Hygge in autumnal bliss♥

 All the littles went to school... some for the first time... new adventures for all♥

I spent the first three days bursting into tears randomly... it was the first time I've been alone in 14 years... it was sooooo hard.  I've always had little ones around me, who needed me... I wasn't even sure who I was without them here.  It was truly hard for me this year...

 The older I get... and the older they get... the less time I want to spend on house work, paper work, etc. and the more time I want to spend just "being" with my kiddos... there is an expiry date on childhood and I feel the ticking clock more keenly this year.  My eldest started high school and my youngest started junior kindergarten... there are a finite amount of years you get to spend with them before their adventures take you out of their constant inner circle... I'm feeling it...

 There are warm, comforting feelings each time we select a title for some quiet reading... we're all hygge at home here and our selections this autumn feel expansive!  I know that is likely a new one for you...  Hygge (Hoo-guh), Danish for feeling cozy, peaceful, joyful contentment from experiencing the simple things of life.  We are richly blessed with our autumnal time we get to spend together♥

Thanksgiving blessings...  Our Thanksgiving selections this year♥ 

 Some Spooktacular Halloween Selections for the little ones this year♥

Eeeeeek! I'm super stoked about the selection for my teens to adults this season... they're seriously going to love it!

Coming into a highly commercialized season...  we would like to remember... children need experiences... not things and we have all we need of "things"... we are continuously pairing down, working towards owning fewer "things" and providing more experiences... the time we spend together exploring, learning, growing, bonding... loving... is infinitely more important...  there will be less under the tree this year and that is a good thing... a life of hygge♥

Loose parts and Play dough♥

Here is a picture story of the creative play that can happen 

from setting up loose parts and play dough provocations:)

 Small, interesting containers with sorted, various small 

parts/creative tools are inviting and feed curious minds... 

Arrowhead♥

Hours of Nature Play is a gift♥  We enjoy our intimacy with nature... 

Our connection with the natural world relieves stress from busy lives and returns us to a connective state in which we feel whole♥  This innate need to be immersed in our natural environment sparks our creativity and inspires our journaling this month♥

♥Books Books Books♥

For July, I thought I'd highlight one of our daily activities we adore♥

Our reading time has always been an important time of our day... 

Silent reading allows one to explore new worlds, new depths and new reflections... 

"Buddy reading" is a sharing experience, making connections while learning from each other♥

Our journals create an extension to our reading where they can record their thoughts and feelings...

All forms are equally important on their literary journeys... 

Here is a peek of this months adventures into the land of imagination:D

 

 

 Libraries are a buffet for the mind and dear to my heart♥

 

 Our table is most often covered in books, journals, sketch pads and snacks;)

Here are a few of our favourites in July♥

 

The kids loved to call out the animals and sounds... all ears all eyes:)

 

 A favourite of my 8 year old son...  while he mostly reads chapter books on his own, he relishes the opportunity to read this kind of picture book to the girls... it has a fictional story line but load in a ton of useful facts about animals they want to learn more about:)

 This was a peaceful book... I could have read it over and over... put the girls right to sleep;)

 This was by far a group favourite... all gathered around to listen to the wonderful cd and read along with the book... I've ordered us a copy for home... it's one of the ones they don't want to take back to the library... it's a keeper... and their copy should arrive in August♥

 ... made Mommy cry reading it to them... ♥

 Another favourite for the 3, 4 and 8 year old kids... my 8 year old son loved reading this one to the girls for imagining cloud shapes is one of his favourite pass times♥

 Lovely story with something special for their journals... a little something to remember...

 This book of poetry tied in to our study of trees this past month.  There were poems for all the kids aged 3, 4, 8, 12 and 13... and the older ones got a real kick out of the play on words... must read... Poetrees;)

 This chapter book is making it's rounds between all the boys ages 8, 12 and 13... it's entertaining, well written story grabs their attention and pulls them deep into the little world of our tiny hero♥