Yay! It's Rain!

We have been in desperate need of rain here in Southern California so we are all very excited (I can't tell you how many friends FB statuses are comments on this glorious water falling from the sky). Carter has been especially looking forward to trying out the rain boots he got from Uncle Cameron and jumping in some muddy puddles! 

Happy Friday!!

Homeschooling Preschool Ideas

I'm adding a new reoccurring post topic (or at least I hope to make it reoccurring) and that is sharing some homeschool preschool ideas I come up with or come across online that are worth sharing. For my first post, here are two very simple indoor activities that Carter enjoys.

1. Ping Pong Bowl 

This is a game I threw together after Carter spotted a $1 package of red ping pong balls at the store. I simply got out a tupperware bowl and boom! Instant game! (it's actually not as easy as it looks and takes a lot of concentration)

"Put the ball in the bowl, Mommy!"

2. Dot to dot

I'm really big on using online resources such as printables. Currently Carter really enjoys connect the dot drawings. I either print them out or make them myself (or even Carter likes to make ones and label the numbers. They don't usually look like anything, but he takes it very seriously!). You can find some here or just google "dot to dot printables."

So those are just a couple quick and easy activities. Keep an eye out for more ideas! And of course, feel free to share some of your favorites in the comments!

Field Trip: Irvine Park

My plan was to include this in our "Weekly Roundup" but it was such a gorgeous day that I ended up taking a lot of photos that deserved a post of their own. For our field trip this week we went to Irvine Park which included a visit at the OC Zoo and a ride on the train. My mom was able to come with us so that made the day extra special. Carter is usually all smiles when Yia Yia is around!

"Whoa! Look at that!"

Carter got to pet a snake for the first time! He was ready to jump right in and hold it himself!

We quickly explained that you have to be gentle and he switched to the one finger method.

For fun here is a flashback photo from our first trip here in January 2011. He was just a little babe!

Who Are You?

A friend of mine shared his experience of losing a friendship and it really got me thinking. In his situation, his old friend said that she no longer felt he was the same person he used to be and she liked that other person much better. His response was that their friendship had essentially run it's course. He valued the time they had and acknowledged the role it played in his life. But the reality is that the relationship was no longer what either of them desired or benefited from; her because she liked him better how he used to be and would rather he had remained the same and my friend because to stay in that friendship would mean lying to himself about who he is now. He also said, "The problem is that the social "agreement" involves an expectation that relationships are forever, especially close ones and family ones. This can cause tremendous hardship and hold us back in life." Then my wheels really started turning...

I immediately thought of "Alice in Wonderland" and the Caterpillar when he asks, "Who are you?" Alice's reply...

And isn't that the crux of life, while at the same it's utter beauty? It is nearly impossible to answer that question when we are all changing every second of every day. Yet, I've discovered in life there are people that choose to hold you to a version of yourself that you no longer are. I'm not who I was five years ago or even five minutes ago. But what happens when close friends and family (or even those who are not so close) expect you to stay the same? Think the same, act the same, do the same things? Marriages often break apart and other relationships can also become strained or even disappear. 

Sometimes I think it is necessary for us to move on from certain relationships. As my friend said they can hold us back, which is the exact opposite of what any important relationship should do. I'm not saying they should all be perfect 100% of the time, but they should help you grow. Hopefully that growth comes out of more positive exchanges than negative, but sometimes those difficult times are necessary to push us beyond our comfort zone in order to learn more about ourselves. On the other hand, if you constantly find yourself being berated or punished for something you did long ago, it is probably time to take step away from that person (temporarily or perhaps permanently) as they have either not learned how to forgive or are choosing not to (which is another post for another time). In summary, a friend/spouse/parent/etc. should challenge you at times, but belittle you or make you feel less than? Never.

I suppose my point in writing all of this is to say, I can't say for certain who I am in this moment. I know what I am striving to be which is a good mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend...someone who is kind, giving and joyful. Am I always these things? No. There are moments when my path leads me away from that best version of myself. There are times when ego takes the driver's seat and I act out of character from my true self. I used to beat myself up about that (some days I still do), but I've come to realize that is just another stepping stone on my journey. I don't have to feel guilt or punish myself for something a different version of myself did. Sure, I can choose to do those things or I can choose to learn and grow and recenter myself. I think the latter is a much better use of my time here in "Earth School."

I am who I am...and that is ever changing. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

  

Weekly Roundup 2/17-2/23

This week Carter had a big milestone: he can ride his tricycle on his own! On Monday we spent the day at my parents house and he quickly got the trick of it! Now all he wants to do is "have a bicycle race!" 

He also enjoyed being Papa's little helper

For our "field trip" this week we went to Pennypickle's Workshop with Grammy. This was only our second time going and Carter enjoyed himself even more than our first visit. I think we'll be coming here more often! They only have two hour sessions, but there is so much to do that we could probably stay all day.

This weekend we ran some errands which included a trip to Fry's. In this picture I joked that I'd never seen anyone this excited to be here besides Russ (although that was true, too). Love that smile!

 Costco! We've had a membership to Sam's Club for years but just got one for Costco this weekend. I was pleasantly surprised at everything they had...and a lot of it organic!

Train time with Daddy

And yesterday we went to Common Ground. It was such a beautiful day that I couldn't help but take advantage of the great photo op!

Carter playing with his friend Orion

 Another week of joy and blessings!

TTC Baby #2 Update

My update kind of is a non-update in that nothing is going on at this exact point in time. After waiting over a month for an appointment with an RE I found out it wasn't covered by our insurance (just days before the appointment, of course). I had also been doing research into what tests/procedures an RE generally recommends. After reading up on it I felt in my heart of hearts that we aren't ready for that next step. I really would like to try Clomid at least a few more cycles.

So I cancelled the appointment, which would have been today, and now have one scheduled with a new OB/GYN (since the one I liked at my previous practice retired). At that time I'll see what the new doctor recommends and go from there. That won't be until March 5th. In the meantime I'm trying to remain hopeful that this will happen for us. There are moments when I feel like I will never be pregnant again, but then there are other times I can sense another little soul making its way to us with every fiber of my being. Time will tell...

A ladybug flew into the car this afternoon and landed on my hand...

...I pray that's the sign of luck I need it to be.

Don't Buy A Ticket to Sea World

I'm the type of person who feels a strong call to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. That is what called me to adopt our fur baby, Noel (Rosie was a rescue found loose in the street) and stand firmly in the belief, "Adopt! Don't shop!" The issue that currently tugs on my heartstrings and sense of what is right is stopping the captivity of cetaceans (dolphins, whales, porpoises). There has been a lot of buzz around this issue since the release of, "The Cove," and more recently, "Blackfish."

I've written about this topic on my old blog, but I wanted to touch on it again because it has affected me so much. I recently read an interview of "Blackfish" director, Gabriela Cowperthwaite in which she said, "I'd always thought if I had to be an animal in captivity, I'd probably choose to be a Shamu, getting hugs and fish. I was really ignorant about that world." I feel the same way. I've been a Sea World pass holder more than once before and thought that Sea World was doing amazing things. In fact, even now I believe that Sea World has done good things in regards to animal rescue, however; the good does not erase the bad.

I took these photos during a show in 2006 (when I was very naive to the truth of the situation):

At the time I thought, "How cool for that girl!" Now I look at the picture and think #1 how sad and #2 how easy it would have been for her to slip and either fall in or get pulled in. 

And please don't try to force "it's educational" down my throat. Being ridden is not educational.

Jumping, flipping and doing "tricks" for food is not educational.

Throwing a man into the air is not educational. And NONE of it is natural behavior for an orca.

Sea World has released a number of newspaper ads and has a "Truth About Blackfish" page and an open letter regarding Orcas on their website. Honestly, they both make me feel even more disdain for Sea World because it's a continuation of the lies. They twist the truth to turn things in their favor, but I can easily see right through that, as can many other people around the world that will no longer support any park that keeps cetaceans. 

A diagram that shows all of the inbreeding that has taken place...that's why Sea World hasn't had to steal any from the wild (or they purchase them from another park)

There is an open letter back to Sea World on The Orca Project's site and it says exactly what I think. I could write my own thoughts, but Amy Costanzo has already done a great job. Please, please take the time to read that letter here.

I can't force anyone to stop attending "abusement parks" as they are often referred to, but I still stand by the decision to never step foot in one myself. As I hear about share holders selling and stocks dropping, I take heart in the fact that others feel the same way and are refusing to buy tickets. It isn't entertainment and it isn't education. It's just plain sad and very, very wrong.

"No aquarium, no tank in a marine land, however spacious it may be, can begin to duplicate the conditions of the sea. And no dolphin who inhabits one of those aquariums or one of those marine lands can be considered normal." ~Jacques Cousteau