Being a good dad...
Bear masks...that crafty Christin!
Painting snow and snowflakes on the windows in preparation for next week's plan...
Monday, January 17, 2011
Friday 1/14/11
Bear masks...that crafty Christin!Painting snow and snowflakes on the windows in preparation for next week's plan...
Saturday, January 15, 2011
See You Later Alligators
In case anyone has the illusion that the owner of a preschool has the answer to every child and family question, and that her own family skips through fields of lavender giggling each weekend, let me be the first to tell you that's not the case.
This year, one goal I have for my family is to find more time to be with one another in a positive way. My kids are now 10 1/2, 7, and 4 1/2. They have responsibilities at home. They can do a lot for themselves--actually, it's amazing what they can do. My husband and I still do a lot for them, too, willingly. We don't have chore charts, though our chores and routines are well known to the children. There's no allowance, as I think that doing your part in the family should come from a benevolent place, not just to get a five dollar bill. That may change some day, but for now that's my stance.
This morning, after a rainy, cold week, my kids certainly had a bit of cabin fever. They fought, they pinched, they laughed, they cried, "he" hit his sisters with a stick, "she" raced to spite her sister by turning off the tv first, the other "she" pretended she couldn't put on her clothes though she makes a mean cup of coffee and can expertly scramble six eggs. My cabin fever met their's, as well as a back yard to rid of puppy poop, and a husband who had a couple hours of work to do... I'm sorry to say it was a recipe for disaster.
No going to pick out paint for my daughter's bedroom, no making rice crispy treats, no reading library books for as long as they wanted me to. All of my plans for us were suddenly destroyed by my desire not to fight my way through it.
Maybe I failed, but I had no patience left. No time to explain why I made what I did for breakfast. No time to discuss again why some people eat rabbits. No time to convince them that they were going to crack their heads open jumping from the furniture to the concrete floors. (Did I mention that my four year old son tried his hand at shaving yesterday with me just steps away? I am a bit rattled.)
So, I called my mom. I told her I couldn't take care of my kids today, if she and my dad didn't have plans and could help me out. I dropped them off after a tearful discussion about what kind of mom I want to be to them when we are together. I told them to make a plan for how to pick up their dog's poop diligently and that if they could just keep their rooms relatively clean, we would have more time for the good stuff. The happy times.
I miss them and they are fine. I am, too. Maybe we all just needed space. Maybe I need to do this more often instead of trudging through the hard times trying to make it "fun".
~Leslie
This year, one goal I have for my family is to find more time to be with one another in a positive way. My kids are now 10 1/2, 7, and 4 1/2. They have responsibilities at home. They can do a lot for themselves--actually, it's amazing what they can do. My husband and I still do a lot for them, too, willingly. We don't have chore charts, though our chores and routines are well known to the children. There's no allowance, as I think that doing your part in the family should come from a benevolent place, not just to get a five dollar bill. That may change some day, but for now that's my stance.
This morning, after a rainy, cold week, my kids certainly had a bit of cabin fever. They fought, they pinched, they laughed, they cried, "he" hit his sisters with a stick, "she" raced to spite her sister by turning off the tv first, the other "she" pretended she couldn't put on her clothes though she makes a mean cup of coffee and can expertly scramble six eggs. My cabin fever met their's, as well as a back yard to rid of puppy poop, and a husband who had a couple hours of work to do... I'm sorry to say it was a recipe for disaster.
No going to pick out paint for my daughter's bedroom, no making rice crispy treats, no reading library books for as long as they wanted me to. All of my plans for us were suddenly destroyed by my desire not to fight my way through it.
Maybe I failed, but I had no patience left. No time to explain why I made what I did for breakfast. No time to discuss again why some people eat rabbits. No time to convince them that they were going to crack their heads open jumping from the furniture to the concrete floors. (Did I mention that my four year old son tried his hand at shaving yesterday with me just steps away? I am a bit rattled.)
So, I called my mom. I told her I couldn't take care of my kids today, if she and my dad didn't have plans and could help me out. I dropped them off after a tearful discussion about what kind of mom I want to be to them when we are together. I told them to make a plan for how to pick up their dog's poop diligently and that if they could just keep their rooms relatively clean, we would have more time for the good stuff. The happy times.
I miss them and they are fine. I am, too. Maybe we all just needed space. Maybe I need to do this more often instead of trudging through the hard times trying to make it "fun".
~Leslie
Friday, January 14, 2011
Weekly Menu, 1/17-1/21/11
Monday
AM: organic granola bars (peanut butter or cinnamon)
Lunch: veggie burger on multigrain bread (soy-free), organic apple slices
PM: sweet potato chips w/homemade ranch dip
Tuesday
AM: steel cut oatmeal w/ cinnamon and organic sugar
Lunch: homemade dirty rice (brown rice, grass fed beef, green and red peppers, onion), roasted cabbage
PM: Pirate's Booty, dried apricots
Wednesday
AM: organic gluten-free cereal, organic milk
Lunch: homemade soup (organic quinoa, organic veggies), homemade organic bread (kid-made) w/organic butter
PM: rice crackers, homemade wild salmon dip
Thursday
AM: gingerbread cookie, organic apple slices, hot chamomile tea for PreK
Lunch: enchilada casserole (black beans, shredded cheese, homemade organic enchilada sauce), roasted organic carrots (kid-peeled!)
PM: peach smoothies (organic peaches, almond milk, honey), pretzels
Friday
AM: fruit and nut granola bar
Lunch: Sicilian pizza (California Pizza Kitchen--cheater meal!), organic baby spinach w/homemade vinaigrette
PM: organic tortilla chips, cheese cubes
AM: organic granola bars (peanut butter or cinnamon)
Lunch: veggie burger on multigrain bread (soy-free), organic apple slices
PM: sweet potato chips w/homemade ranch dip
Tuesday
AM: steel cut oatmeal w/ cinnamon and organic sugar
Lunch: homemade dirty rice (brown rice, grass fed beef, green and red peppers, onion), roasted cabbage
PM: Pirate's Booty, dried apricots
Wednesday
AM: organic gluten-free cereal, organic milk
Lunch: homemade soup (organic quinoa, organic veggies), homemade organic bread (kid-made) w/organic butter
PM: rice crackers, homemade wild salmon dip
Thursday
AM: gingerbread cookie, organic apple slices, hot chamomile tea for PreK
Lunch: enchilada casserole (black beans, shredded cheese, homemade organic enchilada sauce), roasted organic carrots (kid-peeled!)
PM: peach smoothies (organic peaches, almond milk, honey), pretzels
Friday
AM: fruit and nut granola bar
Lunch: Sicilian pizza (California Pizza Kitchen--cheater meal!), organic baby spinach w/homemade vinaigrette
PM: organic tortilla chips, cheese cubes
Thursday, 1/13/11
It was just your average day at farm school...for the last several days the goats and one sheep are breakin' out afterschool or early in the morning. I think they miss being close to the kids and come out when the school parking lot starts to get busy. All of those little voices are so enticing...
Vaughn is super-warm...thick jackets, gloves, and hats have been necessary this week during our short (but necessary) times outside. Some kids have arrived in shorts, PJs, and thin first jackets with their parents. We assure them that via natural consequences and discussions of what is healthy for their bodies, children will quickly make the right decision to add appropriate clothing and layers.
For the next several Thursdays, PreK has added making hot chamomile tea to their morning snack. One lump, or two?
One kind and supportive father asked if we wanted him to put our crazy animals away before he went to work yesterday. I didn't want him to smell of goat and animal poo, and so I said we could get it. He said he'd be happy to do it because he knew we were so busy. In the end, we left the animals out for a while and he closed another unrelated gate for us, then was on his way. I just want all of our families to know that we so appreciate all of your offers to help us! Sometimes, we have a hard time saying "yes" because we are caregivers who by nature can't accept nurturing (duh!) and because our work usually involves the messies in life--we know you've gotta look good at work!
2011 is already off to a busy start. Andrea has been swamped with tour requests and in a week sold 6 new spaces! The extra revenue will give us the funds necessary to tackle projects that have been on our list for some time. If you like to paint, let us know as repainting the school is a priority this Spring.
Sara Ballard has been working on revamping the labyrinth with her sweet mom Linda. Many thanks, ladies! Watch for some workshops soon utilizing the labyrinth. Go, Sara!
We have a gleaming new refrigerator that had been in the store--Andrea and I made a quick switcheroo with the dolly before lunch yesterday as today there will be lots of new food stock for the next two weeks. Girl power!
We excitely await the delivery of our mod washer/dryer combo. Melissa gave the downstairs bathroom a fresh coat of paint last weekend in preparation for its delivery. After more than two years of hauling school laundry home on a daily basis, Janie and I are saying a BIG "Woot, woot"! (So are our husbands who deserve credit for staying up late to make sure we have clean aprons for the morning.)
2011 is already off to a busy start. Andrea has been swamped with tour requests and in a week sold 6 new spaces! The extra revenue will give us the funds necessary to tackle projects that have been on our list for some time. If you like to paint, let us know as repainting the school is a priority this Spring.
Sara Ballard has been working on revamping the labyrinth with her sweet mom Linda. Many thanks, ladies! Watch for some workshops soon utilizing the labyrinth. Go, Sara!
We have a gleaming new refrigerator that had been in the store--Andrea and I made a quick switcheroo with the dolly before lunch yesterday as today there will be lots of new food stock for the next two weeks. Girl power!
We excitely await the delivery of our mod washer/dryer combo. Melissa gave the downstairs bathroom a fresh coat of paint last weekend in preparation for its delivery. After more than two years of hauling school laundry home on a daily basis, Janie and I are saying a BIG "Woot, woot"! (So are our husbands who deserve credit for staying up late to make sure we have clean aprons for the morning.)
For the last two weeks we have been discussing animals in winter. At the end of this little hay burrow is one of our rabbits, Mocha. We had fun yesterday observing the way he stays warm in the cold.
Vaughn is super-warm...thick jackets, gloves, and hats have been necessary this week during our short (but necessary) times outside. Some kids have arrived in shorts, PJs, and thin first jackets with their parents. We assure them that via natural consequences and discussions of what is healthy for their bodies, children will quickly make the right decision to add appropriate clothing and layers.
For the next several Thursdays, PreK has added making hot chamomile tea to their morning snack. One lump, or two?
Thursday, January 13, 2011
So Far This Week, 1/10/11
Blueberry-banana smoothie face!
Four year old birthday celebration...
Watercolor painting...
I helped put on two jackets and gloves, but he kept these sleek glasses a secret in his pocket and surprised me on the playground!
Toddlers washing the chalkboard...
Painting bear masks...
Perhaps an over-zealous baker yesterday...
Monday, January 10, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Today was a cold drizzly day at farm school...
8:00 AM...What will we get into today? We're supposed to be heading outside right now, but it's not looking good. But we do that--we go outside in nearly all weather. The children need it. We need it. We will be one of the only preschools in Austin today to make a go of it, and with sheep!
9:00 AM Pack it up! Pack PreK's snack for Tabi and Janie in the wagon! Load up the water bottles, a small trash bag, and some wipes for hands and noses. Mass evacuation...PreK is headed to the "misty forest". Right in front of four touring families? We're not afraid to be who we are in the name of what is best for children.
10:30 AM Transistional PreK takes a short walk around the school, then spends imaginative time on the play yard. The kids create an imaginary train that flys up through the big tree. God, why didn't we mulch the play yard sooner? It is awesome to be able to play without getting so muddy.
11:00 AM The Toddlers, the Toddlers! Ellen and her kids go to check the cats' food bowls. Happy, bouncing, cherubic children. Look at their vitality! Fresh air and movement = health.
************************************ 
Writing table...
Toddler book club after nap...
8:00 AM...What will we get into today? We're supposed to be heading outside right now, but it's not looking good. But we do that--we go outside in nearly all weather. The children need it. We need it. We will be one of the only preschools in Austin today to make a go of it, and with sheep!
9:00 AM Pack it up! Pack PreK's snack for Tabi and Janie in the wagon! Load up the water bottles, a small trash bag, and some wipes for hands and noses. Mass evacuation...PreK is headed to the "misty forest". Right in front of four touring families? We're not afraid to be who we are in the name of what is best for children.
10:30 AM Transistional PreK takes a short walk around the school, then spends imaginative time on the play yard. The kids create an imaginary train that flys up through the big tree. God, why didn't we mulch the play yard sooner? It is awesome to be able to play without getting so muddy.
11:00 AM The Toddlers, the Toddlers! Ellen and her kids go to check the cats' food bowls. Happy, bouncing, cherubic children. Look at their vitality! Fresh air and movement = health.
Kids plus a wooly one...
Asa and Aunt Janie...glad they get to see one another during the week! He's glad he brought his big jacket after all...
Asa and Aunt Janie...glad they get to see one another during the week! He's glad he brought his big jacket after all...
************************************Some recent pics...
Cooking/eating...
Writing table...
Toddler book club after nap...
Mixed age grouping and cross-over between classes on the playground allows for times like this. "How does she do that?" thinks the little one.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Menu, 1/3/11-1/13/11
Menu, Week 1/3/11-1/13/11
Mon 1/3/11
AM: Sunrise Energy Bars Lunch: taco salad (vegetarian chili, organic tortilla chips, shredded cheese, organic spinach, tomatoes) PM: crackers with organic peanut butter and organic raisins
Tues 1/4/11
AM: organic oatmeal w/sugar and cinnamon Lunch: rice pasta w/wild salmon, roasted cauliflower PM: carrots with homemade ranch dip
Wed 1/5/11
AM: orange slices, organic animal crackers Lunch: roasted butternut squash soup, homemade bread w/organic butter PM: organic hummus w/cucumbers and organic corn thins
Thurs 1/6/11
AM: Amy’s graham snacks, pineapple, hot tea Lunch: roasted organic potatoes and baked turkey meatballs PM: guacamole and organic tortilla chips
Friday 1/7/11
AM: gluten-free blueberry muffins (organic blueberries) Lunch: pinto beans over organic brown rice with cheese PM: cheese cubes and Goldfish crackers
Monday 1/10/11
AM: organic apple slices Lunch: organic peanut butter and organic strawberry jam roll-ups (Flat Out bread), buttered organic corn PM: peanuts and craisins
Tuesday 1/11/11
AM: organic blueberry-banana smoothies Lunch: tuna salad, crackers, organic applesauce PM: bean dip w/tortilla chips
Wednesday 1/12/11
AM: organic raisins and dry cereal Lunch: vegetable soup (organic mixed vegetables, tomato sauce, organic quinoa), homemade bread w/organic butter PM: Greek yogurt w/organic granola
Thursday 1/13/11
AM: Chex cereal w/organic milk Lunch: ham sandwich (nitrite/nitrate-free ham, multigrain bread), organic green beans PM: snack mix: Goldfish crackers, peanuts, organic raisins
Mon 1/3/11
AM: Sunrise Energy Bars Lunch: taco salad (vegetarian chili, organic tortilla chips, shredded cheese, organic spinach, tomatoes) PM: crackers with organic peanut butter and organic raisins
Tues 1/4/11
AM: organic oatmeal w/sugar and cinnamon Lunch: rice pasta w/wild salmon, roasted cauliflower PM: carrots with homemade ranch dip
Wed 1/5/11
AM: orange slices, organic animal crackers Lunch: roasted butternut squash soup, homemade bread w/organic butter PM: organic hummus w/cucumbers and organic corn thins
Thurs 1/6/11
AM: Amy’s graham snacks, pineapple, hot tea Lunch: roasted organic potatoes and baked turkey meatballs PM: guacamole and organic tortilla chips
Friday 1/7/11
AM: gluten-free blueberry muffins (organic blueberries) Lunch: pinto beans over organic brown rice with cheese PM: cheese cubes and Goldfish crackers
Monday 1/10/11
AM: organic apple slices Lunch: organic peanut butter and organic strawberry jam roll-ups (Flat Out bread), buttered organic corn PM: peanuts and craisins
Tuesday 1/11/11
AM: organic blueberry-banana smoothies Lunch: tuna salad, crackers, organic applesauce PM: bean dip w/tortilla chips
Wednesday 1/12/11
AM: organic raisins and dry cereal Lunch: vegetable soup (organic mixed vegetables, tomato sauce, organic quinoa), homemade bread w/organic butter PM: Greek yogurt w/organic granola
Thursday 1/13/11
AM: Chex cereal w/organic milk Lunch: ham sandwich (nitrite/nitrate-free ham, multigrain bread), organic green beans PM: snack mix: Goldfish crackers, peanuts, organic raisins
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