House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental

Looking from the house at the drive way, gate and entry road

Garage

Main house outdoor shower

Guest house bath

Gazebo by pool with 4 hammocks

Guest house

Guest house back

 

Guest house kitchen

 

Guest house front

 

 

Pool

 

Garage

 

 

 

Art as life

I am now approaching my 90 day mark and the only thing I was uncomfortable with was my uncertainty about being/staying here. After a particularly rough week and feeling pretty disconnected, I had a great day on the beach with the kids. Actually most of the trips with the kids are awesome. I went from feeling funneled into a small space with them to feeling like I can really spend quality time with them. I’ve grown particularly close with Oliver and I love my kids here. In all honesty, I hate this particular phase, where they have different developmental needs and the sibling rivalry is insane, but if it is a necessary course, I’d rather have it here. What solidifies all of this sudden comfort in my uncertainty is the kids: their conversations, their new found discoveries and their drawings. I am moved to tears by Maya’s drawings (-and Leo’s, they are just more abstract.)

Maya depicting herself with the activities of the day in boxes above:

bonfire building, swimming pool and home

 

My personal favorite: Mom and Maya in the waves

 

Maya going down a waterfall near a treehouse:

 

Maya and Leo on the rock cliffs overlooking the ocean and the fishermen in the distance; the fish is a "cool looking" yellow and black fish that they saw and insisted I missed out on (while watching Oliver on the beach) so they had to draw it for me:

 

Flower clouds over fishermen trying to catch huge eels under the pink sunset:

I love the elaborate explanations.

 

The kids have become so connected to the natural environment and they have entered a space of pure childhood, one that is disappearing in much of the social and educational environments in North America and Europe. There’s only one chance at childhood and people spend the rest of their lives reflecting and celebrating or lamenting and mourning their childhoods. I see my kids blossom here and I want them to take these associations throughout their lives. I want these trips to the beach to be the catalyst for the trips they will take with their kids. I ask them to smell things all of the time, especially Leo because he is so prone to comment on how things smell. I want them to have a sensory repertoire of everything we are doing now.

I decided to stop worrying about how long we are staying, about how far my commitment to this place will run. I want to just enjoy seeing my kids grow here now. I want to save all of these drawings.

I came here because I wanted my kids to feel the thump-your-chest call from within and feel free to express that. I watch Maya and Leo walk way out to the furthest rock, where the waves crash the hardest against the rock. They stand there drawn to the intensity of the ocean, absorbed in observation and moved by the power of the water.

They get it!

Everyday

Sean has been asking for more pictures but it is really more of the same. I guess in paradise those are photo worthy moments to post.

This is Leo playing "You can't catch me" with the waves:

 

Maya loves tree climbing and the low trees near the beach are the best

 

I want to be the dog in this picture:

 

The kids love to see what the fishermen bring when the boats come in:

 

This older boy started playing ball with the kids and Leo loved it. I think it filled his need for big boy time:

 

Tire swings, ropes, boats and tree climbing

 

Maya in her moment:

 

Leo is encouraging Oliver to jump:

 

 

Baby Sea Turtles Hatching

Oliver is leading the way

With Solace and Leo

Where are those baby sea turtles?

Evidence that hatching is happening in the vicinity

 

Bad Sign - vulture foot prints

Ah-ha

 

Oliver and his obsession with balls and anything that will substitute for a ball

 

Alright, Let's not get distracted, we are here to look for baby sea turtles

 

We finally found some making their long walk to the water, building their muscles for the swim

 

From this

 

To this

 

You can do it little one: Go! Go! Go!

 

Every kid picked a sea turtle baby and encouraged him/her to the ocean

 

 

I wish my childhood had this kind of encouragement

clearing all obstacles; well, life is hard enough, let's help them while we can