Pen Pals

Most days, around 1pm, Henry looks up from whatever he is doing, to announce that he "hears the post mail coming. Most days, he hurries to open the front door in the hopes to see a pile of mail waiting for him. In that pile on most days, he hopes there is a package or envelope for him.
It is in the spirit of receiving mail that had me reaching out to mama friends in the hope of starting a pen pal program.
Why?
With Henry not in preschool, I need fun ways to teach him. Letter writing to a friend not only gives him the reason to practice his writing, it also gives my boy a reason to color. Henry is not so big on coloring or when he does colors, he only wants to use one crayon.
With pen pal letters, he draws pictures using lots of colors, practices with scissors, pastes pictures, learns about capitals and lower case, form words and learns about punctuation. All these good things from one letter writing activity. Lastly, with the USPS having hard times, I like the idea of keeping our local post office busy. Henry gets a chance to make a real transaction, with money exchange. The look of pride when he puts his letter into the mailbox is worth it alone.
I think you and your friends should start a Pen Pal program too! I mean who doesn't like to get mail?

Some suggestions to get you started-
Pick a theme a month
Younger kids can get in on it too by simply painting or coloring a picture.
Older kids can write small stories or maybe take some photographs.
Why not write a quick note to other mama's too.
Make homemade greeting cards.
Fast kid meal suggestions or a have your child write a mama and me recipe.

Waiting Away

    Sometimes, life takes you by the hook, casts you out and waits...for a bite. This seems to be my thoughts during the cold month of January...waiting...waiting for snow to come, waiting for the days to warm up, waiting for the ice to melt, waiting for the birds to come back, waiting to plant. I want it all. Winter seems to be frozen in time, not moving forward. This time last year, we had three snow storms, waist deep snow in which to tunnel, slide and build in. But, this year is different, no snow yet, just gray and brown outside. Every morning my little man Henry runs to the window with excitement only to be disappointed when he peeks and still sees no snow.
Seed catalogs are coming in the mail, my mind wanders off ahead to spring, when we can start our seedling. Sometimes we watch the cardinal, he comes to perch on my trellis, eating his seed. I miss the hummingbirds.
I know it is not good to think ahead or think of the past, we should be living in the moment. I find that hard sometimes. When day turns into night and night vanishes for the sun, it all seems to be the same in January.
I am waiting away.

Loving

The hustle and bustle of Christmas is over and I have cleaned up most of the mess. We still have about 50 books that I need to find homes for and I find myself missing the holiday music already. It is so weird to have it all end so abruptly. With all the new toys, books and gadgets, Henry, Papa and I are happily distracted for a little while... slowing down is so nice!

Right now I am really loving:
*My smartwool socks and the fact that my hubby knows me so well
* knitting on really big needles
* listing to Josh Groban holiday album
* cuddling in bed, under the warm covers, reading all the new books to Henry
* enjoying my newly turned four year old like his Kumon workbooks
* super proud of my little man when he puts on his own socks
* that my wonderful mother in law got me some super warm slippers and a vintage looking shawl! Love Her!
* painting the *new* Spring line for the shop...soy paint is so magical
* left over hazelnut and bird seed bark..yummy in my tummy
* new play dates with dear friends, because finally they have some free time thanks to winter break

My dear friends, what are you loving theses days?

Penmanship Practice

A good friend of mine gave me this really cute idea for a quick and easy way to get your little one to practice their penmanship. You write a letter and have your child trace your writing. Ingeniously simple.
Well what better way to get them to practice their letters than to write a letter to Mr. Santa Claus!

Henry just really excite and quoted me word for word what he wanted to say in his letter to Santa.

After I wrote it down in pencil, I gave him a marker to trace. He concentrated really hard, took his time and even had to switch markers in middle of writing because he "was not proud of his letters". When Henry was finished, he felt so proud! After addressing the letter to the big man in red, Henry insisted he must lick the envelope. Where was he when I had to lick 40 Christmas cards? (ahem)

 Post office bound with all those Apple n Amos order I have to mail out, Henry, with letter in hand, patiently waited for mama to finish up at the counter. With my camera at the ready, I was able to snap the very first pictures of Henry mailing a letter. I can't wait to add this to his baby book!

All in all a good activity, from the practicing of letters, to discussion of letter writing and what is a sentence all the way to how the mailman brings the mail to the North Pole. This is sure to be the start of a new holiday tradition!

In the Spirit

    

      I was never big on Christmas, oh sure, as a kid I was, but once an adult, the magic seemed to have left me. Being a mama now has changed everything...as it usually does. I love having  holiday music playing in the house all day and night. The lights must go up and the house decorated. I love our little tree too.
Last year, Henry and I decorated our tree with glittered pine cones in red, green, gold and cooper. It looks so great, I just can't get over it. The glow of the warm holiday lights around the house just makes me feel better. With it getting cold and dark outside, having these little bright twinkles all over the place are putting me in a better mood. But, nothing gets me in the holiday mood better than Henry. His sweet face, lighting up every time there is talk of Santa, or Christmas, or snow...boy....he just sparkles.

     December 14th our baby turned 4. For his special day with us, we took him to see Santa on the Polar Express train ride in Essex CT. It was great! Lights everywhere, our car had its own elf, doing tricks, singing carols...the works.
Santa and Mrs. Claus made their appearance complete with hot cocoa and cookies! Henry loved absoutly everything about this adventure...he was beaming ear to ear and so was I!
Kids just put you in that special kinda mood!
May you and yours be surrounded by all the magic that only your kids can bring!

November

                  October went out with a bang or should I say a blizzard. 2011 was the "year of the storm" in my mind. There was record snow fall in the beginning of the year, heat waves, record flooding, a tornado, a hurricane and a freak snow storm that nearly destroyed Halloween.
This brings us to November.
November the month of lists, shopping, remembering, traditions and gratitude. My hope is that November 2011 calms down, that I can be surrounded by my family and friends, enjoying each other rather than worrying about when the power and heat will come back on.
November is the start of our many family traditions, from food to gift making. November is the month for settling down, taking a breather and lets not forget planning for the up coming holiday season.
On the agenda this month, sewing and lots of it, from pajamas to repairs on hunting attire, to gift wrap bags. We also are planning on traveling to a local Native American museum and immersing ourselves in everything Native American and early settlers. I can't wait.
Lastly, I feel as though the Earth defiantly has something to say with all the extreme weather. There is nothing like severe weather to wake you up, get you thinking about preparedness and tell you who your real friends our. The serge of giving help to your neighbors has never been greater. My hope is that this light continues to be a pay it forward thought that is not easily burned out.

Adventures in the Woods

      Awhile back I mentioned Letterboxing to you in the hopes of getting you inspired and outdoors. It is such a fun time, being on the hunt for a special hidden treasure. Not to mention all the potential of education that can take place. From identifying trees, inspecting insects and rocks to learning a little history about your location. 

It is so funny how, at times, I wish my boy were just a baby again, so I can nurse him to sleep or carry him in my arms all day. Then there are times, like when we are letter boxing, I wish he were older so he could really understand the "adventure" of it, the hunting for clues, the element of accomplishment when his treasure is found. Some day...

For now though, I need to remember to focus on the "now" moments, the eager questions about the little things, the silly laughs about nothing. My sweet boy is growing up so fast. I am the one who needs to slow down and take it all in, just like Henry does.

Autumn Days

   One lazy day in Autumn, with the sun out and the air crisp, me and my sweet boy went for a picnic. Under our favorite tree we shared some sweet treats of peanut butter and apples, cheese and crackers and the best sort of talk there is between a mama and her son.
We came home with handfuls of leaves, ironed them onto wax paper. He and I made "Autumn" panes. I really love looking at these nature windows.
Oh how I wish Autumn could stay a wee bit longer. I long for these quiet, lazy days.

5 Mile Hike

   For the last few days, Papa Joe, Henry and I went walking in some of the most beautiful Autumn days that have blessed us. For you see, the last few weeks have been just dark, rainy and gray. Deciding where to go was not a hard choice at all, with a three year old obsessed with trains, we knew we had to venture to a local park that features a old railroad tunnel. Once the words "train tunnel" came out of our mouths, Henry had his hiking boots on and was waiting anxiously at the front door. The walk round trip was five miles in not so smooth terrain. But, it was awesome. I really enjoy the outdoors the most during Autumn. The air is cool, crisp and fresh. The colors are amazing, the sounds seem more clear.

   Interesting enough, as I was looking up some train tunnel history to share, I came upon a web entry that listed a letterbox near the train tunnel. Hmmm we just might have to go back soon.

Here is the letter box clue:
To find this letterbox you need to locate the train tunnel first. The train tunnel is approximately one mile south from the gate on the east side of the river. The former railroad trail becomes very visible as you travel southward on the road by the river. Simply continue to follow the rail road trail.

Then once at the tunnel, walking from the train tunnel North bound you will come to a four way intersection of trails about 300 to four hundred feet from the tunnel entrance.

You want to take the trail to the right going south east.

The trail to the left will take to to the dirt road by the river.

Walk approximately 300 feet up that trail and to the left is a large mutant pine tree with 7 or more tree trunks. The letterbox is in the base of that tree covered with sheets of tree bark.

For those of you that do not know what letter boxing is, I have left a link. Really cool stuff! You can also read about our past letter boxing adventure here
Letter boxing