A Bonus Week Off

We took another week of vacation from the materials.  I plan on doing a bonus week after each regular school vacation so that I can get back into the swing of going to school and managing our little environment.  We have boxes of new materials to set up.  Plus, play is so vital to their development.  I need to be sure they have the opportunity to get creative with toys.

We have kept busy in many ways.  The number one thing:  POTTY TRAINING TWINS!  Sorry to e-yell, but it's a big deal here.  I must have read the No Cry Potty Training Solution 100 times, and we are ready.  So far, so good- and it's getting better.  There is no rush, we are playing it light.  This is our families 2nd training, it was easy with big sis.  She is a big help now!

Through the process of training, I came across some great sites that I'd like to share here:

• http://www.montessorimom.com/montessori-potty-training/
• http://www.dailymontessori.com/montessori-articles/toilet-learning-vs-toilet-training/ 
• http://montessoriconfessions.blogspot.com/2010/03/potty-training-using-cotton-underwear.html 

hers & hers, complete with books!

Big sister is deep into art lately.  It's almost the only thing she wants to do, so we are going with it!  I set up a simple little 'art studio' in her bedroom.  She likes to have privacy in her creation.

colored pencils, crayon wallet, art journal (and her hand-painted birdhouse)

modeling clay

After trying out many spots, Bean picked a location within our house for our nature table.  She chose the dining table!  On this glass platter, I'm happy with how lovely it is.  It can stay there until we gather more, a reflection of the seasons.  I love looking at it while we eat, color, and talk.  It reminds me of our nature walk.

nature tray, our dining room centerpiece     flame-less candles for light

Cookie Decoration Party!

I feel that no words are necessary here :)

Pumpkin Pie, Cooking Time

Food Preparation: Lentil Soup!

Today was one of the first days that we NEEDED a jacket outside this year, and the rain called for soup. Luckily, today at school a six year old gave me a simple recipe for lentil soup in a crock pot. Today's big lesson was about carrots, how they grow and the way we eat the roots and discard the leaves. Then, we each got a turn to peel the carrots. I actually did very little work of my own. Tossing it all in the crock pot before it's plugged in allowed them to see where the changes would occur. Peanuts's favorite part was the clean up, she loves that table brush from Montessori Services.

Green lentils, 2 small onions, 6 large carrots, 8 cups of water, four shakes of sea-salt, 5 hours in the crock pot on high.

Home Made Playdough

So much fun, and it feels so neat to play with!! Of course, we chose pink......

Here is the recipe:

1 cup white flour
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1/3 cup of vegetable oil
1/4 cup salt
2 or 3 squirts of gel food coloring

Mix on medium stove-top heat for 3-5 minutes. Manipulate into shape, store in air tight containers!!!!

Food Prep, decorate your own waffles!

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When Life Gives You Lemons...

You make lemonade! We have had the chance to work in Practical Life a great deal this summer, by just participating in kitchen activites that would already happen daily. On this day, we made lemonade and got to taste pure lemon. The children did all of the measuring and all of the clean up. What a fun day.

Baking with Yogurt

For our birthdays we got a brownie mix called No Pudge Fudge Brownies and these adorable aprons, our friends know us well!!! To make it, we simply add vanilla yogurt. It was easy for them to do this entire project themselves (with the exception of the oven piece). There were tasty!