The smiling eyes of a baby looking up to find his big brother. Big love...

"Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth "you owe me." A love like that lights the whole world." ~ Hafiz


Read this on someones Mothering signature today and just had to share.

I am most at peace when I am in the outdoors. Always have been. I become easily overwhelmed when I'm in a big store, don't do well in crowds. When I'm having a rough time I remind myself to go outside, feel the sun on my face, and breathe. I am pretty sure my little fellas are like this too, and I just love sharing this time with them. The experience is very much their own, exploring, being. But I feel so fortunate to witness it.

We have some wonderful trails behind our house, we walked them today. You're welcome here any time-- really. Park in our driveway and just head on back. Let us know if you want some company. And enjoy.

One of the boys' favorite shows is Curious George. Apparently there was an episode on recently which had good old George earning money for doing chores around the house. Not generally a tactic we employ around here, but maybe that will change.

Noah approached me yesterday asking if he could do some things to help out around the house. In exchange, he informed me, I should give him money. Then he could go to the store and buy whatever he wanted. Commercials, ugh.

When he returned minutes later asking for his payment I handed him a penny. A good start, I figured.

"No, no" he states, "I meant paper money."

Footnote: We're on Day 1 of TV Detox. It was a difficult morning, but we're getting through. Henry and William are now taking naps, and Noah is creating his own game. Well worth the pain, I think.

"Mommy, I'm going into outer space.
I want you to come, too. And William."


"Noah has to stay home."

Gooey Gunk, AKA SLIME!

My boys love messy, sensory "experiment" type activities. I love these types of activities too, and for those of you who need to know, they involve all sorts of curriculum connections. Math, Science, Reading, Art... But most importantly, they are lots of fun.

I have found many great activities in a favorite book of mine titled The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions. I have used it for years, and it is one of Noah's favorites. He pulls it off the shelf almost daily and asks to make something. We made SLIME the other day, and it turned out really well. You remember SLIME, don't you? It came in the little garbage can...

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Solution A
1 c water
1 cup white glue
food coloring

Solution B
1 1/3 c warm water
4T Borax laundry booster

HOW TO CONCOCT:

1. Mix ingredients in Solution A together in a medium bowl.
2. Mix ingredients in solution B together in another bowl until Borax is dissolved.
3. Slowly pour Solution A into Solution B. Do not mix!!
4. Roll around solutions 4-5 times. (I let it sit a few minutes.)
5. Lift Solution A out of Solution B and knead 2-3 minutes. Play!
6. Store in air tight container.

For a good free time...

visit the horse barns at UNH! The boys and I went over yesterday with some friends and had a great time! Our friends visit often and had some old apples with them; you can feed the horses unless a sign on their stall indicates otherwise. We fed the horses, played in the grass-- the boys loved it!