An Epiphany Kind of Weekend

We celebrated 3 Kings, my father's 74th birthday and AK's baptism anniversary this past Saturday and of course I didn't get any decent pictures (I am really hoping to work on that). It was a full day which can often create challenges for our young ones but the day went really well. It was so nice to be a way from home in surroundings that still felt familiar and as comfortable as home to the children. They also had no problem making themselves at home by bring backpacks filled with their current favorite toys and of course their was birthday cake to be head so this definitely eases them into any occasion. "Cake" always makes it a party. The children were also particularly excited about the gifts they received.

I was kind of sad to say goodbye to the Christmas season. We had such a great time in the process of getting ready through our daily practice of lighting the advent candle and then steadily creating a festive Christmas environment as the day grew near. Post Christmas Day AK truly took on the journey of the Three Wisemen by moving them closer and closer to their destination bit by bit. On January 6, it was excited to tell the story and let AK act it out with our figurines as MAK watched. "They made it!"

On Sunday, the final pieces of our Christmas 2011 were packed up in a box and stored away in the attic. Our daily rituals that truly facilitated a special kind of family time and conversation ended. I haven't quite figured it out or discussed with my precious Bobo but I want to build upon what we began as we daily expressed our gratitudes before the light of the flame was extinguished. I know it may sound cheesy but it is my aim not to see the flame of Christmas extinguished in hearts as we move forth through where ever this year may take us.

Happy New Year

It's been awhile but the intention will be to write more, to share more, to celebrate more of this amazing family journey.

Life is good!

Epic beadhead!

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This time I caught Mak upon wakeup instead of at the yogurt table. Beadhead gold!

I am ironman

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He's been at this ever since thanksgiving where GIna and Kevin got him the talking ironman missle shooter thingamajig for early Xmas. Notice his superhero shirt. Not seen are the superhero underwear.

Thanksgiving Circle / Mom stops by

Friday was Ak's thanksgiving circle at his school. Muffins and songs.

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My Mom stopped by for a visit today. Here she is giving Mak the tickles.

 

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Stop filming!

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I love baby mak's behead and always try to take a pic. She hates it when I do this as illustrated in this video.

Montessori at the dinnertable

In this video, our 13 month old baby is finishing dinner. I am using some Montessori techniques to help her learn to eat using a spoon and to drink out of a cup. This is a very slow process that requires a great deal of patience and clean up. When you watch the video observe how I respect the baby and am patient with her as she makes a mess. In doing so, I allow her to explore, experience and learn. She is never told to stop, physically corrected by me or told that she is doing something the "wrong" way, although i do try to help along the way with the pouring work. This method takes time, but this toddler was drinking from a glass at 9 months of age. I recommended using metal tableware as giving this much freedom to a baby yields many broken dishes. Pouring work as you can see is very messy, but the sense of independence is instilled in this child through methods such as this, and creates a driving motivation to learn that carries them through their formative years. Putting milk in a sippy cup on the other hand does not. That's not to say that sippy cups are bad and should not ever be used, It's just to say that sippy cups are for parents, and not for kids.



When she drops the cup, I don't freak out and pick it up for her. I let her do that for herself. she drinks out of the empty cup and realizes that there is no milk left and that it's spilled on her chair. then she motions for the pouring pitcher. again, i let her do that on her own. She spends a long time with the pitcher and eventually drops it and becomes startled with the sound or frustrated that she dropped it. This is her basically communicating frustration, she is simply talking really. I don't tell her "its ok" or anything like that. I let her work through that on her own.

She enjoys cleaning up the table. It's purposeful work. Meaning that she is learning a skill that she can use in real life. a skill that lets her clean up after herself and be responsible for herself. kids love purposeful work. after dinner she always cleans up her space.

normally im not filming, im modeling how to use the spoon for her and how to drink. i eat very slowly so that she can see how i use the spoon. i hold my glass with two hands and pick it up very slowly as well, taking a drink and then putting the glass back down to the table very slowly. I give her a spoon and I have a spoon. I feed her and then let her feed herself. back and forth.