I've been hearing lots about sensory activities for children and have been pondering where it all fits in my interactions with our Blossoms.
We took a walk down the road to the fish hatchery and creek today in the beautiful spring-like weather. My girls were ecstatic to be in nature - up close and personal. We talked about run-off, pollution and water always taking the path of least resistance. (It's always learning time in Mommy's school.) It was a good little science lesson. But beyond that, I noticed how they interacted with everything they saw.
They had to touch it.
Everything.
Whether a puddle, a stream or a fragment of quartz, they just HAD to touch it. That may not seem like news to you, but it really sunk in to my brain. If kids aren't outside, just playing, exploring, discovering, they aren't learning about the world around them. So many kids aren't and so their teachers are bringing nature-esque things to them via sensory tables. And I applaud that. But, we've made the sacrifices for our children to be here, with me, every day. It's up to me to foster the exploration of the Great Outdoors, ie God's Sensory Table. I gotta let them touch stuff. They have to check it all out, see how it feels, see what it does, see how it works. Good, old-fashioned play has long been under-rated and those of us that built forts, dug holes, played in sandboxes and hung from trees should repeat those things with our children. Almost every mom I know has access to God's Sensory Table, in some form or another. Today was really just a reminder how important it is to get out and get dirty in our world.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
Weekend Recap
We're Daddy Adorers here. All of us. So, when Daddy wants to get away just to do a little fishin' or something, we're all heartbroken. Or almost heartbroken anyway... and a little dramatic about it, but hey, with four Blossoms... what do you expect? We're the Daddy Fan Club after all. So, this weekend, I set out to make it fun, even without Daddy being around.
Friday night kicked off with pizza out with Grandma. I've always loved Dives... Hole In the Wall type restaurants. There's one drawback. The high chairs don't always have safety straps. I realize that some children never realize this fact. Sort've like the hog that's held in by an electric fence that's never turned on after the 2 weeks he was shocked by it when he was a piglet. This concept doesn't work for my Blossoms though. Baby Blossom instinctively knew that there was no child restraint straps. My friends, she was out of that high chair and crawling across the table in one half of a second. So, I tied her in with her hat and a blanket. Oh yes I did. The pizza was awesome, by the way. And then, Grandma Game Night (as opposed to Family Game Night). Want some laughs? Try playing Charades with an 8yr old, 6yr old and 4yr old. Oh, and Pick Up Sticks - with pretzel sticks. Fun! And tasty too!
Saturday morning dawned with a fun breakfast. Monsters Inc cereal - on special from the local bent-n-dent store - bursting with marshmallows and sugary goodness. I manage to work on some invites for my sis-in-law's baby shower and then we loaded up to head out to a local Doll Clothes Store. It was amazing! Proof positive that American Girl dollies don't have to be dressed up in expensive clothes and accessories to be fun. I believe they declared it, "The Best Place On Earth." Believe it or not, I enjoyed walking around the store 10+ times so every Blossom could decide what they were buying with their money. (That and the fact that my little girl self enjoyed the dolly ball gowns and teal cowboy boots and such.)
Home for lunch... mmmmm, boxed mac n cheese... do you see a theme here? Easy food = happy mommy and happy Blossoms... and RELAXED Mommy... after naptime, voila - it's gorgeous outside... hmmmm... I loaded up the muddy bikes and off we drove to the park for some bike-riding. I can't believe how much Blossom3 improved since last summer. I couldn't keep up to her anymore, which probably means she doesn't need me... sniff, sniff. Fresh air and smiling Blossoms. Wow. So enjoyable. Back home to start supper of Mozzerella Sticks and veggiesm (easy food!) and get them in the shower and watch Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang.
Ya, we missed Daddy. But, I enjoyed them. I tried hard not to work. (Yes, this is very difficult for me.) And I tried to slow down and do stuff with them. So, so, so, so enjoyable. And wonder of wonders, Daddy came home early next afternoon. WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND!
Friday night kicked off with pizza out with Grandma. I've always loved Dives... Hole In the Wall type restaurants. There's one drawback. The high chairs don't always have safety straps. I realize that some children never realize this fact. Sort've like the hog that's held in by an electric fence that's never turned on after the 2 weeks he was shocked by it when he was a piglet. This concept doesn't work for my Blossoms though. Baby Blossom instinctively knew that there was no child restraint straps. My friends, she was out of that high chair and crawling across the table in one half of a second. So, I tied her in with her hat and a blanket. Oh yes I did. The pizza was awesome, by the way. And then, Grandma Game Night (as opposed to Family Game Night). Want some laughs? Try playing Charades with an 8yr old, 6yr old and 4yr old. Oh, and Pick Up Sticks - with pretzel sticks. Fun! And tasty too!
Saturday morning dawned with a fun breakfast. Monsters Inc cereal - on special from the local bent-n-dent store - bursting with marshmallows and sugary goodness. I manage to work on some invites for my sis-in-law's baby shower and then we loaded up to head out to a local Doll Clothes Store. It was amazing! Proof positive that American Girl dollies don't have to be dressed up in expensive clothes and accessories to be fun. I believe they declared it, "The Best Place On Earth." Believe it or not, I enjoyed walking around the store 10+ times so every Blossom could decide what they were buying with their money. (That and the fact that my little girl self enjoyed the dolly ball gowns and teal cowboy boots and such.)
Home for lunch... mmmmm, boxed mac n cheese... do you see a theme here? Easy food = happy mommy and happy Blossoms... and RELAXED Mommy... after naptime, voila - it's gorgeous outside... hmmmm... I loaded up the muddy bikes and off we drove to the park for some bike-riding. I can't believe how much Blossom3 improved since last summer. I couldn't keep up to her anymore, which probably means she doesn't need me... sniff, sniff. Fresh air and smiling Blossoms. Wow. So enjoyable. Back home to start supper of Mozzerella Sticks and veggiesm (easy food!) and get them in the shower and watch Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang.
Ya, we missed Daddy. But, I enjoyed them. I tried hard not to work. (Yes, this is very difficult for me.) And I tried to slow down and do stuff with them. So, so, so, so enjoyable. And wonder of wonders, Daddy came home early next afternoon. WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND!
Friday, March 7, 2014
Just a little tip
Once, what seems like long ago, I told you all about my "staff of slaves"... the twenty-first century kind! A dustbuster is one of those slaves. In case you're wondering, this is the one we own and we love it. That's sorta beside the point right now though.
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-CHV1210-Dustbuster-Cordless/dp/B004WTE7WC/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1393703645&sr=8-11&keywords=black+and+decker+dustbuster
What I wanted to share with you is a nifty little trick that I'm sure you MUST need if you're a Mommy and you have drawers in your kitchen... and if your chilluns help at all in the kitchen (and sometimes, even if they don't). Have you noticed those corners of crumbs in your drawers? Long ago when I had "only one or two" children, once or twice a year, I deep cleaned everything.
I mean E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.
Now, not so much. We clean. We keep things tidy. Nay to deep, deep cleaning.
So, those crumby drawers never get dumped out and wiped down and beautified. But, I'm not quite sure they need to be anymore. Every so often when I notice those crumby corners, I either grab the dustbuster or call for a Blossom to grab a dustbuster, and one of us gets after those crumby corners. Let me just say that you can take care of all the drawers in your kitchen (without emptying it of its contents!) in less than five minutes. Clean doesn't have to mean a lot of time. Whip out your dustbuster and tackle those crumby corners! It'll make you smile the next time you're searching for your can opener.
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-CHV1210-Dustbuster-Cordless/dp/B004WTE7WC/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1393703645&sr=8-11&keywords=black+and+decker+dustbuster
What I wanted to share with you is a nifty little trick that I'm sure you MUST need if you're a Mommy and you have drawers in your kitchen... and if your chilluns help at all in the kitchen (and sometimes, even if they don't). Have you noticed those corners of crumbs in your drawers? Long ago when I had "only one or two" children, once or twice a year, I deep cleaned everything.
I mean E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.
Now, not so much. We clean. We keep things tidy. Nay to deep, deep cleaning.
So, those crumby drawers never get dumped out and wiped down and beautified. But, I'm not quite sure they need to be anymore. Every so often when I notice those crumby corners, I either grab the dustbuster or call for a Blossom to grab a dustbuster, and one of us gets after those crumby corners. Let me just say that you can take care of all the drawers in your kitchen (without emptying it of its contents!) in less than five minutes. Clean doesn't have to mean a lot of time. Whip out your dustbuster and tackle those crumby corners! It'll make you smile the next time you're searching for your can opener.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
From Friends
I have interactions with many levels of friendships in my life. From just-met acquaintances to known-you-all-your life bosom friends, I've been noticing that there's always something I can learn and glean from people. My most recent gleanings have been accumulating inside my brain. I thought you might like to be privy to them.
- You may be tired and not feel like it, but laugh anyway. The moment you smile, you'll feel better.
- Having a teaching degree isn't what qualifies a person to homeschool their children. Being willing to make sacrifices for a wholesome, Godly education is the biggest qualifier for homeschooling one's children.
- With regards to curriculum, pick something and stick with it through the long haul. It might not seem or feel like it's working, but with persistence, it is.
- Shoot straight with people, even if it's your kids that are trying to deceive themselves.
- Say what you think you really should say. If you shouldn't say it, don't say it. That way, you don't have to second guess yourself later.
Many of my friends are not necessarily in the same season of life as I am. I wanted to write down these nuggets of wisdom, so I can better remember them later. Iron sharpens iron, after all.
- You may be tired and not feel like it, but laugh anyway. The moment you smile, you'll feel better.
- Having a teaching degree isn't what qualifies a person to homeschool their children. Being willing to make sacrifices for a wholesome, Godly education is the biggest qualifier for homeschooling one's children.
- With regards to curriculum, pick something and stick with it through the long haul. It might not seem or feel like it's working, but with persistence, it is.
- Shoot straight with people, even if it's your kids that are trying to deceive themselves.
- Say what you think you really should say. If you shouldn't say it, don't say it. That way, you don't have to second guess yourself later.
Many of my friends are not necessarily in the same season of life as I am. I wanted to write down these nuggets of wisdom, so I can better remember them later. Iron sharpens iron, after all.
Monday, March 3, 2014
5 Reasons I Want to be Like my Husband
The Rugged, Mountain Man's birthday was February 23rd.
I had great intentions of writing this as the crowning touch to his special day. Alas, dipping homemade Mr. Goodbars and whipping up my specialty, Raspberry Cheesecake may have taken up much of the time. That, and the usual weekend catch-up chores.
(Can you see who's the photographer of the family and who is not?)
But, I'd been thinking about the Rugged, Mountain Man's virtues and I realized,
I want to be more like my husband.
He is patient. I want to be more patient.
He is consistent. I want to be more consistent.
He is thoughtful in how he cares for his Girlies. I want to be more thoughtful.
He is unapologetic about the things that matter. I want to be less apologetic about those things too.
He is cautious about big decisions. I want to be more cautious.
So, Lord, make me more like my husband.
I'll follow him as he follows Christ.
(Photo Credit to Naomi Elle Photography)
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