Stop, look, listen

A lot of folks ask me how to get kids to enjoy hiking. To me that's like asking how to get kids to enjoy reading...it depends on your ultimate goal. Early on, Tim and I realized that we enjoyed different parts of hiking: Tim likes the physical challenge of a tough hike of long miles followed by a good meal. Cold and rain only make it even better. I, on the other hand, enjoy looking at birds, flowers and chatting with other hikers we come across. We both love the connection that being in nature give us to our "right sized" place in this world. Successful hiking with kids involves both

With young kids, I think it is important to realize that the primary joy they will get from hiking while it is happening is finding and discovering things: a frog, a big rock, a sign. Then of course there are always those special treats that only seem to show up on hikes: peanut M&Ms, honey and peanut butter wraps, etc. It is only after the hike itself that they seem to revel in the challenge completed.

If you think about it, it isn't unlike the many other challenges young children face everyday. Using the potty, buttoning their shirt, writing letters. The process is often full of frustration and patience and pacing are important. But once you are done, nothing beats the sense of accomplishment a kid exudes when he proclaims, "Look what I did, Mom!"

A Pizza Making Party

Just a quick catch up post about Xavier's birthday party last May.

The theme: a pizza parlor. I used checkered table cloths, a blackboard as a "today's special" and some balloons and streamers.

The activities: Each child made their own pizza and decorated a chef's hat

The games: musical chairs, red light/green light, pin the tail on the donkey

The cake: a tub of Bluebell ice-cream with four candles in it. The kids got to "cook" their own sundaes

The favors: a balloon to go with their hat to take home

Simple and fun.

What Our Homeschool Looks Like

Just pulling some old photos off the camera and thought some of you would like to know what our homeschool looks like. As Xavier gets closer and closer to five, we are slowly but surely being "outed" as homeschoolers to our friends and neighbors. But for us homeschooling isn't a solitary endeavor at home devoid of any friends.

Twice a week we participate in a preschool co-op. None of the other kids come from homeschooling families (older sibs are in conventional school) but neither are any of them in preschool or MDO. Its sort of a halfway point between homeschooling and conventional schooling. In addition to this, once a week I run a music co-op. I take the boys with me to the gym 2-3 times a week where they play with other boys and girls in the kid's gym. And of course, there always at least one or two playdates with friends.

On to academics. These photos are from February when Xavier was mad about numbers and counting. He put the numbers in order than counted out their "cargo." These days he's more into letters and reading but math is still a steady part of our week.

One last benefit of homeschooling is eliminating the need to get up and go first thing in the morning to beat the carpool line. While we have a set routine each morning of cuddle, eat, dress; if the boys have had a restless night and need a little more sleep, we just take our time transitioning. As you can see, this morning both boys got up before they were ready and promptly fell back asleep on the couch. Notice the identical body position!

Music Lover's Punishment

My boys have always been music lovers. It might have something to do with the fact that I'm singing all the time. We love to make up songs together. A hiking ditty is called "Watch Where You Put Your Feet."

Watch where you put your feet,
Watch where you put your feet,
Snakes, and puddles and logs,
Watch where you put your feet.

For about two months we've been working with a special music curriculum called Making Music Praying Twice. One day a week we have friends come over and we sing songs, dance, and play instruments. The curriculum is very broad and includes songs from other cultures and musical traditions as well as some lovely hymns and fun nursery rhymes.

Xavier loves sitting on his new bed and listening to CDs now. Yesterday I overheard my husband settling a skirmish between the boys in their room. It ended this way:

"Xavier, do NOT slam the door on your brother again. Share the room or I'm turning off the jazz!"

It was quite the motivator for fraternal peace.

Big Beds

Goodbye, toddler bed and crib; hello, big beds. Tim and I teamed up to build the boys a pair of beds that will eventually be stacked into a bunk bed in a few years. We used these plans. Tim bought and cut the wood while I did the sanding and most of the build. We bought the mattresses at Big Lots and the bedding at Target.

This was technically the boys' big Christmas gift--it just took a little longer than I thought to complete. I didn't want to rush the process. Xavier got such a kick out of seeing his new bed under various stages of construction. As you can see, though, Jack doesn't seem to mind the delay either.

I'm very happy with the results. These beds are SOLID. And if the boys manage to scratch or break them, we've got the skills, supplies and tools to fix them.

Easel to Love

It's amazing how a simple easel makes learning letters so much more fun. One side is a chalkboard and the other is a magnetic dry-erase board. Both have jump started the boys' letter drawing efforts. They don't even know yet that I can clip paper onto this and they can paint standing up. Wonderful!

Tot School -- January 2011

Fine motor skills, aka sticker fun. Hanging laundry in the dining room. I'm convinced Montessori will eventually turn my sons into little houseminions.

Dressing up to go outside. Jack and Xavier suited up and then came to find me to let them into the back yard.

Working on the letter C.

Hot Wheels

Forgive me. I'm nearly an entire month behind in posting photos so you, dear readers, are going to have to endure some Christmas photos. Tim took Xavier to the park today for a bike riding "lesson" which reminded me that I have a backlog of adorable riding toy photos and one hillarious video. Enjoy!

Yup. That's Jack on Xavier's "big boy" bike. He can't ride it but he likes to try.

Here he is on the Hot Wheel while Xavier puts on his helmet.

Now on to the smaller training bike.

Nope, even if he can't make it go, Jack still wants to sit on his big brother's bike.

And a few days later...