Fire Chief

I was so happy to come home from work and find these pics! Proof that my little guy had fun while I was away!

Nakai as "stylist"

Nakai was thrilled and delighted when Teah agreed to let him be her "hair stylist!"...he's always looking for someone to play with him and he loved this idea! Teah was a great patron and only said "ouch" a few times! I'm proud of her!

SMILE

who could look at this face and NOT smile? :)

Computer time!

It's been a long time since Nakai enjoyed computer time...we've been outside all summer and fall! He said to me the other day, "mama, when is it my turn to play on the computer?" I thought about it and couldn't think of a reason not to, so I told him, "right now!" He was thrilled...we got on www.starfall.com (a wonderful pre-reading resource) and had a blast!!! Then a short stop at www.pbskids.org and computer time was over! It felt good to tell this little guy yes for a change!

Remembering the Dinos

It was time for us to disassemble the collage we made after visiting the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History and Nakai enjoyed remembering all the different exhibits we saw! Thanks for helping, little guy!

"I can do Magic!"

Nakai is the greatest magician ever! At least for today :) He woke up and asked me to tie on his cape and then he was off to perfect some great magic tricks. We enjoyed the tricks all day long! I'm glad he's entering the imaginative world!

Helping out

"I just have to tighten this one part, mom."
"It's still wiggly."
"maybe I have to bang it."

I just love these pictures. It's like total dejavu for me because I have a set of pictures of this same table being put together for the first time and Teah is the one under the chair helping to put it together! Funny to see Nakai in the same situation. What a feeling of pride and accomplishment he experienced in being able to help fix something for his family! They learn all the time!

water painting

Water painting is such a fun thing to do on a hot day! Just fill a big bowl with water and hand over a dosing syringe (since we don't use them for meds, we might as well play with them, right?) and you will make your little one so happy! Nakai just played and played all morning, writing his name, squirting water towards the sun, drawing funny faces, you name it, we did it!

Sticker Fun!

Stickers still provide hours of fun for this little guy!

Edible Fingerpaint

So, I would like to try this recipe and see how well it goes over. I probably will not encourage my children to eat it though...since it has that food coloring in it...but, perhaps we could substitute some cocoa powder, or spirulina, or beet juice for color? Hmmm...something to consider..
Anyway, here's the recipe: (I'll let you know how it turns out)


1/4 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups milk (or 1cup milk and 1 cup water)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla or almond extract (to make it smell yummy)


Mix all ingredients except vanilla in a saucepan and boil for one minute.

Then stir in vanilla.

After letting it cool a few minutes, put into 5 RECYCLED yogurt cups and add food coloring.

Fun, Fun, Fun :)

Walking, walking, walking

Nakai is getting a bit too big for this stroller!
Look, a goose family!
My little litter hawk!

We woke up with some energy and decided to see how it would be to walk through our day. We walked Teah and Nolan to school, found a shortcut through the woods (avoiding the traffic and road), spotted several birds, rabbits and squirrels and smiled the whole time. Then we came back home and encouraged Andy to walk to the grocery store with us to pick up some acidophilus milk that I had forgotten on my trip the day before. We brought along the stroller just in case Nakai got tired and because there is one stretch that we have to be on the side of a very busy three lane road and I feel more secure if he's restrained and safe! So, we walked down our new found wooded shortcut and into town. Nakai was amazed that we'd walked the whole way to a streetlight! He could'nt believe we were walking (strolling) where the cars drive. We finally made it to the walkway where we began our three mile journey to the grocery store. We really enjoyed our walk, it was a beautiful morning, lots of folks were out....we saw a blue heron, some doves, cardinals, a blue jay and a sweet goose family that we stopped to look at and count. We took a rest halfway under a nice little pergola. We finally made it to the store, got the milk and Nakai decided we needed tea and chai for the way home...I agreed! We got a few other things too, since we were there and had a cooler under the stroller. Then everyone went potty and we started to head back. We kept a very comfortable, casual pace and really tried to soak up the positivity in our day. We picked up trash all along the way. People are such slobs and have zero respect for our earth mother... We made it back home just in time to take Nakai to preschool! Hard to believe a trip to the store took almost three hours! Made me really thankful that we don't HAVE to walk to the grocery store, but also confident and empowered that we could if we did have to. And you know what? I'm thinking about doing it once or twice a week just because, once school is out. It's good for us and saves on gas. And what a fun way to spend a morning together!

Walking...it's a good thing! (Do I sound like Martha Stewart?)

Aliyah sleeps over!

Nakai had his friend Aliyah sleep over recently (her older sister also slept over with Teah) and had a great time! They played and played everything from babies to rescue heroes. She even came to his soccer game (above)! I was surprised at how easy it really was to have five children here overnight. We went to the playground, played outside at home, ate dinner, watched a movie, went to sleep...pretty uneventful. I'm glad they enjoyed each other's company.

Jack Be Jimble

Nakai learned a new nursery rhyme at school today. He recited it for me with composure, focus and concentration:

"Jack be jimble,

Jack be sick,

Jack jump-ed over

the candlestick."

I asked him over and over to repeat it....and I tried reciting it for him....so did his teacher...to no avail...."jack be jimble" he corrected us....adamently!

I love this age!

Table play

We played at the table all morning today! Nakai woke up and grabbed these transformers and had serious dialogue surrounding them that just had to come out! He's so much fun! I enjoy my mornings with him so much more now that he's away in the afternoons!

backhoes and four wheelers

What more could a four-year old boy ask for?

Andy took Nakai out to visit his parents and apparently they had tons of "boy" fun!

Daycare?

Finding eggs
"I found one!"
"Did I get ten yet?"

Yes, Nakai started going to daycare. It is in the local hospital. He went for three weeks. I had to finally face the fact that I was going to have to find some work outside of the house. I decided I would try and work within the school district so the hours would be the same as the children's. I was accepted as a substitute teacher aide/cafeteria aide (yes, the lunch lady!) for the local elementary schools. I just had to wait for my clearances to come in. In the meantime, I decided to look into care for Nakai and get that lined up and him acclimated while I had time to be "on call" and see how he adapted. Well, the hospital was the only place with an opening before August (when school is no longer in session), so against my better judgement I enrolled him. He went from 9-4 (so long) Mon-Fri. He didn't really like it, I didn't really like it, but I felt I had to do it. Well, I finally pulled him out when I showed up and found the staff watching television...and not only tv, but the news, in front of the children! I was devastated about it. We all know the effects of harmful media on children. Especially fatal media stories about children. Anyway, so I pulled him immediately and reported the center to the state licensing agency. He now attends a preschool program at an elementary school five half-days per week. I am happy, he's happy, the program is high-quality with excellent staff and programming and I can still work half a day. All is well.

Valentine's Day Party!

Nakai is ready to join Nolan at school!
He got to sit with Nolan at his table...
He felt so grown and part of the group!
He was polite and enjoyed the snacks and games.

Nakai got a dose of Kindergarten fun when he came along with me to host Nolan's Valentine's Day party. The class was really nice to him and made him feel comfortable. Nolan took him under his wing and showed him the ropes. He had a really nice time!

Montessori

So, many of you know how devoted I am to Rudolph Steiner and his philosophy on child development...Waldorf, Waldorf, Waldorf! However, you may not remember (or know) that I was also initially interested in the Montessori Method. Recently, while cleaning out a box of educational resources, I came upon a notebook in which I had written many, many notes on various types of preschool/early childhood approaches. I'd like to record them here and pitch (or pass on) the notes.

Montessori Toys:

• matreshka dolls
• color paddles
• jacks
• pick up sticks
• chinese checkers
• cylinder blocks
• sorting tray and shells
• hammer board
• lacing board
• The Farm
• rubber band car
• catapult ball tilt
• sound tubes
• temperature bottles
• sound track listening game
• swedish angel chimes
• 8 cooperative games

Three Main areas of "Practical Life" activities:

1. Care of the environment-

cleaning, sweeping, washing clothes, gardening, etc.

2. Care of the person-

dressing, brushing teeth, cooking, setting the table, etc.

3. Grace and courtesy-

walking carefully, carrying things, moving gracefully, offering food, saying "please and thank you" and so on.

Maria Montessori believed that "school time" (for the preschooler) should be no more than 1 1/2 -2 hrs. and should be at the same time each day.

Children should have child-sized chair and table with tablecloth, child-sized cleaning equipment.

Chores for preschool aged children:

-empty the wastebaskets

-cleaning their room

-putting away groceries

• Busy Board or dressing frame

You will need an old shirt front with buttons on one side and holes on the other. Cut the shirt front to the size of a board and staple on.

Present to child in buttoned up state

Take it apart slowly while child watches, then reassemble slowly.

Let child count the buttons, feel the fabric and then attempt to button the shirt on their own.

• Pouring Rice

You will need a tablecloth, small tray holding a small glass and a small pitcher(or a one cup plastic measuring cup) which is half filled with rice.

Point out the various objects and name them.

Grasp pitcher handle with first two fingers and thumb.

Grasp glass with other hand.

Pour from pitcher to glass.

Repeat until performed "perfectly".

• Dusting

You will need a duster (feather or fleece mitt), wastebasket and dusty table

Notice dust on the table.

Brush away from the body with the duster working from the near to the far side.

Dust table legs and sides as well as top.

Pick up anything that interferes and dust under them, not around.

Put everything back in order.

Shake duster into wastecan. (or take fleece mitt to washer)

Purpose: To learn that dust, which gathers daily, must be eliminated...and to learn neatness and responsibility of keeping things neat and clean. Control of error: If not done properly, some dust will remain.

• Folding a Napkin

You will need a square napkin.

Lay napkin flat on table.

Bring sides together.

To make an oblong, fold once again. To make a triangle, place diagonal corners together.

Flatten crease with hand.

As you make folds, mention to your child the names of the shapes you are forming.

• Setting A table

You will need a table, silverware, placemats and napkins.

Place mats on table.

Arrange silverware, explaining where each piece goes.

The first few times work with just the knife and fork.

Then add the spoon and napkin.

Add other things as child becomes adept at the basics (ex. salt &pepper, plates, cups, flowers, etc.)

• Bottles & Tops

You will need 4-6 bottles or jars of different sizes with tops.

Place on table in front of child.

Slowly and silently unscrew tops and then replace them.

First do them in order then mix tops and let child do the same.

• Sewing

use wool or burlap and wool or cotton thread and allow child to use a running stitch to sew along an outlined shape.

Sew large buttons on fabric.

Show how to thread a needle and knot thread.

The Three-Period lesson

First Period: Recognition of identity make the association between the object being shown and it's name. "This is ___________." Repeat until you feel the child understands.

Second Period: Recognition of contrasts to assure the child understands, say "Give me the ________________."

Third Period: Discrimination between similar objects. See if child remembers the name himself. point to the various objects saying, "Which one is this?" He should be able to say the name correctly. If not, help him. Repeat until he's able to do it.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
~Albert Einstein

Fingerpaint recipe

Mix together:
1 c. laundry starch
1c. cold water
3c. soap flakes
Add a small drop of food color

Voila! paint away :)

I wonder if an all-natural version could be made by using potato starch or corn starch and spirulina for color? ....hmmm..maybe next week during painting time!

More rhythm fun

clap clap stomp
clap clap stomp
clap clap stomp
(do this yourself, then with your child, then see if your child can do it alone!)

Then:
clap stomp clap stomp
clap clap clap stomp
stomp stomp clap


These are like tongue twisters for your body!

rhythm drills

Clap your hands
On the beat
steady sounds
are so neat


clap your hands
on the beat
stead y sounds
are so neat
clap to the beat

Monkey in truck

Nakai has been zooming this little guy around for days now.

Toga Wrestler

Doesn't he look fierce? Really. Wrestling has been so on the brain for Nakai ever since our friends Isaac and Skylar last visited! Isaac is wrestling this year and entertained us all with his skill! Apparently, Nakai is also getting a dose of wrestling action at his dad's house....

Sir...Lancelot?

Nakai has been so very, very, very, very, very into being a knight lately. He swears that his name is Sir Lancelot and he rides around with his helmet on his wooden horse, defending the honor of me, a Princess! (hey, at least someone still treats me like royalty..I'll take it:)

Gonna be a rock star?

Perhaps! This was taken on a day when his Papa stopped by to hang out and ended up giving an impromptu music lesson! ahem...okay, maybe he had a little persuasion from me, but really, I did get the wee ones new instruments for Christmas, and everyone knows I'm not musical...

Gotta start 'em early

sewing, of course!
these lacing cards are great for hand-eye coordination
just look at these guys, both gettin stitchy!
makes a mama's heart so, so glad!

I've been knitting a lot lately, trying to hone my skill and all. I also make a point to do it around the children to show them an example of how to fill your down time, your quiet time...to give them ideas of positive ways to be still....

So, on this particular snowy day, Andy and I were knitting while Nakai was building a a marble run and then some connecting flower motorcycles (his own creation). After awhile he announced he needed someone to build for him because he was tired of building. We told him that he didn't have to build anymore, he could take a rest, look at a book, listen to music, try his hand at sewing, or just hang out and talk to us. A short time later, he went and found the basket of lacing cards and brought it over and began to lace...his focus and determination were evident, but it didn't take long for him to get into a rhythm and relax with it. I could hear his breath slow and see his posture relax. He was so proud of his work! And...I was so proud of him:)

The Pitter Patter of Little Feet

feet full of four year old energy

feet quiet and still

i love the pitter patter of little feet. All the time. Even in the middle of the night as they're coming towards my bed....(if they're not already there:)

I know that the sound won't always be there....someday there will be no more pitter patter...and I'm sure I'll miss it when it's gone.

Magnetic wonder

Nakai was entertaining himself on my bed and watching me roll my knotty head after a shower when suddenly he said, "look mommy, my cool race car is in triangle jail"...

Okay, so maybe I'm the only one who is excited about this...not the jail part, silly, the triangle part. Okay, remember weeks ago when we were working on shapes? It's always rewarding for me to realize that retention is taking place! I didn't even have to stage a recall lesson...Yippee!

Nakai loves these Magnetix...little magnets with little silver balls...you build with them...very open ended....I love those little magnets, they are sticking on every metallic surface throughout my house. Those little balls though....they...are another story. They are not used in building structures as suggested on the package. No, no...they are used to zing across the floor as mommy walks by (or anyone else for that matter)....when I sweep and mop, I must first pick up hundreds of those tiny silver balls. Yes, yes, the children could pick them up...if I weren't sweeping and mopping when they were away. They do a great job of tidying up, but somehow these little bitty balls seem to show up in the strangest places.

On a side note, these toys have also been recalled for being a choking hazard...something to do with swallowing them and having them attract to each other in the intestinal wall and perforating it...okay. So, I am hopeful that Nakai decides it's better to play with them than eat them because he really likes them. I don't want to send them back, but...

Teah always put things in her mouth...and still does...at age nine.

We'll see, but for now, they stay.

Sweetie face!

Clay play

We've been exploring different textures and consistencies of clay...today was a modeling clay (as opposed to natural clay, playdoh, play-dough,beeswax, bread dough) It took a bit of time for Nakai to understand that you really have to work it in your hands for awhile before you can create with it. We made snails and nests with eggs in them and a rainbow and then Nakai decided that it would be best if we just made balls!

Chillin with the computer

Nakai loves to play computer games while I sew at the sewing table. We're still hanging out together and we chat and sing and talk about how to make words and listen to starfall books and put together robots on wow wow wubzy. It makes for a chill afternoon. Once we've done errands and some reading, some YMCA time, we're ready to enjoy the craft room and yes, the computer!

Soccer anyone?

Can you see that the shingards are different? And that one is upside down? He's definitely ready:)
look at that action shot!
"wow, it went right past me!"
Puttin on the brakes!

It is time once again to sign up for rec soccer. My children are all thrilled, but none as happy as Nakai! It is his first season to play after being a tag-a-long for two whole seasons. He's ecstatic! When I asked him if he wanted to play, he said, "be right back, mom." He came down and he was ready! He had found the packed away soccer bag and donning two different shinguards and cleats, holding a ball, announced he was ready to go and play soccer with his team! "Where is my shirt and my coach?" He asked.....I then had to explain that though it was indeed time for signing up, soccer was actually still two months away. Poor guy, he was crushed. So, we played soccer together, since he was dressed for it and all...