I have been struggling a lot lately ..... I need to get organized...( against my disorganized nature.).. Our days are mostly guided buy our meals... but it seems that everything was easier last year when we didn't participate in the "classes" my kids are taking this year...somehow, our week is full... and there is not much time for "home" like before....this past "school " year was so "natural"..I cooked (alone or together) and then we cleaned and then did reading or activities.... but somehow now I feel I am "on the go"... or to classes , or to play dates, and cooking and cleaning and there is NO END..... etc.....and the house is still a mess....How to get more organized??......I have no idea.

I need a professional organizer.............................or maybe I'm just PMS'ing...because the kids are having a blast this fall!!!!!

I decided today that I need more inner work... I need to meditate more...use my singing bowls...Yesterday Vinchi was totally losing control of himself... he was acting totally off and nervous... and we decided that maybe we should do some Reiki to each other... and after we did it, he hugged me and he was totally better!...... he was calmed, and he even started practicing his guitar.....So beautiful...And today he asked me to do it again....

I will keep making my herbal products but mostly to save money to finish my "studio". or "la casita"... and have my own space to go to balance and recharge some energies...

I just need $600 !!!!

Environmental Learning Center

Click on pic to album

Last week we had a great day at the Environmental Learning Center .. we were there for hours and the kids were just so inspired and happy, it was a beautiful fall day, sunny, and warm.... just perfect! ...It was also so healing and empowering to be surrounded by the trees of this forest preserve.

We had 2 guides that helped the kids to recognized different animals tracks and signs, so we were walking and trying to find signs of animals and also identifying what kind of animals left what "evidence" behind. How nice to see the kids so interested in poo and trying to find out what animal left it there, and what kind of food that animal eats... etc..

Vincent even found a turtle shell!! and after the hike they had a nice presentation about "producers, consumers and decomposer" and the kids run though the forest with magnifying glasses finding different kinds of decomposer.

I thought it was great for the kids to understand those biological concepts, and in such a fun way!

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La semana pasada tuvimos un dia precioso en el Centro de aprendizaje ambiental, pasamos ahi horas dentro de estos bosques rodeados de una belleza natural que me llenaba el espiritu. El dia fue perfecto, soleado y caliente....

Teniamos dos guias que ayudaron a los ninos a reconocer distintos tipos de hueyas de animales, asi que caminamos por el bosque y los ninos estaban totalmente involucrados en reconocer los distintos tipos de hueyas y que podiamos aprender sobre los animales atraves de su excremento o el porte de las patas, sus casas etc..

Vincent incluso encontro una concha de tortuga! y despues de la caminata los guias tenian una clase de biologia sobre organismos productores, consumidores y descomponedores

y los ninos corrieron por el bosque con lupas buscando distintos tipos de descomponedores.

Me encanto ver como los ninos entendieron tan facilmente la diferencia de estos organismos y de una manera tan entretenida!

Sailboat adventure!!

(click in the image to go to the album)


So, finally, after two years reading books about boats, carving boats, and making sailboats out of anything available, (including sticks, leaves, bottles, pieces of wood, etc) Vincent had one of those days I know he will not forget...My husband brought home a beautiful sailboat !! Vincent couldn't believe it...his happiness was bigger than his body, ah! what a beautiful moment!!, (specially for me that I knew Ashley didn't spend money on it, but he got it as payment for a job that he made.:0)

So then we had the problem...Ashley and I, well... we had no idea what to do with this sailboat!.. we never did sail a boat before, so we were pretty scared about taking the boat with the kids.... but last Sunday, we took kids and boat for the adventure..
So of course Vincent after all this time in studies of boats, and Ashley being so smart as he is.. both of them had the opportunity of being the first ones trying the boat... or better said... the opportunity to try to do something with this boat and come back save to shore... And they took the boat in the water while I looked at them from shore with a huge smile..I'm pretty sure Vincent felt something similar at what Columbus felt while sailing to the unknown.. but what a smile he had!!!...And then everything was so much fun, Vincent literally thought was the "Capitan" , and was yelling to us, "pull that rope!!", "move this way!", etc, etc.. it was just so funny...

I'm so glad and grateful to see my kids do what they love.........

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Finalmente, despues de dos anos de ver a Vincent tallando y construyendo botes con cualquier cosa disponible, (como palitos, botellas, tapas, plasticos, hojas, etc,etc), Vincent tuvo uno de esos dias que se, no olvidara. Ashley llego del trabajo con un velero!!! Pobre Vincent no podia creerlo! no cabia en su cuerpo de tanta felicidad...Que cosa mas bella poder verlo asi...( lo bueno es que Ashley no pago por este velero, sino que se lo dieron como parte de pago por un trabajo que hizo)

Pero depsues nos enfrentamos al problema de que ni Ashley ni yo, tenemos ninguna experiencia o en armar o navegar veleros!, asi que estabamos medios asustados de salir a "navegar" con los ninos...Pero bueno.. el Domingo pasado nos atrevimos y partimos con velero y ninos a una aventura...

Por suerte que teniamos a Vincent , que alguna idea tenia despues de todo este tiempo viendo libros de botes y teniamos a Ashley (siendo tan inteligente como es el... )... asi que los dos fueron los elegidos para salir en el primer intento de nevegar...O mejor dicho... tratar de hacer algo con este velero y volver sanos y salvos a la orilla..

Por suerte todo resulto bien.. no tuvimos heridos y el velero no se dio vuelta..Yo los miraba desde la orilla y no podia parar de pensar que estaria pasando por la cabecita de mi Vinchi...seguro que estaba tan asustado y emocionado como Colon cuando navego hacia lo desconocido...Y Vinchi definitivamente penso que era el "Capitan" del velero.... nos gritaba todo el tiempo "Suelta esa cuerda!!", "Muevete para alla!!" " Cuidado con esa vela!, suelta la vela!, etc, etc...fue tan divertido.... Yo fui una vez con ellos y era un chiste!

Que feliz me siento de poder ser participe de estos momentos inolvidables en la vida de mis hijos... que rico verlos haciendo cosas que los apasionan, no hay nada mas bello que ver a alguien apasionado por algo.... no es verdad?

Finally I feel I have time to sit down and process all this ideas and experiences we have been gathering during the last month. We did go to New Mexico and it was spectacular!. The road trip was hard on the little ones, it took us 3 days to get there, but once we got there everything was just so nice...I was learning so much in this Herbal conference, I met great people, the teachers were so nice, so down to earth, the classes were so informative too, but there was not too much time to process in those days, I had full days of learning, I was exhausted walking in this hills from one class to another with a broken toe, and coming back to the camping so tired to just eat , and be with the kids and Ashley. And they had the best time!, enjoying the grandparents, going on walks, exploring... Vincent felt he was "Vincent v/s Wild" like the guy in the show in Discovery Channel.. he wanted to do everything!!, be on charge of the fire, cook, lead the walks...
Coming back to IL, my MIL left to Chile and I had to get back on my routine and start getting ready for a talk about herbalism to a group of people... and that class happened yesterday and it was great!!,I felt so good sharing my passion....I love what I do, working with plants and homeschooling my kids. I feel so grounded now. A couple of years ago I lived so much in my head.. that is one of the biggest presents plants give me everyday... they keep me literally "grounded"..

Finally vacation!!

If you ask Vincent what he wants to learn this year, his first answer is "wilderness survival!!" and finally we will be able to help him with that.
Because of my passion of herbal medicine , I sign up a few months ago to assist to the "Traditions in Western Herbalism" conference. This will be in New Mexico, rural Abiquiu
in the Ghost Ranch..So finally we decided that this will be the perfect (and only) opportunity to have a family vacation and give the boys the opportunity to go camping and learn about wilderness survival..We are taking my in laws too. so grandparents included we will have a full car and way too much fun.
I can't wait to meet all this great herbalists that have been such a big inspiration in my life..
And I can't wait to see my kids surrounded by hills, and wilderness...

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Si le preguntan a Vincent que quiere aprender este ano, lo primero que responde es "como sobrevivir en la naturaleza"/// Y por la gran pasion que siento por la medicina herbalica, hace unos meses me inscribi para asistir a una Conferencia de medicina herbalica en Nuevo Mexico, asi es que esta sera la perfeca y unica oportunidad para ofrecerles a los ninos esta experiencia..Llevaremos tambien a mis suegros , asi es que vamos con un auto lleno en un viaje que durara dos dias..
Casi no puedo esperar para conocer a todos esos grandes herbalistas de los cuales he estado aprendiendo por todos estos anos...
Y tambien casi no puedo esperar para ver a mis hijos rodeados de ese maravilloso paisaje....

The "back to school time"

And here we are again, another Sept, and my kids again are not going back to school. This is our second year "homeschooling", and definitely I feel more comfortable. I see a lot of friends panic a bit for the beginning of the new scholar year and their kids being at home, but for some reason, I feel so calm. I really don't want to send them to school and I love to see how much passion Vincent shows about being at home.
Last year we totally unschooled, we just let them play and play and play and play, and it was definitely worth it, little by little I saw Vincent's desire of learning coming back to life, slowly he started asking questions again... and I love to see how he is becoming a critical thinker. He is so small yet! but with such a mind!. just the other day he came to me and asked me how the languages started .. And I had to stop to think for an answer.. (I just love that!). I tried to explain a bit about language and communication, but his question was a bit deeper than that, we wanted to know also how people started talking different languages, where was the origin of English language and Spanish, why there is such a difference between both of them... Why North America and South America speak different languages, and it was so nice to after our conversation get to the point where he really understood and connected the dots and started talking about his classes of History of North America and how here in North America people talked English because they once belonged to England. I really think those are great questions for a little boy 7 yrs old!

I offered to them to take some classes in some homeschooler's coop, and Vincent decided he wanted to take "History of North America" and "Beyond our Solar System", these are classes he takes every Friday and he is LOVING IT!; And on Tuesdays Luciano and Vincent, will take a class together in another homeschooler's coop .. they are so excited of being in the same class together! they will take "Encouraging Literacy through active play" and after that class, Vincent will start with Guitar lessons too. They are beyond excitement right now for being in charge of their learning and being able to choose what they want to learn, and I am so happy for having the possibility of doing this.. They will also keep working in Tennis classes and Vincent keeps practicing his Skateboard...
So yes, I am happy, and they are happy and excited about learning .. I love homeschooling and I can't think about them being inside of a classroom for 6 hours straight...

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El ano escolar esta comenzando ahora y muchas de mis amigas estan empezando a ponerse nerviosas por eso, pero yo, empezando nuestro segundo ano de "homeschooling", me siento super tranquila esta vez, mucho mas confiada de lo que se nos viene. Ademas me ecanta ver la pasion con la que Vincent quiere seguir estando fuera del sistema. El ano pasado realmente les dimos la libertad total de jugar y jugar y solamente los expusimos a aprendizaje, de una manera en que ellos comenzaran a entender mejor el mundo en que vivimos y a interesarse sobre distitas cosas.. Me encanta ver como Vincent esta dearrollando una mente super critica, es tan pequeno, pero tiene una cabeza que me asombra!. Como el otro dia, vino a preguntarme como se crearon los idiomas, y tuve que parar a pensar por una respuesta...( Me encanta eso!!) Y conversamos sobre el lenguaje desarrollandose por una necesidad de comunicacion , pero su pregunta era mas profunda que eso, el queria saber como la gente empezo a hablar disntintas lenguas y donde fue el origen de el idioma Ingles y como , donde y porque otros comenzaron a hablar Espanol. Porque en Norte America se habla Ingles y en America del Sur hablan Espanol.. Yo creo que son preguntas maravillosas para un pequenito de 7 anos...Fue super bello ver como el conecto todas sus ideas hasta llegar a hablar de que el sabia la respuesta, porque en su clase de "Historia de Norte America " habia escuchado que antes Norte America pertenecia a Inglaterra y el dedujo que era por eso que la gente aca habla Ingles..

Yo les ofreci tomar classes en una cooperativa de homeschoolers, asi que Vincent decidio que el tomara dos clases , "Historia de Norte America" y "Mas alla de nuestro Sistema solar", estas clases seran cada Viernes y esta feliz!, le encantan, y cada Martes el y Luciano tomar unas clases en otra cooperativa de homeschoolers, tomaran una clase de escritura y lectura , pero basada en juegos, donde hacen que la escritura tome un sentido practico para ellos, y Vincent tomara tambien clases de guitarra...Ademas de eso seguiran con sus clases de tennis por ahora , Vincent seguira practicando con su Skateboard y mas adelante natacion.

En fin, ellos estan felices de tomar clases de temas que les interesan, de tener una opinion importantisima sobre lo que ellos quieren aprender, asi es que SI .. me encanta hacer Homeschooling!! me encanta verlos felices, libres, amando aprender y totalmente entusiasmados por sus clases ..No puedo ni pensar en ellos estando por mas de 6 horas encerrados en una sala de clases.

Estamos felices de tener esta posibilidad de aprender activamente... WE LOVE IT!~

A full house

So here I am, writing at midnight, because my day has been so full with fun and family that my "private time" literally doesn't exist....but guess what.... I just love it...

The last time I was in Chile was almost 3 years ago, this is my first time in the US for so long.. I was traveling there every year. (Like I said before, we have been living in USA for 6 years now)

I love and miss my family so much and I also admire and love my in laws in a really profound way... I have learned so much from them.. about parenting, freedom, ecology ...relationships ....well, kindness in general. and now I'm lucky enough to have them here with us....My MIL got here 2 weeks ago, bringing with her a breeze of pure mountain air. When I look at her I can see Los Andes mountain....I love to feel the wisdom she brings into my life...

And now my husband's grandparents and aunt (yes, he has grandma and grandpa alive..), are also visiting from SC... They also are Chileans, and really traditional ones, so the house has been full with great food and lots of people, (4 generations) talking and laughing in Spanish.... A great total of 10 people in the house!!

I like to see my kids dealing with this change.. Vincent is practicing talking more in Spanish , ( he is fluent but with a "gringo accent".. so cute! ) and the 2 little ones are just listening all day long to "mama's language"... I accept I don't talk 100% in Spanish to them... well... because it is a bit hard for me... everybody speaks English and I am the only one "hablando espanol"... with my husband we speak in spanish, but he speaks English to the kids... so yes.. we have a mess... but I know they understand EVERYTHING... but the 2 little ones don't speak it... and I feel bad for that...but here are some of my reasons for this to happen...

* we started having my husband talk to them in English, because I didn't speak it and we wanted our kids to be fluent in English ...(for obvious reasons... we live in US and they are creating relationships here)... and now he can't stop talking to them in English.!!

* then, most of the books we own are in English.. (I have a small collection of spanish ones)

* 80 % of the TV they watch is also in English...

* when we are with other people and friends I switch to English so my kids or the other people don't feel "weird"..

* sometimes when we are alone at home I just forget , and I find myself talking in English to them!!... and all the people that know me out there, know I have a "nice accent" .. so what the hell I do talking to them in English??!! I seriously have no idea...habits are just hard to break...and now I am realizing that I need to change this.. I need to help the little ones to SPEAK SPANISH... how?? I don;t have a plan yet... but I will just be more conscious about it..

And also I decided that I'll start saving money and I want go back to Chile.. for at least 6 months... maybe just me and the kids, but I need to bring them there, experience our family, our roots...to finally just talk and play in Spanish! I want to stay in my house by the mountain there... enjoy the simple life that made me who I am now... Our little house that we both built with my husband with our own hands... just mud and rocks... no electricity for 7 months...We lived in that house for 4 years, and while building it, we were also building our relationship...our first son was born there... so YES I MISS IT... and yes I need to go back... With all the family here I realized that I am getting to comfortable here... I am losing a bit of my traditions ad most important my language!.. I need to go back...(cross fingers for next year!)