Candlemas 2013

Today we celebrated Candlemas.  February 2nd is a time to celebrate Candlemas, Imbolg, or Brigid’s Day (all names work, depending on your beliefs). It’s time to recognize that winter is on its way out, the light is beginning to return, and spring is finally on its way.   Here is a great link that describes it's evolution through time. 
I started it off with breakfast and made the girls cute candles out of cookies.  So yummy, but not nutritional at all...but hey, we were celebrating!  We had a fellow Waldorf friend over and we attempted to create a fun "Waldorfian" day, but they girls were so excited to see each other and to show their friend all their new toys, that we didn't get much structure in, but they had a ton of fun.  We made candles out of beeswax and put juice from the lemons on our tree in them to add fragrance.  For dessert I made a yellow Bundt cake to symbolize the sun and more light.  At bedtime I read them a story about the Snowdrop flower pushing it's way through the earth as more light came in winter.  Then Hailey had to pretend she was reading it and actually did a very good job retelling the story.  Yay!  She got it!  It was a fun day and I'm excited to add it to our new family traditions.

Cookie candles (for Breakfast!)

Yum!

Candlemaking

Finished candles

Eating the sun cake with the cadles we made

So excited to show Dada the candles
and serve him tea when he got home. 

Post Rain Play

It has been, raining, raining, raining here.  It great.  Rather than keep the girls couped up inside, we've been letting them bundle up and go out and play in the backyard to play in the rain.  This is them after playing snuggled up on the sofas in warm blankets.  (I should note that each has claimed her own sofa, Paige lays on the big sofa and Hailey on the love seat.) 

Hailey

Paige

Hailey's new BIG bed

We bought Hailey her new bed.  She got it a bit earlier than Paige got hers, but Brian and I bought ourselves a new bed and rather than paying two delivery charges in one year, we decided to just get hers too.  She was very happy to get it and is actually sleeping very well.  She falls asleep a bit different than Paige in that she plays around a bit in bed before falling asleep.  I think this is because I was always able to lay her in her crib while she was still awake and she would go to sleep on her own.  Paige always liked to have us in with her while she feel asleep.  She goes down right away after laying with her for about 5 minutes.  But Hailey is sleeping through the night and doing very well in her new bed.  I ordered "chickadee" bedding and we are awaiting the bed frame.  Yay for Big Girls (I think)! 

Very happy

Snuggling with Paige

Getting comfy cozy

So nice.  So happy. 

Puddle Jumping

 

We've had so much rain this week!  It's been wonderful.  It started last Thursday and really hasn't stopped.  These are pics from last Thursday morning after gymnastics class.  It was superhero week at gymnastics so they once again got to wear their Super Ballerina costumes.  They still have on their tutus in these pics.  

 

 

 

They asked to drive the car in the front yard so we brought it out and they played in that on the street.  They then parked it in the garage.  Not sure where they thought Dada would park that night, but nonetheless, they did a very good job parking it!  

2013 Garden

Today we planted our winter/spring garden.  I'm pretty sure we have passed the freezing nights now so the seeds we sowed should be fine to grow.  The girls planted all the seeds; we'll see what the results will be.  We planted radish, carrots, beans, peas, onions and tomatoes.  I'm hoping for at least tomatoes, peas and beans.  Radish come up quick, so that will be an instant reward for them to see their work flourish.  My mom was here while we planted and helped to take some pictures and lay a few seeds.  Great morning.  I think they got the concept that being kind to Mother Earth will give us bounty. 



Spreading the soil

Hailey using the rake to spread soil

Planting seeds

Finished watering

Faces & Bodies

Hailey started this week drawing bodies with faces (eyes and mouths). I understand this is a milestone for something, but I can't remember what. Anyone?

Frozen Sun Catchers

As part of our learning time this week we focused on cold and ice. Coincidentally it was freezing here this week! There were a couple days were it didn't get over 50. (Ha. Just typing that makes me laugh. When we lived in NY there were weeks where it would get higher than the teens.) Very cold for us nonetheless. One morning for our nature walk (which I limited to the backyard) the girls actually discovered ice on the patio and on the brick that lines our grass. They had fun sliding on it and picking it. I also had them find things that they found interesting for frozen sun catchers. Lemons of course, because our tree is blooming as well as sticks. Not much in our yard as the gardeners had been here over the weekend...very clean. We sliced the lemons and put them along with the other things collected and some yarn with water in a bowl. The lesson plan called for leaving it outside to freeze overnight, but on the morning we did it, I knew it wasn't going to get below 32 that night, so I put them in the freezer. I pulled them out today and they hung them to watch them melt and catch some of the suns rays. Anything with water they love. This was a fun activity for them. Perhaps they got the concept that water can turn to ice and back to water??? I sure to hope so.

(I should note in these pics that they dressed themselves.  One day was Princess attire with warm clothes and the other is Tutus with with warm clothes.  Girly, smart girls.)   


Sliding on the icy brick

Picking the ice

Paige and her frozen sun catcher

Hailey

Hailey watching hers melt

Paige

Hailey's first day of Montessori

Yep.  My mama worry was for nothing.  Hailey did great today at school.  She did the same things that Paige did her first month.  She said she wanted to stay home when we were getting dressed and she said she had a tummy ache when we arrived (Paige did both too).  Which of course gave me even more apprehension.  But when we arrived she ran to class with Paige.  Walked right in without me.  The class was sitting in a circle.  Paige took Hailey to the middle of the circle and said, "This is my sister and she is going to me in our class."  She then told Hailey where to sit on the circle, which Hailey did and then Paige went and sat in a completely different spot in the circle.  But Hailey was fine.  For work time, Hailey did really well choosing works to do and putting them back on the shelf.  We only stayed for an hour, but in that time, I stepped out of the classroom and Hailey did fine in that time too.  I'm so relieved!  She said she had fun and liked it.  Hooray!  I can hardly believe my little Chickadee is big enough to attend school.  I'm pretty sure I was just pregnant with her yesterday.  Time goes too fast. 

Attachment

Where do I start?  Hailey starts Montessori school tomorrow.  We are only going for an hour.  She will be in Paige's class and I will be with her for the whole hour.  This is the plan for the next Tuesdays in January and then she will start part time with Paige (they will both go just Tues & Thurs in the afternoon for 3 hours in the same classroom) in February.  We have been reading a few books about the first day of school here at home.  I think she understands that I will not be there when she goes.  Perhaps that is what the difference is in her behavior?

Tonight she wanted me to snuggle next to her while she tried to fall asleep.  I have NEVER had to do this with her.  I've always, since she was three months old and in her own crib been able to put her down and let her fall asleep on her own.  Tonight, very different.  She insisted I stay and lay next to her and "snuggle" with her. 

With all that said.  I will admit that Hailey is definitely a Mama's Girl.  She loves to be close to me.  Even in the house, when I'm walking around trying to get stuff done she insists on holding my hand.  I've gotten pretty good at doing things one handed.  She's been this way since the moment they brought her to me after birth.  She laid on my chest the entire time we were in the hospital.  We've just had a very good bond.  I love it.  It is wonderful.  It makes me feel good too.  However, I am very concerned about how she will react when it comes time to really drop her off to school.  I'm hoping these next Tuesdays in January for an hour with me will help her to adjust and know that school is fun and she will learn lots.  I think having Paige in the same class will help too.  But I'm worried.  I don't want her to have anxiety or to feel abandoned.  I keep reassuring her that I always come back. We talk about how she and I always go to pick up Paige from school, but now Mama gets to pick up both of them. 

Am I crazy?  Am I worried too much?  She will be fine, right?  Any suggestions on what to do? 

Tea for Two

After dinner and play outside the girls said they were chilly.  I had picked up some tea that is designed for kids so I made them each a cup.  They both loved it and I think felt so grown up to have their own tea cups.  It's called, Sleepytime Goodnight Grape Kids.  I left out the Sleepytime part of the title when I told them and just called it Goodnight Grape.  Perhaps this is inspiring Hailey's birthday party theme...tea party???

Paige

Hailey

Play in their own yard

I actually had to work at a real job this morning, so the girls stayed home with Brian this morning.  I was so excited to see my family when I got home that I took a quick nap and then got them outside to play a bit.  We've been so hurried and busy last week that they had little time to play in their own yard.  It was like getting all new toys for them.  They rushed to play on each thing.  Finally settled on the sandbox and them picked lemons.  It's been really cold here with Jack Frost visiting, so they bundled like little snow angels and had a ton of fun...and burned off some good energy. 

Puppet Show

I had bought a Groupon for the Great Arizona Puppet Theater and I needed to use it.  So we booked the last of the Cinderella shows for today.  Of course the girls decided to sleep in on a day that we needed to get up, dressed and out the door.  (Why does that always happen?  They sleep when I want them to get up; and are up when we can sleep?!)  Once we got going I think they enjoyed the show.  The puppeteers did a cute job holding their attention and not making the show too long (only a n hour).  There was a school group there of 3rd graders so the girls were enthralled in watching the big kids.  It was a cute show and I think they enjoyed it, but it's not something I would do on a regular basis.  It's way up in downtown Phoenix and it takes about 35 minutes without traffic for us to get there.  Maybe a good once a year thing with a Groupon or something of the sort. 

Dressed in cute outfits from auntie and sorta awake to go.

Sitting ready for the show to start. 
A bit overwhelmed by the rooma nd the big kids.

The stage before the show.

So not wanting thier picture taken.  Ready to go home.

The Zoo!

Fro Christmas, my aunt, got the girls and me a year pass to the Phoenix Zoo.  So on Monday I took them because I needed to get the Christmas tree down on Sunday night and wouldn't have time to prepare home school work for Monday.  It was great!  We just did a little part of the zoo (actually a huge loop) since I know we get to go often now with our pass.  I'm looking forward to going atleast twice a month.  The girls had fun seeing the animals and I think just being able to run around.  Very good morning. 

This vulture is alive!  He was perched and then came over
and stood there with his wings spread open like this.  Beautiful.

Beautiful jaguars.  Caught this pic of one yawning. 
Yeah, BIG teeth.

Tortoise

Kumodo Dragon.  Only one on display in and enclosed room. 
Too chilly for them right now.

Hailey looks at me and says, "Mama, this telescope is not working." 
Plain as day. 
When did she learn the word "telescope" and how to say it properly? 
And is she turning into an engineer already? 
Help me. 

Waldorf School Pics 2012

Despite not knowing it was picture day at Waldorf, these pictures turned out FABULOUS! I'm so thrilled with them.  But really, what could be better than natural light, a palo verde tree in the fall and a biodynamic garden for the background?  I only have digital ones right now.  I cannot wait for the prints to come so I can get them framed and hung for the house.  I will treasure them always. 

Paige

Sisters

Hailey

Icicle Hunt

One evening, the girls were really stir crazy, even though they had been out in the snow once that day.  So I made up a fun thing to go on an "icicle hunt."  Most of the homes have huge icicles hanging from them, I think because it does warm up in the day and then snows at night.  Not at all like NY, where it stays below freezing for what seems like 10 months of the year.  :)  The hunt was successful and they loved getting out. 

Fun things at Granny's

We had a nice time visiting Granny's.  However, Brian caught the girl's cold by day 2 of our visit so he wasn't having much fun.  The girls and I tried to do stuff without him, but it wasn't as much fun for us either. 



Hailey making pancakes in
Granny's kitchen on a snowy morning

Faith, the girl's cousin, was incredible with them this trip.  She was so nice and sweet and played very nicely with them despite, I'm sure, wanting to do other things.  At one point I think she was trying to hide from them and was reading in the linen closet.  Paige of course, needing to mimic everything Faith did, had to follow.  Paige even got a Dr. Seuss book to "read."  Thank you so much Faith!  You were great help to us! 




Faith above; Paige below.

Playing in the snow at Granny's



Our Babes dressed for the snow!

We made it to Durango after Christmas despite the girls still battling stuffing noses and coughs. The snow was beautiful, but the cold and mess of it reminded us why we do not live IN it anymore.  It's great to visit it though and to see family and especially Granny & Papa. The girls had a ton of fun playing, making snow angels and yes, throwing snow too.  (Sorry for the formatting on this...Blogpress is doing weird things and a I don't know HTML.)

Family Pic...maybe 2013 Christmas Card?

I love this pic...the girls running on the snowy beach
and geese on the frozen river. Beauty.

Paige's snow angel

Hailey's snow angel