April 15-21, 2013

We love Spring at our house. Well, at least, the few Spring weather days that we do get around here. We all love playing outdoors and gardening, Rainbow Girl loves coming up with unique Spring crafts, Sugar Bear loves digging in dirt, and I love decorating for Spring.

Our Spring Nature Table

Beautiful Spring piece I scored at a thrift store over the winter.

Remember the epic apple peeler/spiraler from playgarden? We just had to get one, and I am so glad that we did. It is such a hit around here. We have learned that it works best with firm, round, symmetrical apples.

The weather was beautiful this week at Playgarden. This week, we picked dandelions to make dandelion oil. 

On Saturday, we went to have a playdate with some very treasured friends of ours. We met these friends in ballet when Rainbow Girl was four years old and Sugar Bear was one. The children are all May babies! Rainbow Girl and her ballet friend are the same age, and Sugar Bear and RG's ballet friend's little sister are the same age! 

Although Rainbow Girl has chosen to stop taking ballet and her friend has continued (as well as the fact that she is in public school), we still try to see each other often through the year, as well as talking on FaceTime.

The four of them have this special magical bond that I hope lasts for a long time. 

Here, the girls are playing with Goldie Blox, an engineering game designed specifically for girls.

"I FOUND YOU!"

April 7-14, 2013

As usual, we started off our week with our wonderful friends at Early Learning Circle. 

After Early Learning Circle, Rainbow Girl and I went back to my parent's house (where Sugar Bear was) to set up the first pool of the season. Once warm weather is upon us, we try to spend as much time as possible outside, exploring nature. Adding water to the mix just makes things better.

We let it sit over nap time to warm a bit and then the kids had a ball measuring, dumping, pouring, and watering the plants.

The following day was even more glorious, so we were outside again. Rainbow Girl found out on her own that if she picked a piece of "onion grass" and pinched off the top, she could use it as a straw to blow bubbles in the pool. Yay science.

On Wednesday we had Playgarden. This week was very relaxed because we were the only ones in attendance besides the lovely host family. We had our circle time, and then the host mama taught me how to make Waldorf window stars out of kite paper.

I love weeds.

Then we helped the children make bubble wands out of heavy gauge wire. They were obviously a hit. 

Later that day, after nap time, we had more outdoor water play time. Some of our old friends came over to play. 

While we were outside, my dad came over to fix my spicket (which I know is apparently spelled "spigot" but I refuse to spell it that way. It's just wrong.)....so anyway, my dad was over to fix the spicket because my husband someone, while putting away the generator a few months ago slammed into the spicket and broke it clean off the wall. 

You know what IS a fun plumbing word? Escutcheon.

Back to the spicket. It is hard  to fill up a giant pool with a bucket. So, my dad came to the rescue to fix it. Luckily for him, there were three boys at my house, very interested in helping.

On Saturday, we went to a party at a friend's house. It is always a delight to see the kids interact with old and new friends. 

Sunday was Paka's (my dad's) birthday.