Wednesday, August 10, 2011

summer fun...








What a whirl of a Summer this year, Chicago with some fav family members; The Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, Legoland with Grampsie was a blast, as were the Santa Monica Pier rides forever....then there was a mega 4 weeks of teacher training crammed in, Big Bear Kayaking in the rain for July 4th fireworks and a stay in the woods at a dear friends' cabin ( thank you Dancing Queen). One mountain range was not quite enough however, so we found a squeeze week during Birthdays week - Donovan Boy's 12th, Mac Annie's something and Little Gandalf's 9th - by heading north t Mammoth for some crazy 9000ft hiking and waterfalls, followed by a huge day trek into Yosemite which of course was breathtaking with it's myriad of waterfalls, hiking, clear green lakes and streams, ending the longest day in Santa Cruz to attend a another birthday bash on the beach! Now we are in the throes of an arty Waldorf style summer camp, with clay work, painting, stories, felting and nature gathering for whimsical items to capture the moments of a fun filled summer of creative imagination. Cram in a couple of conferences and back to school clothes adventures and we will be at it's end - Phew!

Waiting in the wings for the end of the season is a new job for Phoenix, guiding little ones at Westside Waldorf with some truly wonderful and gifted people to work with. Very sadly, a new teacher for Little Gandalf who had to say a teary farewell in July to a favourite, as of now, we don't know who....and dear Donovan Boy will take his first Babysitting first aid/CPR course this Fall! The Hairy One, maintains his new ride south each day with AC and SAT tunes- happy to come off hiatus and continues to share his musical knowledge and passion with the Rock Band kids every week!





Friday, January 21, 2011

Too Ten Shy Download#1

So very happy to see Great Great Aunty Lily who will be 102 this March!!
See you at the Olympics next year?
Well, it appears that the Shy Chatter is more of a whisper these days, with parental duties taking over when teacher/worker ones are not in action and hence leaving little space for personal endeavours. However, things are moving along in a much heartier way this 2011. The Hairy One will start a new job next week with a law university and Phoenix will complete her 2nd year of Waldorf teacher training, whilst teaching part time at Seeds of Joy Village (.org!)

A favourite new cousin will be spoiled rotten by some little boys!! Olivia was adorable!
Last year was certainly a busy one, and although a frugal one, most of us got to travel somewhere.. New York for the Grandparents retirement event; England to end some homesickness, see a new niece Olivia and visit the Queen for tea, oh and 102 yo Gt. Gt. Auntie Lilly; Big Bear Mountain to camp out with amazing friends and starry skies and San Diego/Mexico to squeeze in a few days of adventure & sunshine with the down south friends. The children managed to work their way into Disneyland, literally, they spent a day hauling, weeding and digging to beautify a school garden and earnt their tickets from Disney's 'Give a day get a day', program, so gleefully we were there between the July birthdays! We have had the pleasure of the Admiral with us this year also, truly a Super playmate for many children this last summer during the first annual Phoenix Academy Camp, where about 12 kids came to play, make amazing art projects, swim and create SuperMe characters with us.
A sample of the UK rellies we saw from 1st through 4th cuzzes! great day with everyone!



Guess where? Only The Hairy one came home with his hat!

Phoenix Summer Camp friends...larking around

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Giving Thanks

cakes and cards

We gave thanks for health and for having the Admiral around this year for his birthday. We celebrated with a brownie birthday cake, home made cards from the wee ones and a movie family style.

Now that the huge turkey has finally been consumed, our attention is turned to the festive season with fair's to attend, stuff to make to give and sell, Chanukah to start on one coast and finish on another and of course advent to celebrate the countdown to Christmas!

playscape made for sale at winter faire

Sunday, November 1, 2009

It's such a busy time of the year, with various events, activities and festivals being celebrated. Day of the Dead, birthdays, All Souls Day, and of course, an American favourite - Halloween!
A Viking met a baby vampire bat and a goulish witch and sorcerer accompanied a glowing skeleton to the throngs of candy hunters in Venice this year. The Switch Witch must have visited late into the night to exchange a rather large amount of collected candy, for a toy and a book!

Donovon Boys' double eyebrowed Jack o Lantern
The vampire bat in full swing..

The Viking Quest for candy begins!

An array of this years carvings, lost the seeds to early mold unfortunately so none to bake this year...

Friday, July 31, 2009

Birthday season

July is one of those months, that you know is gonna cost many brain cells, extra dosh and extra effort! Thankfully it's always worth it as this year, Donovan Boy turned double digit 10, Little Gandalf a whopping 7 and The greatest Grammy award goes to the Mac Annie at 70!

We took the boys to Disneyland for the first time! A grand day out was had by all ( including the Admiral) and it took a couple of days to recover from, leading into a giant pool party with an Asian theme! We created the "70 things we love about you" list whilst queueing up for rides for the Mac Annie and thankfully got it her in time for her Monday birthday.

The Admiral and Donovan Boy before the twirling teacup ride!

yes it's a tiny house for cartoon characters!

Flying high July 22nd

Dragonlicious cakey
and of course a visit with the big M himself!


Happy Birthday's to all!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Gnome school out!






Summer madness, fun and games are here once more, schools out, we said goodbye, got tired and sick and and are now on our way to having some fun!

Busy with camping, both personal and scouting for the boys, many workshops being taught this summer as well as a cursive writing course and teacher training for Phaedra Phoenix and The Hairy One launches a concert summer series in MacArthur park on June 19th - which, incidently is the exact same date Grumpy flies in to visit and leaves with the fireworks on July 4th!

Here are some random pics to share of recent times...

Monday, May 25, 2009

MAY MADE

I posted some 'making' on the Phoenix Blog but had more! ..so here it is the mega making stuff in May share!

Donovan Boy had fun researching and making his first large project for school, his shelter was an Iroquois longhouse complete with farming gardens.

He also completed his crocheted hat which the rest of the family have all donned in the past few weeks, very comfy and fun!

Among other custom orders this month, Phoenix made a gnome head, two wool paintings, a waldorf doll that went off to England and a pregnant art doll!


Saturday, May 9, 2009

Mothering Sunday....


.....is what we call it in England and it amuses me to highlight it here.

I would like to honour all the moms we know and love here and gone, past and present.

Happy Mothers Day to you Judy, Mom and Grammy
To you Mayo, Loah, Clarabel
and Great Aunty Lily ( 100!)
To Hannah (Gt Grandma) and to Sylvia ( Nanna ) and to Auntie Angela
To Jo who will hold her first child later this year
and last to Shirley, Mummy and Nana, missing you.



Friday, May 8, 2009

Family Outings

Some of you may know we have been courting the idea of moving to San Diego, it's still dependent on many things but we are putting in an offer on this house, which screams California quirky and may lead to a major life move! We shall see.....

Geo dome home in Jamul on 2 acres, we would like to buy and fix up...

boys in Balboa Park children garden end of April

family posing in sculpture garden
boys resting on a giant dragon sculpture

boys making art of themselves

Saturday, April 18, 2009

On the hunt


Some of fav eggs made this year
Rocket ship by Little Gandalf

Evening Star by Donovan boy

Here's egg in ya eye by Cricket
.
The infamous jewish ham was found hanging with with afikomen, retrived and eaten along with good english pots, snips and brussels!

Monday, March 23, 2009

We made it!

to Spring and...to our 12th wedding anniversary on March 21st! We celebrated by whizzing off together, without the kids (thanks to Madeleine), and spend it frolicking in Balboa park, enjoying the art and smells of San Diego - lovely!

not so hidden message

some japanese tourists helped us out with this one...

grinning in the sun
giant entangled roots in all their glory
Orchidaceae - the most adaptable plant on earth!