Fall Fun

Friday was a PD day at the boys' school, so we were happy to enjoy a bit of a long weekend. I really try take advantage of these free days and plan something fun for the wee ones. This time around, we hit the road for a sleep over at Nanny and Graga's house. My sister and her boys also tagged along. Although the combination of four boys ranging from 4 to 6 is very exhausting, I'm so happy they are able to spend quality time with their little cousins. There was lots of squealing, Halloween crafting, a few soggy science experiments and a vintage Scooby Doo movie. (a moment of peace for the mommies and Nanny).

Chi-Chi, Muffy and I enjoyed some quiet, peaceful time raking leaves in my parents' yard. This might sound silly, but I truly miss raking leaves and the simple act of doing so flooded me with childhood memories. The sounds and scent brought me back to my own experiences hiding under piles of leaves and just enjoying the quiet and peaceful space of the backyard where I grew up. I now live in the land of alders and spruce trees. These trees and shrubs seem to thrive in our harsh, coastal setting. Chi-Chi and Muffy had a great time building piles, and of course thrashing them to bits! When playtime ended, they helped me bag those leaves. I threw them in the trunk and brought them home to serve as mulch on my garden beds this winter.

The boys are super excited about Halloween this year. I'm looking at keeping things pretty simple. Tonight I made up a batch of silly spider whoopie pies for dessert, just to add some fun to Sunday night dinner. I did make a couple of cute spider costumes this year, but they were easy peasy. I'll share them once I get a chance to photograph my little creepy crawlers tomorrow night. Although I love the spooky fun of Halloween, the candy over load that goes hand in hand is tricky to manage! Because the houses are quite spaced apart in our community, we usually have to take the car trick or treating. We only visit a handful of neighbours, which helps limit the amount of candy the boys receive. I allow them to indulge in a handful of treats the evening of Halloween, but the rest are tucked away and served as dessert during the days that follow. I love some of Mary Beth's ideas over at Salt and Chocolate. The "Green Pumpkin" may be visiting my house this year to gobble up the excess candy in exchange for books! Great idea!


The boys have had loads of fun decorating our front door step with their various spooky creations. I gave up coming up with craft ideas, and just let them dream up their own creations. ( I did, however, intervene when I found Muffy drawing scary faces on my lovely wood siding with a permanent market.....ahhhh) I simply could not keep up with the enthusiasm. I pulled out these human skeleton xrays I've had tucked away for over a year! It was fun and educational to assemble the puzzle. Once complete, I posted it on our patio door with sticky tack to serve as a decoration.

Wishing everyone a happy, fun and safe Halloween!

Oh Canada!

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with my camera. Lately the scale has definitely tilted to the "hate" end of the spectrum! Anyway, it seems to be back in working order so I find myself returning to this space. It is funny, but I don't seem inspired to write unless I can enhance my words with some snapshots.

Today was a perfect fall day! The boys and I grabbed a quick snack after school and hit the trail to enjoy the fleeting autumn beauty. Deciduous trees are pretty hard to come by on our property, so it was certainly a feast for the senses today. We absorbed it all - the sight of the rich hues, the sound of rustling leaves, the earthy scent of decay and the pleasant crunch beneath our shoes.



We all enjoyed gathering a variety of leaves for some fall-inspired art projects. I picked up some recycled clay at the Wolfville Farmer's Market a few weeks ago, and have been wanting to create leaf impressions with the boys. My plan was to work on this project later this afternoon....but plans change when little ones find their own source of inspiration. The boys were so excited to discover many bright red maple leaves..."just like on the Canada flag!!". Of course, as soon as we got home, I found them digging through their art supplies. In no time, flags were waving and little lungs were belting out the national anthem. I do so love their great ideas!

I am loving Muffy's new tote bag! It was a gift from my parents for his birthday. Mom picked it up from "Say it with Stitches" at the Wolfville market. It is simply adorable and quite perfect for my little bug lover. I actually purchased a matching pencil case and wall hanging for him as well. I'm thinking Chi-Chi's plastic bag needs to be replaced by something much cuter! Ok, I think I just added a quick little weekend project to my to do list (:

According to the forecast, we are in store for a wonderful weekend! Looking forward to yard work, another trip to the trails and perhaps a bit of crafty goodness. What are your plans?

Parlez Vous Francais?

We had such a lovely birthday weekend around here. Muffy was on cloud 9...or should I say cloud 5. Despite the rain, the outdoor treasure hunt took place, and was a hit! Now that the busy month of September is behind us, I feel like we are finally settling into a bit of a groove. The boys seem genuinely happy in school! I was expecting Muffy, in particular, to be tired out at the end of the day, but that is not the case! I'm finding them both bursting with energy and ideas when they hop off the bus.

After a busy and fairly focused day in the classroom, I want to offer a home environment that is relaxing and fun for the remainder of the afternoon. I do, however, think it is important for parents to remain connected and aware of what learning is taking place in the classroom, offering support at home that complements and enhances the curriculum. Since both boys are in French Immersion, I'm trying to help nurture the learning of a new language. The last thing they need right now is more time behind the desk. I'm therefore seeking out fun ways to sneak in learning opportunities.



Muffy is currently learning the names of the colors in French. One afternoon last week, while puttering around the yard, we decided to embark on a color scavenger hunt. In no time, I had them seeking out bits and pieces from nature - screaming out "rouge, jaune, vert!!". This turned out to be a lot of fun for everyone!

As painful as it is on my brain, Chi-Chi and I have decided to have "French Hour" each day. This involves us conversing in French for anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes every day. He gets giddy about it! I'm definitely dusting off the cobwebs inside this head of mine. I'm starting to volunteer in his Grade 1 classroom today and I really need to get up to speed on my conversational French. I was shocked at how much French the boy can speak!


We've also been up to some colorful fall crafts. I recently picked up a copy of the lastest Chirp magazine. The boys are really enjoying magazines lately and I love that this is a home-grown Canadian publication. We made a few of these rainbow spider webs, inspired by suggestions in Chirp.

Chi-Chi is in the process of making a "haunted closet" so I'm expecting lots of silly, scary and spooky crafts in our near future! Any other fun ideas?? Pass them along please (:

Al Fresco Crafting

I'm loving our newly implemented after school "schedule". I use the word schedule very loosely. I've mentally committed to pre-organizing a tiny art or craft activity for the boys on Tuesday afternoons. I'm focusing on keeping it all very light and simple, of course. Otherwise, it will become a burden and I will very quickly fall off the rails!

These sunny fall days are perfect for taking especially messy crafts outdoors. I often find myself avoiding certain activities if I'm too tired or cranky to deal with the inevitable mess. Alfresco crafting solves this dilemma!


The inspiration for yesterday's activity came to us at the bus stop. We've been passing the time waiting for the bus with some sidewalk chalk artwork. This is not something we've done much in the past, since our driveway is gravel and our community lacks sidewalks. We recently took notice of a very tiny patch of asphalt at the end of our driveway. The city paved this area while doing culvert and ditch maintenance a few years ago. Upon noticing our sticks of chalk were nearly worn out, the boys and I decided it might be fun to create our own chalk. A quick check in the art cupboard revealed all items were on hand. Yay! I find it incredibly frustrating to come up with an idea, only to discover I need to make a supply run in the car. We mixed Plaster Paris with a bit paint - it was that simple! I have a couple of flexible silicone molds that come in handy for these types of activities. I've used them in the past for recycled crayons and melt and pour soap. Since they are so flexible, it is very easy to remove the items.



It certainly wasn't hard to convince the boys to get ready for school this morning! They were out the door and running before I had a chance to put the finishing touches on their lunches. The fun bulky shapes were easy for little hands to grasp. This chalk was perhaps a bit harder than the store-bought version, but it seemed to work just fine! I should have given it at least a full 24 hours to dry out, as it was still a bit damp.


Charcoal drawing is another little art activity we performed in the great outdoors recently. A backyard campfire produced all we needed for this one. Chi-Chi grabbed some leftover coals (confirmed to be cooled by Mommy) and headed into his "home of the early people". He's quite fascinated with the life of the Neanderthals. I soon found him documenting his porcupine sighting! So funny. That porcupine ended up blindly lumbering into our garage! (You would think I would learn my lesson to keep that silly door shut)

The Week In Review...

With school now in full swing, we are finding ourselves settling into a new routine. Today is the first day I did not follow the school bus to the school! I could not help myself! I think I finally feel comfortable that Muffy knows where he's going and can make his way around. It's a nerve wracking time for parents. The kids are the ones who seem to take it all in stride!

This empty nest of mine is taking some getting used to. On one hand, I'm finding my time very pleasant and productive. On the other hand, I have pangs of loneliness and the overwhelming feeling that my life is going by WAY TOO FAST! I'm no longer a mother of babies and wee ones, but that of school-aged children. I was at the library the other day and saw all the parents with their tots and I found myself teary-eyed and choked up. No more mid-morning skates, no more library dates, no more grocery cart companions......it's hard on the heart.

I've been busy finding my own new rhythm, making lists of priorities. I'm trying to make sure I fit in a bit of fun and creativity for myself between all the cooking, cleaning and errands. I'm finding that keeping myself and the house organized allows me to really focus on the children when they hop off the school bus. My goal is to clear my schedule and devote those afternoon hours to them. This means cooking supper in the morning and simply having to re-heat it at dinner time and throw together a salad or veggie plate. It also means I'm putting a bit more thought, effort and planning into our after school hours.

I'm so fortunate to be home with them in those afternoon hours. I want to make the most of our time together. I have intentionally left our schedule very relaxed and free, with just one activity during the week - swimming lessons. That leaves four days without plans. Monday is actually our CSA food box pick up day. The pick up takes a mere 5 minutes, but it is a drive from out home. I've decided to pick up the kids from school on that day and do something fun while we wait for the pick up time. This fun activity will vary from week to week. This week it was a walk on the boardwalk and beach, topped off with an ice cream. It could be a trip to the playground, a trip to a coffee shop...etc. I've committed to organizing some small activity each of the other days to add a sense of rhythm to our week:

Monday - Fun Outing/CSA Pick Up
Tuesday - Art or Crafts
Wednesday - Nature & Science
Thursday - Swimming
Friday - Cooking or Baking

I think it covers most of the areas that are important to me. My boys need lots of physical activity and outdoor play, and I also want to ensure they have the opportunity for ample creative time.

This might look overly structured, but trust me it's not! Nature day last week was a walk to the beach....but they pretty much spend hours outside exploring every day! It just means that on that particular day, I put at least some thought into what we might like to do. I ensures I have the materials on-hand and easily accessible for a project. Arts and crafts day today involved 30 seconds of prep time on my behalf - digging through the drawer for straws. We made straw rockets today. I showed the boys the idea and they spent the next hour making up their own versions - from space shuttles, to fighter jets to chickadees! Tomorrow is "science day". Chi-Chi wants to make a menthos/soda pop volcano and Muffy wants to try to make rainbows with the hose. I tell you, very simple! Some days, I will certainly put more preparation and effort into our activities, depending on my mood, energy level, the weather, and the level of desire. All in all, I want to make sure both boys have time to unwind and relax afterschool and focus on their personal interests. The first thing they do when they run through the door is put on their PJ's, then a snack, of course. From there, I follow their lead, but I do like to have some fun ideas in my back pocket.

I'm already enjoying organizing our week in this fashion. I'm interested in spending more time looking through Action Pack for ideas. Anyone have any suggestions for other great resources?

A Welcome "Weed" In The Garden

The other day I popped into the library and found myself sifting through the "to be discarded" shelf. The sign stated, "Fill a bag for $1". That's a deal that can't be beat! I resisted the urge to stuff my bag full and was very selective in the titles I chose. I'm on a never-ending mission to declutter our home and keep the stream of "stuff" coming into our house to a minimum. There were, however, a few books I could not pass up! I was prettysure BMX Racing would be an instant page turner for the boys.

Both Chi-Chi and Muffy are incredibly fascinated with the sport of BMX these days! I have to admit, as a mother of boys, it's sometimes a stretch for me to be enthusiastic about some of their interests. Having travelled across Canada by bicycle when when Iwas 23, I'm no stranger to cycling.....however the jumps and tricks are a little hard on my head and heart! I actually keep a stash of band-aids in my pocket and I easily go through a dozen or so a day. I am, however, just happy to see them having lots of muddy fun and getting a good dose of daily exercise. Lucky for me, their BMX track is conveniently located within view of my garden. I'm able to keep an eye on the antics while I work away at my weeding.

It's definitely been a weak year for the garden considering the wet and foggy weather we've experienced! My great garden expansion project is still underway, with my efforts this year focusing on soil enrichment. Seaweed gathering has become a favorite activity for the boys and I. I'm betting we will all reap the benefits of our efforts in a year or so. Although the seaweed is currently serving as a mulch to keep the pesky weeds away, this nutrient-rich goodness will be worked into the soil come fall. The beach is just across the street so it has been fairly convenient to gather a decent quantity of it.

My little "helpers" usually assist in the gathering for a short spell. When their interest wanes, they shift their focus to beach-combing and exploring. We never leave empty handed. Our collection of unidentified bones is growing by the day! Today Chi-Chi discovered a starfish on the rocky shore. After confirming it was dead, he decided to take it home for further study. Oh, I do wish I could bottle that pure, raw sense of curiosity and enthusiasm that children exhibit. I found him parked at his desk with his journal, "specimen" and magnifying glass. What's so wonderful is that his questions push me to learn and grow as a person. He identified a "dot" on the top of the starfish and needed some answers!! It turns out the dot is called a madreporite, used to flush water in and out of the creature's body. It is moments like these that I love to capture and document. They serve as a reminder to nurture the boys' curiosity and desire to learn.

Keeping the Spirit Alive

My sweet baby Muffy attended primary orientation at "big school" last week. Mama's poor heart is aching at the thought of her littlest boarding the big yellow bus in the fall. My emotions, of course, are purely selfish in nature, as I know this boy is so ready to embark on a new journey, face new challenges and make new friends. I will get over it, but for the time being I am savoring the sweet and special one-on-one time we share together.

Muffy currently attends the most wonderful, amazing and inspiring Montessori preschool twice a week. When both boys were still in diapers, I became fascinated with the Montessori approach and felt a deep connection with the philosophies and teaching methods used. I was THRILLED to have the opportunity to send both boys to this special school. I've seen both boys blossom and flourish in the environment and I feel both were so well prepared to enter primary with both the social and academic skills they acquired. It's also been a growing experience for me, as I've been able to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the approach. I've also found great friendship and camaraderie in my now dear friend who runs the school, and the ladies who teach with her. So, it is also with a heavy heart that our family winds up our last days at the school.

That being said, I am committed to carrying on with the approach and lifestyle in our home. Although Chi-Chi is in French Immersion this year, we have continued our Montessori language work at home. I haven't attempted it in French yet as it was getting too complicated. It's so fascinating watching him switch from one language to the other, putting on his "English Hat" for the mat work we do together. I've been doing a fair amount of beginning sound work with Muffy these past few weeks. I spent so much time compiling these materials last spring for Chi-Chi, it was very satisfying to have everything ready and set to go when Muffy started showing some readiness in this area. The small objects we use to match with sounds really do perk his interest in the work. He is super keen to spend that quiet one-on-one time with me and the pride shines through in that dimpled smile of his each time we work together.

With all the butterfly action in these parts, I also created a fun matching game for Muffy to work on his math skills. The game helps him recognize the number of items visually, without having to count them out individually. By simply changing the pattern of the butterflies, it adds some interest and challenge. Four in a row and four in a square are a match!

I may find myself back-peddling on this comment, but I'm really looking forward for classes to end and summer holidays to begin! There are so many fun and interesting projects I'd like to delve into with the boys this summer. I've been cleaning and organizing my craft and science materials in anticipation of the end of the school year. This morning, while the kiddies were in school, I set up this little magnetic study and exploration centre. The boys will have fun "fishing" for magnetic items, and I'm betting they will be a bit surprised about the catch of the day. I know I was! There's always something new for mommy to learn (:

So, although our family's days of formal Montessori schooling are drawing to a close, I will take the wealth of information I have learned and continue on, keeping the Montessori spirit in my mind and heart each day. (and yes Ms. M, I will be coming to visit the classroom for ideas and inspiration next year....and maybe a few ducks and chicks will tag along with me!!)

Creepy Crawlies

I have to admit, one of the things I love most about having wee ones is the opportunity to step back in time in a sense, and relive my own childhood. Their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning is truly infectious! Inspired by my two budding scientists, I recently initiated a nature/animal study that I was certain would be a hit. I purchased a painted lady butterfly larvae kit from Boreal a few weeks ago. I was so happy for find a Canadian supplier for live specimens. (I just ordered the larvae and food and picked up the containers at a local pet shop) The mail man knocked on my door and handed over a package containing approximately 80 tiny little caterpillars. Although I only purchased 30, they obviously sent along afew extras in case of death! I split up the kit in order to share the experience with as many as possible. Chi-Chi's primary class, Muffy's preschool class, my sister's family and my nephew's primary class are all caring for and studying the caterpillars as they undergo the metamorphosis to butterflies! With Chi-Chi being in French Immersion, we are also learning the French vocabulary associated with the project.

On first glance, I was skeptical the project would be a success. The larvae were no bigger than a tiny ant when they arrived. Wow! These little guys are big eaters and have been growing steadily each day. Muffy comes down each morning and exclaims how much they grew overnight. They are certainly developing into some big, juicy caterpillars so I'm expecting they will soon start forming into chrysalises.

Like all little boys, Chi-Chi and Muffy have caught caterpillars in the past. After a short observation, we've always released them since we were never able to determine what proper food to provide. This will be a wonderful opportunity to view the entire process in an up-close and personal manner. Once we observe the adult butterflies for a few days, we will be releasing them into nature.

Well, at least our little caterpillars make us feel like SOMETHING around here is growing! My garden, which now resembles a pond after all this rain, certainly isn't! Let's hope for some sun soon!

Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dogs' Tails...

I don't know what's gotten into me, but I'm on a bit of a science kick lately! It must surely have something to do with spring fever. As the world around us wakes up from a long winter snooze, there are so many interesting and exciting things going just outside the front door. Perhaps Chi-Chi and Muffy are the ones leading the charge on this one. As they spend more time outdoors, they are asking tons of questions and noticing tiny details such as the tulips poking up and the increased activity at the bird feeder.

I'm super excited about the latest "science project" we've undertaken. Friday was a day off from school so my sister came to visit with her two boys. She and my nephews brought us a few presents - tadpoles they collected from a pond near them home! It's hard to believe, but she's been raising her tadpoles all winter in an aquarium. Apparently, they are green frog tadpoles, which take about two years to develop into adult frogs. With four boys in the house, the tadpoles didn't get much attention. There was a serious amount of boyish action going on! Now that the house has quieted down, Chi-Chi and Muffy have had some time to get acquainted with these new friends. They really are fascinating to watch and study and I find myself drawn to them. Once they are grown and developed, we will release them back to nature, in the pond they originated from. Big sister also supplied me with some water plants for them to eat. Apparently our little friends feed on algae that grows on these plants. I'm relying on her expertise, since she's the one who studied marine biology and not accounting!

Thanks again Big Sis -for both the tadpoles and the visit! I was thinking today how lucky I am to have my sister and my parents so close by, despite the fact we grew up in Northern New Brunswick. In fact, my husband's parents and siblings also live very close...his brother just down the street. In this day and age, the stars don't align very often for this to occur. Our children are so fortunate to grow up truly knowing their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. So lucky indeed! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Boning up on Bones!

I truly believed we were turning a corner weather wise this week....until I saw snow in the forecast for today! I made every effort to enjoy that lovely sunshine while it was around. Although we had a busy day of errands ahead of us, Muffy and I took a little detour to enjoy a tour of the boardwalk at Fisherman's Cove in Eastern Passage. We always seem to find some interesting treasure on the little beach. I do fairly well with beach glass, consistently finding three to five pieces with each visit. During our last beach combing excursion, I discovered a piece of worn pottery dated 1940. The boys enjoy the view up the Halifax Harbour where they can spot Daddy's office building. It always strikes me how close we are to the city, yet how far away I feel. Wrapping around to the other side gives a stunning view out into the Atlantic Ocean. I love the contrast.

Muffy was thrilled with his most recent find - a small lower jaw of a fish. He likes to keep up with big brother Chi-Chi who has done his fair share of bone hunting these last few weeks, inspired by the Sue the Dinosaur Exhibit at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History.

I've been doing a bit of minor rearranging around the house to allow for some new Spring science activities I've got up my sleeve. I felt we needed a better set up for displaying and studying some of our recent nature finds and artifacts. I set up a small table by the window to allow for good lighting and a quiet place to work. The display of bones jogged my memory of something I've had tucked up in the hall closet, waiting for the right time and opportunity to introduce. I purchased this awesome set of animal x-rays ages ago. They are made in Canada by a company called Roylco and I thought the price was pretty reasonable at $16 for 13 images. I intially saw them at the boys' Montessori school. In the classroom, they were displayed using a light table, something I could not justify around here. I came up with the idea to use self-adhesive velcro to attach them to the window for clear viewing. They seem to fit just perfectly in our new little space. The boys are super excited about them and are being careful and respectful of their fragility. I find myself holding back learning materials at times, waiting for the right opportunity to introduce them, when the interest is initiated by the children. It's usually worth the wait!

One of the most exciting aspects of bone hunting is the mystery behind them. I'm quite certain the teeth and jaws belong to a seal, as in that case, most of the skeleton was present. Chi-Chi's fish skeleton and large vertebrae are a bit tricker to identify. "Some kind of fish" is simply not cutting it for this detailed little guy. He actually toted them to the museum, but they weren't able to provide an exact answer. If anyone out there has any suggestions on how to identify our bone collection, please let me know! It's time for me to bone up on my bones!