taekwondo tournament

Shawn getting his gold medal scores.

Sky's silver medal scores.

Shawn gearing up for sparring

Don't mess with Shawn

Annabel prepares to spar. She went 3 rounds, and took home a bronze medal!

Below, Sky sparred a girl way bigger than her. She was very brave.

Sky gets advice from her teacher.

What an experience this was for our entire family! The kids competed in their first real tournament.  Our kids were some of the few white belts (beginning belt color) there. They all did great. They all competed in "forms" and "sparring." There was nervousness about just showing up and doing their forms, in addition there was the stress over the very monitored and padded fights. They were thrilled to receive medals in both divisions. We came away seeing that the biggest growth often happens when we face our fears.

mama's day

I love handmade cards, which is what I got from my kiddos for Mother's day. The drawings were adorable, in addition the texts were wonderful:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shawn, age 6:

haPee MUTHrS Daye MOM

I am so hapee theaT I LIV WITH U

haPee MUTHrS DaYe MOM

LOVE ShAWN

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Annabel, age 10

Dear Mommy,

I love you so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so,

so much more than I just wrote. Here's why. You love me. You

take care of me. You clean up. And, well your just a great mom.

Love, your daughter,

Annabel

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Skylar, age 12

Happy Mother's Day!

I love you more than ever! Thanks for everything in life from

alphabet soup to zippers! Thanks so much for letting us home

school and do Taekwondo. Thanks for always taking care of us

and cheering us on, thanks for making life fun.

Love you forever,

Sky

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

paris and home libraries and inspiration

Today I did something I rarely do. I bought myself a present for no reason. A book. Not a text book, or a book I felt I should read, just a fun book for nothing other than my sheer enjoyment.

I felt inspired upon stumbling upon this new book while reading someone's blog that I don't even know. I acted upon impulse. It was so fun.

I have a distinct childhood memory of built-in bookshelves in the house I grew up in, as well as one at my grandparents'. I would sit and read my grandfather's book about John F. Kennedy, and their thick text of stories of morality for children, and my father's book about early American tools. There was something so comforting and peaceful about those spaces, and the books that were always there, that made me want to sit and read the same books over and over. These stories, and images, formed me -- my sense of who my family was and what their values were.

Someday I want to have a room in my house that is totally devoted to books and reading. A library. With soft, comfortable chairs, a few old windows with perfect sunlight angles for reading by day, and charming floor lamps for reading by night. The walls will be a very pale blue beach glass color. The floors will be wood with a soft rug on the floor to relax on if you choose that reading location. There will be several pillows of all sizes on the floor.

This home library will have so many wonderful books. There will be a children's section, with all of my favorite children's books, and also an adult section. Anything that's interesting to me, or beautiful to look at will be allowed in my library, but there will be no boring books. Guests will come and spend hours there. It will be the favorite room in the house, and will elicit a peaceful environment for our entire family.

And this book will be in it.

So back to what I just found:

Author: Pia Jane Bijkerk.

Book title: Paris: Made by Hand

According to the blogger who wrote about it, "the book is filled with beautiful photos and a wonderful guide to discovering handmade artisans, shops and specialties in Paris." The author's "love for handmade work is infectious, and her in-the-know guide to this incredible city is a must-read. Whether you’re looking for a comprehensive guide to Parisian handmade design, or just a few insider tips for great shops, Pia’s book has you covered."

CLICK HERE for the full interview.

By the way, we will be in Paris in 38 days, not that I am counting...

photo shoot

These photos were taken to try and create images for Skylar's new CD. She and I are designing it together with the help of a graphic artist. Taking the photographs of her was great fun. I did not include the image she chose for the cover, that will have to be a surprise. The photograph below was taken by me at my sister's wedding, it is Skylar, she is about four. It's hard to believe how fast she has grown into the above beautiful young lady!

la musique

It's going around here everywhere!

now he is six

crown cake courtesy of Skylar

it was a basketball

tulsi, or holy basil

Plants for sale!!! I started these from seed in September. They are now ready for planting. I am trying to sell them to raise money for an environmental organization. $2 - $3 a plant... http://www.amma.org/humanitarian-activities/nature/green-friends.html

So far I have sold some. I am leaving town in a month so will be looking for homes for them.

A close up of a medium sized tulsi plant in my yard, sans flowers. I keep it pinched back so the leaves get bigger.

A fully mature tulsi in a neighbor's garden, with beautiful flowers that bees love.

Tulsi has myriad medicinal uses. I did a little research and have found out more about this amazing plant. Since it is a native plant of India, these references were Indian medical journals and research.

The leaves contain alkaloids, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, glycosides, phenols, saponins, tannins, terpenes, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals. The leaves also contain vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, zinc, manganese, selenium, chlorophyll, and sodium.

Tulsi has so many health benefits. It is adaptogenic (increases body's resistance to stress), anabolic, analgesic, anti-allergy, anti-asthma, antibacterial, anti-cancer, anticoagulant, anti-depressant, anti-fertility (not good if trying to get pregnant), anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-parasitic, anti-protozoal, antipryetic (reduces fever), anti-stress, reduces cough, anti-viral, helps in treatment of ulcers, lowers blood pressure, modulates the immune system, repels insects, can protect against radiation, and reduces cholesterol.

It can be used to treat hypertension, many central nervous system symptoms, diabetes, cataracts, helps the gastrointestinal system, helps arthritis and inflammation, helps wounds heal, and helps eczema and psoriasis.

It is considered a safe herb. There are no know contraindications, toxic side effects or documented herb/drug interactions. It may worsen hypoglycemia, although this is not verified. And avoid large doses if trying to conceive.

Other than that, looks like it helps just about every ailment I have come across.

Let me know if you would like a plant. Once established in the ground they thrive in tropical weather.

Read more about this project on my GreenMama blog. tulsi

girl's gig

Miss Elaine arranged for Skylar and Annabel to play a short concert with her at a coffee house. The girls came up with their song lists and practiced for a couple of weeks. They were so excited and also nervous. But they did great. Elaine opened up, followed by Sky on guitar and voice performing a few of her original songs. Then Annabel sang a couple of songs from her favorite musicals. They were really quite good! Sky and Annabel were most excited to get tips, which they split three ways, and a free desert and bottle of water. The owner told our girls, "You can come back and sing here anytime."

Gary and I are scheming...hmm...bring guitars...our girls singing in French and Italian restaurants...maybe we could eat for free this summer...tee hee!

home school

"An encouraged child can do amazing things. An inspired child is capable of anything."

I don't know who said these, but I found them in a magazine. I have them posted to my wall in our home school area.

The girls are very happy with home schooling, which we began in January. Annabel is in fourth grade, Sky is in sixth. Here they are with their new teacher, Miss Elaine. She is wonderful. She is teaching them math, science, history/social studies, French, theater, art and music. And how convenient, she just happens to be a professional songwriter! She's really good, in fact she just won an island wide songwriting contest. Here is a link to her music. http://www.elaineryan.ca/

Gary and I are helping teach English and writing. I am also teaching religion, manners, etiquette and a little bit of art, although the girls do art naturally as part of their life now, having grown up with it. Both girls are writing "novels." Sky's first 2 "novels" (Secret Song and Part-Time Angel) can be viewed here: http://www.garymarksmusic.com/skylar-books.htm She is finishing a third.

We will have to post Annabel's when she finishes her first one. Annabel is reading 400 page books now. She sometimes finishes them in two or three days! She is on the 5th Harry Potter book. She loves Greek mythology and stories with magic, suspense, and ones that involve quests. Her novels in progress are entitled Alivia and the Search for Questa and To Follow a Bug.

The girls have school Monday through Friday from 9 - 12, they also have homework every day but Friday. This gives them time to also work on their music and writing. All three of our children are in a Taekwondo class three days a week, which they absolutely love. The instructors are wonderful -- professional and so good with the children. Our kids will be testing for their yellow belts in May.

Sometimes I think we are running a baking school...

Or a cooking school...Oh, did I mention that Sky makes omelettes for us for lunch sometimes? I love when the girls use fresh herbs from the garden in their cooking...

happy easter

May your spring be filled with joy.

music video begins

Sky is doing a music video of one of her songs with Kahu Rennie Mau, who is the director of Gamekids. Gamekids is a professional children's performance group that Sky and Annabel are cast members of. This is a series of photos from our first day of filming.

She invited a friend to come and participate in the video. She also wanted Annabel in the video. Little Miss Annabel was more than happy to oblige. They all had a lot of fun.

Kahu and the girls.