School Time

***Warning***
Mainly my entries are "Hey, this is what we're up to everybody!" (Usually with a billion pictures to accompany the event...no matter how hard I try to scale back:) Well, this entry is a tad more reflective, so read on at your own discretion......

Anna and I have been pretty consistent in using Ben's down time (2 hour afternoon nap) effectively. We usually use this for lunch time and school time, which is mostly like a craft time, but Anna loves to call it school. I try to incorporate educational things, but hey, I'm not going to push it. She just turned 3. For the record, I do think Anna is such a smartie (as if I hadn't mentioned that before) and could be "taught" many things, but I also know that now is the time for natural discovery, make-believe play, and good BOOKS! (I can see how books are really broadening her vocabulary. Right now one of her favorite words is "bonjour." Also, I noticed today that she's trying to figure out how to use "sensitive" and "boring" in sentences...she's come close. I think she almost knows what they mean.)

So, during school we have painted - see above - and talked about mixing colors to make different colors. We made paper plate masks (her idea) and Anna got some scissor practice in - see below. We often play with play-doh and make different objects, and compare which snake is longer, shorter, etc. We talked about seasons, and plants growing, and made "pine-cone people" as Anna called them from a nature walk we took. We've done lots of different things, but I'll stop there. I love it. Anna loves it. It's priceless creating and discovering things together.

It's amazing watching my kids grow and learn and develop each day. Ethan has always been such a hands on, AMAZING dad, and we shared the parenting responsibilities pretty equally until now. (A lot of that was because I was still in school too.) So, now it's mainly me and I am finding such fulfillment and peace in that. I've been thinking about motherhood a lot lately and all the joy I am experiencing through it. (Wait, I've always found joy through motherhood since Anna was born...well, realistically, since she was about 3-4 weeks old. I'm just experiencing something different having just moved, not knowing many people, and it being just me and my two little sweet potatoes all day. It's wonderful.)

I'm just so grateful that I am able to stay at home with my sweeties and take care of them, learn from them, and try to teach them, not just educational things, but spiritual too. I'm grateful I get to experience all their little milestones with them. I'm grateful that I can tell Anna and Benjamin "I love you" anytime I want during the day (and it's pretty often). I am grateful to be a mom, and to have two of the sweetest kids in the world. I know this is what I am meant to be doing right now. Maybe I'll use my degree and be a teacher down the road, or maybe I'll teach piano lessons again someday. But right now, I love being able to devote myself full time to Anna and Ben-Ben.