Monday, August 29, 2011

Rhythm In Our Home : Crafting



Time for our weekly rhythm post, again! This time I'll dive into our crafting rhythm. The girls and I have Tuesday set aside as our craft day. Just like the other weekly rhythm activities - this is special Mama/Girlies time.
It's no lie that the girls craft every free moment of every day, but even so our weekly craft day is special. The rest of the week their crafting activities are mostly things they do on their own from their imaginations. We have craft stations set up throughout our home so that whenever they are feeling inspired they can instantly create without having to wait on us to get out all of their supplies. They usually only include me if they need help or want something made to help out with their endeavors.



Our crafting time together is about the process and the whole experience of creating - not so much the end result. Some craft day projects will be a bit more elaborate while others will be something as simple as cutting and gluing paper. Some examples would be gluing and adding finishing touches to caterpillars, sprouting grass, or making beeswax candles or ornaments. When C used to nap K and I would work on window stars together. We stopped when she stopped napping as she is too young to do that project. I think we may try to do that again this year and maybe give C some colorful kite paper to cut and glue into her own stars.





Most recently we made sun prints. My friend Joy reminded me of this project. I picked up the sunprint kit back in college on an oceanography trip and forgot all about them. I am very thankful for Joy's reminder as the girls had a blast making them. They reminded me of my days living in the dark room back before photography went digital. I miss those days...anyways- back to rhythm! Craft day plans need not be extensive or grand by any means. All that truly matters to me is that it is something we are all doing together. I submerge myself fully into our projects making sure to be 100% attentive, very present and in the moment. Crafting is one of K's favorite times to 'chat' about everything and anything going on in her life, which is a nice reminder to me as to why we need this time together.







A couple of the things we do on our craft days are interchangeable with our handwork days. Making play dough, or gak, for example. Those projects are good for those days when the girls are having a hard time staying in control of their bodies.



Please remember - this is just our family rhythm and what works for us at the moment. This isn't meant to be hard and fast rules on how rhythm should go in every one or any one's homes. I just thought to share it because I receive quite a few e-mails asking about our home rhythm, and I also just wanted it documented for me to remember when they are older and on to another rhythm.

Thank you, again, for joining me in the rhythm fun! Here is the linky list. If you have a (new or old) link you would like to share about your family rhythm, please enter it below so that we all may see. Then please link back here in your post. I look forward to seeing your inspiration!
Thanks friends!

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Sunday, August 28, 2011

Round Here

We could all use a little Counting Crows to end our day (or begin it - depending on when you are reading this), wouldn't you say?



Smitten



Fangs and smiles



Gifts from an incredible person in the mail (sweet little gnome branch table and chairs) that inspired the girls' play so very much





The best of friends



Trying to sabotage join the cuddling





Tire swing play with babies (we hope to make an old farm style swing for our little ones soon)



Baby L watching his sisters' antics



Still inspired by blueberry picking(She's reading Peter in Blueberry Land)



Furry guests at the breakfast table



I somehow managed to finish up (most) of those deadlines. One of them involved an acorn craft (details coming very soon). When we finished, the girls broke into our acorn cap collection. We have acorn caps from all over the country thanks to our many moves and the generosity of friends from all over (I do wish I had collected some from South Korea when we lived there - oh well, maybe another time).



The girls got out their winter coats to warm themselves up after eating a few too many ice pops (from our favorite book Ice Pop Joy
) first thing in the morning. Quite a funny sight on a summer day (especially since we don't have air conditioning in our home).







K had her own little experiment going on. She cracked open all the different types of acorns we had to compare the nuts inside. She was quite excited over how different yet similar they all were. Gotta love child led learning!



Now off to finalize some plans for tomorrow with a fellow blogging friend.

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Thursday, August 25, 2011

We're Jammin'



Blackberry season is in full effect... just look at our latest walk results! There is just something so wonderful about foraging out in nature for food. The fact that it is free doesn't hurt, either.



To add to the berry goodness we've been enjoying - last week we went blueberry picking with our new friends. They took us to the sweetest little U-pick farm hidden away in plain view (I love places like that). The girls wore their strawberry berry picking dresses.







We picked, we chatted, we snacked, we picked some more...







The farm's cat/tour guide kept us company.









We enjoyed a little picnic taking in the beautiful scenery as the girls caught grasshoppers, played games and flew wooden planes.



We checked out the rest of the farm for inspiration.
Then after spending almost the whole day there it was time to go pick up Kevin from work.





But I got distracted on the way there and stopped to photograph the beauty around us.





Baby L and C fell asleep on the drive so K and I played in the van while waiting for Kevin to get out of work.



Once we were home it was time to extend our summer by freezing and jamming our berries. By the way, I have to agree with all of you the Pomonas Universal Pectin works so much better for canning with out sugar!







We are in a state of pure berry bliss and we hope you are, too!
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My Bubbles

Thank you for all the union suit love yesterday. If you want to make one of your own you may want to stop by next week for an upcoming giveaway. Hint, hint



While the rest of the country is experiencing cooler weather our summer has just finally started here in Oregon. Perfect time for a summer dress.
May I present C's new summertime (ahem belated birthday) dress in pictures





























Yep, so I finally got around to making C her horse dress. She calls it her 'bubbles' and has been wearing it every day since I finished it. You can see the stains to prove it in some of the pics (I need to work on those). The pattern is the Oliver + S Bubble Dress. I made her the size 4 but with the length of the size 5. Even the size 5 length seems almost too short (you know how I am about the length of dresses and skirts for my girls), yet it's still long enough. This pattern was so much fun to sew up (I can't believe I am saying that as sewing and I do not always seem to agree with each other). I have to give credit where credit is due and thank my friend Ginny for her generosity and saving me (in more ways than one) with this. Thank you, again! Please tell your girls to be on the lookout for mail...


Don't miss out on your last chance to enter for a chance to win two beautiful fine art prints from DovieMoon here.

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