HomeGrown Life

my favorite things

2011-12-20T21:23:00.002-05:00

This version of My Favorite Things by Pomplamoose is certainly one of my favorite things. I was listening to this dreamy song tonight and started thinking about some of my favorite things this week and just had to share a few.

my trusted french press (dark, rick coffee with all of the coffee bean oils intact!)
the woolens that will be found under the tree on Christmas morning for my boys (by Ruskovilla)
the 'book' that my amazing ten year old daughter writing that has something to do with buried treasure in
a backyard and children who hate the outdoors!
this peppermint bark- some for friends, some for us
my tweaked granola recipe made with coconut oil, honey and maple syrup (along with a plethora of nuts,
seeds and fruits)
my five year old's current enthusiasm about love- shouting it, showing it and talking about it
my oldest son's inventive and creative mind that is always thinking about design, drawing and building
Elsa Beskow's books (yes, all of them!)
my Pandora Christmas station that plays all day long
my down comforter
finishing a running bedtime book with my boys (My Side of the Mountain this week)
our pine garlands

What are you favoring and loving this week?

all is calm, all is bright

2011-12-19T21:18:00.003-05:00

Christmas is near. We are taking several weeks off from homeschooling to prepare for the season and to simply relax and interject many more creative, leisurely moments into our day.

Today was our first would-be school day turned holiday.

After breakfast, chores and of course, a load of laundry, we headed out for a morning of errands. After making an exchange at our local hobby shop, getting my eyeglasses repaired and visiting the craft store for pretty paper, holiday stickers, craft sticks and a dozen bars of Ghiradelli chocolate, we returned home eager and ready to get working on our projects.

Bliss was felt today as we welcomed the ability to keep our books on the shelf and get straight to work with our hearts and hands!

At the end of the afternoon we had split-wood swords with wool strip handles, a dozen holiday bookmarks and a very large rectangle of peppermint bark to show for.

Our rewards were tangible, edible, recreational and useful.

While Luca napped and the other children set off to play with their new creations I had the luxurious opportunity to sit down to collect my thoughts after lunch. The ability to simply be and regroup in silence was a holiday in and of itself to me.

Just sitting down to do one mundane thing at a time today made me feel so balanced and accomplished. The much-needed phone call to our sanitation department to request that the leaf bags be picked up, a check sent out as a contribution to the swim coach's gift and an online purchase of some of my very favorite woolens to give as a gift to my boys- these were all that was required to feel useful, competent and in control.

I could feel myself teetering on the edge of competence and pride as I sat back and admired my accomplishments- simple, cut and dry, externally focused and uber satisfying.

Motherhood and homemaking isn't always like this. Most of the time the tasks that are asked of us are the polar opposite of external and simple. We simply cannot right-click on the needs of our children and home and expect them to be neatly packed up and shipped out.

There is no real beginnings and ends. There are many needs that never get that 'check' at the end of the day. It often feels like we are not accomplishing much of anything because the nature of our work is fluid, continuous and constant- a journey and not a series of scheduled stops.

At times I feel like the nature of my work is unfair and that I am unfit to fulfill my duties.I foolishly believe that it is a reality to be swooping from one task to the next, from one child to the next with a sense of easiness and the ability to let every challenge in life simply roll off my back.

There is guilt at times, sometimes defeat and more often than not a questioning of if I am doing enough.

And even in this season of Advent when spiritually all is calm and bright there is an underlying tone of vigilance and fullness of life (not 'busyness'!) for mothers that make is difficult to remain calm and to be that bright light in our homes.

I often make the mistake of believing that I must throw off that shawl of work, toil and responsibility in my life that I so eagerly and humbly accepted over a decade ago- if even for a moment- in order to become 'calm and bright'. But I now know that the reality is that our Father is calling me to cover myself fully under the warmth of this layer of life and embrace all the aspects of this life in order to fulfill my calling. And in this striving and embracing a true peace and light can then shine through me in order to bring a sense of calm and bright to my children, my home and my family.

time

2011-12-04T10:11:00.002-05:00

So much time has passed since I've tended to my little space here. The start of our homeschool has come and gone, numerous holidays have past and Advent has begun.

Blogging has recently joined the long list of extracurricular activities in my life most of which I have little or no time to spend on. I have been busy and stretched and pulled in many different directions by many different little people in my house these days and saying 'yes' to blogging these days would mean saying 'no' to many of the needs that are waiting to be met in my home.

My hope and prayer is that many of the needs will be met and soon turn into wants so that I may have a little bit more margin in my life. I am super excited to think about a time that is sooner than later when I can return to tending my little homegrown garden!

beauty captured

2011-09-26T21:34:00.013-04:00

Just a few more photos... I couldn't resist sharing all of this beauty!

the true tasks

2011-09-21T21:27:00.005-04:00

So one of the things that really struck me while I was away on our trip was that there is such a strong need for setting the tone and keeping the rhythm in my home on a daily basis. There is very little time to let down and let go.

I always feel like if I 'miss a beat' during our daily routines that something or someone will end up suffering in the long run. I realized how regimented I have become about certain things in my family life- going to bed with a clean sink no matter what, having my kids take their shoes off any time they enter the house, being on time with meals and bedtimes- and question which ones are vital to the functioning and wellness of our family and which ones are draining me of time and energy and joy.

For the most part I believe that having a time and a place for everything is vital to family life- especially home schooling family life with four children. But I am seeking to find the small places where a bit more joy, spontaneity and leisure can be had.

Again, it seems to all come back to the idea of balance. I am not sure I really believe in 'balance' as the world sees it. You know, the kind where you mix equal parts of work, family and 'me' time in and voila, you are left with a fabulous life.

I think that this sort of balance has more to do with the ebb and flow of the day for mother and children than the overall 'big picture' of a harmonious life.

I kept asking myself how I could bottle up all of the simple, quiet moments and bouts of really being in the moment while I was away on our trip and take them back home to bring into my life as a mother and wife and thought the answer would be easy and breezy (just relax and have fun or just smile more, right?!).

But it's not. It is about being even MORE disciplined and making even tougher choices about how I will spend my time. It is about true priorities over perceived priorities and what really lends itself to the joy, health and peace of my children and home.

I have to ask myself what myself and my family truly needs. It is a tough question no doubt and I am not sure I even have the courage to ask it just yet.

But I think that it will be a lot like choosing to put down my basket of laundry to sit on the floor and play the memory game with my five year old when he asks me to and really listening to my eight year old when he is explaining all of the slight variation in the sword handles he has drawn in all ten of his sword sketches.

I love order (let me say that again- I love order!) and am so very task oriented that I tend to make that the focus of my day all in the name of meeting the needs of my children. But isn't meeting my little ones' needs for emotional and physical connection with their mother a far greater and sweeter task than simply focusing on their physical, outward needs?

Don't get me wrong. I am super big on cuddling up with and kissing my children each and every day. Not a morning goes by where the words I love you are not heard four times by the time breakfast is finished.

But again, I am talking about the big picture and the inner working of the mother here, not just the outward gestures.

It is indeed and I know that deep down inside. But sometimes it is just so much easier to fold laundry than to really listen or to put plans my plans for an afternoon of errands aside for a chance to run in an open field.

But for now, instead of tackling it all at once, I will focus on the true, small tasks working to bring a bit of ease and joy back from the West Coast into my little East Coast home.

unpacked

2011-09-18T20:51:00.012-04:00

I am home now, unpacked and settled. Slipped quietly back in to my beautiful mundane life filled with comforting rhythms of home life, mothering and life on the East Coast.

Our trip to Northern California was beyond magical... it was breathtaking at times, filled with untouched natural beauty and the stark realization that life out there is indeed so very different than it is here in my small New England town.

I don't think I have reached that level of relaxation in nearly a decade. The feeling of 'letting down' was overwhelming at times. I could feel myself gripping desperately to the normal routines and demands of my usual lifestyle in which the motto 'be ever ready for anything' (or something to that effect) was replaced with the vague, soft instinct nudging me to 'just let go'.

It was hard. But I did it and the experience was rejuvenating.

I asked myself at several points during our stay, "What is the lesson here?" and "How can I take this amazing experience, if even just a small piece of it, and make it part of my daily life back home?".

I am still trying to answer those questions and have a feeling that there will be a long pondering phase before I am ready to resurface with any realization of the reality and implementation of my answers.

My intention is to write a bit about my experience, complete with the normal details of where we spent our time and what we enjoyed most (it would be a crime not to share what I saw, drank, ate and loved) along with some more of the 'internal monologue' that was had while I experiences all of the magnificence and wonder of time spent in a new place.

But for now I will leave you with a few images form our time spent away... I can still smell the cutting, brisk, salty air of the Pacific and the deep, hot, dry sun of the Dry Creek as I write this tonight!

packed

2011-09-08T21:23:00.002-04:00

Want to know why I am filled with joy and excitement tonight? It has everything to do with a trip that my husband and I are taking tomorrow to San Francisco, California!

We have been dreaming about this trip for several years but the timing and family circumstances were never right for this sort of getaway.

But the time is here!

I've got a suitcase full of sun dresses, skinny jeans, cotton tanks, ballet flats and lots of leggings. It is indeed an adult vacation.

We will be venturing into Sonoma, San Francisco, the Redwood Forest and driving the Pacific Coast Highway down to Monterey.

I have a flipcam and some adorable new earrings... what else will I need?!

Our children will be home with their loving grandparents and will take comfort in the familiar rhythm of their home environment and each other. I am really feeling at peace about this trip and am so thrilled to be focusing on a time for my husband and I to spend some great time together relaxing and enjoying numerous uninterrupted conversations.

What a blessing it is to take a holiday (has anyone seen 'Ma's Holiday' from the Little House on the Prairie series? I am hoping that my heart will not be as distracted as Ma's when she left her little ones!!)!

the un-reading summer

2011-08-18T20:47:00.005-04:00

This is how I imagined my children's summers to be: loads of outdoor time coupled with just as much time spent with their nose in books.

This is what our reality has been: one (quality) book barely finished by my ten year old, ten minute reading sessions two to three times weekly for my eight year old, about five picture books weekly read with my five year old and several board books read with and eaten then torn by my fifteen month old.

I am trying not to to feel badly about the lack of reading that has been our reality this summer.

And in order to do this I have forced myself to take that much-needed step back to gain a bit of perspective and see the 'big picture'. Thank goodness for the big picture.

I sort of joked with a dear friend and homeschooling mother of five early on in the summer that my only hope for my children this summer was for them to grow tall and tan.

It seems I got my wish.

So here we are peering over the weekend into our last week of summer vacation next week with a household of children who have spent nearly every waking hour out-of-doors during these summer months. Their knees are scraped. Their skin is golden brown. They are strong and lean and fiercely agile. Their bicycle tires have been ridden bare. Our neighbors have even remarked how quiet it was one afternoon when they were out playing at friends' houses. There are days when I think I have just as much dirt inside my house then outside. My dustpan would agree with me.

By the time night falls everyone is good and tired. They want to go straight to bed and forgo their books in favor of sweet sleep. (And yes, we are 'one of those families' whose children are getting tucked in while the other neighborhood children are running around in the streets and ringing our doorbell. We believe in the seven o'clock bedtime around here (well, 7:45). It is good for parents and children alike. My children require lots of sleep and our family functions excellently with an early bedtime and lots of quiet time for the adults at night.).

But I digress.

Oh, yes, the books.

I think the fact that we are Charlotte Mason homeschoolers helps to comfort me when I am feeling like a failure for not helping my children fill their summer reading program booklets from our local library. There is so much excellent, high-quality literature being read on a daily basis in our home during the months of September through May that it is hard for me to feel like I am short-changing my wee ones. We spend several hours reading living books each day and even the free reading books that I choose with my children are high-quality classics.

So now that I have cleared my conscience and eaten humble pie over actually getting what I asked for in June, I can look confidently into the school year knowing full well that I will most certainly have a post or two to share on some really good book lists.

the kindergarten year

2011-08-16T10:26:00.006-04:00

There has been lots of talk about kindergarten around here lately. Our third child, who has turned five in April, is starting his kindergarten year in just a few short weeks.

Then there is my sister, who is 'boldly' keeping her almost five year old at home this year for a kindergarten year, despite the pressure and incessant questioning of those in her community. This will be her first experience with homeschooling and I am so pleased to have her join me on this path.

There is pressure. There are expectations; expectations from strangers, friends and family. It is hard to know which path to choose. There are fears about short-changing our children or 'ruining' them by not giving them what they need. People ask what they will be learning. They ask if I have teaching degrees. They want to know if they will be able to go to school easily after being home schooled. They wonder if we stay home all day and if my children have friends.

I would like to believe that most of the questioning is coming from a well-intentioned place. I think that most of it is just plain curiosity about another way of educating one's children. But a lot of it is certainly coming from a place of disapproval and a sheer terror on their part upon meeting someone who is not 'following the rules'.

I have spent a lot of time reading, pondering, praying and discussing just what this kindergarten year should and could be like. We have done is differently with each child thus far and I have learned so much about what I believe homeschooling to be about. I know that it is more about family than school and more about character and habits than academics.

And so far I also know that I am certain it will be a year free of formal academics. I know that I want it to be a quiet, magical year filled with loads of time. No rushing. No pressure to learn to read. Very little seat work. Lots of time outdoors. Lots of time spent practicing practical activities. Many good stories. Time with family.

More than that, I want it to be a time when I dig deep to tap more fully into that well of patience, energy, wisdom and discernment. There is a reservoir I know that for sure, it's just the accessing of the resources that takes so much deliberation.

I am no stranger to having my children by my side during throughout the day. There is always someone eager to help in the kitchen; someone asking to pour the pancake batter or add the eggs. There is always someone who just needs to take out the art supplies and draw, paint or cut paper right after I've cleaned up the table. And always a child or two or three just itching to go outside to play even when it's wet, muddy, cold or steaming hot right when my mind is checking the laundry off of my mental to-do list.

But this is the life that I've chosen and what good is it if I cannot afford them the gift of time (and laundry)!?

I came across this blog post by Elizabeth Foss and thought it gave an amazing glimpse into what life at home with a young 3-6 year old might look like for those of us choosing to home educate.

at home where we belonged

2011-08-15T21:22:00.004-04:00

Today it rained and being indoors with four children for the day humbled me.

I am a big advocate of 'preaching' on the idea of being at home, in your home, having simple days with young children at home (do you see the them here?). I do so believe that young children do not need to be carted around hither and yon running errands, walking around stores while their parents shop for useful (and many non-useful items), visiting each and every area attraction 'designed for children', and having playtime with countless numbers of friends each and every day.

This sort of 'busyness' is often meeting a need in the adult rather than truly considering what the child needs. As I have wrote about before... being busy is awfully exciting!

I believe that home is the best environment for young children- and by young I mean under the age of nine or so. I know that a steady, peaceful, secure, reliable, joyful, creative and beautiful home environment with predictable daily, weekly and yearly rhythms is the ideal place for a child to thrive.

I know this. I believe this.

But today I just felt like escaping.

The incessant rain, the humidity that curled and frizzed my hair beyond recognition, the damp feeling of my floors on my feet that made my skin crawl, the gray sky that darkened my home into a gloomy shade of blah, and the physical need of four children to move their bodies and boom their voices made me want to pack everyone up in the car and drive somewhere else.

The problem was that there was no where better for us to be. I couldn't make peace with the idea of taking them into a store simply to escape our home and get a 'quick fix' from the new, bright and exciting surroundings. Been there, done that (in fact, that was my preferred method of escapism for the first few years of my motherhood journey). It would end in unnecessary money being spent and the inevitable return to what I was trying to escape.

We had already visited the library earlier this morning. Our cupboards were stocked with food. My parents are away on vacation. There was literally no where else to transfer our situation to.

This is typically where the disconnect in my life occurs- in those tiny spaces between ideas and reality. I am a lover of ideas and can easily get obsessed and distracted by an ideal, concept or culture that appeals to me. But sometimes when it is time to live out those ideals, I fall short. In fact I often don't get beyond the idea.

Today showed me that being at home, living simply, avoiding commercialism as a form of entertainment and dragging small children about town for MY OWN AMUSEMENT simply is not an option for me. This is a principle that I want to live out for the sake of my children.

So today I chose to remain at home.

So, do you want to know what the blessing was in return? A day of simple pleasures, consistency, needs met with love and content little ones.

Today I...

sat down to a pancake breakfast with all four children... it was sticky and delicious and buttery and warm
went through two tablecloths from spilled milk
had quiet read aloud time inside while the rain pattered outside

sharpened and put our favorite colored pencils to good use... everyone from toddler to mother (purchased at a local thrift store for $.99)
gave my toddler a good solid nap in his own bed
talked about the irony of vanilla bean speckles being black

practiced drawing grids and bricks with my eight year old son
sang a few French songs together
watched my children build forts in our newly-cleaned garage

witnessed my ten year old put her bonnet on for the first time since last fall
made a really big pan of garlicky green beans and realized that they might be my favorite vegetable
read a bit about Isabel of Spain

called my Nana
sat down to a clean kitchen and lots of blanket and quilts laundered tonight
chose a Latin book to use this year in our homeschool

countdown

2011-08-01T10:44:00.010-04:00

It is the start of August today and with it comes the inevitable, mixed-emotion countdown to the start of our school year. Four weeks. After boasting about how much time I would spend in this space this summer writing, musing and sharing thoughts and experiences, I have had to eat my words.

My wireless internet was out for the last three weeks. And after two attempts to get things back on track, I gave up. Apparently I just didn't care that much.

And then today...voila! I am connected again.

July was a hot, amazing, home-centered month. We ended up finding a rhythm at home that included regular naps for Luca while the older children played outdoors, simple lunches, quiet times in the afternoon with reading and lots of stillness and many, many home-cooked dinners.

Lots of magical moments and many more of the mundane-type that sustain family life.

many zucchini fritters made and devoured by all
reading just 'clicking' for one of my dear children
enjoying the sweet, sweet stories of Brambley Hedge
a potty training strike by my toddler
the biggest blueberries picked on record thus far
a week of talents enjoyed by my three older children- archery, drama, singing, art, soccer, gymnastics, photography and wool felting
the completion of swim lessons for my older three
a family barbecue enjoyed in New Hampshire
a precious, new baby for some dear friends

today in july

2011-07-08T11:31:00.003-04:00

The sun it hot,
for July is here,
haymaking time
in the fields.
Now is the time
when
cabbages grow,
the spinach
and cress,
the lettuce and onions and leeks.

Now is the time
when each day
I go to the pump
with my
watering-can
and water and water
the rows.
The poppies glow red,
tiger-lillies gold,
the grasses are tall and straight.

But July is here
and
THUNDER in the air.

-from Around the Year, a picture book by Elsa Beskow, one of our favorites and a must for reading to children to help them develop a sense of a year's rhythm.

practical toddlerhood

2011-06-29T23:23:00.004-04:00

It has been a few years now since a toddler has lived in our little home. But here we are again! I have always loved this stage.- so much curiosity and openness to their environment. Constant imitation. An incessant yearning to do, see, touch, taste and hear more.

One of the biggest challenges for me as a mother of four is meeting the needs of so many varying ages and stages. It's always helpful to receive a word of encouragement, a creative

So it is no surprise that I simply love this post from one of my favorite parenting blogs- The Parenting Passageway- and hope that those of you with toddlers in your home will also.

valley forge

2011-06-28T18:59:00.012-04:00

Our time spent in Philadelphia was split between town and country. It was the perfect mix between the busy, loud, culture-shocking, greasy and thrilling and the quiet, grassy, peaceful, awe-inspiring and plentiful.

Today I will share the country portion of our trip!

We visited Valley Forge on the last day of our trip. We arrived with a brown-bag of apples and several bottles of water. My boys quickly found sticks. Sophia settled into her lady-like persona and spent the day smiling, posing and strolling around this most-historic site.

We let our baby roam free. He found a flagpole and his brother's toy pistol and made merry on the lawn in front of George Washington's headquarters as visitors from near and far passed by.

It was quiet at Valley Forge. We knew the story well as we had spent our fall, winter and spring reading about the Revolutionary War and all who had a part in it. Visiting the very site where the Continental Army spent that long, cold, hard winter made a lot of things come into light for us.

The older three chose to become Junior Rangers and earned their badges in half a day's time eagerly figuring out clues and answering questions about the site of the 1777-78 winter encampment of the Washington's army.

It seemed that my children seemed be grateful for our visit to this quiet place. It really drew out something different in all of us and even the littlest of the littles seemed to be at peace, taking it all in.

loose ends and joy

2011-06-27T21:15:00.007-04:00

Today was one of those days that could go 'either' way. You know- very, very good or very, very bad. I could feel that the ball was in my court as soon as my eyes opened this morning shortly after 7am and knew which road I had to choose as a mother, as someone who continually has four sets of eyes and her daily, watching, waiting to see what tone will be set.

Please don't misunderstand. It was a wonderful day to begin with. After all it was Nicolas' eighth birthday and these sorts of days are always so filled with bittersweet sentiment that I feel like I literally spend the day in some sort of dream-world, remembering and recalling the details of the day that my child was born and all that occurred leading up to and after that exact moment in time.

But then again it was a birthday. A holiday of sorts and often with these milestone events and "holy days" in my family's life often comes a very heavy burden of responsibility to bear over attempting to make everything simply perfect. There are visions that are hard to make into realities and ideals that are often so lofty that I'm sure not even an adult without four children would have the time to create. It often feels like so much is riding on me to get it all just right.

And with these perfectionist tendencies comes stress. Loads and loads of it.

I am so pleased and proud to say that I have grown over the years and have so authentically learned the lessons of what to and what not to sweat. I have learned which corners can be cut without consequence and which details really mean something worth working towards.

I knew what I wanted today to be about and I wasn't about to let my own shortcomings get in the way of a peaceful, secure, joyous home environment where my children felt free to celebrate and be children.

So within those first few moments of waking I made the conscious decision to choose imperfection and loose ends and joy.

In the end there was nothing terribly special about today. We had just come of a weekend away visiting the wonderful city of Philadelphia where we spent three days so close to one of the most historical places in our country that we could literally touch, taste, see, smell and feel the beginnings of our nation's story.

But after the mountaintop experience of travel and vacationing comes that very low valley that is filled with nothing but laundry and odds and ends to put back into their place.

I wasn't ready for that valley today.

So instead I left my bed unmade (something that has only ever happened a dozen times over the last decade), shaved my legs, packed up the towels, sunscreen and goggles that would be required for the first day of swim lessons this summer and shamelessly ordered a venti sized iced coffee and headed over to our town pool.

Today there was swimming, running and swinging and climbing, practicing with a bullwhip, coins counted, smoothies sipped, trash brought out, ice cream out enjoyed, water balloons filled and thrown and lots and lots of laughter.

And with the responsibility of being the one to make it all happen comes the luxurious benefit of being able to sit back and take all the joy in one moment at a time.

summertime

2011-06-21T21:44:00.006-04:00

The first day of summer is here. It seems as if we have been thinking and talking about this day for months now. And it is finally here!

Now it is time for berry picking, swimming, beach trips, suntans, freshly squeezed lemonade, lazy mornings, countless bike rides, baseball, grilled dinners, watermelon, fresh vegetables, blooming flowers, and one of my most favorite things on earth (which by the way is not only enjoyed in summertime, but is now only more justified!).

I hope to be writing in this space much more this summer as now my time previously spent focusing on formal academics is now available now for things like blogging, beach-going and drinkings numerous glasses of iced coffee throughout the day whenever I feel like it just because!

First stop- a trip to Philadelphia this weekend. Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Franklin Square, the Betsy Ross House, Elfreth's Alley and Valley Forge. What a perfect start to summer!

results

2011-06-19T21:40:00.008-04:00

Our day was sun-filled, sandy, wet, salty, carefree, hot, breezy, musical, tasty, long and lovely.

It was our first beach trip of the summer. It was an impromptu beach trip. One of my favorite types. There was minimal planning and things seemed to come together effortlessly. Being relaxed helps. Not looking at clocks or calendars or the week ahead only adds to the experience. Just living out the day set ahead and letting some things go that maybe are not as important as I thought they were really seals the deal.

And here were our results.

opening day

2011-06-09T21:35:00.011-04:00

Last Sunday was the opening day of our favorite summer farmers market. There are no words to describe how excited I get over the opportunity to see, smell, taste and purchase fresh, locally grown and made foods!

In addition to fruits, vegetables, meats, farmstead cheese, pies, cookies, tarts, pasta sauce, brick oven pizza, kettle corn, maple syrup, honey, and ethnic foods, there are also many artisans selling jewelry, knit items, paintings and yarn.
It is certainly one of my favorite events of the week and I just love 'eating my way through' the market!

june

2011-06-01T22:12:00.003-04:00

I'm tired. It's getting late and I ought to be heading up to bed. But it's JUNE... my favorite month of the year and I am hopeful and feeling a bit of energy at this late hour due to excitement, and hope and enjoyment of the quiet moment that I am experiencing right now.

We are winding down our homeschool for the year. This week and then next week, then we are on summer vacation. Oh, how I long for summer vacation.

I recently read that summer vacation is a time to put academics aside and let children become tall and tan! I love that idea. It surely is a reality in our home.

Some last minute thoughts as I am ending my day...

So thrilled to have ordered some new clothes for Luca. My favorite silk/wool blend. A shirt and some snappy overalls. I can just picture him stomping around in them!
My children want to make iced tea tomorrow and add the fresh spearmint that a friend just gave to us. I am looking forward to this too.
Set some 'summertime goals' for us this year. On the list we have riding a horse, beach going, berry picking and some great bits of literature (Robin Hood for the boys!). Oh, and I really intend to finish reading The Wind in the Willows aloud to my children... it's only been two years now that I've been trying!
Looking ahead to my birthday celebration next week and the opening day of my favorite farmers market in my area!

luca is one

2011-05-10T21:14:00.009-04:00

Our baby turned one today. It literally seems like we are still reeling in that new baby-overjoyed-swooning stage one year later!

I think it has everything to do with three older siblings who haven't stopped doting on him since last May when he became 'one of them'. They adore him, protect him, feed him, carry him, wrestle with him, tickle him and scold him when he interferes with their play! True love indeed.

I have no original words to share tonight. No life lessons on infancy. Nor will I share Luca's birth story like I had thought about. Instead I will simply sit here tonight humbled and revel in the miracle of human life, growth, change, love.

We love you Luca. You are a constant 'light' in our home each and every day!

eating of curds and whey

2011-05-09T08:45:00.002-04:00

We have begun making whey! It is sitting on our counter right now and we hope to make some ginger ale and some lacto-fermented vegetables with it.

The other great part is that we will also get cream cheese!

I used the recipe found in Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. I chose to used raw milk instead of the buttermilk, pima milk or yoghurt. If you are using raw milk, simply let 2 quarts sit in a clean glass container on your counter at room temperature for one to four days until it separates. Then you strain it with a clean dishtowel or cheesecloth and let it drain for several hours. The liquid is the whey and the solids or curds are the cream cheese.

I am most looking forward to the ginger ale and will certainly share our experience in this space to let everyone know how it turned out.

Have you ever made whey? Cheese?
Have you ever made your own ginger ale or ginger beer?

busy hands, busy minds, busy hearts

2011-05-03T21:08:00.002-04:00

Handicrafts or handwork is an integral part of our homeschooling and one that is sadly the first to get 'crossed off the list' when life gets ahead of me.

What Charlotte Mason had to say about handwork was...

The end-product should be useful. The children should not “be employed in making futilities such as pea and stick work, paper mats, and the like.”
Teach the children “slowly and carefully what they are to do.”
Emphasize the habit of best effort. “Slipshod work should not be allowed.”
Carefully select handicrafts and life skills to challenge but not frustrate. “The children’s work should be kept well within their compass.”

(taken from Home Education, p. 315)

The point of handwork is not simply to keep children busy. It is not crafts as we know it. It is something bigger- the ability to employ body (using one's hands), mind (planning and implementing the method, using focused attention, practicing coordination) and soul (thinking of how one's work will make the home more beautiful or thinking of whom they will give their work to as a gift of love).

I have kept a running list of the handicrafts we have experienced in our homeschooling over the years. Some of our best afternoons have been spent busily working on our handicrafts as a family!

making salt dough
whittling
watercolor painting
nature sketching with pencil
origami
woodworking
doll making
sewing
embroidery
practicing handwriting and cursive
beading
clay sculpting

wet-on-wet watercolor painting
wool felting
finger knitting
traditional knitting
corking
jewelry making
calligraphy
gardening
flower arranging
quilling
robotics
rubber stamping
spinning fibers
quilting

It is so easy to let this part of our education fall to the wayside in favor of making more time for 'real academics' like math, writing, grammar, literature and the like. But I must remember that there is more to education than these and really stay true to the philosophy of Charlotte Mason when it comes to spending weekly time with handwork, folk songs, hymns, artist study and foreign language.

I hope this post has inspired you as much as it has re-inspired me!

list of attainments

2011-05-02T21:25:00.007-04:00

Sitting here tonight mulling over education. I now have three 'school-aged' children and am beginning to think about and plan a kindergarten year for Elias.

I want it to be magical and rich and full of out-door time. I plan on keeping formal academics to a minimum and want instead to provide him with context and experience upon which his future education will be based upon.

I have read Charlotte Mason's Volume 1 (Home Education) of Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschooling Series and someday hope to complete my reading of the other five volumes. They are full of ideas and principles that support true education and have really encouraged me to create an environment that is filled with good habits, plenty of time spent out-of-doors, full of rich and living ideas through quality literature and attention paid to the body, mind and soul of my children.

Of course though, I am only human, and my broken humanness is seen not only, but even more intensely, during our homeschooling experience. And although I strive daily for this vision, there are rare moments when I see the fruits of my labor coming to life and those are the moments that keep me traveling on this homeschool journey!

One of the lists that I read nearly five years ago still inspire me today as I read through it. It is a list of attainments for a six-year old child educated the 'Charlotte Mason' way.

It is old, perhaps outdated and 'unattainable' to some nowadays. But nonetheless, it is a pure joy and inspiration to read through!

"A Formidable List of Attainments for a Child of Six"

1. To recite, beautifully, 6 easy poems and hymns
2. to recite, perfectly and beautifully, a parable and a psalm
3. to add and subtract numbers up to 10, with dominoes or counters
4. to read--what and how much, will depend on what we are told of the child
5. to copy in print-hand from a book
6. to know the points of the compass with relation to their own home, where the sun rises and sets, and the way the wind blows
7. to describe the boundries of their own home
8. to describe any lake, river, pond, island etc. within easy reach
9. to tell quite accurately (however shortly) 3 stories from Bible history, 3 from early English, and 3 from early Roman history (my note here, we may want to substitute early American for early English!)
10. to be able to describe 3 walks and 3 views
11. to mount in a scrap book a dozen common wildflowers, with leaves (one every week); to name these, describe them in their own words, and say where they found them.
12. to do the same with leaves and flowers of 6 forest trees
13. to know 6 birds by song, colour and shape
14. to send in certain Kindergarten or other handiwork, as directed
15. to tell three stories about their own "pets"--rabbit, dog or cat.
16. to name 20 common objects in French, and say a dozen little sentences
17. to sing one hymn, one French song, and one English song
18. to keep a caterpillar and tell the life-story of a butterfly from his own observations.

{this moment}

2011-04-29T09:10:00.002-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama).

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

a fuller nest

2011-04-27T22:00:00.000-04:00

Our backyard treasure just keeps getting more and more valuable. We came home to find five eggs in the nest the other day and very quickly that number grew to six. It has become an experience calling on body, mind and soul of my children and they run each morning after breakfast to 'check on their nest'- to count the eggs, to inspect for tiny cracks and signs of emerging life.

They have begun journals detailing thier findings- how many eggs, what time the mother bird was seen sitting on her eggs, and sketches of the growing nest. This is nature study at its best.

I am so thankful for this little bit of animal miracle right in our own backyard this spring.

nest eggs

2011-04-22T13:40:00.008-04:00

This is what we found over the weekend carefully concealed and nestled in our bush out back. I have seen this mother robin working steadily each day bringing bits of twig and grass to build this golden nest to create a safe haven for her new baby to be born. It was amazing to see the fruits of her labor up close and personal today. And I just cannot stop thinking about this unfolding animal miracle already in process occurring merely feet away from our own human world.

Ironically enough we had just spend the morning coloring eggs of our own- some even a close resemblance of that classic and cheerful 'robin's egg blue' that we spied in our yard.

The egg. Such a symbol of life, hope, new beginnings, warmth, love and selflessness. Once it is laid, pure instinct must take over to protect, warm and grow that egg into the life that is planned inside of it. There is no other thought, motive or drive present in the body, heart and mind of that mother bird than to nurture.

I was contemplating motherhood this morning fresh out of the shower and was imagining an egg- with its layers of smooth, fragile shell and slippery, solid white protecting that inner golden life in the center, the yolk- as a symbol of my life as a mother.

And deep down inside the center is immeasurable joy and purpose. So many times I feel that joy spilling out of the center and seeping through the cracks of responsibility and hard work that mothering young children requires. And at other times I can hardly remember that there is anything deeper and more valuable than a flimsy shell. That yolk is the richest most vital part- the utmost nourishing and purposeful portion of the egg, and yet it is hard not to let the outer coverings conceal or keep that center from being felt, seen tasted in the everyday moments of each day.

And so I am attempting to savor the smaller moments of the day and trying to capture my thoughts and emotions and keep them true to my vision. I am taking the time to step back and observe the little bits of our day that I know are the fruits of my labor and the result of my instincts winning out and feeling oh-so good about all of it.

Easter week

2011-04-19T21:41:00.013-04:00

We are taking the week off from schooling this week to prepare for Easter. This is a tradition of ours and it just seems fitting to work towards slowing things down a bit as we lead up to this sacred day.

Sophia made a book with each day of the week and Scripture to read leading up to Easter. Yesterday we read about Jesus cleansing the temple and it made quite a big impression as we talked about keeping the church holy and sacred as a house of prayer as Christ called it.

We always make Resurrection Cookies each year on the night before Easter and each year my children boast how they are going to taste the vinegar... but never get up the nerve to do so!

It seems that the majority of our week has been spent socializing as we have and will continue to visit with friends and family all this week.

Yesterday my children ended up drenched up to their waists from playing in the woods surrounding our friends' home. They just couldn't help themselves despite the stern (ah, unrealistic?) warning to stay dry during our visit. I think this could be the first of many moments being tempted by spring's thaw!

Elias turned five last week! It was a week-long celebration that ended with his first ever 'friend party' which consisted of two sibling groups. I offered to host more of his friends but he was very set on wanting a quiet party!

Here are some photos from the week of celebrating that consisted of family, friends, almond cake, lemon cake, berries and whipped cream, a book basket and felt-wrapped sweets for party favors and a Children of the Forest-inspired bulletin board for his bedroom!

my book list

2011-04-05T21:23:00.003-04:00

Still waiting to take some spring photos around these parts. Aside from an 'April Fool's Day' snowstorm we have the beginning signs of milder weather just starting to appear. A lawn of crocuses at my Nana's. Robins aplenty in our yard. Some vibrant green grass that I passed today in the center of town. And plenty of rain (that will hopefully bring those 'May flowers' following closely behind).

Just as one must be writing on a regular basis to classify themselves as a writer, so it also goes with reading. In my head I am an avid reader, when in reality much like many other things in life, my reading spells come and go in spurts.

Well I am currently in midst of a pretty heavy spell and am juggling three books currently. For some reason it is always three books at once for me.

So here they are...
Love in a Time of Homeschooling: A Mother and Daughter's Uncommon Year

The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food and Love

Keeping Chickens with Ashley English: All You Need to Know to Care for a Happy, Healthy Flock

So you can see where my mind is at these days. Again, pondering homeschooling and homesteading... my blog title has really captured the essence of the pursuits of my mind, body and soul once again!

What are you reading these days?
Are you pondering a new domestic pursuit?

where spring has found me

2011-03-24T21:18:00.004-04:00

I blinked and March, this very 'in between' month is almost through. I can see April from where I sit and I am loving the view.

My little blog turned four years old this month and I feel so satisfied knowing that amidst all of the pouring out of me that occurs in a day's time that a little of it flows freely into this space.

It is not what I want it to be. The banner photos are in dire need of being updated to some cheerful spring photos of our family life. My infrequent posting makes me feel like less of a writer than I would like to see myself as. And the little glimpses of the life that I share here are just that- glimpses. They in no way capture all of my present reality and just barely tap into the current state of my heart and soul.

There is so much to say and so little time it seems these days.

Spring is upon us... my favorite season. It is gentle and full of hope and unfolds ever so slowly, often much slower than I would like it to. As the world is waking up to a new season and new life is brimming all around, there are changes, shifts and new growth in my life as well...

My baby is ten months and walking now. Yesterday he walked to his brother's dresser drawer, opened it, took out a pair of pants and brought them to him with pride.
I have begun homeschooling my niece. She is being driven down from New Hampshire two days a week to spend her time with us and to allow me the humble duty of helping her finish off her eighth grade year.
My husband's business is bursting with newness and abundance. He is fulfilling his purpose in life and has an outlet to channel his passions and energy into outside of family life.
I am hesitantly opening the door to what may possibly be the next chapter in one of our children's education. There are so many dark spots and blind curves and I am praying for guidance and some light to illuminate the way.
We are taking steps towards taking our health to the next level and seeing where our time, resources and finances leave us on this quest towards what we want for our family.

Where has spring found you?
What big questions and new beginnings are you pondering these days?
How are you being challenged and changed by your current reality?

rhythm of the home spring edition

2011-03-02T20:07:00.003-05:00

So it seems that March really is off to a good start. We have a couple days of sunshine, good school days, healthy children and good sleep habits under our belts and it feels like nothing can take the swing out of our steps at this point!

Another thrilling experience has also been enjoyed by one proud mother. I have had the honor to see an article of mine published in one of my favorite online magazines specializing in natural living, handmade, and seasonal celebrations- Rhythm of the Home.

Please link over to Rhythm of the Home to read about the ways in which we as mothers can celebrate the areas in life where we are thriving along the journey in my article Thriving.

I will keep the Rhythm of the Home link button up on my sidebar this season and hope that you will visit often and find inspiration and new ideas as you read about connecting with, playing with, celebrating, warming and nurturing your family!

Welcome Spring!

march

2011-03-01T20:05:00.006-05:00

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade." -Charles Dickens

The first of March. A welcome day in our home. So much anticipation turning that calendar page and bidding February adieu! February could be called the overwhelming month (playing off of this blog post from the Parenting Passageway) for me. It was filled with bitter cold days, a serious lack of outdoor time, illness, a lack of time spent with friends and family in an effort to contain our illnesses, loss of valuable school time, sleepless nights, feeling overwhelmed and rundown and ended again more illness. I am so ready to move on.

It was also the month that our baby starting needing to be held nearly all day and night. Between teething, illness and new developmental stages, our little one just needed the extra comfort of nursing and a parent's arms in order to go to and stay asleep. I have to acknowledge how difficult this has been for me. It's been really difficult.

Caring for sick little ones is never easy. It requires loads of physical, emotional and mental strength. To keep the joy alive in one's home during a time of illness is no easy feat. Many days and nights were filled with fear simply not knowing what the next hour or day would hold. I found myself asking 'Who next?', 'What next?' and 'How will I?'.

And here we are at the start of March, healthy again, but such a feeling of loss for me. Looking back I know that in the midst of caring for and nursing my family back to health I neglected my own health and managed to ignore stoking my own inner flame. It showed up in many subtle ways. And then there were the times when it made an awful big appearance.

Just feeling the sun, watching the melt, seeing one of my children manage to scrap up the year's first mud pie oh-so proudly and seeing that new page on my calendar has given me the first of many bursts of hope and inspiration that I so desperately need to get myself where I need to be.

Blessed March!

{this moment}

2011-02-18T09:07:00.004-05:00

getting my bearings back

2011-02-17T21:07:00.006-05:00

So it seems that this week winter and homeschooling and mothering four young children finally took its toll on me. After weeks of being surrounding by mounds of snow, mounds of laundry and a house full of energetic and joyful children my energy levels and emotional health took a turn for the worst.

Don't get me wrong. It has been a lovely month so far. There have been many beautiful moments in our home in the past few weeks- an anniversary celebrated, a lunch out at a vineyard tavern alone with my husband, a holiday filled with love to share and many simple moments that have exceeded my expectations and really humbled me.

I always know when it is time to take a break from home schooling when I start daydreaming about sending my children 'out to school'. This week's fantasies included freshly mopped floors minus muddy bootprints, finally being able to see the bottom of the laundry hamper sitting still and hearing nothing but the deafening sound of silence only for a moment and having dinner prepared at a proper dinner time.

So I finally set my 'mother-teacher' role up on the shelf for a bit and simply returned to my role as 'mother'. The simplicity in that! 'This I can do' I thought to myself as I moved furniture around today to clean the floors, dusted cobwebs from windowsills, allowed my boys to build towers as high as our ceilings, held my baby as much as he wanted me to and fed my children sliced fruit and cubed cheese to their hearts content.

While the books sat idly on the side tables, coffee table and book shelves we all felt a renewed sense of togetherness. Family life is what this homeschooling journey is all about for us. It is not simply about feeding a part of the whole- the mind over the body or soul- it is about going about life as a complete human being and learning from it... together.

It was clear that my state of unrest, discontent, irritability and lack of focus was taking its toll on the children. I have read about the mother acting as the sun or a beacon in a family, guiding and lighting the way for the children and it simply rang so true with our family this week. When my light is dim, my children seem to lose their own way. It creates a terrible cycle within the home and it just self-perpetuates with no end. No one is skipping joyfully through life, only taking tiny steps on a floor full of eggshells.

So this week I was able to break the cycle. I don't know that we will be back to full schooling tomorrow. All I know is that I am on my way to getting my bearings back, relighting my flame and being the person that I want my children to look to with full confidence, feeling assured knowing that they are well within their mother's care and that there is peace within their home.

soothing balm

2011-02-08T21:42:00.004-05:00

A dear friend sent me this link over the weekend. It was just what I needed to see and read to put our homeschooling life back into perspective. It was like soothing balm to a very aching and sore muscle!

It really is this simple. I think you just have to let go and believe that this is all that is needed. I am trying so very hard not to put a timetable on learning. I am striving daily to live out my belief that true learning takes time. Education is not about cramming information into a little mind, but about feeding the desire to learn that the little mind possesses.

I pray that this post provides some perspective and inspiration for you as well!

warmth and groudhog day

2011-02-02T21:52:00.003-05:00

We have endured the snow and ice. It is warm inside and oh-so very cold, white and frozen outside.

We have been reading The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader during our mornings this week. It is all about winter, snow, the animals that 'stay', providing food for animals during winter and Groundhog Day.

We got to talking about how animals 'cope' with the cold weather. We cam up with migration and hibernation and talked a bit about what those meant and which animals choose to 'sleep', 'leave' or stay.

I asked my children how humans coped with the cold weather and they said with 'food and fire'. Food and fire. I just loved their answer and it got me thinking about one of my favorite topics- warmth.

I am certain that I have posted this link before, but I just wanted to put this out there again because it is so very inspiring to me.

Warming foods, warming spices, keeping our bodies warm and our homes and hearts as well is what this week of posts is all about. My favorite part addresses clothing and varying degrees of cold weather. I am also humbled and inspired each time I read the section that ask mothers what they are doing with their 'downtime' or while their children are occupied. Are we jumping onto the internet? Are we racing around trying to throw in just one more load of laundry? Or are we not even in our homes to experience the times when there is an empty space?

Some of the ways that I am bringing warmth to my family this winter

are keeping our heads covered while when we leave the house, keeping our feet warm and covered indoors, lighting fires at night after dinner, preparing simple, warm foods for our meals (and forgoing my favorite yogurt, fruit and cheese lunches), serving tea and homemade hot chocolates, an extra touch, hug or snuggle throughout the day, keeping myself focused and enthusiastic about caring for my family's needs, avoiding any non-essential time outside of the home or in the car and keeping my heart open to all that this life as a family has to offer.

Oh, and if you are interested, the groundhog in our town did not see his shadow this morning. So apparently spring is closer than it may feel!

february

2011-01-31T21:37:00.002-05:00

February

Blue skies and ice
wherever we go,
slipping and sliding
deep in the snow.

Uphill and downhill,
neither leaf nor green:
the sun bright and clear,
no grass to be seen.

Woolies and hoods,
on toboggans all day.
Gloves on our hands,
and Spring far away.

Back home Mama's baking
big loaves and small.
How hungry we are-
we'll soon eat them all!

-from Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

Since my last post, we have certainly lived out a bit of my vision of the simple outdoor joys of childhood inspired by Ollie's Ski Trip. We have been ice skating, sledding and then sledding again all within three days time. It was glorious!

As we prepare for yet another snowstorm, I am filled with mixed emotions. The humbling affect that the weather has upon us humans can also bring about a bit of fear and awe. We are not in control of when or how much snow will fall. There is no telling how many more roofs will begin to leak or how much more narrow our street will get. There is only the wait-and-see of it all.

simple joys of childhood

2011-01-27T20:53:00.005-05:00

Another snowfall last night. We think it was about fourteen inches this time. Our snow banks are well over six feet tall. Our road is narrowing. My children have literally been sledding down our front lawn because there is such an embankment.

Inside all is warm and cozy. Nothing has changed. Sure, we may have needed to bump up our thermostat a bit more during day and night, but that is a luxury that we could have certainly done without.

Nothing much changes in the modern world during these snowy, winter days.

I began thinking about our modern world and how we can pretty much maintain our lifestyle despite snowstorms, heatwaves, holidays, illness, and such. We get angry when anyone or anything in life tries to slow us down. People literally get angry at the snow.

I had a neighbor approach me a few summers ago on a particularly hot August day. She was concerned that my children might be too hot outside and asked if they would like to come inside with her daughter to watch cable TV in her air-conditioned bedroom. I politely declined and handed my children a cup of water.

It was summer. They were loving life. Riding bikes, getting hot, sweaty and even pink-cheeked is what children are supposed to be doing in the summer. Right?

We have been reading Ollie's Ski Trip over the last two weeks and simply love this book. Elsa Beskow has quickly become one of my favorite authors and illustrators. This is a story about six-year old Ollie who receives his first pair of real skis. He is dreaming of snow and one morning wakes up to find plenty of it. He is so excited that he wants to jump straight out of bed first thing and spend the day skiing. His mother insists that he eat breakfast first and then stuffs two sandwiches into his coat pockets and tells him to be home by dinner. He then sets off alone into the forest and encounters Jack Frost, King Winter, Mrs. Thaw and all sorts of little elves and gnomes. There are images of warmth, knitting, snowball fights, ice castles and many other magical experiences.

This is what I want for my children- a desire to be outdoors despite the temperature, a boldness to 'take on the forest alone', the physical stamina and experience to withstand a full day of activity, a contentment to experience the elements without the need for outside stimulation or media, a natural curiosity about 'what could be' and the actual experience of the simple joys of childhood.

My desire for these simple joys is immense. It shapes our family's life daily. It often seems like a fierce battle to fight- to balance the blessings of modern life with the burdens that it potentially brings- but it is one that I am willing to look straight in the eyes and take on.

satch & sol giveaway

2011-01-19T20:57:00.011-05:00

I am so thrilled to be able to announce my first giveaway on the HomeGrown Life blog! I knew that for my first giveaway I would have to choose an item that is tried and true and well-loved by my family and I.

So it is my pleasure to introduce you to Satch & Sol. Satch & Sol is an amazing, ethical company that sells beautiful, handmade and eco-friendly products. They have partnered with fair trade artisans worldwide and they celebrate each artist for the unique quality that they bring to their collection. The Artists of Mongolia apply traditional felting and knitting skills to create these beautiful, high-quality products.

Satch & Sol offers felted wool slippers, hat and mitten sets, knit sweaters, felted wool hair bands and more. Their products are simply beautiful and you can find nothing like them in any 'big box store'.

Our family owns several pairs of their gorgeous, warm felted wool slippers. We love, love, love them. We have given them as gifts. They are the first things I reach for to keep my children's feet warm on a cold morning. These slippers have become beloved hand-me-downs and have stood the test of time. They are so unique and beautifully crafted. I cannot say enough about them.

For today's giveaway Satch & Sol is generously offering the following to one winner:

One pair of child size slippers (US size 3 baby - 3 youth / EU 18-34) or 10 hairbands

In addition, Satch & Sol is offering HomeGrown Life readers the following code- Life15- to save 15% on everything in the online boutique, including sale items, and excluding gift certificates. The code will run from today through January 29.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Thank you to Satch & Sol!

To enter, please leave a comment in today's post. Comments will close on Friday, January 28 by 8:00am EST. One winner will be chosen at random and will be announced at the end of this post by Friday evening.

************************************************************************

AND THE WINNER OF THE SATCH & SOL GIVEAWAY IS...

Anna Shipman said...

I love the slippers, they look warm and cozy!

Please contact me via e-mail (on my blog homepage sidebar) to claim your beautiful handmades!

Thanks for participating everyone. What a fun experience this was. It certainly won't be my last giveaway!

reaping the benefits

2011-01-17T20:58:00.003-05:00

Our school days have been nearly ideal lately. It seems that we are finding- or should I say, making- time for the activities and experiences that we are all just needing and wanting to have.

Some of the daily challenges for me in the past have been
finding the balance between tidying up the house before school begins without carving in to vital schooling hours,
holding a space for my four year old amidst all of the academics going on around him without simply just shoo-ing him away to play,
caring for and getting our now eight month old Luca down to nap in the morning,
avoiding interruptions from the telephone
and keeping my vision alive for a homeschooling environment that offers a rich literature and art based education while including the 'staples' such as math, reading and writing.

It seems that these challenges have not been so challenging these days and that there is a renewed sense of purpose and flow in our house ever since we started back to school after Christmas and the New Year.

It feels amazing to wake up and eagerly anticipate and embrace all that the day ahead holds. Fear and anxiety about the unknowns, the responsibility that is mine and mine alone and the areas in which I feel I may be failing have been kept at bay and replaced with joy, peace and a sense of confidence and pride in making my vision a daily reality.

So much of this has everything to do with me learning to 'let go' a bit in terms of my standards of just how clean I need my home to be, my ability to not make my older children's academics the main priority and focus of my family's and my day and to fulfill my desire for more art time and free play.

It has made a world of difference in our home and I am feeling oh-so satisfied with how our days are beginning, flowing in between and ending.

Elias has begun asking to help me around the house with everything from cooking, baking and cleaning and has also begun asking me to write out words that he can copy. He has really taken to writing and despite any formal handwriting lessons, has some really nice and neat writing for a four year old boy. Needless to say, his work is been proudly magnetized to our refrigerator!

We had the rare opportunity last week to make some pizza dough together- just and he I alone. He was terribly eager to knead the dough all by himself. My heart swelled with emotion as I watched his little hands squish, push and pull that dough all about the floured board. Sometimes I forget that he is nearly five years old and is capable of so much more than I think he is. Somehow he is frozen in my mind and heart as the baby of the family even though his birth order has been bumped ever since the arrival of our little darling Luca!

Our new experience with wet-on-wet painting has also breathed a new life into our school days. The children are eager to paint in the afternoons and I love that it is an activity that all three of the older children can share together. Not to mention the amazing finished product- a gorgeous and colorful painting!

As far as the other challenges, I have simply made it a rule not to answer the phone from when we start our school day until well after lunch. Instead of thinking of it as being anti-social, I have begun to think of it as protecting my family life. And while I am putting Luca down for his nap, I have begun getting my older pair going on their math work during that time and and giving Elias an activity that will hold his attention.

I suppose you could say that I am totally smitten with this stage of homeschooling and mothering and that we are in a season of of reaping the benefits of some good habits and lessons learned during our 'planting' season last fall.

my reality

2011-01-10T22:12:00.002-05:00

I am not one to make new year's resolutions. It seems that I am always striving for some ideal or another and find it unnecessary to pick one day out of the year to start making changes toward these ideals.

At one point a few years ago, I took a series of greuling personality tests alongside my husband as he set out to apply for a new job. It turned out that I was categorized as an idealist, and a very specific type at that. It was no surprise to me. I am always seeing what could be, the possibilities that exist in a situation and always underestimate the effect of my current reality on my ideals.

I have been giving this a lot of long, hard thought over the last few months.

What I have realized is that by balancing my desire for the best, the fullest, the ideal with the reality of my current situation in life- be it financial, time constraints, resources, energy and my family life- there is the ability for a lot of peace and contentment in my life. I have been practicing this. It is hard. It is important. I must do it.

This new-found way of thinking has been creating a big lull around here. There has been an absence of anything big, grandiose or new adventures and I am alright with that. I have been focusing on the people around me more and the love and commitment that I have for them. It has been reconfirmed for me that people are more important than things- bigger than causes or educational philosophies or ideals. It has felt simple. I am content.

wet paint

2011-01-06T21:00:00.012-05:00

Happy New Year, Happy Three Kings Day and Happy Twelfth Day of Christmas! It is bittersweet that today is the last day of Christmas, but I feel we are ready to take on the new year and all that it holds for our family.

This week we started back to school. Even though we loved having several weeks off with no real agenda other than to relax, celebrate, feast and be merry, it felt splendid to get back into our routine again.

We have spent several days this week doing some wet-on-wet watercolor painting, a technique that we had never tried before. After acquiring some of our supplies over the Christmas season we were ready to give it a try.

I have ready many tutorials explaining this technique of wet-on-wet watercolor painting. This one is really useful.

This week the children are painting with only one primary color each time. Next week we will combine two of them and see what the results are.

They have been loving the process of wetting the paper, watching the paints get mixed and sliding their smooth brushes across the glossy, textured paper to see what intensities of color arises from their applications.

One element of our homeschooling is handwork- making something with our hands that is beautiful and useful. This certainly falls under that category. We plan on stringing up the paintings in our schoolroom to decorate one of the big, empty walls!

luca and mama

2010-12-28T10:24:00.005-05:00

I couldn't resist posting these photos of Luca and I. Photos of me in front of the camera are so few and far between. I was hesitant at first to let Sophia take the amount of photos that she did this Christmas, but I'm so glad I did. She really captured some amazing moments that would have otherwise been alive only in our memories. She is begging for a camera now and I'm thinking that we will oblige her next summer for her tenth birthday!

Mama and Luca at 7 1/2 months

our christmas

2010-12-27T22:21:00.015-05:00

It was wonderful. There was feasting, safe traveling, joyful moments, grateful children, lots of laughter, early mornings, candy eaten before breakfast, non-stop Keva building and a last-minute snowfall.

We returned home today to mounds of snow that literally rose up over our front door. It felt like a Little House Christmas. We secretly wished that we would get snowed in while we were up in New Hampshire and we more or less got our wish granted. It was fabulous!

christmas. stillness. books.

2010-12-19T21:19:00.007-05:00

I thought I would share a few books that we are currently enjoying as we prepare for Christmas and the First Day of Winter. Some of these have been our favorites for many years now and others we have just recently discovered and are loving!

The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown
The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader
B is for Bethlehem: A Christmas Alphabet by Isabel Wilner
The Tale of the Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale retold by Elwell Hunt
A Little House Christmas Treasury: Festive Holiday Stories by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Mitten by Alvin Tresselt
The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren

We are officially on Christmas break and plan on spending lots of time reading over the next few weeks. In addition to our favorite picture books, we plan on reading about the birth of Christ in Luke 2:1-20. This passage of Scripture is very special to me. I memorized it at a very early age and it has stayed with me every since. I would love for my children to commit it to memory as well.

I am finding myself entering into a very quiet, humbled emotional state this week as I prepare to celebrate the greatest gift ever given to humankind. I don't know that I've felt this way in the past, but for whatever reason I am feeling overwhelmed with stillness, peace and humbleness this year as I look forward to Christmas.

For some reason, this photo of Luca really seems to capture all of what I am feeling these days and just thought I would share it (in addition to making it a part of my blog banner for the Christmas Season).

A good friend of mine has also passed on this link to a Free Jesse Tree Advent Devotional Book. I found it late during the Advent Season so decided not to start it this year, but it looks like something that could really be quite sacred and memorable for a family to experience together.

What is your family reading these days?
Do you use an Advent Calendar to countdown to Christmas?

preparation

2010-12-16T21:52:00.004-05:00

It's been so long since I've visited this space... my little blog!

It seems that every spare moment is being used these days and there is hardly any time for reflection, creating, writing, baking, cleaning, visiting, reading, knitting or other worthwhile ambitions of mine.

Our baby has been sick with his third cold. He also had a night of bad croup this week. I am running on very little sleep and have been really working hard to stay the course with the essentials- feeding my family, keeping up with laundry and homeschooling.

Yet amidst all of this 'being needed' and having little to no time for myself, I am feeling peaceful and content during this Advent Season as we draw closer to Christmas.

I have been blessed with some really encouraging people in my life and a husband whose heart is first and foremost turned toward our home despite his new beginning outside of our home. It is my saving grace on the days when I can hardly think straight.

Tomorrow we finish up our homeschooling and begin our Christmas break. It is much-anticipated and needed by both the children and myself. In the past I have taken the entire month of December off from formal schooling and am really seeing now the worth in that decision.

Next week we are looking forward to a small Christmas party for the children, the baking and making of our yearly gingerbread cookies (and mobiles) and our first time with peppermint bark, visiting with friends, lounging in our pajamas until our hearts are content, day-long serenading by Christmas music and of course, Christmas itself.

It feels really simple this year... Christmas that is. I haven't had any time to fret over the details and am just thankful for the holiday itself.

I hope to be back here soon with some bits and pieces about our first week of vacation, our current winter book list and a few photos as well.

Christmas blessings to all of my friends and readers!

advent

2010-11-30T19:54:00.002-05:00

Advent

Now the twilight of the year
Comes, and Christmas draweth near.
See, across the Advent sky
How the clouds move quietly.
Earth is waiting, wrapt in sleep,
Waiting in a silence deep.
Birds are hid in bush and reed
Flowers are sleeping in their seed.

Through the woodland to and fro
Silent-footed creatures go.
Hedgehog curled in prickly ball
Burrows 'neath the leaves that fall.
Man and beast and bird and flower
Waiting for the midnight hour
Waiting for the Christ-child's birth
Christ who made the heaven and earth.

by Ann Ellerton

six months

2010-11-22T21:59:00.004-05:00

Luca is six months old now. So much has changed over the last few months. Our baby is thriving to say the least. I am enjoying each and every day because I finally have the proper perspective on infancy and know that these days go by so very fast.

Luca is crawling. He is sitting. He has two teeth and is currently working on a few more. Our baby loves to keep up with his older siblings during the day and stay close by his mama at night tucked safely under her 'wing'. He naps well during the day yet despises his crib at night. He endured his first cut tonight after toppling over into the corner wall in our kitchen.

He is eating a bit of food. So far he has enjoyed bananas, raspberries, apples, pears and oranges. Also eggs, avacado with olive oil and sea salt and a bit of mashed bean. Then there was the dot of sauteed spinach and onion, the pleasure of sucking on a cucumber with sea salt, the gobs of baked sweet potato with pastured butter and the bits of sharp cheddar cheese tonight while we all ate our black bean and chicken chili.

Oh, and he sips water very successfully from a small glass after his 'meals'.

As you can see I am not following a typical 'intro to solids' diet with our baby that starts with rice cereal and then leads into fruits, vegetables and eventually proteins. I am feeling really confident that as long as he is eating whole foods that he will continue to thrive.

I have been careful to follow his lead and to feed more when he 'asks' and to stop when he turns his head or keeps his mouth closed. None of this 'just one more bite' stuff. My goal is not to fill his belly so that he will sleep longer at night. Nor is it to make the steady climb to the eventual eats-more-food-than-he-nurses stage so that I will have a bit more freedom during this stage. My purpose is to continue nourishing him as his needs change and grow so that he can become all that he needs to be.

This week I plan on starting him on cod liver oil and really focusing on some good proteins like egg yolk, some (really local) venison and his first taste of turkey this Thursday.

With that said, I think that this will make an excellent Christmas gift for our baby!

un-toys link

2010-11-11T21:18:00.002-05:00

With the holidays upon us, all of the (good and bad) toy catalogs making their way from the mailbox to my coffee table and the long lists (both paper and mental) of my childrens' wishes being crafted, I would say that it is the perfect time to think about TOYS!

I am a minimalist when it comes to children's playthings and believe that less is more, will choose quality over quantity anyday, believe that a toy should be open to the many possibilities of creative play, must be beautiful and pleasing to the eye and tend to give preference to toys made from natural materials.

With that said, there are certainly toys in my home that are not ideal, but for me it is important to look at the 'bigger picture' here and not become so rigid and purist that there is stress and guilt associated with what toys my children are playing with.

My children tend to play with so many things things that are not toys on a daily basis. It seems that they are often asking me for quilts and blankets, using my pots and pans and utensils, asking for some form of water play and lately have been giddy about being allowed to find the hidden nooks and crannies in our (rather unfinished) basement.

So it is with great joy and satisfaction that I share this link with you about un-toys. It is one amazing, inspiring and creative list of playthings for children that will take you out of the big box toy store and digging in your own cupboards, toolsheds and backyards for the items that many children are really desiring to play with.

Kyrie Mead from Are So Happy has put together this great PDF file to share and describes it like this:

I love the concept of un-toys. My childrens’ best-loved toys are nearly all un-toys! They spark creativity and let them dictate their own play in such amazing ways.

Enjoy this wonderful resource... I know that I have!

pauses

2010-11-09T21:44:00.006-05:00

One of the benefits of a home education is the opportunity for breaks in between lessons. Today it felt as if we paused in between each one and that it was much appreciated by each child in their own way.

Seeing my children have these pauses during their school time each day makes me realize just how much they need them. Their desire to play, build, draw, knit, jump, ride bikes, go for a walk, build a fort, write (or e-mail!) a friend and simply be a child is so very strong and it is with great joy that I am able to afford them with this 'luxury'.

I have to remind myself that this homeschooling journey that we've started on cannot be rushed. It takes time to learn and to love learning. One of my favorite quotes about education by William Butler Yeats reads:

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

It takes time to light a fire. It too cannot be rushed and must be met with just the right amount of resources, time and patience. If we want a fire to burn long and with strength than we must tend to it very carefully, stocking it when needed, being careful not to simply 'throw just anything' into it's flames but instead to choose what will enable it to serve it's purpose.

Sometimes I fall back into my old habits of wanting to be a 'list checker'. There is something so very satisfying to me to put that 'check' next to the assigned task and just be done with it. I have had to remind myself that we are homeschooling so that we don't have to check everything off of a list and that we are doing this so that each child can learn what he needs, when he needs and how he needs.

Following the lead of a very dear friend, I have begun praying for each child and asking what they need most right now in life- from their parents, their siblings, their environment- that will help to fulfill their deepest and most significant needs. I pray that I am able to stifle my own intentions and motivations and perceptions long enough to hear what is truly needed.

our first snowfall and a link to thoughts on warmth and the young child

2010-11-08T21:04:00.003-05:00

We woke up this morning to our first dusting of snow. I just had a feeling that it was coming and instinctively brought up the topic of 'the first snow' while I was out running an errand with Elias yesterday afternoon. I could hardly believe the reality of it actually coming as I walked Elias over to the window very (very) early this morning to take a peek. So amazing!

I know that this magical white world that we woke up to this morning is just a taste of what is to come over the next few months here in New England. There was so much joy and energy in the air this morning in our home over the next snowfall (that will hopefully last more than a morning), the first day of winter and our most beloved holiday- Christmas.

So with all of that cold ahead of us, it is very timely to talk about warmth and the young child.

Kyrie from Are So Happy is writing a series on this topic all week over at her blog. I read her posts last year regarding warmth and children and even printed them out because they were so inspiring. It has forever changed the way I dress my children and the habits that we have formed in our home- especially during the fall and winter months.

If you've never given much thought to this topic I would highly encourage you to head over to her blog this week and read about just how important being warm- inside and out- is to the small, growing child.

we bloom here

2010-11-07T19:57:00.004-05:00

Last winter during my pregnancy with Luca I had the luxury of free time. Although I was mothering three young children and homeschooling at the time, none of my three were babies or toddlers. Children who sleep through the night, dress themselves, feed themselves and are capable of their own personal care (save a few nights a week where I trim nails, 'go over' brushed teeth and floss those little teeth meticulously) translates into a lot more downtime for a mother to read, knit, write, sew, socialize, ponder life and do whatever else she wishes to do without being quite so 'needed'.

During that time I was blessed enough to be able to read several books, blogs and articles which have really offered immense amounts of insight, encouragement and inspiration along with spurring me on to focus more intently on my purpose in life and to be able to formulate mentally what my true core values are.

One of these books was Mitten Strings for God- Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry by Katrina Kenison. I was wise enough to make several journal entries as I read this book and to write down, ponder and eventually journal about those sentences, thoughts or chapters that struck me as wise and really spoke to me.

The chapter on 'Balance' is what I spent most of my journal entries on. Kenison writes:

" 'With our pitchers we attempt sometimes to water a field, not a garden' Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote. How easy is it to find ourselves sprinkling droplets over a field, spreading ourselves too thin, giving without replenishing, accomplishing nothing of real value. And so I strive to keep my garden small, but to care for it joyfully and well. We bloom here."

This image of my life as a 'garden' will stay with me forever. How often do I overextend myself only to be left shaking my watering can in hopes of getting just a few more needed droplets of water out only to be ultimately left standing a dry and thirsty field. In the end, I am left angry, frustrated and depleted at having neglected my own small garden and to disappoint those around me. What a lesson!

She also encourages the reader to make a list and to think about our own days and weeks; to take a long hard look at our schedules, routines and rhythms. She asks us to ask the tough questions about how we are spending our time, what we love most to do (and if we are actually doing them!), what activities and obligations 'steal' our time, what undertakings are getting in the way of the simpler life that we wish you lead and to ask our selves what emotion is leading us to do the things we do (obligation? fear of being judged, left out or because our children are begging for them?).

I took the time to answer these questions and find myself, nearly a year later, still pondering them and attempting to dig deep and be brave about living an authentic life.

I am still striving each day. The journey to balance all that God has blessed me with is no easy feat but is valuable and worthy enough to demand my full attention along the journey.

A very wise and humble friend recently gave our baby a handmade gift with a card attached that read

'Like me, this gift has imperfections- but comes with lots of love'.

To me this really captures the essence of motherhood. There are no perfect mothers. No perfect families. No perfect children. But if we are living each day out of love then those imperfections and inadequacies become part of the rich thread that weaves and holds our beautiful lives together.

contact correction

2010-10-26T20:56:00.003-04:00

So it turns out I've had a typo in my contact e-mail address for months now. For anyone that has tried to reach me unsuccessfully the correct e-mail address is now posted on the side bar.

our baby in a nutshell

2010-10-22T14:24:00.010-04:00

I don't know how this all happen, but our baby got his first tooth on Thursday and has started scooting around the house. I blinked and Luca is nearly half-way through his infancy. Bittersweet for sure.

Since he is nearly six months old, I have started thinking seriously about introducing solids. I think he is ready for something in addition to breastmilk and has started 'asking' for our food while we are sharing family meals, grabbing at my hand to try and get a taste of what I'm eating and got frantic the other day after I gave in and let him suck a bit on my apple core. All signs of readiness indeed.

So I've started re-reading Real Food for Mother and Baby in an effort to give myself a refresher on what to offer for some first foods (sadly after feeding three other infants and having a degree in nutrition, I still feel I need the guidance of a real authority on feeding my children) when we start solids in a few weeks.

I simply love this book and it's take on nutrition, myths about an infant's needs for pureed-only foods and- my favorite- a story about a group of babies who were given free reign to choose what type and the amount of food they wished to eat at every meal. It is a study not to be missed and has confirmed my belief about the body 'asking' for the foods and nutrients that one is deficient in.

And since he is growing so very fast, he has gone through nearly all of the clothing I assumed he would be in for a year, including all of his wool diaper covers that we purchased before he was born. I didn't expect or plan to make three purchases of diaper covers but that's just what we've done over the last six months (ouch, my wallet felt that one). Although I had a few ideas about making my own diaper covers in the end I just had to bite the bullet and purchase them rather than make them (although today he is wrapped in an old wool sweater with his legs through the arms and the rest of it 'tied' around his waist- seen in below photos).

So here is to our little Luca who is still melting hearts around here and moving quickly through his first year of babyhood.

morning circle

2010-10-18T21:41:00.006-04:00

We've added something new this year to start our day of homeschooling. You might call it circle time or morning poetry and song time. It's a time to come together after breakfast and morning chores to be together- usually seated on the living room floor- to have a group activity to start our day off. It has been so enjoyable to start our school time this way and really brings a lot of joy into our home as we start our day of schooling.

I have typically been starting off with asking Nicolas what day it is by reading our blackboard in the kitchen upon which I have written something like this:

Today is
Monday,
October 18,
2010

along with a seasonal picture drawn in chalk (this month I've drawn a tree with it's branches spreading across the board and it's leaves falling).

It has really helped him in getting a sense of the days of the week and the flow of the days in each month (and eventually the months of the year). These are all things that he has abstractly learned over the last year or two but this morning ritual is really bringing meaning to the unfolding of the calendar year for him.

We then read two poems- one with a seasonal theme and one other that I choose based on whatever strikes me as lively. Over the last few weeks, I have chosen poems that speak to the changing of the seasons from summer to fall for our first poem and other poems that are action verses, tongue twisters or relate to fables or animals for our second poem.

I am loving A Journey Through Time in Verse and Rhyme and have been using it for the last six weeks to choose our morning poetry. Since we are reading the same two poems each day for five days in a row it has been easy to commit a lot of the poems to memory just from hearing them repetitively. There is something magical about watching your children repeat a poem with you and feel excited as they sense what words are coming next in our morning poems.

A few of my favorites have been Working by Molly De Havas, Autumn Poem by Emily Bronte and Class One Song by Trevor Smith Westgarth.

Working
Molly De Havas

The Farmer is sowing his seed,
in the field he is sowing his seed.
The Reaper is cutting the hay,
in the meadow he is cutting the hay.
The Gardener is digging the ground,
in the garden is digging the ground.
The Woodman is chopping the trees,
in the forest is chopping the trees.
The Fisher is drawing his nets,
in the sea he is drawing his nets.
The Builder is laying the bricks,
in the wall he is laying the bricks.
The Cobbler is mending the shoes,
in the shop he is mending the shoes.
The Miller is grinding the corn,
in the mill he is grinding the corn.
The Baker is kneading the dough,
in the kitchen he is kneading the dough.
The Mother is rocking her child,
in her arms she is rocking her child.

Autumn Poem
Emily Bronte

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow
Blossom where the rose should grow;
I shall sing when night's decay
Ushers in a drearier day.

Each week I choose a song that we can all sing too. I have chosen songs of praise, songs that we can clap, stomp or bring our own names into and this week, songs that we can sing in the round. I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed with my nine year old's ability to hold her own part in round singing and it has been so great to sing with my children each day. She has practiced it before in her chorus classes and a drama class but it only seems that just now she is getting the concept of holding her tune against another and has the concentration to keep her part with perfect time and rhythm.

There is something very natural to have this time together before starting up with more our more academic lessons and is something I would certainly encourage you to try if you struggling with diving right in to those 'tough lessons' first thing in the morning!

nature study

2010-10-14T21:19:00.015-04:00

What gorgeous fall weather we have been having here for the past week. Sunshine, crisp air and the warm colors of changing leaves. I love New England in October!

We recently went out for an afternoon of nature study and focused on Signs of Autumn and Nature Journals. As Charlotte Mason homeschoolers, we focus on nature study for our science during the early years with an emphasis on learning about local wildlife, flora and fauna and our 'own backyard'.

We use The Handbook of Nature Study as our guide and science manual for the early years and have recently begun taking cues from this amazing blog. I have to say that I have grown to love this book after some serious intimidation over it's size and all-out commitment to learning about the natural world. Charlotte Mason believed that children should spend hours out-of-doors on a daily basis in all sorts of weather (in fact, she believed that "school" for children younger than six consisted almost entirely of time spent outdoors).

In regards to keeping a Nature Journal, she also wrote:

“A field notebook may be made a joy to the pupil and a help to the teacher.”

She also made a rule that "the (nature) book should be considered the personal property of the child and should never be criticized by the teacher except as a matter of encouragement; for the spirit in which the notes are made is more important than the information they cover."

So with all four children in tow and four Nature Journals (Luca shared my of course) we headed out for a nice drive to find a spot to sit, watch, listen and draw.

It was a magical afternoon in which I was able to sit back and enjoy watching my children simply take in their surroundings and lose themselves in the delight of drawing, listing, climbing, running through, touching, picking and observing all of creation around them. I truly wish that I could commit to this daily with my children. It was refreshing to all of us and is something that we all needed.

the best things in life

2010-10-07T21:02:00.002-04:00

"The best things in life are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you.

They do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life."

-Robert Louis Stevenson

It is so difficult to stop, appreciate, find the beauty in and cherish the things in life which we experience most often. These days I find myself alone with my children for nearly twelve hours at a time on most days. It is a season in which my husband is working so very long and hard so that the future will be so very fulfilling and purposeful. I am digging deep to find the energy, focus, patience and vision needed to do this plain, common work by myself on most days. But I am reminded by this poem that these daily duties and daily bread are indeed the sweetest things in life and feel so very blessed to be able to care for my family and home like I am doing these days.

I find it extremely important to engage in Mother Culture on a daily basis and have been trying to make it a priority each day to read, pray and reach out in order to find what is needed to be the mother that I was made to be.

Here a few places I have been spending my time- some old favorites and some new finds:

My Utmost for His Highest (certainly an old favorite- my daily devotional for over a decade now)
The Parenting Passageway (serious nuggets of wisdom on a daily basis coming from a woman with a heart for gentle parenting)
Mitten Strings for God (if you haven't already, you really must)

I cannot say how thankful I am for my friends as of late. Just when I need encouragement and love my friends are there like soothing balm ready and willing to help heal my wounds. I have been incredibly blesses with so many wonderful relationships in my life. Words cannot really express just how important it is to stay connected with those who mean the most to us even during the fullness of days that motherhood brings.

michaelmas

2010-09-29T20:42:00.013-04:00

We have been preparing for our Michaelmas celebration today for over a week now. We started preparing last week with our daily reading of Saint George and the Dragon (Saint George is the earthly counterpart to Saint Michael), our coloring work based on the story of Saint George, reading about Michael the angel, focusing our morning poetry on Saint Michael and lots of conversations about overcoming evil and choosing good.

In addition to all of this talk about knights, dragon slaying and bravery, my boys did their best this morning to wield sword and shield as bravely and proudly as they could in order to act out the stories we have been reading about.

Today we focused on making 'Dragon Pie' (scroll down on link for the recipe). This of course was much-anticipated by all of the children and the excitement did not wear off in the least during the preparing, baking and eating of this delicious spicy apple and blackberry pie.

In addition to some morning school work, I planned to focus today on the actual making and baking of the pie and literally gave the children the pleasure and responsibility of doing every step themselves. It was phenomenal to watch them work so hard at measuring, cutting, stirring, spooning, leveling, spreading, rolling and sprinkling with all their might.

Our Dragon Pie was tart, delicious and enjoyed by all.

grotesque, yet accurate portrayal of Saint George 'severing' the dragon's tail

Nicolas cutting the butter to make the pastry dough

getting ready to add the 'ice water' to the mixture

the boys unwrapping the chilled dough

peeling them apples!

preparing to roll out the dough for the bottom of the pie

the filling: apples, blackberries, sugar, nutmeg and cloves before being set to boil

our finished Michaelmas Pie

sick

2010-09-27T22:11:00.004-04:00

Last week threw me for a loop. What started out at as a stuffy nose two Friday mornings ago turned out to be an awfully first-time infected ear for our little Luca.

Needless to say, after five out of six sleepless nights, carefully timed doses of pain medication, everything from garlic, olive oil, onion juice and breastmilk in his ear and finally, the dreaded pink stuff, our little babe is back to his normal state of health.

Losing sleep is one of my top fears. It tops my list right up there with the family-wide stomach bugs and a disasterously messy house. I went from a state of tired, to exhausted to walking-zombie pretty fast and spent more time pacing the floors of my bedroom than I have in the five years we have lived in this house.

Most of the time spent rocking our sick baby was spent dozing off and dreaming of a full recovery for Luca and sleep for me. In between however there were amazing moments of stillness and prayer in which I was able to commune with my God more deeply than I have in a long time.

It was amazing to have my heart and mind opened to all that He had been trying to show me for a long, long time. It was humbling, overwhelming and freeing all at once.

I spent last week parenting supernaturally because it was certainly not by my own might that I not only endured the day but actually celebrated it. My children did not miss a meal and even continued with their schooling during that time. It was a miracle.

It was not without the prayers and practical help of some dear friends who came to my aid and helped with my children, loaned me medical equipment and sent loads of encouragement my way.

Why is it that we often grow the most during the challenging times?

How is it that something so trying and tiring can encourage us to dig deep and ask the tough questions in life that require that very energy that we are trying so desperately to regain and reserve?

Can we really stay loyal to the lessons once the tough times pass?

books, books and more books

2010-09-16T20:59:00.004-04:00

My motto for homeschooling this term has been simplify, simplify, simplify. Not knowing what to expect going into this school year with a new baby had me prepared for the worst and secretly hoping for the best.

I have two school-aged children that need my attention this year with formal academics and one preschool-aged child needing me simply to be mentally, emotionally and physically present for him so I have tried to offer a combined lesson for both of the older two whenever possible.

One of the best places to start with this is with literature. I have chosen use some of the Year Two literature selections that Ambleside Online suggests for the older pair this term instead of choosing two separate books to read.

We are currently reading The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame and illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. We tried reading this book two year ago when we were doing Year Two with Sophia but never quite finished it. I don't know if I puttered out or if the children lost interest but either way it's been on my 'to-finish' list for a couple of years now and this fall seemed like the perfect time to delve back into the book.

{Side note: Ambleside Online purposely chooses challenging, rich and high-quality literature selectionsto keep in step with Charlotte Mason's philosophy of allowing children's minds to feed on the best ideas and suport "the test of literature is that it must... bring us truth, nobility and beauty" (-Charlotte Mason Companion). For example, Ambleside places The Wind in the Willows as a Year One selection, however Amazon categorizes it as a Grade Four, Five and Six selection.}

We've started back from the beginning and just finished Chapter One yesterday. This book is full of rich, poetic and challenging language, beautiful images of river-life in the English countryside and clever old-fashioned personifications of the animals. It seems to be 'just right' for my seven and nine year olds and is really holding their interest, capturing their hearts and supplying them with plenty of giggles during our readings.

Those of you looking for book lists for your children can link over to Ambleside's suggested selections for free reading at the bottom of these year-by-year pages:

Year Zero
Year One
Year Two
Year Three
Year Four

Sophia spent August reading Heidi by Johanna Spyri and has now begun Polyanna by Eleanor Porter (despite the links for each book, Sophia has and is reading from the actual book and not the above-listed online resources).

I am hoping to re-read the Little House series (or at least Little House in the Big Woods and Farmer Boy) with all three of the older children this winter. These books are timeless and ageless and I am confident that Elias is ready to enjoy them for the first time.

Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges (an AO Year One free reading selection) is lying in wait on my 'book bench' right now and I'm hoping to read it next week in preparation for this upcoming feast.

What books are you and your family enjoying these days?

first day photos

2010-09-13T22:15:00.009-04:00

Here are a few photos from our first day of school. This year we have children in all different phases and stages of life- grade 4, grade 2, preschool and an infant. It is a full life indeed and the key to keeping the peace during our daily lives lies in my ability to focus on the purpose of why we are homeschooling and the vision for our family that is so dear to my heart.

We are now into our second week of school and today was productive, playful and peaceful. There is just so much activity going on at any given moment in our home that it often shocks me when I really stop long enough to look around and 'take it all in'. The physical, emotional and mental energy that is being produced by all of us is enough to shake the very foundations of this house!

I am finding that the children are getting along just as well as ever, if not better, now that some of their pent up energy is being used up by their minds. They are also hungrier and more tired than usual. It seems that I am perpetually food shopping, cleaning counters and loading the dishwasher amidst all of the literature, poetry and history that I am reading during the day. All of this is a good sign of growth!

I hope to post a few notes on our current book list this week and can't wait to share about our literature selection for this term... truly a treat for the lovers of language!

little links

2010-09-09T21:38:00.004-04:00

So this isn't the post I promised. The first day of school photos are coming, as are the childrens' book lists. I promise.

Tonight I wanted to post a few links to sites, posts and little things that I am loving right now. I have been doing more than my fair share of surfing the web at night and there are always so many wonderful little nuggets of gold floating in between all of the stuff on the internet.

This post from Are So Happy regarding her vision for what kindergarten will mean for their family this year. This really struck a chord with me because I have been getting several questions of late regarding homeschooling and children under the age of six. It seems that a lot of well-intentioned parents are fretting over which curriculum to choose for their four- and five-year-olds. I completely understand wrestling with this question but have really given into following my instincts on this topic. This post pretty much sums up my idea of what the early years at home should encompass and has really encouraged me in my decision to leave the kindergarten year void of academics.

These earrings. This is my dear friend's sister's etsy shop. I am in need of some new earrings. They are typically the only pieces of jewelry I wear on a daily basis and I never think to treat myself to a pair when I am out and about. These are just so beautiful and cheery and will certainly not break the bank. I'm thinking of getting two pairs... one regular pair and one dangle pair.

These pants. I am really hoping to carve out some time to sew up a bunch of these pants for our cloth-diapered baby. When your baby is wearing a cloth diaper and wool cover like ours is, it's really impractical to put any real baby clothing on the lower half of them. These days Luca is sporting his cloth diapers and these little things to keep his legs warm.

first day

2010-09-06T20:45:00.005-04:00

Our first day of home school has come and gone. It had been months in the making and rather than sit around last night planning every detail to perfection, we instead spent our time enjoying the company of some good friends and the magnificence of being outdoors until dusk.

We spontaneously took our friends up on their invite to come see their new home- way out in the woods- and spent the day and night enjoying the beauty and history of their 1780-built home, the acres of field, barn and chicken coops they occupy the property, warming ourselves by a roaring bonfire, sharing the most tremendous pizzas and watching our collective eight children (well, Luca was in arms during all of this) running wild, free and barefoot until the sun was setting.

It felt like a scene from Little House in the Big Woods and being in that setting- the quiet, stillness, joy, peace, fellowship- helped me to focus on what we all need in order to thrive and survive during this upcoming year of homeschooling.

So much of this homeschooling experience depends upon me- the mother- and my state of mind, well-being and spirit. I am setting the tone in our home environment. Like I said in my last post- all eyes are on me. These little ones are looking to me to guide them and to teach them. They are taking cues from me and if they see patience and hope and trust in my eyes, then they too will feel those things.

Today was a day to put all of these thoughts, visions and hopes to the test. It's so easy for me to seek out, drink in and love ideas in life, but living them out in the day-to-day is another story.

It felt good to wake up with a greater purpose today. It's so ironic that here I was thinking all summer that I couldn't take on another ounce of responsibility and what I really needed most was to fulfill the next calling.

We started at nine this morning with a time of poetry about the seasons and a song of praise. I remember now so vividly how Elias really needs me to fill up his tank before I begin lessons with the older pair in order to stay content and peaceful for the first part of our homeschooling day. What a difference this makes indeed.

We then set off to do some math reviewing. I had been trying to incorporate movement into Nicolas' math time and continued with that during our review today. We used a bean bag that we tossed back and forth to one another as we counted to one hundred. This is just the beginning of our review and we still need to go over all of his addition facts before we return to real bookwork and the subtraction that he left off with last spring.

Sophia's math review involved revisiting decimal street and naming all of the houses that live there- starting with the one's and counting up to the trillions. I then wrote out five numbers in standard notation on the board and had her read them aloud. What precision! She didn't miss a place value in any of them!

Nicolas and I read Viking Tales and he narrated to me what he remembered about skalds and sagas. He then wrote a bit in his lesson book and drew a picture to narrate the passage as well. He chose to focus on the battle aspect of the sagas and did his best drawing to depict a brave warrior.

Sophia began reading Poor Richard for her history biography lesson and read about Benjamin Franklin's life in a large family living on Milk Street in Boston. Her narration was excellent and I really feel she captured the feel of what his life was like during that time in 1706. I typed out her narration and she then copied in into her lesson book in cursive. She did her best work but it is evident that the lazy days of summer have taken a toll on her beautiful penmanship. Lots of printing, doodling and mad-libs will do that to a young girl!

I started a grammar and writing program that Sophia and Nicolas will be sharing. I feel that they will both get a lot out of it and that Sophia will be able to 'take it to the next level' if she is in need of more of a challenge. This work encompasses their copywork as well and ironically enough we read from Little House in the Big Woods today.
Nicolas and I worked on reading together and started learning a new poem about vowels and sounds. He is in need of some extra phonics this year to keep discouragement and guess-work at bay. His comprehension is so very far ahead of his reading ability. How odd that must feel for him. At any cost I am hopeful that this is just what he needs in order to take his reading to the next level.

In addition to these lessons we practiced some form drawing, used our new beeswax stick crayons to draw and took a beautiful walk around our neighborhood and the pond that is close by. It was Luca's first time in a stroller and he simply loved the experience. It was nice to give my back a rest from carrying him and I felt so carefree as we strolled together- a new chapter in our mother-baby relationship I'd say.

Tomorrow is a new day and it feels oh-so good to have gotten my feet wet with all of the newness and hope that this current year of homeschooling is already bringing to our family.

{Stay tuned to see our annual first day of school photos and more about the books we are enjoying this school year and season!}

a farewell to summer

2010-08-30T21:29:00.004-04:00

Homeschooling is not something that I write about nearly as often as I think about it. Over the years our choice to home school has changed from simply a venue of education for our children into a full-blown life-changing way of life.

To school one's children at home is a choice that is farther reaching than one can ever fathom at the time the decision is made. It is not easy at times. There is always that week during mid-winter where I just want to quit and start thinking about calling the principal of our local elementary school to see if what there policy is on admitting children three-quarters of the year through.I t encompasses everything that one's family does throughout the day and occupies the mother's mind, heart and hands most hours of the day and night.

I must admit that I am one to pride myself on being put-together and organized. Chaos is my worst fear and I crave a simple, beautiful atmosphere in order to do even the most mundane of tasks. My need for order and cleanliness is very high and is something that I struggle to keep in check daily so as not to make it an idol in my life.

Most days I fail at this miserably. I choose to sweep my floor instead of sit on the steps and watch my children swing carelessly and proudly from the limbs on our front lawn tree. I push myself to squeeze in a load of laundry during most waking moments of my day even if it means walking away from a four-year with whom I am sharing a morning snack. And it is with shame that I admit to more often than not cleaning my children's drips of oatmeal off the counter as-they-go instead of waiting until the end of the meal to do a proper one-time cleanup.

As I journey through this week- our last official week of summer- I am filled with mixed emotions as we draw closer to 'the first day of school' next week. Feelings of pride swell as I think about how we are beginning our fifth year of homeschooling and mix with glimmers of confidence and competency over how amazing my children are. I also feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety and doubt grow. There are so many question marks.

How will I manage a fourth grader, a second grader, a four-year old and a three month old all at once?Whose needs will I choose to meet when more than one will inevitably arise at once? How will I manage all of those wonderful readings if our baby wakes up from his nap earlier than expected?

There are so many more where these came from and I know I am not the first to ask them.

I know that these questions will begin to answer themselves as the hours, days and weeks of our school year unfold. I told myself that I would remain open to the possibilities and accept whatever this new phase of life-with-a-baby brought our way and I vow to stay true to that promise.

For now I am focusing on what matters in life. Choosing to value the life lessons that we will all learn along the way. After all, what is more important and vital to this homeschool experience? Is it quantity or quality? An organized, driven mother or a gentle, patient one? Is it getting to each and every lesson I have planned each day or is it learning to be flexible, prioritize in the moment and learn how to make a 'plan b'?

I am just so thrilled to have the opportunity to be with my children for yet another year. It is a mother-teacher role that I am assuming here and not the other way around. I am the anchor here and all eyes are on me to see how I am choosing what is best in each moment. Certainly big shoes to fill. And even though there are question marks about the details, the big fact remains that I love my children fiercely and will strive to choose what is best for them, for us each day during this journey.

{Stay tuned to hear more about our homeschooling journey, photos from our first day of school (a tradition around here!) and to hear about some of the books we will be reading}

a four-year old cowboy

2010-08-27T16:45:00.010-04:00

"Mom I want to be a cowboy today."

Who could resist this request coming from an adorable four-year old boy with a smile that is bright enough to light the night sky? Not I.

Those of you with more than one child know that there is usually one child that typically makes requests and lets you know what they need, want and are thinking of doing all day, every day. This is the child that typically starts their sentences with "Mom can we...?".

Then there is the child that rarely ever asks for a darn thing. This is usually the more complacent child, the go-with-the-flow sort of little human that is content with life in general and the current state of affairs within the home.

And of course there is the one (or more) who lie somewhere in between.

Well I happen to have all three types in this house. Without naming the other names, I will say that Elias is the somewhere in between child. He makes his requests known when he really wants something... which isn't very often. And when this happens, it is my delight and joy to fulfill the request if it is at all within reason.

Once the request to become a cowboy for the day was placed I knew that it would be my afternoon goal to make his vision a reality.

We spent a small amount of time at a local thrift store and came home with several key pieces- cowboy hat, bandanna and plaid shirt. After adding his favorite pair of jeans and his mucky boots all he needed to complete this look was a tad of dirt. This was a non-issue. In no time at all he was rolling around in the dirt- his usual spot to play in our yard- and had that natural I just wrangled some cattle look to complete the ensemble.

I didn't tell him that I secretly felt proud when I saw him trying oit the tough-guy look on his face or how I swelled with tears when I looked out the window and saw my little cowboy innocently and uninhibitedly riding his bike up and down the sidewalk.

He wasn't thinking about how he looked all dressed up or who might think it a silly outfit to wear outside on an August afternoon or if his cowboy look was authentic enough. He was happy to be doing what he was doing in that moment.

For you see, there is no shame or 'embarrassing moments' for a four-year old cowboy.

{this moment}

2010-08-27T08:34:00.002-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

2010-08-27T08:34:00.000-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

pesto

2010-08-24T12:05:00.010-04:00

So we made the pesto sauce last Saturday after gathering our ingredients during the previous days. I used the recipe found in The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters. This is one of the best cookbooks and food guides to follow for anyone who is serious about eating whole, natural, simple, locally-grown, seasonal, fresh foods. I really hope to someday be able to have the experience of dining at her restaurant- Chez Panisse and really would love to create an Edible Schoolyard of my own someday here at home.

Here is Alice Waters' recipe...

Pesto 1 bunch basil, to yield about 1 lightly packed cup 1 garlic clove, peeled salt 1/4 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

I used raw pine nuts instead of lightly toasted and pecorino romano cheese instead of Parmesan. I also used some amazing olive oil that I bought at a food co-op nearby that was poured fresh out a big vat of golden olive oil stamped 'from GREECE'. This had to have made a difference in the taste. It was so, so good and didn't taste anything like the bottled oil from the supermarket.

Lately I have had a pair of four-year old hands that have been very eager to help out in the kitchen. Saturday was no exception. He thought that just in case there were some who wouldn't like the pesto sauce that he would prepare a bowl of pasta with just butter and romano. I wonder just who he could have been referring to.

It was a very simple meal served with loads of cherry tomatoes from my sister's garden. Sometimes I wonder why the dinner hour can be so intimidating when meal time can really be so very simple.

After all, simple food is an art and in my opinion one that is often sadly lost in the midst of a culture of fast food and complicated recipes.

Yet another area of life to simplify!

the fine line

2010-08-23T20:55:00.006-04:00

Where do the days go? In so many ways we are still in survival mode around here. It's the care and feeding of a family that is filling my days. The mundane parts of life (read more about my thoughts on 'the mundane' here and here) that so many folks wish away. The cleaning, wiping, washing, cooking, picking up and putting away of life.

I was just able to go beyond the basics last week a bit each day and it felt so very good- a bit of deep cleaning for the top of my refrigerator and cupboards, a trip to a local food co-op for the raw milk that I have been meaning to start buying again since the winter farmer's market and an afternoon of making lots of delicious pesto sauce from some really fresh, local ingredients.

My wise husband recently reminded me that sustaining another life takes time and energy and that it is my main focus and driving force in life right now. He even sent me a sweet message reminding me of this and encouraging me to look around at the four blessings in our life and to slow down and enjoy the fruits of our labor!

Luca at fifteen weeks- taken this morning- certainly well-fed and glowing with good health!

There is such a fine line between sacrificial love and giving of oneself and finding the time and energy to nurture yourself and keep healthy, sane and at peace with life. You go too far to the one side and you step foot into the world of motherhood burnout. Too far to the other side and you've got an ugly me-monster on your hands.

Is there really such a thing as balance?

These days I have been taking (just a few) moments here and there to do some good things for myself amidst all of the nurturing that takes place in this life that I have chosen and embrace with arm's wide open.

Little things- a charcoal facial while the baby naps. Remembering to take my probiotics and cod liver oil each day. Shaving my legs even though no one really cares. Making time for a morning devotional time. Stepping out to the thrift store again even for an hour alone and uninterrupted.

These little things often prove themselves in big ways to be just what I needed at that moment. A sense of peace. Knowing that I have gone to God first thing in the morning. The sense of well-being I have after knowing I have chosen to maintain my good health.

With our home school year starting in just two short weeks I know that I will have to focus on these little things with even more earnest and deliberation. It's so easy to just plow through life and then sit in regret at the end of the day feeling like I've nothing left to give. This does no one good. And although most days end with me feeling stretched and sleepy I will gladly take these as a proud badge of a day well- spent and lived to the fullest.

my alphabet for today

2010-08-10T20:22:00.003-04:00

So humor me for a moment. Since I have always believed that writing is my most creative outlet, way to release all of these ideas that often get stuck inside my head and one of my most beloved hobbies, I thought I would exercise that part of me tonight and do a little writing experiment.

How about an alphabet of my day today?

I thought I would choose a word or two for each letter of the alphabet that describes a part of my day- something that I have experienced in mind, body or spirit. So here goes. I'm just writing the first word that comes to mind- nothing terribly artistically crafted here.

A- air conditioning
B- Brambley Hedge
C- cloth napkins
D- dinner
E- earrings
F- fairy tales
G- grateful
H- homeschool planning
I- irritable
J- joke book
K- kefir
L- letters to mail
M- mastitis
N- nutella
O- Olive Juice
P- pasta
Q- questions at bedtime
R- reservation making
S- spinach bagels
T- three-month old baby
U- undoing words
V- Viking stories
W- Wooden Wagon delivery
X- anXiety
Y- yellow squash
Z- zucchini

turning nine

2010-08-09T22:26:00.005-04:00

Our firstborn turned nine today. Happy Birthday to my darling Sophia. Nine years ago you entered my life and started me on the most challenging and joyful role of my lifetime. You made me a mother.

Happy Birthday to our sweet girl!

eleven weeks

2010-07-26T20:16:00.004-04:00

Our baby is 11 weeks old today. Although he is still technically a newborn, I often feel when that when I am looking into his eyes he is a very old soul. He has the same look that his sister used to give when she was just an infant herself. It was always as if she knew something about you that you didn't know yourself.

Besides that he is turning into a terribly handsome little boy and although he is quite the armful I don't mind carrying him around in the least. In just a few short months he will be wriggling and twisting out of my arms and making his first few attempts at creeping and crawling about our home. These days are so fleeting... you know?

Needless to say he is seriously melting hearts around here.

busy versus full

2010-07-26T07:09:00.002-04:00

Woke up to read this post about how to tell the difference between being busy or full over at simple home school this morning. It completely summed up all that I have been thinking about and trying to formulate into a logical explanation for the life we have chosen. One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone tries to describe my life as busy. There's just something about that word. I try avoiding it at all costs and have opted instead to sum up our days of homeschooling and life with four young children as full instead for years now. I just love the way this post describes the difference between these two lifestyles.

To me being busy means frantic, frazzled, without a focus or purpose and making decisions based on whims, external pressures and unrealistic expectations. All toxic reasons to choose what we will spend our time, energy and resources for everyone involved- especially the children.

Choosing to be full instead of busy is often going against what our culture is telling us to do. It is choosing the mundane- the necessary and purposeful- over the exciting, thrilling and fleeting that we sometimes feel compelled to pursue. After all, being busy can be awfully exciting.

Having a full life takes practice and patience. It seems that after nearly nine years of parenting and attempting to follow my instincts in regard to family life and the pace that we choose each day, I can honestly say that it is one lovely full life that we have made for ourselves. At the end of the day it feels so, so good to be able to reflect on what I have had the instincts to pursue and enjoy and the courage to leave behind.

digging deep

2010-07-22T21:39:00.003-04:00

My absence from this little space of mine has not been due to anything disastrous, terrible or stressful. In fact, life has been fabulously full and abundant with joy, growth and lots of life lessons.

I have been super focused lately on what it takes to make our days smooth, enjoyable and peaceful. It seems a full-time job simply to create and maintain the flow of our days- rising and waking, meal planning and preparation, tending to errands and activities and keeping connected with my husband and children. At the end of the day there is little else to do but sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Luca is now 10 weeks old and his smiles aren't the only sign that he has begun interacting with the outside world. He has discovered his hands and there are moments when I just watch him studying them as they move from side to side. Simply precious to watch. I'm feeling so connected to him and have been able to keep fatigue at bay. He is just now letting me put him down for a spell on a blanket or in a little seat. He has been in-arms morning, noon and night for the last 10 weeks and my little baby is now weighing over 16 pounds so there has been some really achy, sore and tender muscles in this body of mine.

The main focus of my nights has been planning our upcoming school year. We are entering our fifth year of homeschooling with a nine year old, seven year old and four year old and I feel so good that I have been able to set aside time each day planning for our days in the upcoming school year.

In addition to planning lessons, ordering books and thinking about our daily routine, I have also been digging deep and asking myself some really tough questions like what is the purpose of education, what sort of home environment have I created for my children, who do I want my children to become, am I focusing on the mind, body and spirit of these little human beings that I have been entrusted with, am I myself choosing to model the behaviors and ideals that I am attempting to instill within my children, how will their lives be enhanced and changed by having had their mother be a mother-teacher?

I have decided that in the end the most important aspect of the homeschooling lifestyle is family life and the ability to educate the whole being. It is not simply about academics, training the mind or working steadily through planned lessons. It is about the journey we are taking as well and about growing as individuals.

I will be updating my blog with some more homeschooling details in the days and weeks to follow. There is so much to share and it feels wonderful to have this space to share it in!

{this moment}

2010-07-09T07:30:00.004-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

2010-07-02T07:54:00.001-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

little things

2010-07-01T21:31:00.004-04:00

Sometimes it's the little things in life that bring the most joy. It's been really hitting me lately how much there is around me to be grateful for and it helps me to focus on these bits and pieces daily- even hourly at times- to pull me out of the grumpy moments spent fretting over frivolous details and wasting energy on the petty.

Today I am feeling grateful for...

the new seven year old boy living in our home. Nicolas turned seven over the weekend and I was flooded by the memories of the day of his birth and what our first few weeks were like during his infancy. This boy is as sweet as they get. His looks are out of this world. And he has a heart of gold.
the little friend living in our backyard. She is a rabbit and has been named Nutmeg by the children. Tonight they left her lettuce.
the opportunity to go berry picking this morning. We picked blueberries and ate nearly as many as were picked. We were hungry. I take berry picking very seriously and my pioneer spirit comes out in full effect when I am swiping those bushes clean of their berries. I didn't pick nearly as many as usual, but then again, there was the blessing of a little human in arms this summer.
the blessing in disguise that a broken dishwasher has brought. I had forgotten how much I love filling that dishpan with hot, soapy water and the satisfaction that comes from washing, rinsing, drying and stacking each little piece of dishware. It's always been soothing to me and not much has changed over the years.
the help my mother gave me yesterday afternoon and early evening. Luca just loves her and is so easily soothed by her voice, song and sway. It felt so good to share that time with her and to have an extra set of hands to help out with the children.
the little afternoon naps I've been able to steal here and there. Even twenty minutes helps me to refocus and regain that strength and focus that I need to carry on with the rest of the day. I've been following the method of putting up my feet above my heart for the first five minutes and then turning over on my side in order to turn of the thinking mechanism for the rest of my snooze.
the endless games that my children have been keeping busy with- uno, Orchard, Life on Earth Memory Game- they are my saving graces to ward off sibling bickering and the delight of their afternoons.

six weeks and thoughts on toys and playthings

2010-06-22T21:57:00.008-04:00

Luca is now six weeks old. He is just as sweet as the day I first met him and continues to bring joy to all of us each day. He is so good at nursing now and my milk supply is well-established. He is still being smothered with kisses and at times even licked still. Each child takes turns daily declaring how much Luca looks just like them. The verdict is still out on exactly who he looks like. I honestly see a bit of each child in his little face and being. Their is such a familiar feel to Luca that it seems he has been part of our family all along. It's so amazing how a new baby can bring so much more love to the entire family and home.

Today was quite productive and it felt wonderful to be working at keeping up with my house again. I spent the morning sorting through toys and conducted- what we call in our home- the toy audit with a willing and cheerful spirit!

The rule of thumb is that if they haven't played with the toy, game, puzzle or item in the past few months then I donate it. I also regularly donate toys that have lost their open-ended-ness and are simply being stepped over or abused. I also throw out any toys that are broken and cannot be repaired. This helps to keep toys to a minimum and leaves room for imaginative play and calls on the children to care for their toys and playthings because the quantity of manageable and not overwhelming. Toys can lose their magic when they are sitting in mountain-sized piles on the floor!

We also made our weekly trip to the library and local bread store. I have made it our weekly routine to visit the bread store right after our library trip on Tuesdays to serve as our lunch for the day. The children love trying to bread each week and I know that I have one meal to look forward to being taken care of- albeit carbohydrate rich and protein-poor! We also have a delicious loaf to enjoy for the following morning's breakfast. This week it's blueberry streusel... gosh I can hardly wait until morning!

{this moment}

2010-06-18T07:10:00.003-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

motherhood and humility

2010-06-17T20:06:00.005-04:00

The last two days have been tough ones. I have had to really dig deep for the patience, energy, wisdom, forgiveness, gentleness, self-control and selflessness that parenting calls for and have come up short at several moments.

This is the hard part of parenting- checking your emotions at the door when disciplining, guiding and correcting a child's behavior. Maybe my expectations about not becoming emotional are unrealistic and that somewhere along the way I got the insensible idea in my head that peaceful parenting is possible 100% of the time.

The little humans in my home have been so filled with untamable energy, nervous excitement, self-serving motives, impatience, roughness and ugly words that it hurts to even watch. I've given up trying to put the blame on situations- a new baby in the family, the beginning of a wide-open summer vacation, more freedom to roam the neighborhood, not enough boundaries being set by me or a mother who is a bit preoccupied as she tries to begin a new family rhythm- but I keep coming up short.

At times it has simply been children making decision that children- who are not adults and should not be expected to act as adults- tend to make: a Eucerin facial (yes, layers of this sticky cream on a face) innocently washed off with bucket loads of water that end up on the bathroom floor, swinging a baseball bat so close to a sibling that a bloody nose ensues, drinking glasses dropped too roughly into the sink resulting in shattered glass, picking flowers without permission from the neighbors yard to make fairy soup, throwing dirt at the house and through wide open windows to create a smoke-like atmosphere in the front yard.

The list could go on and on. And although I am snickering now as I relive these moments of pure mayhem, I assure you that that laughter was the last thing on my mind at the moment. Instead I reacted with anger, frustration and impatience instead of taking a deep breath and responding with the tenderness that each situation called for. They could have been teachable moments, but instead ended up making the list of my ugliest and most humbling moments of motherhood.

I know that it is simply human nature to experience negative emotions, ugly, shameful ones at times- even for children. There doesn't always have to be a good reason to feel badly and behave even worse. Sometimes life just takes us through the valleys and it's hardest when you've just come from that mountain top experience to find yourself in the low lands.

Instead of stewing in guilt, regret and sadness over my poor choices, harsh tones and impatience with my family, I have tried my hardest to pull myself out of the trap of pity and instead focus on what counts most- love, forgiveness and the fact that nothing, NOTHING, can change the fact that we are a family and that nothing anyone does can ever change my love for them.

A real lesson in humility.

keeping it balanced

2010-06-16T20:43:00.003-04:00

The weeks are simply flying by. Luca is already five weeks old. We are officially on summer vacation. Swim lessons have been registered for. Sadly I've missed strawberry season this year- our first year of not picking in years.

Recently I was telling a friend that we've decided to cloth diaper this time around (why didn't I take the plunge eight years ago like I really wanted to?) and she commented that I was a saint for doing so. I told her that it is really all about priorities and picking and choosing on what you will devote your time and energy to in life.

Sometimes you just need to hear yourself saying something to remind yourself of how much you really do believe in it.

Deciding what to leave and what to take, what dreams to pursue and which ones to let rest for the time being, what to commit to and what opportunities to look straight in the eye and simply say no thanks.

Right now I am trying to focus on the simple daily tasks that I feel are important to my family's life- caring for and breastfeeding my newborn, looking after and nurturing my three older children and all the energy that it entails, keeping my house a home, preparing- albeit simple- nutritious food for three meals and two snacks daily, staying connected to my husband, getting outdoors for as much time as possible each day and reading with my kids.

This is about all I can take on right now. I refuse to overcommit to anything no matter how appealing, enriching or exciting it may be. And I am really feeling the effects of keeping it simple and focused! Keeping burnout at bay has to be a worthwhile benefit right?

Here are a few amazing resources that have helped me to simplify and focus on my family's and children's needs in a whole new way-

Beyond the Rainbow Bridge
Heaven on Earth

These books should seriously be considered required reading for anyone looking to raise a family and to really meet their children's needs physically, encourage imagination and a sense of wonder early on in childhood, create a sense of security through daily, weekly and seasonal rhythms and to "create a family culture based on the guiding principle of love".

{this moment}

2010-06-11T14:21:00.003-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

four weeks

2010-06-08T20:44:00.006-04:00

Luca turned four weeks old yesterday. He has already outgrown so many tiny little bits of clothing and this in turn has brought me to moments of panic over the reality that this little baby- along with his big sister and brothers- will never be as little as he is this very moment!

Time is passing so very quickly and it seems with each day comes new joys, challenges and lessons in patience and parenting for me.

Yesterday was my birthday. I'd love to say that I woke up feeling peaceful and full of joy but instead I woke up frantic and burdened over the responsibility of caring for four children. It is often toughest first thing in the morning you know? And it can be so very difficult to find the energy to greet the day with confidence and a can-do attitude when all that seems to be staring back at me are needs- mine and theirs. These needs are both urgent and important and I often fret over which one to meet first?

It can be terribly overwhelming looking at the entire day in once piece. So it helps to break it up into little bits and to take hour by hour, moment by moment. There is always a turning point, a place during the day when I think I can do this! This point usually comes after a hot shower, a bit of tidying up and four little bellies are filled. And by that time my confidence is back and that old feeling of being carefree (yes, I still often have moments of feeling carefree even while caring for four young ones) comes back to visit my heart, mind and soul!

Some highlights of the past few days ::

my birthday dinner celebration out at a restaurant with all six of us! There were lots of spilled drinks, dropped burp cloths and many nursing sessions, but in the end, a wonderful dinner was enjoyed by all after a day of thunderstorms and near-stir craziness.
Luca weighed in at over TWELVE pounds yesterday at just four weeks old! I am convinced that I am producing heavy cream over here...
many phone calls, letters and cards from friends and family throughout the day yesterday wishing me lots of love on my thirty-third birthday
a splendid talent show put on by the children of our homeschool co-op lastnight! It was such a treat to see the children showcase their talents and gain confidence up on that modest little stage and I especially enjoyed watching Nicolas and his two friends sing their little hearts out.
a chance to spend the morning outdoors today and make a good attempt at yard work for the first time since Luca's birth. It felt so, so good to work, move my body and be able to lift, bend, weed and work with all my might again!

just a taste

2010-06-04T11:37:00.004-04:00

Our first taste of local strawberries given to us from a friend. They are oh-so good and I can't wait to pick our own real, real soon!

wishing you a lovely weekend!

{this moment}

2010-06-04T11:07:00.003-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

outdoor moments

2010-05-29T12:52:00.007-04:00

A few outdoor moments from this past week... tree-climbing, branch-swinging and two-wheeling.

return to the familiar

2010-05-25T22:02:00.003-04:00

It's been two weeks already since we brought our new baby home to join our family. Each day I wake up ready for what the day holds- secretly wishing that it will be simple and smooth, but feeling prepared for the challenges that may come our way as well.

After two weeks off from schooling I decided that it was time to return to our normal routine. The children were starting to misbehave, squabble, whine and generally become grumpy with all of the free-time and lack of rhythm in their lives. It was time to return to the old routine indeed.

We have gently eased back in our homeschooling this week and the childrens' attitudes and behaviors have really improved. And although we are taking it slow and having (what we all call) light days, it is doing us all good.

We have been starting our day with a spring poem, a song and a game or movement activity and an art project. Even though there are three ages to reach here- four, almost-seven and almost-nine- we have all enjoyed this time together forming a circle on the floor of our living room.

Other lessons have included reading, copywork, literature, math and counting games. Again, very light work here.

It feels so, so good to return to something that was begun before the baby was born. It has been good for all of us to return to something familiar in the midst of all the newness that surrounds us!

{this moment}

2010-05-21T17:19:00.003-04:00

Playing along with one of my favorite blogs today...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

first bath

2010-05-20T21:15:00.011-04:00

Luca had his first bath tonight. It was a family affair. The water temperature was tested by numerous fingertips and elbows. The wash, cloth and towel were set just so as to be ready for use when needed. The dry clothes were laid out. And the camera was ready for a few shots.

Not unlike his brothers and sister, Luca really disliked his first out-of-womb immersion in a warm water bath. It was a sad sight to be sure. We hurried it along as quickly as possible trying hard not to allow the torture to drag on. This poor little creature looked so helpless.

The best part was rescuing him from the water and wrapping him tightly in his warm towel. His big brother Nicolas knew just what he needed to calm down... a little finger to suck on.

Here was his experience in a few snapshots.

perfection

2010-05-19T13:21:00.008-04:00

Luca's first week at home has come and gone. I have to say, it has been a dream.

I keep finding myself hesitant to say how wonderfully it is going, bringing home a fourth child and all, and feel that everyone around me is thinking just wait. Just wait for the gas to start, the sleepy baby perking up and getting fussy, the sleepless nights to come. Just wait.

I guess that is the only negative thinking that is going on around here lately. I don't want to appear naive or overly positive and then have things deteriorate quickly leaving me sorely disappointed and pitied by friends and family.

But I am going against my prideful feelings and shouting to the world... things are just perfect!

We had a chance to resume some normal activities over the weekend and found ourselves (mother and nursling that is) at a baseball game, church and a ballet rehearsal. I am taking it slow and easy but also feeling that tug to be present for my other children as well.

It was a wonderful weekend full of firsts and exciting events... photos for the ballet that Sophia will dance in next weekend as a pixie, the game ball for Nicolas on Sunday and Elias chose to lose his training wheels and is zooming full-speed ahead on two wheels. So much pride as a mother.

We also had a chance to introduce Luca to our amazing homeschool community during our Share Day with our homeschool co-op on Monday. The children shared what they had learned and practiced for all season- a chorus performance, some Keva building and an Artist Trading
Cards display and swap.

Not everyday is so full. I need to now more than ever remember my vision of being at home more than I am out of the home especially during these early days of bringing home a new baby. Today I have cozied in, donned my wool socks and layers of soft stretchy clothing, enjoyed a super chocolaty brownie brought by a friend and am secretly feeling thankful for the chilly, wet day that is keeping us indoors.

day five

2010-05-14T13:15:00.004-04:00

Luca is five days old. And already, so much is changing around here.

Today is the first day I am feeling a bit clear-headed and mentally present. I blame the first few foggy days on the oxytocin rush that I was experiencing from breastfeeding and milk production. I have been getting excellent amounts of rest but feeling extremely doped out and mellow. My milk came in withing the first 24 hours after he was born and he was ready and waiting for all of that nourishment indeed. Maybe things are starting to regulate a bit.

Luca has already regained the weight he lost in the first few days... and then some. He didn't need the first two weeks to get back to his birth weight!

No more umbilical cord. Nope. He lost it today while all three children were holding him in my bed. They called out to tell me and I hardly believed them. It seems so early!

Luca's cheeks are already filling out. Now they are rosy and plump!

Thinking back to the birth just five short days ago and really starting to revisit the experience both mentally and emotionally. It was phenomenal. Starting to think about writing the birth story and where to begin with it... days, hours or minutes before the actual birth?

first encounters

2010-05-13T15:40:00.017-04:00

One of the most amazing aspects of bringing home a new baby is the meeting, greeting and bonding of siblings that occurs. Birth orders are shuffled. Pecking orders are rearranged and attention, focus and responsibilities shift enormously during these first few days and weeks. It is bittersweet for sure.

Luca has been held, hugged, kissed, snuggled, poked and licked dozens of times since his birth and I'm sure that it will only continue. Every child has a different way of getting to know him, you know?

A few shots of the first meeting and of our first two days at home...

a new life

2010-05-11T15:04:00.010-04:00

Our new baby was born in the wee hours of the morning yesterday. We are home now and just reeling from the excitement of welcoming this new life. Here are a few photos from our first few hours together. More photos and some birth stories to come soon... I have to get back to swooning over this baby and enjoying the sheer giddiness of becoming a mother of four!

Luca Daniel Houle
May 10, 2010
7 pounds 13 ounces, 22 inches long

my stack

2010-05-07T10:51:00.005-04:00

There has been plenty of time for reading these days. I went a little overboard putting books on hold at the library but don't regret taking the time to choose the titles I have been meaning to bring home for long, long time.

These are the types of books that one can just pick up and read for a while and put down without feeling compelled to finish the entire book in one sitting. On any given night I am jumping from birth stories to how to make my own sauerkraut. Very exciting stuff.

So here is my current stack...

Real Food for Mother and Baby- Nina Planck
Confessions of an Organized Homemaker- Deniece Schofield
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth- Ina May Gaskin
Wild Fermentation- Sandor Ellix Katz
How to Grow More Vegetables Thank You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land than You Can Imagine- John Jeavons

We recently purchased this book after weeks of loaning it from the library and not wanting to return it. It is filled with the authentic, original fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm and it has all three of my children completed enchanted and captivated each time we sit down to read.

We have been reading one fairy tale three days in a row and usually on the last day of reading the children like to act out the tale- costumes and all (I still have flour imprinted on my front door screen from when each child took turns playing the wolf from The Wolf and the Seven Kids who tried to hide his black paw by going to the baker and the miller for dough and flour to make it appear pure white like their mother's!).

Completely worth the elbow grease it takes to clean up after these plays.

This book is just beautiful to look at. I like to leave it out because it adds so much richness and loveliness to our home.

** The Pantheon Edition is the one that I chose in the end based on some research and reading. It is the most authentic and the art is amazing. **

fighting nature

2010-05-02T21:02:00.009-04:00

Today marks my fifth full day on bed rest. My midwife told me that if I start to feel tortured then I'm doing it right.

If that's the case, then I've perfected the act of bed rest, torturous feelings and all.

So you may wonder what I'm doing with all of the newly founded downtime?

What I essentially doing is fighting nature. I have been having strong nesting instincts for nearly a week now and it feels nearly torturous to try and take it easy while my insides are screaming go scrub something!

There has been a bit of washing and tidying and some light scrubbing. I will not lie. But there has been lots of virtual nesting as well. I have been been adding to my current nest to make room for a new baby while simultaneously maintaining the nest that I am already responsible for. I have to say that I am thankful for the internet and for this laptop for that matter.

In addition to browsing many beautiful things on the web, I've also purchases a few. I had started to lose count and then today realized that I will be receiving five packages at the start of this week... and that's not counting this amazing book that just got delivered last Wednesday.

The urge to sew has suddenly struck hard and so I have become a bit covetous of some of the amazing projects that are out there just waiting to be mail ordered and sewn.

Here are some of the books and patterns that I have been drooling over of late and some images to go along with them.

And although it feels oh-so right to start sewing up a batch of dresses made of French color cloth for mama and girls I know that it would be cheating.

So I must resist the urge to begin any major sewing projects and sit still and wait patiently for my next big project to begin... birth.

38 weeks

2010-05-01T17:03:00.003-04:00

So this is me at 38 weeks- taken this afternoon. We are feeling the need to take more photos these days. We know that pretty soon there will not be a largely rounded silhouette busting forth to capture.

We welcomed the children back into the fold this afternoon. I missed them terribly after three days away and their little faces- missing tooth smiles, dimples, sun-kissed cheeks- looked as if they had changed in just the short time they were gone.

Needless to say, the stillness and quiet has left the house, but has been replaced with that ever-familiar energy, bustle and joy that these children bring to our family. I can literally feel the house shaking as I sit and write.

Today was also one of the first hot days after some really mild weather. I was tempted to get outdoors and sit in the sun while the kids ran through the sprinkler, but after about five minutes out on the steps I felt terribly overheated and icky.

After copious amounts of seltzer water and a request to please turn on the air conditioner on I felt amazing again.

I am struggling with finding the balance between finding rest and relaxation and an sinking into an utter state of laziness and feeling terribly lethargic and weak from too much resting.

After all, my mind and body need to be ready for labor and I want to keep up my strength and spirits. I feel so healthy and energetic, yet I have been given the prescription of a sick person. It's a real mind game and I've yet to figure out exactly where I need to be in all of this.

It is amazing to awake each day and wonder if today is the day- the day that our baby will be born. This is such a time of sweet anticipation. It is like no other time in life.

I am savoring each moment, each hour, each day and just know that he will come when he is ready.

bump in the road

2010-04-29T15:30:00.003-04:00

So there has been a bump in the road on this pregnancy journey and it has hit so, so close to the arrival of this baby that I think I will be just fine.

I have officially put on bed rest by my midwife. No cooking, no cleaning, no chasing after children, running errands, yard work and the like. This pretty much means that my entire life has come to a standstill.

I got the news on Tuesday morning and was a bit surprised by the severity of it all but am really trying to keep a good perspective and have realized that two weeks is nothing in the grand scheme of things to lay low with the promise of a healthy, beautiful baby at the end of it all.

We have been blessed with a very supportive family both near and far who have already stepped in and provided meals, help around the house and with the children.

My mother in law drove down from New Hampshire today to pick up all three children and take them back home for three days. It was difficult to give up the control of mothering and looking out for my little ones, but I know it is what I need to be able to rest right now.

The house is so very quiet and still and everything that is set down in it's place has actually remained there. It is mind boggling.

The thing that has struck me the most is how myself, and I'm sure many of us, place so much of our worth and identity in how much we can produce and accomplish during the day. I myself thrive on productivity and can count a good day by how many checks I have put on my mental to-do list.

This is such a harmful mindset to take because in situations like the one I find myself in, when one is not producing a darn thing, it is easy to feel like a failure and an inadequate human being.

I have spent a good bit of time in prayer and in talking about this with my amazing husband and it seems that this burden has been lifted and I am feeling quite content and at peace with simply doing what my body needs right now- rest, rest and more rest.

I cannot begin to tell you how relaxed I feel and how the racing thoughts that, just days ago, were propelling me through my days have slowed down to a pace that have lent themselves to an opportunity to really experience them. It feels good to have a quiet mind and relaxed body, especially at 38 weeks pregnant.

I was hesitant to put all of this out there but knew that I could not stay in hiding for long. I sort of feel like a failure for not having the ability to maintain the status quo of my lifestyle up until the very moment that my body starts to begin the birth process. I just thought I would be able to keep on keeping on and that I would slow down only once the baby came.

So instead of feeling shameful, disappointed and down-trodden by my new pace of life I will try to focus on the tiny lessons that have already learned- lessons about letting go of control and blocking out the deafening shouts of our culture telling me to keep busy and just keep pushing through it all.

I hope that I can share a bit in this space over the next few days and weeks about my experience until one day when I am no longer writing about bed rest, pregnancy and slowing down and instead am posting photos and stories of my birth and our new baby!

nine months

2010-04-19T20:53:00.007-04:00

Me. At nine months pregnant. Feeling fine. The view of my feet has long since disappeared. Enjoying the rolling, flipping and turning babe inside of me for these last few weeks. Looking forward to the birth with optimism and positive thoughts. And enjoying these last few weeks of life as we know it before our world changes, once again.

modelling beeswax

2010-04-13T20:58:00.010-04:00

A bit more about the modeling beeswax that we used yesterday.

It was our first experience with modeling beeswax and it did not disappoint. I used the Stockmar Modelling Beeswax from The Wooden Wagon and was thrilled with the experience.

Beeswax has several advantages over playdough or clay including it's wonderful sweet smell, the mess-free area after use, the non-staining factor, the ability to use it over and over again and the fact that it requires nothing more than a child's warmth and patience to create what they'd like.

To use it, take a small bit of the beeswax and hold it between your palms to warm it. This can take several minutes and can be a good time to tell a story or just sit and enjoy the feeling of the beeswax in your hands.

It was so interesting to see how each child responded to the beeswax and the emotions and creativity it brought out in each.

Elias was most impressed by the sweet beeswax aroma (as seen in the below photo). He spent a bit of time simply pinching and stretching it and came to me to warm his pieces for him.

Nicolas had the most patience with warming his beeswax and set out from the get-go with the idea of creating a dinosaur in mind. He knew just what colors he wanted to use for which parts and really spent some time daydreaming as he warmed his beeswax (as seen in the below photo!).

Sophia did not have a bit of patience for the beeswax at first. She tried to warm it in her hands and quickly grew frustrated when it did not bend and give as she hoped it would. After a bit of encouragement and a little demonstration she gave it another try and set out to make Pippi Longstocking. I think she got as far as the peach-colored face and the bright orange pippi braids.

Our first experience certainly won't be our last. I just love that this simple toy brought so much joy to our morning!

he's four now

2010-04-12T20:50:00.011-04:00

What a day we had celebrating Elias' fourth birthday. It was a simple yet splendid day in which I tried to savor the special moments amidst the mundane, normal Monday that we spent today.

It often seems that a child's birthday can pass without so much as a moment to reflect and pause on the very life that is being celebrated. Amidst the birthday preparations- the baking, the gift giving, the making sure that everything is just right- that little child is often lost in the shuffle and one never truly gets a chance to simply just be with him or her.

I made sure that today did not past without being truly thankful Elias and all that he has brought to our family. I took time to look him in the eyes, listen intently, help him with even the simple tasks that I know he could do on his own but just wanted a bit of assistance with, bounce him on my knee, sing to him, bathe him lovingly and just savor this little boy as much as I could.

One of the tenderest parts of the day was watching his sister and brother carry his presents to him with pride, help him adorn his new sword and scabbard with care and gentleness, show him how to properly draw his sword like a real knight and excitingly share in a morning art session with him coloring and sharing his new art supplies and modeling beeswax.

These photos just capture the joy that was felt by all today- bedhead and all. And although watching your baby turn four can be awfully bittersweet, soaking in the sweetness of the sibling bonds that have been formed and the love that is shown to one another even in the simplest acts makes each passing year worth all of it.

persephone

2010-03-28T20:33:00.005-04:00

We read this beautiful picture book- Persephone- last week to celebrate the first week of Spring. The pictures are dreamy and captivating and the story length and content was just perfect for an early morning read on the sofa.

It was enjoyed by all and got us talking about juicy pomegranates, frozen earth, the changing of seaosons, the power of a mother's angst and heartbreak and whether or not we would like a lifetime of royalty and power if it meant having to leave our family.