Showing posts with label Unschooling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Unschooling. Show all posts

Monday, August 6, 2007

Our Second Fairy House

When catching up with Grace's blog last week, I was totally inspired by the fairy tea party her family creates on Solstice. I love the idea of creating a party for the fairies held every year, and we will be doing that next year. After the Garden Party, we planned to build a fairy house in our backyard. We had even saved a shell to use for fairy food. The night I read her post, we ventured out into the trees that surround our yard. We found a particularly fine spot where two trees were joined at the base, leaving a hole that fills with water in the middle. A fine fairy pool, or hot tub these days. We immediately set to work on the house, using y sticks to hold stick for the roof. We then covered it with oak leaves and set up an acorn table & chairs inside. I managed to get a few pictures before Aiden's determination to put every stick within his reach on the roof got the best of it. I'm sure the fairies still enjoy their new home, despite it's structural flaws.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Dancing Hands Bookmarks

Alex Miller, a 9 1/2 year old homeschooled artist, is now selling her original, hand drawn bookmarks. They are beautiful, laminated, and finished with natural fibers. You can purchase them here. While you're there, take a look at her mom's beautiful creations. I greatly admire her felted bowls and goddesses.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

A Day in the Life of Aiden Part 1

Years from now I want my blog to be yet another place that Aiden can go to see pictures of himself as a baby, and read what he was up to back then. Therefore, I have decided to write a day in the life of Aiden posts to give an idea of what it's like to be a 20 month old Boo Bear. Based mostly on today.

Aiden nurses off & on all morning, but almost always at 6:30. He occasionally gets up after, but often falls back to sleep for an hour or so. When he gets up, he usually talks a little bit, then comes to find me. If I am on the computer, he'll come over and nurse again. I sing him a good morning song. He gets down and starts playing with whatever is nearest to him. I make him some breakfast, or give him some of mine if I got a head start on eating. This morning we watched an episode of Fraggle Rock. After he is done eating, he gets down and plays some more. This is the time of day that he starts getting really chatty. Words like "bugna", "dogna", bird, kitty, boat, bike, bite, outside, boo boo and choo choo mix in with lots of "Aiden speak". He spends a lot of time looking outside and pointing things out. Especially bikes. If I take too long getting ready, he'll look for something to put on. After getting frustrated with the shirt or shoe, or whatever he's found, I always give in. If spending time outside (we do most days) we lather him with sunblock and a little bug stuff. I follow him around the house with my hands covered in sunblock, trying to remember which leg or arm I did last. He often screams during this. I'm not sure why, I would love to have someone rub lotion on me each day :) It's one of the things that we do regardless of his protests. Kind of like the next step, brushing his teeth. He used to love it but I have to almost force the toothbrush in his mouth some days. Aiden will run over to the couch and climb up. We get him dressed and put his shoes on. Now we must move quickly or more protesting will commence. We take Summer outside and hook her at her dog house, and watch Meisner sniff out the animals that came around the night before. Today we checked on the lilac and forsythia trees we planted out front and watered the flowers. We cut some mallow flower, tiger lilies and hosta flowers for the dining room. Then we checked out some mushrooms growing in the moss, looked at the different types of moss growing up the trees and talked about the bee bugnas that were flying in and out of the flowers. All the while, I was singing the theme song to Fraggle Rock. In case you forgot: "Dance your cares away, worry's for another day. Let the music play, down at Fraggle Rock." After lots of running around and hitting things with a hammer & a stick, we came inside to eat again. Afterward we played on the couch. Lots of tickling, laughing, hiding under the blanket, yoga (downward facing dog) and somersaults. No one can make me laugh like Aiden can. I love this kid so much. More nursing and a nap come next. 4 hours down, 9 to go.

Friday, May 4, 2007

If you want to see some real talent...

Check out Calvin's most recent sewing projects. His work is amazing. The thought and time he puts into them truly shows. What a talented boy!

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Maine Maple Sunday

Maine Maple Sunday could not have fallen on a more beautiful day. The Grimmel family ventured over to Peru, ME (a 10 minute drive) to check out Thurston's Sugarshack. I so greatly miss making maple syrup. I enjoyed explaining the process to my husband and one of the many old friend's from school we ran into. I could not narrow the pictures down, so I apologize if you have dial up!

These Valiant Steeds were the highlight of Aiden's day. He doesn't have much interest in Grammy's horses (although Mac loves him, and sniffs him every time they meet). I could not believe how many people came and went while we were there. These beauties had quite a day pulling us all to and from the sugarhouse.

Their sugarshack. Inside were new and antique tools of the trade, and my favorite, a maple tree with it's rings marked with the year they represent. Above that was a time line of what historical events during that one tree's lifetime. I think the first ring was 1800. It was before Lincoln became president. Ice cream was made, and served with maple syrup. Yum!

Checking out the snow with Daddy.

Throwing Snow

Didn't want a picture taken with Mum, just wanted to know what the heck was making all that noise (generator in the old sugarhouse behind us).

On the ride home. Oh yeah, he's playing with the block!

Playing outside after we got home. Stepped in a land mine and fell in the mud. Ah, spring is here.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Jossilyn

Jossilyn Adams lost her fight with cancer yesterday. She was a beautiful girl, full of spirit, and she will be sadly missed. Please donate to the For Love of Jossilyn Fund if you are able to. A little more information can be found in this post. And remember to cherish the time you have with your babies, every day.

Friday, February 16, 2007

For the Love of Jossilyn Fund

Jossilyn Adams is a sweet 9 year old unschooler with leukemia. She had a bone marrow transplant in August 2005 and is having a relapse. She is in the hospital and has been undergoing chemotherapy. Jossilyn is one of 6 amazing unschooling children. Their mother, Marge is single parent and a wonderful woman. The family lives in Maine. Please go to countrymoosekids.com/huho to see all the wonderful products that have been donated for sale or to make a contribution.

Thursday, February 1, 2007

Advice to live by

After hearing some life altering news from a friend, which I will explain soon, I want to take this opportunity to ask you to give yourself to those you love today. Remember how important they are to you. No order, sewing project, load of laundry, sink of dishes, job, appointment, etc, is more valuable than they are. Give to them today. Love them with all you have. Don't take them for granted.

Now I am going to get some things in order so I can spend my day with Aiden after he wakes up. Because he is my bunny and I love him.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

You may not hear from me...

for a few days. I am taking a break to get the house organized and get some tax prep done. I had a bunch of paperwork entered for both SaS's and Jon's business, then the program crapped out. Damn technology! So I am starting over. Just wanted you all to know why I haven't posted, and may not again, for a couple days.
Just to catch everyone up, I am now the treasurer of Connections Ag Cooperative.
The website hasn't been updated with our current undertakings and the new name, but I am excited that the project is coming together. I have also been getting involved with Discovery Democratic School. We may be opening this fall! If you don't know what a Democratic school is, I like to think of it as unschooling in a group atmosphere. Look it up, they are all over the world.
Have a wonderful week!

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Chuck E Cheese

My mother brought Aiden and I to Chuck E Cheese for an unschooling get together. (Thanks Mom!) Only 4 unschooling families showed up but it was still fun. The moderator of our unschooling group is very interested in adding my diapers to her high end baby/child website. I am working on all those details right now. Aiden thought that it was the coolest place he'd been to in a while. He had so much fun eating pizza, playing on the cars and bulldozer, and watching the other kids play. After CEC, we went to the Maine Mall where he continued the fun by running around. KB Toys must have been to him what a fabric store is to me. He pulled toys off the shelf and pushed a popping car all over the store!