Our House in the Middle of Our Street

Showing a page from "The Little Book of Lykke" by Meik Wiking I feel behind in my reading. The libraries have recently reopened two weeks ago and I now have a stack of three books I can't wait to read, and yet, I'm struggling to read them. My brain won't sit still long enough to relax into a book. It has nervous energy and I'm finding sometimes reading feels like a chore. There is so much going on in the world and reading is my happy and relaxed place; somehow the firm boundaries of my mind have been disrupted and distressed to the point of just shoving away the comfort foods of words and paper and turning off the light instead.  This looks like a big list, but it is two months worth, and most of it was either already half-completed, or read aloud to my kids. I recently led our kids' co-op in an Upper Level Book Club (gr 5+) with two of these books, also helping my reading on track. I know I'm not behind in anything (in what?), but at this point in  y...

Every year I make a list of loose goals and try to start/finish/try/plot/etc. them before the year's end. Some are hard, some are goofy, some are ridiculously easy or that I've been chewing on for awhile but just need to actually write it down to get it done. Most years (most) of them get completed. Sometimes they don't. You can view past years' lists and the What Happened post HERE . I'm still mulling on my 2020 list, so you'll (probably) see it later January. 19 Things in 2019 * Watch Lo + Behold with Lukka (completed, Spring). This netflix documentary about tech was something I wanted (and was able to make) time for with my son. He liked it. I was 'meh'. * Go to New Media Gallery for another exhibition (completed, multiple installations). I love this gallery...it's not even something that needs to get written down anymore, I just go every time they have new work! * Take Ani to the Vancouver Art Gallery (completed, December) I finally ...

view from the top of Salt Spring Island, BC I always love making an intentional list for the year ahead, but as I've been reflecting on the past year in my personal time, along with reflecting on our past half of our homeschooling year thus far, I've staretd to jot some 'things' down for this year as in years past, but I haven't been able to fill up the whole list and I have no idea why.  Maybe it's that I don't feel I have the brain space, maybe because it's nearly Feb. 1st already and I'm feeling behind already, or maybe it's because I just haven't let it sit and stew enough. That's ok. I'm learning to just go with it. I have about half.  I add to my list in my bullet journal, I more than likely won't remember to edit this post but (shrug), Oh Well. Such is life!  19 in 2019 (or, ahem, a few less) 1) Watch Lo & Behold technology docuseries with Lukka. We watched Cosmos last year and that was a wonderful ex...

looking into 2019 like Yes, I totally used this photo at the beginning of the year, too, but I love it. It represents looking forward, of course, at the year to come, but also a great reflection of what happened within a year that just passed.  There is nothing special about New Years to me, aside from the fact that I have, at one time in my life, been a big List Person. As the kids grow up and our days get fuller, them going this way and that, it becomes imperative that I write down some sort of tangible activities we can do together (or I can do on my own!), and experiences I want to be intentional about getting to. Science says writing things down means they are more likely to happen.  Even if I only get to half my list-half is better than zero any day! So, here's my 2018 list, and here's what actually happened :  I tried to make an honest effort to be in more photos as opposed to being the one always taking them. I made Stefan do more selfies wit...

looking into Vancouver from Jericho Beach I first saw this type of list from Sarah VonBargen's blog Yes and Yes , and I immediately understood the practice. I'm pretty sure I've been doing lists in this vein for at least 6 years on the blog, and I love it. Every year I leave a few blank to fill in at later dates, but here's my tentative "18 Things in 2018". What are you really hoping to do in 2018?  1) Be in More Photos (and all the moms said "preach!") 2) Getaway on the Sunshine Coast 3) Visit the Night Market in Richmond   4) Visit Britannia Mine ( completed !) 5) Go to Shop Suite during the Christmas Season (I have yet to find a worthy handmade market up here but I've heard good things about this one!) 6) Buy a better swimsuit (for the love ). 7) Visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead in De Smet with Grammy + kids. (Booked our airbnbs for #7,8!) 8) Take the kids to Ashfall Fossil Beds . Same trip as a...

comfy 'nests' by the fire; perfect reading spots! I had an excellent reading month, for two reasons: I read a lot of short books (under 300 pages), and finished up two that were nearly completed from December. Eight books in one month is a stretch for me. Although I might have one more 'excellent' reading month in February, March, and on until early June, is where things start to get busy and my reading time will fall significantly. My best reading time is right before bed, from about 8-10PM. The kids are in bed and I get a second wind. If I try reading during the middle of the day break-quiet time-I will fall asleep immediately! I re-read two books this month, too, which is unusual as I'm not normally a re-reader but one was for book club (my choice!) and the other was with a smaller book club (also sort of my choice) because I thought they were excellent and I wanted to share them. You'll see below which those were. Here's what I read: Watch for the...

early sunset in Ft Langley  I love reading all these "Top 10" lists of favorite books read throughout the year, so I'm adding my two cents.  I'm involved in a Book Club that I love with women from our church, a small group that meets every week and goes through a book every few months, my own list, books I'm reading aloud to the kids and  books I'm reading for educational purposes (think professional development). I took a look at all of those combined and this is what I got, in no particular order:  *  The Problem of God  by Mark Clark - I loved going through this academic apologetic book with my friends from church. It led us to great discussion, and good food for thought. I listen to Clark's sermons every week and so knew I'd probably love his writing style, too. If you have objections to Christianity, or are feeling confused about what to believe, this is a great primer.  * You're Smarter Than You Think  by Dr. Thomas Armstro...

across the water is YVR airport in Richmond, behind me is Terra Nova natural playground I have made a yearly list for at least the past few years* and I enjoy seeing the outcomes, or what one or two morphed into, and what just didn't interest me enough to continue. Now that it's mid-February, I need to get that 2017 list out in the open. A lot of these have to do with trips I'll be taking in 2017 and I'm super excited to check some fun things off my bucket list! What do you want to do this year?! 1) Learn to make veggie pakora and crock-pot butter chicken 2) go to Portland with the family?  3) visit Burnaby Village and ride the carousel! 4) hike in Joshua Tree National Park 5) go to the San Diego zoo 6) bike the kettle valley railway (Kelowna) 7) us GF tempura to make onion rings 8) buy a better swimsuit! 9) go to the summer Seattle Renegade Craft Fair 10) visit the Brittania Mine with the kids 11) see La La ...

crisp January morning in Vancouver Every year I make a little goal list of fun things I'd like to try; things I've never done, or just things I want to be intentional to make time for. They're fun (books read to the kids!), often simple (make an intimidating-to-me ethnic food), or they could be things that I've wanted to do, that with some strategic planning, will happen within the year(specific travel/outdoor goals). You can see my 15 in 2015 list HERE and then the final " What Happened, What Didn't " after the year was over.  Here's my original 16 in 2016 list I made at the beginning of last January. I like to keep one or two lines blank, because I can't always think of everything by Jan 1! 1) We got a dog!! Copper joined our family in August and he's been a great addition. Although we're still working on his struggles with other dogs, he's such a happy guy. He's always ready to play, go on a hike, walk, or bike ride...

 snapped out front of Rook & Rose , in Victoria Early every year I love to make a goal list that I can slowly work through as opportunities present themselves. Sometimes they're big, sometimes small, and this one was home-centered: get more greenery in for our small basement suite. My sister-in-law does plants so well , and that has inspired me to get a few more plants to spruce up the place {see what I did there?}.  Stefan has liked this goal because he would have a house full of green if our budget allowed it!  My ZZ plant and broad leaf succulent from R&R When I went to Victoria with my friend Emily, we found this beautiful plant boutique (is that even a thing?!) and I bought two beautiful plants that were extremely well priced, and had a healthy gloss to them. The two plants above are from Rook & Rose , and if you're ever in Victoria and you have plant goals, go see them. They had an air plant that was nearly $100 (it was huge, most are ...

When we moved to Ft. Langley about 18 months ago, we notified the owners of our rental suite that we were interested in-at some point- getting a mid-sized dog. Thankfully (hallelujah!) they were okay with that, since the previous tenants had a large-breed dog.  Another one of our 16 in 2016 goal list was to get a dog. This has been a looooong time in the making, and our kids are absolutely over the moon with their new pet dog, Copper. When we were ready to get a dog, we had a few stipulations: we wanted to get a dog from a shelter (the pure-breds in this area are outrageously expensive, even for very common breeds), the kids had to show us they were responsible enough to help out with the chores like picking up poop, feeding, running around/exercise, and spending time training. The last thing we were waiting for was to get back from vacation, so we could have a solid 6 weeks of assimilating the dog into our home until we were back 'in the thick' of things with home...

One of my kid-oriented goals this year was to take my kids to a movie. We never go to the actual theater because it's so expensive (this afternoon matinee was $30!), but it's something fun to do over the summer, and when it's very rare, it's a big treat. I had seen the trailer for The Secret Life of Pets last year and thought it looked really cute. The kids loved this movie and laughed quite a bit, though to be honest, I was a little disappointed in this movie. It wasn't nearly as funny as the trailer made it look, and the plot was only so-so. I wished I had watched this at home after it came out on DVD from the library, but the kids enjoyed the movie treat, and that's what I cared about. We enjoyed our time together. I'm here to tell you, however, to skip this one in the theaters and wait for a better Pixar or Disney movie, and watch this one at home on the couch with a bucket full of popcorn made in the microwave.  It tastes just as good. 

Although I don't have more than one item crossed off on my 16 in 2016 goal list, I am working on a few more at the same time, and this post is to document the in-between.  One of my goals was to travel to Banff National Park and see Calgary   (and who am I kidding? ride horses like in Heartland ). We're heading out that way in mid-June for a family vacation with my mom and stepdad as well. We'll stay two days and nights in Banff where hikes and nature will be prime priorities, and then just under a week in Calgary before we drive back and the 'rents fly home. We've got our places booked thanks to airbnb , and we've got tons of things to do and places to explore thanks to the great tips I got on facebook. Are you familiar with those areas? Leave me a comment with the best places to eat or family-friendly things to do. Another goal I have is to explore Vancouver island . I've been to Victoria perhaps 3 cumulative days before and never anywhere el...

I read a few blogs that are homeschool related, and one of my favorite ones is SimpleHomeschool.net  with Jamie Martin. She does a weekly link post and I found this great quiz that got me thinking. Why does homeschooling have such value to our family that we're willing to forgo a second-income? Why does our lifestyle look so drastically different than our peers? The What Kind of Homeschooler are You?  quiz gave me a little reminder on why I do what I do. The quiz gives you eight outcomes that match with homeschooling philosophies, from unschooling to traditional classroom-style, to Thomas Jefferson Educational theory. My three highest outcomes didn't surprise me one bit. The philosophies I most accept as we homeschool are: Charlotte Mason, Montessori method, and Unit Studies. Here is a brief overview from the quiz outcome page that breaks each of these three down: Montessori The parent’s most important job in education is to teach the child how to learn. Parents s...

Richmond view, just to the right is the landing strip at YVR  This month felt dry for me in a lot of ways. I think a lot of my downtime was taken up with things, stuff, and events. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't put something on my list if I didn't want it to be there, it just so happened that moreso for me in January than December, everything started happening that first week and hasn't stopped! I'm writing this on Tues, Jan. 26, in prepartation for the 31st, and this last week of the month is still just bursting at the seams. When I look back at my list, though, I'm reminded that I did take a lot of time-in bits and spurts-to get into some deep and a few academic books this month, and for that I'm grateful. Here's what I read in January: * Satisfy My Thirsty Soul by Linda Dillow - I finished this in January, but read the bulk of it in December in preparation for my church's women's bible study. I'm going through it now a second ...