Tender Twigs

Our Nature Table

I couldn't leave that sorry little post at the top of my blog all weekend.  Thank-you for all the kind and encouraging advice.  I thought a photo of our simple nature table might make me happy.  I love all the small things on our table, a buckeye, pine cones gathered, shells from Alki beach, a dried dragonfly, feathers, twigs, and a bit of dried flower.  Also, you can see a darling acorn doll from dream child studio and a wooden mushroom box which holds a collection of tiny pebbles.  A piece of bark with moss.  I remember when Cate first discovered moss and now Si.  It is so sweet to see him touching a patch and saying "moss?"  We have a lot of moss here in Seattle. :)  And of course a nature table wouldn't be complete without an Elsa Beskow book. 

 

What happened to the Learning Totebag?

I have to be really honest, not a whole lot of dedicated learning has been going on here since late November.  The childcare arrangement for Si that allowed me to take Cate to Panera for homeschooling just became too expensive.  For the better part of November I continued to "teach" her after putting Si to bed in the evening but then Silas went to the big boy bed and our sleeping routines became chaotic and almost non existence.  Silas is a very crabby child.  He doesn't sleep and will not play quietly while a little learning takes place.  He only wants what Cate is playing with or reading.  He doesn't want to listen to me read to her.  He only wants his books read to him. 

Perhaps all of this isn't uncommon.  I always welcome your advice.  I know some of you have hinted at the difficulty of teaching with little ones.  Si doesn't sleep well at night so my stamina during the day is very low.  I find it nearly impossible right now to teach Cate while Si is present.  I've tried using the weekends with a bit of success but there are so many other things to do on the weekends that it just feels rushed.  It all makes me very sad.  The only thing that comforts me is that Cate knows what she needs to know for her age and then some.  I'm in no hurry but I do feel her interest in learning slipping a bit and that really worries me.

To that end, I'm trying to figure out how to manage our home learning.  One thing that does help is a plan so I am working right this minute on a plan for next month.  I think setting goals by the month instead of the week might make it more possible to succeed. 

~Week 1~ 1000 Picture Books

With the challenge of a pushy two year old and a voracious reader who wants to "read it myself", I found my challenge of reading three books a day to Cate a tad more difficult than I imagined.  It makes a big difference to have the books laid out and ready for the day.  We read several repeats and a few stand outs!  I know I said this would be a tucked up weekend post but I'm making it my Tuesday book post. :)

The best book of the week was Cider Apples.  A story of fairies, a cottage, an apple orchard saved and delightful illustrations.  If you enjoy Monet then I recommend A Blue Butterfly.  We finally read one of my all time favorite books The Library. 

        

The Wishing Club is a great math book which I highly recommend.  And for anyone how enjoyed Barbara Berger's Grandfather Twilight you might also enjoy Animalia: Thirteen Small Tales.  If you are searching for more stories about China, The Long Haired Girl is a wonderful folk tale, although I altered the reading.

    

 

Monday

Animalia: Thirteen Small Tales
One Morning in Maine
One story from this Fairy Book

Tuesday

Teatime with Emma Buttersnap
So You want to be President
Tale of the Pie and the Patty Pan

Wednesday

The Birthday Moon
Anna's Wish
Cider Apples

Thursday

The Wishing Club
Letter to Amy
Koala Lou

Friday

A Blue Butterfly
The Library
The Long-Haired Girl

Saturday (all these were a disappointment)

Long Long 's New Year
Chinese New Year's Dragon
D is for Dancing Dragon

We skipped Sunday due to Chinese New Year's activities but did read a bit from Old Mother West Wind.

 

 

Happy things...

Kate awarded me the award Hooked on Your Blog and now I see Cher has as well.  So nice.   The rules are listed here.  This works out perfectly because I was working on a post of happy things.  Six things making me happy right now....

Play dough.  Meredith linked to a play dough recipe that I book marked for future use.  Ever wonder about the power of blogging?  Please know, how powerful one link or word of kindness can be.  My kids played for literally hours yesterday with our new homemade play dough.  I don't know why they did but I am very happy that Meredith linked to it.  It was a much needed break for mommy.  Thanks.

Look what I found at the library bookshop!  The spines haven't even been cracked.  In case you don't know why this is awesome, here is a link.  I think I might go out and follow Melissa's advice to buy a new hardcover copy of Penderwicks with my savings. :)

A little poem by Cate.  Sharing to remember. :)  

My little pear says the sun is green
My little orange says the sun is orange
My little plum says the sun is purple
My little apple says the sun is red
My other little apple says the sun is green
My little peach says the sun is pink.
My little lemon say says the sun is yellow.
Yes little lemon the sun is yellow

Clean dishes

The discovery of a delightful picture book.

   

When you Google the quote I referenced from the inaugural speech in my post yesterday, my blog is the first site on the list.  :)

 

Let's see (currently I'm hooked on 114 blogs!)
Meredith (thank you!)
Sarah (always)
Susan (so glad you're back)
Jennifer (no matter what)
Lorilee (because you make our play time fun)

oh and one more (because I don't always follow the rules)  Mariposa (because your advice is invaluable.)

..."parent's willingness to nurture a child"

..." parent's willingness to nurture a child", I was thrilled to hear these words in the inaugural speech, to be included in a nation of service.  We mothers are important even when it doesn't always seem so.

But how can I make a difference beyond my home?  How can I be of service?  How can I, a mother of two small children with difficult temperaments and no social network, bring about change?  I envy the wealthy and influential people who can effect change with words, grand actions, money.  I spent most of yesterday dwelling with these thoughts.  For me there is no clear avenue.  I feel small, tired and unimportant.  

I had a glimpse of clarity late yesterday amid housework, crying children and frayed nerves.  This past month I set a monthly food budget that was 50% smaller than my usual budget.  It will take a bit of sacrifice but I should succeed.  I thought of this as a one month challenge but yesterday I realized I could offer this sacrifice every month to something more worthy than saving money.  So to that end I committed money to our local food bank and a donation to Heifer International.  Hunger issues touch me to the core.  I can't imagine not being able to feed my children. 

So at the end of the day, I realized I can do something in this moment perhaps not with my hands and time but with sacrifice.

1000 Picture Books

Do you remember the days when you read 10, 20 little books a day to your child?  I fondly remember those days with Cate and now I find Silas wanting the same.  I read to Si all day long.  He is demanding.  And like his sister, his first two word phrase was "read it" and his first three word phrase "read to me." I'm still questioning the sanity of moving the Dr. Seuss books to his room.  I read "Sam, I Am" (as we call it) four times yesterday.

Cate is reading a lot on her own.  When I read to her it tends to be from longer storybooks or our current read aloud.  I feel picture book reading slipping from our lives.  So, I've started a little project, 1000 picture books for 2009.  It sounds like a lot of reading but really it is only three books a day with a bit of wiggle room for off days.  My plan is to lay out three picture books (some we own as repeats, and many new books from the library) each morning.  Doesn't that sound easy?  I'm going to record our weekly reading in a tucked up weekend post if you are interested in the list.

For Today

Listening, Reading & Watching

I don't read much war news because I find it difficult to understand and I'm certain my knowledge of the subject won't make a difference.  So I was quite surprised to learn that the US military has a mission to leave no solider behind in Afghanistan.  I heard this story about the rescue of one fallen solider's body on NPR's story of the day.  I'm sure the editors didn't have to think twice about which story to choose this day.  I listened to this story while I was running and standing at a stop light it took all I had to hold back the tears.  Listen to it, it is great reporting and an even greater story. 

I'm not doing so well with my reading challenge for a myriad reasons.  One is that I have way too many books from the library that I am merely dipping into.  One such book has enchanted me for days.  Little House on a Small Planet entertains my dream of living with much much less and in a much smaller house.  The people profiled in this book are living my dream while I spent Sunday looking at houses in good neighbors with good schools that were too big, too expensive and not to my liking.  House hunting for a house I don't want is exhausting.

And lastly from my monthly to do list, I watched Hotel Rwanda.  How in good conscience can I complain about anything in my life?  Again my voice seems so worthless in the face of the horrors that are happening worldwide.  The movie was gripping but I was a little disappointed to read more and find that much was distorted for the purpose of the movie.  Paul Rusesabagina said in a lecture that the film was "less violent" than the actual genocide, claiming that "you couldn't invite someone to watch the real thing." 

The sun is really shining today.  So much so that I am startled by how different it feels to be in my house right now.  Pleasant.  Today, I'm going to try and not complain. 

Permission

This morning I realized I like the Quick Friday Seven because it gives me permission to chat about anything.  There is no need for balance, content, links, or even photos.  So with that in mind, I share some thoughts which may not add up to seven. 

Clearing my Google Reader each evening has been very successful this week.  I've allowed myself a small handful of holdovers but otherwise I read and comment right away or I mark the item read.  Simple, easy and I think I'm commenting more which I hope makes someone happy.

Thank you so much for all the thoughtful and sweet advice about Si's sleep issues.  This week I took the plunge and stopped insisting on a daily nap for both children.  It has made a huge difference.  They are really tired at the end of the day and we have our evenings back.  But there is less "alone time" during the day.  It's a trade off.

I really enjoyed this post by Krista.  I'm going to give this a try.  Also, there is a giveaway at Beauty That Moves which is by far the most delightful and meaningful "giveaway post" I've ever read.  I usually don't cast my hat into giveaways but to receive this would surely bring good karma into my home.

Cate read the original Nate the Great a few weeks ago.  I found this CD of Nate the Great Stories at the library yesterday.  She loves audio books.  She usually spends the afternoons whining and fighting with her brother but yesterday she laid on her bed and listened to it.  Then this morning when brother woke us all too early, she declined breakfast to go back to her bed to listen again.  (Nate is indeed Great.)  She now wants to be a detective. 

And a photo to share.  This is what my counter/desk looked like after all the Rotating & Reducing.  Not a pretty sight but I did get it cleaned up.

Have a great weekend.

Books worth buying...

at least to me.  A few of you asked how I kept relatives from buying my children unacceptable toys, well let's just say I'm not always successful.  I come from the smallest extended family, virtually everyone is an only child expect me and I only have one sister.  This helps limit the quanity.  I like to joke that my in- laws surely were annoyed with me sometime in October as I started insisting, "no plastic, no noise, no television references."  This year, I was more firm and did write a list of books that we really wanted.  Here is the list of books we liked enough to request as a gift.

From Meme and Papa

     

   

In a Blue Room was by far my favorite book of last year.  If you haven't read it, toggle on over to your library browser and order it right now.  This is the night time routine I most wish to create.  Lovely illustrations, soothing word, and even a cup of tea.

Hush Little Digger, Machines at Work, both for Si are favorites.  Machines at Work isn't as good as Trucks, Planes or Boats but the familiar illustrations are a hit with Si.  Amazing Machines includes Terrific Trucks and many others by Tony Mitton, a favorite author in this house.  I learned something from each book and they are easy to read aloud.  The set of ten books from Amazon is a real bargain.  It would make a terrific little boy gift.

The Story of the Wind Children and Bill Martin Jr Big Book of Poetry were really for me (lol) but Cate is enjoying them as well.  I adore all those Waldorf type books and hope to collect as many as possible.

From Granny & Papa

   

   

Si is wild about the Bear Snores On series and we own them all, so Bear Feels Scared was a a natural selection.  What is a Scientist? was such a useful book that we just had to have it on the shelf.  What child doesn't like rocks?  If You Find a Rock explores all the possibilities.  Cate has referenced the book many times.  Susan Jeffers' The Nutcracker is my favorite version of the story that I've read so far.  An Egg is Quiet (another one really for me) is too beautiful not to have in the home.  And finally, Miss Suzy was one of my favorite's as a child and I am happy to have our very own copy.

Oh, and I almost forgot to say thank you Meme, Granny and the Papa's for honoring our wishes.  The kids love the books very much and all the other non plastic, quiet, toys.  :)

Random Thoughts Monday

I cleared my Google Reader last night and I'm going clear it at the end of each day for a while.  I find that when I clear the list I am more likely to respond to a new posts.  Does that make sense?  Have you ever tried it?

Krista at this inspired life posted her favorite inspirational photos on a Flickr slide show.  Trust me, you will enjoy seeing the images that inspire her.  I can't really do anything with the inspiration but it was sure better than the DVD I watched last night.  

I'm thinking about buying one of these advent candle rings.  I saw so many images of it this past season and it seems like a serene and peaceful way to mark the days.

I'm delighted that Silas seems to like books as much as Cate.  Just a few minutes ago he ran in the room yelling "wild about books" and carrying that exact book.  He amazes me (as did Cate) in his ability to name most of his books.  Also, he is starting to outgrow his board books.  He has been sitting for longer books quite well and most recently one of his favorites is Pelle's New Suit.  Our copy is an old permabound library book published in the 70's.  The colors aren't as bright as the most recent release.  Check out the link for the book, isn't that a great price for a hardcover.

But the boy is driving me crazy.  Every evening is like an episode of Super-Nanny.  He simply won't go to bed, fall asleep or stay in his bed.  Last night he was up until 11, fell out of bed at midnight, woke to eat a full meal at 3am and then slept till 5:30am.  He's cranky everyday and I'm crankier.  I'm taking any suggestion of technique or book that might help us solve this ongoing nightmare problem. 

A photo of Si with "hat head."  Today, I feel like his hair.