Pow-wow

Last Saturday, Sarah invited the kids and I to join her and Jackson at the Chumash Intertribal Pow-wow.

Sensing that this would be something a) educational and b) super cool, I agreed.  (The inner debate of "Elizabeth takes a nap" vs. "fabulously fun activity" took about ten seconds.  Poor LizzieBeth.)

We piled into the truck and drove nearly two hours south to Live Oak Campground.  On the way, we stopped at the always delish Los Olivos Grocery to pick up gourmet sandwiches, macaroni salad, cold orzo salad and multi-grain chips. 

After arriving at the pow-wow, we sat in the back of the truck, listening to the pounding of the drums and the sound of high singing while we ate.  We could hardly wait to finish lunch!  As soon as we were done, we loaded the stroller, put Elizabeth in her Ergo and headed over the hill towards the sounds of a Gourd Dance.

It was amazing.

We stayed for almost four hours, watching the fancy dancers, the grass dancers, the drummers and the singers. We ate fry bread and washed it down with iced lemonade.  We walked around the booths, getting the boys a small toy and a seed rattle for Elizabeth.

For the record, my music lover didn't sleep a wink.  As soon as we were close enough to feel the pulse of the drums in our chests, she started bouncing in her carrier.  The bells tied around the dancers' feet made her swivel her head to watch them.  The sound of the singing had her swaying and kicking her feet.  Once she had her rattle, she shook it, excited to be making music.

Joseph and Jackson, so serious, watched the dancers.  They listened as an older gentleman told them the story of the coyote and the woodpecker, banging his sticks to make a woodpecker sound.  Joseph put feathers in his baseball cap and both boys played in the dirt while Sarah explained the costumes and customs.

At the end of the afternoon, we trudged down the hill as the drums continued their throbbing beat.  We washed off the boys' feet, legs, arms and hands.  We loaded the still-awake Elizabeth next to them in the truck and drove home.  The boys were asleep in minutes.

While Elizabeth tried to talk to them until she finally gave up, slumping down to a much-belated afternoon nap.

It was an amazing experience.  I can't wait to go again.

But Sarah has to dance next time.