Author Archives: ChristinaMcDade

Garrett: I went on a boat ride to the sand bar in Kaneohe Bay.  While I was snorkeling we found a small jellyfish and an eel in the coral. There was a turtle swimming while we were standing on the boat … Continue reading →

We hope you are all having a wonderful summer! Ours is going splendidly so far!!!! We are on a marathon vacation that has included a road trip up the California Coast, Oregon, and the Brazilian Pantanal. Here are some highlights: … Continue reading →

The holidays are over and we’re into the new year now…I’m not going to say how amazing it is how fast time flies, since we hear that so much and it’s pretty much a given. Every January, when you start … Continue reading →

 
The kids have been totally into Pokemon lately. I guess for about 5 or 6 months now. They play every day and haven’t gotten tired of it yet. Elisa has a couple of versions of the game, and so does Garrett. They pop the colorful cartridges into their Gameboys and continue playing where they left off. They’re able to trade Pokemon with each other, even, via connecting cable.
 
Though I originally thought video games were a bad idea, Pokemon has actually helped to bring Elisa and Garrett together. He’s 7 and she’s 10, so most of their other interests are very different, but Pokemon remains a bonding factor between them. I love to see them getting excited for each other when one catches a new or rare Pokemon. It’s the cutest thing.
 
They study their Pokemon Collector’s Guide book and  when they get stuck in the game, they go online and find the answer to their problem. They are even registered on a Pokemon forum where kids can ask each other questions and send each other the answers online. Continue reading →

It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life that you sometimes barely even feel the time passing by. It’s Monday, and then, all of a sudden, it’s Monday again. With school, Elisa’s ballet, Garrett’s cubscouts, and my work and extra tutoring, we sometimes seem to be barrelling ahead at full speed, with no time for enjoyment or reflection.
I read somewhere a quote that rang true with me: Americans often mistake activity for happiness. That is, as long as they’re busy and moving, they figure, they must be happy. Being still is equated, in American culture, to being lazy.
However, anyone who has ever just sat and watched the wind blow in the trees or got down on their hands and knees to observe a bug with their kids, or meditated quietly, knows that these still, simple pasttimes can truly be a source of joy–taking that time to reflect has an amazing, grounding effect. More can be done in our personal progression in just a few minutes of meditation, I think, than in a whole week of rushing here and there.
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Elisa and Garrett got 5 horseback riding lessons each for Christmas. Elisa has always loved horses, but through her excitement, Garrett has become interested as well. The lessons are quite expensive, so getting 5 each as a present was a big deal.

They used their first lesson the other day. The horses at the stables are old, but reliable and good with kids. Unfortunately, they are also somewhat slow. Too slow, I’m afraid, for my burgeoning cowboy Garrett. He wants to ride the wind already, and is sort of bored with the dry instruction and slow-paced lesson. Elisa is more patient. Just being on her favorite animal is enough to satisfy her. Getting it to obey and/or go fast is just secondary.

The instructor at the stables confirmed what I’d thought was going on. He said that boys are often too interested in action and adventure for the lessons to engage them. Girls are just so in love with the horses, period, that they don’t care what they’re doing, as long as they’re around them. Continue reading →