Making Mama Breakfast

Since Ivy could stand at 8 months, she has enjoyed taking part in food preparation. Every morning she wants to help me with breakfast. I usually eat before anyone else is hungry, especially now being pregnant. Here Ivy is spreading peanut butter on my toast. It takes her a little while because she is so meticulous, but it is worth waiting for when it is made with such Joy and Love. I enjoy my (cold) peanut butter toast every morning with her on my lap asking, "It good Mama?".

My Advocacy Adventures!

I have had the priveledge to take part in a few cool Unschooling Advocacy activites recently!

A few weeks ago, I took part in a serious Round Table Discussion on a Radio Show called, "Radiance & Chocolate". You can read more about it here:
blog.myspace.com/radianceandchocolate
The show is out of Santa Cruz, California. It was intsene because it was live, but I love that kind of energy and the challenge of that type of forum.

I was on the show with Wes Beach. A few people called in to ask me questions. I enjoyed it very much!

Also, I have created a few new YouTube videos! It has been about a month since I had produced one, so I am thrilled that I am inspired to do more. You can check them out by clicking on my pictures to the right of this page.

Unplanned Joy

Today I took Devin, Dakota, Ivy and their best friend Abbie to an outdoor shopping center. The girls bought some new clip-on earrings and Devin bought Abbie a penguin keychain with his own money. (He is so thoughtful.)
They have been doing construction on the shopping center for the last few months. As we rounded the corner we noticed a brand new in ground misting sprinkler! The kids faces lit up and they squeeled with delight! They had such a fun time! I heard a few older women talking as they walked by saying, "Can you believe their mother let them wear their clothes & shoes in the sprinkler!? Unbelievable!" I could only smile and bask in the Joy my children were experiencing! (It was so worth having wet clothes and shoes!)
After getting soaked, I took them for ice cream at a new ice cream place we have never tried before. Sometimes it is the unplanned moments that are the most memorable and purely perfect. What a day!







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A Few Of My Favorite Things

Every single day I do simple little things that bring me Joy. I know my happiness, contentment and fulfilment will spill over to my family. I want my children to know that life is supposed to be Joyful and we should surround ourselves with things that make us happy.

Today, I baked my family cookies. I made Cinnamon, Butter, Sugar Cookies. The kids were so happy! They had cookies before dinner, during dinner and after dinner.

Also, my absolute favorite flower is in bloom! The White Jonquil! They smell so amazing! I fill vases from the flowers in our fields and put them all over the house. Last week the house was filled with Lilac. This week White Jonquil.

Here is a picture of my little Joys from today. I hope you too will do the little things in life that fill your heart with love and happiness.

Memorial Day Together

Our family enjoyed Memorial Day together with our family and community in Madison, NH. We all marched in the parade to the cemetery. The kids helped their Great-Grandfather Bill put flags on the soldiers graves. We then all marched a mile down to the Madison Historical Society and enjoyed ice cream together to end the celebration. The kids got their picture in a cool Army Jeep! They loved that.

In the family photo is Dayna, Joe, Joe's Mom, Nancy, father, Chris, Joe's Grandfather Bill and Grandmother Constance. Dakota Devin and Ivy are in the front.

Everyday Is A Special Occasion

As a child I would visit my grandmother every weekend. On her hutch she had beautiful dishes. They were colorful and had textured flowers around the edges. There were gravy boats and fancy knives.

I used to ask my Mammie if we could eat on the dishes that night. She would gasp and say, "Oh no dear! They are for special occasions only." I used to think it was so sad that the dishes only got used once or twice a year.

When my grandmother died, those special dishes were passed down to me. I know in my heart that if my Mammie were alive today, she would agree that everyday is a very special day.

Once a week or so, the kids enjoy taking out Mammie's very special dishes and having afternoon tea with them. The kids take care of everything so impeccably. They have never broken a single dish and they have been doing this for 3 years or so now. I love to watch them enjoy the beauty of Mammie's dishes! Using them makes Devin & Dakota feel so important and so happy. No day is more special than today!

Here is a picture of the afternoon tea the kids set up for themselves.

Lime Popsicles

Here the kids are enjoying a movie and lime Popsicles on a hot New Hampshire day. Dakota still has her bunny whiskers from Storyland yesterday. (She said she wants to leave them on forever.)

Nature's Rainbow

The kids and I were coloring with sidewalk chalk this morning. Devin had a fabulous idea! He made a rainbow and then he and Dakota found different objects from nature to put on every color! I thought it was such a cool activity! I had to run in and get my camera! He is such a creative, happy person. I am grateful to be his Mother!

The Martin's Take On Storyland!

Here is a series of pictures from our day trip to Storyland today!
We had so much fun! We had ice cream (twice!), soft pretzels, and cotton candy! It was an incredible day together. Dakota is asleep on the couch right now, and Devin, Joe & Ivy are husking corn for dinner. I am pleasantly tired from a fabulous adventure.

*All is Peaceful ~ All is Well!*

Random Ramblings of Gratitude

This morning I am so full of love and gratitude for all that I have and all that I am. My children are amazing and my husband so loving and supportive of every single thing that I do. My Mother in England is thinking about moving over here. We are looking into having her build a house on our property. It would be a dream for me to have my Mom close. Having my 4th child, it would be so cool to share her company. She is such a fun, loving woman. I am so proud of her for speaking at the Live & Learn Unschooling Conference with my sweet, kind step-father, John. To have them living here would be so much fun! My Mom and I fantasize about grocery shopping and gardening together. I have missed my mother so much with her so far away for 13 years.

Some days my heart just fills up with so much love and Joy that I want to share. This is an amazing life being together with my children & husband everyday connecting, growing, learning and loving.

Our Feathered Friends

During warmer weather our parakeets, "Kiwi" (Devin's bird), and "Angelrose" (Dakota's) enjoy spending time on our screened in porch. Devin & Dakota made their birds new toys today out of pipe-cleaners and beads. Dakota also helped to clean their cage and feed them this afternoon.

Chess Laughter

Devin & Mom playing an exciting game of chess this afternoon.

Devin is a better player than I am, and he really enjoys giving me tips throughout our games together. I love playing with him. Although chess is known to be a serious game, we spend much of our time laughing and apologizing to one another when we capture the other's guys.

Caterpillar Playground

Today was an awesome day! The kids and I spent our morning at the beach building sandcastles. We had a nice picnic lunch which Ivy just loved! We saw some Canadian Geese and their babies too. Ivy & Dakota enjoyed following them down the beach.

This afternoon Ivy had a long nap after being out in the sun all morning. During that time, Dakota made a Playground for her new Caterpillar friend.

Couch Cuddle

One of my favorite things to do with the kids is cuddling on the couch reading. Here we are this morning reading a book about cave animals. Ivy wanted me to read it 5 times!

Joe Rockin Out A Kitchen

Today I suprised Joe in the shop by taking a picture of him to add to our blog. The new kitchen he designed is quickly becoming one of our best selling toys!

Here Joe is working hard while listening to "Rage Against the Machine". He's hammering in the end-caps to complete this kitchen.

Did I mention He just rocks?

A Day With My Girls

Today was my birthday! Devin went to his friend Liam's house for the day to play Bionicles. (I missed him, but was so happy he was in his bliss with his best friend), The girls and I had a fabulous day together! We played hopscotch, gathered eggs, and went swinging on the rope swing. Joe suprised me so much and got me a Treadmill! I have wanted one for months... We also went out to lunch together with just the girls. It was a really special day!

Birthday Picture From Dakota

Dakota drew me a beautiful picture for my birthday, which is Monday. She was very secretive about it and took a lot of care in coloring everything in with a fine tip marker. It is on the fridge with the other family masterpieces! She is learning to read and write letters without any traditional reading and writing lessons. Unschooled kids learn these things from being surrounded with the written word! When children have a real life use for writing, they learn how to in a way that makes sense for them.

I will save it forever!

La Leche League is Back!

I am so thrilled to be offering LLL meetings again after taking a year off! I missed connecting with Mom's and babies every month! I started the Conway Area LLL in the year 2000, and led meeting for over 5 years in my area. It has been such a privilege to be able to help mothers with breastfeeding and natural parenting for all of these years! It feeds my soul to help others on their parenting journey!

Here we are at the first LLL meeting since I started offering them again. (Not a bad turn-out for the first meeting! I'm in the blue headband)

My dear friend Sonya wanted me to add more pictures of me on my blog, so this one is especially for her. Love ya Sonya!

Space Explorers

Devin, Dakota & their friend Avery set up a Space Center with some old video game systems, wires and electronics. It really pays to save things like this for when their ideas need some cool props! Everyone had a different role as they played. Devin was in the control station and the girls were taking over the other responsibilities of their "ship".

I love their space goggles!

Growing Hair

Our family has enjoyed the process of growing hair on our little "Dude" this week. Dakota trims his hair regularly. He cracks us all up whenever we look at him!

We love filling our home with things that make us laugh!

Waking Up To Play In Puddles

Dakota and Ivy enjoyed jumping in puddles yesterday morning. They wanted to feel the mud between their toes! (or on their socks in Dakota's case). Ivy had just woke up a few minutes before.

What a way to start a day...... Rolling out of bed, and running outside in your jammies to jump in puddles! Ahhh what a life!

Ask And You Shall Receive!

Joe and I wanted to share our fabulous news!

We are expecting our fourth child this winter! We had only recently decided to try for another little bundle of love. We couldn't believe how soon the Universe met our request!

We are all in Baby Bliss! Devin and Dakota have already thought of many names. Dakota has decided she wants her own sling to carry the new baby in.

I feel great! I have never been more healthy both physically and emotionally as I am right now in life. We are all so blessed!

Dakota My Helper

It is so amazing to watch Dakota blossom and grow! She takes such pride in helping out with the house cleaning and taking care of her little sister. She *joyfully* helps me clean. I do not have to force her, bride her or beg her. In fact, with no "required" chores, she voluntarily helps, because she feels part of our family and she sees me doing these things *joyfully*. There is no power struggle, just partnership. This life amazes me more and more everyday!

Creatures of the Night

We took the kids to the playground and then for ice cream two nights ago. As were were eating our ice cream we noticed that there were bats coming out of the chimney across the street. We sat and watched them as they grew in numbers. There were hundreds of them circling, diving for insects. We could hear their loud clicks and chirps as they communicated with each other. We discussed whether or not bats flew south for the winter like birds. We were all absolutely memorized! It was incredible to watch. We sat on the grass and while we admired the bats, the kids were shaking the branches of the apple tree above us. We were showered with apple blossoms until the bats all went back down in the chimney.

When we got home we jumped online and learned that bats hibernate! We also all learned that they are the only flying mammal. We learned so much about bats that we can't wait to go and see them again!

Muffin Makin Babe

One of Ivy's favorite things to do in the morning is make muffins. She loves to do all of the steps by herself. She gets very serious when she is baking and gets in her "Muffin Zone".

When they are done, she eats the tops off of several of them and we all get the muffin stumps.

Birdhouse Bliss

Joe recently designed a bird house to make and sell with the scrap wood he has from the toys he makes. We have a few at the bottom of our driveway and the UPS guy bought two of them the other day! How cool! We used to give all the scrap wood away, now he can make a little extra profit with a new item.

Joe is such a creative, innovative guy! He is such a good provider for our family!

Bionicle Maniac

Devin has a new passion! Lego Bionicles! He loves creating action adventures and researching the story on each Bionicle character online. He also enjoys drawing out the action after he creates a skit with them.

When Devin has a new interest, he marinates in it. He thrusts his body, mind and soul into whatever it is he is into at the time. We love this about him! He is such a passionate person and when he is interested in something it is contagious!

Devin invites you to watch his favorite Bionicle Movie here

Herb Gardening

Today our local homeschooling group came over and we planted herb seeds and seedlings. It was such a fun time! Everyone really enjoyed themselves. We also toasted bread with fresh herbs on one loaf, and dried herbs in the other so everyone could taste the difference.

We are all such an eclectic group! When I first joined the group almost 3 years ago, I felt like an outsider, because we were the only Radical Unschoolers involved. I think I focused on my differences with those in the group. I have grown so much emotionally in three years and now I focus on all our our similarities. It is a much more joyful way to live! I realize that we all have so much in common. I love the group and I am so thankful for the rich pantry of friends we have within it. Everyone is becoming like extended family to us.

Devin's Spa

Dakota usually goes to sleep first out of the three kids. Devin and Ivy then have their special time together. The other night Devin told Ivy he was going to give her a Spa Treatment. It was so cute and loving, that my eyes filled with tears of happiness when I saw him. I walked into the kitchen and there he was giving her a massage. He put a warm cloth on her head and a warmed blanket over her "for relaxation", he said. Ivy absolutely adores him! It was so special for the two of them. He is such a loving brother!

Preparing Our Herb Garden!

It's that time of year again! We are planning a huge garden this year!

Devin, Dakota, Ivy and helped us prepare the soil for our herb garden today. In a few days a local farmer is coming with the big tractor to till up a larger garden in one of our fields.

We are planning on planting many vegetables including corn, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, pumpkins and many, many more fresh, organic veggies!

The Making of The Dr. Phil Show, "The Great School Debate"

This the the filming of the Dr. Phil Show, "The Great School Debate" video footage. This series of pictures was emailed to us by the Producer, Frank who was taking them. You never see him in the photos because he is the man behind the camera. We loved the whole crew!! This is the footage of the video you see that was later clipped together rather misleadingly for the show. You can certainly tell from these photos the absolute *JOY* and *LOVE* surrounding our family. It is not the chaos portrayed by Dr. Phil on the actual show. What a contrast from the final editting!