Celebrate with Sol

 Here's a glimpse into Sol's special birthday.  Splashing, laughing, climbing, exploring, naked two year old fun.

We made chocolate frozen yogurt that he ate with fresh buttered bread, and blue berries.  He revolted against the birthday crown, opting instead for his sister's bike helmet.  It was a good day.  It was a great day.

Pirates and Mermaids

 

Ahoy Matey!  Recently we took our family to the 6th annual Northern California Pirate Festival.   To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about glorifying pirates.  I see very little redeemable qualities, and I have trouble answering questions with out enlightening my children to a very violent truth.  With all that in mind, I still thought that this could be a fun, free event for my family.

There was engaging music, delicious arrays of food, cold drinks, truly fantastic costumery, and a glimpse into a sub culture that I had no idea was so active.   

 

 

And then there was the Mermaid's Tank.  Oh my.  Three mermaids swam about, playing, handing out treasures to a precious lucky few.  Ava was so silent, I wasn't sure she was even paying attention.  Of course she was paying attention.  She was planning her own mermaid world that she'd take home with her.

And so today, and for the past few days, and for many days to come, we have out own mermaid in our home.  There's swimming about, special events, little treasures, and a complex society.  It's pure Ava magic.

Second trip around the sun

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby sunshine.
Your favorite songs are "Happy Birthday to You", "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", and "Sleep Baby Sleep"
You love your family.  You call Ava "A-ha", and Cyrus is "Kah-Key"
You like all food, but you don't like to eat alone.
You love to explore.
Very little scares you.
You call strawberries "doo-das"
You call shoes "dee-does", and tennis shoes "tenna-dee-does" and boots are "boots"
You always mix and match your shoes
You love fruit, and carbs.  Apricots are "apple-cocks"
You aren't fond of falling asleep, and try to avoid it when possible.
You love playing in the water. (showers, baths, washing your hands)
You are very silly, and make everyone laugh.
I love you.
We all love you.

 Sol's journey

June 2011- June 2012

 

Ode to Summer

Matt and I heard Ava singing a song while she played in the yard the other day.  I asked her if she wouldn't mind making it one of our dinner blessings, and  so this project began.

 June!

By 

Ava Rana,

age 7

June, part Spring, part Summer.

June is like no other.
June, the solstice is here.
June, the earth gives a cheer!

June,  is the best time of the year!

Juuuuuuuune!

Ladybugs, and Butterflies, our Summer friends!
By 
Cyrus Rana,
age 5
Ladybug, Ladybug!
Please come to me!
Butterfly, Butterfly!
Please come to me!
Blessings on our meal and our family!

Edit to say:
I did assist both children.
Ava and I worked on a list of words that would rhyme with 'solstice'.  In the end she decided to rearrange her sentence so she could rhyme with 'here".
Cyrus, I encouraged to edit the whole bit about 'ladybugs eat aphids' part, as it is to be our family dinner blessing, and that might be too much nature.
And, yes.
I have a HUGE ol' spelling error in the photos.
I've since fixed it, but I really don't feel like taking new pictures.
So.
Whoopsie.
Oh, and I also wanted to say that
Cyrus's painting is of two lavender flowers, two candles, and one orange.
  Love him..
Ava's painting was made with the intention that her poem would be written in the center.
Love her.