tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42309810162872778852011-07-30T19:57:54.232-05:00Always changing, always growing - we're loving & living together.Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.comBlogger321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-36325595752031880012010-10-26T09:00:00.000-05:002010-10-26T09:01:05.767-05:00

We are very pleased to announce that we have moved all of our blogs, Living the Unschooling Life (blogger version), Unschoolers on the Road & Unschooling Always (Chrysalis) into one comprehensive blog, now found at:Livingtheunschoolinglife.comWe hope this makes our writings easier to find. So please, come on over to our new site!

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-15667260446822118332010-06-28T08:23:00.003-05:002010-06-28T08:55:52.190-05:00

When Kimi was a baby, she slept in a crib in our foyer. At the time, we were living in a small one-bedroom apartment in Queens, NY. Not a lot of room for anything, so we made do as best we could. Kimi was a night owl from the beginning - not really settling down until around 2am. Fortunately, she would sleep for 5-6 hours so I could get a bit of contiguous sleep! There were nights when she

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-34316755567080407612009-10-09T17:46:00.001-05:002009-10-09T17:48:11.584-05:00

We're on vacation - if you're interested in following it, please check out my other blog Unschoolers on the Road.Happy trails!

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-34942908797841822182009-09-30T15:16:00.002-05:002009-09-30T15:21:30.732-05:00

Well, we're sick. The NBTSC (Not Back to School Camp) kids all came back with sniffles, so I kind of expected this. Kimi has been sick since last week, with a persistant cough, & I've got a head cold. Lots of fluids, lots of reading, lots of TV. Shaun, so far, is healthy, & Phil is away on business, so with luck he'll escape this, too. It isn't fun being sick, but I know it could be worse -

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-28178363037707677482009-09-24T16:28:00.002-05:002009-09-24T16:31:19.535-05:00

Yup - Facebook has derailed my resolve to blog more frequently. After all, it's so much easier to read & post little status updates all in one place than it is to write here, hoping my friends & family will pop by & see, & to then visit each friend's blog one by one.But, as much as I love Facebook, I miss writing at my blog, so I'm going to, once again, attempt to write with greater frequency.

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-48748045251917510392009-05-11T17:51:00.002-05:002009-05-11T18:17:48.691-05:00

We spent the day with my folks in Boston on Sunday.The weather was windy but sunny & warm enough to keep us from getting chilled.  We drove over to Southie first to visit Castle Island, a fort that was built to protect Boston's harbor.  It juts right out into the harbor & now connects to the mainland.  The north side looks across the harbor to Logan Airport & the cruise line terminals.We ate

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-25455383049427353042009-04-28T13:13:00.007-05:002009-04-28T13:40:49.967-05:00

It was a little bit cooler on Sunday - though still warm for April.  I decided to buy some herbs from our local garden center & plant them before I needed to get the kids to Guard Up for their sword fighting classes.  While I was out, Phil started work on the RV - removing the anti-freeze from the water lines, cleaning up the fridge (he had a little accident with Dr. Pepper cans back in January/

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-79954150459012421742009-04-27T16:04:00.004-05:002009-04-28T13:13:04.734-05:00

Saturday we took a little trip down to Foster, RI, to join a bunch of other homeschoolers in a tie-dye park day.  Our friend Cris hosted, along with her family.  Kimi really wanted to find a white hoodie to dye, but we couldn't find any, so we settled on t-shirts instead.  Then Erica arrived - with a white hoodie sweatshirt!  She happily traded it for Kimi's sleep-sized t-shirt & Kimi got to work

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-31643947713989936952009-04-20T12:05:00.008-05:002009-04-20T12:39:18.902-05:00

We went to the Minute Man National Park on Saturday.  It was overcast but mild - perfect for walking around.The Concord Bridge - where the fighting between the colonists & the British Regulars began on April 19, 1775.  "The Shot Heard 'Round the World"Also perfect for climbing our favorite giant bush.  This is Kimi at the top - I'm taking the picture from a terrace that is a whole level higher

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-66563882696552407382009-04-15T10:56:00.004-05:002009-04-15T11:10:15.419-05:00

I know this is a video that's going around fast, but as someone who simply loves to sing, seeing this woman stand in front of a disbelieving crowd & then completely blow them away, well, I just had to tip my hat to her.Susan Boyle - the whole world now knows your voice!Susan Boyle on Britain Got TalentUploaded by dwarthy

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-38859595810361534142009-04-02T11:53:00.001-05:002009-04-02T12:11:45.986-05:00

Tonight is the last night of ER.  I've watched every single episode since its beginning.  And its beginning happens to coincide with an important beginning for me.The very first episode of ER, the pilot called "24 Hours",  aired on Monday, September 19, 1994.  Later that week, on Thursday, the day of the week that would be the show's home for the rest of its first-run life, Episode 2, "Day One"

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-6266241454401088042009-04-01T17:34:00.002-05:002009-04-01T17:44:12.312-05:00

I must confess - I stole these from my friends' blogs.  Enjoy!

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-62323644656953876342009-04-01T14:48:00.002-05:002009-04-01T15:14:59.399-05:00

I was reading Yankee magazine & found an article by Jim Collins about New England's stone walls. It was an interview with Robert Thorson, a geologist at the University of Connecticut, who has written books about these ominipresent structures, such as Stone by Stone & Good Fences: A Pictorial History of New England's Stone Walls. He also coordinates an educational organization called the Stone

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-7118193924616237442009-03-28T16:35:00.002-05:002009-03-28T16:47:20.601-05:00

My goodness, it's a beautiful day!We woke up to gray skies (& a forecast of rain later) but then the clouds burned off, the skies were blue & sunny & all seemed right in the world.Last night, for the first time, I could hear the Peepers at night. What a great sound. The birds were chirping first thing in the morning & during breakfast, Phil & I watched a Coopers hawk hunt the little critters

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-81300388726448794222009-03-25T16:35:00.003-05:002009-03-25T16:53:36.291-05:00

As an unschooling family, this seemingly innocent question can be a stumper. Of course our days are full of activity, but sometimes it doesn't always sound "productive" to others. Yesterday I was at a friend's house because her son was hosting a D&D get together & Shaun was attending. The other kids were from homeschooling families, but not unschooling families. Much of the discussion was

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-1108209838886244092009-03-23T15:09:00.005-05:002009-03-23T15:24:52.962-05:00

ARGH - Autodidactic Radical Gathering of Homeschoolers - is a twice a year hangout for unschoolers. Last weekend, we joined in the fun for the first time. We left MA late Friday night - I had a recital that night - & drove to NJ. Then on Saturday we drove the very long journey to Roan Mtn., TN. The state park maintains rental cabins that were far and above expectations. Clean, spacious &

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-66116702887112848392009-03-09T16:29:00.005-05:002009-03-09T17:37:05.571-05:00

Last Monday: 1 foot of snowToday (Monday): 4" of snowYesterday: 60 degrees & sunnyGotta love New England weather!

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-33373012275088639952009-03-04T13:28:00.001-05:002009-03-04T13:35:50.218-05:00

I've been lurking in one of my unschooling yahoo groups during a discussion of books. The gist of the ideas shared was that all types of books, be they standard novels, graphic novels or comic books, have positive value & offer the reader wonderful ways of expressing ideas & stories.This all triggered some memories for me. I come from a family of book lovers. My great-grandmother, grandmother,

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-69845484933904228112009-03-02T11:06:00.003-05:002009-03-02T11:27:40.483-05:00

Wow - we got snow over night. Lots of snow - maybe a foot or more. The area schools & town offices announced closures yesterday in anticipation. Kimi's friends from the neighboring towns got all excited - knowing that school was cancelled they quickly texted each other to try to get together at the mall, which is closer to where they live than to us. When Kimi came to us asking if we could

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-53859659053894103302009-02-27T20:32:00.002-05:002009-02-27T20:41:03.108-05:00

For two weeks now I have been tracking my fitness & nutrition in an attempt to get to a healthier me. So far, so good. I've lost a little, become more toned, & don't feel like I'm starving myself or overdoing it.Most of my exercise has been solitary: using DVDs for yoga, pilates & even kickboxing. But every once in a while, one or both of the kids join me in a big walk around our neighborhood

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-78930386071260917602008-09-19T10:48:00.001-05:002008-09-19T10:48:36.180-05:00

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-53386589024143580822008-09-18T15:07:00.002-05:002008-09-18T15:50:32.195-05:00

We've been back almost a week now since our vacation. The Live & Learn Unschooling conference was, of course, our biggest highlight.It is impossible to overstate the difference in our lives attending the conferences has created. The first one was August, 2004, in Peabody, MA. We were only just beginning to homeschool, but were curious about this philosophy/style called Unschooling. By the end

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-58965688565634684242008-09-09T22:33:00.004-05:002008-09-09T22:43:39.051-05:00

Photo Credit: James CoburnLive & Learn Unschooling Conference 2008, Black Mountain, NC

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-67894560807750135962008-08-22T19:56:00.003-05:002008-08-22T20:09:22.286-05:00

My mom was on vacation this week, so we planned a get-together for today. Kim, Mom & I went to see Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Really enjoyed it. Of course, Kim & I already love Alexis Bledel from her Gilmore Girl days. Now that it's been more than a year since the series finale, getting a Rory/Lena fix was quite fun.Afterwards we headed over to the mall & chowed down on crepes (Mom

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-21913495869234888432008-08-19T20:28:00.001-05:002008-08-19T20:28:35.700-05:00

Visit Radical Unschoolers' Network

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-16795638062055851382008-08-19T20:25:00.001-05:002008-08-19T20:25:34.926-05:00

View my page on Imagination Tribe

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-50814354245367688502008-08-19T11:01:00.002-05:002008-08-19T11:12:49.323-05:00

Yesterday, August 18, was my birthday. We had already done some fun things during the weekend, but Monday was the actual day.When I woke up, there was a beautiful booklet that Kim made for me the night before. She had page after page of artwork - using stamps & stencils & pretty inks - all wishing me love & happiness. Phil also gave me a lovely card that coincidentally matched up perfectly

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-9915360639592255472008-08-07T13:58:00.004-05:002008-08-07T14:10:20.949-05:00

Kim & I have finished "Breaking Dawn", the latest book in the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. It was tricky because Kim wanted to finish before me, so I had to put on the brakes everytime I caught up with her! It is a very compelling story - quite hard to put down. Several times one or both of us were up to the wee hours of the morning (5am for me, 6:30am for Kim!) unable to stop turning

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-91374950067276906462008-07-31T23:04:00.002-05:002008-07-31T23:10:33.775-05:00

Well, it's 12:04am on Aug 1st & I'm busy editing this blog. I've added new quotes & more pictures from our travels. Big day later today (you know, in the morning). Kim is sleeping over at a friend's house & I will be picking them up to get our wristbands for the Vampire Prom event that evening at the local Barnes & Nobel, in celebration of "Breaking Dawn", the latest in the "Twilight" series

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-8289327574895672162008-01-21T12:31:00.000-05:002008-01-21T12:59:12.262-05:00

You just never know when something is going to turn into a passion. DS discovered a computer game called Age of Mythology during a playdate with friends. He liked it so much that they got him his own copy of the game for his birthday last month. It's a good thing I have a laptop because suddenly my PC was unavailable for most of the day!This game is a sort of simulation game - you start off with

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-75725396261367252312008-01-16T16:36:00.000-05:002008-01-16T16:50:25.317-05:00

This is my Grammy. This photo was taken when I was about 3 years old & she was in her late forties. She was a very important part of my life, even as I became an adult, married, & had my kids. Three different times she & my grandfather housed us temporarily, once while we were looking for a new home in a new state, once when our house caught fire & needed to be repaired & once when we were

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4230981016287277885.post-71505918308661100702008-01-15T15:34:00.000-05:002008-01-15T15:59:03.146-05:00

We all know the cliche - New Year's Resolutions, a Clean Slate, etc., etc. Well, I've been Clean Slating my life these last few weeks. Trying to chuck out the clutter & past-their-usefullness reminders of interests past.Today I tackled cleaning my kitchen, which includes a walk-in pantry. I found boxes of bread mixes & containers of long-forgotten tea blends that got knocked to the dark

Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866349549380882068noreply@blogger.com0