Ten Things I've Done That You Probably Haven't - Meme

I was tagged by Mindy for this Meme.

1 - I was called up on stage at a David Copperfield Magic Show where I was an assistant for one of his tricks. He put a sword through my throat.

2 - I won the Faculty Award for Science and Astronomy in college.

3 - I grew up in the city and for fun we used to spray paint Graffiti on the back of buildings. I've run from the police several times and hid in a dumpster once. I was never caught.

4 - I've lived in Sweden for 6 months with a Swedish family. I learned how to speak Swedish by them only speaking Swedish around me.

5 - I accidentally lit myself on fire when I was a teen by spraying hairspray on my hand and lighting it. I was trying to do a trick that I saw someone else do, but I used way too much hairspray. I spent the night in the hospital.

6 - Bought an RV on eBay.

7 - I've been to many heavy metal concerts since the age of 14. Some of which were Slayer, Metallica, Napalm Death, Primus, Megadeth, Obituary, Sepultura, Slipnot (and many, more!). I was usually the only female in the mosh pit. I met the singer for Slayer when I was pregnant with Ivy.

8 - My Mom caught my last baby as I gave birth to him. She said it was the most incredible moment of her life.

9 - I've taught at a Midwifery School educating student midwives about birth and breastfeeding.

10 - Oh ya... I was a featured guest on the Dr. Phil Show. ;)

A Very Martin Easter

Here are some pictures of the kids on Easter. We had two Easter Egg hunts for them. One in the house and one over in my studio/playroom.

It was such a special day! I made a big ham dinner and I made cupcakes with the kids that looked like little Easter baskets.. So cute!

A New Chapter Begins

After almost 8 years as a LLL Leader I have retired.

I have decided to focus on my new endeavour Unschooling United. It is a new organization focused on parent-to-parent support for Unschooling and Respectful, Peaceful Parenting. I have so much support and encouragement behind me as I create this person to person information and support network.

UU Facilitators will offer meetings complete with lending library's and free phone help to parents on their paths to Unschooling. I know in my heart that this is a much needed resource as a shift in our culture is taking place. Parents are wanting alternatives to the traditional schooling and parenting model and I look forward to watching this organization grow organically as those looking for this type of support are drawn to it.

Look for Unschooling United Meetings in your area soon! We have aspiring facilitators in almost every state interested in helping you on your path to Unschooling and Respectful, Peaceful Parenting.

Cardboard Box Derby Winners!

For the last 10 days Joe and the kids have worked on creating a cardboard box racer to enter in the annual Cardboard Box Derby. This is the first year was have taken part in it.
We decided to go with a Star Wars theme. Joe worked so hard on it this week adding the finishing touches.

We all had a fun day at the ski mountain and the kids loved spending time with some of their friends who were also competing.

The race slope was really steep and I was nervous for the kids when I saw it, but they said it wasn't too scary. There were three categories to compete in. One was for speed, one was for durability and the last was for style.

We won 1st place for Style! Woo hoo!

Here are some pictures of the event and our Cardboard Box Y-Wing Fighter. (notice R2D2 in the back.)

Paper Pizzas...Rainsticks and Runescape...

We had one of those, laid back, creative days today. Everyone was cozy in their sweat pants and jammies. The heat was just toasty enough in the house to make you grateful it was winter. Sheryl Crow was playing as we pulled out construction paper, glue and scissors. We were totally in the zone....
First we made Paper Pizza's and then rain sticks. We put uncooked rice in paper towel tubes and decorated them. They came out so neat! The girls had a blast while Devin played....you guessed it! Runescape!! Today on Runescape they had a really cool Easter Egg hunt that Devin was totally stoked about.
Now it's time for dinner and it's looking like leftover corned beef and cabbage is going to be the menu. Ahhhhh, what a life!!


You can see Tiff's loose tooth and Devin's crazy morning hair. ;)

Introducing.....The Martin Kids!

This is the first picture that we have taken of all of the kids together.

Here is Dakota (6) (a/k/a Tiffany), Orion (6 weeks), Ivy (3) and Devin (9)

Gaming With Sis

Tiffany just adores Orion. She spends all day sharing her joys with her new baby brother. She wants to hold him all the time. Here she is playing a video game with Orion on her lap.

The Young Naturalists

A few days ago we went to a Wild Animals of New Hampshire Exhibit and Class. They had a live porcupine, Owls and a Coyote. The kids really loved it! They were able to ask questions about the animals and we learned so much about the habitats and what the animals ate. Ivy loved the owls so much! It was a fun thing to do on a cold Sunday afternoon.

Orion 6 Weeks Old!

Wow, the time has flown!

Orion smiled for the first time the other morning. It was just he and I that were awake and I was holding him on the couch looking into his eyes. I smiled and his eyes lit up and he smiled back! No matter how many children I have, that first smile never looses it's magic!

Learn To Read With Runescape!

Devin recently discovered the Joys of the online game Runescape! He has had so much fun creating his character and building a house for himself. One of the features of the game is that you can walk around and chat with other online players.

Although Devin knew how to read to a small degree, he has learned SO much more just from asking other players questions and trading their online items among one another. This is the perfect example of how a child will learn what they need to learn in life from internal motivation. Devin has a real need to read and type to be able to communicate with other players. His brain was ready for this huge leap in his reading ability. I always trusted that he would learn what he needs to in life, and this is yet another example of this philosophy in action.

Yesterday I surprised him with the Runescape Guidebook that I found online to help feed his passion. When my kids are interested in something I do all that I can to give them as much of that interest as possible.

Whatever interest and passion my children have at any given time becomes the nucleus of their learning in that moment. It is my job to connect with them and feed their interests with anything connected to that passion that they may be interested in. I love this aspect of my role as their parent. Every interest is seemlessly connected to yet another interesting hobby or thing to explore. The learning and growing flows so authentically and naturally. It is such a Joyful way to Live and Learn together.

It all comes down to *Trust* living this life.

Here Devin is playing his newest passion Runescape.

~Tiffany Rose~

Dakota decided to call herself Tiffany over a year ago. She feels that the name Tiffany suits her much better than Dakota. We have always honored this request as Joe and I both feel that it should be her choice what to be called, no one else's.

I have referred to her as Dakota on this blog since I began it, but today is a turning point for me. I am honoring her request at a new level and although she can't read yet, I will be referring to her as Tiffany on our family blog sometimes.

I have seen Tiffany's bright light inside of her grow since Orion joined the family. She is the most nurturing and loving human being toward him. She treats him like a little Buddha and jumps to help in anyway that she can. She has grown in ways that I can't explain. I have never witnessed such love from one sibling to another.

Tiffany is a very highly sensitive child. She feels everything so intensely. Not many people "get" her. When you have a highly sensitive child it's challenging because most people only focuse on seeing things through cultures filter of "good or bad behavior" and they never take the time to understand *Who She Is*. She feels this rejection and being so sensitive experiences others energy and it hurts her. This has been something that I help her navigate through and understand. She can't help her own intensity. What she needs is UNconditional love and acceptance and for people to look past how she is communicating and hear what she is trying to express and why. I believe that our culture is so focused on "good" behavior that highly sensitive and intense kids are labelled "bad" for something that they can't help at all. It is *Who They Are*. It is one of the reasons so many kids are medicated and have their spirits broken. It seems that to most obedience is the main focus. Not many people take the time to look at the needs under the behavior.

I am so thankful that we are Tiffany's parents so she isn't labelled and drugged.

Since I gave birth to her I have grown as a human being in so many ways. Tif has taught Joe and I patience and understanding on a level that we never knew before. If it wasn't for her I may not be so *Joyful* in life. The contrast she gives our family has been such a gift.

Her *Shine* is so bright. I love everything about her.

So this is to you Tiffany Rose! Thank you for being *You* I am so honored to be your Mommy. I love you so much my sweet girl.