Television?

I have always carefully monitored what my children watch on television.  We have chosen to forgo cable television so that the only type of television my children have access to is Public Television (PBS).  I have been super pleased with the educational programming PBS offers.  Some of their shows helped with the learning of letters, numbers and colors for my big girl at an early age.  I attribute this learning from not only our efforts and her intense interest, but to the wonderful programming PBS offers.  Not only is the programming educational but it also instills creative thinking and good values (something every preschooler needs to hear from someone other than mom and dad).

Some of our favorite PBS shows are:

  

BabyCenter recently posted an article on good programming for children.  Their list combines PBS as well as cable shows.

What kind of TV censoring do you use in your house?  Do you set a time limit for watching?  

I would always rather my children be playing outside, doing a puzzle, coloring, dancing, or pretending...BUT I think a little quality television is ok too.  

Digging in the dirt...and other adventures

Have you ever dug new potatoes fresh from the earth?  My girls experienced this first-hand at a fruit and vegetable farm in our area.  There is something wonderfully exciting about digging through the mounds of dirt looking for the reddish skin of a potato that is ready to be harvested.  At first my big girl was hesitant to get her hands dirty but with a little encouragement (and reassuring words that the dirt was just dirt) she dove into the task of finding potatoes.  My little babe enjoyed sitting in the dirt and feeling its different texture.  I was incredibly happy to see them enjoying the simple pleasures of harvesting something fresh from the earth -- and playing in the dirt with just their little hands (no plastic please)!

Just down a few fields were the most glorious blackberry bushes.  They were filled with many ripe blackberries that begged to be picked from their weighted branches.  Many of these lovely and delightful blackberries ended up in my girl's belly rather than in the box.  Now, I am not a huge fan of blackberries because I find them too tart.  But these, fresh picked, were the most glorious treat my mouth has ever tasted.  Warmed slightly by the morning sun, these berries were delicious!!

Here's to a summer full of bountiful harvests!  Enjoy!

Good ol' TONKA

There is nothing like a wild ride, given by your sister, on a Tonka truck.  Big enough to haul a sizable load and sturdy enough to get her to her destination without injury (thank goodness)!  These trucks come highly recommended by the preschoolers I know, especially this one.  He was the inspiration for our Tonka dump truck purchase.  I have a feeling this truck might be around long enough to witness these girls driving real trucks!

Rain magic...

When light spring rains set in and all indoor opportunities are exhausted,

reach for the pint-sized umbrella to share with a friend.

Marching outside barefoot in the fresh puddles

makes a lasting impression

Forget the boots, hats and gear,

just grab an umbrella to share with a friend.

My big girl experienced this with her friend last week.  

Who doesn't have fond childhood memories of walking and playing in the rain with or without an umbrella?

It is always unplanned and spontaneous making for fabulous preschooler fun!

And the babe sleeps....

After 9 long months sleep has finally come!

A multitude of thanks to Dr. A and Dr. Ferber for their expert help!

Monthly Organization: Project 2 "Mom's Center"

I am a stacker and a dumper.  I stack papers and dump things into drawers.  I am a very neat stacker and dumper but just not an organized one.

A few months ago at a mother's meeting I attend, a professional organizer came and spoke with us.  She highly believes in these little "command centers" for moms.  We all have a place where we dump and stack...mine is in the kitchen.  It's the place I first come to when I arrive home with "stuff."  I have a little metal basket that I dump things into daily.  This sad little basket gets so overwhelmed with "stuff" that I often don't know what the contents are.

So, this month I thought I'd make my own little "Mom's Center."  I used the ideas of the professional organizer and tailored it to fit my needs.  I used a desktop file to make files for all the papers I usually "dump."  I went to this lovely store to get the file and folders.  I made files for the following areas:

Shopping List
Menu
Coupons
Preschool
Kid Activites
Home Projects
Babysitter
Pet Sitter

You can make whatever files you need.  These are just some of the files I created.  I am sure I will create more as I use the "center" more often and find out what my specific need are.

I also found a little matching box of sorts that sticks to the file box with magnets.  It is perfect for the keys, pens and notes.

Because the file box is metal, I can also use these hefty magnets to attach little notes or photos.

The trick with the "Mom's Center" is to go through the files weekly.  We'll see if I can commit to that....

At least the overall look is much more organized than the old dump basket!

"I'd rather be a mother..."

"I'd rather be a mother than anyone on earth

Bringing up a child or two of unpretentious birth...

I'd rather tuck a little child all safe and sound in bed

than twine a chain of diamonds about my [carefree] head.

I'd rather wash a smudgy face with round, bright, baby eyes

Than paint the pageantry of fame or walk among the wise."

-- Meredith Gray

Happy Mother's Day!

photo by Sherry Hammonds Photography