Savoring the season

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

-Ecclesiastes 3:1

Lately I've realized that I'm in a pretty great season. 

There are many seasons in a person's life, and I'm currently in a season of motherhood that's really, well, nice. I'm a homeschooling, stay-at-home mom, which is not easy but is also completely wonderful. I have my boys with me all day, every day. And at this point in their lives, they still really, really like me.

The good, the bad, and the blessings that follow

We're in our seventh week of school. We've already taken a two-week break for our Disney trip, and we'll be taking another week-long break when friends from Bermuda come to visit us in November, and then another holiday week over Thanksgiving. Yet we're still plugging along and exactly where I had wanted us to be by this time.

But it wasn't without a few difficult days.

Parking lot counting activity

Okay, so this was not my own idea, but it's so brilliant and simple that I wish I had thought of it. A friend posted it on facebook, and it looked really easy to make, especially considering we have two little boys (we have lots of toy cars) and we do a lot of online shopping (we have lots of delivery boxes).

This week in toddler art...

Asa and I enjoyed our art projects this week. In fact, they were so fun that the big 3rd-grader wanted to take part as well :)

First, Asa colored on sand paper. He enjoyed the rough texture and the way coloring on it wore down the crayons (I bought a pack of Target-brand crayons for 39 cents specifically for this activity.)

First week in review

Our first week of school is over!

All in all, things went really well. There were no tears (mine or Asher's), and I enjoyed each day. Let's hope this feeling stays with us through spring. :)

First day of school in photos

His favorite food is "all types of meat"?? Was sure he'd say it was pizza.

Two-year olds are awesome (I don't care what anybody else says)

Two-year olds get a bad rap.

Silly putty fit for an ice queen... or king

At the start of summer I put together a shopping list of all the things I'd need to create several art projects for the boys to do when it's too hot to play outside. I've been chipping away at the list as I am out and about, and I'm almost done. I'm so excited!

Blanket time: a saving grace!

Ask anyone with a toddler about their free time, and they'll probably laugh at you.

Once that sweet little pudge of a baby learns how to walk, everything changes. Suddenly they can reach things you don't want them to have. They can use their legs to get where they want to go - fast! And getting them to stay in one place - or even one room - seems next to impossible.

Combine all those things with dinnertime or (if you homeschool) school time or anytime you need both your hands and mind focused on a single task, and you've got a problem.

Fortunately, there is a solution. But I should warn you, it takes work.

A few new toys...

Asa is into everything now. The world is so interesting, and his curiosity levels are in overdrive. No coffee cup, dog food bowl or cell phone is safe. In his little toddler mind, everything is his for the exploring - at least until we tell him "no". And I'm happy to report so far he's a pretty good listener.

But watching his intense curiosity and desire to learn how things work, I knew he needed a few new, baby-safe, inexpensive toys to play with, especially during blanket time. So I searched through some of my toddler books for some ideas.

I came up with three new toys: