SP Chapter 3, Environment

Each chapter I read I get more and more enthralled with this concept. Simplifying our lives creates a calmer and happier life. This chapter couldn't have emphasized this more. Our environment is such a huge part of our daily life and when there is so much clutter we become overstimulated. He talks about quality of toys vs. "filler" toys. Having a few good solid wood toys is better than having many mass produced plastic toys. The chapter really shows us that less really is more.

First Day Of Our New Life



First day of 'school' at Waldorf



A close friend called and told me there was an opening in the Waldorf Playgroup she was in.  I've been interested in this playgroup for a while but the cost of it discouraged me from exploring it further than the tuition page on their web page.  After hearing how her first day went, I had to look into it.  Honestly it sounded blissful.  I know what you're thinking, bliss and toddlers don't go together unless you're talking about them sleeping, which is why I had to check into it. 

After 2 tours of the school in as many days, I knew I had to do it.  Bug was a different kid when we were there, she didn't want to leave and played in a way that I've never seen her.  She was playing make believe with dolls (this is huge, she doesn't do dolls) and set the table for us where we had our meeting (this included bringing real plates, real silverware and real cups as well as pretending to make us meals--I say real because it is real, not plastic, but glass and ceramic).  She was peaceful.  I was peaceful.  It was beautiful.

Today was the first day of our new life.  I say that because already I can see a change in our family.  I am more relaxed and she's way more into imagination play.  She's been playing with only a few "toys", a scarf, wood blocks, and her kitchen.  Recently we went to the store for her to pick out real dishes so she's always cooking up something.  This morning she told me she was making a $200 breakfast.  Yikes, do we have a foodie on our hands?!  I can count 5 toys that make noise and all but 1 are stashed away.  She wants nothing to do with them.  She's also asking to go outside all the time, which at first I found annoying.  Now I love it and join in the fun.  Seriously puddle jumping in the middle of winter is a blast!  More fun than the summer because you've got snow pants on and don't get wet!

Waldorf playgroup will be my sanctuary.  It will be Bug's too.  She talked about it all night.  Obsessively.  I came home from work for dinner and Husband was asking me if we did circle time and sang songs because she was talking about it and her teacher Miss Nancy, her good friend Link and all they did together.  But most of all she said she wanted to go back.  Sweet. 

I'll post more about Waldorf and our experience with playgroup, the importance of rhythm, how the kids interact together, crafts the mom's do while the kids are sleeping (we're making felt books from scratch-so cool!).  There's a lot of elements and I can't wait to start sharing them.  Now, can next week come already!

 

Paintbrush and thoughts

I have decided our bathroom is in need of a change. It's a really small bathroom with no window and for the past two years it's been a pretty dark goldish brown. On top of that my hubby thought it was a good place for Salvador Dali to be displayed. I did it for two years, now I'm ready for a change!

J was asleep downstairs and Babe and Eme were snuggling on the couch, it was just me, a paintbrush and my thoughts. I often think about our house and our future. We live about 20-30 minutes outside of the city. Our town isn't a super small town but it has a very cute downtown area that gives it a small town feel. We moved here two years ago under different circumstances. We currently rent our house with the option to buy if we wanted to go that route. I have mixed emotions about where we are at. We have a great backyard with no neighbors behind us (a schoolyard). We live on a culdesac. Our house is a good size for our family and there is a lot of potential. I like the area very much and we are relatively close to the city, since we go there quite often!. Plus, Eme Lu and I went perusing downtown this weekend and came across a sweet little shop that sells only organic/fair trade products. I was in love and for the first time in a while I felt as though perhaps this could be our home, for good.

But, with that being said I am one for change. I like big changes such as moving. It gives me a rush and there is excitement in the process for me. Since having kids it has shifted. While it still gives me excitement looking for "our" house (because this is a rental we didn't pick out our home) I am very conscious of what a move can do to a little one. Especially my little j. He is so very sensitive and already has a hard time sleeping away from home when we go anywhere. I know that he would adjust over time but it would be really hard for him to leave his comfort of home.

So for now, this is our home. There's room for expansion and while it's not our dream home it's the memories we've created while we have been here that mean so much. I can keep dreaming, and rearranging, and painting, and expanding.

Oh, and we painted the bathroom a light grey :)

XO

George and a fever.

We've had a pretty low key week. We spent all day at home Monday, went to the library with some friends Tuesday, and did a quick errand yesterday before returning home for the remainder of the day.

By late afternoon yesterday, J had the glossy look in his eyes. Uh oh, he's getting sick, I thought. Sure enough an hour passed and he was so whiny with a 102 fever, just like that it came on.

If you're like me, the second my children show signs of sickness i start getting anxiety. I instantly feel out of control and I hate that I can't take their pain away. For my Eme Lu it brings back the fear of last march when she was so sick. An ER visit and countless Dr appts before she was on the mend. The verdict was RSV and bronchiolitis. It was such a scary time for Z and I, watching our little 3 month old so sick. A couple weeks ago she started in with the same thing. A nasty cough, fever, goopy nose and double ear infection. My heart raced the entire time she was sick. I sat up with her in the middle of the night rocking her and didn't sleep much a wink. Thank goodness for my hubby and my mom to get me through it. She healed and here we are with J. The fever. It's such a dreaded time when they get one.

I remember when I was sick how nice it was to snuggle on the couch and watch a movie. All warm and cozy and not doing much of anything other than laying. I'm letting go of my inner Waldorf today and letting J lay on the couch watching Curious George and Milo and Otis. He has his pillow, blanket and a warm cup of tea. Sounds cozy to me and I think it's okay for one day to help him rest and heal.

XO

Balloon Fun!

Monday's are always are recoup after the weekend day. We usually stay home this day and clean, bake, hang out. As I was cleaning today I found some balloons. I quickly filled two with water and gave one to each kid. That quickly turned in to filling more balloons with whatever we could find in the pantry!

The kids had a blast! They have played with them on and off all day. J just finished up the day by popping holes in the water filled balloons and squeezing the water out. He was having a ball and his smile was contagious.

A definite must try on days when the kids are bored.

XO

Of course you need to feel the balloons in your mouth

From top to bottom:

Rice, water, flour, sugar, oil and water

Wanting to read books while playing with his balloons

Playing so nicely together

Eme loved the water filled ones

Seems quite appropriate to feel it with your feet too!

Everything goes in her mouth, this is no exception!

Bad Dreams

I woke to a frantic scurry in Bug's room.  I could hear she was moving fast and called for me with panic in her voice.  I quickly went into her room and as I opened the door she was already saying to me, "no spiders on bed, mommy."  Oh no, must be a bad dream about the spider we saw at the zoo (the one she kept going back to see over and over).  I tried telling her there weren't any spiders and she was having a bad dream.  Then it went from the bed to anything-big or small-that was on the floor.  A piece of fuzz to a sock turned in on itself. Again, I tried reassuring her there were no spiders.  She kept looking at me in the most serious way and telling me otherwise.  On the walls.  Ceiling. Pillows.  Under the covers.  Under the bed.  It was brutal.  This went on for 20 minutes and I couldn't convince her otherwise.  She was terrified from all these spiders and it broke my heart.  But I decided something in that moment.  I was going to help her fight these spiders.  They weren't going to win.

I didn't know what else to say and the reassuring hugs weren't working.  She was still convinced there were spiders everywhere.  Her trembling body was a dead giveaway she was serious.  In her eyes, there were spiders everywhere.  I needed to come up with something quick.  How can I make her feel better?  Quick thinking at 6 in the morning isn't easy to do.  Then I remembered it.  I ran into the bathroom (with Bug right behind me) and grabbed it.  She looked at me puzzled and said, "spray bottle?"  I told her it wasn't just a spray bottle but a Super Spider Spray Bottle.  She was looking at me as if I had lost it (or maybe had a spider on my head).  We went back into her room and I had her show me "where" the spiders were.  She pointed to the bed.  I sprayed it.  Then the floor.  Then the walls.  I sprayed the corners of her room.  She was totally into it and asked to spray.  Sure kiddo, have at it, get those spiders.  I was so happy she wanted to take control of what was going on.  She sprayed everything and I helped her with the things she couldn't get.  I moved the chair, looked under the covers and most importantly, lifted her bed to get all the spiders under there.* 

Later that morning we were doing art and she started painting the spiders.  They were big and red with thick legs.  Just like the ones she described to me that morning.  I proud I was able to help her work through this scary dream and we came up with an interesting, yet effective way to combat those pesky spiders.  And I was so proud she was able to use art to express her feelings and her dreams.  She was able to show me what they looked like.  We got 'em.  Take that spider!     



Bug's picture of the spiders

*Fortunately we did not find any real spiders anywhere.  For the record I hate spiders.  Hate them.  But I have never said anything to Bug or made a big deal when they're in the house.  I want her to form her own opinion of things, not to be skewed by mine.  

Taking the stay at home plunge..

By request of a friend who is considering being a SAHM, she was wondering what a typical day looks like for us. She had the standard questions I think most do when considering making this change. 1) what do you do with the kids? Do they get bored? Do you get bored?, 2)How do you socialize the kids, and 3) MONEY!

Tonight I fell in love again

J can be very trying at times. He is a very intense little boy. Always wanting to be in the mix, kissing his sister non stop throughout the day, at my heels almost constantly, and his emotions are always very intense. The bigger the better! When he's happy you know he's happy, when he's sad you'll know it and when he's mad you'll definitely know it! He is my child when it comes to wearing his emotions on his sleeve.

With a sister that had been sick for a week his attention basket was less than full. He was in need of some mom time. What a trooper he's been but his behavior has been shifting these past couple days. He was very clingy today; asking for snuggles, laying on me, hugging me, kisses.

I've been feeling a bit of a disconnect from my little man lately. Tonight I fell in love with him all over again. As I watched him crouch down to choose books, looking so little in his footsie pajamas, he looked so sweet, so innocent. As I read him stories tonight and he snuggled in to my nook I caught a glimpse of his little dimpled, chubby fingers. The way he looked at me when he asked if we could read one more story, my heart melted right there. The way he smiled when I read him the book he chose reminded me of why I love being home and why I am his mama. My Jameson. I love this boy more than words will ever describe. As all of you look at your little ones the love you you feel for them can never be put in to words. You love them for all that they are. You love them for who they are now and who they will become. You love them in their darkest moments and their brightest. It truly is an amazing thing to be a mama. I once said to my mom, when they hurt I hurt. I feel all of their feelings.

Tonight I kissed my sweet little guy and snuggled him in extra close. I fell in love all over again and it was exactly what I needed!

XO

Someone Organize Me, PLEASE!

I'm always looking for a way to get organized.  I mean desperately.  Clutter is the quickest way to make me mentally unstable, so I'm constantly on the prowl to find cheap and creative ways to rid my life of it.  I haven't found The Solution for all our stuff, we live in a tiny 2 bedroom, 900 sq ft apartment, with Husband, Bug, a dog and 2 cats (don't ask), but I'm working on it.

I finally had it with all the magazines lying around.  Piles of them.  On the kitchen table.  In closets.  Next to the bed.  In the bathroom.  Next to the couch.  Under it.  Seriously, it was out of control.  And I knew it was going to only get worse, I had just bought a couple of 2 year subscriptions to magazines geared towards parents.   One night I had it.  I was over the stacks of paper everywhere.  The reason I had all these magazines was because I wanted to keep articles from them, usually only one or two.   So I startared tearing them out and before I knew it I had another mess on my hands.  More clutter.  What to do.  First off, a glass of wine was in order.  Calm the nerves.

Then I saw it.  The beautiful black book.  I heard the angels singing.  It was like a light was shining down on it saying, "here I am, the answer to all your problems."  Alright, it was a dusty old 3-ring binder from college that was stashed in a bookshelf.  I pulled it out, quickly emptied it of the psych 101 papers from my first year of college (perhaps this is part of the reason I have so much stuff... I graduated years ago).  It even had page dividers and clear plastic paper holders in it.  Score!  I stashed the articles I just ripped out of the magazines and put them in the plastic holders.  It was beautiful.  I had taken stacks of magazines and condensed them into a small binder that was easily accessible and didn't take up a ton of room.    

And when my mother in law gave us some of her favorite recipes in a 3-ring binder, my recipes started to organize themselves after that.

Ok, not really but it became that much easier!

No I got it..

Our poor Eme is sick. A double ear infection and bronchial infection. Needless to say, she's super fussy and unhappy. J has been for the most part very patient and good with her. And as usual, always wanting to help.

Today she wanted his juice cup but it was empty. My mom (who came in to town to help, thank goodness!) offered to go fill it. J quickly jumped up and said I'll do it. He likes to fill it in the bathroom upstairs so away he ran. I knew the top would be hard for him to get off but I wanted him to try on his own before jumping in.

This is how it went.. My mom, Eme and I stood at the bottom of the stairs listening. We asked a few times if he needed help in which he quickly answered no! He was up there for a bit when I finally said "J what are you doing up there? You're awfully quiet and making us wonder..". His response,"no I got it mom. I'm using a screwdriver!". My mom made it up there in record time.

Have to give my 3 year old some props for trying to problem solve how to get the top off, even if it wasn't the safest choice!

Throwback To My Childhood

It's the little things that make you smile. Bug was introduced to her first Slinky today and it proved to be quite entertaining for all of us. Her favorite was to hold one end up to her nose and let the other end fall to the floor, pretending to be an elephant.

elephant trunk!

I fondly remember the Slinky and when I heard Husband playing with it in the other room, it was I-not Bug-who ran in. I always wanted an Easy Bake Oven but never had one. But when my sister got one, I sneaked into her room and played with it all the time {sorry Sissy!}.

Are there any throwback toys your kids like to play with now that you did as a kid? I'd love to hear what they are.

JO

of course it has to go on your foot!