Home School

So far, Miles is enjoying home school. We spend mornings like we use to when he did go to preschool, except he gets to stay in his PJs until we go outside. It's been storming, raining and hailing off and on, so we have made time to observe lightning and count until the thunder follows. I am looking for a new pair of rain boots for him so we can go out in the rain and splash! When it isn't raining, we go outside for nature walks around the grassland areas in our neighborhood, looking for insects and rabbits. But for the most part, he loves watching rain pour and loves drinking hot cocoa to warm up. Such a homebody like his parents! He helps me prepare our breakfast in the morning and then we usually read a few books together. It's been fun for me too! I keep him active all day and he doesn't even think about the TV but says, "Hey home school has a TV!" By the time he goes to bed, he's out for about 12 hours straight. Here's more of what he's been up to at home school:

Creating Stories (influenced by today's current news such as earthquakes in Haiti!).

Coloring away.

Enjoying hot cocoa during the storm.

Learning home skills & having fun cleaning windows!

He loves washing dishes, thank goodness!

Music time in our music room.

Art time with Teacher dad & Darrien.

Free play with Dengs (they were making jelly bean stew!).

Friday Night Session

A very simple but funky way to spend our Friday nights, jamming. Felt so proud to be this 4 year old's mama! And this is just testament to how HIP HOP is universal--all ages, just something so natural and expressive for someone to do! He was having so much fun with it and that's what it's about. "Peace, Love, Unity, and Having Fun"-Afrika Bambaataa


Miles' ninang Erica (amerriica.podOmatic.com) and I on the Q & A. Then, Miles on the cut at 4:40. Just skratching to his dad's beat.

He felt inclined to hit those ASR keys! Probably cause he sees and hears his dad making beats...


So much fun!

So much to be thankful for...

I'm thankful for this little guy right here...

And I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to rock with all these dope womyn...




My thoughts and prayers go out to all those in Haiti and to all those who have passed on, including Teddy Pendergrass & Vallejo's own Dewey Tucker. Another reminder to focus on what you are blessed with and not on what you don't have. There is always something in our lives to be thankful for.

By the way, you can help the Haiti Earthquake Relief by donating $5 by texting YELE to 501 501 right now (via @wyclef).

Miles' Germ Theory

This was taken a few months ago after he was inspired to create his own 3.5 year-old presentation on bacterial organisms.

This Friday SF!

A dope line up of all the ladies...DJ That Girl, DJ Umami, RRS (DJs Raichous, Roza, Shred One) Feed, and The Deuce (Deeandroid & I)...Miles has been great letting me get records in order during our play breaks ;)

Happy Birthday Great Grandpa Ernie!

This picture makes us happy!

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Happy new year everyone! Hope you are all off to a great start! New beginnings is what this time of the year is all about, pressing that reset button and approaching life a bit differently. Miles has been super busy spending time with his family and friends. Christmas was a lot of fun for both Dengs and him. Really lucky kid to be spending the holidays with both sets of his grandparents. I'll upload pics later! He is also now 4 years old and had such a good time partying like a little rockstar at his birthday party which ended up being as cracking as a busy night at Skratchpad--minus the alcohol but with the addition of food, 10+ babies and 15+ kids! It was a great way for us to start the year! Thank you to all of you who came and celebrated with us, and to all of you who sent wishes for Miles, and presents. He feels like such a special boy because he gets so much love from all of you--besides all the smothering Justin and I do alone. Ha! We really appreciate Miles' grandparents, both sets, who helped to plan and prepare for the big shindig. Such a blessing--we are grateful. Right now, Miles is in Vegas--went on a road trip with his grandma Rosy, gramma Susan, and Papa to see his great grandmother & great grandfather (it's his birthday Thursday too!). But for now here are a few I got from cellphone cams...


After the clock striked midnight--all of us jumping up and down with coins in hand for the new year (very superstitious writing on the wall!), we surprised Miles with a small cake! He was the happy birthday big boy!


Isagani (all the way from the LBC), Kuya Andre, Miles, & Aaron--the new Mickey mousekateers

And here's to making our dreams happen this year!!

From 80 degrees to 30 degrees

It's been about 2 weeks since Miles got back and he is still on Hawaii time. Sleeping in 'til the afternoon, staying up til 12am. I haven't been able to work on music cause I just knock out with him.

He's pretty excited for today because his gramma & papa are arriving and are celebrating their first Christmas in the Bay with us! I hope they pack enough clothes to layer up, it's like NY here at night, hitting low 20s. We don't have snow but we have the weather to go with it. I can't believe Christmas is literally just a few days away. I haven't even thought much about what I will cook! I'm just living each day-by day, really. It's been less stressful, cut back on doing three much cause I realized that I'm not superwoman. Gasp! All you parents know the deal. Having a family is a blessing but also a struggle. In the words of Kweli, "A beautiful struggle." That pretty much sums it up. Can't have one without the other--the struggle makes you see and appreciate the beauty, and the beauty makes you determined and willing to fight for it. On a side note, in a conversation with Jus, he asked me, "how many people can actually say they know their life purpose?" And I really can't answer that. I don't ask everyone I know, "do you know your life purpose?" I use to think my life purpose was so specific but now feel it's a bit more general, encompassing many goals. I guess it has grown with me.

Do you know what your life purpose is?

Holidays

This semester is officially a done deal after this week is over and I can't believe two years of pre-reqs are over. Miles will also be leaving preschool this week. It's bittersweet. His teachers have been great and I'm sure he will be missing them as well as his buddies at school.

Miles in the courtyard of his preschool.

Before he left for Hawaii, he took note of the fall colors of the leaves and wants to see how much it changes within a week's time.


He has one year left before going to kindergarden so I will be homeschooling him--shouldn't be hard (crossing my fingers). It's been fun, doing some research and finding simple lessons that I can do with both Miles & Darrien. I've also been looking into enrolling him in age appropriate classes offered by the Rec department so that he'll still be able to interact regularly with other kids. It's been a crazy roller coaster of a month! We are pretty much looking forward to spending the holidays with our family, ending this year on a good note, and starting the new year with strength and new wisdom.

Miles has been having so much fun, getting in the Christmas mood and getting crafty at home. Here's a fun ornament recipe you can do at home:

What you need:
-1/2 cup salt
-1 cup flour
-1/2 cup water (add more if needed)
-rolling pin
-cookie sheet
-toothpick
-cookie cutters (we used his playdoh tools)
-acrylic paints (we used glitter paints)
-Mod Podge
-Ribbons or ornament hooks for hanging

How to make it:
1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
2. Mix together, salt, flour, and water until dough is formed.
3. Knead the dough on a floured surface until the mixture is elastic and smooth. If dough is too sticky, sprinkle with flour, continue to do so until stickiness is gone. Do not add too much flour, this will dry out the dough and will cause it to crack before you get a chance to bake it.


4. Roll out the dough to about ¼” thick with a rolling pin that has been dusted with flour.


5. Use cookie cutters to cut out as shapes as you want or make your own.


6. Get Messy!


7. Use a toothpick to make a hole toward the top of the shape. Poke the toothpick into the shape, then holding toothpick straight up and down, make a circular motion as if you were stirring something. Keep circling until the hole is the size you want.
8. Place all shapes onto an ungreased cookie sheet and place into the preheated oven.
9. Bake for 2 hours.

10. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

11. Paint, let dry, and apply Mod Podge to seal.



Miles has been busy spending plenty time with family, for Thankgiving/takin' (if you're leaning toward the far left)...

Grandma Helen with Jasmine.

Aaron!



The boys at it again (peep the gats, dios mio! no bueno!)

Aunty Rhea's 17th birthday...

Of course, Miles has to blow out the candles.

And Darrien too...


We also celebrated Zayden's binyag...

Ninang Maritess, Zayden, & Dave


Ninang Jen x Dengs x Ninong Bob

Ninang Maritess x Uncle Eric= E & M Cafe!

Miles also had quality time with our family in Hawaii on his mini-vacation with Jus. It was a good trip for them because they got to spend a lot of time with each other too. I'll post pictures from their trip tomorrow! I'm spent. Good night!

Add Love, Watch Them Grow

Can you believe Christmas is almost here? And in just a couple weeks, it will be 2010. These past years have seemed to fly by all too quickly for me. And Miles reminds me of how much time has passed just by looking at him, and having conversations with him. I mean look at him--definitely not a baby nor a toddler. Will I be blogging about this kid until he's a man!? Sike. Well let me not get way ahead of myself here, he is still just a boy. New year's day marks his 4th birthday. Come to think of it, I can't believe he's only been in our lives for 4 years. It seems as though he's been my buddy for a lifetime. One thing's for sure, he is love manifested.


January 1st, 2006.


Made with love.


I miss those fat, fat legs and rubber band wrists.


The beginning of Darrien + Miles BFFs.


Toddlerhood.


Miles' 2nd birthday.


Darrien's 2nd birthday. And Miles' adding some Staphylcoccus aureus to the cake.


Rolling with his Kuya Andre.


I love you Miles.

High five Jus, I think we make a good team ;)

Summer + Winter

Miles' pops @ Mighty 4 Hawaii (picture taken by the Lightsleepers fam @ Lightsleepers.net)


Miles and his cousin, Isley.

Miles and Justin have been in Oahu since last Thursday. Justin was out there to DJ for Mighty 4 on Saturday. We thought it would be cool to surprise Miles' grandma and fly him out with his dad. But, we ended up telling her in case it would be too much of a shock! I heard Miles is enjoying his escape to summer weather vey much. Oh, and so is his dad, being in his element. With both my loves gone, it's been too quiet in our place. I fill the air with jazz music while I'm getting as much studying done as I can for my last exams. I heard there are 40 foot waves in North Shore right now. I'd love to see that! I woke up here to 30 degree weather, hearing that it has snowed in parts of the bay and Northern Cali! I'd trade the cold for beach and the warm sunshine anyday! So as a mother and wifey with so much free time on my hands, I've been able to study (a lot!), gig w/o rushing to get home, have girls night out, record with Miles' ninang Erica (DJ Amerriica--look out for Analog Girls), spend time with my mom, bros, sisters, and dad, and do all the laundry. That's amazing come to think of it, I still have more time to study and session with DJ Lady Fingaz. But with all that I'm able to do without my boys home, I'm so looking forward to being reunited with them on Thursday! :)