Happy Hallowe'en!

I decided a long time ago (as I tend to do) that I really wanted Rachel to be Boo from Monsters Inc. for Halloween this year. Naturally, Josh would have to be Sully, and Laura could go as Mike Wazowski. Even though neither of them are particularly into this movie at the moment, I ... ahem... convinced them it was a good idea for my own agenda. (Rachel will only be two years old once! Age-appropriate costumes, people!) I also had to convince Josh, who was not enthralled with the idea of going as a big fluffy blue guy. I reminded him that Sully was the Top Scarer. It didn't help. But, because they are all so awesome, the humoured me and went along with it. <3

The whole thing from start to finish ended up being a lot of work. Laura and I started working on her Mike Wazowski costume over a month ago. We did several layers of papier mache over the exercise ball, which she was excited about in theory, but in practice she really dislikes being messy/ sticky. Since she didn't like the goo, she ripped up newspaper for me, and lost interest after about 2nd or 3rd layer.

The other two costumes were also time consuming to make, but I think they all turned out pretty cute in the end. :) We had to cut off Boo's 'hood' after pictures because the weight of the mop on top was pulling it down and being obnoxious. Also, Sully's horns weren't really that lopsided, but we didn't take the time to straighten them before the picture because our trick or treating buddy had already been waiting a while for us to get ready.

Rachel in her 'school' Boo costume

The Trick or Treating costumes <3 

Boo and Mike

Our less than spectacular Monster's Inc pumpkins

pumpkin carving the night before

Laura's self portrait
I just love this picture so much

Rachel's scribbles all carved out.
 Toddler + slow exposure to capture glowing pumpkin = blurry. :/

As usual, it was cold and raining for trick or treating, so the kids didn't want to stay out too long. We still got a good haul of candy, though, thanks to high density housing (enough to last the four of us the weekend anyway ;) ) When we got home we, of course, dove right in.  Josh and I were amused and pleased that the kids wanted all the crappy candy (gummy pizzas, no name marshmallow pumpkins, foil-wrapped chocolate eye balls, etc.) leaving the good, name brand candy for us! Win! LOL

Laura also said she likes handing out candy more than trick or treating. Fancy that! I'm sure she would change her tune if she actually realized that meant she wouldn't have candy of her own, though. ;)

Our Halloweeny dinner

Happy Halloween, All!

I LOVE MAKING STUFF (III)

This past year's compilation of crafty endeavours:

Button lamp for Laura's room

Rachel's 'Boots' costume

another Very Hungry Caterpillar hat for a cousin's first birthday

'Dad' photo frame for Father's Day

barefoot 'sandals' for one of Laura's preschool teachers

Rachel's baby quilt

Rachel's skirt

Fairy house and garden

Fairy chairs and toadstool table

matching crocheted sunhats for the girls

hair bow holder for the girls

A country burlap wreath as a wedding present for Josh's cousin

The benches from upcycled pallets and the cushion covers

'Bunny Rug' blanket for baby Hannah

Cross-stitched Wreck It Ralph shirt for Rachel's fiance

These sharkbite tops. Rachel had a matching one that I promptly lost
(somehow) before she ever even got to wear it. I also made matching
ones for our American cousins for when we visited.

A quiet book about dinosaurs that I started a long time ago but finished before our road trip

Another 'bunny rug' (they were my favourite thing when Laura was a baby,
so I like making and giving them as gifts), and a little bear hat for my cousin's new baby

ETA Oct 29: Another request for a hungry caterpillar hat for my friend's new cute little guy

Unschooling

      I think I have mentioned that we have decided to keep Laura out of Junior Kindergarten this year. For many reasons: first and foremost because we believe that sending our four-year-old away for full days, five days a week is ludicrous. It was the straw. Josh and I both have beef with a lot of things the school system indoctrinates kids with, and are hesitant to send our girls at all, but for now we are taking it one step at a time. Meaning, for now, Laura is staying home.

    One of our other beefs is that kids are designed to learn through play. Granted, the new 'curriculum' for junior kindergarten is play-based, and I think that is great. But I also think that it is quickly phased out for the less effective desk-learning. So, while Rachel is at nursery school, I am trying to facilitate ample learning opportunity through play for Laura. It has helped that the weather has been gorgeous this week, as we have gone exploring both days. And, to be honest, it is probably at least as fun for me as it is for her. I love being outside.

"Laura, what do you think made these marks?"
"Umm, probably snakes."
#earthscience #waterrunoff #propertiesofsand #riverformation #makinghypotheses

#physics #balance #bodyawareness

#spatialawareness #physics

#observationskills

Laura actually noticed this first.
#biology #makinghypotheses

#observationskills #biology #botany

#observationskills #biology #physicsofdroppingacaterpillar :/

#physics #earthscience

#biology #botany #observationskills

#senseofdirection #outdoorskills #observationskills #natureisbeautiful

#physics #personallimitations #pushingyourself #improvingselfconfidence

We also just (finally!) found some more local home-unschooling families this week and I am really excited to get together for activities with them! I cannot imagine not having Laura home with me all day right now. I am so excited to be on this journey with her.

A Long Overdue Visit

This week is turning out to be one of the happiest weeks I have had in almost as long as I can remember:

[Back Story]
In January of 2008, Josh and I packed up and moved across the world. We moved to Brisbane, Australia, literally pretty much the furthest place from our families. We were really excited to start our pre-children, post-wedding adventure of a life time. Though, to my surprise, I ended up enjoying it much less than I anticipated. Thank goodness for facebook in those times, because that was all that kept me going. I was so homesick, and missed our families so much! I surely would not have made it through if Josh hadn't been there with me. It was in some of those dark times, that I found Sarah. I had been placed on a practicum for my teaching degree that required an hour + train ride to and from my school every day. At first I was outraged that they couldn't find me a closer school to work at, but soon realized that I was meant to take these long train rides every day, for that was where I met the most genuine, therapeutic, and empathetic friend I've ever had. Sarah was in her first year of teaching, and taught a lot of the same students I did at our school. She could offer advice on teaching strategies, and was always willing to lend an ear on topics outside of school, as well. Our partners ended up having a lot in common, too, so we started double dating on the weekends. She was exactly what I needed to get me through my year away from home there. So, on October 25, 2008, we had to say goodbye, and had no idea how long it would be for, or if forever.
Our lives since then have become increasingly crazy. Through family deaths, miscarriages, her mother's aneurysm, intense pregnancies, the birth of our children, and more, we have supported one another as best we could from 15 000km away. Sarah and her partner even asked Josh and I to come back and stand up in their wedding in January 2010, but we had to bittersweetly decline as I would be 8 months pregnant with Laura then.

So, all of that to say how important she is to me.

AND THEN. They moved! The moved to the SAME CONTINENT, the SAME TIME ZONE, even! Granted they are still a 13 hour drive away, but to us, that seemed like a walk around the block! So we made arrangements for a visit. A long overdue visit. Our children are withing months of each other in age, and having 'watched' them grow up on facebook, I was ecstatic to meet them in person and have our children all play together. As infants, we joked that Lily and Laura were sisters, and that Rachie and Archie are betrothed. And now we were finally getting to meet them in real life!!

So, back to what I was saying. This week has been everything I imagined it would be. Laura and Lily get along so nicely. I have never seen Laura just 'click' with someone so well like that. It truly melts my heart. And Lily has been asking to do everything beside Laura. I would adopt these kids in a heartbeat. And although Archer and Rachel are betrothed, at this point they do not appear to be overly interested in playing with each other. I blame their age. ;) When we went to visit Storybook Park on Monday, they did seem to resign to being paired with one another, though. Cute. <3

We have immensely been enjoying our time this week with our old friends. It is just so amazing to be able to spend time with them again, and be going through the same stages of life with them. And parenting is so much easier when there are four adults! Need groceries? Not a problem, there are still three of us here to watch the kids! Want to take a buddy? No problem, we've still got two! Need a shower? No problem! Only some  of the kids want to go to the park? Sure! Bring along another parent for some company! Love. It.

Other highlights from this week:

The kids have been getting tremendous use of the sandbox this week. Probably more than they ever have, combined. And as such have been pretty dirty. So we've been bathing Lily and Laura together for funsies and to save water. One night, Laura's tummy was giving her some trouble, and just after Lily had hopped out of the bath, Laura farted in the tub and ... followed through a little. Oh my! So glad Lily had just gotten out. At least, we're pretty sure she did. A disinfectant tea tree oil scrub of the bathtub followed. ;)


We had a play date with one of my friends this week while Sarah and her crew were visiting. She wanted to meet Sarah, so we arranged for her to bring her little boy over. When they were getting ready to leave, he finally got up his courage to ask his mom, "What language is she speaking?" regarding Sarah and her Australian accent. So funny. <3

Rachel also started preschool this week, and when it was time to pick her up, we gave Laura the option to come with, or to stay and play with Lily and Archer, who were going to go to the park (See? Four parents are awesome!). She chose option B. Once at the park, Archer, who is only two, needed to pee, and there were no bathrooms, so his dad, the only chaperon, told him to go behind a tree. The four year old girls saw him do this, and decided to follow suit before Bob realized what was happening. So, the girls had their pants around their ankles (right next to the road, no less) before he realized and could tell them they couldn't pee at the park! He was legitimately terrified someone would drive by and report a man at the park with children running around half naked, but managed to pull it together and get everyone dressed again. ;)

This week has been so amazing for us, we can't wait to do it again next year at their place! <3

Rachel's First Day of Preschool!

Trying to keep opportunities equal between my children, Rachel went to her first day of her preschool program today. We hadn't really made a big deal of it beforehand, mostly because she had seen Laura being dropped off a million times and I would often have to pry her away from the toys when it was time for us to go. I didn't anticipate any problems dropping her off, and she marched right in like a trooper. Daddy, Laura, and I said our good byes and she was on her way. When I picked her up, they said she had a bit of a rough time transitioning from play time to circle time and that she had asked for bottle and bed and also to go in the car. :( Poor Bee has had such a busy week with our visitors and messed up scheduling/ sleeping that it didn't really come as a surprise. It did hurt my heart a little bit though. <3
I'm sure she will grow in confidence, and once routine is restored and she is properly rested, I'm sure she will rock it. She seemed happy as a clam when I picked her up, so that was reassuring. I love love the staff at their preschool, and am confident she is in good hands. <3

Leaps & Bounds Part II

I posted a little while ago about a spurt of independence Laura was going through, but she has continued to blow me away for the past couple of months! She has been doing well in the self-regulation department and really been trying to use strategies to calm herself when she is feeling upset (a big step for her!), learning to read, dressing and undressing herself, choosing her own outfits (and most of the time they even match pretty well!), folding and hanging her own clothes and putting them away, brushing her own teeth (and hair to a lesser extent), getting her own snacks and drinks, and basically just needing me far less than I am used to. 95% of me is extremely happy about this, but 5% is a little sad about this punch in the face of independence.

Welcome, Rikako!

     We have hosted exchange students before, but since having Rachel we have not had a free room to offer, and so we haven't had one for a while. However, the girls are sharing a room now, and although the nursery was supposed to become a craft/ homeschooling room, we were approached by a company we had formerly worked with who were desperately looking for a few more host families for their Japanese exchange program over the summer, so we decided to help them out and keep it a bedroom for a few more weeks. We had to use one of the girls' big girl beds and subsequently Laura has chosen to sleep on a mattress on the floor for the time being. Anyway, the girls are at a good and fun age now to host someone, and I think they will gain a lot from having someone from a different culture in our house. We are looking forward to the next 2.5 weeks with our student, Rikako!