her schedule is as follows

 

US Constitution

Epidemics

Earth Science Group

Egypt

Writing Group

French

Algebra

Cooking classes

Library Book Club

 

Binky's schedule

 

Maritime and Tallships

Science class

Math

Writing

Engineering

US History

Martial Arts

 

Actually, seeing this in print kind of scares me!

It is a lot, isn't it?!

For many years I was one of those under-scheduling moms.

My kids had plenty of time to just be.

  But now that they are older,

they have a lot more interests. So we are busy bees for now.

Besides, I like my job as chauffeur!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



1 2

Goose turned 12 yesterday!

This is a photo from her first birthday.

Such sweet memories!

Happy  Birthday Goose!!!!!!

We are so proud of the young woman you have become!!

We love you!!

Mom and Dad