We have plenty of toys, but in our rearranging and decluttering I’ve found that there are just a few that we really couldn’t do without.  Right at the top of this list is our set of gears.

The pieces are big enough that the littlest kiddio in our house doesn’t risk choking, simple enough that our [...]

I was excited to learn about Freedom to Read Week, an “annual event that encourages … to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom.”  Then I realized that it was just for Canadians.  Now, I love books and appreciate Canada, so I’ve decided to celebrate the opportunities I have to read, think, and [...]

Marie at Make and Takes posted last week about ways that she encourages independence in her kids.  I’ll admit that I sometimes have to let go of my clean-house-hangups, but I try to give my little ones age-appropriate opportunities to serve themselves rather than continuing to depend on me for, well, everything!  As they’ve gotten [...]

Fall feels like it’s just slipped by us, but we found some time the other day to make some pretty fall leaves to brighten up our windows.  It was such fun, all three kids really got into it…even the baby’s little scribbles turned out cute leaves.  

Materials:

white coffee filters
markers
squirt bottle filled with water
dry dishtowel
scissors 
iron 

Method:

Set [...]

Josie’s really been into making pop-up cards. She’s always creating bits of love for each member of the family but this has really caught her fancy, and I can see why. It is just such a simple and effective little project; so easy a five year old can do it!
First fold your paper in [...]

Jasper’s nature picture, with maple leaf, maple seeds (samaras), pine needles, pine twig, pinecone, bark, and a tiny flowerOver the weekend we had a ton of work to get taken care of so we were outside most of the day (except when our neighbors were celebrating something with an outdoor karaoke party). [...]

I just loved this idea for making paint ice cubes–another nice way to get the mess of painting outside where you can just hose the kids off when they’re done. Also nice for toddlers who would have fun with paint but trouble with a brush.
Josie really liked Pepper Paints’ painted sticks. We’ve [...]

I just have a minute, but wanted to share a picture of the puppet theater that I helped Josie and Jasper with this week. We’re going to make another so I’ll plan to share a tutorial next week! (p.s. Jasper would want me to tell you that *he* made the kelp.)

Having a girl is easy. Glitter and sparkly pink sequins are appealing to most, drawing flowers is girly, dress-up clothes are usually dresses (have yet to find a ‘prince charming’ costume in the Disney aisle at Target). Socially, my dress-wearing, pink-loving, flower-picking boy may grow up to be an outcast if we keep [...]

It’s my eternal struggle. I want the children to paint, I truly do, but it can just be so so messy…especially for a two year old who paints for two minutes then requires ten minutes worth of cleanup (and a bath to get it out of his hair). Often enough I bite the [...]