Hoop Mama

A couple of weeks ago (I’m catching up post our trip to New Hampshire), we got together with the Wagner and Janssen families for some potluck, conversation, and… hooping!  I was re-introduced to the hoop after what may have amounted to a 25 year hiatus.  We definitely didn’t pick up where we left off.  The first night was spent becoming re-acquainted- some straight up, old school waist hooping and a little bit of the booty bump.  Having done a trick and feeling really smooth with the hoop, I was hooked.  We were a group to behold- several women, one man (who rocked the hoop), and a handful of children all hooping in the twilight.  Those of us without, wanted hoops of our own.  We made a plan to get together again the next night for hoop making and more spinning. 

These are not your ordinary, plastic toy aisle hoops.  They are made of irrigation tubing making them heavier, more comfortable, easier to spin, and tougher to kink/break.  They’re also gorgeous and personal!  I feel very bonded to my hoop after spending the time making it.

Rather than re-creating the hoop- er…wheel, here are instructions for making your own hoop a la Sara Janssen.  I warn you- it’s addictive. 

Here are the hoops that Sadie (blue on blue), Elijah (blue and purple on pink), and I (alternating red/yellow & purple/blue) made.  They are all different sizes according to what felt good when we were hooping with others’ and that’s great because different sized hoops work for different tricks so I can switch it up if the kids aren’t looking.

Learning recently that I can collapse my hoop for easier travel, I am thrilled that we won’t have to be separated.  With our recent vacation, I was itching to get back in the spin.  I’ve been working on the lift and am now ready to move on.  My plan is to start watching more videos and trying out new tricks.  My hoop needs a little more weight so I’ll be adding more gaffers tape and possibly making one slightly smaller as Elijah is not always willing to share.   Many have asked about making their own hoops so I’ll be purchasing materials and having a hoop making party soon!

 

The Art of War

During our recent get togethers basking in the stories and glow of the Wagner and Janssen families, the children were running, playing, and battling for hours with a new kind of weapon which apparently originated at the NuRVers Gathering in Gonzalez, TX a few weeks ago.  Luckily, there were plenty to go around and those without swords used sticks or absconded cookie sheets suped up with duct tape handles to protect themselves from the offenders.  A better time could not have been had.

The weapon emulates the ever-popular light saber and seems like the product of the mating of a sword and a billie club.  The kids had so much fun with these that Elijah decided that he wanted to make one for his friend, Declan, for his 9th birthday.  So we did!

To make your own, you will need:

2′ length of 3/4″ PVC pipe  (pre-cut in the plumbing section of Home Depot- about $1.25)

Foam pipe insulation to cover the pipe (plumbing section- about $1.30 for 6′)

Duct tape (silver and another color of your choice)

Electrical tape

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Wrap the pvc pipe completely in foam insulation leaving a little at each end for wrapping over to ensure no sharp ends (note: I tore off an extra little piece of foam to pad the ends a bit more).  Using the colored Duct tape, start by covering one end.  Then wrap the insulated pipe down almost the entire length, leaving room at the bottom for the handle.  Using the silver Duct tape, cover the opposite end and wrap up for the handle.  Tightly wrap (cinch as tightly as possible) electrical tape around where the colored and silver Duct tape meet.  Evenly space black stripes down the silver portion (4 or 5).  Ensure that they are wrapped VERY tightly.  This defines the handle.

PVC is available in 10′ sections.  I had them cut it into 2- 3 ft. and 2- 2 ft. pieces and made 2 single sabers and 2 double (a la Darth Maul) as seen above.

Duel away! 

The guy at Home Depot looked shocked at what we were making and asked if the kids were wearing protective gear.  Huh?  So I guess I should post a:

Disclaimer: my kids and their friends have played heavily with these and absolutely love them.  In all their time playing, no one has been injured- generally because that is not their intent. 

 

Kerr Kraziness

We went over for a BBQ at the Kerrs’ house!

Here Elijah, Chris, Sadie and Justin enjoy some swimming in the hot afternoon sun. This was about the only time they were sitting still. There was lots of tossing and crazy play. The kids love playing with ‘silly Justin’!

Sadie colored with Sara and Elijah played MarioKart on the Wii with Justin- all pretty regular activities. The one out of the ordinary occurrence was Elijah going out of his way to join Sara’s parents in their upstairs oasis for a car auction on television!

As you can see, Jo Ann and Steve were not quite as riveted as Elijah. He loves to scrutinize fancy cars in addition to customizing and racing them on Need 4 Speed (Wii).

 

DFW Whole-Life Unschooling Meet-Up Group!

A few months ago 5 DFW unschooling mothers convened to discuss the waning support network for unschoolers coinciding with a tremendous growth in the number of families interested or partaking in unschooling in the metroplex area. I was pleased to be one of those women. We met and created a new Meet-Up group for social networking, play, and focused discussion surrounding peaceful family living and unschooling called Whole-Life Unschooling. We were so busy talking and the kids were so busy creating and playing that I didn’t even think to pick up the camera for most of the day.

Elijah stops for a snack break at the blanket.

Pears were spotted on the trees adjacent to the park so we decided to go see if they were edible. We picked a bunch and they were delicious!

Sadie and friends decorate the path.

It was a hot one! Many of the kids cooled each other off in the water fountain using various methods. They seemed to have been very effective.

There was a great turn-out of families and a lively discussion on the day’s topic- consensual living. Interest in the group is high and the desire for growth and support is alive!

 

New Friends

We seem to be moving in a new direction. We asked for growth, sought it out, and are getting just that. Several unschooling mamas and myself came together to begin a new support and discussion group for DFW metroplex unschoolers- Whole-Life Unschoolers Meet-Up. Two of these women were already my friends and the other two have quickly become recognized as kindred spirits on this journey to discover ourselves through respectful partnerships with our children. We are branching out, discovering new pockets of unschoolers, and making new connections. It is a beautiful, exciting time!

We’re meeting new friends! Reaching out for positive energy and other people that project similarly, we are finding more and more wonderful families with whom to share and grow. Although the pictures didn’t come out great, I find it compelling to mark the beginning of this friendship. This is the first day that Angie and the girls came over to play. Sadie and Elijah really enjoy playing with the girls and we seem to have a kinship between our families.

There was quite a bit of dress-up along with some swimming and building homes for their stuffed animals out of cardboard bricks. Looking forward to lots more fun!

 

Sign Here

We headed east to visit some friends out Plano way. It was a hot park day but worth it to spend with good friends. There was a bit of playground play and a lot of time spent playing in the pavilion with Little Pet Shops and Bionicles. The camera just wasn’t in my hand but I did capture this beautiful scene- Sadie and Elijah sitting on either side of their little friend Renae as she used her sign language to communicate and they learned some while talking back to her. You may have seen Renae in previous posts. Her mother teaches sign language to parents in order to facilitate communication. It certainly brings to light the underestimation of children’s ability to understand and communicate when they are pre-speach. This conversation was about Elijah’s apple as Renae asked him for a bite and he explained to her that he doesn’t like to share food that other people have eaten. She was insistent, however, that she would like a bite of red apple. Luckily, I had an extra in my bag! It is also such a beautiful thing that children of all ages are welcome and equal to play and communicate with each other without condescension or division.

 

More Quinn Fun

These pics are just too cute not to share. Our friends, the Quinns, came over again for another evening of swimming, food, and fun. How cute are all these kids? Now this looks like summer.

 

 

Friends with Flair

Time and availability of dads had us going out on a limb with this one. We started a playdate with the Quinns in the late afternoon! There was lots of swimming.

(left to right) Sadie’s feet, Elijah, Declan, and Alistair.

Scuba Sadie

Scuba Liam

How to get waterlogged kids out of the pool? PIZZA!

Somewhere we lost a few of the kids. While cleaning up the patio, we came in to these 3 little cuties (Sadie, Liam, and Alistair) who moved a chair over to the counter to gain access to the fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. Brilliant!

Even Motley got in on the action. Here Alistair shares some snugly time with our sweet piggie.

Though we have been with Liam during his breathing treatments before (Liam has chronic asthma that is easily exacerbated and needs regular nebulizer treatments), Sadie seemed to notice it for the first time on this evening. She was curious and for the next several days we had quite a few discussions about premature babies (Liam was 7 weeks premature) and the issues that often come with that as well as smoking, air pollution, and illness as situational issues that can exacerbate his predisposition to breathing problems.

Me: “Wow, Liam. That makes your eye look really big!” Liam turns around with a dry smile. Liam: “Does it make my butt look big?” I laughed so hard I nearly cried.

The big boys were peaceful late in the evening- building with Legos and constructing marble runs. It was definitely different to see two boys who are usually so silly and wild with each other sitting quietly with intention. This was a fabulous evening. We’re trying new things and going with the flow and it’s just wonderful. Our playdate ended shortly after 11PM and it was all fun, games, and (as always) loaded with life learning.

 

Dogs and Kids

We brought the dogs to the dog park and the kids to the kid park all in one day! All had a great time.

The dogs got lots of attention from the children who don’t have dogs at home. They were walked and patted to their hearts’ content.

Elijah and Declan meander to the car.

 

Spontaneous Fun!

Our friends Ehlayna and Ethan came over to play!

We took a wiggle car over to the playground but somehow ended up here… How does this always happen? The drainage area is way more interesting than the prefab. playset!

There was lots of dam building going on today. The kids were carting rocks from different areas then using mud to seal the cracks between the rocks.

Then back to our house for some good, clean swimming fun! It was a wonderful day.