Christmas Choral Concert

Teah was awesome! It was so great to see her up on the stage as part of the sixth grade chorus! They all did a lovely job and we enjoyed all the carols and dancing so much. They really worked hard to put on such a great show! Wish you all could've been there!

Hmm..which scarf?

...is my new favorite? I love the striped one, but I think I'm starting to love the yellow one just as much, if not more! My mama sent it to me for my bday...and I love it! (and why don't guys understand how important it is to have just the right scarf???)

Handmade Laptop

...such a smart kid!!!

Just stopping by

...to say hello and tell you all I love you!

St. Nick's visit

We were all delighted to wake up and see what St. Nicholas left in our shoes this year! Fruit, nuts, and stickers were among the goodies!! Excitement is building!!

O'Tannenbaum

The children did a wonderful job decorating the tree and the house for the holidays! I love to watch them get excited about giving and celebrating!

Thanksgiving potluck at Mary Diehl's

Always something to plaster

Always someone to teach:)

Croquet is the game of choice at Mary's house!

So much family fun:)

Nolan took a hike, to look for eggs.

Mary and Jerry and so many other friends

Sista Kerrylee was on the fire!

The toy of choice!

Good night!

Andy and Nakai were still snoozin late into the morning....not sure how they slept through the rooster...



We headed out to Mary Diehl's house the weekend after Thanksgiving for a potluck with friends. It was wonderful to see so many faraway friends and to sing and play and listen to music! We slept over and hung out for awhile the next day, making food, playing, plastering, just being...together. Thanks for another fun time, Mary Diehl....we love you:)

Nakai's self-portrait

I'm always pleasantly surprised at what I find on my camera when Nakai has been using it:)

It's Cold in Here....Brr!

Thanks Andy for capturing me when I thought I could just be...me.

Thanksgiving With the Stokers

We all enjoyed a holiday feast at Andy's parent's house. There was every yummy holiday food you could imagine, games, a bday cake for me:) and lots of laughter!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Birthday to Me!

I wonder what the universe has in store for me this year? Hope I can handle it!

Down the Cherokee Path

It made me very happy this year, when a teacher at school (whose classroom Dennis had visited each year) asked me how I felt about bringing in Dennis' sacred things for her class to see. It made me smile to know that another classroom would get the opportunity to learn about, touch, smell, see, experience some Cherokee culture. I found a few videos of Dennis doing this program for other classes of the same age. The teacher had the videos playing in her room all day long and invited all the other classrooms in the school to come down and visit. I think this is exactly what Dennis would want us to do. It felt good to see the children's expressions and how they reacted

At first, Nolan was a little apprehensive about sharing our things with the children at school. He was worried about them breaking. It ended up being a wonderful experience for him as well. The teacher explained to him that now he was a teacher, just like his Daddy. Now people could learn from him! She invited him to come down to her room while other kids were coming in and looking around. She introduced him and let him answer questions and show the children around. He really enjoyed telling people about everything and explaining what things were used for.

It was a really nice day and I'm so thankful that we were able to do it.

Sacred Journeys

Uncle Paul gifted Nolan with is walking stick to use while his foot heals.
Nakai cracks Uncle Paul up:)

Teah is requesting jaguar fur on Uncle Paul's next visit.

Uncle Paul was in from Peru and came by to see the children. Other people wanted to visit with him while he was here too, so all at once we got a houseful of guests! We were excited to see Brian, Faye, Ryan, Loryn, and DJ along with Uncle Paul! We were out by the fire when they arrived, so they joined us for some music ("There was a farmer had a dog and SHIVA was his name, oh") and a special ceremony led by Nakai.

Earlier that day, Nakai decided he wanted to send messages and prayers to Daddy in heaven via smoke signals. All of our guests were happy to participate and thought it was a great idea, too. So, we got out the instruments and sang some spirit songs together and then Nakai passed around a smoking stick and asked us all to "write letters to daddy" with it, passing it from person to person. We all did so. Then Brian volunteered to sing and pray for us. It really was a beautiful ceremony..thanks Nakai! I just know Daddy was smiling down on us all that day. Uncle Paul took a walk around the woods and announced, "Dennis likes it here." "It feels good." That made us all glad. After the ceremony, we moved inside for our potluck and visit! It was so nice to look at pictures and hear about Paul's life in Peru. Great to catch up with our other friends, too. Later, Brian and Nolan went back out to the fire for a lesson on the chanupa ceremony. I'm so grateful to Brian for taking the opportunity. Everyone visited late into the night and Paul, Brian and Faye (oh, and Shiva the dog) slept over and hung out the next morning! Uncle Paul got the fire going again in the morning and the children enjoyed it all day, even after everyone had gone. Before they left, Teah got a lesson in Chinese from Faye and Brian.....to hold her over until our next visit together. It's always so nice to have the house filled with great friends and happy energy!! Makes you feel good! We love you, friends!

Friends and Fire

Nolan and his crutches take up residence by the fire....
Here comes Nakai and "Big Red"

"Let's make a fire!"

Evan decided to hang by the fire.

Evan enjoyed being in the woods:)

Kaycee and Teah strolling and chatting....girls!

Andy focalizes the fire scene...thanks A/C!

The girls emerge from the woods!


Our first playdate in our new house!! Kaycee and Evan came over for the day and everyone had someone to hang out with. Lots of skateboarding, roller skating on the golf course, playing in the woods, hanging by the fire...and.....Girl talk! We hope to do it again real soon!

Mama Sue's tribe visits

...and the tribes got right to work making shelters in the woods! I love these children! So resourceful, imaginative, free-thinking....I hope they never lose those qualities. The children asked if we could still have our communal dinners even though we aren't neighbors anymore. Mama Sue and I decided that we really like them too and it's easier to make one big dinner than two separate ones..so...we will have dinner at Mama B's on Mondays and Mama Sue's on Tuesdays. Every Mama welcome!!! (anybody welcome, for that matter) We'd love to have more company.

Me!

Thanks Nakai:)

...boy, that coat sure isn't very flattering...guess it's on it's Freecycle way! I've learned that if you really want to know the truth, you ask a child!

"Big Red"

A very happy boy bought "Big Red" with his own money at GW and has definitely gotten his $1 worth of enjoyment from it! Such a daredevil!

Geno!

Geno surprised us with an overnight visit after being away for a long time....we were so thrilled to see him and we hope he comes back soon:) We love you, Geno!

jam session with Grandma Betty

Grandma Betty tearing up the ivories:)
Andy rounds it out!

Grandpa Leon sang a tune or two!

Teah enjoyed the show:)

Grandpa and the boys tickling on the floor:)

Knitting and enjoying my family....blissed out mama!

Sweet girl in a contemplative state...

Nolan and the Dudester:)

Grandpa teaches the boys how to play b-ball!


Grandma Betty and Grandpa Leon came to visit us and see our new place before they headed to Florida for the winter. They surprised us by staying the night and we're so glad they did! It was wonderful to have time to visit and relax with each other. We played some music together, took a long walk on the golf course, played basketball, met the neighbors, Grandpa and Andy raked leaves, Grandma and I took a trip over to the apartment for a final cleanup....it was really great to spend time together. They said it was their first overnighter in a couple of years. Sure wish we lived closer to each other so we could do it more often.

Birthday Party..

She shoots...
Two of my favorite girls:)

Kaycee and Teah

Evan takes flight

Mary

Sadie and the girls

Mmm...cupcakes!

...at the Party Barn! Nakai enjoyed partying with all of his friends! A special thank you goes out to Andy's mom, Mary, for baking some delicious cupcakes and handing out party favors! I wasn't sure how I was going to pull off this shin dig, but with her help, everyone had a good time:)

Those in attendance were: Chuck and Mary; Mama C, Dreg, Ayden, Elaine & Marlie; Nick, Shannon & Riley; Susan, Kaycee & Evan; Christopher; Hannah; and our crew...not many people this time, but I still thought we had a good turnout for the day after Halloween!

We've Moved!!!

We finally closed on our house and began the happy/stressful journey of moving! In between swine flu, birthday party and trick or treating, we managed to get it done!!!

...now where is that mixer???

Happy Birthday wee one!

So hard to believe that my little baby has turned six years old! I'm so honored to have watched this sweet boy learn and experience so many things in these last six years. Happy Birthday Nakai! We enjoyed a quiet dinner at home with cake and ice cream. Party to follow over the weekend!

New Skull

For Nolan's collection...dug out of the woods in the backyard!

Happy Halloween

Anyone else out there with children who beg to stop trick-or-treating? (after only 1 street?) I'm not complaining...just checking:)

Time for carving

My children have waited patiently for this day for so long! That's the trouble, I guess, with buying your pumpkins early...your children have to wait two whole weeks to carve them, so they don't rot!
Anyway, the day finally arrived. Nolan wanted to go free form with his and I think it turned out so well. He even made a wee one for me! Such a gernerous boy! Teah wanted to use a pattern from the book that came with the carving tools...hers is the head-less horseman..and I was surprised at how well hers turned out! Nakai wanted a scary skull....and as he was not feeling at all well, he nominated Andy to be the carver.... a short time (and a few grumbles) later, voila! A skull!!! Nakai was thrilled when he saw it three days later (after his fever broke) and declared, "Andy is the best carver ever!"....which made the man feel pretty good:)

We are lighting the candles every night and standing outside to admire the spooky pumpkins!

Music Man

Nakai was really getting musical today! It makes my heart glad:)

Do your children make inventions like these???

Okay, so Teah was home sick this week and she made a great invention. I would show it to you here, but my sink is piled high with dishes that I really need to wash, so I'll tell you about it instead.... Teah made a really cool faucet turner! Cool, right? I think it was constructed from a segment of kinex, a long piece of yarn and a whole lot of tape....she can pull the kinex rod one way and the faucet turns on...if she pulls the rod the other way, the faucet turns off. Super cool!

She was extremely proud of her invention and Nakai really loved it because he could finally turn the faucet on and get his own drink!

Well, not to be outdone, Nolan decided to get right to it and created the invention pictured above!

Okay, so like you, when I first saw it, I thought it was exactly what you are thinking right now.....my first thought was, "where on earth would Nolan have seen one of these, to know how to model one?" So I told myself, "self, slow down....hear the child....just listen....don't talk!" I'm so glad I did! Here is what Nolan created: "I made a magic potion that you have to be very careful with....if it breaks, it will turn into an alien and it will be so dangerous." Me: "Wow, that looks like a powerful potion." Nolan: "Yeah, it is, be careful, mom." Me: "How did you make it so powerful?" Nolan: "Well, I first found a jar thingy (flower bud vase from the florist) and then I put a battery in it and some coffee, but then it kept spilling out, so I had to find a thing to put in the top to make it not come out." Me: "I see, where did you find the part on top?" Nolan: " Outside in that big hole that the workers made." Me: "Well, I really hope that we don't break it....I hear aliens eat a lot." Nolan: "Yeah."

So, there you have it, the whole scoop! I knew I had to share this picture with you! Can you imagine if he would've chosen to take his potion to school for show and tell? Oh, My!

Inspired...

"The Where The Wild Things Are Monster House" By ~Teah
Kids gettin crafty

Nolan's creations

"Wild Things" on top of a spy glass by Teah

Wild Things hanging out by a wild tree house

Teah's creations

Graves of my Daddy by ~Nakai

...by the movie, Where the Wild Things Are...(which I was disappointed by)....

Anyway, the children were very inspired by the monsters and wanted to hurry home and create with clay. We had a huge mess on the dining room table all weekend as the worked in various stages....wetting, warming, rolling, shaping, drying, painting, etc.... I think their creations turned out pretty well...They are all feeling crafty and accomplished, a feeling I personally can't get enough of:)

Bulldozer Progress

Okay, I know I said I was taking a blogger break for awhile...and, after this, I am. I was supposed to be moving this weekend and therefore would not have had time to blog. However, I am not moving this weekend due to a setback with Columbus Day. So, I thought I would let you see the progress the bulldozers are making. My yard seriously has become a construction site. Seriously. I keep dreaming that I'll come home from work and one will be coming through the side of my house. (and I hear Dennis' voice saying, "My girl with rabbit medicine"....) So, here is the update...Oh, and I would also like to share that this is more than just ugly. It is dirty...messy...creating lots of work for me...you should see Nolan when he comes in....and his shoes, clothes, coat....and my floor...uggh....how many times can you wash sneakers and coats before they fall apart?

All before school...

...That's right, this is mid October! I woke up feeling less than excited. My sweet, beautiful sons, on the other hand, felt differently...and thanks to them, we started the day on a positive note! The lessons we learn from these little ones are often times profound. Thanks Nolan and Nakai for helping Mama see the light on a very dark morning.

If you're wondering....the figures they created are "Snow God and his little sweet son, Snow Jesus" by Nakai and "Snow aliens"by Nolan)

They started outside at 6:30am and played while I got things ready for school/work....They were very disappointed when it was time to go....

Oh, also, they asked me for gloves....I of course have no idea where gloves are (it is October).....they happened to find one pair...and shared them! They each took one glove and together were able to build these wonderful figures! Makes a mama's heart so glad!!!!

And then...when we finally got to school, we were walking in and I noticed that in the excitement of the morning, I had totally forgotten to brush their hair! Not a huge issue if your son has a nice neat crew cut....totally noticeable with the amount of hair on these two boys! I felt like such a loser mother....but they were pretty happy....and wet and dirty! What can you do?

Still smiling...

...is it believable?

Bulldozers arrive

The view from my back porch

As some of you know, my "unit" has been selected for 504 handicap renovations....that means I have to move... no big deal, right? I'm buying a house....we were supposed to close this Friday. Well, guess what? It is a big deal, we are not closing Friday (obviously) and these dozers are tearing up the place. Moving power lines, ripping the yard apart...waiting to rip up my house....if only I would get out. I'm feeling very unsettled and stressed about this....even though there is not a thing I can do to make it better.....Just thought I'd share:)

Ahhhh....

...A moment just for me....just because.....and it felt so good to have something on the sticks again:)

"I want a hawk"

...and you shall have one!

Bakugan....Tree?

Do any of YOU mama's have a bakugan tree? Just wondering!

Harvest Celebration

Fall is my favorite season.....it is encapsulated in beauty!

Pumpkin Patch

We enjoyed a wonderful Sunday evening at Cooper's Farm with Chuck and Mary. Afterwards, we came home and enjoyed a game of Uno and some pumpkin pie, cookies and cider. A great way to spend a beautiful Fall evening.

Coolspring Power Museum

The whole gang was there
So much to see

happy friends

engines everywhere

Teah with Teah Jr.

Sadie listens intently as Tom explains how things work

so much to learn

Waiting for the big one!

Mama Betsy and sweet baby Miles were there

Waiting with baited breath

Almost there

I love this girl!

Nolie discovered a huge earthworm

Boy toys

Friends

Silly, silly Nakai

Ninja...indian?

A young boys dream playground

Even Elaine Grace couldn't resist

And for the grand finale, a tour of the town:)

We had a blast at Mama C's house warming party and during our tour of the Coolspring Power Museum. We had our own tour guide! He even took us for a ride in an antique fire truck! The boys really enjoyed themselves.....us Mama's felt nervous about the safety aspect, but were glad that the wild boys had a chance to be wild :)

Super Hero Day at School

Thanks Andy! Our costumes were a big hit:)

Love in my bones...in my heart..

for you all! I'm thinking of all of you and what you mean to me and how you add so many fine qualities to my life. I'm sorry I haven't been able to call, write, or visit you all as much as I'd like. I'm struggling with finding balance right now.....balance between work/home/family....doing much juggling at the moment and I'm beginning to feel like I'm not doing much of anything really well. More like, I'm just hanging on, handling things on a day to day basis. I'm missing my rhythm....flow......spiritual practices, etc.
So, I've decided that I really do have to take a blogging break for a little bit. There is so much I want to share with you all...and I will. But for the next few weeks I will be focused on moving. That's right! We're closing on our house next Friday! It's both exciting and terribly frightening. So, we'll be going to work/school during the daytime and then packing/moving/unpacking during the evenings/weekends. I'll take lots of pics and promise to do some posting as soon as things are in order.
Until then, I'll be holding you all so close in my heart and thinking of you and wishing we could all be together, living, learning, loving.....