Thanksgiving

We celebrated our first family Thanksgiving this year, trying to teach our children the value of giving thanks for everything we enjoy without noticing it.

I prepared a turkey with lovely pistachio and cranberry stuffing, along with potatoes, carrots, brussel sprouts, gravy and cranberry sauce.

There was also pumpkin pie with maple syrup whipped cream.

The whole family loved it all, and we have several frozen servings of turkey for the months ahead.

DS2 prepared a Thanksgiving card, gluing feathers on a turkey I had drawn, and we had jolly turkeys on our napkins that day.

A Gingerbread crib

We decided not to display our traditional, fragile Italian-made crib in our home this year, for fear of having to replace most of its figures by the end of the year.

Instead, we opted for an ephemeral version.

I designed patterns for two stables, as well as a manger and a couple of fences. We prepared the gingerbread house dough and cut it following the patterns (the rest was used to make St. Nicholas figures). Assembling the lot was a little testing, but the stables are still holding strong (the fences were discreetly nibbled on, I'm afraid).

The hay in the manger is marzipan coloured with yellow food colouring and pressed in a garlic press. The figure of Mary is also made in marzipan, coloured in blue mainly. I have not had a chance to help make other figures, as the children happily contributed their Schleich animals to the scene (and of course oats and water for more realism!).

Advent, the Steiner way

It's been a long time, and we have been very busy since my last blog.
Fast-forward to the time of Advent.

Here are some of the things we have been doing with the Acorns, a toddler group linked to the Greenwich Steiner school:

folding kite waxed paper to make Christmas stars
decorating a plain candle with crimson and golden wax

pinning cloves into an orange for a lovely Christmas scent

Leeks pie

23-months-old DS2 was up before the rest of the family this morning, so we had an intimate breakfast and started to prepare lunch: a leek-based dish from Northern France called "flamique picarde". You need to thinly slice, wash and drain the white parts of 10 leeks. DS2 was clearly up for the challenge: in good Montessori fashion, we organized our space to work neatly from left to right. DS2 focused on the self-imposed task of separating the leek rings from each other and placing them in the colander.

After one leek, he decided to turn his attention to the salt dispenser. For the first time, he managed to turn the lid so that a pinch of salt was sprinkled on the kitchen floor when he shook it. No worries: our little Montessori boy headed for the dustpan and brush and cleaned up his mess. In truth, I struggle to pick up fine salt with the dustpan myself, and DS2 actually spread the salt towards the sides of the kitchen. Never mind, the intention was there!

DS2 was playing when I prepared the dough and mixed the cooked leeks with creme fraiche and egg yolks. I used mostly wholegrain wheat flour instead of white (I need to re-stock). 30 minutes in the oven, and...

Voila!

Heidi

As we are soon heading off to the Austrian mountains, I borrowed the classical Swiss story of Heidi from the library. I found it in a lovely abridged edition from Usborne, illustrated with watercolours by Alan Marks and a simple, accessible text from Susanna Davidson. It is based on the story by Johanna Spyri. The book is in a nice large hardback format, with two sentences per page. Perfect for 4-year-old DS1.

Here is a photo from the book, where Heidi spends her first night at her grandfather's.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Story-Heidi-Picture-Book-Classics/dp/0794517161/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1248603003&sr=8-1 The Amazon feature mentions a CD, which we do not have in the library's version of the book: this suits me, as I am not rushed by the pace of the CD and can add extra explanations where needed. For instance, the book does not explain why Heidi's parents are dead. I could not remember precisely, so I said: I think they very ill and since in those days they did not have as much good medication as now, Heidi's parents died from their illness. DS1 was satisfied with this explanation.

DS1 liked the book so much after we first read it this morning, he said he wants to read it after breakfast every day from now on! We will see... There are always many interesting things to do after breakfast.

In any case, I am even keener than before to breathe in fresh mountain air next week!

Bible stories

DS1 is increasingly keen to have at least two or three Bible stories read to him every evening.

We have been reading stories from "La Bible des petits enfants" (editor Mame Fleurus, 2002, ISBN 2-215-04288-5) for some time. A nice feature is that it is illustrated by four different artists, so that if one style does not appeal, the others may well do. The text is accessible but not bland or childish.
http://www.amazon.fr/Bible-petits-enfants-Karine-Marie-Amiot/dp/2215042885/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247256837&sr=8-1

Then I found a board book, "Lift the flap Bible", published by Candle Books, illustrated by Tracey Moroney, at our local Exchange Project for nearly new clothes and other items for children aged 0 to 5. I thought it would suit DS2 perfectly, which it does, but DS1 is also very happy with it, and likes to follow the action by lifting the flap exactly at the right moment while I read the story. The text is short, as, indeed, the book is recommended for ages 10 months and older. A good way to have an introduction to a complex biblical episode or parable.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lift-Flap-Bible-Book/dp/1575844036/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247256761&sr=1-1

I am currently borrowing "My First Book of Bible Stories" (Caxton Editions, 1999) from the library. Both sons like this book very much, too. The stories are somewhat longer, typically on four pages, but abundantly illustrated. I may be tempted to order a used copy for a symbolic 1p (+postage) through Amazon...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1840670622/sr=8-1/qid=1247256675/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1247256675&sr=8-1&seller=

Gingerbread men

Our boys are starting to have a decent summer tan. Our neighbours call them "gingerbread men". This reminds me of a baking session a few days ago. We prepared a gingerbread dough together (I measured the ingredients, DS2 poured them into the mixing bowl and DS1 stirred as much as he could). DS2 played happily with the dough, pouncing it, making crumbs, gathering crumbs, etc. DS1 carefully rolled out his share of dough and cut little men and circles. Here is the result...

Peeling onions

I was planning to prepare a corn-flour-based pissaladiere for dinner, which involved peeling and slicing 1kg of onions. Since the weather was nice -- albeit a little windy, I gathered a chopping board, knife and colander and joined the children in the garden. They immediately took interest in what I was doing.

This turned into a practical life exercise: they peeled onions with delight, checking that there was nothing rough or brown on their onions before placing them in the colander. Since I had not planned this as a Montessori-type exercise, it was a little disorganised, with insufficient space for 3 persons to place their peelings, especially in windy conditions. But having two helpers did help speed up the preparation.

Neither had much of the warm pissaladiere that night, but DS2 ate it with delight when it was chilled at our picnic the following day.

Day at the beach: Joss Bay, Broadstairs, Kent

A lovely day at the seaside! Blue sky and sea, lovely breeze, bright sunshine, and the exotic sounds of waves and seagulls. DS1 had not been at the seaside since he was 4 months old, and this was DS2's first contact with the sea. They both loved it. The water was cold enough to ensure they would not try to swim: they were both content to have water up to their knees.

Apologies for the quality of the pictures and video: DS2 had investigated what was hiding inside the camera's objective the evening before our trip...

Waves

Seagulls

Sandcastles (ours were more modest in scope and ambition)

Bouncy castle (a bit too bouncy for DSs' taste)

Ice cream (DS1 leaves the cone, DS2 starts with the cone...)

Treasures (crabs, seashells, seaweed, etc. and several long rusty nails, not on the photos)

And this morning, still some lovely sand seeping out of pockets, bags, etc.

Blooming

The seeds ("Fun to Grow Multi-Pot: Grow a Rainbow" set and RSPB Wildlife Attracting Seeds from Suttons Seeds) we had planted what seems like ages ago are now turning into delicate, colourful flowers.



Our new lavender plants are not thriving (yet), but then they were washed down with rain for almost 4 days after their arrival. Not what they are "used to" in the Provence...

The little eucalyptus tree we planted last week adds a lovely fragrance to its corner of the garden.

DS2 seems to have given up his habit of tearing out leaves randomly, presumably inspired by my weeding activities. He concentrates on the chives and parsley, which he nibbles happily while playing in the garden. He loves to spend some time in the garden before going to bed to check whether the ants have gone to sleep yet.

DS1 is very protective of the plants that are growing in the garden, and admiring every new petal...

Car wash

The boys decided to practice their car wash skills when the weather was warm. They washed their tricycle and ride-on car with soapy water, scrubed with sponges and brushes, then rinsed and dried them. Great attention to detail. No drop was left out. And good cooperation, too.

Nature watch

We enjoyed the beautiful summer weather last week (and how right we were, given today's rain downpours...).

While gardening and watering, we found a friendly caterpillar who took residence at home overnight and at school the following day. We treated it to fresh leaves, including some of our home-grown lettuce.

Here is our friend in action:

There are now a few colourful flowers to observe in the garden.

Yesterday was not as sunny, but we received the delivery of several plants: eucalyptus, lavender, rhododendron and more. So we spent the end of the day gardening and finding a home for all these little treasures. Several are in the form of bulbs: they will teach us a good lesson of patience.

Building fun

One of the first phrases DS1 uttered was "bud-de-daye", which was meant to signify "Bob the Builder".
Apologies for the free advertisement...


DS1 is older now, but tries to make cement with water and sand at the back of the house -- he knows there are other ingredients we do not let him handle, yet.



We have also attempted to build our own little Egyptian pyramids in the sandpit.

DS1 also ties simple strings in various locations, in the obvious hope that he will ultimately build a spiderweb-like structure.

Another old-time favourite is to use an old clothes-dryer, pegs and tablecloths to build one's cosy little hut. DS2 joins in with glee.









The rainy day option is often the set of blocks or wooden bricks.

Finding ready-made structures like old trees in the highest areas of neighbouring Greenwich Park is a blessing.

New age, new occupation, new blog

Hello again,
It has been a long time...
Since I last blogged, I blew quite a few candles. I also realised that I now always introduce myself as a full-time mother (rather than as an analyst) and no longer follow financial news closely (or other non-educational news, for that matter).
Hence this new blog page...
Perhaps you will find examples of how our children live the Montessorian approach to learning at home, comments on conventional school education, cooking and reading tips.