tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77869437568181218122024-03-13T07:23:07.677-04:00The Schwartz Family FilesNicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.comBlogger206125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-20722179358395548442010-11-05T09:54:00.000-04:002010-11-05T09:54:27.371-04:00{this moment}<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lafemme/5148083775/" title="IMG_1766 by n.schwartz, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1766" height="375" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1360/5148083775_84189df15e.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>{this moment} - A Friday ritual. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A simple, special, extraordinary moment. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.</i></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-21134182746155771762010-10-29T14:28:00.000-04:002010-10-29T14:28:29.357-04:00Bait and Switch :)The girls are still a bit young to realize that we're not part of the "general public" and that our decisions regarding...well, pretty much everything from where our babies are born to the types of food we eat...is a bit outside of the norm. I try to be an active participant in most of what the community does but make small changes and alterations (like supplementing our celebrations with truth-based stories and not HIStory) in order to actually feel good about what we're doing. I guess that's what all families do...make things their own. (It just so happens that most people in the communities in which we reside don't).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Halloween is no different. We're still a little young to feel comfortable dressing up and hiking around from house to house. Sophia is still scared by the costumes that aren't pink and frilly. But we all enjoy handing things out from the comfort and safety of our home. That way Soph can hide behind furnature is someone or something scary rings the doorbell. <br />
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Things are a bit easier when you have an infant. They often just go with the flow. Toddlers, especially 3 and 4 year old ones raised by viciously independent parents who encouraged said toddler to have their own opinions and such, actually DO have their own preferences. Much to my dismay....it isn't always what I want. (Who knew?!?)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Z2S-tGFjvTFReN7J6tJrhPPhuAAkZpveMPwSstO2SFebTy_QIt0W4DNuBb-sPCulxqjpUKjC0UWsCS8JtiGi1SOC4pMz67vggGj41xvxsLc5T1lneKz8ieT0B7tX0sEEvGtQfmZ-6-UI/s1600/IMG_1742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Z2S-tGFjvTFReN7J6tJrhPPhuAAkZpveMPwSstO2SFebTy_QIt0W4DNuBb-sPCulxqjpUKjC0UWsCS8JtiGi1SOC4pMz67vggGj41xvxsLc5T1lneKz8ieT0B7tX0sEEvGtQfmZ-6-UI/s320/IMG_1742.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So, in an attempt to allow full participation in the joys of Halloween without the sugar crash and all that insanity that goes with it, I put together baskets for each of the girls in hopes that the pile of (acceptable) goodness will satisfy. <br />
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Soph got pens and pencils, markers and (her favorite thing in the WORLD right now) lip gloss. I stuffed some <a href="http://www.yummyearth.com/">Yummy Earth</a> <a href="http://www.yummyearth.com/images/Family_Size_-Gummy_Bears_10_pack_-_810165014275_-_front.jpg">gummies</a> and <a href="http://www.yummyearth.com/images/890146001876_-_Family_Size_Fruit_Pops.jpg">lollipops</a>, <a href="http://products.revfoods.com/products/mashups">Revolution foods Organic Mashups</a> in there along with some <a href="http://www.clifbar.com/food/products_clif_kid_zbar"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GSOQX2/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B002NX0U9S&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0G8D3WY7KZ1K38590GJT">Spooky S'mores</a> Z-bars. (YUM!) Madeline got some new crayons (to color the walls with, no doubt), <a href="http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/bathtime-goods/method-baby-and-method-kid-squeaky-green-046558">Method bubble bath</a> and the same treats as Sopher. <br />
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Let's hope it works!<br />
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Oh...and in case you're wondering:<br />
1. No, I do not dress up.<br />
2. Sophia was not a chicken this year (like she has been since birth!)<br />
3. She was a cowgirl, Belle princess, fairy...of course.<br />
4. Madeline was the chicken. :)Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-15503064999933083102010-10-29T14:08:00.000-04:002010-10-29T14:08:51.162-04:00{this moment}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLOyBgUx_lxvcs4aHYWk_UYaesGJ20sszTKl_fHBGl00Zn8D9l1fecv7PQgVmg4ROtQmdqp6fiDvXZTL9XWeMWJKxE-LHRDAQTu1Z36rKn_fjixi_4oG6BBDw7imhRB3g4fM_yFNO9a0g/s1600/IMG_1739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLOyBgUx_lxvcs4aHYWk_UYaesGJ20sszTKl_fHBGl00Zn8D9l1fecv7PQgVmg4ROtQmdqp6fiDvXZTL9XWeMWJKxE-LHRDAQTu1Z36rKn_fjixi_4oG6BBDw7imhRB3g4fM_yFNO9a0g/s320/IMG_1739.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>{this moment} - A Friday ritual. </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>A simple, special, extraordinary moment. </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.</em></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-33433681969924355442010-10-22T17:07:00.000-04:002010-10-22T17:07:10.658-04:00{this moment}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZ5CWozIBptjZZ69UroyHK0wJMkLQ3YhKGP1pfzQjp48DLqG1S_uKphe3T8PxABVl9S4w0IA5daQuI4F8j1BXqYNMKjptzLiWuYj-Fr7mk2fnWTn69dI57xCRQ1Mz3f0eI9L7Jh5PODAY/s1600/IMG_1487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZ5CWozIBptjZZ69UroyHK0wJMkLQ3YhKGP1pfzQjp48DLqG1S_uKphe3T8PxABVl9S4w0IA5daQuI4F8j1BXqYNMKjptzLiWuYj-Fr7mk2fnWTn69dI57xCRQ1Mz3f0eI9L7Jh5PODAY/s320/IMG_1487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>{this moment} - A Friday ritual. </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>A simple, special, extraordinary moment. </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.soulemama.com/"><em>Inspired by Amanda Soule, Soulamama </em></a></span></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-31613868127882455262010-10-18T11:57:00.000-04:002010-10-18T11:57:08.936-04:00{this moment}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYxjsDwYZj5H5-FnqCnaV4kCYs4b24jHEWBWdjEC7Juk9trx1KmpRv7UzXT04a-jZxGO4JPEWAaPTi9QcEwgtqJOUOjcGadOlwI2nMMhGGO0QJ-NsL9GhI5ECSHtqRzi9Z0jfSEzdm27O/s1600/IMG_1341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYxjsDwYZj5H5-FnqCnaV4kCYs4b24jHEWBWdjEC7Juk9trx1KmpRv7UzXT04a-jZxGO4JPEWAaPTi9QcEwgtqJOUOjcGadOlwI2nMMhGGO0QJ-NsL9GhI5ECSHtqRzi9Z0jfSEzdm27O/s320/IMG_1341.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em> </em></em></span></h3><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>{this moment} - <strike>A Friday ritual</strike>. (oops)</em></em></span></h3><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. </em></em></span></h3><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>A simple, special, extraordinary moment. </em></em></span></h3><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. </em></em></span></h3>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-57088526945860722992010-10-09T00:21:00.000-04:002010-10-09T00:21:12.518-04:00RegroupingThis week was Babypalooza! Wonderful for me (and those mamas!) but it required that our Harvest Time fun be put on hold. I was blessed to attend three beautiful homebirths in the first 72 hours of the week (two of which were waterbirths!). What an amazing thing to experience. The first two births required considerable time and I was away for a majority of Sunday night and Monday. I returned home and some sleep and then received another call. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nmysjWk_bNxWD_y2FubLSpPDHh1orKfnkCIsbmet08zXtCELU2YzwaVImZDexZ4DjpJahkYaeMje9PtoUR9TZZF3l3qcnoFeL7ebcRSo_ZMcLWSaC4OCrB-4mAt_9rq-Ut50lzc3cOiU/s1600/IMG_1184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nmysjWk_bNxWD_y2FubLSpPDHh1orKfnkCIsbmet08zXtCELU2YzwaVImZDexZ4DjpJahkYaeMje9PtoUR9TZZF3l3qcnoFeL7ebcRSo_ZMcLWSaC4OCrB-4mAt_9rq-Ut50lzc3cOiU/s320/IMG_1184.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The girls have been reading a ton of library books and have been soaking up time with the Dadder and my father in law, who is here for the week. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWSGMNXpID9ezCoJeCZZl0cxHQ9bT2FBTHiaNkLzEhgb3H-wRNrzpYqDHbrFqokewH3juaC7DnUpSJoPTlhQtg7cpNXWq7bBDpsCdVs-oskGDecTTxQR31RMwxGLJyCNWXRX0UWoIFPSe/s1600/IMG_1153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWSGMNXpID9ezCoJeCZZl0cxHQ9bT2FBTHiaNkLzEhgb3H-wRNrzpYqDHbrFqokewH3juaC7DnUpSJoPTlhQtg7cpNXWq7bBDpsCdVs-oskGDecTTxQR31RMwxGLJyCNWXRX0UWoIFPSe/s320/IMG_1153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Both girls crawl up on Pop's lap with their favorite books and beg and plea (with hugs and kisses) for him to read. Madeline snuck out of the bathroom while I was showering and slid her naked self downstairs before I even realized it! I found her snuggled up with Pop and a book. <br />
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Soph has been especially interested in anything having to do with firefighters and Pop is the perfect man for the discussion. After returning from World War II he became a firefighter with the <a href="http://www.phila.gov/fire/about/index_homepage.html">Philadelphia Fire Department</a>. She is an testament to self-directed learning! She knows more about equipment and apparatus than I do. Smart cookie!<br />
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So, we're taking a much needed week to regroup. See you on Monday!Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-46709063411575584342010-10-01T08:21:00.000-04:002010-10-01T08:21:14.353-04:00{this moment}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwfChuHgIEQPLe809ROhDYThGzA-RoQzU3LYlXe_yReFQ4zwZBLPTX4p20TP4wvaAMKYkrd1mUWoTPxjAPCUSOF4YltH7kyOmZZk11mufBOUWv6AivhOeL6oIc7S2t8dWxaWFiQgLRZuA/s1600/IMG_1071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwfChuHgIEQPLe809ROhDYThGzA-RoQzU3LYlXe_yReFQ4zwZBLPTX4p20TP4wvaAMKYkrd1mUWoTPxjAPCUSOF4YltH7kyOmZZk11mufBOUWv6AivhOeL6oIc7S2t8dWxaWFiQgLRZuA/s320/IMG_1071.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>{this moment} - A Friday ritual. </em></em></span></h3><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. </em></em></span></h3><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>A simple, special, extraordinary moment. </em></em></span></h3><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. </em></em></span></h3>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-9904459820831735692010-09-26T22:19:00.000-04:002010-09-26T22:19:30.737-04:00Harvest Time Week Three: Rusty, Trusty Tractor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDrL4M8pJMakryTi_Z6Np8YzOKFYqebU2s4PmIMQ6nZQQ77NXFzoxlFwaYJq55q5mLdo1A0D38Rc4OUlqxmmM7P0SHJQIpNbhKoEeux3NarvnOejjza47lHo5TtlARhFcCiI-WYhRtQRt/s1600/IMG_0915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDrL4M8pJMakryTi_Z6Np8YzOKFYqebU2s4PmIMQ6nZQQ77NXFzoxlFwaYJq55q5mLdo1A0D38Rc4OUlqxmmM7P0SHJQIpNbhKoEeux3NarvnOejjza47lHo5TtlARhFcCiI-WYhRtQRt/s200/IMG_0915.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNdmBGDod3dPbMHvp7d40ONx5yAXZjVwBNMTUqLNUw6uDgkaxaKNfbGVJWBY81-A7D4h4XfOo_lz8jOkbBluOkG_YU8JJsF-ysROJrhCNnUr9pv_TQaW7cSN52UYOoiMj1xy7AfvqvC_r/s1600/IMG_0910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNdmBGDod3dPbMHvp7d40ONx5yAXZjVwBNMTUqLNUw6uDgkaxaKNfbGVJWBY81-A7D4h4XfOo_lz8jOkbBluOkG_YU8JJsF-ysROJrhCNnUr9pv_TQaW7cSN52UYOoiMj1xy7AfvqvC_r/s200/IMG_0910.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLdbZoR-W7HDdcMW8UQEP_v_tG4-zWWXkr40T4Qp8ZpxccB9IpayH9ZcqIQW-QMFLJmjx-HKBohoQa1wmmfCz8dyBfnqi5Etr9NQ21GOgCN0OOk53n04mTanPyuZouW3xW6vVwG8dGhrv/s1600/IMG_0907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLdbZoR-W7HDdcMW8UQEP_v_tG4-zWWXkr40T4Qp8ZpxccB9IpayH9ZcqIQW-QMFLJmjx-HKBohoQa1wmmfCz8dyBfnqi5Etr9NQ21GOgCN0OOk53n04mTanPyuZouW3xW6vVwG8dGhrv/s320/IMG_0907.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Week 2: Rusty, Trusty Tractor</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Primary Books:</u> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rusty-Trusty-Tractor-Joy-Cowley/dp/1563975653">The Rusty, Trusty Tractor by Joy Cowley</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Katy-Big-Snow-Book-CD/dp/0547252641/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285552657&sr=1-1">Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Burton</a> </div><span></span> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><u>Enrichment Books:</u> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tremendous-Tractors-Amazing-Machines-Mitton/dp/0753459183">Tremendous Tractors (Amazing Machines)</a> by <span><span class="contributorNameTrigger"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tony-Mitton/e/B000APE9SY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" id="contributorNameTriggerB000APE9SY">Tony Mitton</a></span> <input id="contributorASINB000APE9SY" type="hidden" value="B000APE9SY" /> <div class="buying" id="contributorContainerB000APE9SY" style="display: none; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"> <div id="contributorImageContainerB000APE9SY" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;"> </div><div style="float: left;"> <div><b class="h3color">Tony Mitton</b> (Author) </div><div><b class="h3color">›</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tony-Mitton/e/B000APE9SY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1">Visit Amazon's Tony Mitton Page</a></div><div style="margin: 1px 0pt 0pt 1em;"><span>Find all the books, read about the author, and more.</span></div><div class="tiny" style="margin: 10px 0pt 0pt;"> See <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_pop_1?_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books&field-author=Tony%20Mitton">search results</a> for this author </div><div class="tiny" style="margin: 2px 0pt 0pt;">Are you an author? <a href="http://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/landing/ref=ntt_atc_dp_pel_1">Learn about Author Central</a> </div></div></div>and <span class="contributorNameTrigger"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ant-Parker/e/B001IGFIA2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_2" id="contributorNameTriggerB001IGFIA2">Ant Parker</a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tremendous-Tractors-Amazing-Machines-Mitton/dp/0753459183#"><span class="contributorChevron" style="margin-left: 5px;"><span class="swSprite s_chevron"></span></span></a></span></span></div><span> <input id="contributorASINB001IGFIA2" type="hidden" value="B001IGFIA2" /> <div class="buying" id="contributorContainerB001IGFIA2" style="display: none; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"> <div id="contributorImageContainerB001IGFIA2" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;"> </div><div style="float: left;"> <div><b class="h3color">Ant Parker</b> (Author) </div><div><b class="h3color">›</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ant-Parker/e/B001IGFIA2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_2">Visit Amazon's Ant Parker Page</a></div><div style="margin: 1px 0pt 0pt 1em;"><span>Find all the books, read about the author, and more.</span></div><div class="tiny" style="margin: 10px 0pt 0pt;"> See <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_pop_2?_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books&field-author=Ant%20Parker">search results</a> for this author </div><div class="tiny" style="margin: 2px 0pt 0pt;">Are you an author? <a href="http://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/landing/ref=ntt_atc_dp_pel_2">Learn about Author Central</a> </div></div></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Field Trip:</u> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bloomsburgfair.com/index.php?pageid=1">Bloomsburg Fair to play on the TRACTORS! </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Poem: </u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boy_Blue">Little Boy Blue</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Katie (of WinterFoliage) and Sarah met us at the Fair!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We ended the day with a roll in the hay! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<span id="goog_443194038"></span><span id="goog_443194039"></span>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-49114066925621312592010-09-24T18:09:00.000-04:002010-09-24T18:09:31.677-04:00Roba Family Farm Fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5uQJhyphenhyphenOoUIX38fyml9EF7kRcllKOzRV8I15ad7k_93udO8qY3bYk1c7G2Jhq2PT6gMOBMY0JeVEmddwB2J1iMeEGjaFdb36FSted2t6XU1s6mdIiQudyuImYbisbqDCa8sM79Wi6YsiN/s1600/IMG_0676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5uQJhyphenhyphenOoUIX38fyml9EF7kRcllKOzRV8I15ad7k_93udO8qY3bYk1c7G2Jhq2PT6gMOBMY0JeVEmddwB2J1iMeEGjaFdb36FSted2t6XU1s6mdIiQudyuImYbisbqDCa8sM79Wi6YsiN/s320/IMG_0676.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>There was an unexpected birth this past week and I had to put some of our Harvest Time on hold. So, to make up for the time missed we took a family trip to <a href="http://alemonsqueezyhome.blogspot.com/2010/05/wetbag-tutorial.html">Roba Family Farms</a>. We had a blast! It wasn't a working dairy farm, but more of a harvest time amusement park surrounded by a <a href="http://www.robafamilyfarms.com/maze.htm">corn maze</a> (we conquered the mini maze but didn't even attempt the mega maze!). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mini maze!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTprqGgEXDeo10R6yUDokE5g77reXzOJTsCgSTdgjhjCASkatNFT1TYP4x1o8fdNMgy_dfUpaaJqHHBYwJ253FIJaeIIiT6_I_E2IuHz7dxQ-08JfkQURxibrhVi3EQFojcCvyegu0b7R/s1600/IMG_0704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And for anyone who thought I was joking when I said that Madeline was a monkey!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swinging at the very top of the ladder. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaaarrrrrrgggggg! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2lIVNnDw_3Bh0yIeIWaJPPx-WzWV2IwfSh4n37EBiv70iDax-OE1B9Rjs3svFhW-9LBeie6Xp5YidGwZoDFCW6mwnP65MGLqU9Nmn6-gg9q_eV-9_LNFQX_cuKWBCkO1S3LMSwGHg4Qs/s320/IMG_0741.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm actually impressed that we got all three heads in there!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDCXOs-REPCtjl58olmQZ8qMLrSB-H04WAaREMrMLaZGx2yCfqdMNaNWIaxBvUdj_iSpsnWX6kuTd6Kbc_j-VpgspOwsZKVCLXZAcpap4ftKyLHjFqjcBDg0OjrVjd0mMSAUOWlFNhcf_/s320/IMG_0746.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The drama of the pig races. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOHDI_Whe-iJ_D8zCIRX2cxPhtx5a9YTheIy-vww35zBVZpVi7Z6CcQ_05u6ig3Br7xublS4ubjABvb4WW3kMw4_WGLZHYT655WZoHJRZq6HdbHHpw3RZlarxHSkAEOkiliK37t_Quxsi/s1600/IMG_0750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOHDI_Whe-iJ_D8zCIRX2cxPhtx5a9YTheIy-vww35zBVZpVi7Z6CcQ_05u6ig3Br7xublS4ubjABvb4WW3kMw4_WGLZHYT655WZoHJRZq6HdbHHpw3RZlarxHSkAEOkiliK37t_Quxsi/s320/IMG_0750.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophia cried hysterically when she wasn't chosen to cheer on the piggies. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N5EYXQ2WwVlnBlHuNIoRfe5yR9VKatDPftaTox6RWwGhILsmxw_8FSVb_kj1BnXZ0HOAeSV7-vUnaCfd8SpOlyXIHeAxcGm24FnAK4Cvgk9aewC1420_rFhtyrD4B_Qrd5bXAU61CMX2/s320/IMG_0760.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The educational portion of our trip. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8BgtHkVPQhqMSHGz0XTlqWkjjC0VMyUYzP6KtsRXBzA_TSYYoHqqK05SYUiAB4AEhOZJWzhofdtyN51fvGHM_3OPkEwLIfARXd6qMiMjcwixtrNIpsrn9T_yeiVPKaL10zWhPcQYJYgI/s320/IMG_0764.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milking demonstration</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8BgtHkVPQhqMSHGz0XTlqWkjjC0VMyUYzP6KtsRXBzA_TSYYoHqqK05SYUiAB4AEhOZJWzhofdtyN51fvGHM_3OPkEwLIfARXd6qMiMjcwixtrNIpsrn9T_yeiVPKaL10zWhPcQYJYgI/s1600/IMG_0764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Oz4AIxwL36Ebzc2s2C-e1KSzurOgFVrcsqtawbcP7_YLYO7sThFRIdvHc3FFgsgmlyE01qND2VDyjNAQEKX6s1exJZDqyAlcyFNai4sgvNbmeLLxBZwjQ_iRzOIZDUowm9OiNxnYBSi-/s1600/IMG_0773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Oz4AIxwL36Ebzc2s2C-e1KSzurOgFVrcsqtawbcP7_YLYO7sThFRIdvHc3FFgsgmlyE01qND2VDyjNAQEKX6s1exJZDqyAlcyFNai4sgvNbmeLLxBZwjQ_iRzOIZDUowm9OiNxnYBSi-/s320/IMG_0773.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fun, fun family fun!</div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-40030206218203695012010-09-24T10:05:00.000-04:002010-09-24T10:05:42.153-04:00{this moment}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7N89R7i5wY3B9CUnFzW_HEJX-0mtpebwft4sdje23YrwvOPAjgC9CYDyD9X0_aeRmaO2GiIFecEV2uETCLtCHm5vpwsSVaojSdjEF5E6VktFcPubAU2YDyZ6SjsoDD-BNgyU-onFwX0X/s1600/IMG_0757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7N89R7i5wY3B9CUnFzW_HEJX-0mtpebwft4sdje23YrwvOPAjgC9CYDyD9X0_aeRmaO2GiIFecEV2uETCLtCHm5vpwsSVaojSdjEF5E6VktFcPubAU2YDyZ6SjsoDD-BNgyU-onFwX0X/s320/IMG_0757.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>{this moment} - A Friday ritual. </em></em></span></h3><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. </em></em></span></h3><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>A simple, special, extraordinary moment. </em></em></span></h3><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. </em></em></span></h3>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-30785071761650343072010-09-18T21:10:00.000-04:002010-09-18T21:10:50.751-04:00Harvest Time: Week 2 ReviewEven before we began I considered changing the topic of this week. Both of the girls are lactose intolerant and the idea of a full week on dairy, including dairy-making activities, seems a bit silly. In the end I thought that it was still important for Soph to understand that most people use dairy as a staple in their diet and how it is made. The only specific change that I made was to talk about raw and cultured dairy. Seems a bit chemistry-like, perhaps a little over most toddler's heads, but homogenization and pasteurization were both discuss in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Milk-Carton-Lets-Read-Find-Out-Book/dp/0064451119">Aliki book</a>. <br />
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I supplemented the readings with a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Snipp-Snapp-Snurr-Buttered-Bread/dp/0807574910/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1284856471&sr=1-1">Snipp, Snapp, Snurr book</a> and <b>wow!</b> it is now a favorite. I plan to take a few more out of the library and see where I can fit them into our reading time. <br />
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We began mornings with <a href="http://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/11/10/waldorf-101-circle-time/">Circle Time</a>. With the stress of moving and all that came with it this summer I got into the habit of allowing them a morning show as soon as we all came downstairs. This gave (groggy and sleepy) me time to brew a cup of tea and to cook breakfast. It became a habit because it worked so well. So, in order for our mornings to be technology free (this, <i>of course</i> excludes my camera and computer!) I needed to find an activity that they both enjoyed just as much as Sprout. <br />
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We break out the big white comforter and put it in the middle of the floor. We pick comfy spots and sing and finger-play-away! <br />
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This week's Circle Time Songs:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Fall Poem</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;">(I'm not sure where this is from. My mother uses it in her public school classroom) <u><b></b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b><br />
</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;">Red and Yellow, green and brown</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Count off the colors on your fingers)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lives are falling to the ground.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Simulate falling leaves with hands)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">We pile them up OH SO HIGH:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(pile leaves with hands)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then we JUMP in!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(pretend to jump in)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">My dog and I!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyfnHFwyXCXtDTYFTEEJwoeUWox-m4KHEqpetsdoqJANYxP6hEfgGGfFDQLSY5IU7Aph9vwZPKjyLUhVLWPL1EihpAopPEw_x7b50pbNqexOp9bNuWvBj6worevai1vnkU7SpakUZ0hgB/s320/IMG_0443.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pup Pup and Soph enjoying the "leaves"</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyfnHFwyXCXtDTYFTEEJwoeUWox-m4KHEqpetsdoqJANYxP6hEfgGGfFDQLSY5IU7Aph9vwZPKjyLUhVLWPL1EihpAopPEw_x7b50pbNqexOp9bNuWvBj6worevai1vnkU7SpakUZ0hgB/s1600/IMG_0443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm-UizTvToJNHYrEMVJhyphenhyphenZ5TrHeSpNdqGXT_E10wSZhjNLK5nmygP4hQlmNHaUeCLTGmZXT5japqfr7I3GRXHoR1iRn4nfdBwBoH0weBrDtBs9vUU14n9L8rvN60EK9PXtYsgjqSOYxEl/s1600/IMG_0442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm-UizTvToJNHYrEMVJhyphenhyphenZ5TrHeSpNdqGXT_E10wSZhjNLK5nmygP4hQlmNHaUeCLTGmZXT5japqfr7I3GRXHoR1iRn4nfdBwBoH0weBrDtBs9vUU14n9L8rvN60EK9PXtYsgjqSOYxEl/s320/IMG_0442.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Five Little Chipmunks</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Betty Jones/A Child's Seasonal Treasury)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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5 little chipmunks by the lakeside shore, </div><div style="text-align: center;">1 fell down and then there were 4. </div><div style="text-align: center;">4 little chipmunks running wild and free, </div><div style="text-align: center;">1 fell down and then there were 3. </div><div style="text-align: center;">3 little chipmunks over logs they flew, </div><div style="text-align: center;">1 fell down and then there were 2. </div><div style="text-align: center;">2 little chipmunks they would race and run, </div><div style="text-align: center;">1 fell down and then there was 1. </div><div style="text-align: center;">1 little chipmunk basking in the sun, </div><div style="text-align: center;">He went to his hallowed-home and then there were none!</div><br />
We colored leaves red and yellow, green and brown to match the Fall Poem and decorated our mantle with them. Sophia really enjoys using the scissors so she's likely to tell you that this was her very favorite project of the week!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMB-jU1soJhmKEsBcSeKIabH6ywBpmRZNZGl1qzDxtdTKXI6WJFR5XuVN3gPKcv6wCkoPjf1vIi7924Ih3kfedt_LT_kJqkZmQWUbOOQPfHcyh_9_rf5UvvjJFic5SkKN7BY80c8bFNji/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMB-jU1soJhmKEsBcSeKIabH6ywBpmRZNZGl1qzDxtdTKXI6WJFR5XuVN3gPKcv6wCkoPjf1vIi7924Ih3kfedt_LT_kJqkZmQWUbOOQPfHcyh_9_rf5UvvjJFic5SkKN7BY80c8bFNji/s320/IMG_0486.JPG" /></a></div>We decided to bake Applesauce bread to eat with our fresh butter. (I am still having a love affair with my bread machine.) Yum! I tried really hard to pump Soph up for the Butter Battle. Girl .vs. Machine. Told her how the process worked and how it was like magic. You pour the cream in and shook it and it came out butter. I thought the wonder of it all would motivate her to keeeeeeep shaking. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchYuhLM13LUiwrQMFBBI5aY1LGBGIFksD1cUA0XjJqaTdyKlogD95v3UxpW0nsH7ABERVaahDOb8L0VVAPwz50zCuho8w4J8wEO4QwCN8Q30Q7NDUmkKOu9YQEkLCT-Nb9__Wt70PdcHS/s320/IMG_0492.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excitedly pouring the cream into her mason jar!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuM3GeqLU_y5kE4UkHxDp8JtiNQQAr_l4bKenWmt4Z2Qsb8HPl600dGmlfQZThDggnkroCLz7gjQiQ335G6PDF5LFCXQ3p7iHDQXYky1K0cFh_2UI7ewrbQYrPCaFHm0t7m888q9iwnSS/s1600/IMG_0490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuM3GeqLU_y5kE4UkHxDp8JtiNQQAr_l4bKenWmt4Z2Qsb8HPl600dGmlfQZThDggnkroCLz7gjQiQ335G6PDF5LFCXQ3p7iHDQXYky1K0cFh_2UI7ewrbQYrPCaFHm0t7m888q9iwnSS/s1600/IMG_0490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchYuhLM13LUiwrQMFBBI5aY1LGBGIFksD1cUA0XjJqaTdyKlogD95v3UxpW0nsH7ABERVaahDOb8L0VVAPwz50zCuho8w4J8wEO4QwCN8Q30Q7NDUmkKOu9YQEkLCT-Nb9__Wt70PdcHS/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtqOwdLEmuRMQMp6eOJr3-aZ0xzqouADxtHhp6p85TijBihBvuUFwXRZj-QiliYRGN_64j_g7GKPtALMNtT0bqhEqtdhnHoDlUHktZvfWuiIDo73OWEO901aIoS01sCRp_L176iiSOcWq/s320/IMG_0494.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now, the rest into the mixer...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtqOwdLEmuRMQMp6eOJr3-aZ0xzqouADxtHhp6p85TijBihBvuUFwXRZj-QiliYRGN_64j_g7GKPtALMNtT0bqhEqtdhnHoDlUHktZvfWuiIDo73OWEO901aIoS01sCRp_L176iiSOcWq/s1600/IMG_0494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqC2sdbtyQJBGgf1mdGdSb2yUpK8M93pm1vtThzWtSPPoTasU6g2Or0L2_JZbzimDS7onsh6vkgc2IVY3Q97sPQ3Z5ZZyLQHGkj48EsTd-oPOkIE5g1jHlrpifCFLm8e4oRsDVNl_xDNU/s320/IMG_0501.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">30 seconds later.....She was done. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqC2sdbtyQJBGgf1mdGdSb2yUpK8M93pm1vtThzWtSPPoTasU6g2Or0L2_JZbzimDS7onsh6vkgc2IVY3Q97sPQ3Z5ZZyLQHGkj48EsTd-oPOkIE5g1jHlrpifCFLm8e4oRsDVNl_xDNU/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Well, folks...She fooled me. I thought she'd make it a few minutes and then I'd have to shake the rest. She made it about 30 seconds into it and hit herself in the face with the mason jar. That was it. It was over. White flag. <br />
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D.O.N.E.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtpISQAtRQxotIcm5_-DcLJnt9achxFelrJxMmiCba3OaJYaRhFdht_w7rqlRSycBKxccq4ZUAU1NuYHsEUFpJgu5PSL9BJBkxh9qSyqzS8jb751cg2dYgqkizaAm95gXth0EtK_AJ5EP/s320/IMG_0504.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The buttermilk is separating </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizskIWObL7e49Dfu3AEmZy1uIH2wOPo9ukxTMEZHtnV9JOR3lH3a76l9V_a6JtZd6qtU0R5MTjj0h5R0EaE5GIyonYHzyZC6KzLs7fCR6IaWULnaiPfsIORQX-ZENO9qv1i3g0aUQg6SXT/s320/IMG_0507.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BUTTER!!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtpISQAtRQxotIcm5_-DcLJnt9achxFelrJxMmiCba3OaJYaRhFdht_w7rqlRSycBKxccq4ZUAU1NuYHsEUFpJgu5PSL9BJBkxh9qSyqzS8jb751cg2dYgqkizaAm95gXth0EtK_AJ5EP/s1600/IMG_0504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizskIWObL7e49Dfu3AEmZy1uIH2wOPo9ukxTMEZHtnV9JOR3lH3a76l9V_a6JtZd6qtU0R5MTjj0h5R0EaE5GIyonYHzyZC6KzLs7fCR6IaWULnaiPfsIORQX-ZENO9qv1i3g0aUQg6SXT/s1600/IMG_0507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>She was really interested, but I think in the end the country-girl-scientist-mama was more amazed at the whole process. To her it was just natural. <br />
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And then there were tea parties with fresh bread, butter and chamomile tea. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFbVXBDH7LC-JDSTWTMTlZmNSey6IeAJqhOFSV_64VJMRhPhhQ0bEyW2ExgSuLrSMBcP0ZUDwifUlNb9xVytFNO12NMwVyOgnlkQckaCWlket7wnoszKOziYL1HRI6uJrVdvVEuaZskor/s1600/IMG_0532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFbVXBDH7LC-JDSTWTMTlZmNSey6IeAJqhOFSV_64VJMRhPhhQ0bEyW2ExgSuLrSMBcP0ZUDwifUlNb9xVytFNO12NMwVyOgnlkQckaCWlket7wnoszKOziYL1HRI6uJrVdvVEuaZskor/s320/IMG_0532.JPG" /></a></div> Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-53648940675108521322010-09-17T10:37:00.000-04:002010-09-17T10:37:58.476-04:00{this moment}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiXo_bmMzlmwuTDqfPhxKQov_wYeLEo_-0B8oIix6u1ZvCUHbBD9H1YFU1jNaeALKWaOb4iJja7PcFuqsePvRsCRHgcRY1367ivuAfw9FFpd4X86XgJB982Vh8XlInIeZETFLxm-LzZtk/s1600/IMG_0428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiXo_bmMzlmwuTDqfPhxKQov_wYeLEo_-0B8oIix6u1ZvCUHbBD9H1YFU1jNaeALKWaOb4iJja7PcFuqsePvRsCRHgcRY1367ivuAfw9FFpd4X86XgJB982Vh8XlInIeZETFLxm-LzZtk/s320/IMG_0428.jpg" /></a></div><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>{this moment} - A Friday ritual. </em></em></span></h3><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. </em></em></span></h3><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><em>A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. </em></em></span></h3>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-32692790575059128422010-09-13T08:31:00.002-04:002010-09-13T08:31:00.251-04:00Harvest Time Week Two: Beatrice's Goat<div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Week 2: Beatrice's Goat</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Primary Books:</u> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beatrices-Goat-Page-McBrier/dp/0689869908/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1284338065&sr=1-1">Beatrice's Goat by Page McBrier</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Butter-Man-Elizabeth-Alalou-Ali/dp/1580891276">The Butter Man by Elizabeth and Ali Alalou</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Snipp-Snapp-Snurr-Buttered-Bread/dp/0807574910/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1284338737&sr=1-1">Snipp, Snapp, Snurr and the buttered bread by Maj Lindman </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Enrichment Books:</u> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Milk-Carton-Lets-Read---Find-Out-Book/dp/0064451119/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1284338089&sr=1-1">Milk: From Cow to Carton by Aliki</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Season-Heinemann-First-Library/dp/1403458979">Season to Season by Anita Faner</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Field Trip:</u> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Bakery </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Poem: </u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boy_Blue">Little Boy Blue</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Flower Fairy</u></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bugle Fairy<u><br />
</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br />
</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Activity: </u></div><div style="text-align: center;">Making butter!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Herb bread baking</div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Discover-Seasons-Diane-Iverson/dp/1883220432/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283861503&sr=1-1"></a>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-55981593111522476982010-09-12T20:27:00.001-04:002010-09-12T21:21:31.937-04:00Harvest Time: Week 1 Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I should begin by explaining that our "week" begins on Wednesday. I attend prenatal and homevisits on Mondays and Tuesdays with another local homebirth midwife. The girls spend those two days with Ms. Erin, an amazing babysitter. She usually takes them to either storytime at one of our branch libraries, one of the local parks or let's them get all painted up with our arts and craft supplies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, we began our week on Wednesday morning with a big family snuggle fest at 6:30am. I tried my best to convince the girls to cozy down and get a few more minutes of sleep but they wouldn't have it (Ugh. They never do!) Our morning routine generally includes some independent playtime while I prepare breakfast, we head upstairs to get ready for the day and then begin any "planned activities." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week we started off with some coloring time. Sophia is really excited about learning her letters. She already knows the alphabet <i>(How that happened I don't know! It is amazing what they learn when you're not looking!)</i>. She's especially excited about the flower fairies. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtY8ANw6KN8LowKfY7D6j3KE-gIN8h9M_2TCfp74zI1mV2q5C4lIm8UJ1l-RMddB0a5PfyzZvrNL-edkf3DJPRP36DTxa7sLHka_Z6qv_eLEa665PICWHsu5n5VKJTxSZPCdQ7G4vQv0C9/s1600/IMG_0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtY8ANw6KN8LowKfY7D6j3KE-gIN8h9M_2TCfp74zI1mV2q5C4lIm8UJ1l-RMddB0a5PfyzZvrNL-edkf3DJPRP36DTxa7sLHka_Z6qv_eLEa665PICWHsu5n5VKJTxSZPCdQ7G4vQv0C9/s320/IMG_0222.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"A" is for Apple Blossom Flower Fairy</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpPDQURHDuyWCE2psaqapdBXz-RTTj9RgPFywALIUz0vF3JlUCOCMks09yP38d96gCbqQ24Zl5c_s5clTF2djgM7GaTEciolhWcYb16nb7GR4yAsyX0x-WoUKJ_LvfztiCERO0qJKpoSw/s1600/IMG_0249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpPDQURHDuyWCE2psaqapdBXz-RTTj9RgPFywALIUz0vF3JlUCOCMks09yP38d96gCbqQ24Zl5c_s5clTF2djgM7GaTEciolhWcYb16nb7GR4yAsyX0x-WoUKJ_LvfztiCERO0qJKpoSw/s200/IMG_0249.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7N_qlbcV-WynQ2BOrSObq5Covm5d3CaaI7Fpj59jc4qHe8rN2szVOWvvPBwwzky7Fhyr_jqQcQ3puDAmnfRy5u5j5FsOHbg3yLOIte7tCp5bZPA7bjzxV75ge4YJ1KSUB5O3pKoYSpjd/s1600/IMG_0252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7N_qlbcV-WynQ2BOrSObq5Covm5d3CaaI7Fpj59jc4qHe8rN2szVOWvvPBwwzky7Fhyr_jqQcQ3puDAmnfRy5u5j5FsOHbg3yLOIte7tCp5bZPA7bjzxV75ge4YJ1KSUB5O3pKoYSpjd/s200/IMG_0252.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Then we baked (and ate) bread for morning snack. I'd like to say that we did the entire process by hand but the truth is that I am now the proud owner of a bread machine (thank you, Craigslist). For a long time I was doing the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day...but it was never just five minutes and it never completely satisfied me. (Geo loves and misses it though). This is my attempt to continue to feed my family food that contains ingredients that I can (mostly) control and to fill our house with the smell of fresh bread. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoPU24fIjmtOdANeKv2SifZrf3IqLy3LmtNKYmNB3l78vSbjOwDHJ4VfhmIE99hO95OqKy-FaT-Wgj-Ttuhg6QW1p25iRTgA-2WndQ9R1iOniZaFuJmKPldFbRrtzt5f58pcGh1Z5zEDY/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoPU24fIjmtOdANeKv2SifZrf3IqLy3LmtNKYmNB3l78vSbjOwDHJ4VfhmIE99hO95OqKy-FaT-Wgj-Ttuhg6QW1p25iRTgA-2WndQ9R1iOniZaFuJmKPldFbRrtzt5f58pcGh1Z5zEDY/s320/IMG_0232.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Backpack, backpack!"</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">We spend time at the children's library. I have to say that reading has always been a favorite pasttime in our house. Both Geo and I are always juggling several things that we're reading and that love has very clearly been passed down to both the girls. They prefer books over most things and we're so glad! <br />
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It is actually Soph's love of reading that actually making us wonder if Waldorf school would really meet her needs and was the beginning step in this homeschooling adventure. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VLvm5KUyEV7Smx2oe_o0IA34dqt4xUBgN8vaE_v-KFjKnJM-CqqanXuC7pHxJGSMwz1TSqG0yzMdyRboIoYIgKHRQnQYw4UTaUtGMDlTcMmylxfNp2nA682G5zF3kOj5TJS0jPsSw4EY/s1600/IMG_0226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VLvm5KUyEV7Smx2oe_o0IA34dqt4xUBgN8vaE_v-KFjKnJM-CqqanXuC7pHxJGSMwz1TSqG0yzMdyRboIoYIgKHRQnQYw4UTaUtGMDlTcMmylxfNp2nA682G5zF3kOj5TJS0jPsSw4EY/s320/IMG_0226.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Bookworms!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our Farmer's Market day began with some disappointment but ended happily! We arrived at the market at 9 to find out that they open at noon! Yikes! <i>(Snoozing farmers?!?)</i> We packed up and headed to the closest library and the girls played made the best of the hours that we had to pass. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFFApgB_xWeGxXsvrHj0fwaaihZ1os49nR6LjJAIwMszZmjgSPAjH2zpXF3buadeJOaEJtwj2KoQkk6SddXSln0p-NuGphyxn0dUe1fp3jUcITO0OYrGlQqHi_nrHuFGfPCT8W20KljEY/s1600/IMG_0261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFFApgB_xWeGxXsvrHj0fwaaihZ1os49nR6LjJAIwMszZmjgSPAjH2zpXF3buadeJOaEJtwj2KoQkk6SddXSln0p-NuGphyxn0dUe1fp3jUcITO0OYrGlQqHi_nrHuFGfPCT8W20KljEY/s320/IMG_0261.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Vhy-fbcH7wJw7ryc-pvamRmPp_RUnm8_Cb5I8R4-tfJgChqtpXLyrp81QsWbSaEmPXiFAdJuFuAzR47Xyc_uoAjbwIQshyphenhyphenAJFj5-FTODeO6ljQS49AaTEqINFsXLwExth3O_qUd0R5Tg/s1600/IMG_0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Vhy-fbcH7wJw7ryc-pvamRmPp_RUnm8_Cb5I8R4-tfJgChqtpXLyrp81QsWbSaEmPXiFAdJuFuAzR47Xyc_uoAjbwIQshyphenhyphenAJFj5-FTODeO6ljQS49AaTEqINFsXLwExth3O_qUd0R5Tg/s320/IMG_0271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQOmMSu90Gp5xn6tL1_f_IhPXizLRbZCGnbIQ-IV_XzydbDNgBJyzA9nq6wm9f2odm0b_WOv6UG5t_a7Ti6dPxsc-lplYxezOP6OfCpmZhCSSuQ-vpcStipdMVNbN0AP0ocEs0hJ2ZAvR/s1600/IMG_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQOmMSu90Gp5xn6tL1_f_IhPXizLRbZCGnbIQ-IV_XzydbDNgBJyzA9nq6wm9f2odm0b_WOv6UG5t_a7Ti6dPxsc-lplYxezOP6OfCpmZhCSSuQ-vpcStipdMVNbN0AP0ocEs0hJ2ZAvR/s320/IMG_0272.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQNWue9Jp2in8EdPqcMbAkTwSR_5beT9NTvkD1Yp0CMXTHLRkDtVluxoy66lbZMm7OfrxuWorhu72-r9ASfR70f6-XD7xD48w0DOBVQkeh7qLMfwoNCLZd97rWioVu4yJMs0w_I04-UkJ/s1600/IMG_0282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQNWue9Jp2in8EdPqcMbAkTwSR_5beT9NTvkD1Yp0CMXTHLRkDtVluxoy66lbZMm7OfrxuWorhu72-r9ASfR70f6-XD7xD48w0DOBVQkeh7qLMfwoNCLZd97rWioVu4yJMs0w_I04-UkJ/s320/IMG_0282.JPG" /></a></div>We baked our salt dough veggies (beans, peas, potatoes, cauliflower, pumpkins and a fish....<i>yes, a fish</i>). We used book and produce that we brought home from the market as reference. Madeline wasn't very entertained by this activity so I spend most of the time just chasing her around the kitchen and offering Soph verbal encouragement.<br />
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We also decorated the table for the season and spent some time playing "on the farm." I'd like to get a special table for the girls to decorate for each season but I haven't found anything that works just yet. It isn't the space so much as it is finding some place that Madeline won't deconstruct within 5 minutes. So, for now, our kitchen table is our seasonal display.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKYyhiZZ4qtM57Pu74ZIZFg1-Zr8HulUJpwmCwbkN6b1MYJwG83kP8Og64yWg5sJu-B9MKCxosw4llfYpkAb4LYGBsQ7VutOoRzjrQxawwnCUCvuzPNilHGj_5bvxPhwFBifmDvC7SRaj/s1600/IMG_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKYyhiZZ4qtM57Pu74ZIZFg1-Zr8HulUJpwmCwbkN6b1MYJwG83kP8Og64yWg5sJu-B9MKCxosw4llfYpkAb4LYGBsQ7VutOoRzjrQxawwnCUCvuzPNilHGj_5bvxPhwFBifmDvC7SRaj/s320/IMG_0289.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our meal blessing, some felted rocks, pipe cleaner flower bouquet and some seasonal veggies. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPILFdIkSLOOo84tFtXYut5DMdQHuFhp9U09QoofRevC2pqtWcu-sLkLf5yzjRqIzVz3KH1gY9EPiIYoRx8ZSWC4rFBpoNVzoFVKR3Ucq32NB9uu7a58sCmwE-W74ZOhRoo6E_Xa_BYFt/s1600/IMG_0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPILFdIkSLOOo84tFtXYut5DMdQHuFhp9U09QoofRevC2pqtWcu-sLkLf5yzjRqIzVz3KH1gY9EPiIYoRx8ZSWC4rFBpoNVzoFVKR3Ucq32NB9uu7a58sCmwE-W74ZOhRoo6E_Xa_BYFt/s320/IMG_0288.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone has a Ninja farmer, right??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The last two days of Week 1 were spend camping. What better way to learn about the transition from summer to autumn than actually spending days and nights outdoors? While camping doesn't always seem like a break for adults in the family, I really appreciate the change in scenery and am always reinforced when I see just how much the girls learn from getting smokey and dirty! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVOQmkSf3vaOxZv_HQBfs6vPsX9wDAxazXWvdlJz4wX9k_kKLnYHzy-YhmI-ykhCmN8gOD9rD6kyk0OlGQL2DUv_9aK1urNUBb3T5naYRTuQ4kkdV4WsaIRVo7QNAM97o0bqN1hQG23eR/s1600/IMG_0311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVOQmkSf3vaOxZv_HQBfs6vPsX9wDAxazXWvdlJz4wX9k_kKLnYHzy-YhmI-ykhCmN8gOD9rD6kyk0OlGQL2DUv_9aK1urNUBb3T5naYRTuQ4kkdV4WsaIRVo7QNAM97o0bqN1hQG23eR/s320/IMG_0311.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soph was reminding Madeline that corn comes from the middle "just like in the book."</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-80386728877917677932010-09-10T13:51:00.000-04:002010-09-10T13:51:47.869-04:00{this moment}<h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em> </em></span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_8w_ROe13FO6gRPOpaLYVpPP1OrsCU2R4KCziGziORb1ipisO0XG0dPOqZPdjWlgOHpnF5HifPxEN3GNXZLZe0mV5rogQE5wNPrRPJTgOOhpaeR8J3vOs71bB0a978C-bf6fIoy_6Zsz/s1600/IMG_0173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_8w_ROe13FO6gRPOpaLYVpPP1OrsCU2R4KCziGziORb1ipisO0XG0dPOqZPdjWlgOHpnF5HifPxEN3GNXZLZe0mV5rogQE5wNPrRPJTgOOhpaeR8J3vOs71bB0a978C-bf6fIoy_6Zsz/s320/IMG_0173.JPG" /></a></div><h3 class="entry-header" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. </em></span></h3><em></em>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-110952650733431912010-09-07T08:14:00.000-04:002010-09-07T08:14:15.869-04:00Harvest Time Week One: Tops and BottomsThis is our first week of <a href="http://weefolkart.com/content/harvest-time-preschoolkindergarten-curriculum">Harvest Time Homeschool Preschool</a> curriculum and I'm really excited! A few weeks ago I put a request in to our library system for the books and began to prepare myself mentally, spiritually and environmentally (organizing our resources).<br />
<br />
This feels very organic to me. Like many of our parenting choices homeschooling just feels right. Just like home birthing, nursing and our conscious choice to use methods of gentle disciple (even when ghosts of our childhood pop into our heads and we want to wag our fingers and say "If I would have done that in MY house my Mom/Dad would have....."). Sophia is only 3 so we have several years to really work out what works best for our family, but since the beginning of our parenting journey, Geo and I have discussed education and "schooling." We both agree that the style of education in our local public schools doesn't feel that it would truly address the needs of our girls. (Local schools have 15 minutes of recess on three of the school days per week...hardly what I think kids require!) One of the options we discussed was a then-local-to-us <a href="http://kimberton.org/">Kimberton Waldorf School.</a> But, Sophia's love of reading has nudged us toward homeschooling. <br />
<br />
So, this journey led me (the craft-addicted-blog-reading-midwife-mama) to <a href="http://weefolkart.com/">Wee Folk Art</a> along my internet travels. Their site is packed full of beautiful projects, most of which include <a href="http://weefolkart.com/?q=node/248">free tutorials, guidance or instructions</a> (true altruism!) and is build on an amazing foundation of love and compassion. Just overflowing with heart. I immediately connected with their nature based values. It was natural that I'd find the homeschooling curriculum that they developed a nice fit for our family. So, this is our experiment....Come along for the ride!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dNaT4-ufB2PdHqfVpsitz4skjq21dOjhOYlcMqWCao6W2jEHdLzH1Ll3-mj0_NeUsAnWtdVTd4y_YWCV1HG2t-RLxBOrde42yn8aNZNRXjukn_rR5avf5HvTnElekaYFmXFpqfsctVva/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dNaT4-ufB2PdHqfVpsitz4skjq21dOjhOYlcMqWCao6W2jEHdLzH1Ll3-mj0_NeUsAnWtdVTd4y_YWCV1HG2t-RLxBOrde42yn8aNZNRXjukn_rR5avf5HvTnElekaYFmXFpqfsctVva/s320/IMG_0065.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophia and The Dadder checking on our Marigolds</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Week 1: Tops and Bottoms</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Primary Book:</u> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tops-Bottoms-Caldecott-Honor-Book/dp/0152928510/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283861626&sr=1-1">Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Enrichment Books:</u> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vegetables-We-Eat-Gail-Gibbons/dp/0823421538/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283861561&sr=1-1">The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/When-Autumn-Comes-Robert-Maass/dp/0805023496/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283861579&sr=1-1">When Autumn Comes by Robert Maass</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Four-Seasons-Make-Year-Rockwell/dp/0802788831/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283861600&sr=1-1">Four Seasons Make a Year by Anne Rockwell</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Field Trip:</u> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.localharvest.org/cooperative-farmers-market-of-scranton-M3104">Scranton's Cooperative Farmer's Market</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Poem: </u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boy_Blue">Little Boy Blue</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Flower Fairy</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0723264961?ie=UTF8&tag=bonweb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0723264961">Apple Blossom Fairy </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br />
</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Art Activity: </u></div><div style="text-align: center;">Salt Dough Vegetables<u></u><br />
<u><br />
</u><br />
<u>Misc:</u><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Childs-Seasonal-Treasury-Betty-Jones/dp/1883672309/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1283861299&sr=8-1">A child's seasonal treasury compiled and written by Betty Jones</a><br />
I'm using Circle Time seasonal songs and fingerplay activities. <br />
(I took it out of our library and am so sad that I can't find a (reasonably priced) copy for our family library.) <br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Discover-Seasons-Diane-Iverson/dp/1883220432/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283861503&sr=1-1">Discover the seasons by Diane Iverson</a><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-14826129954944731812010-09-06T21:38:00.000-04:002010-09-06T21:38:30.231-04:00First...Begin with a Firm Commitment! <b>Commitment</b> means to show loyalty, duty or pledge to something or someone. These are my two: <br />
<br />
<ol><li>I'd like to take part in the <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2010/08/this-moment-2.html">{this moment}</a> Friday posts started by <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/">Amanda Soule</a> (I'd actually really appreciate if she'd move in with us and teach me everything she knows....but I'll settle for baby steps: imitation). </li>
<li>Regular posts about our Harvest Time homeschooling adventures. Soph is 3 and has the brain of a adult. Seriously, I think she just might be smarter than me. She reads every single day. She dives head first into anything that she's interested in and it has become clear that we need a little more rhythm in our life. So, I'm using the <a href="http://weefolkart.com/content/harvest-time-preschoolkindergarten-curriculum">Harvest Time curriculum</a> from <a href="http://weefolkart.com/">Wee Folk Art</a> as a foundation for our homeschooling preschool adventure. I've added several additional enrichment books to the list because I don't think that she'll be satisfied with one primary (fiction) and one enrichment (non-fiction) book. This is our experiment and I'm inviting you to join us! </li>
</ol><ol></ol>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-86736339571625354772010-08-30T23:04:00.000-04:002010-08-30T23:50:34.251-04:00A New BeginningDearest Daughters,<br /><br />I feel like our family blog is like a vacation home. It was a place that I regularly visited when I first set up camp a few years ago. Like anything new, I visited and played and fully enjoyed the space. As the time has past, our family has expanded and our days have grown even fuller I spend less and less time documenting the richness of our experiences. I'm torn because I want you both to look back on the years before you have crisp, clear memories of childhood and peek at this time in our (crazy) family life. I love to create but scrapbooks and journals just aren't my thing. <span style="font-style: italic;">(I have several hundred photos of Soph's first year in a box somewhere...the idea of </span><span style="font-style: italic;">organizing them is daunting!)</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_y9OwvCrKRrDH1wcZRkKMUL_Q2azzAabX_LJPrB9L6hyphenhyphenBf5TrgmbziQ38SuwchqyvfVZHCwlBgitEytVUNTU58K53e5tLkmRZcjMsZdXgJ0MiXN_mAJ1_QdSJ8mqkuMy4KkIKems9WzB/s1600/DSC_0064.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_y9OwvCrKRrDH1wcZRkKMUL_Q2azzAabX_LJPrB9L6hyphenhyphenBf5TrgmbziQ38SuwchqyvfVZHCwlBgitEytVUNTU58K53e5tLkmRZcjMsZdXgJ0MiXN_mAJ1_QdSJ8mqkuMy4KkIKems9WzB/s400/DSC_0064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511414077690715570" border="0" /></a>I've recently been meditating on the concept of impermanence and exploring the ways in which I try to capture moments in time. Jotting notes, painting pictures in my head and snapping endless pictures. The days sometimes pass so quickly that I selfishly fear I won't be able to hold onto the smell of your baby heads or the sound of your deep laughter and joyousness.<br /><br />Life is full of ebbs and flows and I hold onto the belief that these trinkets of our hearts will somehow make the challenges less frightening and the joys all that more beautiful.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaNZJaE36_nIYe366QGu35cdqpb5plskEfDmzvdUgIDeQOE89WruJlRUr4K0aOrDH4gOynIDpqwWBa-J2YDkdr7kS9bHKwT1foANnaN_qvq4cHVCpFrctkLMLeO9wHcIrmE0CxfB39FHA/s1600/DSC_0111.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaNZJaE36_nIYe366QGu35cdqpb5plskEfDmzvdUgIDeQOE89WruJlRUr4K0aOrDH4gOynIDpqwWBa-J2YDkdr7kS9bHKwT1foANnaN_qvq4cHVCpFrctkLMLeO9wHcIrmE0CxfB39FHA/s400/DSC_0111.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511413527110031218" border="0" /></a>There is a part of me that feels like I should address the content of my absence but let's just say that the last year has been full. Full of changes and new editions. When I look back on the last few years our life resembles nothing of where we all began a few short years ago. New careers, new family members and several new addresses. Lots of ebbs and lots of flow! Your ability to bend with the wind and flow with the rivers of our crazy life is inspiring. <br /><br />I'm recommitting to regular visits here. I am working to detach from the idea that I can freeze time or create a way to reconnect with an experience, but an focused on opening our hearts and sharing. <br /><br />So, a new beginning. A fresh start here on The Schwartz Family Files :) <br /><br />More love than ever,<br />The MommerNicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-36944736222254198112010-08-14T10:33:00.000-04:002010-08-14T10:37:45.495-04:00Headed to Camp<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9dqYJbgiabslqvs6l7YRyvDn95lh9OZ-ToAcdYiQLtiOEiAd7D1b9peq-LyQBQgNotVia0LbppzKJCl_6l8e8pOjL3B-4sfvUNRTSX-MpscIn2c2zvPGLb0hiv2ZNrHtcv-wtV0q5uNg/s1600/DSC_0109.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9dqYJbgiabslqvs6l7YRyvDn95lh9OZ-ToAcdYiQLtiOEiAd7D1b9peq-LyQBQgNotVia0LbppzKJCl_6l8e8pOjL3B-4sfvUNRTSX-MpscIn2c2zvPGLb0hiv2ZNrHtcv-wtV0q5uNg/s400/DSC_0109.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505274259049909474" border="0" /></a>I wonder if there is enough room out in the Great Wide Open for these two personalities :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSb4Qw4VlvTzXTs5PrjwBkryT_3xRnEAkfQen6qCW9yjbGK-Lx5SL-bPvZH6O8oRQQuFFr41kAWn9fBHpeA7rbLYbfyU8cQGqGTNlVXuhI0Czw61fUG2VjUphYrA9Fq5OgXAct0KCYVvG/s1600/DSC_0100.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSb4Qw4VlvTzXTs5PrjwBkryT_3xRnEAkfQen6qCW9yjbGK-Lx5SL-bPvZH6O8oRQQuFFr41kAWn9fBHpeA7rbLYbfyU8cQGqGTNlVXuhI0Czw61fUG2VjUphYrA9Fq5OgXAct0KCYVvG/s400/DSC_0100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505274268931495682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-AzfHCE_Vll4SnFJecgaxJJlf6tQiBfP5fpzeq8pRPQ0c7aIjw7Spw-L6Hg3nOiF75VSXmC2BNCaJ50GJa4OIX5LzTn_O0nItVfc0K-IeVIsdHjh90r0iWDg9cP1LtgRzxoHqUcmUKnb/s1600/DSC_0095.JPG"><br /></a>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-24236740615227530512010-06-02T13:00:00.000-04:002010-06-02T13:05:08.246-04:00Mao Mao the Communist KittyWe are looking for a new home for our cat, Molly. She is a great cat and we all love her very much. This decision, as difficult as it is to make, is due to two "quality of life" issues. Geo's allergy has gotten increasingly worse and Molly has become fond of the outdoors. This has worked well for us but we're packing up, again, and moving to a townhouse in Old Forge at the end of June. They have agreed to allow us to keep her but she will be restricted from going outside. Right now she eats in the morning and then asks to go out for most of the day. She returns at dusk and sleeps in the house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvig4kNKZxnIBfcesj24NQ8Xdz5oVUHJgjnpjN-4nIBC3dJEXrENMzY7cKpa0VeoKbYL50879b1HNXGfnhSLUQZyDL3Z60YmYPFSK_rwNJJdOs0T2meH2QRvq_HIKsS1s2XYF9NHYyR1w/s1600/DSC_0852.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvig4kNKZxnIBfcesj24NQ8Xdz5oVUHJgjnpjN-4nIBC3dJEXrENMzY7cKpa0VeoKbYL50879b1HNXGfnhSLUQZyDL3Z60YmYPFSK_rwNJJdOs0T2meH2QRvq_HIKsS1s2XYF9NHYyR1w/s400/DSC_0852.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478222657252496786" border="0" /></a><br />We adopted her from the ASPCA in Chester County 2 years ago. She is neutered and declawed. She has had all of her initial immunizations (ironic, since we don't immunize our kids, huh?). She has a microchip (required by the SPCA) but it hasn't been registered. I can provide all her records and the info on how to register her chip (I think they said it cost $20).<br /><br />She really is sweet and Sophia is going to be heartbroken, but this move is going to require that Molly remain indoors, which isn't good for her or George.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTrIv3b5zNFFZ3CAPg0luLfbLbgtKS2A4N5dMrAG0jJ4RXTpIUEL6i6LpLxt3yRuLptBnLuFSqycFb8bMQ5aKFcJLaYEvWcusjKhJGdswcEiRUXW9q2HsF1ESXcHxASuRQN9vQR2C-Upf/s1600/DSC_0821.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTrIv3b5zNFFZ3CAPg0luLfbLbgtKS2A4N5dMrAG0jJ4RXTpIUEL6i6LpLxt3yRuLptBnLuFSqycFb8bMQ5aKFcJLaYEvWcusjKhJGdswcEiRUXW9q2HsF1ESXcHxASuRQN9vQR2C-Upf/s400/DSC_0821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478223212287064338" border="0" /></a><br />If you are interested in opening your heart (and home) to our Mao Mao or know of a responsible friend that would, please let me know. I'm happy to provide you with her food, storage container, cat bed, litter, litter box, some treats and her cat carrier. I'll even throw in free in-state transportation.<br /><span style="color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-23166449861940909432010-05-13T14:27:00.000-04:002010-05-13T14:30:51.919-04:00Birthday tears<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lYT_GoRB8e0eaZIf1z_opKFW5htXYZORp4PqH8_-XYgSmGRgZVbY0tdmlHxcVQlUPdZIAu_imApfA8HWI320sJjcFSo11MWhYCqET-WtvMDnDYusQbxoldMn8PJ6yI_SfpexvNgoMfrx/s1600/DSC_0462.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lYT_GoRB8e0eaZIf1z_opKFW5htXYZORp4PqH8_-XYgSmGRgZVbY0tdmlHxcVQlUPdZIAu_imApfA8HWI320sJjcFSo11MWhYCqET-WtvMDnDYusQbxoldMn8PJ6yI_SfpexvNgoMfrx/s400/DSC_0462.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470823640642342434" border="0" /></a><br />This girl really hates the song "Happy Birthday." <br />Two years <span style="font-style: italic;">in a row</span> the first line brings her into hysterics.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-20639384645554777422010-05-09T21:49:00.000-04:002010-05-09T22:05:30.748-04:00Happy Birthday, Sopher.<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;"><br />Happy 3rd Birthday!! </span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigp1hIHrKPYrLEWxzrDLwsSf4-Tb66_-GzAMiP66LMKMFlhexHi02Yty9hjDL6jpeF6q8DOsacq0OaKwHNJSRshrqJahyphenhyphenTo5qU84_CMJxzOcRWkXJsZHUPXxi6tpqOuolVpY4clyNxfnhB/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 395px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigp1hIHrKPYrLEWxzrDLwsSf4-Tb66_-GzAMiP66LMKMFlhexHi02Yty9hjDL6jpeF6q8DOsacq0OaKwHNJSRshrqJahyphenhyphenTo5qU84_CMJxzOcRWkXJsZHUPXxi6tpqOuolVpY4clyNxfnhB/s400/DSC_0054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469454843555752258" border="0" /></a><br />You are a <span style="font-weight: bold;">big</span>, <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">bold</span> three, lemme tell you.<br /><br />Big smile, big brain,<br />big personality.<br /><br /> Big sister, big hugger,<br />big talker and a<br />big time prankster!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTSPeWNFP1z1wWbu1E4N_aOPeGXvGSsiWFtuS9PGO0L6TPfnoT-ywo-mivPmi27eCBsHLS-vFss7v0AOgcicZecUARSk3vz6gER5zilv-lKVG78NB3fkvL5r1PDeLU4qbORK0mfWN7-2A/s1600/DSC_0158.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTSPeWNFP1z1wWbu1E4N_aOPeGXvGSsiWFtuS9PGO0L6TPfnoT-ywo-mivPmi27eCBsHLS-vFss7v0AOgcicZecUARSk3vz6gER5zilv-lKVG78NB3fkvL5r1PDeLU4qbORK0mfWN7-2A/s400/DSC_0158.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469454832425134434" border="0" /></a>You live life to the fullest<br />each minute of each day.<br /><br />When the sun is shining you want your toes in the grass,<br />When the rain is falling you want to taste it on your tongue.<br /><br />You're big, girl. Very big.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC209yjzQGCKMp25kvharJR_G7CfyjQoK7rjEKM2qPNdoBEavattgO6OyZ3iEj8kQOXnN3PEIf1T7SzsfssAhYcJo54fwYvCKaio7aN7ms5L0SzTLb915tkW7binZUqTqb7v5Qt-B1iF5d/s1600/DSC_0152.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC209yjzQGCKMp25kvharJR_G7CfyjQoK7rjEKM2qPNdoBEavattgO6OyZ3iEj8kQOXnN3PEIf1T7SzsfssAhYcJo54fwYvCKaio7aN7ms5L0SzTLb915tkW7binZUqTqb7v5Qt-B1iF5d/s400/DSC_0152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469454826729961010" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">You have grown faster than we ever could have imagined.<br />It seems like just a blink ago I was snapping shots of you for The Dadder.<br />We were hogging the whole bed together.<br /><br />It seems like just weeks ago when we were watching you take your first steps,<br />You were enjoying your first snow.<br /><br />It seems like just a few days ago when you were wobbling on your Scoot for the first time.<br />Teetering on the seat with a helmet that hid your eyes. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You're big, little girl. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You're bold. </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">You're 3!</span></span><br /><br /></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-67341482990616366222010-03-25T05:26:00.000-04:002010-03-25T02:26:21.697-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Happy Birthday Madeline!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQk_g-Y1qtc5h3hGRf2dt4OiqsZOu9ioYRXjk2TL-TLqE-uUEQBlvO8MP9LlTfXwFHIfEFjYSQ-AhaHXR3mwXsfih11Cx0kvpMfHORWilm8e_XQXgutS_p5LW7cuR9ehkn-sj0q4Tru_0h/s1600/DSC_0116.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 413px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQk_g-Y1qtc5h3hGRf2dt4OiqsZOu9ioYRXjk2TL-TLqE-uUEQBlvO8MP9LlTfXwFHIfEFjYSQ-AhaHXR3mwXsfih11Cx0kvpMfHORWilm8e_XQXgutS_p5LW7cuR9ehkn-sj0q4Tru_0h/s400/DSC_0116.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452447082508969122" border="0" /></a><br /></span></span></span></span></div><br />one year ago today our family grew by two feet.you, ms. madeline, had us by the throat and filled our hearts with boundless joy.<br />(and our ears with the loudest screams we've ever heard!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh785uAm1gQQjMmTkAjqqXw9jl70S9tVkQvT808su7wWcNDSdFtHbsoHvOoguUkyy3OxcOZlyZx0-fEbEvxIBijii5SiKhiWmRspfugu8hlPTnFNApA6bczbDl8wHVjY9rxJ9TdlCRS6A_u/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG"><br /></a>your birthday party was planned for home but you decided on a change of scenery.<br />i've never felt so relieved as when i heard your heartbeat on the monitor that night.<br />i've never been so thankful as when we were told that you were doing alright despite the scare.<br />i walked, i talked, i cried.<br />i wanted so badly for you to slide into our family on my terms<br />that i nearly forgot that you had a say.<br /><br />you navigated perfectly,<br />a body twisting and swaying.<br />legs rooted strongly in the ground and a top that flowed with the wind.<br />our last dance while sharing one body.<br /><br />i have been humbled.this year has been loud, fast and streaked with bright colors.<br />your birth was the beginning of a whirlwind.<br />your birth was the beginning of so much growth.<br />a journey.<br />one filled with hills and valleys, the tallest mountains I've ever climbed<br />and the most breathtaking views ever.<br /><br />you are so special, Mads.<br /><br />thank you for your courage.<br />thank you for your heart.<br />thank you for your unbridled laughter.<br />thank you for your persistence.<br />thank you for your forgiveness.<br />thank you for your willingness to share.<br />thank you for your amazing smile and those beaver teeth.<br />thank you for mooing and clucking, and saying uh-oh 1,000,000 times a day.<br />thank you for waking me, breaking me and watching me put myself back together.<br />thank you for choosing us.thank you for loving us.<br />thank you for they way you sit up in bed when you first wake up just yell for us to come get you.<br />thank you for being my snuggle-bug.<br />thank you for running to Papa Bear with big, open arms.<br />thank you for getting excited when I walk through the door.<br />thank you for all the fun.for today, yesterday and tomorrow.<br /><br />xo<br />Mama<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCy3v33ii-KJ_qfnzbl7crCZ6SNDn8cT6_0vxxMXPdtY8UvzKFBVIuUy0oaknXb7-ggzkpmeLYhRhY8WHHUN61Rt8KkXROG-S7fDJsZKu7umqkCfAATEbDOUsb9k0NhN4VdTG3jUguBC7/s1600/MaddyMadsMosaic.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCy3v33ii-KJ_qfnzbl7crCZ6SNDn8cT6_0vxxMXPdtY8UvzKFBVIuUy0oaknXb7-ggzkpmeLYhRhY8WHHUN61Rt8KkXROG-S7fDJsZKu7umqkCfAATEbDOUsb9k0NhN4VdTG3jUguBC7/s400/MaddyMadsMosaic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452450678456074306" border="0" /></a>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-65972978509980274142010-03-17T08:10:00.000-04:002010-03-22T23:53:10.305-04:00Out on the Town<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Rh291RQmMDL0S6BMBlkzbNbl4l0sfQGtew1QsSKqf9abxqPHZPoLE6mBvJSe0hyzuCKKIAuN3dO87EkkSSk4Q1-VEX4jDZcZgDfsjj3dUhs4J-A_RioA5TOw1CArLa1ODr0lp8ej7DAk/s1600-h/DSC_0103+%281%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Rh291RQmMDL0S6BMBlkzbNbl4l0sfQGtew1QsSKqf9abxqPHZPoLE6mBvJSe0hyzuCKKIAuN3dO87EkkSSk4Q1-VEX4jDZcZgDfsjj3dUhs4J-A_RioA5TOw1CArLa1ODr0lp8ej7DAk/s400/DSC_0103+%281%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449574242668266082" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFF295zgcMgoIpABDooK4A4hypEJhHu6440A99-AshhIHXkKAATnTgvhZCCP9xdGq840HVVSSYOU93Zp9zY6RodaevaFUwfvMfDGF4AwnhWoSvwY6jRItQoSZgQR68NxWAcnmTD_AyzXfn/s1600-h/DSC_0273.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFF295zgcMgoIpABDooK4A4hypEJhHu6440A99-AshhIHXkKAATnTgvhZCCP9xdGq840HVVSSYOU93Zp9zY6RodaevaFUwfvMfDGF4AwnhWoSvwY6jRItQoSZgQR68NxWAcnmTD_AyzXfn/s400/DSC_0273.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449574271734488930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYEHVnLINiRV8J4-RvYij48JxNUln9tZTA454aJHdpDuU7Anm0vocYbntFEgcIlO79qOqdNjiI6cS-jAb0-iil9fj4C_1yqYd60GmXZxSs6Y10TUN-cX6fkxby5pyD2U_LtHssbnihaSB/s1600-h/DSC_0245.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYEHVnLINiRV8J4-RvYij48JxNUln9tZTA454aJHdpDuU7Anm0vocYbntFEgcIlO79qOqdNjiI6cS-jAb0-iil9fj4C_1yqYd60GmXZxSs6Y10TUN-cX6fkxby5pyD2U_LtHssbnihaSB/s400/DSC_0245.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449574284123025794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeF3fB1f4NcWbqCaCvXkzmt7HRNomVlf8ki6sa8-4HLvfUOAGjYDZyrLru_rgsCORAWQSJnVZLNtLFcoU_pG792g1JvT54mTpzW7YbbEhsgRDbZguiXga6HTc4tJrngLw4K7XcSPLI9U4/s1600-h/DSC_0152.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeF3fB1f4NcWbqCaCvXkzmt7HRNomVlf8ki6sa8-4HLvfUOAGjYDZyrLru_rgsCORAWQSJnVZLNtLFcoU_pG792g1JvT54mTpzW7YbbEhsgRDbZguiXga6HTc4tJrngLw4K7XcSPLI9U4/s400/DSC_0152.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449574250921730578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkfovjoFF2mwFsMCJlNdTmEE45Op8TCFJXV733KrUxrB8kCTdwnmMiamPXrTO2RwgNwSlgsXH9yj5L6WNO6bUsMUiuO23H17EnCHzRkbmYJu2cXmBmxZqJEq403pM1CpNf93YFzJ8wXfP/s1600-h/DSC_0226.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkfovjoFF2mwFsMCJlNdTmEE45Op8TCFJXV733KrUxrB8kCTdwnmMiamPXrTO2RwgNwSlgsXH9yj5L6WNO6bUsMUiuO23H17EnCHzRkbmYJu2cXmBmxZqJEq403pM1CpNf93YFzJ8wXfP/s400/DSC_0226.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449574263489033874" border="0" /></a>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786943756818121812.post-28335963399918410132010-03-05T07:50:00.001-05:002010-03-05T07:50:54.276-05:00Physics is fun!<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qybUFnY7Y8w&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qybUFnY7Y8w&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084433388552683122noreply@blogger.com2