Tall Ships and Chocolate Chip Cookies - The art of a SWEET Negotiation

Today we visited the Tall Ships docked in the Harbor. The kids were able to tour the boat with an 18th Century Docent that taught us about this trading vessel way back when as it would sail the West Coast trading items at local ports.

The kids were really curious about the sleeping quarters. "Sorry kids, that's a private area." of course, this heightened their curiosity even more.

Needless to say, we will be returning tomorrow for another Tall Ship tour. At the end of today's tour, Sierra negotiated with the ship Captain a trade of her own. "If I bring you some fresh baked chocolate chip cookies will you let us tour the sleeping quarters?" desperate for any homecooked food, he quickly replied" INDEED we will!"

24 hours later - We returned with Brownies in hand, one batch of flour, one batch of Gluten Free! Yeah for that, the Captain was a Gluten Free female. We got the VIP VIP tour of the behind the scenes of the ship - sleeping quarters, the Galley and, then (drumrole) the Captain's quarters. "Oh look! He does oragami!"

The MAZE CRAZE!

The kids love the mazes that I create. I write words on paper and trail them throughout the house. They read as they go. I write math equations on paper and trail them also. Sometimes they lead outside and are even woven throughout the trees and plants.

Then there are the treasure hunts that Sierra learned to read with. Note after note as she wandered throughout the house or the backyard, hunting for little scrap pieces of paper that she eagerly unfolded in anticipation of the next clue.

At the end of it all, was, yes, a little something fun. Not necessarily a PRIZE per say, (as I'm not into rewards - Alfie Kohn says it best!) but a little something to help celebrate their victory. Sometimes it was chocolate and sometimes it was a note from me, expressing a fondness for them or an invitation to another fun adventure and sometimes it was nothing but the victory itself - an inner sense of satisfaction that only they can give themselves.

Creative Letter writing

We have frequent mail deliveries to our neighbors, which serves as a beautiful way to write letters, practice penmanship, human kindness and more of those great social skills that everyone worries about with us homeschoolers!

Letter writing and mail delivery seems to be a weekly event in this house. And then, there are the regular Thank You Letters, the grocery lists that I ask their help with. Sierra will write out the full list and Canyon, a very new writer, will write the first letter and make cryptic notes therafter. It's a beautiful start and he feels amazingly confident in his writing ability because he can READ IT!

We have also created mail boxes in our house. Another great excuse to drop each other a note here and their to express something wonderful (or not so wonderful!) All feelings are welcome here in this house.

PUBLIC SPEAKING - most peoples worst fear!

As we all know, public speaking happens to be one of the most feared events in life! And with that said, we thought we'd nip this one in the bud as Sierra visits local schools to educate children on the way of life Africa. (More to come here!) Visit her blog at
http://www.sierrasc.blogspot.com/ to learn more!

Learning Balance!

A very important lesson in life - something that most all of us struggle with - balancing life!

The Barbie Jeep Explorer!

We have masqueraded this little pink jeep through crowds of all types on so many different journeys. Handmade Signs toting "Fresh Baked Cookies and Organic Lemonade" were taped to the front and the back of this little vehicle as the kids loaded up their goods and headed for the pier. ($70 later, and after loads of fun) the kids put their money in their ban piggy banks and began their savings for Disneyland.

Othertimes this jeep served to keep up with Mommy as she went on her morning runs.

And then, there were the rain expeditions that we took this on as we spun out in 360 degree circles (due to poor road conditions and lots of fun!) Safety and Science all in one! There were definite off roading limitations to this little pink puppy, nothing like their Dad's bronco!

Train Trip to Little Mexico

We ventured south a bit to Los Angeles on a very inexpensive ($3) ride on Amtrack! We toured Olivera Street, which was the closest the kids had come to Mexico yet! We learned a little spanish, had some wonderful tacos with friends and perused the shops afterwards.

Who's watching who?

We sat in a field one day, waiting to catch a glimpse of this little fellow as he popped up for a bite to each. A lesson in patience and stillness definitely.

Horse Training at Eldustberry!

The kids were able to test their strength and confidence in a 4 month horse training class where they were taught basic horsemanship, compassion, and the use and misuse of their own body energy. In this photo they were taught how to use their own body energy to move the horse in the ring - a lesson based on trust and confidence. Sierra must have weighed 55 pounds here and yet embodied the confidence of a stallion!

911 EMERGENCY!

Fantasy play has always been a favorite in our household! So much wonder, negotiation and understanding of the world takes place in the midst of this play.