Ten Years...

How the days fly! My sweet baby, my Mia Belle is ten years old, the golden age of childhood! I am still trying to wrap myself around this truth! It feels like yesterday that I was becoming a mother for the first time. We have forged new territory together, and I am so grateful for Mia. I have grown and learned so much in the past decade, alongside my children. I feel immensely blessed.

Mia wanted a woodland party this year. I found the cutest toadstool cupcake toppers, gnome candle and other goodies at Bake it Pretty. Amanda also has a super cute blog here. We picked up some delicious raspbberry poundcake cupcakes from Short Street Cakes, yum. These are a new favorite.

We came up with some fun projects. Mia collected bits of tree bark that she wanted to drill holes into and string necklaces. These came out so nicely, every girl had a different look for their necklace. We also made mason jar terrariums and added little fimo clay toadstools.  Such fun.

Mia, my courageous, heartful, creative, loving, musical daughter, my first, my pioneer...

Happy Birthday, sweet love.

Cottage Industry

The girls have been into finding things to make and then having a shop stand in our front yard. Not a lot of shoppers to lure in the mid afternoon of a week day, but they still have fun. Here are the fun finger knitted yarn belts that are the lastest trend in the house. They also work great for all sorts of imaginative play.

I love the color combinations.

Vivienne working on her head warmer/scarves for the next sale

Sweet Day!

I love Valentines day for the pure sweetness of expressing love. Luscious desserts and frou frou handmade cards show the goodness of the heart's gratitude. It was a sweet day, indeed. First, I made yummy cranberry heart shaped scones for breakfast. Later in the day, I got to share a meal with my book club, and the desserts were incredible! I made a beautiful Italian fresh fruit tart from the joyof baking.com. It was really fun to try a new recipe.

                                  

the family breakfast table

fresh fruit tart- the last piece!

In celebration of love~

In Harmony

As most parents know, it can be a rare and beautiful treat to observe joyful harmony and cooperation between siblings. Certainly, this is not always the case! Today, they have been greatly inspired to share cooperative games and songs. My girls have absolutely loved their Friday program, which is currently being taught by a Waldorf trained teacher, Mr. Crowe.

Give and Take,

Take and Give.

Each to the Other,

as Long as We Live.

The beanbags that we adore are made my Sonya at A Toy Garden, and are filled with beans and wonderful, aromatic herbs.

Here is the wonderful product of Mia's woodworking class, also taught by Mr. Crowe. Mia is so proud of her beautiful black walnut ladle  that she painstakingly made over many weeks. I am so grateful for the influence of Waldorf education that inspires creativity, joy and harmony in our home schooling life.

~with special gratitude to Mr. Crowe~

Waltzing With Fairies

Every so often, there is an event of great splendor that happens right here, in our home. The children gather in their finery, and we have a Grande Ball. It is delightful to witness. I sit in the living room and watch the parade of costume,  bows and curtsies, twirls and graceful steps to classical music. Oh, to be a child and live in the imagination!

And here you will find a fairy waltz(also known a Weber's Last Waltz)!

Birthday Boy!

Oh, my sweet little guy. How I love thee! What a joy and a blessing it is to celebrate my boy's fourth birthday. Still generous with hugs and snuggles, loves silly jokes (What is a hat? A HAT!....), and reading books, telling tales, inventing, creating, sewing, building, running, playing and singing songs...Full of wonder, light, and LOVE! Hurray for my little pirate boy!

the cutest invitations made by Bella and Boo

Georgian Hummingbird cupcakes

Jasper's party was so much fun because the girls helped create the activities. Mia and Vivienne created a puppet show, based on a cute book called "The Dog Who Cried Wolf" by Keiko Kasza. David even helped to narrate, and friends from the party joined in. We set up the playstand in the living room to make a stage.

Pappa Pirate introducing the Puppet Show

Vivienne made a treasure hunt, with her own written clues leading to the pirate treasure.I prepared several chocolate coins wrapped in a bandana for each child. The girls also helped to create a pirate cove, with a basin of water, decorated and filled with seashells, coins and little walnut boats floating about.

The kids sneaked upstairs to eat their chocolate coins

Jasper was very fortunate to get many special handmade gifts for his birthday. I will share more etsy artists in future posts! It was so lovely to celebrate his birthday with friends.

Mia got inspired by a cute puppy pattern from Sewing Green.

Vivienne's felt owl

A beautiful lavender pillow made by Ines

My sweet boy ~ I am one grateful mama. xoxo