Home "schooling"

I don't really think what I do is home "schooling" but it is a modified version. I actually love being out with my kids and doing things like art, digging, gardening, chalking, etc. I love that I get to try and be a kid again. 

There are times that I actually think about home schooling my boys. Especially my first son. He is not that kid who LOVES school. I actually think he goes to school because we tell him he has to go. This morning I dropped him off and he was very sad. As the tears ran down his face it felt so wrong to turn my back and walk away. I did cuddle with him a bit, but then I sent him off with his teacher and hoped that he would be fine for the day. He made it through the day, but I still ask myself  "do I want him to make it through the day?" 

The other side of it is that I know that I could home school. My life has always revolved around being a planner, a go getter, and creative work. I know that I could home school him the way that I wanted.. in the Waldorf way. I just fear that he would miss out on things that I could not give him. I watch him all the time and I really listen to how he is doing. This thing called parenthood never ceases to amaze me. 

Today the air was cold, but the forecast looks gloomy in the next days. I set up the easel and Hudson and I painted. He on one side, me on the other. I recently took a painting class at the Siskiyou School with Christine Crawly. I loved that class. I loved the techniques that I learned on how to paint wet on wet. I was even happier to bring that home with me and teach Hudson. He is always eager to learn and he was fascinated by the things I taught him. 

His final painting. A very lucky recipient will be receiving this soon in the mail. 

I might be completely insane that I let my 4 year old handle my "fancy" camera, but he has heard me say that I am never in any pictures, so he asked me to take my photo. 

Hudson's portraits of me painting

I will always be so thankful for the wonderful gift of being home with my kids. Hudson has taught me so much about life and loving this world. His love for beauty, his confidence in his decisions, his ability to speak with love and gratitude is something that I try to emulate every day.

 

Spring!

Oh! It's here (and then it's not). Those lovely days of Spring. Last week we were blessed with the warmth of the sunshine. When it comes to warm, sunny days I am pretty much a kid and wanting to do everything to be outdoors. Errands go away. Shopping goes away. Everything seems to go away. I lose myself in this blissfully wonderful world that we live in. Doesn't it seem that so many times that we walk through life and think about all the bad things in the world? I love when Spring comes and I can see the tiniest blooms peaking through. To see them every day gather in the rays of the sun, the bits of water, and work so hard to provide us with their beauty. What a wonderful world we do live in. To see this transformation of life. The rebirth of our world. And what wonderment to share this with our children. To have them slow down and see that Mother Earth is coming alive. To see their eyes express their happiness in the surrounding beauty. 

We started digging our plot in the community garden. We are trying to figure out what to plant now. That feeling of digging in the dirt, churning the earth. Hudson had a great time talking to all the worms that we disturbed. He would say "Hi wormy wormy, I love you" and then place more dirt on them. 

Oh I love him so much

What speaks Spring more than the welcoming of the Farmer's Market? A hop skip and a jump and it's pure happiness. I am so ready for berries!!!

The boys were excited about getting a cookie!

And older brother gets to teaching younger brother just how to water dirt. 

Wishing you a delightful beginning to your Spring! 

Almond blossom and Butterfly Flutter fairy

One of Hudson's favorite books at the moment is Almond Blossom's Mystery. He has really been in to chapter books recently and loves to make up his own images in his mind.

With that.. two little fairy boys took off. One named "Almond Blossom" (naturally) and the other "Butterfly flutter fairy."

Butterfly fairy liked to follow Almond Blossom. Mostly for the fact that Almond Blossom was so much bigger and had much longer legs. Butterfly fairy tried very hard to keep up.

 

Almond Fairy made his way to the pond where he noticed many bugs and lots of moss. He waited until..

He was joined by his bestest friend, Butterfly. Together they watch the bugs and the life in the pond. They even added some magical sticks to the pond.

Soon Almond Blossom was off and running while Butterfly enjoyed a little more time looking at the pond.

 

Soon they met on the bridge where Almond Blossom was on his way to explore closer to the water. This wasn't a place for Butterfly fairy because he wasn't quite old enough to go on this adventure. So he waited.

and he laughed at all that Almond Blossom did while on his adventure... it was a mystery, nonetheless.

Soon they rejoined forces and looked for duckies. They gazed out at the pond but no duckies were to be found today. 

so they headed to the creek where Almond Blossom worked on his flying. 

Then it was back to Butterfly fairy following in the faster footsteps of Almond Blossom Fairy.

The End.