I guess a monthly update is the best I can do in this season of my life. We strive for simplicity, but our days are still full. Full of diaper changes, endless snacks, bread baking, vacuuming, tiny moments of learning, tantrums, meals made and dishes cleaned over and over and over again. They are holy moments that are sometimes mundane, but oh so grand when we add them all up. And mostly, it's the reason I can only send once-a-month updates :)
January started out with a bang. I usually don't like setting goals and expectations for the year. The New Year feels like a funny time to start anew, right in the middle of winter and hibernation. But this year was different. I felt a stirring. A renewed spark to set some goals. I want to read a lot this year, both for myself and with my kids. I want to move my body more, not to lose weight or get fit; but, simply because I have given my body over to having babies and nursing babies for the last 5 years. It's time to feel better in my body and rejoice in the health God has given me. This year, we are aiming for 1,000 hours outside again. We are focusing our attention on getting back to better diets and whole foods. We are simplifying and slowing down, which is something we have to be constantly intentional about.
The kids have done a great job of getting outside so far. It's better for all of us.
We are learning all the time. I've had to remind myself (and my husband) that our "schooling" looks different than compulsory education. Living our life is our "school". I would say a majority of our book learning right now comes from actual books from the library and conversations we have all throughout the day. Just today, we discussed Greek mythology, taxes, Arctic animals, Noah's ark, constellations, the density of ice vs. water, the difference between a verse and a chorus in a song, and different Disney songs.
Most weeks we visit the library where the kids have free reign to pick books that interest them. Right now, Ewan loves looking for truck books and Isla loves looking for unicorn books. I always pluck a few off the shelves that I think are worth reading too- this week I found some books about snow, a first graphic novel to show Isla, and an intro to science for babies. The kids LOVE books. Isla is especially obsessed with audiobooks. After she spent months listening to the Little House on the Prairie series, she has now switched courses and spends all her free time listening to the Magic Treehouse series. We have had more conversations about history and real life events/situations than ever and I credit those books.
Another part of our week is co-op. So far in January, we have had some fun events! I organized a trip to an art class for our group. Another mama hosted a science day of learning what is above and under the snow. We made garlands to hang outside for the animals to eat. Then we hosted a show and tell day where everyone was able to bring something to show the group. Isla was the inspiration for this event as she has said that's the only reason she wishes she could go to school. The kids loved showing their things so much that we plan on doing it again soon! And finally, we had our playdate week at a local gymnastics place where the kids got to roll and tumble for an hour as they had the whole place to themselves.
So after the library and co-op that leaves three days in our school/work week that we fill with other life. One of those days is usually some kind of trip somewhere- Mimi's house, the YMCA, a playdate, the store, etc. And the other two days are usually home days. We bake, we craft, we do workbooks, we play, we snuggle, we read, we clean. And that's our math, science, language arts, history, and art. That is our education right now. Every once in a while something sneaks in that looks like typical "school" like letter practice or name writing, but it's never forced and almost always prompted by the kids themselves. I love that their education looks like this.
In the middle of January, I was a single parent as Michael took off for his annual ice climbing trip. We survived (even while I had a head cold) and he had a nice time!
Shortly after he returned, we celebrated my 33rd birthday. Michael smoked me the meat I wanted, I went out to my favorite restaurant with my parents, my dad made my favorite peanut butter pie, I was spoiled, and we celebrated Nana's birthday too with the family.
The next day, we headed to St. Louis to have Callis Christmas. We got to see Michael's grandma Fred and his extended family. It was good to be together! We stayed the night in a hotel (the kids absolute favorite thing to do) and headed to the zoo the next day. It was a balmy 18 degrees so we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. It was a great trip!
January has been good.
Comments
Post a Comment