Summer Fun

 This summer we visited our old hometown in the Bay Area.  We were mainly visiting family, but we took a couple of days, just the 6 of us, in Santa Cruz.  We stayed at the Dream Inn-which I highly recommend.  We had a wonderful time!
  Now that summer is ending I came up with a way to keep vacation fresh, at least on Dotty's shelves.  What I did was print a picture of her doing something at the Boardwalk and make it the theme of a shelf.  Take a look....

This is the bi-plane ride she loved.  I found this wooded bi-plane online and added a sticker book.

Of course the carousel is a favorite!  We have a book, two figurines and a cd of carousel music.  (The music is fabulous and as soon as you hear it you are there.)

This is of course a beach theme.  Big plastic storage bin, play sand, seashells, and a bucket.  We keep this one for use on our porch.

I am so excited to create more activities based on her experiences, helping her engage in the present by reflecting on the past.  

For The Love Of The Bob

At 2yr and 4mos. Dotty was overdue for a haircut.  I had trimmed her bangs in one quick snip a few months ago, but this time we took her to my friend and hairdresser Kari. 

Here is her after picture.  Cute as a button!  She even got some sparkles to go with her lollipop.

  I am a big fan of my girls wearing short hair.  We do not have to use bottles of No More Tangles just to brush their hair each morning and it is out of their way.   Of course about age 6 they want to begin growing it out.  I am always a little sad when that happens and have said that is why I keep having babies, so I can bob their hair.

Gracie

I couldn't resist adding these pictures of my other little girls with their bobs.

Pearl

Look at that amazing a-line, on a 2 year old!

Ruth

Many years before Miss Suri Cruise brought it back into fashion.

Preparing For The Dragon

I am sharing this post from my School In A Pink House blog.  Even if you don't homeschool it is fun to celebrate Chinese New Year.

I love that our Asia continent theme coincides with the upcoming Chinese New Year.  In addition my oldest daughter will be 15 on January 22nd, and Grace will be 7 on January 28th.  We have decided to give their combined family party a Year Of The Dragon theme.  Party favors will be the lucky red envelopes each with two dollars inside.  We will make one great big dragon out of cupcakes, play pin the tail on the dragon, eat moon cakes and extra long noodles (long noodle = long life).  Decorations will be red and gold accented with fresh flowers and fruit-tangerines, with leaves intact, and persimmons.  The girls have been at work making dragon cut outs for invitations.
You can see our past Chinese New Year celebration here.

For our family it is difficult to keep all Asian countries represented as we study Asia.  Last week we focused heavily on Japan.  We naturally lean towards Chinese themes.  My husband has a background of experience in Chinese arts and language.  It is a country he and I have travelled to and plan to take the girls.  I am trying though!  This week we added yoga cards to our Asia shelves as a little shout out to India and tonight we are cooking Thai food for dinner.

As for today, I decided to capitalize on the girls wanting to play store, and set up shop for school today.  We found items from around the house and priced them using Chinese numbers.  To make it simple we started with 1, 2, and 3.  Later we added 8 and 10.  Using play money (U.S.) I gave the girls a certain amount and they had to spend it all.  Lots of math was happening!  Grace is beginning to understand and count money, but needs practice skip counting so I kept all her work in increments of 10 or 2.  What I am sure they enjoyed the most was Mama playing store with them, providing just the enthusiasm we needed.

You can look forward to a post on our origami work and our new Montessori Asia map.   Next up I want to introduce haiku and Pearl will begin Rosetta Stone Chinese.  I'll keep you posted!

 Here are three of my favorite picture books from our continent shelves:

Ruby's Wish

How My Parents Learned To Eat

The Girl Who Wore Too Much

In The Kitchen For Christmas

Last Saturday was the big baking day.  My girls and I, along with Solanah and Dana, spent hours in the kitchen loving every minute of it.  We made; white apricot fudge, red velvet fudge, pistachio tart, scones, vegan cupcakes, chocolate pretzels, brownies and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.  Needless to say I have some happy neighbors now that the goodies were given away. 

Ruthie cooking the fudge

Pistachio tart

White apricot fudge

Red velvet fudge

A few days later the girls and I were in the kitchen again.  This time building gingerbread houses.

We are counting down to Xmas using the alphabet (started Nov. 30th) and it was G for gingerbread day.  We have done a for angel, b for baby, c for caramel apples, d for delicious (as seen above) e for elf, and f for fun.

Most recipes can be found on my Pinterest page

Toddler Project

Look at that concentration!

Dotty (2) enjoyed this tray.  It is simple to set up.  You need:

1. Marbles
2. Small tongs (fingers can be used)
3. Dish to hold marbles
4. Bathtub gripper, with the little suction cups

Set it up where the marbles are on the left suction cups on right-left to right, just like when reading.

I like putting it all on a tray to keep the marbles from rolling away.

It also makes a nice gift!

Mad For Plaid (and Dots!)

I am super excited for Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Mini collection for Target.

It is due out November 13.  I hope to get each of my girls coordinating plaid pieces for our Christmas pictures. 

Makes me wish for a boy!  I might have to find one to buy this for.

 As a mama who has had babies spaced over the past 15 years I can't tell you how happy I am with the direction children's clothing has gone.  Everything I once had to order from catalogues- as internet was still pretty new, is now available so easily.  Just finding leopard baby clothes was rare when my oldest was born. 

How perfect for my little Dotty?!  Too bad it isn't functional now that she is toiletted.

Things We Do After Naps

Inspiration for "Things We Do After Naps" from Sew Liberated.  This is one of my absolute favorite blogs and Meg is the mother I long to be.  If you have never visited Sew Liberated, do it!

In true Pink House style, once again we are in the kitchen!

I have four daughters and only one, Dotty, is nap age.  (she turned two last month)  Dot almost always wakes up hungry.  The first place we go is the kitchen table where a snack is waiting.  A lot of times she needs to sit on my lap as she transitions back to the land of wakefulness.  An activity set out on the table also helps.  After a few snuggles she is ready to go!

   

Our homemade Halloween play dough made an appearance twice this week.

Nap time is also when I can get some cooking done.  I try to have one thing the older girls can prepare.  If they are still working when Dot gets up she will skip her snack in order to get right in on the action. 

This day we made pumpkin cinnamon rolls.

We changed things up one afternoon and instead of a snack in the kitchen, we had a tea party outdoors.

Acorn Hats

This time of year we find a lot of acorns on our walks.  We collected more than we needed for our nature table and found this craft to take care of the rest.  

You need: acorn tops, pom poms, feathers and glue.

Kitchen Helpers

My girls always want to help in the kitchen.  They are never too young.  

Dotty came in while I was making dinner and I needed to come up with ways she could work along side of me.  

Adding cucumbers to the salad

Buttering bread for toasting (notice the bites)

This was my favorite and completely spontaneous-breaking spaghetti noodles and putting them in a bowl

Blueberry Mama

Not only is Blueberries for Sal one of my favorite children's books, the mother in the story has a style I love.   As fall approaches I begin to think of cardigans, Pendleton skirts and loafers as perfect mom attire.  I plan to hit up a few thrift stores here in town to freshen up my fall wardrobe.  

Written in 1948, it reflects classic timelessness.  If you haven't had the pleasure of reading this book I highly recommend you check it out.  Here in the Pacific Northwest blueberries are everywhere this time of year making it the perfect time to re-read Blueberries For Sal.

Why I Homeschool Repost

It occurs to me that I haven't answered the question of why I homeschool our children.  Not only have I not answered it on my blog, I have always had a hard time putting it into words.  I am going to attempt to do that now.

First let me tell you what homeschooling is for us. The activities of our family are the foundation of our girl's education.  This education that began at birth fostered in an environment of love and caring (for oneself and the world).  Our home environment is carefully prepared, created to be rich artistically, culturally and scientifically.  The world outside of our door was also created to foster curiosity and if you yield to that curiosity and spend time exploring it, education happens.  Education that is not forced but rather is a result of living.  Living and learning should not be separated.  I in no way wish to recreate school in our home.

I have yet to find my niche within the homeschooling world.  Some people think I homeschool because we follow Jesus.  No.  That doesn't make sense to me because as Christians we are to live in the world not create our own little bubble.  I do not use 'curriculum'.  (the stringent time schedules and demands of certain popular curriculum sets I believe is the downfall to many a homeschooling moms)  We are not unschoolers in the truest since of the word.  My children attended Montessori preschool.  Having children attend preschool isn't the homeschooling norm-I am actually surprised at the amount of blogs dedicated to homeschooling preschoolers.   My oldest daughter chose to go to public school in the 6th grade.  We compromised on this because she was accepted into a small, wonderful,  arts magnet school very close to home. (Another time I will address this transition for her.)

Okay so why?  Why do we homeschool?  We chose to homeschool because I have no faith in the public school system.  I do not agree with 'No Child Left Behind' or what it has created in its' wake.  I put very little on standardized testing-although state law requires my children to be tested each year.  Historically public schooling is a relatively new concept begun with wonderful intentions, but it has gone off track.  It is my belief that parents are genetically designed to nurture and educate their children and children to learn from their parents.

My children are very social and can and do interact with people of all ages.  Well meaning family members have asked how they will be prepared for the 'real world' with out school.  It is a ridiculous question because the real world is not socializing with only people your own age in a competitive and rewards based environment that you have no choice but to attend.  Public schooling focuses on social behavior where we focus on social development.

All this said the main reason I homeschool is that I want my children to be cared for and about.  In turn I want them to care for and about others.  I do not see much of that in schools.  I read an article recently about the socialization of school age children.  It was so bothersome to me!  The article suggested peer rejection is caused by the rejected child's "social skill deficits" or "behavior problems" and gave parents tips on how to help their child become more socially accepted.   It was basically coaching you on how to get your child to conform to whatever the norm happens to be.    I disagree that most children which are rejected by their peers have something wrong with them that needs correcting.  I do not want my child to feel the need to conform to another's standards.  Why instead wouldn't we try to educate children that differences are okay.  I want my child to be respected as a person should their actions merit it and I feel this is lacking in our schools, child to child, teacher to child, and child to teacher.  In short public school would undermine the very qualities I hope to instill in my children.  Confidence.  Caring.  Curiosity.  Self motivation.  Peaceful.  Generous.  Honesty.  Humility.

I hope you don't think I am an over protective mother who shelters her children from life.  The girls are exposed to a lot.  They have seen birth-and know how the baby got there, watched death, lost loved ones to addictions and suicide, been exposed to the consequences of horrible accidents and cancer, we have travelled through out the States and Europe.  They spend a lot of time in a tattoo shop.  They know Chinese deities and Buddha, don't believe in Santa, believe in Jesus, are aware of Haiti and the recent oil spill, I could go on and on.  I just want you to know we are all for them experiencing life along side of us.  I just refuse to believe public school is "life".

And that is why I homeschool.

p.s.  We also now unchurch, having walked away from institutional religion for very similar reasons.

Montessori For Home: Hand Washing

I set up a hand washing station for Dorothy (20 mos.) earlier this summer.  I used her kitchen shelves-seen here before hand washing supplies.

She needed a step stool to be at the right height to reach the bowl.  Here is what you need to set up a hand washing station.

• medium sized basin (bowl)
• small pitcher
• water source
• small dish with travel sized soap
• bucket for used water
• hand towel
• apron

Model this for your child

1. put on an apron. (not necessary) 
2. use water dispenser to put water in the pitcher, (some mamas are more comfortable getting the water for their child)
3. pour the water into the basin
4. using soap, wash hands (love making bubbles!)
5. rinse in same water
6. dry hands on the towel-rehang towel
7. pour water out into the bucket (for us it is the big pot on the floor)
8. use towel to dry table, basin floor etc...

This will be messy.  Patiently help your child clean up spills.  It can be useful to place a towel on the floor for your child to stand on.  (less slippery)  They might spend a long time with the soap part, repeat parts over and over or lose interest in the middle.  This is all okay.  Be available but try not to hover.  I like to wait until help is asked for or absolutely needed.  

Activities like this one or drinking from a cup, feeding and dressing themselves require much more of you in the beginning.  More patience and a lot more clean up.  Persevere and within no time they will be able to do it with little or no assistance.

Little House on the Prairie

 Truthfully as a child I didn't read the Little House on the Prairie books and was completely devoted to the show.   The show, as many know, is about 10% based on Laura's books and 90% pure fiction.  That is fine with me, I have a deep respect for both.  As a young girl growing up in central California we weren't too far from Sonora, which was where on location filming for the show took place.  My mom, being her daughter's mother, booked us at the same motel the cast stayed at.  I think I was 8 years old.  We got to hang out at the pool with some cast and their children.  Here I am with Pa, Michael Landon himself.  

Yes I am trying to get away.  He was asking for a kiss.  This wasn't perverted, my mom was taking the picture...but it was creepy to me, so I refused.  My mom and aunts on the other hand were tripping over themselves to trade places with me.

Now as a mother we own all the dvd's and I love watching them with the girls.  I also read them the books.  So this summer's road trip to visit 2 original Laura Ingall's sites was coming full circle.  

Visiting her home in Mansfield, Mo. was amazing.  I can not believe how well preserved and accessible her home and museum are to the public.  It truly brought tears to my eyes standing there in the home she and Almanzo built together.  (I also got a lot of style inspiration!)

De Smet, South Dakota is also fabulous.  I can't believe we were in the actual surveyer's house where the Ingall's spent their first winter and that the Brewster school (Laura's first teaching job) and Loftus store (where they bought Pa's Christmas suspenders) are all there to explore.

The Ingall's Homestead was heaven.  It is the original land they homesteaded although all the structures have been moved or built there for tourist.  Because of this I thought it would be cheesy and I wouldn't like it... I loved it!  (But I do love cheesy)  The girls could run and play in barns with animals, drive a wagon team, have a lesson in an old school house, go into a sod house, pump water... you get the picture.   There were very few other people there and if I could live there I might.  I wondered why we go to Disneyland so often when a place like this exists.  

Ruth almost the same age Laura was when she taught

The house Pa Ingalls built-amazing artifacts inside

still in the same location

can't get this in a classroom

"whoa"

wash day

barn cats

Girls Love Pink Boots!

Dotty has been loving her pink cowgirl boots lately.  I had packed them away because she wasn't interested in them a few months ago.   (I think they may even be a little too small.)

Recently she came upon them in the garage and has had them on since. 

As you see I have my own and she is quite impressed that we match!  I have two more pair of children's  pink cowgirl boots.  I wish they fit the girls all at the same time, we would wear them with matching kerchiefs.