a birthday

While my parents were here Mateo had this third birthday.

It was beautiful to have them here for this celebration.

They gave him a little wheelbarrow.

We sang to him and had a happy breakfast before we left for summer camp.

He is my little boy. Right now he will go by everything and call himself anything from little boy, to big boy to strong man. It just depends what he is doing and what he wants.

He has never been this cuddly as he is lately. In the morning he climbs into our bed and lies right next to me, hugging me, massaging my shoulders with his tiny hands. He still likes to be on my arm and getting carried down the stairs. He is my little helper in the kitchen. His imagination is only limited by the sky. He makes up stories, pretends, and plays with words.

Did I mention he sings all day? Yes, he does, from spiritual chants, to german children's songs, to popular American tunes. Even in the grocery store he sings out loud.

I love him so and even though I kind of want to give him everything, he is also the one that needs a little clear guidance. Oh, a firm "no", can be so good for him.

sophia picked that for him. she knows that he likes.

When I was young imaging having children one day, I never thought about treating them so differently. Now as a mom of two, I don't know how I could have ever left that part out. There are of course basic foundations and our principles of what every child should receive, but how we go about it is so different from each other. That to me is the magic about raising children. Discovering who each of them are and giving them what each of them needs. I say this here because it is true, but also to reaffirm this for me. Sometimes I can get impatient, sometimes I just want to get things done. Well, not the best way to go about life! But I breathe deeply now and will let it sink into myself more deeply to be able to do and be the way I truly know I can be and want to be.

Dear Mateo, Thank you for making me a mama for a second time. I love you happy boy!

Love,

Mama

being home

Today was much quieter and calmer. The children played kindly and well with one another. Lots of work got done and fun was had in the garden.

I mostly stuck to my new rhythm except that I took a little nap in the afternoon. Mateo didn't want to take his nap earlier and so we went to run a couple of errand. We had to drop off some books leftover from our recent yard sale fundraiser. In one box I found some children's books for the children. They began reading them in the car and when we got home we found Theodore sleeping and so we quietly lay on Mateo's bed to "read" ;) Well, you already know what happened next.....

Sophia has always loved books. When she was little I would often find her in the midst a pile of books, spread all around her. Then and now she prefers to read quietly. Except when she gets to read to someone, she loves to articulate and enunciate.

Mateo is a loud reader. He is also a great imitator of his big sister. But so when he reads he talks out loud and shares his version of the pictures. He especially pronounces the parts people are saying. "No, no" "Oh, hi, are you coming to my house?" "The bad guys are coming" "You need to come" Lots of action fill his stories.

Ok, off to do my reading for the day. Here is what I am reading The Writing Road to Reading by Remolda Spalding. Very inspiring as I am thinking of the new classes I will be teaching in the fall.

Good night with a smile!

playing stay at home mom

While I usually go to work every day and typically come home with my children together in the afternoon, I rejoice in the Wednesday exception. Since on Wednesdays I have a student at home and Theodore works at school, the children stay with him. So, on Wednesdays I get to ride my bike home all by myself, come home, and teach my lesson. After my student leaves I readily tie my pretty apron on and prepare dinner.

The house is quiet and all I want to do is make a little dinner, and set the table. Ever so often I peak out the window to see if my family has arrived. I do always look forward to seeing them, happily welcoming them home.

i know they are blurry, but that walk of his, with such enthusiasm, i just want to always remember him that way!

When I was little my mom was always home and usually she would have something ready for us to eat. Although I probably never really expressed my appreciation for her being there, today I fondly remember that I could count on her being home.

While I am a happy working mom and have found my own routines with my family, I enjoy playing "stay at home mom" on Wednesdays for a couple of hours and share the warmth and comfort to my children which I received from my mom!

Welcome home!

sleepy babes

Here are my two sleeping beauties. Slowly getting back their strengths, but are still sleeping, sleeping, sleeping a lot.

I am glad to see they are taking care of themselves. Giving their bodies the rest they need. I think I will follow their example and go to bed early tonight. Faculty meeting early in the morning.

a heart warming surprise

This week has been super busy as I was getting the house ready to have Devi Vanamali stay with us and Theodore is getting ready to submit their charter petition.

Anyway, last night I suddenly stopped in the middle of my kitchen cleaning. I started to feel a little annoyed at all the cleaning and constant things to do. So, I went upstairs, where I knew the children were.

Well, this is what I found:

All ready in their pj's. Sophia had gotten them both ready for bed and was now reading a good night story to Mateo.

How lucky am I?????!!!!!

cheerful kitchen helper

This little man loves to sit on the counter and watch me prepare breakfast, lunch or dinner. Although I was opposed to having children sit on the counter, I couldn't resist his curiosity and wanting to be with me in the kitchen. Once I have to turn on the stove he moves into his highchair, but of course it just isn't as much fun. ;)

He really is a delight to be around!

routine breaking

I love routines. I think they are very important in not just children's lives, but mine as well. I find routines comforting with their predictability and consistency. I witness children thriving on routines, not only in my home, but in my classroom as well. Children will take charge, knowing exactly what the next step is, what period of the day follows... A daily rhythm helps to bring calmness and reassurance into our lives.

But then, again, a routine wouldn't be a routine if it wasn't for the occassional stepping out. ;) Well, we stepped out today.

Upon waking this morning, my first feeling and thought was that I didn't just want a regular Saturday, where I come downstairs, take care of the children, do my household chores, sit with my computer.... No, today I wanted to step out.

When I came downstairs I found Sophia and Mateo quietly playing with each other. I took a moment to look at them and enjoy the scene. When I asked them if they wanted to go out for breakfast, they seemed just as excited as me about getting out, and so we all got dressed, locked the door behind us, snapped on our helmets and on our bikes we went to Esther's German Bakery.

We ordered a coffee and Apfelpfannkuchen. While we waited the children went into the play area to play and I found a german newspaper to enjoy. I also wrote a little in Sophia and my journal, which she later read while feasting on her pancake.

We stayed nearly an hour

reading (Sophia),

exploring (Mateo)

and coffee drinking/reading/ treasuring (me) in this cozy place.

Sophia found a book that she really liked and wanted to finish it. Off to the library we extended our trip to find the book.

We came home in time for lunch and to continue our predictable, comforting, well known routine. Mateo went to take his nap and I sat down to finish two sewing projects. (More on that in a different entry.)

Only our morning routine was switched up, but I could feel myself fueling on this experience for the rest of the day. I had more patience with the children, cheerfully cleaned up the house, and most of all I appreciated that we have a routine and rhythm in our home.

day off= being home

Yes, due to Veterans day we didn't have school today.

A day off in the middle of the week is without a doubt very welcome!

Being home meant I got to bake these delicious cinnamon rolls. Sophia helped, and so did Mateo (in his own, sitting on the counter and holding a spoon sort of way).

We were excited for the results and Sophia noticed how they came out looking like a flower. "Did you mean to make them come out like that?" She asked me. Appreciating her noticing, I smiled and said "Yes." She then smiled back and we had a sweet moment together before even taking a bite out of these sticky buns.

But then we did take a bite and they were really yummy. As she always likes to plan ahead and think of special events, Sophia asked to have these as a Thanksgiving treat with tea and our neighbors for company.

I agree and think it is a wonderful plan. Who wants to join us?

As we are still keeping Mateo away from artificial sugar, he got his own version of fresh bread with a little honey, cinnamon and raisins on the side. He declared many times how much he liked it, so no hurt feelings there!

Enjoy!

photobooth fun

While Theodore is out planning important happenings with Communitas, Sophia, Mateo, and I had a little fun with photobooth tonight. ;)

happy halloween!!!!

I am off to work, but had to share our Halloween costumes. Somehow it always seemed more fun to me creating the costumes yourself! Sophia made the mask herself with some help from her Papa. Everything else I put together, with lots of collaboration! ;)

But, with no further ado please allow me to present

Sophia as Sally the Poodle :

And Mateo the pilot, ready to take flight:

playing school

The last two days were parent teacher conference days at school, which meant no school for Sophia. As creative and school loving as she is she created her own "classroom". Mateo of course came in handy as the diligent student.

For the night she left this message on the board:

I was particularly touched by the last message: "Dear Donna, Clair has been such a help. She may come when ever she wants. Thank you, Sophia."

This is precisely what her teacher, our dear friend, Barbara would say to me about her. ;)

I think Sophia would make an excellent teacher, with her patients, insightfulness, and loving care she conveys towards people.

best medicine= this little guy

As I am at home today, I get to spend time with my little guy. At the moment he is playing with a big pink car, (on loan from the neighbors) all stuffed with his favorite little people.

Being around him is THE medicine today!

camping

We went camping this weekend, with our school family and friends.

Everyone lend a helping hand...

We relaxed with each other....

We laughed and sang together by the fire....

We played with glowing sticks....

And then we woke up under these beautiful trees.

Thank you for a fabulous night out!