Blog?

I'm having a strong aversion to extended amounts of time on the computer these days. And blogging tends to take said "extended amounts of time". Hence, the lapse. Caleb said this is how it starts. The giving up on the blog thing. You just don't feel like doing it for a long time, and eventually you are done. So, maybe I am done. Apparently not tonight, since here I am typing away. And I plan to post a few pictures too. But as I sit here Jonas is pulling at my arm and wanting my help. (Halfway through that sentence I got up to help him for a few moments. Sometimes it's a few hours - and this is my point - blogging is not very practical for me right now.) But Caleb - the blog abandoner- is back to it. He has a rad new site where he is doing book reviews. And Charis wants to keep hers up, so I think I'll be content with those 2 Hagen blogs for now. 

But I can't NOT blog about my incredible visit with one of my favorite people, Kari Roller. The week was perfect. A much needed time of adventure, good talks and nature loving. We also got to hang out with some old and loved friends from Valencia. 

And how do I not show you the picture of the grapefruit we picked that was the size of my head?

Also, Charis turned 7 (she'll be posting pictures soon), and we made homemade chocolate

and celebrated earth day. What else?...Caleb shaved his beard, homeschooling is NOT illegal, Charis and I are enjoying a mother daughter book club, and we are loving our new unschooling friends the Canhams, and still doing gymnastics. 

We've spent a lot of time painting recently (in pajamas, of course). And it's been SO beautiful outside, that I just can't make the time to sit in front of a screen for hours. Im attempting my first vegetable garden. Oh, and big news - we got a new couch. Only a big deal because I have loved my lime green couch, and it feels like abandoning a member of the family. So, we put it in the play room, and put the new couch in the living room. 

Fallbrook is beautiful and allergy invoking (for Caleb).  Im glad we'll be here until November, and after that...who knows? Well, I suppose God knows, and that is where I put my trust.

picture update

I haven't been in the mood to blog. Not sure why. But I have so many cute pictures I want to share. So...



Charis' first horse riding experience was a huge success. She went with a special friend, and the little ones got to join in the petting "zoo" fun afterwards.



Jonas is seriously strong.




We had another unschooling international night. Mexican food was on the menu this month. It was a really fun night for the kids and parents. I'll end with my favorite picture from the night...


After being tied together in feather boas, K and I were told we were "now more beautiful!" I'd have to agree with Ella.

Cloud Appreciation Society

My beloved friend Kari gave me an amazing birthday gift recently. I recieved a large package in the mail full of beautifully wrapped packages. Each gift had a note attached explaining what part of my life it was for. Some of the highlights included a book for me (Eat, Pray Love. I really liked it.), a book for my kids, a cute nighty from Anthropologie, and the book of Phillipians hand written to me as a letter (such an enlightening way to read that!). But the highlight for me (if I had to pick one) was a framed piece of paper indicating that I am now a member of the Cloud Appreciation Society. I found the site and sent it to her some time ago and had since forgotten about it. Thankfully she did not.

My duty as a member is to "seek to persuade all who'll listen of the wonder and beauty of clouds". This will be no problem for me, seeing as it comes quite naturally. I absolutely love that this society exists and that Kari signed me up for it. I love that she knows I would love this. And I do appreciate, dare I say love (again), clouds.

roommates, cards and billys

Kat and Bas. ahhhh. A weekend with the old roommates. Paxton absolutely loves Bas. The thing with Paxton is he's less friendly and social than Charis, and more of a home-body. So I've always thought of Charis as being more of a "people person". But Pax is the real people lover. Although he'd rather stay home, he wants to be home cuddling and kissing. Whereas Charis is planning the next outing whenever we're home. So back to Kat and Bas. Paxton wanted to be near and on Bas all weekend. He's only like this with people he feels comfortable with. And I guess old roommates fit the profile.

Other than Pax and Bas hugging, we also played cards with K & B. That brought out this funny contrast of personalities. K & B are quite competitive, and me and Caleb are, well, not in the least. But it was fun all the same. I used to think I wasn't competitive because I'm not very good at sports. I thought it was some sort of defense mechanism. Like since Im not very good at "games" I don't enjoy them and am therefore not competitive. But I was "king" like 4 times during our card game, and I never digressed all the way to "skum". Yet, I was mostly ambivalent. Admittedly, I would have enjoyed the game less is I had lost the entire time, but I never felt angry or exuberant. K & B felt and expressed both. Having such strong feelings about a card game is baffling to me, but being so relaxed about life is boring to them.

"The billys"....this is what Jonas calls his toes. Why? I have no clue. But I love it, and constantly ask him to say it. Also, he has an affection for the letter "w". He can pick it out of a line-up and searches for it on the fridge. I also love that.

And I have begun the 5th Harry Potter book. I've only read part of chapter one, and Im already itching for the kids to go to bed so I can read more. Im no longer ashamed. I proudly read. 

 

I heart Hallie

There are some people who always make you feel loved. Who you know will say really nice things to you, and remind you that life is joyful. Hallie is one of those people. And I love her muchly.

We've been friends for 12 years. She was on vacation in San Diego last week, so I got to see her twice.

Our kids don't really know each other, since we became moms after college. But they played together swimmingly.

My kid's refer to her oldest son as "that silly and fun boy".

Twister anyone?

My old friend Amber spent the day with us recently. I have lots of comical and ridiculously fun memories of life with Amber. We were the best-est of friends in high school. Now we are both moms and much less fun, but every once in a while we do something crazy. Twister anyone? I know I know. It's been a while.



Amber was truly amazing me with her flexibility. I think my legs are twice as long as hers, but she was so able to put her left foot on the red and her right hand on the green. She's still got it. Jack, her adorable one year old, was playing right along with us. It truly is "the game that ties you up in knots".

BBQ @ Kirsten's

Who needs "Swiss Family Robinson" when you can have pillow fights, princesses, sword fights, races, kid-directed performances, screaming, and yummy food? And all this right here in Encinitas!



There was a lot running and loud talking. And the adults had a great time hanging out while the kids entertained themselves. I enjoyed meeting an unschooling mom who has 3 older girls (who she's unschooled all the way).



The sword fights eventually ended with a real injury. Pax claims he cut Asher with his sword.



The girls gave all the adults special jewelry and food they concocted.



And the evening ended with a lengthy and confusing, although impressive, performance by the kids. The red box was the stage, and everyone took a turn doing their thing on it. Don't think organized talent show. Think guitar, bongo drum, yelling, sword fighting, bossiness and lots of fun.

NO MORE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON!

Charis is obsessed. She claims "Swiss Family Robinson" is her favorite movie except for Cinderella III. And she wants to watch it all the time. The other day we went to Cardiff Beach with our friend Astrid. Charis explained the movie to her in great detail, telling her she had to come over and watch it. Astrid was mildly interested. Her and her mom ended up coming over, so Charis was ecstatic to show her the film. But Astrid preferred to play, so Charis preceded to give the most impressive sale of the movie. She would not let it go! Finally Astrid consented to watch, but about 10 minutes in, she was over it and wanted to play. Charis couldn't believe it. She said, "There are tigers and pirates coming! Don't you want to watch that?!" But Astrid was not convinced.



Later we got a short karate demonstration from Astrid, which has generated several fun conversations.

6 little munchkins

I have dear friend, Rochelle, whom I was pregnant with all three times. Our kids have been friends since the womb, and it is such a special relationship for them to have. Well, being the crazy, spontaneous, unschooling mama that she is, she drove down from Pasadena to be with us for the day.



We were already at the park with another unschooling friend when she arrived. And as soon as the kids saw each other they immediately connected, and played together non-stop. We spent over three hours at the park.



Elijah lost his first tooth at the park! He says it was because he ate some sand.



Then we came home and played some more. The girls wanted to be alone with their Polly Pockets, so the boys wrestled and played pirates while Rochelle and I talked.



We ate a delicious shmorgas- board for dinner, and then headed to the beach when Caleb got home. After playing in the waves, building sand castles and climbing the rocks, it was time for our friends to leave. It really was a wonderful day.

Lagoon love

I love this picture. These kids love each other, and it's great. And, who knew that walking around a lagoon on a hot day could be such fun? We spotted a few local birds, filled our pockets with rocks, noted the receeding water, and mourned the loss of a home for some coastal creatures. We were so hungry afterward that we ate "out" at Mozy Cafe.