eclipse / back to school celebration:

I remember many eclipses, but this one for some reason seemed to be the most hyped.  Maybe it's just because we have social media now, or because it was a total eclipse that would go across the continental U.S., or maybe even the fact that we needed some news about something bigger and outside of our sad little world.  I've a few friends who went up to Oregon to see the total eclipse, even one family who traveled to Missouri (but they've extended family there).  

We watched it with our parenting group (mostly homeschoolers, but not all of them are).  Many places had a lot of cloud coverage.  Our clouds cleared up quite a bit right before it happened, and we made it to the park just in time for the peak viewing.

If it happened in past years, I probably would have made eclipse cookies or some kind of eclipse food, but I have learned to cut some unnecessary work out of my life.  One of the moms was unable to use her piñata at her son's actual birthday party (the park would not allow them or balloons), so she brought it to this celebration, and we got to enjoy it with them.  Lucas was "complaining" about how heavy his pockets were, but of course he didn't want me to put them in my bag to relieve him.

Naomi made a shoebox viewer at school for the eclipse.  She found it a little underwhelming since we just got a partial one here, and she didn't use the glasses either so did not see more than the tiny crescent.  I think the colander or tree shadows would have been cooler for all of us, but didn't think about it at the time.  The boys and I watched Nebraska's view of the eclipse at home, complete with the view of the halo (corona?) and that was pretty neat.

Got these cool eclipse stamps made with thermoactive ink that show the moons when you touch them.  It was hot here, but I got an idea from a friend to put it in fridge first.

There was some glare from my phone, but you can see on the right side the reflection of the partial eclipse.

The boys used my friend's viewing boxes as well as our cereal box viewer.  She and I didn't let our kids use the glasses, but others did.  Isaac's face was just too small, and I couldn't trust him to not look directly at the sun.

Some of the kids (not Isaac or Lucas) playing in the sand and water feature.

Isaac doing some math at the park.  As verbal as he is, he really likes numbers.

Piñata time!  My boys were at the end of the line, so they didn't get a turn.

But they did go in for the loot grab.

Lucas doesn't even like candy, but I let him stuff his pockets since he didn't get a turn.  He's also stuffing his face with a chicken salad sandwich.

The sun is on the upper right, but the reflection from my phone lens shows what the eclipse looked like.

first day of school for our girl, prepping for new community for boys:

Naomi started seventh grade last week.  So far she's enjoying her classes and the different teachers for the most part.  She misses the sixth grade and especially her friends who moved away.  At least nowadays you have the technology to keep in touch, even though it's not the same as seeing each other in person regularly.

I have begun homeschooling the boys as well.  More on that in a later post.  In a couple of weeks we will begin our weekly community day at a new Classical Conversations campus.  I hope the boys will enjoy it and benefit greatly from it.  We're using the curriculum for enrichment, but the greatest draw for me is going in to see other kids on a weekly basis and having them present in front of a class.  

I attended a forum and q&a last Thursday night for parents who are new to the community.  It really helped me get a perspective on what to expect.  Because the refreshment sign-ups were sparse, I thought I might be one of the only ones bringing food, so I set aside some time, which made the day extremely busy as it was already full.  Then it turned out there was an over-abundance of food!  I'll consider that next time.  :)  I still tried to keep it simple, making nutella cookies (easiest cookies for me to make from scratch) and a berry salad, but it still made for a nonstop day.  I dropped the boys off at a babysitter's.  I'm so thankful to finally have one again in case of child-free events like this.  There is a family orientation scheduled for this week as well.

Life feels a little less compartmentalized now that the boys are being taught together for some part of the day, and I've adjusted to Naomi's school schedule again.  As soon as CC begins, we will switch to a different schedule.  In order to set aside that day for it, I had to move several things around, but I know it'll all work out, and I'm looking forward to the year.

Off to seventh grade!

Foundations Forum

eclipse t-shirts and socialization:

Our school year for the boys kicked off last week with a craft event at the park where we made eclipse t-shirts.  We had to bring our own t-shirts and toothbrushes, but they supplied the rest.  I brought our aprons and fabric paint to share as well.  It was a pretty neat craft, but Lucas remarked that he felt I spent too much for such a simple craft.  (I spent $6 total on the tees and $10 on the fabric paint.)  I kind of love his financial awareness, but I hope it doesn't become an obsession for him.  The shirts looked great, even if obviously made by children (including the shirt I made lol).

There were about 40 kids in total over the course of two or three hours.  We were one of the first to arrive and played for a while after finishing.  Isaac is befriending more of the other kids, but Lucas usually needs a little more time.  I think with time and exposure he'll make more friends.  This group is the best fit for us that I've found, and he hasn't had a bad experience like he did with other school groups.  Socialization is often the first question that comes up about homeschooling.  It's actually more of an emphasis for me than it would be if he were in public school.  He'd be sitting in class most of the day and fall through the cracks or even get ostracized, and I'd just have to let it be.  In our case, it's quite intentional on my part to teach him how to socialize with others of many different ages and give him ample opportunity to do so.  I prep the other parents, and they teach their kids to be friendly with him.  He's improved so much, and I honestly believe he would not get this sitting in the classroom most of the day.  He also has to resolve conflicts with his brother on a regular basis, and I think that's healthy as well.  Isaac loves him unconditionally, so even though I loathe their fighting, I know the forgiveness and reconciliation they are learning is invaluable.

I am not being defensive.  Honestly, my neighbors don't even question it.  I think some of it has to do with Naomi.  When we were homeschooling her, she was kind, social, and intelligent, and no one seemed concerned.  With Lucas some of the neighbors notice he doesn't come out as much to play as the other two, but that's because he's introverted like me, not anti-social.  He also can't process language and communicate, so he takes offense when people say he's shy.  He tells me he's not shy, just thinking about what people are saying (i.e., processing, which he has to with his disorder).  I think I see that more and more.  My neighbors probably also don't question it as much because we live in an academically-driven neighborhood of families.  They may bring up patience or the amount of work it takes to homeschool, but don't question it.  As mentioned before, apart from family, it's ironically certain Christians who have questioned my decision on the grounds of socialization under the guise of hiding our light under a bushel.  Don't we need to lay a foundation and equip our children first?  We've seen the fruit of that with Naomi.  But as I learned from Manny, just nod your head and thank them for their input and keep doing your thing.

Painting with toothbrushes.

Lucas did a great job.  (He said he didn't want his teeth in the photo and wouldn't smile.)

family night out:

In happier times, just two Fridays ago.  Even though Naomi doesn't look it, she was fine.  We went to get Naomi a bike before the start of school (but then there was a problem with one of the inner tubes).  We also got some pizza and Pinkberry yogurt for the kids.  We're often just scattered in various directions and schedules, or Manny and I have some type of conflict, so it's nice to have a rare family night out and just enjoy being with each other (especially over food).  

The boys wanted mango frozen yogurt with fresh berries and popping boba.

The one on the right is Manny's, which he was sharing with me, but I was too full for it.

I was ready for bed before we even left, but it was worth it.  Nice evening.

magical bridge park playdate:

My friend had been asking me to get together for a park playdate all summer.  Of the 10 weeks of summer break, the only day I had was last Friday, and I reluctantly agreed to the playdate.  I'm glad I did, as the boys got to play with other kids and I had some time to catch up with the three friends who went.  The Magical Bridge Playground is unique in that it has a lot of modifications for children with special needs.  However, over time it's become more and more crowded.  The day we went, there were also two camp or school groups having a field trip there.  Lucas didn't like the crowd, but Isaac jumped right in.  Lucas settled in better once his friend came, but then the friend plays better with Isaac, so Lucas felt a bit left out.  He also seemed tired.  His energy level isn't great lately, maybe because he's not exercising or getting out as much anymore.  I'm working to change that.

Both boys on the spinny thing.

Isaac wasn't shy about joining other kids to play.  Lucas actually isn't really shy, either.  He just doesn't always register people talking to him.

Love that the boys can still slide down together.

Picnic with three other families.

Treehouse

Isaac proud to be big enough for this.

Yes, please.  We could all stand to be more inclusive.

swim party, eclipse class:

Naomi's youth group had their swim party last week.  Naomi's friend, the one who came with us to Great America, is not a Christian but has been attending youth group with Naomi most weeks.  Sadly, she's moving away and leaving tomorrow morning.  It's such a sad time for Naomi.  Three of her good friends had to move away rather abruptly.  She got in all the time she could with this particular friend.  Naomi was the last friend she saw, tonight, before she flies out to Texas tomorrow.  

Also last week, I took the boys to the library for a eclipse class.  The boys watched an educational film, received solar glasses, and made eclipse crafts.  They really enjoyed it and were so proud of their crafts (usually Lucas is not big on crafts, but he really liked this one).  We were there with three other families from our homeschooling group as well as a sea of Asian parents whose kids knew the answers to everything.  Fine by me, though.  I'm a Tiger Mom no more.

The group singing happy birthday to two of the youth as well as happy anniversary (made-up song) to the assistant youth pastor and his wife.

The boys working on their craft projects.

Done!

Lucas quite happy with his.

Isaac really liked how he made the sun's rays red.  He imagines the sun more like a fireball, which it is.

Lucas craft, which he did almost entirely on his own (this is new for us).

natural bridges state beach:

Last Tuesday, I took the kids to the beach with a friend and her kids.  I normally would not drive the hour or hour and a half without Manny, but either we've been busy or he's had work on Saturdays this summer.  I felt I had to fulfill the promise to Lucas.  The beach is his happy place.  I think all our kids love it, but he the most.  It's always been my place of contemplation.  I have moved around the world and across the country, but I've never lived too far from a beach.  

I love hanging out with this particular friend.  She is understanding and kind.  Her kids have such incredible spirits.  Our kids played next to each other, but not necessarily together.  The kids all had different things they wanted to do.  I'm glad Naomi was there to help with one of the boys when I had the other.  Well, I'm just glad she was there.  

Lucas said the day was only half good.  He had a rough start when we got there.  The waves were big that day, just the way he likes it.  But it was a bit chilly.  And then he had a fight with Isaac because he thought Isaac had stepped on/messed up his sand drawing on purpose (Isaac didn't even notice it).  And at the end, for some reason a large dog (please keep your dogs on a leash at the beach) kept chasing him around, and the more Lucas ran, the more the dog chased him.  My friend shooed the dog away, and Naomi sat with Lucas and comforted him.  She's good at that.  She buried his feet and explained that the dog chose to play with him because he really liked him.  Sometimes they say dogs sense special needs children.  Who knows?  The owners of the dog were all over the beach, so they didn't notice at the time it was happening.

Isaac loved climbing the rocks to the tide pool area.  I was pretty nervous, but all his experience climbing rock walls at the playground (and his lack of fear of heights) seemed to come in handy.  Y's kids and Isaac also played in the sand.

Naomi wanted to get in the water, but I had said it would be cold there.  Still, I brought the boys' swim trunks just in case and never told her she should bring hers.  It was a bummer I didn't communicate better, but by the end of it, she waded in with the clothes she was wearing.  Good thing I had an extra towel.

Natural Bridges is beautiful.  Like Cabo San Lucas, large rock formations in the water have always captured my imagination.  The monarch butterflies migrate there as well during the fall.  I'd love to return there sometime to see the butterflies.  I haven't lost my love and wonder for nature, but sometimes I forget to stop and enjoy it while I'm busy jumping from one thing to the next.  Days like this are reminders that God's creation truly reveals His eternal power and divine nature.

Isaac having his usual PB&J.  He requested a Hello Kitty-shaped one.

Picnic on the beach.  Naomi and I had chicken salads and some shrimp Manny had bought her, Lucas had ham and cheese.  We also had grapes, apricots, rosemary & olive oil bread, and lentil/potato curls.  My friend brought a lot of food to share as well, so I think we had too much.

Naomi and Lucas were the first ones to the water.

Lucas loves the big waves.

Isaac was more hesitant at first and watched his siblings from the shore.

My friend and her son.

Isaac finally dips his feet in.

Isaac was so proud of navigating the tide pool area.  I let him lead the way.

Sea anemone at the tide pool.  I didn't see any crabs, though.

To get to and from the tide pools, we had to do a lot of climbing, and we went with bare feet, but Isaac wasn't bothered.  He loved it.

orientation camp and dessert meet-up:

I need to finish these posts and post them before school starts.  I'll be really busy then.  Usually it's the opposite for many parents, but I find I'm much busier during the school year than the summer.  It's probably because of homeschooling and the differences in the kids' ages.

Last Monday, Naomi was a camp counselor for the 6th grader orientation camp at her middle school.  She said they had good students in their group, and those students in turn said they were really great counselors.  She was wiped out from our day at Great America, but felt it important to meet her commitment to do the camp.  But she decided to rest (Manny would be home shortly after) while I took the boys for a quick meet-up with our friends.

My friend T and his family were in town visiting his wife's sister before school started for their girls.  We were able to meet up, but Manny was still at work unfortunately.  But I'm glad we got to meet up finally.  Last time they were here, they were caught in horrendous traffic, which someone told me was due to the Adele concert for the location where they were.  Either way, they were running on fumes by the end of those hours in traffic, and he had to pull some crazy maneuvers to get them out of it and to a gas station.  Thankfully there wasn't much trouble this time around.

We met up at Snowflake, the place we got to maybe once or twice a year with the special shaved ice and ice cream rolls.  Since having Naomi, I'm eating sweets now (I craved them so much during my pregnancy with her, maybe for the first time in my life).  I usually prefer less-sweet sweets, and I like the novelty of Asian desserts.  Of course I enjoy a good pie or chocolate concoction, too.  It was just nice to be there visiting with them.  Things were really stressful and rough for me around the time they came (two weeks ago), and they lifted my spirits.

It appears the size has shrunk a little, which may be good since they used to be hard to finish.

I got my black sesame ice cream rolls with red bean and mochi.  My friend got this black sesame snowflake.  We grew up on this flavor of dessert, but my family's not really used to it.  So, more for me!

This is a random photo, but Naomi's friend's mom came back from the Philippines with ladyfingers for us.  We ate them pretty quickly before I could attempt tiramisu.