{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
our autumn visitor
Remember when a box turtle showed up on our family room floor last summer? Well, another one came to visit.
This time a realtor who was pounding a sign into a neighboring yard rang our door bell and said, “I think your pet turtle is trying to cross the street.” Well, we don’t have a pet turtle, but we went out to see, and sure enough a turtle was making his way out of our yard and across the street.
This time we found a male ornate box turtle because he has bright orange eyes and red scales on his front legs. Again we kept him inside for a day to watch him eat slugs and crawl around our floor, and then let him go to hibernate in peace. (The slugs were caught outside by the kids, not found while crawling around on our floor just in case you were wondering.) This time we put him right back where he (probably) came from– our back yard. He went under a big spruce tree and dug himself a hole.
Ellie was beside herself. She just didn’t know what to do or think. She really, really wanted to pick up that shell and run away with it, but used all of her will power to mind her manners.
Hopefully we see you next year, Sheldon!
(turtle photos by Barry)
toddler color learning
So, the other day I discovered that Hunter knows his colors. He was driving his lovely rainbow of cars around and saying the color name of each one. I wasn’t sure if it was for real, so I asked, “Hunter, can you drive the green one?” and he got the green one! Then I asked, “What color is this car?” and he answered “ornge” (one syllable).
Since then he has been really interested in color– the color of the cup he’s drinking out of, the color of shirt he wears. I thought I’d build on that interest and make him a little school activity.
Inspired by all of the color sorting activities available at this shop on etsy, I ordered some mini acorns and bowls from Casey’s wood products. I used water color to paint them and the beeswax paste we have for our table to seal them. I wish I had ordered larger acorns, but still I really love how they turned out.
It’s fun to watch how Hunter, who is almost 21 months, uses this material. He grabs a handful of acorns and puts 2 or so in a bowl, looks at them, and then takes out any acorns that don’t match. Sometimes he’ll pick up a bowl to look at it closer to see if it matches the acorn in his hand. He spends 5 to 10 minutes working, then walks away.
I certainly don’t think activities like this are a necessity for teaching young children– all of my kids have learned the colors, shapes, alphabet, and letter sounds in a very natural way through everyday life. But, as my family grows and older children need my attention and toddlers need something to do other than climb on tables and empty drawers in the kitchen, Montessori inspired activities that are engaging and matched to the child’s current interest are proving invaluable for a happy day, happy children, and a happy, sane mama.
new! new! new!
How do you like my new blog design? My superhero computer genius has been hard at work for a few weeks getting it all ready while I’ve been finishing up
…drum roll please…
the Saddle Bag pattern!!!
It’s ready and up in my shop. I’ve got a new SweetPod section of my site too, so check it out.
I have to say that my pattern testers were stupendous. Thanks so much for your hard work and input Jodi and RaeLyn.
Here’s RaeLyn’s:
And here’s Jodi’s:
Aren’t that fluffy hair and flower head band on baby Tess irresistible, not to mention those legs?
Their bags turned out great! I can’t wait to see what all of you come up with!