Monday, September 30, 2013

Learning Highlights: September 2013

During the month of September, in addition to meeting with our co-op group twice, we had a lot of fun learning with apples and the fall theme.
  
We practiced peeling apples and making applesauce.
 We made lots of apple trees and learned about Johnny Appleseed.
 Both boys loved the autumn themed discovery box.
 We graphed leaves according to color.
We used a leaf punch to practice counting.
  
We covered numbers 11-20 with fall themed stickers.
 Then throughout the month we did various letter activities. 
We put alphabet beads in order on a pipe cleaner.
 We used stamps.
 We played "Guess the Covered Letter."
 We also started using these sandpaper letters
Seth and Silas use these to trace the letters, name the letter, and practice the sounds.
 
 We've also been learning about where we live. 
Our preschool time in general in going very well. We read a lot! Seth can count to 30 using his calendar. He knows the days of the week and has learned the months of the year. (We go over that every day.) He can write most of the letters, but will only do so if he's really motivated. The boys seem to love our learning time. Seth has even asked why we don't do learning time on the weekends. I'm glad he enjoys it as much as I like planning it.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

{Gratitude} Lately

Every day I look around in amazement at all the 
beautiful, yet simple, things that I'm so thankful for.

Lately I've been grateful for...
food scraps that get turned into eggs...
 musk melon from Rough Draft and little boys in plaid
 the gift of my Memaw's funnel 
and yummy applesauce made from local organic apples
 the beautiful flavors of duck, pear, and port sausage
  the beginnings of a new winter farmers' market location
and for an annual International Festival
and seeing several of our Burmese friends there

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Q & A with Seth: 4 Years Old


Oh, how I never want to forget these days!

Monday, September 23, 2013

First Day of Autumn 2013

 Yesterday was the perfect day to usher in autumn, my favorite season of the year. 
Our day was filled with decorating for fall, trimming bushes, and planting mums.
  
The autumn wreath is on our door.
The windows are open and tiny pumpkins are on the mantle.
 The house was filled with smells of gluten-free bread...
 and pumpkin soup for our special celebratory dinner.
As the sun was setting and the evening grew cooler, we spread a blanket by the blooming chrysanthemums in the backyard, 
and we drank warm apple cider.
 It was such a lovely end to a wonderful day.
Happy First Day of Autumn!


Friday, September 20, 2013

Preschool Co-op: Fall

 Our preschool co-op group tries to meet at least two times a month. Earlier this month we learned about apples. This time when we gathered our theme was fall.
Emily read  Read Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Elhert to the kids.
 I brought a leaf alphabet game. I scattered foam leaves that had a lower case letter written on each one on the ground. The kids got to pick up the leaves and match the lower case letter to the capital letter on the tree.
 Here's a look at the completed tree with some of the cute kiddos.
 The kids also got to go on a leaf hunt and make their own bracelet using duct tape and leaves that they found in Emily's backyard.
Tiffany helped the kids make their 
own tree with fall leaves made of tissue paper.  
 Then the kids got to do leaf rubbings.
We love co-op days, although we missed Lara and Lylah dearly at this one.  
We can't wait for the next one!

Monday, September 16, 2013

Seth is 4!

Seth turned 4 yesterday! 
We celebrated his special day in Jackson with family and some very special friends. 
He woke up to streamers and balloons.
 He got some very special gifts.
 He had apple slices and chocolate cupcakes with blue icing which he requested.
 Then on our way back to BG, we stopped for some go-kart riding.
These past four years have flown by and are full of such fun memories!
Happy Birthday, Seth!

Saturday, September 14, 2013

{Gratitude} Lately


Every day I look around in amazement at all the 
beautiful, yet simple, things that I'm so thankful for.

Lately I've been grateful for...
a reel mower from generous friends...
a stormy afternoon filled with the soothing rhythm of canning...
  an entire shelf full of canned foods...
 
 the public library and a ticket to the members only "Friends of the Library" preview sale...
 for little boys who are content to just sit and not ride...
 and for the person who discovered boiled cabbage juice 
and baking soda make a natural blue dye

Monday, September 9, 2013

The 2013 Garden: In Transition

 We prepared for our garden when it was still winter and the days were cold. Our Spring Garden took shape in April. We've had food growing since then. It has definitely been our most successful year with the garden, but then again we've put more effort into this task of growing food than in previous years. Because we want to be able to produce food as long as possible we had to think about our fall garden at the end of July.
 So although our garden went from this in April...
 to this (the photo was taken just this evening),
 
we've had to pull plants that were finished producing, mix in compost (that we produced this time!!!),
and plant more seeds for our fall crops. 
While we're still getting baskets full of tomatoes, okra, peppers, squash, and cucumbers each day, 
we're also seeing kale, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and cabbage
 sprout and grow.