Family Beach Cruisers

Hello Everyone,

Yesterday Dan and I decided it was time to get our family bikes.  Both girls taught themselves how to ride a bike.  Mayleena who is 7 learned in Grandma Anita and Papa Hamids back yard, all on her own.  Kayleen who is 10 never wanted to ride a bike.  Every time I brought it up she refused to ride.  Last month we were at the park, she picked up her sisters little bike and took off riding.  LOL she didn't even stumble, she just took off.

Yesterday we went to a Beach Cruiser bike shop.  We took time to look at all the colors and all the accessories.   Kayleens favorite color is blue, it was an easy choice when she spotted the blue beach cruiser.  Mayleena spotted a mint green bike and opted for this color.  The mint green sparkled so lovely, with a white seat.  

I liked the orange bike, and the yellow bike, but when I saw them putting a cream colored bike together I knew that was my bike.  It has light brown flowers around it and I got a brown basket, a white seat, and a white bell with a crystal flower on it.  The tires are upgraded and are a white and brown color.  Yes Dan spoiled me...  I love my bike!

Kayleen picked out a brown basket and a blue bell.  Mayleen picked out a mint green basket and a pink bell.  

Dan is getting a black beach cruiser next week, he couldn't decide which one to get.  

Bodhi is in a 14 inch bike, and we had a heck of a time finding a bike for him.  We opted with a Cars bike for Bodhi.  He is very happy riding around in his cool Cars bike and he picked out a blue horn.  He had way too much fun honking that horn in the car, on the way home, we all got to hear it.

So now we are a beach cruising family.  We are going to have so much fun riding around the trails and the beach!

A Wonderful Morning!

This morning was so nice.  After the kids ate their breakfast, we dived into lessons.  Kayleen began her yoga practice in one room, while I sat in the kids bedroom with Mayleena and Bodhi.  I read to Bodhi, while Mayleena did a work page.  It was so lovely hearing Kayleen sing the chants out loud, in the other room. 

Mayleena had to read, so she decided to read a book to Bodhi.  He was really antsy and kept talking, but she still managed to read the book.

After she was done, they switched places and kayleen did her work, read a book, did flash cards, a work page, and finished off with a educational computer game.

More and more we've been having mornings like this, where it just flows!  This is why I love Home Schooling with a passion, it's so free and flowing.  No teachers telling us what to do and when to do it by.  Each child can learn how they enjoy to learn!

I feel so grateful to have such a wonderful morning with our kids.

Our Home School Group

I was finding it challenging to meet Home school families that have the same ideals that we have.  I decided to take it into my own hands and create my own home school group.  I posted my own Meet Up group on Meetup.com.  I named my group, "The Happy Home Schooling and Unschooling Group."

So far I have three families that have joined.  All three mothers came to our park yesterday.  We had 5 kids, plus our 3 children.  Everyone had a great time, I got to chat with the mothers, they had many similarities with our family.  The kids played for 3 hours and never had to say anything to them, they played so good.

Someone was having a birthday party and let our kids have some of the candy, they had way too much.  They also got to do a Treasure hunt around the park, they had small pirate maps and had to follow the clues.

It felt so good hanging out with like minded mothers, they are all Vegan and brought healthy snacks for the children to eat.  I'd say it was a great day and I feel blessed to have met new friends!

The park we went to, it's right next to our home.  This picture doesn't show the pretend pirate ship and the huge trees that surround the park, it's all shaded and nice.

Our Life In The OC

Hello family and friends,
Well, we've been in our home now for 10 weeks.  It's not very long, but it feels like a long time.  We are really settling in here and allowing ourselves to find a groove here.

I was worried that I wouldn't find homeschooling friends but just this morning I looked up Meetup.com and found, just what I was seeking.  I found an Unschooling and AP Parenting group, just a few miles away.  "Perfect!"  We will attend those groups and see what we find.

It's been interesting, being in a new home and a new place.  I have been home sick at time, but what do I expect, I lived in the same place since birth.  It's going to take some time to get used it a new location.  I missed my Homeschool group a lot,  it's the greatest group of women I know.  But each of us are venturing out and making our own path now.  I feel confident that we will create another wonderful group of friends here in Orange County.

I'm sure you've seen the pictures... we've been at the beach a lot.  We are all so tan and the kids hair is getting lighter every day.  There's a beach we go to every weekend, it's a private little cover in Carona Del Mar, right across from Balboa Island.  It's so beautiful and it's perfect for kids.  On the weekend the boast are out and it's amazing to see all the huge and expensive boats and beautiful sail boats.  Every time we go to that beach, Kayleen takes out a paddle board.  She's found something she really likes.

I will keep you all updated and let you know what we are up to.  We love you all and will see you in
August, when we visit.

Love, Siri Shakti