Just A Few Things We've Been Doing Lately . . .

Walks

Lacing

Letters

Art

"Baking"

and playing with my chubby cheeked cutie pie!

First Nice Weather Walk and Flower Collage

Last week we starting having very nice wheather around here so I decided to take the boys on a walk to collect wildflowers for a collage. 

But MD was more interested in trying to stand on a ball, playing with a stick he found, and running around.

And SE was more interested in grabbing grass and trying to eat it.

So I collected flowers by myself including some flowers in our backyard while MD played in the sandbox.  Later I took out some contact paper and MD was eager to help me stick the flowers on the paper to make the quick collage.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hug and kiss my kids and tell them I love them every day (sometimes too much :) but Valentines' Day is just another reason (excuse) to celebrate and have fun doing crafts, baking, and eating sweets!  Our fun preparations for Valentine's included baking and frosting cupcakes, though MD's idea of frosting the cupcakes was eating the frosting straight out of the can.  SE smiling and cooing as he watched us make the cupcakes.  And of course making several kinds of Valentine cards for friends and family. 

Bilingual Speech Delay

I found the Spanglish Baby Blog through My Bilingual Boys, and have really enjoyed this blog about raising bilingual chidlren.  Since MD has a speech delay I went ahead and asked a question on their "Ask an Expert" section.  Here is a link to the my question and the expert answer if anyone is interested.  It's a good resource to have around.

It Just Dawned on Me . . .

I recently quit my part-time job as a mental health therapist at a children's outpatient clinic to stay home full time with my two boys.  I also recently started blogging.  All of a sudden after a few "sessions" of teaching my oldest son, playing with him, and then writing about it, it hit me that I am doing the same thing I did at work (kind of):  Of course there are some differences but the idea is basically the same.
1) Play with child and engage him/her
2) Allow child to be himself and feel accepted
3) Allow child to explore surroundings
4) Allow child to explore self  (including feelings and thoughts)
5) Teach child
6) Write Progress Note (BLOG POST) about session/child

Too funny!  I guess I really like my work after all, I'll just be doing it with my boys for a while instead of with other children.  "Doing what I love and loving what I do!"

Pretty-ing and Up and Reusing Old Jars

I decorated washed peanut butter and jelly jars to use to hold MD's markers and crayons that are out on his shelf for regular use.  I got this idea from a Halloween craft tutorial found here.

Lemonade Stand Award

The Lemonade Stand Award is awarded for being a blogger who shows great attitude and gratitude.

Thank You:  arstsy_momma

I have chosen the following blogs to pass along this award to ~ they are all creative and inspirational .... Happy Browsing!
 
http://www.montessorispanish.blogspot.com/
http://mommyme-thewonderyears.blogspot.com/
http://2pequenostraviesos.blogspot.com/
http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/
http://onehookwonder.blogspot.com/
http://whatdidwedoallday.blogspot.com/
http://mymontessorihomeblog.blogspot.com/
http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/
http://miescuelitamontessori.blogspot.com/
http://momandkiddo.blogspot.com/

Intro

I'm starting a blog because . . .
1) I have always liked to write my thoughts down
2)This will be a neat way to keep track of my precious time with my 2 boys
3) I used to be creative.  A long time ago.  I even minored in art in college.  Then I started working, got married, bought a house, had kids and that pretty much took over.  Creativity went out the window.  Until my first son got a little older and now I see all the possibilities for creativity again.  Unfortunately, I don't think there are many creative thoughts left in my head.  Maybe they are burried underneath lots of other uncreative things. . . Luckily I found blogs and have been inspired by so many creative mom's out there.  So for now I will be trying to replicate things I see in other blogs, books, and magazines, and putting my own spin on them, until I find an original and creative thought in my head again.  If that ever happens.