'tis the season....

 In Arizona, and in Florida baseball season has begun.  Its Spring Training time, and man do we need to get my boy to a game!   Recently I found Cyrus playing his own game of baseball.  Hitting the ball across the yard, throwing bat in triumph, running in a wide circle, finding the ball, finding the bat, and starting over again.  Back and forth, back and forth.

(He wasn't thrilled about my photo shoot)

I am in awe at his natural born sense of hand-eye coordination.  (He so didn't get that from me)  I love his determined stride.  I envy  how he loses himself in his self created imaginary world.  I could watch that satisfied smile of his as he successfully hits the ball all day long.  What an adorable little guy.

Gratitude Monday...

What I am loving today....

~Strawberries!

(Fresh, homemade jam, on ice cream, in smoothies, and with cream)

~Books for sale at the library

(children's book are .50 cents, and I find the coolest stuff!)

~A girl who likes to plan her future birthday parties as much as I do!

(we have some very exciting plans)

~A baby who goes bananas for bath time!

(he squeals and wiggles so hard I can hardly get him into the water safely)

~A boy who is very excited about his birthday party...

(only 12 more days 'till his FOURth birthday party!)

~A partner who is a genius...

(he switched my Cannon camera lens with my Sony camera, and now I wont lose it!

I know that some of you will get how awesome this was for me)

~homemade pizza

(the sauce, the crust, everything is so perfect!)

~Weekends spent at home

(except for a quick trip to the library. of course.)

~Having books to read again!!!

(Let's hear it for a new teen fantasy romance series!)

Here's to the start of a new week, the end of February and the start of March!

One moment please...

My C,L, and G week wrap up will be up and running soon...  Blogger has decided that I may not post my photos in the format I want them.  Boo to that!  I'm going to wait a few hours, and I'm sure everything will work itself out soon.. Until then...

Here's a photo shoot with my ridiculous children.  You know the scene... You are trying to get things done.  Maybe take a picture or two.  You give the baby a banana and put him in a highchair to keep him happy and occupied.  Your children plead to have pictures taken of them.  You agree.  One acts like a spaceship, or randomly points out his eye.  One tries her best to pose.  One (the baby) looks rather confused as to why every one is sooo close, yet not really paying him proper attention.  On it goes.

These are among the hundreds (thousands? yep.) of photos that no one will ever see.  Until blogger messes with you, and you figure... oh what the hell...

Dirty boys..

 When it comes to children exploring their outside world, I am pretty hands off.  Very hands off.  Once they reach a certain age (Is 8ish months too early?)  I like to let them out there, and let them go.

Cyrus, in February 2007 went for it.  Face first.  I think he looks like a chocolate bear, but its mud.  He was way too happy for me to worry about it.

Sol, in February 2011 was a bit more methodical than his older brother.  Shoving fist fulls of debris in his little mouth, but for the most part staying upright.

 Of the two of them I think Sol looks dirtier.  (It's probably the runny eyes and nose of his cold)  In the end one thing is true... I love me some dirty babies!

Here's to getting out there and exploring our world, face, fist, or feet first!

someone like her...

To say that today was 'one of those days' barely even covers things.  I stumble and fall from my path of gentle (intuitive) parenting sometimes.  I am learning (everyday) to be a mother, and I try (every day) to thank Ava for teaching me to be a better person.  I'm so grateful that I have someone like her.  She is gentle, she has a great sense of humor, and she is so very clever.

and she is growing up SO fast.

A guide to playing games...

Here's the definitive guide to playing games... (inspired by a 6 year old)

Step one
 ~The hostesses must don her most festive party wear

Step Two
~Set your table with your best settings (hand crafted is preferable)

Step Three
~Lay out the game table (It's preferable to use all of the game pieces, from all of the games.  Complicated rules that change at random insure a good time for all)

Step Four
~Invite all your friends  (Try to time the party around the nap time of any guests who may eat game pieces, and place settings)

Step Five
~Go nuts!

Gratitude Monday...

What I am loving today...

~A baby with sparkling eyes...
(that are either brown, grey, or green...)

~A little girl who holds my hand...
(she makes an excellent shopping partner)

~A boy who loves to snuggle and be held...
(I don't know how long this will last, so I treasure each and every moment)

~A partner who bumbles through his weekend
(I'll bumble right along side him)

~Auntie Mame..

~Rose champagne, and Italian food...

~Online shopping...
(and waiting for packages!)

~Planning a birthday party for my soon to be Four year old boy!

Here's to a shiny new week!

~The Great Backyard Bird Count...
(this marks the 4th consecutive year that I've managed to miss it.  Damn)

G week wrap up...

This week in our school we....

Worked with the letter G....

 

In Poetry...

For our poem of the week we learned the Song of the Gorse Fairy, by Cicely Mary Barker, and colored the Gorse Fairy coloring page.

For our poem of the month Ava continued to work with me on The Return, by Barbara Juster Esbensen.  She thinks is very funny that I haven't memorized it as quickly as she has.

Our theme this week...

We talked about the changes in trees from Winter to Spring.  We read about the changing season's in Vermont's North East Kingdom in one of my favorite stories From Dawn till Dusk, by Natalie Kinsey-Warnok.  We talked about the special gift that Sugar Maples give to us this time of year and read From Maple Trees to Maple Syrup, and Buster's Sugartime.  We had several activities planned to go along with this theme, including making maple candy.. but...We are in the beginning of the best time of year here, and no one wants to stay inside.  We'll see if we get to anything else on my list, I don't mind if we do.

In Nature Study...

While we were outside enjoying Anna The Apple Tree's new blossoms I was able to point out some of the ways we can see Anna grew over the winter.  (which was actually one of my planned activities!)

In Math...

~We reviewed the "+" sign

~Added using tally marks

~Introduced the "=" sing

~Started writing equations using tally marks

~We learned to add quantities based around 5

~Learned the term equals

~Converted tally marks to numerals

~Started writing and reading equations using numerals

~Made abacus bracelets (just for fun)

In Art Study...

We examined Cattleya Orchid and Three Brazilian Hummingbirds, by Martin Johnson Heade.  Ava was thrilled to finally get to this painting. She spent a very long time exploring every corner.  She likes the way that the artist used pink through out the picture.  She loves the shining ruby neck, and tail feathers of the humming birds.  She noticed how delicate the eggs and nest are, and said she was glad for them that the storm appeared to be passing.  She adores the large pink orchid.

We didn't get to most of the art, and science projects I had planned.  And that is really okay with me.  Its one of the great things about learning at home....  When the backyard calls, we can answer it!

Of pink, and yellow and white...

 Ava was thrilled to announce that Anna, her beloved apple tree has started her spring bloom...

It turns out that my broccoli has also started to flower.  (Oppsie.  It's okay, broccoli flower is quite tasty)

Cyrus taught me how to blow "wish makers"...

Sol stayed safely inside.  Where he found a stick to eat.  (damn my horrible house keeping skills)

A garden is an endless source of joy.  And every season is such a treat.

Our Valentine's...

We decorated, we feasted, we celebrated love with everything we are.  We exchanged handmade valentines that ranged from thoughtful to silly, but all heartfelt.  Matt and I gifted our children with small tokens.  We decorated our home and our table with festive cheer.  We ate heart shaped(ish) pizza.  Some of us had wine, others had our favorite soda.  We enjoyed decadence at its candy apple best.  We each took a special heart and started a new tradition, writing what we love about our family to go on our "love tree".  Our day, our evening was simply lovely.