Adventure Family (Update #1)

When I started this blog, I wrote a post called Adventure Family, where I introduced the cast of characters I've been writing about.  It's changed since then - both kids are older, both Michael and I are still always growing and learning - SO - this post is a re-introduction for those of you who just started reading and those of you who are interested in how we've changed since then.

Michael:  Still our Adventure Guide extraordinaire - this year he ran his first marathon and continues to work toward ultra-running greatness.  He's conquering fears, reaching new heights, and helping me to and both children to do the same.  He puts up with my obsessions and quirks, and even thinks some of them are kinda cute.  He's an eating machine, a toddler toter, a brunch maker, song writer, mobile driver, RV seeker, National Parks lover, worship leader, super sexy kinda dude with a passion for life and fitness.

Jonah:  Now 5.75 (and yes, the 3/4ths matters a great deal...) years old, our little scientist never ceases to amaze his parents.  Our unschooler - choosing Montessori School for the fall, ice skating lessons, swim team, more Pokemon movies...  Loves Great Wolf Lodge, people, parties, Jesus, Judaism, maps - climbed ten feet on the rock climbing wall in Denver, slid on his bottom down a glacier, can't wait for the RV but will miss his friends - would prefer to live near Sam and Ben - conquering his fears, sliding down waterslides, running through sprinklers, protecting his sister, learning that violence is not the answer - even when others are violent toward us, MUCH smarter than the average bear...  he's our first-born, first love, fantastic five year old superstar!

Maeryn:  2 and cute and knows it!  Still a mover and a shaker, a dancer, a princess - has a crush on Ash from Pokemon - shy with new folks, cuddly when she warms up - FEARLESS.  Acrobat.  Wild hair.  Up hair.  Down hair.  Toe nail polish and brilliant colors - our little star, our little flower - beauty with long lashes.  Loves dressing up as a ballerina today, Spiderman tomorrow.  Will jump, will dive, will fight, will climb higher, faster, stronger.  Throwing a football.  Wresting with her dad and her brother. Sucking her thumb, toting her lovey.  Big brown eyes - knows what she wants.  Knows how to get it.  Loves sign language.  ABC's (she says "QRS"  NOT ABC's).  Counting to three.  Then jumping in the water.  She's the baby of the family - and now we understand what that means.

Me:  I'm thirty.  I turned thirty today.  Photographer - honing my talents, dancer, actor, director, teacher, MOMMY.  Obsessed with unschooling, outdoors, nature, holistic health, poetry, art.  Driven toward artistic community.  Jesus seeker.  Learning to love life and live in the moment.  Writer.  Still the girl in the trench coat running off the the woods to read poetry - but with a shaved head, a mended spirit, an open heart.  Water is my element.  I'm slowing down to breathe.  I'm taking it all in.  I'm realizing how short life is, and how little money matters - and how much it does at once.  Trying to get over  more than I want to admit.  Daring to try, to step out of my comfort zone - to change my perspective.  Loved rock climbing and wants to do more of it.  Trying to eat healthy - today ate popcorn with M&Ms for lunch and McDonalds French fries for breakfast.  Yeah - still far from perfect.  Fiddle player, dream seeker, sea splasher - no one's doll, no one's toy, no one's but God's.  SO IN LOVE with my family.  Striving to suck all the marrow out of this life.