Remembering This Moment: The Making of a Pirate Ship

Remembering This Moment: capturing a moment in our day that I want to hold onto.  It doesn't have to be anything special, just one of the myriad of small, beautiful moments that make up our life.  I know someday the memories of these moments will fade.  This is my way of hanging onto them.  

Read more here.

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The weather has been beautiful this week.

For us that means a lot of time spent under our giant avocado tree in the backyard.

This tree, one of the reasons we bought our house, is the perfect play place.

It is the setting of much exploring, adventuring and pretending.

Aaron  and I grew up in Fallbrook, avocado capital of the world, and avocado trees were a big part of my childhood too.  I had many a tree house up in an avocado tree.

Just like the trees of my childhood, our tree has become a seat of imagination.

The other day, it became a pirate ship.

I love to watch the 3 of them play together.
James is the imagineer.  The director.  The stage setter.
He comes to the house over and over again.
"Mommy, can I have a sheet?"
"I'm just getting some yarn."
"We need telescopes."
"I need a chair."
I help him secure the needed objects and with help from his brother and sister, he sets everything up.


William mostly does whatever James says, as is befitting a little brother, right?
He's usually happy to let James take the lead.
Lilly, however, is starting to come up with her own ideas.
Sometimes this causes a problem.
James is used to being in charge.
They work it out, sometimes with a little direction from me, and get back to creating.


I watch it all: a pile of scrap wood, old sheets and towels, endless strings of yarn, picnic benches badly in need of repainting -- together, they turn into something magical.
Imagination is one of God's greatest gifts to mankind.

2 benches pushed together become the ship's bow.
An old chair becomes the captain's seat.

A sheet becomes a sail.
A towels the ship's deck.

A little chair becomes a lifeboat.
And a little lamb a sailor who is bravely testing it out.  (Lilly's addition)

Yarn, much used around our house, becomes the rigging.
(see more yarn creations here and here)

A branch in the tree becomes the crow's nest.

An old wrapping paper tube turns into a telescope.

And 3 little kids, along with a pile of junk, set out on a journey across the open sea.

"There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds."  G K Chesterton

I guard my children's imaginations jealously.

I nurture it and protect it.

I give it time and place to grow and flower.

I want for them to grow into adults who can still dream.

So I make sure they have room for dreams now.

"It is usually the imagination that is wounded first, rather than the heart; it being much more sensitive." Henry David Thoreau

And yes, there is a mess to clean up.

There is yarn everywhere.

But it is a small price to pay for having our very own pirate ship, don't you think?

Love from,

Greta

*Each time I do one of these posts, I get inquiries from readers who would like to join in.  

So next Thursday I will be posting another Remembering This Moment.  

If you'd like to participate, just send me your link in a comment on this post and I'll add it to my post next Thursday.  

You have a whole week to find that sweet, simple moment of beauty and take a minute to remember it.  

I hope you will.

Now We Are 7

To my James, upon turning 7.

7 is very different than 6.

Not just on a number line, but in your life, my sweet, sweet, first born son.

You are so big now--not just too heavy for me to carry from the car to your bed if you fall asleep on late night car trips, but your spirit, your heart and who you are becoming as a person.

James, it makes me cry to say it, you are growing up.

This year you are conquering your fears and learning the pleasure of mastering the things that once held you captive.  You are braving the waves with Daddy, paddling your boogie board or swimming to the buoy all by yourself, and making Mommy and Daddy nervous wrecks as boats sail past you, leaving you bobbing in their wake.  

Once upon a time you vowed you'd never play baseball, or any other game where you might lose, and just look at you now, all suited up in catcher's gear, behind home plate.

That ball comes in fast, doesn't it?

But Coach Danny told you to get in front of it and you did.  

And when you stand at bat, those same balls sailing toward you from the pitching machine don't even make you flinch.  

In just a few months I've seen you learning to control those emotions, anger and disappointment, when you get thrown out at first.  

I can still see them all over your face.

And my Mommy heart wants to run to you and hug you and say, "but you did your best, son."

But I don't.

I let you work it out yourself.

And you do.

Before you go back on the field, Daddy or I gives you a high 5 and say, "get em next time."

And you do.

I love the way this sport has become one more thing you are passionate about, like drawing or Legos.

I love the sound of you throwing the ball against the garage.

I love to see you teaching your brother to play catch and organizing a pick-up ball game with your buddies.  James, you are becoming a leader.  

I love your juice stained lip at the end of every game.

And I won't tell you that Gatorade is not really called Grenade, even though a 7 year old should probably know that.  

You, my boy, are an adventurer.  

A new trail, a new road, a new place brings you such excitement and joy.

It is one of my dearest hopes that you never loose that.

I will do all that is in my power to nurture that in you until you leave us one day to explore on your own.

(But promise me you'll come back sometimes.)

I love the conversations we have.  
As always, James, you are a thinker.
But as you grow, I notice the things you think about becoming more challenging, to both of us.
Sometimes the topics aren't hard to deal with.
Like when you asked me about retirement.  
You understood that Daddy is saving for retirement, "but how will you have any money for retirement, Mommy?  You don't even get paid for your job!"
A solution was quickly devised.
"I'm going to build an extra room at my house, upstairs, where you and Daddy can live for free.  Then you can just buy food and help me take care of my kids."
You are so much like your Daddy, vowing to take care of all the parents, when the time comes.


But other times there is no solution, and I can see how much it hurts your soft heart.
The way your eyes welled with tears when you learned Abraham Lincoln was shot and killed, and then Martin Luther King Jr.  I knew you felt the injustice of it.  
Sometimes growing up is hard.

And that, my dear boy, is the way I have seen you change the most this year.

There have been times when you have seen your Mommy sad, crying even, or overwhelmed by this little life of ours.  You softly come up behind me, and pat my back.

"Is there something I can do to help you Mommy?"

And I have to try very hard not to cry even more.

You are learning that you can make a difference in someones day with thoughtfulness.

I love when you surprise me with these notes.

Often, for no reason at all other than you want to brighten my day, I find one sitting on the kitchen table, with my name on it.

You messy handwriting, (it's not your favorite subject) makes me smile, just like the backwards J you still do--often.

And I open it up and see you named your pirate ship after me.

Just like a sailor with a heart shaped tattoo on his arm.

I love that.

You are learning, James to care for others.  

After 7 years of teaching, I am watching you apologize without me prompting you to, to offer help without reminders, to hug your sister or brother if they get hurt, and to say things like, 'no, I wouldn't like any.  But thank you for offering."  These are proud moments for a mama.

Last night when you asked me to climb onto the top bunk and rub away the growing pains from your feet and legs, I fought back tears.

I remembered rocking a little boy and singing Sweet Baby James to him.

You're far too big for my lap now.

But I am thankful you still need a Mommy to rub away the aches and that you let me softly sing, Sweet Baby James as I did.

I know I won't always be the most important girl in your life, and I don't want to be.

But right now, I'll enjoy every minute of it.

My life became richer and so much more beautiful the moment you were born, James.

And you continue to make it that way every day.

I love you son.

Happy Birthday.

Love from,

Mommy

Of Concerts, Choirs and Handbells: Sharing the Wide, Wide World With My Children

I have often said the world is our classroom.

This doesn't just mean to teach us about nature: learning plant names and identifying sea creatures when we are at the tide pools.

What I mean is: 

when we venture out into the world, there are infinite things for us to learn about and from.  

Some of our learning comes from books.

But much of our learning comes from experience.  

When given the chance to see, to touch and to hear the marvels that make up our marvelous world, our learning becomes richer and more meaningful.

It stays with us forever.

That is why I try to share as much of the wide, wide world as I can with my kids.

Last week we had the chance to attend a choral concert at a world class concert hall in Orange County.

I jumped at the chance to take my boys.  

In the end, William opted to stay home with his Daddy, probably a good choice since it was a 2 hour concert with no intermission, and it started at bedtime.

He wouldn't have made it.

So it was just James and I on a date.  How I do love to take that boy on a date.

Especially to a place like this.

The venue is striking.  We talked architecture and design.  We took the elevator to the top and looked down at friends far below.  We gawked at the giant chandelier.

How different from our hikes in nature, and yet, how important to show him the amazing things the mind of man can create, since he has been endowed by THE CREATOR with the capacity to imagine.

  

We met a few friends there, which made it that much more fun.
And once we were inside, in a real theater, with a giant pipe organ, lights and balcony seating ("just like the seats where Abraham Lincoln was, Mommy"--real life experiences bring books to life!) the kids settled down and enjoyed the show.  
A 2 hour choral concert.  
And yes, James truly, thoroughly enjoyed it.


It started with handbells.
HANDBELLS!
Little known fact: I love hand bells.  
I played hand bells at church for a short time in 4th grade.  White gloves and all.
Heck yeah I did.
Don't give me any guff about it either.  Hand bells are awesome. 
(I also worked at the library.  I was total geek material.  But I've grown into my geek status and now I wear it proudly.  I wonder where I can get some private handbell lessons?)
James was entranced.  He'd never seen anything like them.
Just look how big the bells are at the end of the line.

The choir was from Mater Dei high school in Santa Ana, where the Daddy of one of our home school friends is the director of choral activities.  

The choir just returned from touring Italy.  They sang in the Sistine Chapel and other amazing spots across Italy.  (check this out)

When the handbell ensemble played a venue in Italy, a trumpeter in the Roman orchestra recorded them with his cell phone.   They'd never seen hand bells before and, they thought them pretty awesome.  See?

The choir was made up of 9-12th graders. with a few numbers by a junior high honor choir.

I liked James seeing these people, just a few years older than himself, making beautiful music.  Not listening to Lady Gaga, but singing music that has passed the test of 300 years time.  

Don't get me wrong, we like Johhny Cash, too.  And we listen to him.

But, to see James' eyes light up when he heard these boys, The Kingsmen, sing together was pretty great.  He appreciated the difference between the all female and all male choirs.

He especially liked it when the boys sang bass.  "I didn't know their voices could do that."

We didn't get home until after 10.  James was still wide awake to tell Aaron all about the concert.
And he wants to go to the next one, a "coffee house" concert where there will be jazz.
And cookies.
I won't deny that the cookies were part of the draw.
I could not have asked for a better night out with my boy.
Thanks to Mr. Scott and Ms. Debbie for inviting us and helping experience us more of the wide, wide world.


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On a practical note, how do you share the wide, wide world with your kids when, realistically, much of that world can be expensive to take part of?
In a few months we'll have 4 kids.  I don't know if we'll ever be able to afford to take all our kids to see Mary Poppins or the Lion King on stage.
I wish we could, but just because we can't doesn't mean I'll throw my hands up in the air, and crank up the Lady Gaga.  (not to bag on her too much, but seriously, people let their kids listen to her?)
Did you know most museums have a free day every month?
Did you know you can see quality, youth choirs, orchestras and plays with ticket prices for as little as $10?  
Public gardens, arboretums and other places with historical significance often have free days too.
Sometimes, just visiting a place of cultural significance is a great experience.  Like this or this.
There are so many great things we can do with our kids.
It might require a little extra thought, leg work, a drive, a night out or a day off of our routine, but in the end, it is worth every minute.
Because we actually have to get out into the world if we truly want to experience it.
I'd love to hear how you share the world with your kids.  I'm always on the lookout for new ideas.
Share with me!


I'll leave you with this link to inspire you and prepare your hearts for the most special day ahead: the day our Saviour rose again.  Hosanna!  Glory to God in the Highest!
Have a wonderful Easter.
With love from,
Greta

A New Look for Easter Eggs: Jewel Tones

If you are looking for lots of, or any, great Easter crafts, this is not the right blog for you.

At least not this year.

To be completely honest, I just remembered yesterday that I need to get some stuff for the kids' Easter baskets.  Easter prep just isn't at the top of my priority list right now.

We've been reading the parts of the Easter story, and spending time preparing our hearts, but aside from that, my mind is in other places.

Other places like, baby #4 will be here in 2 months and if I don't get these closets cleaned out, things organized, and do something about our room to name a few, I will feel even more overwhelmed when baby arrives.  

It's that whole nesting thing.  Which for me looks more like crazy cleaning and organizing than making cute things for the baby's room.  It's just that way I am.

I mean, who wants to bring baby home to a messy, disorganized house?

Yes, I am slightly distracted.  Slightly frazzled.  And slightly tired at the end of each day.

Anyway.

W will be dyeing eggs.

And to prove how utterly behind I am in life, I am recycling last year's pictures.

But they are still just as pretty.

And we'll be doing them again this year.

Jewel Tone Eggs.

Aren't they beautiful?  
We tried them last year for the first time and I was smitten. (got the idea in Sunset magazine)
Don't get me wrong, I love the traditional pastel Easter egg colors.
I adore them actually.  But there is just something about the deeper, richer colors of these jewel tone eggs that I love also.

Maybe it's a real, red Easter egg that gets me.  
I really think they are lovely.


It doesn't take much effort to make these eggs.
Just buy a carton of brown eggs along with your white eggs and you are set.
Of course you need the dye too.
We use the plain, old Paas dying kit.  
I still love the way those dye tablets fizz when you add the vinegar.

Put the brown eggs in alongside the white and look at how differently the eggs take on the color of the dye.  The kids really like that part.

I've been dyeing eggs every Easter since I can remember and it never, ever gets old.

So I guess I love it too.

At the end of the day, I am not so much into bunnies or chicks or other things that distract us from the real glory of Easter.

A simple plate of eggs, some spring flowers, an egg hunt or 2 and the familiar words of the Easter story bring me joy in a way Easter crafts never will.

We'll be dying eggs tomorrow.  
I can't wait.
Hope these days find you enjoying the beauty of Easter, crafty or not.
Because what really matters is the state of our hears as we contemplate the greatest days in history.  
With love from,
Greta

Chantry Flats, & Sturtevant Falls--an Epic Hike

This is a long post, with lots and lots, and lots, of pictures.

I tried to figure out a way to split it up, but it ended up being 3 different posts and I am just too tired for that much thinking.  So here it all is.  An epic hike and an epic day in my life as a mom.

**If you just want info about the hike, scroll through the pictures and go to my info at the bottom of the post.

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There are days when I am so proud to be the mom of my kids, proud of myself and the work that I am doing, and proud to be part of an amazing group of women who are investing themselves in their children in amazing ways.

This day was one of them.

We'd been trying to hike Chantry Flats for several weeks, but the weather kept stopping us.

None of us had ever done the hike, but research told us that rain slicked trails would not be a good match for our little hikers, so it was put off.

Finally despite some trepidation on all our parts, we went for it.

We wanted to hike to Sturtevant Falls--total trail mileage is 3.7 miles.  

That's a long hike for little legs.  (or 7 month pregnant legs)

But our kids were all pumped to see a real life waterfall--50 feet-- that's big for So Cal standards.

So we went for it.

Before we began, the kids warmed up with some calisthenics.  

Totally initiated and led by them.  I think they knew it was going to be a big hike.

The trail starts off on a paved road, under the protection of shady trees.  It's all down hill.

400 feet of down hill to be exact.  (check out my little hiker with her hiking stick--so cute!)

But remember, that is 400 feet you'll be climbing back up at the end of your almost 4 mile hike.
Believe me, all us mamas were thinking about that as we went down, down, down.

At the bottom of the hill, there is the first waterfall sighting.  The kids are elated.

There are lots of cries of, "Oh my goodness!"  "Wow!"  and a general air of feverish excitement.

We cross a bridge (the only real one) and learn a bit about the history of the cabins that dot the trail.

There are a lot of them, many still inhabited.  The present day residents pack in supplies with mules.
Just like they did 100 years ago.
It's pretty awesome.

At this time of year, the trail is a riot of wild flowers and butterflies.  I saw more varieties of butterflies than I have ever seen before.  It was incredibly beautiful.

This plant is one of my favorites.  Ceanothus, or California Lilac as it is also called, it blooms all spring in the hills of Southern California.  It covered the hillsides in Fallbrook, where I grew up, so it reminds me of home.  

Although the hills above the creek (river?  depends on where you're from, I guess. to me this is more than a creek!) are dry and covered with the more dessert vegetation common to Southern California, once you are down in the creek bottom, the landscape is lush and green.  

The creek changes constantly: calm and idyllic in one spot, tumbling and churning in another.

It was hard not to be a little bit (or a lot) proud of our brood as they hiked this trail.  We had 2 to 6 year olds hiking alongside people covered head to toe in full on hiking gear.
It is not a stroller friendly trail--even a rugged jog stroller couldn't make it.  So if your kid can't ride on your back, he is going to have to walk.  
And ours did.  
Yeah, I was really proud of them.

Here is one of the cabins that dot the trail.  This one looks like it is still someone's home.
It's perched right next to the creek and I can't help wondering if how it would be to live in such a place of amazing beauty.  
I also wonder how it would be to pack in groceries for my family of 5 on a mule.
I don't know if I could really do it.

Here is where we come to the first real crossing of the creek.

And here is where the creek felt like a lot more than "just" a creek.

If you come shortly after a heavy rain, I imagine this crossing would be very difficult, if not a bit dangerous.  It certainly would be with small children.  

As it was, we needed quite a bit of help to maneuver all our kids, and ourselves across.

Thankfully, a number of other hikers stepped up to the challenge.  
They stationed themselves along the slippery rocks and wiggly logs and handed our kids to one another.
Here's William getting some help across.

Besides the kids, there were also some moms who needed a little help: a 7 months pregnant lady with her center of gravity quite thrown off, a mom with a 7 week old baby strapped to her chest, and another mom with a 1 year old baby strapped to her back.
There were parts where our legs were shaking, and yes, we caused quite a back up, but we made it!
And it was actually pretty moving to see the way people stepped up to help us out.

After Fiddler's Crossing, the trail becomes more rough and narrow.

There is another section of the creek to cross (we got more help)

And then we came to this:

We were so close we could see the falls peeking through the trees.
But that section of the river seemed just too difficult to cross.  
I was incredibly disappointed.

But a couple of the moms decided we could do it and waded out.  
We worked together, no other help this time, carrying each other's kids, helping the moms with babies strapped to them, and carefully maneuvering through the deep and slippery parts, until we were all safe on the other side.
It was totally worth it!
I think all of us were awestruck by the power and beauty of the waterfall.  
The force of the water was so strong that it created a wind at the base of the falls.
The spray was cold.
It took our breath away for many different reasons.
And I think of the lesson my kids learned that day: to persevere. 
How real was this lesson that hard work and effort are worth it in the end?
I don't think they will ever forget it.

I love this picture so much.
Look at all those kids!  It's an army. (and this is only half of our group!)
Like I said, I am so proud to be part of this group.  I can't imagine a better way to school my kids than alongside these women who are willing to take part in such adventures. 
What a blessing.

We didn't have a lot of time to spend at the falls--after all, there was still a long hike back.

We ate our lunch, took a few pictures, saw a baby rattlesnake sunning on a rock and got the heck out of there.  (were the kids ever stoked on our first rattlesnake sighting!)

I am just posting this picture because I love it and because I want to remember Lil on this hike forever.
She did the whole thing herself.  
Not even 3 years old and she hiked almost 4 miles.  That girl has some serious determination.
I love her.

I tried to get a picture of all of us because, truthfully, I was so proud of all my kids and the way they did this hike, but they weren't into it.  Like I said, it was cold by that waterfall.

Heading back across the creek this time wasn't nearly as scary.

It was just as slippery and deep, but we had experience on our side this time.
(yes, I know, I'm huge.)

And yes, we got pretty wet.

The kids found a salamander.  They named her Sally.  She was loved upon and petted and then set free.

Even though it is not a loop trail, the return trip is still beautiful.

Since you are not looking at the water quite so much, you notice other things.  Like wildflowers growing out of the rocks and steep hills covered in green moss.

It was nearly 2 on our way back and there was a lot less traffic on the trail.
It was peaceful.

The kids were amazing hikers the whole way.  Even up that loooooong steep hill at the very end--they did it.  I helped them along with a stash of jelly beans and lots of encouraging words.
But it was hard.
I was beginning to wonder if the baby would just fall before I made it to the top.

This was the only time I heard Lilly complain.  She asked me to carry her, and when I told her I couldn't, she said, "but I'm just a little girl."

She's just a little girl, but she made it to the top.

We all did.

And it felt so very good.

I know, 3. 7 miles isn't really that big of a deal.

But to 2 year olds, 4 year olds, even 6 year olds, it is a long way.

There were river crossings for mommies with babies in them or on them.

And by the end of the hike, I felt like I had earned some serious mommy badges.

What incredible memories I am making with my kids.

Yes, I know I am very, very lucky.

The kids were all really proud of themselves.

I heard this a lot: "that was the most amazing hike EVER!"

Yep.

I can't wait to go back.

But I think I'll wait until this baby is born.

Because I don't feel like having the baby in one of those cabins.

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If you decide to hike Chantry Flats, here are some helpful links with directions and information:

http://www.simpsoncity.com/hiking/sturtevant.html

http://www.adamspackstation.com/

Helpful Hints about this trail:

I recommend this be done during the week.  

If you go on the weekend, expect lots and lots of people--maybe go at sunrise.

You need an adventure pass to park ($5) and you can get them ahead of time at places like Big 5 or the liquor store at the bottom of the hill.

There is a very strong possibility you will get wet on this hike.  Either bring extra shoes or wear ones that you can walk in wet.

We encountered lots of dogs on the trail.  They are supposed to be leashed but lots weren't.  Keep this in mind if your kids are nervous about dogs.

I think this is a perfect hike for late fall, winter (unless there has been recent heavy rains) and spring.

If you go in the summer, the hike in and out will be very hot.  Take lots and lots of water.

Obviously kids can do it, but if your kids are not used to hiking, it will wear them out.

This trail is not stroller friendly.

There are lots of other trails besides the ones to the falls.  I am looking forward to going back and exploring those.

I do so love a good adventure.

If you made it to the end of this looooong post, you are as determined as my Lil.

Congratulations, you did it!

Happy trails.

Love from,

Greta