Wordless Wednesday

A Pippi Party

 She (we) did it! 

We finished reading The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking, and what an adventure it was...

To say Maggie's a Pippi fan might be putting it a bit lightly...she's Pippi obsessed. The other night she actually called me into her room to show me how she can sleep now...you guessed it...feet on pillow, head under the covers.

To celebrate the accomplishment of reading such a long book, and because we're in charge of celebrations at our house, we decided (Maggie and I) that a Pippi party was in order.

Here she is helping me wash dishes so we can get this party started.

Step 1: Cookie Dough

Step 2: Get down on the floor and make some cookies!

Zac: "Really? You're going to let her make cookies on the floor?"...

And then of course she frosted and ate way too many cookies before bed!

Tyler joined in too...after a quick Pippi debrief. 

He was more than willing to participate in Pippi fun. ;)

A tea party, and then a visit to our own magical hollow tree!

And finally...A CHILILUG

Will she do it?

Will she eat that pill that looks very similar to a pea?

That pill that means you'll never grow up?...

Oh yes she did!

BUT...

She didn't say the magical words, so I guess we'll have to wait and see!

Remember Wordless Wednesday?

Happy Birthday Cousin Issac!

Cousin Issac is 5 today.

Happy Birthday Issac! We love you!

Maggie and Tyler...

are neighbors. 

They want to play together every day. They semi-stalk each other's activities (usually through a fence) in anticipation of the next play date. They take each other sticks, they have LOTS of "big ideas," they race each other on bikes, they run and splash together in the sprinkler, and so much more.

Here's a glimpse of some of their fun...

Enjoy.

A Daddy Week

It's August! After postponing and postponing school work, I realized the Fall semester starts very soon...like in a week soon, and I had have some serious work to get done before then. Zac had taken this week off in advance thinking we might travel to the Sandpoint music festival, so we made a switch in plans and decided that instead he would take the role of stay-at-home dad and I would head to campus each morning to start pouring over more research on inclusive childcare for toddlers and get writing...thesis proposal in progress!

Zac always does so well taking over as the stay-at-home parent. He insists that he would love to do it full-time. I generally always walk in at the end of the day to a family in good spirits, and lots of evidence all around me of some serious playing. A colleague once told me that if a father can watch their children all day, and everyone is alive and happy...well, then you let things like the house being messy go. I do remind him though that the full-time position also requires doing the laundry, grocery shopping, regular mealtimes, outdoor play, play date scheduling and participation in community activities...he says "I could do that!" Then he went grocery shopping (with both kids).

I uploaded the photos and found some evidence of fun at home with daddy...a tea party. 

With baby dolls and all.

Mother's Work

I'm not responsible for all of Magnolia's learning, but undeniably, I have a tremendous amount of responsibility to set up purposeful learning opportunities and to expand on spontaneous learning opportunities. It's not only my work, but my passion to instil a love of learning in my children.

Magnolia is just like the metaphor...she is the sponge soaking in everything. She wants to learn, she loves to learn. She is always asking questions, listening intently, and practising new skills.

Teaching her and supporting her learning is easy. She has so many interests. 

As a mother, as an early childhood educator, she makes individualized/interest based curriculum, well, easy.

Soon preschool will be starting back up and she has been talking about it a lot. We ran into a few of the other children from the CDL at a local park and it really got Maggie thinking about school, about friends especially.

This next year of preschool will be a big year for her. I've supported her at home in so much of her learning, but the powerful world of peers is just another piece of the puzzle. I have no doubt that this year of preschool will support lots of progress socially.

But until then, our days are spent learning and growing at home.

Here is just a glimpse of one play filled afternoon, because of course, to play, is to learn.