When Pirates Came To Town

We traveled on a Sunday drive to Lake Champlain Maritime Museum to partake in the pirate gathering there on the shores of our beautiful lake.

 Michael was primed with his sword and hat and ready to fight off any  bad pirates that might be about.  The joy of anticipation so apparent on his face while we took the curves and bends of the rural roads.

Guess who came along?   Michael's sweet "Eleanora.

 

 

 

They jumped right out and played pirate games and crafts.

 

Michael and his Dad on the way to see the pirate ship battle.

The bad pirate ship heading in with canon's firing.

                                          Michael on the  Philadelphia looking out at the pirate ship.

            Down by the lake Nora eagerly climbed into the roots of a Cedar Tree.  The roots were exposed due to the flooding last year.  They were great fun to climb on and Nora had a grand time exploring amid the life of the tree.  The tree still had leaves that were green and seemed to be surviving.

Here is Nora climbing aboard the Gunboat Philadelphia ship. She told them she was a good sailor and raced too.

Back on shore they listened to stories read by pirates, they searched for clues to find the treasure chest with booty, and made treasure boxes.

Nora is here getting in on the fun as a real pirate!  

                    Here the kids are waiting for balloons  Nora had a pink sword made which was lost during the battle of the pirate ships, and Michael requested a blue dog.

 We took a rest in the shade and watched jugglers perform.  A family troupe that was quite good.

Dad was picked to help hold the tight rope while the juggler juggled flames. 

Here is the gunboat Philadelphia the pirates were coming to attack.  Michael was on shore with his sword pointing to the ship, and shouting to the pirates.  "You'll never get it!"

Nora found Michael amusing and had so many smiles.

    The pirate ship here just fired their cannon but started to get scared.  All the pirates, mostly kids, shook their swords and finally the pirates lowered their flag.  They were brought to shore and chained and taken away.

 Michael and Nora solved the treasure hunt and found their loot.  They came away with chocolate coins, necklaces, and eye patches.

. Together we made our way to our car after such an exciting day. We ate, drank and talked, some squealed... about the excitement we shared.  We wound our way back to normalcy through bites of Pirate Booty and the twists and turns of the roads.

  It was peaceful and comfortable and I hated to see Chittenden County come into our view.  We had such a wonderful day. 

 

 We look forward to many more days of happiness with these two along on our travels through the summer.
Michael is now really into pirates and can't wait for his Muppet Treasure Island/Pirate birthday party this August.  And I think if I am honest, Nora and I are just as excited.

Throwing Rocks

Throwing rocks is so cathartic.
 Actually the whole process of selecting just the right rock from the thousands on the shore brings about a  great  release.  Release from the tensions created in the day, the stress of another anxiety, the sadness that can wrap its self around me like a shawl.  Yes, that first touch sparks off a sensation of freeing me from my withdrawals and catch me living right in the moment.

 Once you've found the rock, then the lifting back and releasing it into the air can bring joy.  The joyful beginnings of a smile, that tickle of childhood prickling and spreading through the body.

 Finally watching it disappear into the blueness, the ringed delight of a good thwack sound against the water, brings a peculiar satisfied sensation.  The sound echoes back, a calling from a yesterday voice, "Oh yes I have done this before!"

We seek out just the right smooth rock to hold in our palms.  We turn them over and discover shape, texture, color, and weight.  This one makes big thwacks, this one slips under with almost no noise at all. 

Maybe it all brings me closer to living like the children.  For it is indeed living in the moment,  this throwing rocks by the water's edge.  I am one of the kids, in touch with the actual day, not worrying or filled with useless stress.  

   And we are there, watching boats cut into the water, making ripples come almost to our toes, almost.     And there is laughter, thought, and moments shared in peace. 

So I take the kids back to Button Bay in search of the ever elusive Button Rocks and some good thwacking of rocks into the lake.

  Nora comes with us and is delighted when we find six of them or so.  I slip them all into her bag so she can make a necklace like I used to with those special rocks. 

Michael decides that all the rocks are beautiful and piles one after the other into his small bag.  Small bags are essential when there is so much to choose from and it is impossible to take all. 

We spend the moments throwing, exploring, discovering, and laughing.




























 I try to scoop up these moments like the inevitable sand that will filter into my car, and the rocks, and driftwood that we pack.

 I want the treasured time to sustain me when sadness can so easily cling to my days.


 I want these moments to be ever hard to wipe away like the traces of our days here left in the car.

 I want to take them out and remember the peace we found.


  I want to remember how throwing rocks can be just so cathartic.

Contagious Joy

Contagious Joy


There is such joy when watching Michael explore his surroundings.  He really knows how to live in the moment.  I took him to the school playground just before sunset and let him roam.  Everyday he shows me just how to really live and today was no exception.  He really showed me true joy with his whole being.


Right away he headed for the field then abruptly stopped.  He stood there for a moment and then began spinning.  I wondered what imaginings he was spinning in his own head as he twirled about.

 Satisfied with some thought he headed over to a bench and climbed right up on it.












He put his arms under his head and grinned at me.  He lay for a time and I watched his contentment.  I thought of all the anxiety that often finds its way into my mind and I wished to achieve Michael's peace.         He is not looking at tomorrow but at right where he is.  He loves being four, in fact he never wants to be anything else as he tells me often. He trusts all and enjoys his days.

After a while he ran over to the tube so he could send me a message.  I snapped his picture and then went to the other pipe on the other side of the playground and listened to his ramblings.  He giggled and sang to me.  I sang back.









He decided to climb up the ladder but only got a little ways before opting for a different route up to the top of the playground.  

He grinned at me from on the bridge, after his trip-trapping like a billy goat.  He found me watching his antics and smiled.  He wears his love right on his face, it is so beautiful.  He has such contagious joy that spreads so fast to all who encounters him.


On the way home we passed this window and he read, "Library" on the very top.  When he peeked inside his eyes got wide and he said, "Look at those books."  I told him Andy went here and read those books.        "Did Andy read all of them?"  He asked.  "Probably."  I said.

After a satisfied scan of the books he said, "Maybe I will."  And then pedaled off with me beside him.

 

My children teach me so many things every day.  I strive to nurture and grow their love of life and discoveries.  Every day they nurture and grow my own love and it is a wonderful gift I cherish.   To live with joy brings extraordinary to what some may see as just ordinary.  And it is good.

Working with Locks and Keys

Locks and Keys

The other day I found some inexpensive locks and decided to put together a fine motor activity for Michael.  With the keys all mixed up he would have to figure out first which key fit into which lock and then be able to twist and unlock each one.

Here is what I came up with:

 Michael has a natural curiosity and when I placed the basket before him he immediately picked up a lock and key. 

I watched how he sat there turning the lock over and trying to fit the key into it.  He did not get discouraged only picked up another key and tried it in the lock.   This is a good activity for him to work on concentration skills.  He kept at it.  When the key fit in he struggled to get it to unlock but he kept at it.

  

Michael spent several minutes working with them but could not get them to unlock.  I told him to keep practicing and he would eventually get it.  So for the next couple days he would stop by the basket and try and try to get a lock opened.  It took two days but now he can really open the locks!  He is also so proud of himself that he did it all by himself!  He takes the a lock out of the basket now and goes right to opening them.  Then he holds the lock up for us to see that he opened it.

I love the way he is proud of his accomplishments.  I love to design activities that get him to think and concentrate and feel success when he achieves something that at first was challenging.




Had to throw this last picture in.  We were at the playground at the school and Michael read the words, "General Store."  I told him it meant a store that sold lots of different things.  Michael took my order and then said he was out of that but I could have an ice cream. 

We played in the evening with imagined cones dripping, our minds on our play, and the beautiful sun lighting our moments.

 I was reminded of the countless pizza deliveries Jimmy made up to me on his bike with training wheels, and Andrew's ice cream cone business he made to me when on his tricycle.  All those imagined play times melding into this one here where I am again playing with a son, now Michael, who creates his own dishes for me. 

And I am filled with the magic of memories blending with today's similar inspirations and I smile for all three of my boys, all who I cherish and enjoy their creative play and fine dishes.  It's good to be a mom.

Dollar Store Water Bottles

Dollar Store Delights

The dollar store is a treasure trove for creative ideas.  Today the kids and I scooped up two cool spray bottles for them to use.  They spent a lot of time outside spraying everything in the  back yard.  Then they rode their bikes to the school playground.

Instantly they were off their bikes and racing around the playground  with the  bottles spraying everything.  They giggled and raced about, so cute.

Michael went to the slide and sprayed with such concentration.  I wondered what he was thinking as he sprayed.  

Nora raced up to the top of a slide and slid down spraying.  At the end of the slide she jumped up and sprayed towards me.  She was having so much fun, such smiles.

Michael peeked out from beneath the playground structure and grinned at me. 

They spent so much time just roaming the playground and spraying and giggling.  The dollar store find was such a good discovery for such a sunny day.

Then they turned towards their bikes and decided to do a bike wash.  

Then it was time to head back after a few more sprays.  They had it on a fine mist spray so the water seemed to last for a long time.

They balanced their way down the school's sidewalk and we headed for home.  

Nora is going to spend time with us this summer and I am so happy for us.  Michael loves his "Eleanora" as he thinks her real name is called.  (It is Eleanor, he couldn't understand that the "a" is dropped so I didn't push it.) 

I imagine more days of water sprays, bike rides, and exploring the outdoors.  I want them to create Nature Journals and draw and write and just be in their experiences.  And I think I may need to buy one more water  bottle and join in the washings of our days.