Cole and Ilia Massie

Hello, Humans!!

Ilia here.   I have no idea what it is about this time of year that makes people run around like crazy chickens, but as usual my pack is SWAMPED!  So, once again I’ve taken it upon myself to get our holiday video put together.    (You can click on the picture if you want to make it full screen.)  Please enjoy!!!

Loads of love,

Ilia Ignatius Beauregarde Massie

http://www.vimeo.com/8267592

Well, I must say we’ve been a bit lax about keeping this site updated but it’s because we’ve been SO BUSY!!!

So what’s been going on since summer??  PLENTY!!

First, Cole turned 12 and had a fabulous Houdini-themed pool party at our beautiful friend Susan’s house.  The troops were entertained by The World Famous Andrew Goldenhersch, who blew everybody away (adults included) with his incredible illusions.  Be sure to check out the pictures HERE!

And, a mere three days later, AWESOME NEWS!!!  Our beloved Eddie became a daddy!!  Yes!!  We cannot think of anybody who’ll be a better dad (after three-and-a-half years with Cole you certainly can’t scare him!)  So we are delighted to welcome the spectacularly stunning Rhiana Leilani Torres!  Isn’t she delicious?!

On to Halloween, where Cole and Eddie terrorized the neighborhoods in Pasadena.  We still have too much candy!  Check it out HERE.

We spent a lovely Thanksgiving with our friends Judy and Steve (who are also our neighbors.) 

On December 4, we went to our neighborhood tree lighting, then went with several neighbors to an art gallery and then to nearby noodle house to warm ourselves up.  I tell you, Atwater Village RULES!  We have the most awesome neighbors EVER!

Next up:  HOUSTON!!  On December 20 we are being flown there by our beloved Hargetts for Christmas!  Wow!  Fabulous, no?  We’ll be there until January 3, when we will fly on to New York for Cole to get new braces (having to go all the way back to NY to remake them was a little detail the docs forgot to mention to the people who live in CALIFORNIA.)  Anyway, we’ll be with our friends at the Ronald McDonald House until January 8, then we fly back to Houston.  On the 9th, we fly home.

Stay tuned for Ilia’s Christmas Retrospective!!

Well, summer’s been a wild ride!!  So much fun stuff’s been going on that we haven’t had a chance to post in a while.  But I’m finally on it and we’ve got new albums for all to enjoy!

First: 
Cole went to his first homeschooler field trip to the California Science Center on May 23.  It was a blast…literally!  They studied air!  Check it out:  http://picasaweb.google.com/MassieFamily97/CalScienceCenter2009#

Then, On May 29, we were asked by Corey Hudson, the National Head of Canine Companions for Independence to join him for lunch with international Australian businessman and philanthropist Mel Gottlieb.  Mr. Gottlieb is a big supporter of the Australian version of Canine Companions and his interests lie in supporting organizations that benefit children.  He wanted to meet a child graduate team, so Mr. Hudson invited us!  Cole, Mel and Ilia became fast friends (we hope to see him at the end of this month!) and he is in now in the process of donating to Canine Companions for Independence!  That means another child will get a dog!http://picasaweb.google.com/MassieFamily97/MelGottlieb2009#

On May 30, we went camping at McGill Campground in Fraiser Park.   The van handles so easily that we were able to take it right up to the campground and there was still plenty of room for the ramp to extend.  This van makes life ACCESSIBLE!!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/MassieFamily97/McGillCampingTrip2009#

On June 22, Cole started summer camp.  He and his fabulous caregiver, Eddie, spent nearly every day in the surf boogey boarding, exploring sea caves and generally irritating tidepool creatures.   They also visited the Autry Museum and other fun places and had a real, actual campout!  http://picasaweb.google.com/MassieFamily97/SummerCamp2009#

On July 8, Cole shot the final material for the Shane’s Inspiration Educational Outreach Video.  We hope to be able to post it here soon!  This is a program that will be shown in classrooms all over California!

Our latest achievement is our favorite yet:  Yesterday we were asked by Shane’s Inspiration to attend a Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.  The Los Angeles Dodgers want to donate “The Dodger Dream Field” to Anthony Beilenson Park (Lake Balboa) in Encino.  This will become Los Angeles’ one and only wheelchair accessible baseball park.  Several of the residents didn’t want it because they were afraid it would spoil the views and disturb the park’s wildlife, even though a very thorough report by the Army Corps of Engineers found otherwise.  25 people showed up to speak and only 4 of them wanted the field!  When our turn came, Cole, Ilia and I all went up to the podium.   I told them I understood they didn’t want their park disturbed, but that virtually everywhere else in the city had turned us down.  I asked politely if we could please share their nice park.  After so many people spoke against it, I didn’t think we had a chance…BUT IT PASSED!!  In 2011, Los Angeles will have its very first totally accessible baseball field, donated by the Dodgers!  Woo-HOOOOO!!!!

OK…I’ll try to post more often so the entries will be shorter!

…in San Francisco…with our wonderful friends, the Hargetts!!  Please go here to see the photos of our fabulous trip.   Also, Armand has done a beautiful slide show of our time together and as soon as I figure out how to get it off my hard drive and up into Youtube, you’ll see it too!!  In the meantime, enjoy!!

A few weeks ago we were very privileged to have the amazing Renaissance historian Holly Hall come to our homeschool group’s park day…in full costume!  She was fascinating to listen to and Cole was enraptured…he spent an extra hour peppering her with questions and she knew every detail! 

Well, she was delighted to have such an eager student, so she invited us to be her special guests at the Renaissance Faire this Sunday!  (At the faire, Holly plays a different character than the one she was at the park…much fancier!)  As Mistress Mary Carter, she “recruited” Cole into the Children’s Militia and appointed him ensign…with the Extremely Important Job of flying the flag for the troops’ charge!

Cole got another lesson in Renaissance military history and trained valiantly with his swordsmen group. Finally, banner waving and sword drawn, he (with a little help from Eddie) led the charge at the pre-joust pageant!  Her Majesty was well pleased!

Afterward, Holly and her character husband (who is also her real husband, Mark) walked us back through the faire, pointing out loads of interesting things and telling us all about both Renaissance and Faire history (did you know that in 1570 dictionaries had not been created yet?  Me, either.)

Then Cole tried his hand at fencing, the crossbow and archery. 

When I wrote to Holly to thank her and Mark profusely for the splendid day and ask permission to use their photographs, she replied with this:

We did ourselves revel in your good company and delighted in all that passed that day with you at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire.  We are delighted that you all were educated as well as entertained.  That is how it is supposed to be enjoyed and is why we have taken part all these many merry years.

You are most welcome to post what dost please you on your wondrous website.   It would be an honor to be included in such an auspicious display.

My goodly husband and I hope that we shall be able to reunite at some soon future date.  Until then, we wish you happiness and carefree times.

Your humble servants,
Master Jacob Carter and his Lady Wife, Mistress Mary Carter

I ask ye, are they not delightful??   Cheers, Mistress and Master Carter!!!

Be sure to check out the photos here!