Getting our greens on

Eliot took a picture of Danny cooking our version of greens for the New Year. Kale counts right?

Happy New Year

This begins my 7th year blogging. I am so glad I started this journaling of my life. It is like I have a baby book on the kids and simple outlet to the world in one . I don't share everything but I can read between the lines. We are struggling to keep our house. A house we really don't like mind you. I am struggling working in a field of education that only holds at most half the enjoyment and fulfillment it once did. My dreams of running, I mean moving away, seem so far away. My dream of becoming a full Midwife in a legal state seem far away. Becoming a better mother when I have to work out of the house so much seems out of reach.

OK Happy New Year!!!

A Mother's Rosary

These are my meditation beads. I used to carry them around wherever I went. I started recently to keep them in my bag in their box.  I need to actively handle them more. I was called today to sit on the Earth during my break but I sat in my warm car instead. Now I feel I missed something.  I need to reconnect.  Tomorrow I am off work. I am going to try hard to get outside with the kids even if it is only in the back yard. Working inside during the Winter is so challenging.  I need daylight.....

One of my favorite children's books at it again

 

In my classroom I am now teaching two year olds. This is really my strong suit teaching wise. I enjoy younger children and I enjoy training adults but two year olds just come to me naturally. It is almost like I can read their minds. I am deep into my Midwifery training but teaching is still my day job and pays the bills.

 

And, who doesn't want to play with puppets, blocks, and children all day? This book is my go to resource for helping children learn their colors. And I know it by heart in several languages!!

Between sisters....

 

Elaina and Eliot are growing so fast. They are 5 years apart give or take a bit. They get each other's jokes and share a lot of clothes. They sleep side by side (in my room). Some say they look a lot alike but a Mother can really see the differences. I have an older sister and I can never remember a time we ever got along. Either we were just too different or we just weren't meant to share each other's lives. I am hoping a few of my daughters can carry a bond through life. Lyn and Annika are distant and who knows what is in store for little Etta. Daughters have a special place in their Mother's hearts. I share my heart with all I care about but my girls mirror me and the mirror can show the good, bad, and the ugly....

 

The future for all of them is just waiting to unfold......

 

Gwyndolyn

Annika

Eliot

Elaina

Etta

 

I love you all.....

Earth, Water, Fire, and Air

 

I cannot wait to delve deeper into this book. It draws so many of my beliefs about teaching and raising children and my respect and awe of the Earth as our Mother together. And, it looks like soooo much fun!

The Winter Witch

When I was collecting books at the library for the kids at home and for my classroom I came across this one. I really like it. It winds several Winter celebrations together into a tell able tale to help children understand there is more to the season than just Christmas. I found it to be a very Unitarian Universalist type of book also. The kids enjoyed it. Maybe not as much as I did but they sat through it at least.....

A Tarot deck based on the Bible?

Yes, that is what I finally found. It is in German but I am very excited about it. I have some Christian and German ancestry so this should be fun. :)

I can't even find any more information about this deck but it really holds a lot of interest for me. The imagery is rich and not what you would expect. I can't wait to get to know it better.

Bubbles with my youngest girls....

I tried posting this picture a week or two ago and it never posted so even though it has nothing to do with today or anything recent I just like it. Etta is so intrigued with bubbles nowadays....

Together for Christmas

The pictures are never very good but the kids all had a good time playing together today. Granny had a little something for everyone. The littles also received some gifts from their other grandparents. Watching everyone change so quickly amazes me and then it is like time stands still sometimes. Today Eliot and Connor hung out a lot. That translates into... the 7 year old sister tortured her 14 year old brother. Deep down I think Connor enjoyed the attention. Eliot sure enjoyed the rides on his shoulders.

13 months old today! !

Etta Sophia you are growing up.....