tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488039441797587382024-02-07T19:10:17.774-08:00Raising Our FamilyThis blog is about how God is raising my family, my life, crafts and everything in between.Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-22068442098465155022013-09-03T16:45:00.005-07:002013-09-03T16:45:48.922-07:00New Blog!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We'll I have tried so many times to fix an odd issue with this blog. Shomehow I hit a limit with my photo space, so I stopped blogging. I really miss keeping a record of our lives and sharing with everyone. I have created a new blog. This one will still be here as an archive. Please consider visiting us over at</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://joyfulmudpuddles.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Joyful Mud Puddles</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Many blessings, </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Meaghan</span>Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-16506692214750447622013-06-13T19:05:00.000-07:002013-06-13T19:05:07.166-07:00Learning all the timeOh it has been so long since I've posted. Life is just too busy for me to figure out my photo uploading issue. I'll most likely start a new blog in the fall and start over fresh...<br />
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This post is more for myself and anyone else with young children who sometimes feel they should be 'doing' more with their kids. You may not agree and that is okay.<br />
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So today I had the feeling that I just wasn't doing enough with my boys. You see my boys are 3 and 5. We are a Waldorf inspired homeschooling family. I also have a home daycare. On a given day there are anywhere between 2-5 other children joining us. So today was one of my slower days with just 2 babies and my boys. I guess the "quiet" got me thinking, worrying...<br />
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I decided to write down all the things we did and learned today. It is not well organized but here you go:<br />
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<b>Nature study</b>: watching worms and moving them safetly off the path in the forrest.<br />
Playing in mud, learning about the suction power of a good mud puddle. Enjoying a beautiful rainy walk. Observing and wondering who was eating our rhubarb leaves. Checking on our vegetable gardens.<br />
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<b>Science:</b><br />
observing puddles, how a moving bicycle wheel can make the water move and spray<br />
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<b>Physical Education:</b> Walking, rope swing, bicycles, trampoline, running, carrying loads. These were the more active activities. We also played in the sand box, drive the ride-on tractor all over the place, played with fine motor toys at the Early Years Centre.<br />
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<b>Math:</b> Counting along with songs, TJ counted all the eggs and discovered how many were left after he made his snack, made up more math problems with the eggs. MJ tried counting numbers on the clock. At the Early Years Centre the boys sorted all the coloured bears into bowls, TJ also completed several pattern cards using coloured bugs on his own.<br />
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<b>Child care:</b> how to play safetly with babies, learned about separation anxiety and how to help a baby deal with that, comfort them. <br />
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<b>Faith:</b> awesome prayers and thanksgiving today<br />
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<b>Art:</b> The boys sat for ages and made collages completely on their own, playdough, painting<br />
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<b>Language</b>: read lots of stories, made up oral stories, retelling of events in TV show, singing<br />
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<b>Mechanics:</b> learned about sawmills (Might Machines) and retold lots of details, 'helped; daddy fix his motercycle.<br />
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<b>Home economics</b>: boys loaded and sorted laundry, TJ thought up to sweep the kitchen on his own to keep down the mess, TJ washed windows outside with the car snow brush. They helped to pick out food at the grocery store. TJ decided what to make for his snack and completely made his own scrambled eggs. He also helped prepare dinner too.<br />
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<b>I</b><b>maginative play</b>: TJ spent his entire time at the Early Years Centre dressed as a giant caterpillar! The boys played tractors and trains. Their dog toys dressed up in rain coats to play outside. Their special bed friends came along and 'talked' all day with us.<br />
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<b>Social skills:</b> greeting daycare parents, navigating the day with children of various ages, communicating well with volunteers at the Early Years Centre, sharing, problem solving, resolving conflicts and apologizing. <br />
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Oh I'm sure there was so much more going on today that I didn't pick up on. Every day I am amazed and overwhelmed by something my children are doing. I am so blessed to spend my time with them and their friends. We have a lot of fun together and they have helped me to grow personally so much. We are also very blessed to live in our natural location too. <br />
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Can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring...<br />
<br />Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-11164805700742196522013-03-16T18:12:00.002-07:002013-03-17T15:40:30.081-07:00Dear Weary MomDear Weary Mom,<br />
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You have been on my mind for a while now. I have been thinking about what to write you for two days now. I haven't blogged in months because I am having issues loading photos. Tonight the Lord brought me to the end of myself so that I could share how <a href="http://www.hopeforthewearymom.com/" target="_blank">"Hope for the Weary Mom"</a> has made such a difference in my life. <br />
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I will not go into details of what is making me weary. You know. You are there too. It could be financial, relationships, children, a season of life, too much on the go, or a combination of many things that has brought you to this weary place. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!! This was one of the most powerful things that hit me and made a difference when I did this study (twice now). I have God with me always <b>and</b> hundreds, probably millions, of other weary moms going through the exact same things I am.<br />
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Tonight I was making homemade yogurt after a fail attempt last weekend. Let's just say that using a Canadian thermometer and and American recipe meant I was trying for hours to get my milk hotter than it could and ruined another batch of rather hard to find and expensive ingredients (for where I live). That was what threw me over the edge. I burst into tears and collapsed on the couch. My poor young boys tried to cheer me up. My older son (4.5years old) offered some encouraging words of not giving up and trying again. My younger son (2.5years old) brought me a toy and a drink of water. After a not so kindly worded reminder even helped get ready for bed.<br />
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While I was flaked out on the couch (really it was only for like 3 min) voices filled my head:<br />
"I can't believe you messed up again"<br />
"You can't afford to be wasting money like this"<br />
"Your kids are watching"<br />
"You still have to clean up the mess in the kitchen, and fold laundry"<br />
"Hey what about xyz that you still haven't done today"<br />
"I went to all this trouble to make this for my boys."<br />
"I will never figure out what their digestive issues are."<br />
"I should just give up and quite trying so hard with everything"<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"Master,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=348803944179758738#editor/src=dashboard" name="4"></a> we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=348803944179758738#editor/src=dashboard" name="5"></a> <b>But because you say so</b>, I will let down the nets. Luke 5:5" </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">That last voice cut through my pain. I remembered reading about Peter's fishing experience in <a href="http://www.hopeforthewearymom.com/" target="_blank">"Hope for the Weary Mom"</a>. Then other verses and things I had read came to mind. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"Do not grow weary of doing good."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">" I am not alone"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">" Maybe I'm just tired"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"Perhaps God is using this experience for something good"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"Hey I could write about this"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Well I got up and got the boys to bed. I determined to take just one more step. My boys were so sweet with their prayers too. Then I came write over to write to you. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Honestly I can tell you that last year I would have sobbed for ages, screamed at the kids while getting them into bed, cried out the the Lord in anger and held a grudge for a few days. The difference? My new found hope. Over the last 10 weeks I have been constantly reminded of how much I am loved. That I am so not alone in this weary walk. That God can bring me through incredible circumstances. That God can use our lives for His glory and others' benefit too. I reconnected with my God and felt more confident in my own abilities as a mother. Being reminded that I am not perfect, I will make mistakes, this road is hard, and the other moms around me aren't perfect either (in fact they are probably just as weary as I am) me makes me feel more empowered and encouraged!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">So I thank Stacey and Brooke for sharing their lives with us. I thank Megan for leading this year's study. And I pray for you, Weary Mom, that you may find hope and hold on to it with everything you've got.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Many blessings,</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Meaghan</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">PS This post is linked to <a href="http://www.hopeforthewearymom.com/2013/03/15/guest-post-by-jenny-donohue-and-a-link-up/" target="_blank">Hope for the Weary Mom week 10 link up</a>....</span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-84795614958413405042013-01-20T10:51:00.001-08:002013-01-20T10:51:47.674-08:00In Christ AloneThe words from this song really spoke to me in church today. Try an internet search to listen today.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"In Christ Alone"</b><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><br />
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In Christ alone my hope is found,<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />He is my light, my strength, my song;<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />firm through the fiercest drought and storm.<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />What heights of love, what depths of peace,<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />My Comforter, my All in All,<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />here in the love of Christ I stand.<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />In Christ alone! who took on flesh<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Fulness of God in helpless babe!<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />This gift of love and righteousness<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Scorned by the ones he came to save:<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Till on that cross as Jesus died,<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />The wrath of God was satisfied -<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />For every sin on Him was laid;<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Here in the death of Christ I live.<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />There in the ground His body lay<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Light of the world by darkness slain:<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Then bursting forth in glorious Day<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Up from the grave he rose again!<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />And as He stands in victory<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />For I am His and He is mine -<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Bought with the precious blood of Christ.<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />No guilt in life, no fear in death,<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />This is the power of Christ in me;<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />From life's first cry to final breath.<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Jesus commands my destiny.<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />No power of hell, no scheme of man,<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Can ever pluck me from His hand;<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Till He returns or calls me home,<br style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.</div>
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**I found the words through a quick Google search but there are probably some official ones somewhere. http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/nataliegrant/inchristalone.html</div>
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Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-46496795424926142212013-01-20T04:54:00.000-08:002013-01-20T04:54:23.540-08:00Bringing God your messI know I haven't written for a very long while. I still haven't fixed my issue with the photos on this blog, but I'll get to it. After Christmas (which was wonderful by the way), we got a nasty cold that lasted about 3 weeks. So now I'm back and will write when I feel inspired to do so.<br />
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Do you know when you hear or see the same message several time. Well I'm feeling inspired to jump in and share with all of you what God has been teaching me this week.<br />
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If you haven't heard about this book yet, I highly recommend you head over right now. <a href="http://www.hopeforthewearymom.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Hope for the Weary Mom: Where God Meets you in Your Mess</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span>is the most amazing eBook. It speaks right the the heart of moms everywhere. You are just in time to join in the the book study too!<br />
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Here are some great links:<br />
<a href="http://www.hopeforthewearymom.com/2013/01/07/hope-for-the-weary-mom-chapter-one/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Week 1 </span></a>Why God Meets us in Our Mess<br />
<a href="http://www.hopeforthewearymom.com/2013/01/14/hope-for-the-weary-mom-chapter-two/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Week 2</span></a> When You Weakness is all You can See<br />
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So here is what I have been learning this week through this book, my quiet time with God, bible reading on other blogs like <a href="http://godcenteredmom.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">God Centred Mom</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span>and <a href="http://www.5minutesforfaith.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">5 Min for Faith</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">.</span><br />
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1. I'm not perfect! I know that's shocking but sometimes and moms we try to do it all and feel just awful when we don't measure up.<br />
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2. I am not alone. There are so many mom's that are following along and sharing their stories. It feels so good to know that we are all in the trenches of parenting together. We often believe the lie that everyone else has it all together.<br />
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3. God will meet me in my mess. I may not get answers right away, but when I call out to Him I can breath and take the next step. There are many places in scripture that remind us to lay our burdens before the Lord and He is always with us. Here is a <a href="http://www.5minutesforfaith.com/9753/why-its-ok-to-admit-that-youre-a-bit-of-a-mess/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">great post on that I read today</span></a>.<br />
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4. Satan keeps feeding me lies that I need to recognize and NOT believe them. He tries to tell me I'm not good enough, I've messed up again, no one is listening, I'm alone and more. But I'm learnings to rise above that and believe the wonderful truths directly for God our Father who loves me!!<br />
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5. There are so many people that need prayer. Please feel free to leave a comment and know that I will spend time each day praying for you. I know that others have prayed for me and it means so much to me.<br />
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So my thought are not too profound. I hope you are able to see God working in your life today.<br />
Many blessings to all,<br />
<br />
Meaghan<br />
<br />Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-17356840086838362952012-11-25T17:49:00.001-08:002012-11-25T17:49:34.358-08:00November catch-upPLEASE NOTE: If you happen to look for older posts and they've gone missing here is what happened. I got a message that I had used up all my photo storage space. I could purchase more space but I decided to delete some old posts that didn't have too many views. Unfortunately it didn't make any difference so I just lost some good posts.<br />
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I have been given several suggestions on what to do, but I think it would require me reformatting all the old photos and re-posting old posts. With over 200 posts I'm not loving that idea. So I can't share what we have been doing all month with you.<br />
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We have had a great November. We have been playing dress up, eating new healthier foods, and finding new activities to do outside. November is hard for me because it isn't quite winter/Christmasy but in Canada we are done with Thanksgiving/fall. We made lanterns for Martinmas, and focused a lot on Jack Frost. We also enjoyed our first snow fall.<br />
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Next week I'll be gearing up for December and creating our advent calendar.<br />
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I hope to be back up and blogging soon.<br />
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Many blessings to you all.Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-15646691397044264332012-10-29T15:57:00.004-07:002012-11-02T04:39:49.428-07:00Fall Harvest Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This past weekend we had a Fall Harvest Party. In our wonderful stories (see resources below) Super Sam and his friends had a fall harvest party so we decided to have one too. All month long the children followed along with Super Sam's adventures and also created their own invitations, snacks, decorations and games. On Saturday morning cousin E and one of our daycare girls came to celebrate in the fun. Unfortunately not everyone was able to attend, but we still had a great time.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhDuSRdm2jZZjfq1peKA0HXs9ttD6ScZQnsbiOuozGxlNz_l-91f2ECz9x71P1Y47VO2NkdgCBW3I9p_dN0z5EffDIi3IIQJKqUr-XrleY9smr3x_NzAbLqs7Snia8rnD81k7xPpT3mAs/s1600/photo-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhDuSRdm2jZZjfq1peKA0HXs9ttD6ScZQnsbiOuozGxlNz_l-91f2ECz9x71P1Y47VO2NkdgCBW3I9p_dN0z5EffDIi3IIQJKqUr-XrleY9smr3x_NzAbLqs7Snia8rnD81k7xPpT3mAs/s320/photo-17.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the party</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2dgenjF__22jvtqygrG3d4V5ZMc7jwotU7MRQFrlGOfQPVEN_sGi9msol6pnoG8Dq339WKCq5DKcR-MSb8VxVYl7zo1fWUiAqccnX54TAS5rvrGD-jImvLASKTmrI9_kKdMNc3tIIlyn/s1600/photo-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2dgenjF__22jvtqygrG3d4V5ZMc7jwotU7MRQFrlGOfQPVEN_sGi9msol6pnoG8Dq339WKCq5DKcR-MSb8VxVYl7zo1fWUiAqccnX54TAS5rvrGD-jImvLASKTmrI9_kKdMNc3tIIlyn/s320/photo-19.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall Nature Table</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxCjyQdiRcMVBW9M5-LFG0_Y8a1MwpMFgVuf9_5S9ZyxBWtlQ6Aat_Q5ki2LLVtv2UYpWWzW30C1lxolgxzLkbOZiCj7IVIPugqY3ltLD41LX1vvZxjw1AZTBauJpYC1Eyfi691s-Fybg/s1600/photo-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxCjyQdiRcMVBW9M5-LFG0_Y8a1MwpMFgVuf9_5S9ZyxBWtlQ6Aat_Q5ki2LLVtv2UYpWWzW30C1lxolgxzLkbOZiCj7IVIPugqY3ltLD41LX1vvZxjw1AZTBauJpYC1Eyfi691s-Fybg/s320/photo-20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy treats</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFX34w1XeGPiXFfY6IpNtnRnv9LCxsvQC3yPe8xYxa3Aq7Ej9zPhTdrlvhlgbD3IBGfvokbAkHVnEpwpzv-0TbBoANFqVpB6BFXl2Lu4vSZcLP_8JeKB7CqgS1GaqtX7TspU4L6D-ILbJ/s1600/IMG00868-20121027-1047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFX34w1XeGPiXFfY6IpNtnRnv9LCxsvQC3yPe8xYxa3Aq7Ej9zPhTdrlvhlgbD3IBGfvokbAkHVnEpwpzv-0TbBoANFqVpB6BFXl2Lu4vSZcLP_8JeKB7CqgS1GaqtX7TspU4L6D-ILbJ/s320/IMG00868-20121027-1047.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowling Squash</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhDuSRdm2jZZjfq1peKA0HXs9ttD6ScZQnsbiOuozGxlNz_l-91f2ECz9x71P1Y47VO2NkdgCBW3I9p_dN0z5EffDIi3IIQJKqUr-XrleY9smr3x_NzAbLqs7Snia8rnD81k7xPpT3mAs/s1600/photo-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XPG26053GFb8jZZRd8hNNwhAF6PGfC8nJy-XVLznMduonalxILSIt8rIr-uFO4vh41XW2p1CmzHBuAmq1arDTQ6OaNktl5HOvRh88uCoZ9_mIpkSO4ypRYdI-MRgbC4tK4a9C20DBAQe/s1600/IMG00869-20121027-1047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XPG26053GFb8jZZRd8hNNwhAF6PGfC8nJy-XVLznMduonalxILSIt8rIr-uFO4vh41XW2p1CmzHBuAmq1arDTQ6OaNktl5HOvRh88uCoZ9_mIpkSO4ypRYdI-MRgbC4tK4a9C20DBAQe/s320/IMG00869-20121027-1047.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumpkin bean bag toss</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHgwca_tzI8XDQ-G9vnohKBl8OM66FgAg2xc0vJsAQWqi0RUW05tW8w_suQtnEUM58x332jei9YDR-7a08YO-I8NhCqR6Bk9cFegtsSeMkFOUeNpdykhKZFDbJBHMq6zcGx42e2sKkLRr/s1600/photo-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHgwca_tzI8XDQ-G9vnohKBl8OM66FgAg2xc0vJsAQWqi0RUW05tW8w_suQtnEUM58x332jei9YDR-7a08YO-I8NhCqR6Bk9cFegtsSeMkFOUeNpdykhKZFDbJBHMq6zcGx42e2sKkLRr/s320/photo-13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decorating coffee filters as jack-o-lanterns</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_GjGVwhF-uKtyM7Q6nsJ80hyMdiqjrDG3ImOLC0i3XtYNDStZ3V6VBeEifOhFGWtzlxoVGG23wSB2ZmRaXZ0Ch95S8lOjrPdadWFKkJQWqeeB1sGYXN8CCZUYRKG4qImn3Meeh01eg0N/s1600/photo-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_GjGVwhF-uKtyM7Q6nsJ80hyMdiqjrDG3ImOLC0i3XtYNDStZ3V6VBeEifOhFGWtzlxoVGG23wSB2ZmRaXZ0Ch95S8lOjrPdadWFKkJQWqeeB1sGYXN8CCZUYRKG4qImn3Meeh01eg0N/s320/photo-15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Circle Time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9eVJxunAUX1q9J1HMRduo9H1f6VtQrVYtu1MUNc-zFMmcBvr-SfP__wTVI_4RcWDwjqQ7wKEWKnfwJ-eX-dL1QXTsQirsKwuXQ9vp1wkdIQMSUMAWt3MDRqnk1Ce4nD6X_AMLb-C4vXI/s1600/photo-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9eVJxunAUX1q9J1HMRduo9H1f6VtQrVYtu1MUNc-zFMmcBvr-SfP__wTVI_4RcWDwjqQ7wKEWKnfwJ-eX-dL1QXTsQirsKwuXQ9vp1wkdIQMSUMAWt3MDRqnk1Ce4nD6X_AMLb-C4vXI/s320/photo-16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall decorations</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfhSykluldjQTs-3YTuFCAmWt3PQXlTBeuRhDK8XX7wt3jLM4MCPFQSjbeM9YkoSUJaP9wbu57vPSgN_j7Qs7kD7SClQAVK7IWjErBmVKyTuWMofEzAPH9dKPRnmjPWEV7AU_uBOoPseR/s1600/photo-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfhSykluldjQTs-3YTuFCAmWt3PQXlTBeuRhDK8XX7wt3jLM4MCPFQSjbeM9YkoSUJaP9wbu57vPSgN_j7Qs7kD7SClQAVK7IWjErBmVKyTuWMofEzAPH9dKPRnmjPWEV7AU_uBOoPseR/s320/photo-18.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dressing Up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikikIRzRZ4E9p2QV9JR157J7k0_zFX4_MMEMmlW5d6ZuaxO1Z6J9uG3-YoHGCmikWnpxUXgxCJb-6c11KTu9fm2kvNBZDl_wVYheI21oH7AA9IL5OpK1xJpgg9yV-bpzWgZU6fU1rWDi-Q/s1600/photo-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikikIRzRZ4E9p2QV9JR157J7k0_zFX4_MMEMmlW5d6ZuaxO1Z6J9uG3-YoHGCmikWnpxUXgxCJb-6c11KTu9fm2kvNBZDl_wVYheI21oH7AA9IL5OpK1xJpgg9yV-bpzWgZU6fU1rWDi-Q/s320/photo-21.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall sensory bins</td></tr>
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We are using <a href="http://waldorfessentials.com/store/products/early-years-curriculum-age-0-6-digital/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Waldorf Essentials kindergarten curriculum</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span>that comes with their<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="http://waldorfessentials.com/store/products/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Thinking Feeling Willing program</span></a>. I can't say enough about how amazing Melissa is. The children lessons are adorable and all the kids love Super Sam. The mom lessons have taught me so much about Waldorf I feel much more prepared to homeschool now. Of course the support from Melissa is invaluable and always so helpful. I do encourage anyone new to Waldorf or needing some help to check out this program.</div>
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I am really excited about the rest of the fall and into the winter. We will continue to use the <a href="http://waldorfessentials.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Waldorf Essentials</span></a> and also have included some wonderful themes from <a href="http://ourseasonsofjoy.com/seasons-of-joy-store/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Seasons of Joy </span></a>Winter.</div>
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Check out the giveaway at <a href="http://www.ourseasonsofjoy.com/" target="_blank">Seasons of Joy</a> this week and join their link-up!!</div>
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I'll be linking up throughout the week:</div>
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<a href="http://ourseasonsofjoy.com/seasons-of-joy/waldorf-wednesday-10/" target="_blank">Waldorf Wednesday</a> at Seasons of Joy<br />
<a href="http://craftymomsshare.blogspot.ca/2012/10/happy-family-times-bible-presentation.html" target="_blank">Happy Family Times</a><br />
<a href="http://www.naturalsuburbia.com/2012/11/santa-christmas-hat-pattern-and-creative-friday.html" target="_blank">Natural Suburbia</a><br />
<a href="http://www.theimaginationtree.com/" target="_blank">It's Play Time</a><br />
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<br />Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-26666723167739361552012-10-21T03:56:00.000-07:002012-10-21T03:56:22.315-07:00Fall FunWell I lost the camera somewhere on our way home from our Thanksgiving weekend (or it is still in a bag somewhere waiting to be discovered). So I have finally downloaded all the photos I've been taking off my camera.<br />
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Over the past two weeks it has been all about fall around here. Leaves, pumpkins, harvesting gardens, and more leaves!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1JJwatnfLqlQ1mxdlMb1ZjEvp8bRQOZJ98RBhhzslW3aK-XpGGF0kry96SzN-rk1dWI8BSC0UrxjGEpcB9FoCeW3GYS_rOvfbzlEhZsMltwQFUiMk4oPxo_fSgzJBSaa5QGbJrOqlihP/s1600/fall+fun-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1JJwatnfLqlQ1mxdlMb1ZjEvp8bRQOZJ98RBhhzslW3aK-XpGGF0kry96SzN-rk1dWI8BSC0UrxjGEpcB9FoCeW3GYS_rOvfbzlEhZsMltwQFUiMk4oPxo_fSgzJBSaa5QGbJrOqlihP/s320/fall+fun-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaves, toadstools, pinting with leaves</td></tr>
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After Thanksgiving (here in Canada) the boys played in leaves a lot. We have been using our sandbox trucks to push them around, raking, filling tarps to take to the compost pile, jumping, rolling, throwing, using snow shovels... We also made little toadstools to look like Super Sam's house from our stories. I had found some paper-mache mushrooms on clearance at the end of the summer. We used red and white tissue paper to decorate them for the nature table. The next day the boys used leaves to make prints. They experimented with a few different painting techniques and even painted with some pine needles.<br />
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We have visited many farms over the last month. Early in the month we went to <a href="http://www.robinsonfarms.ca/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Robinson's Farm</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span>(one of the daycare boy's grandparents own the farm). Over the summer and early fall we also went to <a href="http://www.frootogo.ca/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Frootogo</span></a> for apple picking. Recently we have been to <a href="http://parksidefarms.com/welcome/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Parkside Farms</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span>and <a href="http://www.farmersmarketsontario.com/mypick/profiles.cfm?PageNum_qMyPick=20&uFarmerID=161" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Simpler Thyme</span></a> organic farm. Of course we also harvested our whole garden plot and cleaned it up for the winter. We ended up with a tone of green tomatoes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBMiAz3vFpS-IcecBRplnUtLCBhRRREIZVxoeu2zsxfDa5UVxJnfid64EOdTRu_FU_3b3gutMiE-gUr6wPYu-8akc9teRy_VeTQq_P9ZP2QVtZzMEJF9YjV0QyEvsB6__YOJ1XNulHsnt/s1600/fall+fun-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBMiAz3vFpS-IcecBRplnUtLCBhRRREIZVxoeu2zsxfDa5UVxJnfid64EOdTRu_FU_3b3gutMiE-gUr6wPYu-8akc9teRy_VeTQq_P9ZP2QVtZzMEJF9YjV0QyEvsB6__YOJ1XNulHsnt/s320/fall+fun-002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ducks at Simpler Thyme Farms, Chickens at Parkside Farms, playing with toy phones, Another visit to Parkside Farms</td></tr>
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It was such a delight for me to visit Simpler Thyme farms as the lady who runs it is so kind and lovely to talk to. We also met up with another family from our area who is doing Waldorf Homeschooling. TJ played soccer with their boys for over an hour in the cold wind and can't wait to do it again!<br />
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We have made are more contact paper and leaf collages to hang in the window. On a particularly busy day for the daycare we made collages of fall coloured material and yarn. Lots of baking has been going on. I used up all the green tomatoes to make 2 apple-tomato pies, 1 bunt cake, 2 loaves, 4 dozen muffins, and froze the ones that ripened. I'm now working on the apples next.<br />
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One day we went to Parkside Farms with our cousins E and baby J. The children all picked out some larger pumpkins to decorate. When we got home we made fun faces on the pumpkins with playdough. It was neat to be able to take it off and start again. Then we pulled out some paint, glue and glitter for the kids to go wild! TJ and MJ are so proud of their creations. Cousin E made a great start on her large pumpkin, and even baby J liked playing with his.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFezM6ea62awLEsw_r-_QRqh7lmsSY5Iu4qkB8vsL-DXMZ_-DNBXTI6W9VpVhG07sC8cbF_XOUphw1VcDYefWW4Z-rxTuodrHCFyk6W5gLCPF-9dRl36WW8n2vCSueWFCzExU5M_r1byrS/s1600/fall+fun-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFezM6ea62awLEsw_r-_QRqh7lmsSY5Iu4qkB8vsL-DXMZ_-DNBXTI6W9VpVhG07sC8cbF_XOUphw1VcDYefWW4Z-rxTuodrHCFyk6W5gLCPF-9dRl36WW8n2vCSueWFCzExU5M_r1byrS/s320/fall+fun-003.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">decorating and playing with pumpkins</td></tr>
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In our stories (we are using the kindergarten lessons from Thinking Feeling Willing at <a href="http://waldorfessentials.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Waldorf Essentials</span></a>), Super Sam takes a little boat to deliver invitations to his Harvest Party. We made little boats out of apple sauce containers and origami paper. Once they tipped over TJ realize we could just use leaves from outside as the sail. As a daycare we are hosting our own harvest party next weekend. The children are excitedly planing and baking to get ready.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFDBas9xCmBpL94nEnANOLWcwqlYTd54WHgO0NM8l_FhRjpRpqKcCcjcf92bd-pnROtS9ShLC2B9_tW2Mau-mexZy5WSAWJ2mXxZIorp6FPoauyBZhSKVHlnoa0hLCm299dTSuZ3kPQwN/s1600/fall+fun-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFDBas9xCmBpL94nEnANOLWcwqlYTd54WHgO0NM8l_FhRjpRpqKcCcjcf92bd-pnROtS9ShLC2B9_tW2Mau-mexZy5WSAWJ2mXxZIorp6FPoauyBZhSKVHlnoa0hLCm299dTSuZ3kPQwN/s320/fall+fun-004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">material collage, boats for Sam, clearing leaves with snow shovels</td></tr>
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The weather has been on and off, but we are outside every day. TJ has been working to move the log pile around and our rope swing is getting a lot of use. We have had some on and off days too. Now that everyone is getting used to each other we are learning to respect people's space and to use our manners. Communication for preschoolers and kindergarteners is difficult but we are working on talking to each other (politely). Behaviour around here is slipping and mommy is getting very weary, but I'm making steps to turn things around. I'm hopeful to have a shift in the mood around here next week.<br />
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I'll be linking up to some great sites during the week. I encourage you to check them out for more wonderfully inspiring ideas!</div>
Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-9505562978008556902012-10-08T19:10:00.001-07:002012-10-11T04:16:48.704-07:00Week 5: The acorn family<!--StartFragment-->
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realized that I hadn’t written about our week. Here are some highlights.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2tzVGmgKFmibujBPuWAiZGQDKqBmczpJyTjFK58JhdMkD1U61fK85_aE-zW2ISfwrvJ-ypqHhm6mKBKQRDGEEfYNvTpWjjqc2Ge4GAvQkcp_Z-3CBjMkmg-BqU81VWrz-EFDkOgvJHIA/s1600/IMG_1632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2tzVGmgKFmibujBPuWAiZGQDKqBmczpJyTjFK58JhdMkD1U61fK85_aE-zW2ISfwrvJ-ypqHhm6mKBKQRDGEEfYNvTpWjjqc2Ge4GAvQkcp_Z-3CBjMkmg-BqU81VWrz-EFDkOgvJHIA/s320/IMG_1632.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New veggie we found at the garden plot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DqFUrWjeCZS2eVL5fBUK1w2ZMndP0BnqwRnt8BMVXmwwUUvMS71gYGuEAhOfWEcEaJ0xE4YqWKyPoMV56D5eZgL9errAtYLVof7NGNLaCFbxC7Td41Sr9gzr_eGGqh4bkauxbz2SG56Q/s1600/Photo+on+2012-10-08+at+22.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DqFUrWjeCZS2eVL5fBUK1w2ZMndP0BnqwRnt8BMVXmwwUUvMS71gYGuEAhOfWEcEaJ0xE4YqWKyPoMV56D5eZgL9errAtYLVof7NGNLaCFbxC7Td41Sr9gzr_eGGqh4bkauxbz2SG56Q/s320/Photo+on+2012-10-08+at+22.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Woody, Pip, and Hazel</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DqFUrWjeCZS2eVL5fBUK1w2ZMndP0BnqwRnt8BMVXmwwUUvMS71gYGuEAhOfWEcEaJ0xE4YqWKyPoMV56D5eZgL9errAtYLVof7NGNLaCFbxC7Td41Sr9gzr_eGGqh4bkauxbz2SG56Q/s1600/Photo+on+2012-10-08+at+22.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span>On Monday we visited the garden plot and found a new veggie to
explore. We also spent a nice day
around the house. In our stories we were introduced to the Acorn family and friends. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWA9WzOVUgN-pZcLvQpcBino0jvm53yR_NfjEVCkQemEgJyF7I_eS1S98TIVnj6DkMbIRBcuv3dYkxdtet7g0Btn8NbtnlUGh6WRznlJ5_xY4urbrH4q5s142qZD71CRGhdkdBDiZVD6c/s1600/IMG_1634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWA9WzOVUgN-pZcLvQpcBino0jvm53yR_NfjEVCkQemEgJyF7I_eS1S98TIVnj6DkMbIRBcuv3dYkxdtet7g0Btn8NbtnlUGh6WRznlJ5_xY4urbrH4q5s142qZD71CRGhdkdBDiZVD6c/s320/IMG_1634.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumpkin rocks to give at Thanksgiving</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Tuesday we went to the early years center to meet some
friends. We hadn’t been in quite a
while and had a nice time. In the
afternoon we had to go downtown to get our police checks done. Not a very exciting afternoon but the
kids all did well. Later in the
evening my friend came to visit and the boys decorated some rocks they had
painted orange for their pumpkin rocks.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1l8hEdv4zwrBdHOGYyvnVahDXCZUWiq3L54iM2zW29sEkct2zj64DGI3iBRL4XOOTmxDCmmN0c_ahoVCM8n805B11tz2-QO28ggVY3WHm7MunQa4AB7xnaBRmny1ROU4TgUhLETxwUNG/s1600/IMG_1638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1l8hEdv4zwrBdHOGYyvnVahDXCZUWiq3L54iM2zW29sEkct2zj64DGI3iBRL4XOOTmxDCmmN0c_ahoVCM8n805B11tz2-QO28ggVY3WHm7MunQa4AB7xnaBRmny1ROU4TgUhLETxwUNG/s320/IMG_1638.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Wednesday the kids helped me to wash all our pie
pumpkins. After I cut them up to
bake I thought the children would enjoy scooping out the insides but they all
thought it was too slimy. Because
I was busy with all the pumpkins it was a bit chaotic. But we did end up with 14cups of puree
and everyone learned to play by themselves a little more. During quiet time I we also opened a
new box of window crayons which was fun.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dyTkfGVHmNZAxRkdYf9ZQv1anNA09QBgcKD8IjnYuwJFvSlb5disE4xYcuDdhBQsUuFVcs_dxmxzUDSehaeVhgDM28_VwnSg9UOAwdgSCi4IcpY2wsj1zmNoCJRtPopcNXFZyswDtKBR/s1600/IMG00777-20121004-0827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dyTkfGVHmNZAxRkdYf9ZQv1anNA09QBgcKD8IjnYuwJFvSlb5disE4xYcuDdhBQsUuFVcs_dxmxzUDSehaeVhgDM28_VwnSg9UOAwdgSCi4IcpY2wsj1zmNoCJRtPopcNXFZyswDtKBR/s320/IMG00777-20121004-0827.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy pumpkin pancakes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LBkGc9KyDujixRUeWHlTFfpr6OncHfXK_mv5R843aBVmLa-KjX_kGCqYRv3SFScP4ZZWbPvgptg4QDI3AJ8REXsdE4GH2bRB-7t3ZE1M7pFcJqgh0aIOTtyEXxlW2uAg3BY5OSUc_L9w/s1600/IMG00778-20121004-1043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LBkGc9KyDujixRUeWHlTFfpr6OncHfXK_mv5R843aBVmLa-KjX_kGCqYRv3SFScP4ZZWbPvgptg4QDI3AJ8REXsdE4GH2bRB-7t3ZE1M7pFcJqgh0aIOTtyEXxlW2uAg3BY5OSUc_L9w/s320/IMG00778-20121004-1043.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All our friends out on a walk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Thursday we started our day with some delicious pumpkin pancakes. We had plans to meet a new friend, but our plans changed. Since the weather was so beautiful we decided to take a picnic lunch down the hill to Kern Cliff Park. We saw several people painting and hope to do the same some time. It was great for the boys to climb and run about. Thursday afternoon my sister came for a great visit.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykebUYBeAEdB_e76KrcUVU7O_C6DKZdTq4iP2Uig2hOsqab8Kphe7gK_saq4EyExvMzwfe8HUHBMN7VXNYsPfbCCfq69WyoJc5mXFOhmrpNdI3rs1dZkibA2L3wXpwSUDDbI81pZ6X-fg/s1600/IMG00781-20121004-1051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykebUYBeAEdB_e76KrcUVU7O_C6DKZdTq4iP2Uig2hOsqab8Kphe7gK_saq4EyExvMzwfe8HUHBMN7VXNYsPfbCCfq69WyoJc5mXFOhmrpNdI3rs1dZkibA2L3wXpwSUDDbI81pZ6X-fg/s320/IMG00781-20121004-1051.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys climbing rocks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_bbaHjUaxHT5zWhBdlivBpGnBu9qYWU-drXjBcY-fF7Nf0z71OWsQdiFfvEScdyIDenl3sgmtcWRDwg2jj6Vi6VWBQm9dMDGdgX0GGMy2-7rqloY4V8sxQ5ISopadhdgAiIlmuxOoguJ/s1600/IMG00784-20121004-1115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_bbaHjUaxHT5zWhBdlivBpGnBu9qYWU-drXjBcY-fF7Nf0z71OWsQdiFfvEScdyIDenl3sgmtcWRDwg2jj6Vi6VWBQm9dMDGdgX0GGMy2-7rqloY4V8sxQ5ISopadhdgAiIlmuxOoguJ/s320/IMG00784-20121004-1115.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam and Mr. Squirrel out on our walk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27bs9sDbe6bMq0uBT_zentU5wm48pIzHQsnFprvB5qjKLX2DA6M9I8ln9LyIag-kHcydoBEPtCZ0CBdSzpC_ty7M-NWu47rz0ctzpogi-ul13EN_Wl5uqQ7qfJOfeBIRrvj_qbgcG2a-_/s1600/IMG00786-20121004-1141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27bs9sDbe6bMq0uBT_zentU5wm48pIzHQsnFprvB5qjKLX2DA6M9I8ln9LyIag-kHcydoBEPtCZ0CBdSzpC_ty7M-NWu47rz0ctzpogi-ul13EN_Wl5uqQ7qfJOfeBIRrvj_qbgcG2a-_/s320/IMG00786-20121004-1141.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beauty of fall!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Friday we had a full house and loads of fun. It was painting day and the children
worked on invitations for the fall harvest party they are hosting at the end of
the month. We painted their hand
to make a tree print and then they used their fingertips to make little
leaves. It turned out very
well. Our new songs for circle
time are also being learned quickly.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qVKjxQNfxe3r2g5iPJFj-v9dxaE_kh_z4mB5RljvraExqZr4eKDr_phVlK2ezdJZOCNFTvUp7oA3gGcmAEet2NlZNbqU9itKTc_074nMpEgVSi06tOj9TUEm87S8hvM5IdqhZMyFoTa0/s1600/IMG_1646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qVKjxQNfxe3r2g5iPJFj-v9dxaE_kh_z4mB5RljvraExqZr4eKDr_phVlK2ezdJZOCNFTvUp7oA3gGcmAEet2NlZNbqU9itKTc_074nMpEgVSi06tOj9TUEm87S8hvM5IdqhZMyFoTa0/s320/IMG_1646.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger painting fall trees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekUWqu3Rut3t_imHmp21e_IlgB2Tp8C0HevKObuzzqDgP8l9RNqtHZKy9CAJmUh1HrX9Vkr-2yhSnssA0cH9zM6rEX4Ykm-WvVSCpvetGZ0gPIyYPDq9TC_qNnUENxt7NJx5FaTYNJm4q/s1600/IMG_1647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekUWqu3Rut3t_imHmp21e_IlgB2Tp8C0HevKObuzzqDgP8l9RNqtHZKy9CAJmUh1HrX9Vkr-2yhSnssA0cH9zM6rEX4Ykm-WvVSCpvetGZ0gPIyYPDq9TC_qNnUENxt7NJx5FaTYNJm4q/s320/IMG_1647.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MJ making leaves</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week I did a lot of baking and packing for the
weekend. We first went to Meaford
on Saturday to visit one set of grandparents. It rained on and off all day but didn’t let that stop us
from looking at all the scarecrows around town and visiting a local market for
apples. The boys loved playing at
their house. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day after a late start we visited my husbands' aunt
and then headed off just past Orillia to visit another set of
grandparents. At the cottage our
boys went fishing, played outside all afternoon, made a big fire and enjoyed
visiting cousins and relatives.
Although they didn’t eat much of the dinner they were sure to be ready for
a yummy dessert (we brought pumpkin cake with Nutella icing). It was nice to not have to run off and
head home again, as we decided to stay the night.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Rko87ZGZ3L8ehaUVPSiqleuW1gpm_P1QGFuTy7lkRxMJlVJz9FOaejXHzGvd6UUaffUjENoDbSxaMdZ0RgiLzFOBkUDFQ1A02DYYFTcaN9dD_H9FvfgRIewMEqOxVM9E4QwqpYdSvS46/s1600/Photo+on+2012-10-08+at+22.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Rko87ZGZ3L8ehaUVPSiqleuW1gpm_P1QGFuTy7lkRxMJlVJz9FOaejXHzGvd6UUaffUjENoDbSxaMdZ0RgiLzFOBkUDFQ1A02DYYFTcaN9dD_H9FvfgRIewMEqOxVM9E4QwqpYdSvS46/s320/Photo+on+2012-10-08+at+22.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving Place Mats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monday we got going late from the cottage and then got stuck in traffic for several hours. We went straight to my parents for another lovely dinner. The kids made fun place mats using clear contact paper and leaves. They were rather restless by the end of the weekend. The food was delicious and it was wonderful to see my family.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realized that although we did a lot of fall activities
this week I forgot to focus on Thanksgiving with the boys. We do talk about being thankful daily,
but I know I could have made more effort with that. We did talk more about it on the weekend though.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon reflection of the week, I’m noticing that TJ and I are
becoming increasingly frustrated with each other. I’m reminding myself not to get into an argument with a 4
year old. I’ve got to work on actually
liking the kids next week and catching them being nice. UPDATE: just read the most amazing articles on 4 year olds over at <a href="http://theparentingpassageway.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The Parenting Passageway </span></a>that really helped put things into perspective.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Linking up this week:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.hiphomeschoolmoms.com/2012/10/hip-homeschool-hop-10912/" target="_blank">Hip Homeschool Moms</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://happywhimsicalhearts.blogspot.ca/2012/10/happy-family-times-chocolate-cafe.html" target="_blank">Happy Family Times</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://ourseasonsofjoy.com/waldorf-wednesday-link-up/waldorf-wednesday-7/" target="_blank">Seasons of Joy Waldorf Wednesdays</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2012/10/paper-art-for-kids-from-its-playtime.html" target="_blank">It's Play Time</a></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-60889102521900128242012-10-02T10:51:00.001-07:002012-10-02T18:19:37.334-07:00Gift Giving (never too early to start planning)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As many of you already know we are trying to move towards a simpler more natural lifestyle (Okay I am and everyone else is along for the ride). That being said our gift giving and wish lists are changing too... a little.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86pZ3BbdpABpINf8GNwgwjAfgKTYDQwIJSxW1fkaRj4kwp31EGTIjzYDYrmxiPP6tzfqdHBHK3JBcFqHPFVXjmkuoy1Lf-A2yLZjILmkVpFedcMb6rU-dqpF60l3CoEs6Lf-wyMz7iPK_/s1600/HPIM5482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86pZ3BbdpABpINf8GNwgwjAfgKTYDQwIJSxW1fkaRj4kwp31EGTIjzYDYrmxiPP6tzfqdHBHK3JBcFqHPFVXjmkuoy1Lf-A2yLZjILmkVpFedcMb6rU-dqpF60l3CoEs6Lf-wyMz7iPK_/s320/HPIM5482.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mini stockings for our advent calendar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I do hope this post doesn't offend or bother anyone (I hate conflict), I am not trying to push our wish list on family members (although Christmas is coming!!), but wanted to share some fun ideas with everyone.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">To start with, I want to recommend </span><a href="http://Wishlist.com./"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wishlist.com.</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It has been a great way to keep track of items we want throughout the year. There is also a little app button you can put on your internet bar so when you see something you like from any page you can ad it to your wish list. I currently have three lists</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My boys </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #838383; font-family: vardana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px;"><a href="http://www.wishlist.com/1124087/timothyandmatthew/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0463aa; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://www.wishlist.com/1124087/timothyandmatthew/</span></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Homeschool/Daycare </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #838383; font-family: vardana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px;"><a href="http://www.wishlist.com/1124087/schoolanddaycare/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0463aa; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://www.wishlist.com/1124087/schoolanddaycare/</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Me </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #838383; font-family: vardana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px;"><a href="http://www.wishlist.com/1124087/meaghanjackson/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0463aa; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://www.wishlist.com/1124087/meaghanjackson/</span></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #838383; font-family: vardana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdR9itYzsIbaeQoZgXR-SSqtq-1L7tGBe-5TOjqqWd7_m6fdA8qMDoDE5BtJRDV9206jEdbYDB41ioy0hqM-Z78fQNstBFhytgoOqQZlSIJj38wPpb3VTzGBPJcyJrr-aCqYwjTCZqpXls/s1600/IMG_0859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdR9itYzsIbaeQoZgXR-SSqtq-1L7tGBe-5TOjqqWd7_m6fdA8qMDoDE5BtJRDV9206jEdbYDB41ioy0hqM-Z78fQNstBFhytgoOqQZlSIJj38wPpb3VTzGBPJcyJrr-aCqYwjTCZqpXls/s320/IMG_0859.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Used craft time to make a Father's Day Gift</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #838383; font-family: vardana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: vardana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I know there are so many blogs, lists and Pintrest ideas out there. Below is a list of inexpensive homemade ideas for kids. Some have links. You don't need to be super crafty, a simple glue-gun could do most of these. Also check out the crafts, activities and project on my side bar for more.</span></span></span></span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/2011/08/no-cook-playdough.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Play dough kit</b></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>- homemade play dough and some accessorize</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Fort kit </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>-</b> bed sheet, ropes, big laundry clips</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Baskets of natural item</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>s</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>- rocks, pinecones, sticks, shells</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/2012/01/dress-up-clothes.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Dress-up clothes</b></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>-</b> no need for a full costume just some accessories or head band with ears will work</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Play silks-</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>you can go fancy or just put a hem on flowy pieces of material</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Nature bag -</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> a simple draw string bag is perfect to collect nature items with</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/2011/05/puppet-power.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Puppets</b></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> -</b></span><b> </b>again you can buy some or make simple sock puppets (fun to make with the kids), you could give a child a kit of supplies to make their own.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/2011/07/playing-with-nature-part-2.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>Tree blocks</b></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b> -</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>get a thick branch and cut into various lengths. Most of ours are about 1-2 inches tall</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Wooden blocks </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>-</b> we took the end pieces from our last reno and cut into different lengths, they have been outside all summer and fall.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Felt board</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> -</b> simply cover a piece of cardboard in felt, then cut your own fun shapes out. We printed a paper doll set and cut it out of felt for dress up, you could also make different face parts...</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/2011/07/youve-got-mail.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Mail</span></b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">- </span>unfold a paper envelope and trace onto felt, cut it out and glue up the sides. We used cut up old cards and some stiff felt to make the mail inside. You can glue on velcro dots and make different names and stamps too.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/2011/04/fabric-roads.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Roads</span></b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> -</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span>simply cut lengths of denim from old jeans. You can sew up the sides or just leave them. I painted a line down the middle and made a parking lot piece.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Bean Bags </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>-</b> think simple like an old pair of socks stuffed with an elastic on the end, or make a rectangle from material and glue up the sides. I made a set out of an old winder coat, you could knit some nice ones too.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Sensory Bins</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> - </b>how about a shallow box with bean, pasta, rice, accessories for a gift. Water beads are also popular this year. You could even make up themed ones to swap with friends.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Re-gift</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> -</b> each year my boys pass a long a few books to their cousin as their gift to her. We choose ones in good condition. You could also pass along other toys to a friend, relative or donate them too.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Thrift Store</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>- kids don't notice if a toy is new or not. Last year we bought several different used sets of tracks and put them together in a fabric bag. We also got a really nice metal digger for the sand box in good condition. Besides then you don't have to spend all morning trying to get the toys out of the boxes. Be creative with how you present them.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsD11oVFslTpjq8SE88YvnA17nIl6PBtT2wub24soKRyT_Gy55TQ-3zcCWNePLm2qOAMgvnDOpy3342bhyetRWjph1XhtqSvWczUUoffqcvDLtgeDHRu4ZkcH_RStpWLgxSsTP1r9GNkC/s1600/IMG_1221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsD11oVFslTpjq8SE88YvnA17nIl6PBtT2wub24soKRyT_Gy55TQ-3zcCWNePLm2qOAMgvnDOpy3342bhyetRWjph1XhtqSvWczUUoffqcvDLtgeDHRu4ZkcH_RStpWLgxSsTP1r9GNkC/s320/IMG_1221.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sock monsters (MeAgainCreations still has a few left)</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This year we will most likely be giving homemade gifts too. Here are some ideas for adults. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Notecards</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> -</b> This one is also for adults!!! Use blank note cards or card stock and decorate. Simple stamps an some trim are very effective. I used old holiday cards too. Last year I made a large set for different family member including different holidays and occasions.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Baking</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> -</b> need I say more?!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Frozen dinners</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> -</b> double what ever you are making and save some as a gift.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Time</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> -</b> I can tell you how much I'd love time to go out or have some time. Consider babysitting even just once for someone.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Kids crafts</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> -</b> if you are at home crafting with your kids, use it as a time to make gifts for others, there are plenty of cute ideas out there.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Wrapping paper </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>-</b> use your children's artwork as wrapping paper! I also made a set of reusable gift bags to cut back on paper waste.</span></div>
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'll try to update this with more ideas as we go along. Please do share your ideas in the comment box.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-3207964819677584872012-09-30T05:58:00.002-07:002012-10-02T18:15:01.605-07:00What I'm learning along the way<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What did I learn this week? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A whole lot! Last week I discovered our need to slow down and I have been working on that (okay this week was a bit busier than expected). The children are now clearing their places at the table and helping unload the dish washer. We are more often tidying away toys before we move on. I have also been reading lots of articles over at </span><a href="http://theparentingpassageway.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Parenting Passageway</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> I am trying to keep my own emotions and reactions in check, along with having more realistic expectations from my boys. I am using a quieter voice when I can remember and I'm trying to help the children problem solve instead of reacting to the behaviour (like pushing). So far it is going okay but no one ever warns you just how exhausting it is to be on top of things and in the moment all day long! I am giving myself some grace and relying on God's strength each day.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In our home we strive to use gentle/positive parenting. I am reading and learning more about it as we go along so I need patience with all of use as we often slip back to our old ways of shouting, threats, time-outs, punishments, etc. It may not resonate with everyone but for us we see the benefits. We want to model for our children how they should behave and how we want them to be as they grow. Besides we've tried everything with our boys and when we push harder they push back and it all blows up worse. Coaching and guiding (at least with TJ) seems to get a much better reaction.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just yesterday as I was hanging our cloth diapers TJ came over to me and said: "Mommy my body told me that if I see someone doing work all by their self I should help them," and then he worked happily beside me. Later in the day MJ had made a mess of the play kitchen. On his own TJ started to put everything away with his toy loader. I suggested that it was MJ's mess but TJ said he wanted to clean it. I need to treasure these moments (especially since he bite MJ really hard on the arm later that same day)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have noticed that TJ is awakening to the idea that perhaps our bodies sometimes tell us to do the wrong thing and we need to think about our actions. He is just beginning to get it, but has told me before that his body told him to do it (hit, bite...) and then we talk about how we should listen to God's voice instead. I never imagined these conversation when I thought of having kids. What a privilege to be part of their most intimate thoughts.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am so thankful with where our journey is taking us. In discovering Waldorf education I am really working on my own inner work. The lessons and activities for the kids are not the end but just a means to provide some structure to our day and a platform to work on their development (sharing, movement, imaginations). I do still need to figure out how to balance the daycare, company work, my own crafts, personal time, house work, and everything in between. I am just keeping my head above water most days and the business side of things is being sorely neglected. Jon is also crazy busy with work. We do look forward to things settling down a little.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is the perfect time for me to be working on inner work, family and rhythms before we get into academics. I am so glad to have this year to really enjoy our young boys and work on things now.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hope things are going well with al of you. I'd love to hear what you are learning!</span></div>
Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-49889704205244625102012-09-30T05:09:00.000-07:002012-10-13T04:15:29.512-07:00Week 4: Fighting Dragons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This week has been so much fun! My knights learned to protect and help others, along with fighting monsters and dragons!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On Monday my niece joined us along with our daycare children. We had a great time during circle time as TJ thought we should all dress up. As my fairies danced about and sang we learned of a dragon in Super Sam's forrest. We then decided to be knights with capes and go fight the dragon in the playroom. We put out his fires with play silks, which then turned into a river. Some animals and toys needed rescuing so the children built bridges to help them cross. Next we used the blocks to build castles for the dragon and some fairies. I gave them some prompts to get their imaginations going and we had a lot of fun. Sorry no photos as many of the daycare children in in the shots. In the afternoon hockey was the name of the game. MJ and E (my niece) were so cute playing together.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-O-LsluXP7So7cd02-BiGBIoaSdbCqXv9_oIXAxd6vZCfn2EbG8r_8AW3DSEqqayQW3_5TEhUPLiWTkq86PIze_teKc6GNnfGB9-CCeAkMqUr6YASqlxTmjwflH17xLAlGj28IGwYtvyP/s1600/Week+4+dragons-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-O-LsluXP7So7cd02-BiGBIoaSdbCqXv9_oIXAxd6vZCfn2EbG8r_8AW3DSEqqayQW3_5TEhUPLiWTkq86PIze_teKc6GNnfGB9-CCeAkMqUr6YASqlxTmjwflH17xLAlGj28IGwYtvyP/s320/Week+4+dragons-001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hockey with cousin E, Our September nature table</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tuesday we went to Frootogo a local apple orchard. We went there to meet friends and cousin E again. Playing on all the toys is always fun, along with feeding the animals. All the kids were a big help with picking the apples. We've already eaten most of our (no apple sauce this week). In the afternoon we made swords. MJ was scared of some monsters while pretending to have a nap, so fearless TJ came to the rescue and we fought imaginary monsters in every room of the house. (So cute and so much fun!)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Frootogo and fighting monsters</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On Wednesday we baked gingerbread cookies. Our dragon helped use his fire for good and baked the cookies for us. TJ actually got our little plastic dragon and had him blow on each batch of cookies before I put them in the oven. I wasn't too sure how to keep the little ones busy while we baked today so I got out some red kidney beans that we are never going to get around to eating. Oh my the mess and fun. It kept them all busy and happy. I have come a long way with accepting and handling mess! We used some healthier decorating toppings as it's all I had on hand. I love that we made some Super Sam's, dragons, a turtle and fall cookies along with some other fun shapes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideuvBJpTnV3iDrVUnl8-JwcxXhyIsb8n4vUq7xRFbiyoLs4LAUZSUnQ5Mquaa8JupVQmPV1_vBwgcyNUZA9yAtvhXeYejcT5BL7DIC9qC6wIizbFv4sA2BbW0f_6iQJU01rZA3ZqkCfiz/s1600/Week+4+dragons-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideuvBJpTnV3iDrVUnl8-JwcxXhyIsb8n4vUq7xRFbiyoLs4LAUZSUnQ5Mquaa8JupVQmPV1_vBwgcyNUZA9yAtvhXeYejcT5BL7DIC9qC6wIizbFv4sA2BbW0f_6iQJU01rZA3ZqkCfiz/s320/Week+4+dragons-003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Playing with beans and making gingerbread cookies</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wednesday afternoon the children made shields to go with their swords. We played knights outside this time and had a great day. The kids were interacting more with each other.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbs1bulI80HttlHMO2zApN3lx75EmLeE_z1DZSUNTBVc2c1SvpKSJ2HfCBOubqoQBv6Cei8q6aOUIVntlEpkdDYbm005iEpA1ks2OPCGKyvGjMJDORByScFfrWqDF_8pdynSCgI00TGrHW/s1600/Week+4+dragons-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbs1bulI80HttlHMO2zApN3lx75EmLeE_z1DZSUNTBVc2c1SvpKSJ2HfCBOubqoQBv6Cei8q6aOUIVntlEpkdDYbm005iEpA1ks2OPCGKyvGjMJDORByScFfrWqDF_8pdynSCgI00TGrHW/s320/Week+4+dragons-004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Decorating cookies and making shields</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On Thursday we went to run an errand near the park by my mom's house. TJ went off to explore the forrest while I played in the playground with the others. It was chilly that day. MJ also rode on his little motorized toy for the first time. He is usually terrified of these things but when daddy put in a very small slow battery, he finally decided to get on.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_Qz9ZkDRVT45uKavwlgCpsKo9Sx3esvsuTrAs0MQ2GExudlByd1X8alXotjH7WSytnCtsQWAe5F7pq-i-clBS2bihOihJgKL5KCgBTFu9Ai4WXlwGltjUdZmpN_HuVtnP0fT_o7ae38I/s1600/Week+4+dragons-005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_Qz9ZkDRVT45uKavwlgCpsKo9Sx3esvsuTrAs0MQ2GExudlByd1X8alXotjH7WSytnCtsQWAe5F7pq-i-clBS2bihOihJgKL5KCgBTFu9Ai4WXlwGltjUdZmpN_HuVtnP0fT_o7ae38I/s320/Week+4+dragons-005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Exploring the forrest, riding toys and blow kisses!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thusday afternoon is our sensory day. I tried putting different coloured paint in plastic bags for the kids to mush and mix. I think I put in too much and the bags weren't very good quality. We also experimented with cookie cutters and our hands.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSlJD7fjWv36MRGoWkpWq92BQxW8vf_yWQW2NO9QvvAtpH9WKzjvaefalkxydaITodcU9Bbe30LOMzMWBy2qqwd1Grbxacy-1jd7J3e9o9uWLUhDCQ8sephHLuAMUw5PRYtNCeD435Ppy/s1600/Week+4+dragons-006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSlJD7fjWv36MRGoWkpWq92BQxW8vf_yWQW2NO9QvvAtpH9WKzjvaefalkxydaITodcU9Bbe30LOMzMWBy2qqwd1Grbxacy-1jd7J3e9o9uWLUhDCQ8sephHLuAMUw5PRYtNCeD435Ppy/s320/Week+4+dragons-006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No-mess paint in bags (make sure the bags don't rip)</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Friday was another busy day. Early in the morning I started taking the papers of old cheep crayons. Both boys woke early too. TJ was an amazing help and chopped most of the crayons up. He is getting good with a knife. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_vDz6Nl3pu7d3rBOHsdh9mfSOdKqBTjMjCn8si_8IfEQ8VTsLGtCQO4WiRtZGhK0kxrMRWqqVFyvIL4vy4N5AJ6qVD0L1rV9YdEdaGZdEvWJPmCrx-8JJRuVQtpPaLxDK2KmiV0-z8HM/s1600/Week+4+dragons-007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_vDz6Nl3pu7d3rBOHsdh9mfSOdKqBTjMjCn8si_8IfEQ8VTsLGtCQO4WiRtZGhK0kxrMRWqqVFyvIL4vy4N5AJ6qVD0L1rV9YdEdaGZdEvWJPmCrx-8JJRuVQtpPaLxDK2KmiV0-z8HM/s320/Week+4+dragons-007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Chopping crayons and visiting farm</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Once all our friends joined us we went to visit a farm belonging to one of our daycare children's grand parents. Of course he had a wonderful time with grandma. We loved looking at the pumpkins and visiting the animals. Inside the store we had a treat and Auntie Bonnie and I bought lots of veggies. We'll be going back there soon.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1nCMtpvuK2l_QoX-idc0RuJUFkL24yuXvT0xGEAmMfPIpdGjdWK4oEQrkjGw9M1OWNa8RAM1Ze89oxedk5PrpLUYrPun5aoogd7F7tkqRplY4YvoScz5qRC39AJe4i7xthPdqhZ-gXb7/s1600/Week+4+dragons-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1nCMtpvuK2l_QoX-idc0RuJUFkL24yuXvT0xGEAmMfPIpdGjdWK4oEQrkjGw9M1OWNa8RAM1Ze89oxedk5PrpLUYrPun5aoogd7F7tkqRplY4YvoScz5qRC39AJe4i7xthPdqhZ-gXb7/s320/Week+4+dragons-008.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Visiting animals at the farm</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Later Friday afternoon each child got to make their own crayons but filling up a mini muffin try with different colours of crayon bits. We put them in the oven at 350 for about 15min or until they just melt (I left ours in a bit long each time). When they were cool to touch I put them in the freezer for a while. The crayons worked okay. The top half is just wax and the colour is only at the bottom. The kids had fun trying them out.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27nJPrhAdtza3KqIz1cth0vx1ajY2uOX248y6kj8hZlxPplX-JtkrQCPp0qXnuS1xeQCP1gIHr8el8mQUascr2ARemMeG-zscPC75N-NmkTAGVKKGVuYG6HL2eis4VSyqtkVSx1Zy3sV6/s1600/Week+4+dragons-009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27nJPrhAdtza3KqIz1cth0vx1ajY2uOX248y6kj8hZlxPplX-JtkrQCPp0qXnuS1xeQCP1gIHr8el8mQUascr2ARemMeG-zscPC75N-NmkTAGVKKGVuYG6HL2eis4VSyqtkVSx1Zy3sV6/s320/Week+4+dragons-009.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Using the new crayon we made</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Next week is a new month. Wow 4 weeks of 'school' already! I am trying out an idea of new circle songs this month. We are also going to be getting ready for a harvest party at the end of the month. Hope you'll join us for more updates.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'll be linking up during the week:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://happywhimsicalhearts.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Happy Family Times </a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ourseasonsofjoy.com/waldorf-wednesday-link-up/waldorf-wednesday-6/" target="_blank">Waldorf Wednesdays</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.themobsociety.com/2012/10/lets-hear-it-for-the-boys-monthly-linkup/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheMobSociety+%28The+MOB+Society%29" target="_blank">MOB Society</a></span>Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-67833013899456722262012-09-22T18:17:00.001-07:002012-09-26T10:15:43.540-07:00First day of fall<b>Wishing everyone the most blessed fall season!</b><br />
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We got off to a slow start today. I slept in because I could (no daycare today)! So the boys watched too much TV while I checked emails etc.<br />
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We decided just to hear some poems and a story for our circle time. I was very excited to share some poems from A Child's Seasonal Treasury about the secret inside an apple. Then Laura from <a href="http://www.cometogetherkids.com/2012/09/the-story-of-apple-star.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Come Together Kids </span></a>had just posted the story of the apple tree which I was saving for today.</div>
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MJ had wandered off but TJ was listening intently to the story. When it was finished I asked if he wanted to see if our apples had the secret star inside. He was so astonished (I loved his reaction). We also discovered later in the day that pears also have a star inside too.</div>
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While Jon and TJ went to the garage and auto parts store, MJ and I went to visit Aunty Brooke and Uncle Steve. They generously gave us some (a van load) of shade plants. On our way home MJ and I went to a local farm to buy the last of the summer corn and a few gourds. We then spent the afternoon planting. The boys loved riding on the tractor, digging dirt and hauling rocks. The side garden is really shaping up.</div>
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Today is also another day of firsts. I did canning for the first time and I do believe it worked out! My mother-in-law kindly gave me some canning supplies when we were at the cottage last weekend. We also picked some apples at the cottage and the local farm. My sister gave us a large basket of pears too. It took a very long time with the food mill, but I managed to make 8 jars and some extra bowls of pear apple sauce.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQla1DYsdexwQJxWjO8kbZZnfU0gho_oVfk_mOX-BdY5fFdQ3sci9RueZhY1O6SGGM_CCDUWVDictNrmftuHFDhul9fc46aZ94fX1_QHI9uWDZUnIOk0zOfDx8n7roVSwA23l7ewlcWTI/s1600/426251_10151107077323743_1568904067_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQla1DYsdexwQJxWjO8kbZZnfU0gho_oVfk_mOX-BdY5fFdQ3sci9RueZhY1O6SGGM_CCDUWVDictNrmftuHFDhul9fc46aZ94fX1_QHI9uWDZUnIOk0zOfDx8n7roVSwA23l7ewlcWTI/s320/426251_10151107077323743_1568904067_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'd love to hear how you spent your first day of fall...</div>
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This post is linked to <a href="http://ourseasonsofjoy.com/waldorf-wednesday-link-up/waldorf-wednesday-link-up-5/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Waldorf Wednesdays</span></a> at Seasons of Joy</div>
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Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-75559010518314902262012-09-22T17:59:00.001-07:002012-09-26T15:45:56.069-07:00Week 3: fall is in the airThis week you could tell by the weather that fall was coming. The temperature dropped and the leaves have started to fall. We did some fun fall activities!<br />
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The boys were getting along well with our daycare children. They have now started to interact more on their own and started to play together. I was am also learning a lot too. My biggest realization was a need to slow down. In helping TJ realize that he needed to slow down a couple of times this week, I realized I was rushing through activities too! We also all noticed that the tone in the house was angry. Words, hands and feet have been flying and hurtful. We will be concentrating on turning things around next week.<br />
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Monday was nature day. We went for a wonderful walk lead by our fearless leader TJ. We also talked about about how the animals are getting ready for the winter too. We donated much of our fall decorations to begin enjoying the splendour from nature around us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFQ7YlGVqegpr0H7IPknM4Y4e1BIzbNP5w9cBdB3UzmD9_FVctVGXiFpIEvmFEzn7OWbMwnLuuBAbOg5su_xOTjowKmOC8sx-yFFIFdRLaFyKyWVQsMjIB6d2OyDKrP6769V3tn8wSDKH/s1600/week3-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFQ7YlGVqegpr0H7IPknM4Y4e1BIzbNP5w9cBdB3UzmD9_FVctVGXiFpIEvmFEzn7OWbMwnLuuBAbOg5su_xOTjowKmOC8sx-yFFIFdRLaFyKyWVQsMjIB6d2OyDKrP6769V3tn8wSDKH/s320/week3-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Tuesday is handicraft day so we made leaf crowns just like the Gnome King in our story. It rained a lot so the boys and I made an obstacle course to keep them buys while I made lunch. We also had a play/real picnic for snack time. Later in the day they went outside to take advantage of the puddles and mud!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVACghMZysKx8S6rbbRTYqtSgMHxqV2kB5HIBjfFILRZ51-AVptD8MROHw0MgkgqzJKiLVbe3HjAjSicuD38tRFGRjccRjno6MdcPkHjK8wfx2OXEN_b5spa2rSZFG17966LYDOKylQlS/s1600/week3-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVACghMZysKx8S6rbbRTYqtSgMHxqV2kB5HIBjfFILRZ51-AVptD8MROHw0MgkgqzJKiLVbe3HjAjSicuD38tRFGRjccRjno6MdcPkHjK8wfx2OXEN_b5spa2rSZFG17966LYDOKylQlS/s320/week3-002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wednesday is our baking day and I took on a lot today. I decided to make real bread (without the bread machine) and chocolate zucchini bread too. The kids had a lot of fun helping in the kitchen. I do believe I put in way to much yeast (the bowl of dough overflowed everywhere as it was rising). After adding all the flour I could find we did end up with some yummy buns. In the afternoon I brought out our file folder games for the kids to play with during quiet time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIEv2Ipu-g9Cn6uHMYNfppx_FSXOQbvbrfbUQLIhburHiumfJcljOj_oTQajUH9nXOmycwxbnOnz_ai-Xx92XM8dADimmE03izToLLdmsTu4NHdXHf8MQ-Vp4nIOjcoihtWN2TVomSiXR/s1600/week3-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIEv2Ipu-g9Cn6uHMYNfppx_FSXOQbvbrfbUQLIhburHiumfJcljOj_oTQajUH9nXOmycwxbnOnz_ai-Xx92XM8dADimmE03izToLLdmsTu4NHdXHf8MQ-Vp4nIOjcoihtWN2TVomSiXR/s320/week3-003.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIEv2Ipu-g9Cn6uHMYNfppx_FSXOQbvbrfbUQLIhburHiumfJcljOj_oTQajUH9nXOmycwxbnOnz_ai-Xx92XM8dADimmE03izToLLdmsTu4NHdXHf8MQ-Vp4nIOjcoihtWN2TVomSiXR/s1600/week3-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Thursday is sensory day. We made a big pot of spaghetti to play with. Several of the younger kids just ate it which was also fun. TJ had been asking for a while to make a snack for the birds. We set out a bowl of treats and strung them on some string. One of our decorations was eaten quickly by a squirrel and the other has been slowly worked on by some ants.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsW7MIp1IMAz6CwOvu3npxYs0EIpo0Z9s0-QkSwrtiJs6y3dyVdMc_hsK3zYIEAtNiM3s1vUgny9mIdDp-lrouHjTUG_8rkUn5RqAl5lZFGc5jOPstYpN6UGP6F4D-JJwjcdBnDFgwAdC/s1600/week3-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsW7MIp1IMAz6CwOvu3npxYs0EIpo0Z9s0-QkSwrtiJs6y3dyVdMc_hsK3zYIEAtNiM3s1vUgny9mIdDp-lrouHjTUG_8rkUn5RqAl5lZFGc5jOPstYpN6UGP6F4D-JJwjcdBnDFgwAdC/s320/week3-004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsW7MIp1IMAz6CwOvu3npxYs0EIpo0Z9s0-QkSwrtiJs6y3dyVdMc_hsK3zYIEAtNiM3s1vUgny9mIdDp-lrouHjTUG_8rkUn5RqAl5lZFGc5jOPstYpN6UGP6F4D-JJwjcdBnDFgwAdC/s1600/week3-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Friday is usually crayon day this month. Today my sister and her children came to join us. After playing and circle time we made coffee filter leaves. This is such a simple activity. Colour with washable markers on a coffee filter. Spray with water and let it dry. We cut out shapes first to make it easier. Once dry we hung them on a large paper tree we attached to the playroom windows. In the afternoon we took a trip to the garden plot and playground!</div>
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Next week we meet a dragon and become knights! (I have some prep work to get to)<br />
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I will be linking this post mid week:<br />
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We are linked up to <a href="http://ourseasonsofjoy.com/waldorf-wednesday-link-up/waldorf-wednesday-link-up-5/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Waldorf Wednesdays</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span>over at Seasons of Joy<br />
We are also linked to <a href="http://happywhimsicalhearts.blogspot.ca/2012/09/happy-family-times-skiing-fun.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Happy Family Times</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span>over at Happy Whimsical Hearts<br />
<br />Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-88704228613750594882012-09-14T20:02:00.000-07:002012-09-14T20:10:47.273-07:00Week 2 Kindergarten updates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This week we have been getting into a better rhythm. The boys are settling in better with having the daycare at our house. Having new children in the home is an adjustment but I'm proud of my boys, they are learning to share, very welcoming and helpful.</div>
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Monday our focus was nature. We went for a walk to the nature park down the street, on a beautiful sunny day. We saw lots of turtles and snails. After looking around the boardwalk we followed the city lawn mower around!</div>
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Tuesday our focus was handiworks. We made kites to go along with our story. TJ made several kites so he could have back-ups. The boys spent a wonderful afternoon running around (TJ even attached one to his bike!)<br />
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Wednesday we took everyone from our daycare to a local apple farm. The kids played with their toys, visited the animals and then picked lots of apples. Super Sam joined up for the fun! Wednesday is usually our baking day. Today we made bell pepper / spinach muffins. Everyone but TJ liked them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24OR9EBAOM8AdyWrx5JXi0gXD6D1q97QH7l3GEERLwYpoba7FiCBjtrAk3QmQGYBhVUXiO6fzDp8YJlWYni9jfkltH85ZfjGn1zQcC8yvWvVwoE9e70qzPz4ia22ReuoIyg_7VJQB5vDT/s1600/Matt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24OR9EBAOM8AdyWrx5JXi0gXD6D1q97QH7l3GEERLwYpoba7FiCBjtrAk3QmQGYBhVUXiO6fzDp8YJlWYni9jfkltH85ZfjGn1zQcC8yvWvVwoE9e70qzPz4ia22ReuoIyg_7VJQB5vDT/s320/Matt.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool apple candle to celebrate an apple picking day</td></tr>
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Thursday is our sensory day. Since we had a smaller group we decided to make mud in the boys garden. They had a fun time with our littlest daycare friend making mud soup. Later TJ also decided to dig his own garden plots at the house. That evening while visiting out real garden plot we harvested a whole basket of tomatoes! MJ got really into picking things and brought me our pumpkin. we were hoping to keep it growing until next month. TJ already has a long list of things we can make with it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh-xGY-fXjCiHtgU3mc3DSFaWOYuJrV2i0I0J40mbk8g1siNg1hvOC2STqcf9bRMlEmQR-unWcuP1cay5oX7D_mxjt09Qi-LTS9nd9VLbCdhGhAVyqqy_5XzogrikdSO71GUFCK9F1O8e/s1600/IMG00708-20120913-1456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh-xGY-fXjCiHtgU3mc3DSFaWOYuJrV2i0I0J40mbk8g1siNg1hvOC2STqcf9bRMlEmQR-unWcuP1cay5oX7D_mxjt09Qi-LTS9nd9VLbCdhGhAVyqqy_5XzogrikdSO71GUFCK9F1O8e/s320/IMG00708-20120913-1456.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Friday morning TJ found a toad. He asked me to keep it or get him a real pet. We made Toady a little home and let him go by lunch (especially because it was raining for the afternoon). During colouring we pretended that our crayons were following the path of a leaf on the paper. Then we made paper planes and helicopters.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toady in top right corner</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">marching band fun!</td></tr>
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We are using the same songs and poems each day for circle time. I love that the boys are learning the songs and sing while playing. Both boys love Super Sam and TJ is helping out a lot with the story.<br />
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Looking forward to more fun next week!<br />
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Linked up to <a href="http://ourseasonsofjoy.com/general/waldorf-wednesday-link-up-3/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Seasons of Joy</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span>Waldorf Wednesday<br />
<br />Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-12376656183052987452012-09-08T12:15:00.001-07:002012-09-08T12:15:55.921-07:00Our First week of schoolI already posted about our <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">f</span><a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/2012/09/first-day-of-school.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">irst day of school</span></a>. Now since our boys are young and we have chosen a Waldorf path for education, we aren't really doing 'school' stuff. But since all TJ's friends have gone off to school and many more people keep asking if he is in school, we decided to start too in our own way.<br />
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I won't be posting every week but here are a few highlights of our first week. I am so excited about this year. We will be focusing on seasons and festivals. Enjoying making a lot of homemade food and other things to use around the house. We are also trying to focus on expressing ourselves in more appropriate ways, and showing love to others (especially our brother).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwHFeTQrNCRUN6Cu-GMnM-xJz19_YyrXSEHJcATEEwJBFpY_DZJ9g99EcdYTgiKJXV9piWEByu3oSaotHW4zAONrnZTMENwH7Q15wP07CVkX3Ldu4vUJ8pm7zPbEjbZWFAxNcZ5O_0vuh/s1600/IMG_1446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwHFeTQrNCRUN6Cu-GMnM-xJz19_YyrXSEHJcATEEwJBFpY_DZJ9g99EcdYTgiKJXV9piWEByu3oSaotHW4zAONrnZTMENwH7Q15wP07CVkX3Ldu4vUJ8pm7zPbEjbZWFAxNcZ5O_0vuh/s320/IMG_1446.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TJ washed all the fruit and veggies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwCqvXzZBOYj5vpp26XOp9jV9d17oFMjoUKIDe1V53-78m-XFq-IvahTiKhopH7R2-q7KGe8VnB4RBRGquMtyBbf1W0WPeiEDoutAc7lzqw8pC9aF82HcYxz0jJWnLynUW-P6A-OsGvXt/s1600/IMG_1449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwCqvXzZBOYj5vpp26XOp9jV9d17oFMjoUKIDe1V53-78m-XFq-IvahTiKhopH7R2-q7KGe8VnB4RBRGquMtyBbf1W0WPeiEDoutAc7lzqw8pC9aF82HcYxz0jJWnLynUW-P6A-OsGvXt/s320/IMG_1449.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We all met Super Sam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5KnpUWzlQmwkzYvdj5Nh4CUZSNpapLFninjnNCy-KTLWShJ1QdCaW6BIujAz5G3pgx_YUVsj7-jhq2aNkZl0EwBsP-mZ2wFFSLiLxvgkFbTH1u5xJX6s8iO0SpxzbYMAKA_SWkMEr4l9/s1600/IMG_1451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5KnpUWzlQmwkzYvdj5Nh4CUZSNpapLFninjnNCy-KTLWShJ1QdCaW6BIujAz5G3pgx_YUVsj7-jhq2aNkZl0EwBsP-mZ2wFFSLiLxvgkFbTH1u5xJX6s8iO0SpxzbYMAKA_SWkMEr4l9/s320/IMG_1451.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Sam joined us for a few walks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ypjq1_ghUrQZe-dIgrG5f3m7ZdpBm2nUd2cTSJ4_22pLeiCuTC37nq0npgF6KPiPVo2_sKQEPoa463pd-gTwLIojxi4IddeopokBpPnGudMvYVo7lE37HH6TmEutDA7_DKypHp7JgS_C/s1600/IMG_1452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ypjq1_ghUrQZe-dIgrG5f3m7ZdpBm2nUd2cTSJ4_22pLeiCuTC37nq0npgF6KPiPVo2_sKQEPoa463pd-gTwLIojxi4IddeopokBpPnGudMvYVo7lE37HH6TmEutDA7_DKypHp7JgS_C/s320/IMG_1452.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went to the garden plot several times</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ-FZjx1OAH7Sjepr3OELF-CLbdr8EOHowLLLrUDaEQer9D3Z72kStqeob3PAohMhZzJl4bFIEmBuLFc9U7Aiokk2P3Alv_Ax6Vq3gRrA3ccVhdBNmkjXZIAMDzSAnCW_qvebip9csP8n/s1600/IMG_1457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ-FZjx1OAH7Sjepr3OELF-CLbdr8EOHowLLLrUDaEQer9D3Z72kStqeob3PAohMhZzJl4bFIEmBuLFc9U7Aiokk2P3Alv_Ax6Vq3gRrA3ccVhdBNmkjXZIAMDzSAnCW_qvebip9csP8n/s320/IMG_1457.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TJ and I made two lovely nature mobiles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazC88B7IMM6cuVSPt8nrt46IaCAR2DTbqyJAYPr3NPPnjdLytr7qvR4Fj03-YvXg2bgTwz9oLHV5DtSkSyeZ_73pKnnDy3SQY2qLcVnAH2vYHrOUiy2euiZUTaMPzIAKsF1CFhm-oEwQg/s1600/IMG_1460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazC88B7IMM6cuVSPt8nrt46IaCAR2DTbqyJAYPr3NPPnjdLytr7qvR4Fj03-YvXg2bgTwz9oLHV5DtSkSyeZ_73pKnnDy3SQY2qLcVnAH2vYHrOUiy2euiZUTaMPzIAKsF1CFhm-oEwQg/s320/IMG_1460.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We enjoyed all God's creatures</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFIwIrIXasfxaHQD1sac5b3Ng8L75z9mjQ0OXflOMpQPKuSmI4stHmJKLQShnZMOpUR-C9Z-zwI_SHFeMqk9TRxu6-cP3kv6tv1U4gdS-IYBAIT8dPWxUWrTTlRGlclYlm7AZAidbLhMU/s1600/IMG_1462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFIwIrIXasfxaHQD1sac5b3Ng8L75z9mjQ0OXflOMpQPKuSmI4stHmJKLQShnZMOpUR-C9Z-zwI_SHFeMqk9TRxu6-cP3kv6tv1U4gdS-IYBAIT8dPWxUWrTTlRGlclYlm7AZAidbLhMU/s320/IMG_1462.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Sam and his pet turtle found some beautiful rocks to start our rock collection</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIoVpqEU2DtMnug4oruiBVI99s6qnFPUFJD0e-MRVZtCiM-QBAxj8nGIKlbn6-9d4qd7rKiOrGq2TNd4RYLnSYJTNOjERNIAQmQ4io_dOgYgHNb1gvtie2Rcs-TGSNw2shm1QbWMGyHQw/s1600/IMG_1463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIoVpqEU2DtMnug4oruiBVI99s6qnFPUFJD0e-MRVZtCiM-QBAxj8nGIKlbn6-9d4qd7rKiOrGq2TNd4RYLnSYJTNOjERNIAQmQ4io_dOgYgHNb1gvtie2Rcs-TGSNw2shm1QbWMGyHQw/s320/IMG_1463.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys dressed as leaves for Circle Time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliXGSGTQ9EWEbwcR5Lwn5069JUiuzmw9LJ29zIomkCatEmafIkQkg20IkjbP9Tm1DhXiT6yKDG5afpVvd2PeLgBsU8WOpwpiluveiHJNONhi-L9F5A63Rpw1N4yJueN-36_1vqaz_uVjv/s1600/IMG_1470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliXGSGTQ9EWEbwcR5Lwn5069JUiuzmw9LJ29zIomkCatEmafIkQkg20IkjbP9Tm1DhXiT6yKDG5afpVvd2PeLgBsU8WOpwpiluveiHJNONhi-L9F5A63Rpw1N4yJueN-36_1vqaz_uVjv/s320/IMG_1470.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our toys all helped tell our story this week</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIKFN_jYjZ9ixSZoUhPskm-MFEINzVLQpFXoz6yE7Pm87NANiPLxkdPxhdq_MgMOhgOmuim12CnLNodPfeiMKA7ifGpZFrbJslzOUJxWWocEShxaYLlM07VpOTAVGt94NfDbB0saV3pVY/s1600/IMG_1471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIKFN_jYjZ9ixSZoUhPskm-MFEINzVLQpFXoz6yE7Pm87NANiPLxkdPxhdq_MgMOhgOmuim12CnLNodPfeiMKA7ifGpZFrbJslzOUJxWWocEShxaYLlM07VpOTAVGt94NfDbB0saV3pVY/s320/IMG_1471.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made peach apple sauce</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMDyRPDOJDjfHfURcK7nfBCFUs72ZIJD5v6uJeNxCQz0Xcte8LFn091-wdgKmutMS0PKghEQr5NJNth-344TwsBdv32If1iitVEiq6Uzw_cTlQ9bOy-p5vp5sprVSLvuiW3Eg-thXSR7M/s1600/IMG_1391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMDyRPDOJDjfHfURcK7nfBCFUs72ZIJD5v6uJeNxCQz0Xcte8LFn091-wdgKmutMS0PKghEQr5NJNth-344TwsBdv32If1iitVEiq6Uzw_cTlQ9bOy-p5vp5sprVSLvuiW3Eg-thXSR7M/s320/IMG_1391.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made more pasta sauce using all the veggies TJ had washed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
How was your week?<div>
How are you celebrating the seasons?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-71620046516923597142012-09-04T11:56:00.001-07:002012-09-04T11:56:39.258-07:00First Day of SchoolYesterday was a very first day of school! Okay so it may have been a 'holiday' but there was not stopping my excitement.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLLcswQ4exLkZ1VCPFdgKKY8el61qFbh6ty9RdgIP26HX0kraxO4PkUEYZisi0TgkQYAV-3srs4w1D6luE2w2_jMZZp3RZ7r92iXnRZMduOaCrmGdmKj0LTd2CQE4bIsJE578MZNPONzE/s1600/IMG_1447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLLcswQ4exLkZ1VCPFdgKKY8el61qFbh6ty9RdgIP26HX0kraxO4PkUEYZisi0TgkQYAV-3srs4w1D6luE2w2_jMZZp3RZ7r92iXnRZMduOaCrmGdmKj0LTd2CQE4bIsJE578MZNPONzE/s320/IMG_1447.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TJ's first day of 'school'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g9NrNULNv2zQltAXZGkwj1kf1_tYq9XuNvk-vZSQFouvHHgU07kQ6VmGdsbnWKAPnqUOqTY20hsivGjDy7YHIw7WRxSoQc88_9jDXDJQOc-NTVQYX11oztNmyqgYaEk0tDOr4PxIFQRC/s1600/IMG_1450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g9NrNULNv2zQltAXZGkwj1kf1_tYq9XuNvk-vZSQFouvHHgU07kQ6VmGdsbnWKAPnqUOqTY20hsivGjDy7YHIw7WRxSoQc88_9jDXDJQOc-NTVQYX11oztNmyqgYaEk0tDOr4PxIFQRC/s320/IMG_1450.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MJ's first day of 'school'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
First off the teacher in me wanted to wake up to a fresh, clean, organized house with all our activities falling into place according to my plan... but instead I was met to a pile of cloth diapers to fold, dishes, sick kids, and a tone of veggies to deal with before they went bad.<br />
<br />
I quickly got to work on what was facing me as the boys didn't seem to mind. As I was working away Jon reminded me that since we are homeschooling I don't need to worry about sticking to the plan, just go with the flow of the day. Besides it is a holiday!<br />
<br />
Deep breath and start again...<br />
<br />
We had ice cream for breakfast (after our healthy stuff) I had offered pancakes but this was way better. Then TJ gave every fruit and vegetable in the house a bath while I cut up a mountain of tomatoes and got them boiling for the pasta sauce. Next we went to go pick up a dresser for the boys. By the time we got home it was already lunch.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGSQ4JppeSU3oIshZTHJz2bVrm-ldgHO6CHMZ5YwC3T7Qe1-hx_GgrODzk4qXI2L7cyiC2iqL1jGjxr_ocKwuolRCgCEMg96-BPh9v9qejDHkpy6iuYDIN3N2OeBJQbqEtW_pIi0R7o5j/s1600/IMG_1446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGSQ4JppeSU3oIshZTHJz2bVrm-ldgHO6CHMZ5YwC3T7Qe1-hx_GgrODzk4qXI2L7cyiC2iqL1jGjxr_ocKwuolRCgCEMg96-BPh9v9qejDHkpy6iuYDIN3N2OeBJQbqEtW_pIi0R7o5j/s320/IMG_1446.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
In my original plan we were going to do circle time in the morning but today was a bit backwards. We had lunch and set out on a walk. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheobLzCjp7afR41a9wYUYyhOSP0_uJG0r2L743VYC8mKolSsQMSeH3r5M6gs3k1D_KiqAC_3nZhDAuYec649d12v8cczbDcFRuwg6VTV7BhGECnKIEq9uofMA7SNeEkZzcu94tj9lhyphenhyphennIi/s1600/IMG_1451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheobLzCjp7afR41a9wYUYyhOSP0_uJG0r2L743VYC8mKolSsQMSeH3r5M6gs3k1D_KiqAC_3nZhDAuYec649d12v8cczbDcFRuwg6VTV7BhGECnKIEq9uofMA7SNeEkZzcu94tj9lhyphenhyphennIi/s320/IMG_1451.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MJ and Sam ready for our walk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I introduced the boys to "Super Sam" our gnome. TJ was so excited he wanted to show Sam our garden plot. As we walked I told them the story about Sam and his friends. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySSDXTojB-82ugdCWMUfqzezP8dlM1eEG1wK8IPJyNEXqrM6ZDhYue3UxtFLLxx2DGzyvMg6G5UV9hjj7hOnW7d8JF9epyLjpuxJ1HD6gCbuM2XXjDlY2HCrZ3bk_GhoQT8Ao96bLKq6Q/s1600/IMG_1449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySSDXTojB-82ugdCWMUfqzezP8dlM1eEG1wK8IPJyNEXqrM6ZDhYue3UxtFLLxx2DGzyvMg6G5UV9hjj7hOnW7d8JF9epyLjpuxJ1HD6gCbuM2XXjDlY2HCrZ3bk_GhoQT8Ao96bLKq6Q/s320/IMG_1449.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Sam our gnome</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We showed Sam all our veggies and took him to the playground. On the way home we did all our circle time songs and had a wonderful talk about harvest and why all the fruits and veggies are ready at different times.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLk5uhceKsMgi94ctI57dnVpj2aIoCgDz93_RnHm1xswr0coh3fUDRRIrDKpzEZNH9CK5J_FsURI-D-ZwqjzRNW4S34-9AxfxAtAysLwLThqidDyt3kqEqfOK7wCGtmMsoL1snIVGNfTL/s1600/IMG_1454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLk5uhceKsMgi94ctI57dnVpj2aIoCgDz93_RnHm1xswr0coh3fUDRRIrDKpzEZNH9CK5J_FsURI-D-ZwqjzRNW4S34-9AxfxAtAysLwLThqidDyt3kqEqfOK7wCGtmMsoL1snIVGNfTL/s320/IMG_1454.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When we arrived home we all worked together to finish the pasta sauce, (froze some and ate some with dinner). MJ fell asleep for a while and TJ helped Daddy with fixing the van. I took some quiet time for myself and was so very thankful for this amazing first day. We had a wonderful family time and the boys are loving Sam. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht185Y_Oi2LZ41IvlpzhKNnGPqSFM-bs3QnfxUAmVNs89ttTKj4rlHpsSeHJIEnJctZMo9jfbvXs4dUCgyNJ_tP86rKAHs_5GDbJHPRrE82rAV4wNRotApKgWGXWHkXQq0GqoGzD5ND2w0/s1600/IMG_1456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht185Y_Oi2LZ41IvlpzhKNnGPqSFM-bs3QnfxUAmVNs89ttTKj4rlHpsSeHJIEnJctZMo9jfbvXs4dUCgyNJ_tP86rKAHs_5GDbJHPRrE82rAV4wNRotApKgWGXWHkXQq0GqoGzD5ND2w0/s320/IMG_1456.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MJ hugging Sam all the way home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am reminded again as to why we are homeschooling because the boys are so young and it is an amazing time to enjoy the magic of childhood. This precious time and the rhythm we have is also working well with our <a href="http://meaghanshomedaycare.weebly.com/index.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">home daycare</span></a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Resources</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I found some amazing knitting patterns on<a href="https://www.ravelry.com/account/login" target="_blank"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Ravelry</span></a> website. </div>
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I first did a search for Gnomes and then looked for free ones to find <a href="http://debibirkin.com/free_stuff" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">this one</span></a> that I used for Super Sam. I have also made a few animals from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wee-woodland-wuzzies" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">this pattern</span></a></div>
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And found some really cute pumpkin, acorn and tree knitting patterns for free on Ravelry too.</div>
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We are using the <a href="http://waldorfjourney.typepad.com/a_journey_through_waldorf/thinking-feeling-willing/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Thinking Feeling Willing</span></a> program from <a href="http://waldorfessentials.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Waldorf Essentials</span></a> for myself and the boys/daycare. I have also taken a lot of our songs and a few activities from <a href="http://ourseasonsofjoy.com/seasons-of-joy-store/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Seasons of Joy</span></a> Autumn.</div>
Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-80437257197595931292012-09-03T12:18:00.002-07:002012-09-03T12:18:40.926-07:00Getting Laundy done!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Around our house the laundry does get done, but recently the folding part has been taking longer than it should. At times my husband is looking through the dryer for his work clothes instead of in his drawers. At any given time I have between 3-6 loads to fold. I am thinking we need to pare down our wardrobe, but also there are certain points during the year when the boys are messier ad muddier than others.</div>
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I am no longer hiding it all away and leaving it only for me to do in the evenings. We are now sorting and folding laundry together. We dumped all the clean clothes in the middle of the family room and with the help of the boys and their loaders, we sorted it all into piles (each person got a pile for their clothes, one for towels too).<br />
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TJ was very proud to learn how to start folding his own clothes. He worked on his pile while I did he others. Then his loader helped deliver the clothes to the right room. MJ had fun being 'strong' and carrying things for me too.</div>
<br />Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-69913489341731689872012-08-29T19:40:00.000-07:002012-08-29T19:41:05.987-07:00Cool Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
TJ asked me to take photos of him while he was running around listening to music. After downloading them all it looks like the is doing some cool alternative dancing!</div>
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Have a great day!</div>
<br />Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-26832206541194768652012-08-17T18:16:00.001-07:002012-08-17T18:45:51.888-07:00Natrual Playscapes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNSXGFj4Ja_2NEV6-ldlMo_IRdTOXgqwqJ2fqxWPoM-PKyrayWIoOxmONbmMIlhgr-GMvSzgy9YQyJKaLBvF3tfi0T0Yqhr9JWYxCZigeqHJmeM-iuXtZsLyLr5i2TU3I3L346qq7Pw3a/s1600/IMG_1318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNSXGFj4Ja_2NEV6-ldlMo_IRdTOXgqwqJ2fqxWPoM-PKyrayWIoOxmONbmMIlhgr-GMvSzgy9YQyJKaLBvF3tfi0T0Yqhr9JWYxCZigeqHJmeM-iuXtZsLyLr5i2TU3I3L346qq7Pw3a/s320/IMG_1318.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Today I am excited to share with you the beginnings our our natural playscapes. Oh we do have a sandbox, swing set, swing on a tree, and various outdoor toys, but I find that time and time again the children are always choosing more natural areas to play in. Most of the time it is our flower beds or the planters at the front door.</div>
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Earlier in the spring we created a Fairy house. You can see more details in this post <a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/2012/05/welcome-to-our-fairy-garden.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">.</span> The boys often check in on the fairies and still do play a bit with them. We have had a few toads stop by to visit too. I also find that the fairy house is a great way to welcome new children to our <a href="http://meaghanshomedaycare.weebly.com/index.html" target="_blank">Home Daycare,</a> as it is interesting for them and opens up dialogue.</div>
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In order to create more natural play spaces the boys and I chose an area in the back yard for their own garden. I am very impressed that with minimal help the boys used my gardening tools to remove all the grass, brought 2 loads of dirt from the compost, collected rocks and made the border.</div>
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I'm not sure if we will get around to planting any flowers in there. For now we have been rescuing stuck trucks and making mud soups.</div>
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Across our laneway we have used some logs to make a stepping path. We just mowed a larger area around this area so it does look a little bare.<br />
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Next to the stepping logs is the balance beam and ramp. There is a lot of bouncing and gymnastics that happen over here. My boys are learning a lot about lining up and taking turns when others come over to play.<br />
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We have more plans to turn the last large slice of a tree we had cut down into a table for the kids. Next to the balance beam is also the future home of next year's vegetable garden plot. We look forward to sharing our updates with everyone!<br />
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We also love collecting nature items we find around the property. TJ was collecting nuts from a tree to create 'golf ball soup'. We took the soup for a walk so it could see the world and be introduced to our laneway. I just love his gentle nature and the way he sees the world!</div>
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How are you playing outside? Any suggestions for us?</div>
<br />Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-22653536567798827452012-08-14T11:16:00.001-07:002012-08-14T11:16:51.315-07:00Pancakes!My boys love pancakes. Well okay they love maple syrup really, the pancakes are just a means to getting what they really are after. They are also somewhat picky eaters, so I have discovered a way to make their favourite foods much healthier.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijoqxlZL-BF49uFv1vatUDloiewl3KvAp6t-Yl2sbLPBExywtPkswJLT-4xxZHXFvhqZXE7suyc0cGlUJMsYwNqZ_BNL3HQn5IGXT-p0RXNsf_3jKwjZ36yaBgzsPdK5G9QaSPwTEzvSl/s1600/pancake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijoqxlZL-BF49uFv1vatUDloiewl3KvAp6t-Yl2sbLPBExywtPkswJLT-4xxZHXFvhqZXE7suyc0cGlUJMsYwNqZ_BNL3HQn5IGXT-p0RXNsf_3jKwjZ36yaBgzsPdK5G9QaSPwTEzvSl/s320/pancake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Firstly we start with the syrup. We use 100% real maple syrup (although daddy does love his Aunt Jemima).<br />
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I am working really hard in our house to use 'real' whole foods. I won the most amazing cook book called <a href="http://realfoodcanberra.org/cookbook/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Helpings: Real food for young people by young people</span></a>. I love that is it a real food cook book with information and great recipes. I have made the pancakes from it several times. I also tried to make the zucchini fritters but got distracted and pureed the zucchini so I made some more pancakes. Even though they were rather savoury the boys gobbled them up. <br />
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Here are some other ideas of things to add (along with some good spices):<br />
zucchini<br />
dandelion<br />
pear<br />
apple<br />
flax<br />
sweet potato<br />
frech toast using different breads<br />
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What do you add to your pancakes?<br />
<br />Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-75202189612633119032012-08-01T04:56:00.001-07:002012-08-01T04:56:52.092-07:00learning on our hike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The boys and I went for a hike the other day. It was our farthest walk yet (I did bring the stroller for MJ). We had a great time just walking, singing, and marvelling at nature.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJhyM0JOhpSc02ET3YsycK-_CPfYiua-FQGV0cYkhUEdcgUteOrmulfUCESDfFqmJW7TvGZUURhRKOIfuvgavhYYfra6WdAB-wEaN228raS0Ppo8gWybQaD95RJRJIsRoIOTkmbR3XfDV/s1600/IMG_1256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJhyM0JOhpSc02ET3YsycK-_CPfYiua-FQGV0cYkhUEdcgUteOrmulfUCESDfFqmJW7TvGZUURhRKOIfuvgavhYYfra6WdAB-wEaN228raS0Ppo8gWybQaD95RJRJIsRoIOTkmbR3XfDV/s320/IMG_1256.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TJ's perfect walking stick</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzDBnYsD07iJQjfL3QbyoM6Eim71HwqqB8h-ImQ9MKJDaPPWMK366NlIwM0gTOFwY5bxEnqaAaY1Y93lXW3nc7Wh16g2koVb0kfL8CArr3tod7vS8kw1Md_6XPMJcnA2IcL4g4YqhQIhQ/s1600/IMG_1257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzDBnYsD07iJQjfL3QbyoM6Eim71HwqqB8h-ImQ9MKJDaPPWMK366NlIwM0gTOFwY5bxEnqaAaY1Y93lXW3nc7Wh16g2koVb0kfL8CArr3tod7vS8kw1Md_6XPMJcnA2IcL4g4YqhQIhQ/s320/IMG_1257.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MJ found lots of sticks</td></tr>
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Although I totally didn't plan it, we ended up having some interesting science conversations along the way. I can tell you that TJ just loves to understand how things work and to learn cool facts. He probably knows and remembers more about nature than the grade 4 student I used to teach (not tooting my own horn here, TJ is just so curious).<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6d_FQq_5dCMQPzOar0sGEobKjoFox2kX7bIL8P963bL8bjm_zTREQ7bl4_yGjeHsOXVZoBBAZOUbd8TH-KRz8kWNEXgCHPrUK08yjxeZ0hp8alejXpE8gNly_eFMaBirUk4ZE3Wq7PH6i/s1600/IMG_1258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6d_FQq_5dCMQPzOar0sGEobKjoFox2kX7bIL8P963bL8bjm_zTREQ7bl4_yGjeHsOXVZoBBAZOUbd8TH-KRz8kWNEXgCHPrUK08yjxeZ0hp8alejXpE8gNly_eFMaBirUk4ZE3Wq7PH6i/s320/IMG_1258.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting roots TJ found</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheceW1D8ImQ_kg0YIbsBDJAB-_PEEDG2NLmH5-igpMSzPeyE7s-0N6WO0GtFBUcbbUrD1WAZsI9KqoqHiXu5MlAwptJeZy7wl99zSlQlKFg69VM675UTtWIcsP9Bc_YlyOW6gD7DGz5FBW/s1600/IMG_1260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheceW1D8ImQ_kg0YIbsBDJAB-_PEEDG2NLmH5-igpMSzPeyE7s-0N6WO0GtFBUcbbUrD1WAZsI9KqoqHiXu5MlAwptJeZy7wl99zSlQlKFg69VM675UTtWIcsP9Bc_YlyOW6gD7DGz5FBW/s320/IMG_1260.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Area that we check on and compare each season.</td></tr>
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TJ asked about where all the water went from the photo above, as there was a pound of snow and ice in the winter. I answered him simply, but he wanted to know exact details. We got talking about the water cycle and he how plants use water. We also looked at some fallen trees and talked about decomposition and tree life cycles. TJ also loves to explain to anyone willing to listen all about tree roots, how they work and what happens if they aren't there. He will also tell you all about cycles and different cycles he knows.<br />
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I am amazed each day at what my kids a learning just by taking time to be with them and answer their questions. My boys are such a joy to me. Being a parent is so fun and rewarding.<br />
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Parenting is also very humbling. They remind me daily of my weaknesses. Children imitate everything you do (good and bad). It is a great responsibility to be a model all day long for your kids. I got very frustrated at MJ yesterday because he wouldn't nap (that is a whole other issue) but mommy had a bit of a tantrum. Of course I apologized to the boys afterwards. TJ said "Mommy I'll always forgive you all the way to the sky and back."<br />
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Thank you Lord for my boys and the lessons we are all learning together!<br />
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<br />Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-75034417697331260622012-07-30T04:06:00.003-07:002012-07-30T04:20:34.350-07:00Cleaning with toys with boys!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If your are anything like mine they love to dump things. After a little of playing in any room everything gets scattered. They often tell me it is part of their game.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZtMEF5DM4zvEV1wNf9-ALpLM4qFOA7R00y1UwoyxGr3hh-gjpyrr3R3KT0BuCDxAEeGrpyBMVJP5U4lY8FKp8EqPyBfJBP1AHs9Vyay7pgtPZ_mVSCKaYB2RraqJ3ocKYeCJ7UODtjSl/s1600/IMG_1193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZtMEF5DM4zvEV1wNf9-ALpLM4qFOA7R00y1UwoyxGr3hh-gjpyrr3R3KT0BuCDxAEeGrpyBMVJP5U4lY8FKp8EqPyBfJBP1AHs9Vyay7pgtPZ_mVSCKaYB2RraqJ3ocKYeCJ7UODtjSl/s320/IMG_1193.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">making patterns with spools</td></tr>
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Today we made some patterns with little wooden spools. Then we became log loaders and delivery trucks. At clean up time no one really wanted to help, until... </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6S_KF-Pa6IWWYuy5ObjRv6TYPDxmYSX1RoDKCr6_lJMamezmMB9FyFpDsjaH3RH_Hh7GSbAuf7cv5GVaVuXxKX51kdt4ikY2W_WU8S3S7a_7k3p7KJThB_yndpL5DBsBtYfD1Py8p91FM/s1600/IMG_1207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6S_KF-Pa6IWWYuy5ObjRv6TYPDxmYSX1RoDKCr6_lJMamezmMB9FyFpDsjaH3RH_Hh7GSbAuf7cv5GVaVuXxKX51kdt4ikY2W_WU8S3S7a_7k3p7KJThB_yndpL5DBsBtYfD1Py8p91FM/s320/IMG_1207.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mommy's truck starts the clean up</td></tr>
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Mommy's flat bed ruck started down the road to deliver some important packages to the store. "Oh my look at all the different buckets that we emptied. Maybe we can sort them all into the right spots."</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUYIXzLqFW2sm8qYEhVckaxubV3fnZRS7vJx7HCZ67TuBBqGmLoZX1SjirVsn3CI9-mYz8W8jY11cVJa7Y_B6PLyYCvbZrnVbmXE3euPsqbfumy94y9FdeGCYvmob_Ba7SFdRe6qgnpGs/s1600/IMG_1195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUYIXzLqFW2sm8qYEhVckaxubV3fnZRS7vJx7HCZ67TuBBqGmLoZX1SjirVsn3CI9-mYz8W8jY11cVJa7Y_B6PLyYCvbZrnVbmXE3euPsqbfumy94y9FdeGCYvmob_Ba7SFdRe6qgnpGs/s320/IMG_1195.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of our mess</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBt7lLuco9uBDJUvIZfPR7595zRa3x4lFhUtaKT1Bjrvq7nIwuoNB1Qr7kEgOejU4tMdC5dKNHHDNitF2Si6QIfTJUUG0UBc4TTf-pes3Ya3YxURk_lA_b5H8WOGr3f72iYtUahgrCsPd-/s1600/IMG_1202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBt7lLuco9uBDJUvIZfPR7595zRa3x4lFhUtaKT1Bjrvq7nIwuoNB1Qr7kEgOejU4tMdC5dKNHHDNitF2Si6QIfTJUUG0UBc4TTf-pes3Ya3YxURk_lA_b5H8WOGr3f72iYtUahgrCsPd-/s320/IMG_1202.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little bears bed of spools</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovThUjStP4tb5KyS2SLp8fTWOwAdN8DVwCYa-joV1nFuu00FySs0ACUZTzJZwmRro4hNs_ytNPVEAqL5fBNxF26AmfaKrCk79d9a-Il3VmUfKsCoATcPCHH1f51OuILXsHUbGqFMrztHq/s1600/IMG_1205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovThUjStP4tb5KyS2SLp8fTWOwAdN8DVwCYa-joV1nFuu00FySs0ACUZTzJZwmRro4hNs_ytNPVEAqL5fBNxF26AmfaKrCk79d9a-Il3VmUfKsCoATcPCHH1f51OuILXsHUbGqFMrztHq/s320/IMG_1205.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mj's truck pushes some blocks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRkq2cyBmKnyv_Yja0u0Se5TwnHLIB9rGJQU4yYsRPdFC9WxWObKsw9nh9ty2SHLyla3allsDyZ0dFAeeudjFYHpQVYxiikAi_TL9G1RsrjHlDZr98un43Swnu3jsKJ2JOYwhcjRyPsRW/s1600/IMG_1206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRkq2cyBmKnyv_Yja0u0Se5TwnHLIB9rGJQU4yYsRPdFC9WxWObKsw9nh9ty2SHLyla3allsDyZ0dFAeeudjFYHpQVYxiikAi_TL9G1RsrjHlDZr98un43Swnu3jsKJ2JOYwhcjRyPsRW/s320/IMG_1206.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caterpillar gets into the action</td></tr>
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The boys had a fun time cleaning with me and using their toys to help. Some times it works so much better to work with where they are at rather than nag about cleaning.</div>
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How do you get your kids to clean up?<br /><br />
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<br /></div>Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-89692944418662597112012-07-23T07:00:00.000-07:002012-07-23T07:00:04.753-07:00More summer activities for kids!Wow I just realized that my last post with the giveaway was my 200th post!!!<br />
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Congratulations to Jessica Lynette Morris <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545252; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Tahoma, Arial, san-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">I'll be contacting you to choose your sock monster.</span></span><br />
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For those of you who haven't noticed my blog posts have been few and far between recently. This is because I have been busy with house renos and living life with my kiddies. I am making a focused effort to be more present and so I will be on the computer a little less. But I will continue to share with you often.<br />
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Here are some more fun things we have been doing recently.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSkMnICoUuFKTQXpp-W5K0jV1zdRf-_qx9FW49zmIJBB0VZb7_C8VEIztnCmdHyjdmkFOAKa1SNRQtECqdDM_qsP8WmktMrMB5F_hquN99J_YD34vsPvi-LmtOl1dJlbpZVLjhPHqaQ4a/s1600/IMG_1124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSkMnICoUuFKTQXpp-W5K0jV1zdRf-_qx9FW49zmIJBB0VZb7_C8VEIztnCmdHyjdmkFOAKa1SNRQtECqdDM_qsP8WmktMrMB5F_hquN99J_YD34vsPvi-LmtOl1dJlbpZVLjhPHqaQ4a/s320/IMG_1124.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rice sensory bin (the loader is helping to clean up spills)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnY9RySqDgG-wu5yYEioCBTz8aq5mmrSt_N9laX_1gZNBUHCQXabSa8G2xiL8xrYyF6PjexnJ655_u3Bg8kxikMTv7KKS3SDW9dGTHYp6UwmHVQzOtGpJJ_TXOIcDG1bFIWcFIZPV3sL2J/s1600/IMG_1127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnY9RySqDgG-wu5yYEioCBTz8aq5mmrSt_N9laX_1gZNBUHCQXabSa8G2xiL8xrYyF6PjexnJ655_u3Bg8kxikMTv7KKS3SDW9dGTHYp6UwmHVQzOtGpJJ_TXOIcDG1bFIWcFIZPV3sL2J/s320/IMG_1127.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubbles with friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXUsA-RC4dgcMe0J2uu4U0z-EpX6IPBtnMEl0hHfXx-zI3dblpK-NZ9AThkg1k6J2SF3ncOeaATvVbSsj59CLjBsWJo1yIgGuMPtWHYZtlsAsKonstPu6RPJfPqTVKiDkYL2bTO5b9lhP/s1600/IMG_1141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXUsA-RC4dgcMe0J2uu4U0z-EpX6IPBtnMEl0hHfXx-zI3dblpK-NZ9AThkg1k6J2SF3ncOeaATvVbSsj59CLjBsWJo1yIgGuMPtWHYZtlsAsKonstPu6RPJfPqTVKiDkYL2bTO5b9lhP/s320/IMG_1141.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made more fairies because you can never have enough</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3rfio6iKLV82qKzkxlZeYPUc9Md9dj0h7QeFlpPX_sWOVVaZTKR3DU5B9JQED_kNCAliavRv7jGhsJtcplUgv6WZQxF9W358qQspxdH-OBaaRwDQl8RNbgQs7EB31dMqaINR3k-jAxZk/s1600/IMG_1153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3rfio6iKLV82qKzkxlZeYPUc9Md9dj0h7QeFlpPX_sWOVVaZTKR3DU5B9JQED_kNCAliavRv7jGhsJtcplUgv6WZQxF9W358qQspxdH-OBaaRwDQl8RNbgQs7EB31dMqaINR3k-jAxZk/s320/IMG_1153.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went to the beach (Hamilton harbour)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrilo2EEmjY9TmcMab9ll41unfIxA9qVlFVOmgHMso9Jys-FEclStnf6sbYX3g3fpUWsJ8WDABUz5r_90hLHRZezx6seAr6BihqESND_kAYTM99Tsnh4SpTDFGISF6jfpT_5mYwqy0bs5/s1600/IMG_1159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrilo2EEmjY9TmcMab9ll41unfIxA9qVlFVOmgHMso9Jys-FEclStnf6sbYX3g3fpUWsJ8WDABUz5r_90hLHRZezx6seAr6BihqESND_kAYTM99Tsnh4SpTDFGISF6jfpT_5mYwqy0bs5/s320/IMG_1159.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A neighbour was moving and gave us a big roll of paper! So much fun to colour on</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_Y3A5O5ajvEcx3gm8o0FcJSQM8YQDlQDbpcFzJ_T5j8icSJuvq35-rnK49LjECTHi6sSOA8X2B9h2TApGdUydaUHMy_SVc2zX25IKaMZ98o4IrRc8RVOjjqOm0x4CAuPbXDxBgnQVgeD/s1600/IMG_1162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_Y3A5O5ajvEcx3gm8o0FcJSQM8YQDlQDbpcFzJ_T5j8icSJuvq35-rnK49LjECTHi6sSOA8X2B9h2TApGdUydaUHMy_SVc2zX25IKaMZ98o4IrRc8RVOjjqOm0x4CAuPbXDxBgnQVgeD/s320/IMG_1162.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade playdough and craft bits (these are cake pops they made)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rUNymFjolKPpns_X-WINWTw1ifVhGeso9q3bhDJYAAasJ-fsFhWw4GvV4P3CigygnRLFgg8KHlQDcZy6i1pHe2ySvZKky967qPaassjckoNXP3hV7ahUvP0wlqzexf99b3RoVBAO1NWx/s1600/IMG_1163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rUNymFjolKPpns_X-WINWTw1ifVhGeso9q3bhDJYAAasJ-fsFhWw4GvV4P3CigygnRLFgg8KHlQDcZy6i1pHe2ySvZKky967qPaassjckoNXP3hV7ahUvP0wlqzexf99b3RoVBAO1NWx/s320/IMG_1163.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade playdough 'desserts'</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMK65gbS8Dt8m6Y3-CRIQkWD-nncEYTOxSPkqrpPLDdoO5sTVtOZyPd48rAWIcJeQurhNmYZE7k5p_Xo9FPHio8SlzH6ssm7XZ_BED4ItbwgYNWC2KHCFk0mUahxZ-2nr_eT2bySwYcadd/s1600/IMG_1165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMK65gbS8Dt8m6Y3-CRIQkWD-nncEYTOxSPkqrpPLDdoO5sTVtOZyPd48rAWIcJeQurhNmYZE7k5p_Xo9FPHio8SlzH6ssm7XZ_BED4ItbwgYNWC2KHCFk0mUahxZ-2nr_eT2bySwYcadd/s320/IMG_1165.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud bakery (so simple yet so fun)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZV9z1QPz7ECobZe-_CGT2H9iVmIc__lPypYDut78If7iyFI-SCXnJsVdgTzBffLHYonDQobjOT9nFx3GKfRNJLwYqL_F554s05Jaxm8Lo_dowaQJg4uar2ZMXa_Xq-3LkjhPqBKmDPSCQ/s1600/IMG_1166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZV9z1QPz7ECobZe-_CGT2H9iVmIc__lPypYDut78If7iyFI-SCXnJsVdgTzBffLHYonDQobjOT9nFx3GKfRNJLwYqL_F554s05Jaxm8Lo_dowaQJg4uar2ZMXa_Xq-3LkjhPqBKmDPSCQ/s320/IMG_1166.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making muffins with mud</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw65hgaN7VOAYhwwfMLSMOe-QHrMmQUi85rPa3AfO67d9Z4jV67iJPkzV_PhgNkdgKXu-b51UWflwyyOaiGdPE8L83SzvdJPWSxY1I7hxpxseHWTdc6_cPNQGGxkToa7KKmpUbvMULG9fd/s1600/IMG_1174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw65hgaN7VOAYhwwfMLSMOe-QHrMmQUi85rPa3AfO67d9Z4jV67iJPkzV_PhgNkdgKXu-b51UWflwyyOaiGdPE8L83SzvdJPWSxY1I7hxpxseHWTdc6_cPNQGGxkToa7KKmpUbvMULG9fd/s320/IMG_1174.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fun lobster apple snack we made (I used a pear and apple)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfnrSL26OzDuh8ygFXyUkbZBjy_Th3A4cVzcnrkQTpaz5dgSipGTD95zwJOrD1G80QD9yyBi603lvl7HRsfg7WtDyNhuPDdISdgtbwpX9ldXhiYBGl1mcsTY2NMFEnOqgZ2L80WKAQXoR/s1600/IMG_1179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfnrSL26OzDuh8ygFXyUkbZBjy_Th3A4cVzcnrkQTpaz5dgSipGTD95zwJOrD1G80QD9yyBi603lvl7HRsfg7WtDyNhuPDdISdgtbwpX9ldXhiYBGl1mcsTY2NMFEnOqgZ2L80WKAQXoR/s320/IMG_1179.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TJ dressing up. The amazing skirt we won from Beneath the Rowan Tree (amazing items there)</td></tr>
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How is your summer going??<br /><br /></div>Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348803944179758738.post-55692213580658565932012-07-16T04:27:00.000-07:002012-07-16T04:40:02.147-07:00Boy Mom Blog Hop - Welcome & Giveaway<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>All About Me</b></span><br />
Welcome to our little corner of the blogging world. I am so happy you have come for a visit. I have linked up to the <span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.themobsociety.com/2012/07/boy-mom-bloghop-2012/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheMobSociety+%28The+MOB+Society%29" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">Boy Mom Blog Hop</span></a></span> over at the <a href="http://www.themobsociety.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">MOB Society</span></a> (Mothers of Boys). My name is Meaghan and along with my wonderful husband we have two boys (ages 2 and 4). I have a more detailed description about <a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/p/my-family.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">My Family here</span>.</a><br />
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This blog is a place for me to share about our lives, activities for children, crafts I make, and anything else that comes along. Check our the labels on the right side for different categories.<br />
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In addition to being at home with the boys, I also work along side with my husband on our family business <a href="http://www.integrityfire.ca/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Integrity Fire and Control Systems Inc</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">. </span> My husband is the field technician and I am our office manager. If that doesn't keep me busy enough I am growing <a href="http://meaghanshomedaycare.weebly.com/index.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Meaghan's Home Daycare</span></a>, and I sell my sewing projects at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MeAgainCreations" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Me Again Creations</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">.</span> Praise the Lord that all of our endeavours and businesses are growing to support our family. Our plans sometimes change but we are trusting in the Lord's guidance. Our next family adventure will be homeschooling using a <a href="http://waldorfjourney.typepad.com/a_journey_through_waldorf/thinking-feeling-willing-faq.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Waldorf curriculum</span>!</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7mViL1d-7go0D4XEFY3Hro2Zi9eXT8Bi7Q64s4EobkY36pzxSuexxJTI1pMvuN3YzpvXVVSIUelO2RIVnQJljG9mi09jKLfAkmghxGOIsGFGWN7QaVY_rWsiyGtjRxeBJ5HizT6lkBS-/s1600/IMG_0862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7mViL1d-7go0D4XEFY3Hro2Zi9eXT8Bi7Q64s4EobkY36pzxSuexxJTI1pMvuN3YzpvXVVSIUelO2RIVnQJljG9mi09jKLfAkmghxGOIsGFGWN7QaVY_rWsiyGtjRxeBJ5HizT6lkBS-/s320/IMG_0862.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TJ (4years) and MJ (2 years)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Popular Past Posts</b></span><br />
I looked back over all my posts and discovered that these have had the most page views of all times. Enjoy!<br />
<a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/2012/01/calm-down-basket.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Calm Down Basket</span></a><br />
<a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/2011/03/monster-shirt.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Monster Shirt</span></a><br />
<a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/2012/05/welcome-to-our-fairy-garden.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Welcome to Our Fairy Garden</span></a><br />
<a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/2011/03/tuesdays-tips-labeled-toy-bins.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Labeled Toy Bins</span></a><br />
<a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/2012/05/meet-our-fairies.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Meet Our Fairies</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Great Games for Boys</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">My boys love to play. At the moment they are rather young so we don't play too many games per say. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">MJ is 2 years old</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">He mostly likes puzzles and peek-a-boo.</span></b></span><br />
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<b>TJ is 4 years old</b><br />
He does play a few computer games from TVO kids and other similar websites on occasion. <br />
He also likes those memory games where you flip 2 cards and try to find a match. <br />
I just started to teach him Tic-Tac-Toe this week and he sort of understands it. <br />
He loves this game called Eagle Eyes that we heard on at <a href="http://www.sparklestories.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Sparkle Stor</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">ies</span>. It is just like Hide-And-Seek but the person who is it stays in one spot to look around for the other kids. Everyone else hides but has to be able to see the 'Eagle'.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span>Great Books for Boys</b></span><br />
Last year the topic was books. I had prepared this post last week and realized this morning that the new topic was games. So I thought I'd include this anyways. My boys love to read. There are so many wonderful that they enjoy. Here are a few of our favourite authors and books. I'm not too sure on the appropriate ages so I'm guessing.<br />
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<b>MJ's favs</b> (good for 1-3years)<br />
Heads by Matthew VanFleet<br />
Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb - board book<br />
Put me in the Zoo - board book<br />
My World - Good Night Moon companion book<br />
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<b>TJ's favs</b> (good for 3-6years)<br />
Bernstein Bears - all of their books are great<br />
Robert Munch - we love all the ones we have read<br />
Elephant and Piggy books by Mo Willems - also great for young readers<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway</b></span><br />
I am so excited to offer a giveaway from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MeAgainCreations" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Me Again Creations</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">.</span> I hope to start an Etsy store this year (perhaps some encouragement from you all will move me along faster). Please look at <a href="http://raisingourfamily.blogspot.ca/p/store.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">my store</span></a> page on this blog for more details and come visit my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MeAgainCreations" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Facebook page</span></a>. Please 'like' my page when you come to visit.<br />
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I am offering one lucky reader their very own boy Sock Monster!!! The winner will be able to choose one of the two monsters below. I will also personalize it with an embroidered name on the back if you would like.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9a7xY-18ektJpHMpHd6GwDlvNXoSB_6h04qHjOatLMarlkXjbP24HqaVBtGTHBjeRw1nhZc4-zVu2u4LUNgmyzsCy8DDc9HYi91MiTMask5PKHYH3EG3_OYd7bhnQMwGbf2V0iblJwYT8/s1600/IMG_0756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9a7xY-18ektJpHMpHd6GwDlvNXoSB_6h04qHjOatLMarlkXjbP24HqaVBtGTHBjeRw1nhZc4-zVu2u4LUNgmyzsCy8DDc9HYi91MiTMask5PKHYH3EG3_OYd7bhnQMwGbf2V0iblJwYT8/s320/IMG_0756.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VdjUobMm5mMaXWanoR-PmBf2I20myxEGlDE1ZBD2t1kT3-L59QBj1q0Jqteqmql_0FVCp3nSLHAY9Ge72lOlg9E2VeHXgWLKMIkL7LJuBsXK3ZnVEvG9lM5s0gzmYDlmxGIkSfsGGvMM/s1600/IMG_0753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VdjUobMm5mMaXWanoR-PmBf2I20myxEGlDE1ZBD2t1kT3-L59QBj1q0Jqteqmql_0FVCp3nSLHAY9Ge72lOlg9E2VeHXgWLKMIkL7LJuBsXK3ZnVEvG9lM5s0gzmYDlmxGIkSfsGGvMM/s320/IMG_0753.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>To enter </b>please leave a comment below letting me know what your favourite item is in the shop (new or sold) or what new items you think I should add.<br />
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<b>For additional entries</b><br />
'like' MeAgain Creations - come back and leave a comment<br />
Share about this giveaway on Facebook - leave a separate comment letting me know<br />
Pin something from anywhere on my blog - let me know what you pinned<br />
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******Contest ends Sunday July 22 at midnight. I will randomly choose a winner and announce it on Monday.*******<br />
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Thank you again for visiting and happy hopping!<br />
<br />Joyful Mud Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437319240348200047noreply@blogger.com15