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