Take time to stand in wonder... embrace the beauty and stillness♥

 

 

Our backyard, covered in a blanket of snow♥

The kids have been having fun, playing all day... embracing the beauty and stillness of winters majesty.

We now have a multitude of snow gear drying by the fire while we get ready to enjoy another pot of homemade chicken stew! 

Our crock pots will get a lot of use this winter...

A lovely way to end a day... so hygge♥

 

  

 What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
WH Davies

Blessed♥

Whether I walk trails or parks with my kiddos,
Or gaze upon the birds nest in our yard,
Or wade our feet along the beach just in the edge of the water,
Or stand under vastly soaring trees in the woods,
Or converse, or rest, or dine with the ones I love, 

Or play fun games, or thoughtful inquiry with my littles,
Or become lost in one of our new books... or old ones,
Or watch my littles riding with me in the van,
 Or watching sleepy baby eyes while nursing,
Or become deeply moved while we watch films,
Or watching our wildlife on our homestead,
Or wet kisses on my cheek and little arms around my neck,
Or delight in leaves or snow twirling through the air,
Or the wonder of sunset, dawn, or of stars shining so quiet and bright,
Or the exquisite scent of my babies hair, or the quiet of their breath on my skin;

Or cuddle entwined, holding hands or being close... 
These with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles and I feel truly blessed♥

SGJ~2017♥ 

  Based on Leaves of Grass poetry collection by Walt Whitman

Kindness is the best gift this season♥

Welcome to the season of giving♥

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♥

Provocations with 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:)

 I like to add in authentic resources like the real, metal cookie cutters in a fancy silver tray.

 Small, interesting containers (even the glass ones you see in the pictures) with sorted, various small 

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

♥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♥

Summer... a time of nature submersion, reconnecting and discovery:)

End of June... Beginning of a new chapter... turn the page...

 

Today is the last day of the school year!  Hurray:D  Which means it's time to delve deep into summer... Slowing down and immersing ourselves into the experiences that rejuvenate us, reconnect us and inspire us... we get to live in the day to day closeness we wish we could have all year long.  

School often feels like the interruption to "us" and our journey but school is essential and we learn best from a village:)  Many teachers mean many perspectives and a collective knowledge to light your candle with.  

I hope this summer expands and enhances their year long learning and rekindles their love of learning with new study techniques to take them on the next length of their journeys...

 

My Eldest Son:  Graduated from Elementary School January 27th and will continue on to High School in Grade 9 this September... 

My two middle Sons completed their perspective grades and feel very optimistic about the autumn and their journeys into grades 7 and 3...

My Daughter and my other darling in care will enter Junior Kindergarten and their first experience in a formal classroom... so far... Nature and our home environment have been a third, unseen teacher and I know they are filled with the curiosity and persistence that comes from a self-directed, open ended play based learning environment♥

I am so proud of the wonderful individuals they are and cherish these times we share together♥

They played this wonderful video at Brendan's grade 8 Commencement Ceremony and I believe it is a perfect ending for this chapter and a perfect introduction into the next...

 For summer... we will take this time to slow down... I need to remember every moment... I cherish this time... my sweet babes... slow down... ♥