The Crow and the Pitcher

Ollie's Lesson was from the Aesops Fable, The Crow and the Pitcher.

Ashley drew the picture.  Pretty impressive I'd say.

Of course, Ollie wasn't impressed.

Lantern Walk

This was a magical night!

We started out with warm soup and fresh bread by candlelight.

We then lit our lanterns, which we had made earlier in the day, 

and began our walk out into the backyard while singing

The sunlight fast is dwindling,

My little lamp needs kindling.

It's beam shines far in darkest night, 

Dear lantern guard me with your light.

We reverently walked along our creek singing, until Ava pushed Ollie and made his candle go out.  Then Ollie started getting angry in classic Ollie fashion.

I was about to get upset myself, but then took a deep breath, and Ashley and I were able to turn it into an even more spiritual experience.  We talked to the kids about how sometimes, our candles, or our inner light, does go out.  But just as I relit Ollie's candle with mine we can help others, or ask for help ourselves, if our inner light burns out.

After we finished, we came inside for hot cocoa by candlelight.

It was a simple, quiet celebration and I loved it!

St. Martin

I've wanted to teach my children using a Waldorf based curriculum, but I couldn't find the right one.

But I found it!  A Little Garden Flower!

It's only been a few short weeks, but I'm loving it.

I'm so happy to be embarking on this Waldorf journey with my kids.

I can't think of any other way I would want them to learn.

This is my chalkboard drawing of Saint Martin for Ollie's Main Lesson.

Tomorrow we will be going on our lantern walk, it will be our first, and I'm so excited!

Oh, so are the kids. 

Soaking Up Every Ray We Can

It's about this time of year that we all start feeling a bit crazy.

(I feel crazy fairly often, but this is a different kind of crazy)

We let ourselves believe that Summer is just around the corner, it is after all, Spring.

But we forget what Spring at 6000 feet in Utah means.

It means that on April 1st, it is hot.  Play at the park without shoes and get sweaty and sunburned, hot.

April 2nd, the wind starts blowing.  Hard.

April 3rd dawns with snow.  Inches of snow.

And on April 4th, with half melted white patches still on the ground, we play outside.

We pretend it didn't snow, and we pretend it's not cold.

Because, for goodness sake, it is April 4th, and it is Spring, and every inch of us is yearning to feel the sun on our faces and the grass tickling our toes.

So this Mama and her three little ones, will continue to live in denial.

Doesn't it look like Spring to you?

A Gift

So, guess what my Mom gave me...

What an amazing gift!  

I've been spending all my spare time spinning, 

I'll post pictures of my new girl soon.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.  Inspired by SouleMama

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

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On a walk

Spring is here, and we are outside!  

I love Spring.

I'm sure in the next few weeks, we'll have a giant snowstorm that will cover all the grass again, 

but for now, we are walking.