Happy Birthday, Maxx!

Here!!!

Blog Moving....Last post Here.

There are a lot of changes...the biggest in the space, is I am moving blogs.

I will be sharing my adventures with Maxx at Jane and the Lion, come by and say Hi!

Super Hero Weekend!

We had an action packed super hero weekend!

Now on to our last week of school adventure!

Morning Tree Climber

This morning Maxx had to show his Dad that he can climb the willow tree in the school yard.

Kurt took this with his iphone...it is sooo beautiful!

Thank you Kurt. What a great surprise to find in my inbox!

We are blessed to have such an incredible little boy.

Beauty!!!

Wiggly toof

Earlier this week Maxx discovered he had a "wiggly toof".  It was very exciting!
Then yesterday it came out...
A few minutes later... Maxx discovered the one next to it is wiggly too.
He says, "I'm really getting big, now!"

Looks like the "toof" fairy will be making her first trip to our house this weekend.

Very exciting!

Very exciting, indeed!

On my mind

 I never have a moment when this little guy is not on my mind.

• In dream land he is always with me.
• When I wake up in the morning...I can't wait for the happy sleepy face to come around the corner.  
• Being present when we are together...and reminding myself to be present...everything else can wait.
• When cooking how can he help...will this be balanced enough for him or what will he think.
• Thinking of ways he can help and inviting him to help me with projects and chores.
• When he is at school I often think about what he maybe singing, creating and how much fun he is having, playing and learning...my social little one.
• When I'm at work I remember I'm Maxx's mom, and wanting the best for him and I.
• When at work I focus finding joy in the hardest tasks and laugh...my growth and experiences...will be wisdom I will share with him later. 
• When I'm at work I share Maxx stories, pictures, sweet and funny moments.
• When I have not seen him in hours I am thrilled when the time apart is over.
• After time apart and I see him... I get so excited it takes my breath away!
• His hugs can make any major big problem seem so tiny...sometimes silly.
• When I get frustrated and stressed...I see him giving me a thumbs up...and things get a lot easier.
• In class...learning more about Waldorf education and knowing how Maxx will enjoy the grade school and high school...seeing him in the lessons and in my art.
• Out with friends...conversations about him
• Planning out the week and what he and I will do

•  I try to be aware to what I am doing and saying knowing I am his mother and his most influential teacher.
  
  ...ALWAYS there!!!
  I love you, Maxx!
  

Spring Fever!!!

We are nursing a fever.  Maxx has come down with a cold and has had a fever for the past few days.  I feel so powerless...and amazed while leaning on the power of healing.

Maxx is so alive all the time and to see him just want to stay in PJs and lie in the bed...it is soooooo quiet around here.  Too quiet.  Alot less spunky!

We have missed two days of school which he so looks forward too. His said today, "I miss my 'mates!"  

Selfishly I admit that I am enjoying the warm need for extra lov'in...and cuddling while telling stories, dreaming about the summer, and reading some of his books.

I know he is strong and this will be short lived and the spunk will be back, and things will be lively again.  To a speedy recovery!

Sunday: Laundry

A friend of mine asked about our weekly rhythm, and how I break down my week.  So I thought I would share in this space...here is our weekly rhythm. 

Since I am a full time working momma...and in my work, my schedule is never the same from week to week. One of my goals is to live more simply.  To make it all work I feel strongly on having set days that we do each big chore, for many reasons.  The biggest is to help my little one with predictability and security in this BIG busy abstract world. 

Our first day of the week, Sunday, is "Laundry Day".

"this is the way we wash our clothes, wash our clothes, wash our clothes...soo early in the morning!"

We live in an urban setting so our "Laundry Day" works best at the laundromat.

Now that I have gotten this down...I don't think I want to do it at home ever again...

What I have discovered while knocking this big ole chore out each week, I consume less, YES!!!

...it is a time saver, less waste for the environment, better for our clothes, and cost effective.

To be able to do this once a week, the one thing you need to know is how much you need for the week. (clothes, undies, socks, towels, etc...) This was the hardest thing for me to get at first...but it did not take long...going down to the basement in the middle of the week to start a load...then go back to put in the dryer and then go back to get it out and bring up to fold...a motivator to perfect this task just once a week. 




How we do Laundry Once a Week...

We each have a set wardrobe, each a towel and wash cloth set, a set amount of cloth napkins, cloth place mats, and cloth towels (I use instead of paper towels), and our sheet sets

Two laundry baskets and a hamper

I can get 7 loads of laundry washed to folded in 1 1/2 hours

$15 in quarters for wash and dry

5 loads of colors in a "Big Loader" and 2 loads of whites in a "double loader"

Front loaders are easier on clothes, they use less water than top loaders = Front loaders need less soap (save money and waste), they Spin... Really... spin the water out...so less time in the dryer. (When I pull the sheets out of the wash they feel almost dry.)

Maxx and I stand at our machines, and put our quarters in at the same time as quick as we can... for fun to get them to start at the same time.
Machine Hissing...
... and the water begins to spray I set my alarm for 30 min

...dry our clothes, dry our clothes, dry our clothes...

30 min flat...Maxx and I each get a rolling basket, and we unload our washers and head straight for the dryers #16, #17 and #18. I get my dryer going, then help Maxx and that gives us a little break so I can fold the first...and Maxx brings the rest.

We love to people watch...this couple has their systems down as well...they were so sweet working together!

foldy, fold, fold, fold...

"this is the way we fold our clothes, fold our clothes, fold our clothes...so early in the morn..ing"

1 1/2 hours later...and we are finished until next Sunday.

In Training

It is official Maxx is in training.

Our first ride was to the grocery store to pick up some missing ingredients for soup. Success. He is a natural.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember...

This is a sweet weekly tradition in my blogging rhythm inspired byAmanda of SouleMama

The New Season!

It was a BIG day!!!

The first farmer's market of the SEASON!!!
We packed a lot in and are going to sleep good Tooo-night!

Beautiful tarts, sweets and brownies!!!

Rhubarb and Strawberry Jam

He made Maxx a lion

Pasture Free Range Organic Eggs... colorful... beauties!

Bountiful ...OH nooo!!! We dropped our sample.

Energy booster. Montreal style bagels with dill cream cheese.

Red POPPIES!!!

And we left... Happy Campers!!!

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember...Amanda

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember...Amanda

Personal Found World and Anticipation

Funny!

I was looking through some pictures from the past, and came across some that were right at 3 years ago (Spring 2007)...WOW!!! It is amazing how we as people change. I look through my "MySpace" posts and realized how much of a different person I was then, than I am now. My values are the same, but my tone is different.

Maturity? I would say, for sure.

In the picture above the young me as a new parent, Maxx is a 2 year old and we had, had a looong day at a festival.

I look in the mirror today and I have 6 inch roots!

Yes...that blonde is from a different me. That Jane could not even leave the house without makeup...lots of black eyeliner...smoky shadows on my eyes...a new hair color every month or if not a new color, my roots touched up (the photo above I had 3 shades of color black, red, and blond in the back), lots of time in front of a mirror with a blow dryer and styling products...shop shop shop...closet full of clothes, bags, and just stuff! I had outfits. Loads of jewelry, and killer creeper shoes to match whatever my costume was for the day. Yes, I had many many colors and shapes of those heavy sole shoes. lol I need to find more pictures...I am always the one behind the camera, so I am in so few.

I have morphed into another person. I seem to have shed my skin and now see a new world. Really it was a choice and I chose to make a change. Take my activism to a new level. I can create change and control what we do as a family...less preachy and more of a personal and daily fight. I turned "it" (mainstream media) off and closed the door. No msn, no cnn, no news paper, no magazines, and T.V. was torched out of our life a while back before this faze.

So if you ask me who the new celebrities are, anything about pop culture pre 2008 or what is "in" or what the latest block buster is...I will have a blank stare, because I choose not to know.

I decided in '08 the only way I would hear or see the world was through other Mothers' blogs or word of mouth. If there is a cool movie and they post about it...I may check it out, or someone tells me about an inspiring book or a product or a news event, then I would know.

Really. I don't know what the news is blah-ing about... the latest scandal or even the weather unless I heard it from someone.

*inhale*

It is so so so so nice. Freeing!

I want to see the world unsolicited...without an agenda...to sell me something, to distract me, to create fear. There is enough stress and distraction in daily life, that the mainstream stuff just seemed to add to my pile and distract me from finding out more about who I am as a person, as a mother, and where I want to be.

Now we eat at home (except on Fridays), cook with whole foods, always have something soaking, put my hair in a pony tail sometimes wet, and head out the door with or without a touch of makeup, I play with Maxx, we make handmade gifts and cards. My closet now: 4 shirts and 2 pairs of pants with clogs is what I have and wear.

Doing this what have I learned? The world through Mothers' eyes is hopeful, beautiful, sweet, proud, powerful, amazing, funny, creative, inventive, personal and inspiring simplicity. I love the world I see.

Looking through the pictures each year in the "spring" folders their is one familiar event I notice, and the only change this year will be to go more often. Each spring I have photos of us at the Farmer's Market. This is something we look so forward to every year! Seeing the rows of greens, vegetables, flowers, fruits, fresh baked goods, some crafts and art, canned salsas and preserves, local honey, cheese, farm fresh eggs and meats.

AWWW! My sweet little punk by the rocks. Here is a sweet one of Maxx eating some blueberries he picked out at the Chicago Farmer's Market the same year as the photo above.

The Farmer's market on this scale is one thing we really missed while we lived in Houston. Portland's market opens next week!!! We are full of anticipation!!

Silent Sunday

Maxx at play, this street.

The Little Postman and a Sweet Birthday Conversation

Today is my Dad's birthday.

...we are late mailing our card...but we got it in the mail, just in time to be posted on the day of celebration.

Maxx loves the post office ritual...putting on the stamp, writing the address and return address, then venturing to the post office, the mail drop box, the mail trucks, the uniforms..."What are THOSE!?!" today the P.O. Boxes caught his attention... A very exciting job the postal workers have. Alot of magic goes on behind those walls.

Postal work is in his blood. My late grandfather retired from the U.S.P.S. after 35 years. (Is that right Mom?) So to me...it is really special when he plays postman.

We have a sweet golden book that Maxx loves to read about the secret that is sealed and is handled by "Seven Little Postman" it is written by Margaret Wise Brown. (I love to read anything by her.)

Many times I think about getting these or making something like it myself for Maxx:(check'em out->) Mail Bag; Post Office; Mail box... they are so cool...right?!!!

Then Maxx starts his open ended play with his playstand and it backs what Waldorf has taught me..., about how powerful the child's imagination is and how they need to be able to have free open ended play. Watching him play tonight those toys would not have added anything, in fact they would have taken his creativity away. I am floored and reminded...

"Jaaane ELIZABETH!!!! Get back on your personal daily hourly journey to live more simply."

Maxx playing postman while I'm making supper this evening.

Right before I set the table for supper, we called Pop-pah to wish him a Happy Birthday. He and Maxx talked for 29 minutes non stop. It was so sweet. My Dad sends Maxx a letter each week with find the "six differences". (like this one.<-do the faces freak you out as much as me...lol)

Back story: While we lived in Texas Pop-pah and Maxx would read the paper on Sunday and when they got to the comics they would try and find the "six differences" between the two pictures.

Since we moved to Oregon, my Dad has kept up that special weekly tradition. Each week Maxx gets a letter in the mailbox and if it is there...he can not hold or carry ANYthing he may have been. Then he proudly walks down the hall and up the stairs holding it with both hands, 'till we get into our apartment...he starts opening it as fast as he can, just beaming. Inside is a clipped "difference!" from the newspaper and a card. After a few mailings my Dad started adding a photo of different memories too. Maxx and I have put together a little photo album to hold it all in one place. Maxx looks at it every single day, it is so special to him. He has each letter memorized and loves to "read" them out loud to me.

This week Maxx has the opportunity to take something for show and tell at his school, and he wants to take his photo album and tell his schoolmates all about it.

Tonight on the phone he had a little practice by telling Pop-pah all about his album and he "read" each card, by heart, back to Pop-pah.

It was the sweetest conversation I have ever heard.

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

Silent Sunday

Maxx in his castle.

Silly Saturday!

Maxx showing us his muscles. ***Puh POW!!!...Whoa!***

The Little Bad Wolf

The costume this year...was back and forth.
This year he wanted to make the decision.
It was very hard for Maxx to decide...too many beasts and things he wanted to be.

I wanna be a squirrel with a biiiig nut.
I wanna be a fire truck, a police man, a bull dozer, a race car...
No, No, No the whale with the minnow Moma I wanna be the whale.
I was geared up to create an Orca Whale costume with a large minnow for him to carry.
...and then he changed his mind.

In circle at school they have been acting out The Three Little Pigs.
Maxx was inspired, and he finally decided to be...

The wolf.

"Little pig little pig let me come in!"
Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!"
"Then I'll HUFFF and I'll PUFFF and I'll blow your house innn!"
" So he HUFFED and he PUFFED..."





...and went Trick or Treating with friends.




Like always Mom and Dad joined in and were 2 of the 3 pigs (Maxx carried #3)



It was so much fun and Maxx worked hard to gather as much as possible for the baby pumpkins.
Maxx picked out a few favorite pieces and left the rest for the Pumpkin Fairy.
In the middle of the night, while we were all sleeping, her fairy magic came for all the candy treats that he had gathered. She left a reward for the job well done.
...and a glittery fairy note saying:

Maxx,

The baby pumpkins will be so thrilled to receive all of these sweet candy treats. You worked really hard and now they have everything to grow bigger and rounder for next year.

They will be the most spectacular pumpkins EVER, thanks to you.

See you next year!
Sincerely,
The Pumpkin Fairy

Our magical autumn tradition.