I ♥ Faces-- Sun Flairs

What a warm and bright subject for this week's contest at I ♥ Faces.  We had some sweet sun flairs at the ocean, from our Portland vacation, but though stunning, they seemed kind of cliche.   So, I'm posting this one of Dug hiking in the Pacific Northwest.  

We're dedicated city dwellers, but it's good for the lungs and the spirit to go where the trees are taller than buildings, at least a few times a year.   We love the wilderness.

I ♥ Faces--Pets

These starfish from the icy waters of the Pacific Northwest are nobody's pets! But I was astounded at how artfully they arranged themselves along the rocks. At I ♥ Faces, the pets category is loosely defined to include all animals, and I had to include these super stars.

Day 10--The Great Pacific Northwest Adventure

Day 10--Saturday, July 4th--The Great Pacific Northwest Adventure

We originally planned to go to Portland's Blues Festival and see their big fireworks display at 10pm, with friends from Dugan's preschool days. But the weather was extremely hot, and the guys had to get up at 5am for their flight back home on Sunday, so we scaled back our ambitious plans and celebrated a low key 4th instead.

Sorry to our old school friend, Baxter, and his family. We would have loved to hang out and catch up. Hope to see ya next time, either out there or on the Chicago end of the magic, underground worm hole, between various cool cities. (He's our gymnastics friend from toddler days and our Montessori preschool and skate park buddy from half the kids' life times ago. Funny how 4 years isn't much when you're over 40, but it's interminably ancient history when you're 8.)

We also missed running into kids Gaia and Apollo, former Chicago Hip Family Friends of ours, who's family moved from Chicago to study micro brewing in Germany. We lost track of them, but they resurfaced living close to my sister in Hillsboro and frequenting the little park where she walks her dogs (pictured at the end of this post)! She just mentioned them by chance, never dreaming we'd actually KNOW them. They just moved again within the city, less than a month ago, so we couldn't track 'em down and didn't bump into them. We would have loved to catch up with them, too. (More worm hole theory.)

So, instead of seeking out relocated Chicagoans, we checked out small town 4th of July at it's best. The Hillsboro parade route goes right in front of my sister, Maia's, home. And people get crazy about staking out spots at the crack of dawn. The first year she lived there, she awoke early to find a family had set up a tent in her front yard, obscuring her view, and was busily frying bacon!

This year, John was proactive and put chairs out and roped off the front yard the night before. As the parade began, we hustled to erect a shade tent, which got a lotta thumbs up from marchers, drooling over our patch of cool shade. Small town parades have such a different vibe than the big city variety.




The kids caught bulging bags full of candy and enjoyed blowing bubbles at the passing floats.












We saw a unicorn, palm trees made from evergreen boughs for Robin Hood's forest (?), and various patriotic incarnations of Uncle Sam, including one with a big fake piece of cotton taped over his very real, Uncle Sam style white goatee. The gymnasts, dance troupes, marching bands, vacation bible schools, church barbecue promoters, politicians, vintage car enthusiasts, war veterans and civil servants were out en mass.

To some, patriotism means waving tiny American flags made in China or building a squadron of fighter jets from balloons. To others, it is the American right to drive Hummers and giant Hot Wheels toys for rich kids. To some, Patriotism is Homeland Security footing the bill for overkill riot gear vehicles, so the local, small town Sheriff can serve and protect in style.


To others, patriotism is pride in your job, keeping the streets free of garbage, or having the freedom to clear cut large swaths of old growth forests.


To some, it is the right to openly and peacefully protest, whether you're left wing, right wing or a wing nut. To others, it's having a president again who clearly believes in the separation of church and state, that our founding fathers declared necessary for good government.








To us, it is embracing America's diversity, and unique, far ranging mesh of lifestyles and religions, and realizing we have something to learn from everyone.



After the parade, we had a shade tent raising, and 4 of us picked it up and walked it to my sister's back yard. We celebrated with a small barbecue with family and friends, fresh berries from the farmer's market, and Tillamook chocolate ice cream.

The kids created a wacky play with costumes and a creative cast of characters. There was Knee Man, the mystic master who sent the kids on quests. The Moss Grouch, The Shoe of Unhappiness, The Purple Wave of Happiness and Unhappiness, The Unicorn and The Cat and The Masked Creature.

That evening, we donned glow bracelets and necklaces and walked to the local park to play with a balsa wood airplane that the kids caught at the parade. Then they took a last bunch of turns on the teeter totters and merry go round, both "dangerous" park gear, that no longer exist in any of the Chicago play lots I know of.








This may be the only time in their childhoods that they can spin around on a merry go round and watch fireworks fill the night sky.


They also loved the geodesic dome, based on the famous designs by Chicagoan, Buckminster Fuller. I don't think they've been declared dangerous, but I can't think of a Chicago play lot with one of these fun and functional pieces, either. Bucky's the one who described our planet as "Spaceship Earth", a contained system where we need to have clean and uncontaminated air, food and water to survive. He was a smart man with revolutionary designs, way ahead of his time.

The DIY firecrackers and fireworks were fewer and farther between than the urban barrage we're used to. But, we took a night walk and found a good curb perch where we saw quite a few. We sang and laughed while the kids butchered old Queen lyrics..........."Recommend an octopus? Insatiable in appetite." And laughed some more. We drank mugs of red wine and enjoyed the pyrotechnics and scent of burning powder. At one point the smoke trails from some larger blooms trailed across the nearly full moon, and star spangled sky. And it was beautiful.

Patriotic Stories Edition of I ♥ Faces

I ♥ Faces--Let's Hear It For The Boys

**DOUBLE CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTOS**

In honor of Fathers' Day, this week's contest at I ♥ Faces is a boy bonanza--no girls allowed. For the adult entry, here is my own Dad, having a playful moment with his grandson in our swing chair. My son helped design the matching earth t-shirts that say "Let's Peace It Together" and were a school fundraiser.

**DOUBLE CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTOS**

My kids entry is my son, picking me a clover bouquet. He's still in that sweet on Mom, young boy phase. He's gentle, mellow, extremely creative, artistic and affectionate. As one friend described him, "He's a walking hug."

However, everywhere we go, people mistake my 8 year old son for a girl. When he first decided to let his hair grow, and people began calling us ladies or telling him he was in the wrong bathroom, he was a bit upset by it. I told him he could cut his hair or not let it bother him. I also said, until he's old enough to grow a goatee, people will make silly assumptions. Since then, he's been very zen about the whole thing. Usually, it's his little sister that belts out, "He's NOT a girl. He's a long haired boy! That's my big brother."

So happy Father's Day to all the Dads, Gramps, Grandpas, Pop Pops and the sons and grandsons who love them.

I ♥ Faces Sepia--Hoop Girls and The Dirty Cowboy

This week's contest at I ♥ Faces is sepia tone, which I've never really played with. It always reminds me of old fashioned photos, so I tried to pick two that fit with a turn of the century theme. My children's entry-Hoop Girls, was shot at Blues Fest Saturday. My adult entry, was shot last year at a Lifeline Children's Theatre adaptation of the book, The Dirty Cowboy. Enjoy.


I also have a favor to ask. ChiIL Mama is one of 4 blogs nominated for best blog, Chicago, on GoCityKids. Please help us win by clicking on the circle link below and selecting ChiIL Mama. This circle will appear on the top right side of my blog, under the slide show, for easy access. I'll give my children each a big xtra hug for each vote. You can vote up to once a day through July 15th. Thank you!

I ♥ Faces--Pets

I ♥ Faces--Pets

This is our sweet dog, Alia Serendipity, who will be turning 15 on June 21st! That's amazingly old for a large dog. We took lots of pictures of her this year, like this holiday shot, thinking this will probably be her last Christmas. I love that she fell asleep next to the wooden ornament that looks like her.

She's been with us since long before the kids were born and was there for both of their home births. She howled along with me during labor when I hit transition, the most painful part. When the kids were born, the Dr. told us the dogs would "welcome them in to the pack with a kiss." and for us to let them. Then there would never be any jealousy issues or problems with the dogs relating to the baby.

Sure enough, our 3 dogs lined themselves up, oldest to youngest and came up to give the newborn a lick on the face and then quietly lay back down. It was amazing! And we never had a moment of conflict with any of them, even when the kids learned to stand by pulling themselves up using the dogs' hairy sides or snacked in front of them. She was also extremely brave and patient last summer, when our neighbor shot her in the leg with a BB Gun. She barely whimpered, through multiple trips to the vet to treat the wound.

So, this is for Alia, who has already outlived all our other big dogs by at least two years. You've been a good friend and a loving family member. And like the meaning of your middle name, Serendipity, you have been an unexpected good thing, enriching all of our lives.

I ♥ Faces--Birthday

Dugan's 8th birthday
**double click to enlarge**

The challenge this week at I ♥ Faces is Happy Birthday Kids and Pets--anything goes. These are Dugan's friends, Soren and Tucker, at his 8th birthday party in March.

We have a zillion ubiquitous cake shots, so I thought instead of my son's best friends. This year we scaled down and invited a few close friends to see a movie and then took everyone out to lunch. Many of the kids had never seen a 3D movie before. And the 50's Dork/90's Hipster glasses on the kids were cracking me up.

In the glut of commercialism and consumerism that so many modern kid birthdays have become, it's important to remember that friendship is the greatest gift of all. We've always written the following lines on invites: Gifts optional. Handmade, regifted and recycled gifts welcome. It's such a pleasure to receive something made by a friend instead of more plastic junk.

What is more precious than time or more valuable than friendships? Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.

I ♥ Faces--Birthday

I ♥ Faces--Silhouettes

I ♥ Faces-Silhouettes

I adore this photo of Supersonic Sagie at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. She learned how to do backward aerial somersaults on the pirate catapult here at the age of 5. Even in silhouette, you can tell she's laughing and super proud of herself. You can double click on the photo to enlarge it.

I ♥ Faces-Blurb Book Photo Contest

Recently, I've been having a blast with the I ♥ Faces web site. Photography is a daily passion of mine and this site has inspired my creativity and helped hone my skills. There are thousands of talented, passionate photographers out there! I love this shot of Sagezilla. She was mid-jump, with her hair still flying, and she reminds me of a Dr. Seuss character. It expresses her playful, exuberant, colorful personality!

"I am submitting this photo into the www.iheartfaces.com Blurb Book photo contest. I am granting I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb and I ♥ Faces web sites."