The Great Out Doors!

We are so happy that the weather in Phoenix has reached a near perfect temperature! There is so much to do, and the children are enjoying the Great Out Doors!
recently, during our Learn and play Class, we went out side with glass jars, soil, and seeds to plant and water our first seedlings! We pray they grow :)

This week we also went on a hike with the toddlers. Out back near our community center are the Sonoran Hike trails. It was about 3 miles, and 1 hour that we all hiked up and around the bend viewing mountains, plants, and sky as far as the eye can see.  It was wonderful!!
Some funny things that happened this week in the Great Out Doors...
Olivia told me a sad story about a bug. It went something like this, "Oh buggy. Nooo. Mommy, buggy urt. Boo boo buggy. Mommy, buggy go poo poo and cry". Olivia also is learning NOT to eat sand, flowers, and rocks that live in the back yard. With sand out lining her little mouth, she says to me, "Mommy. Ewww. No no sand." Um. Too late! And flowers. Olivia can not stop herself from picking what little flowers we have. Yet there is no way I can scold her when she kisses the flower and hands it to me saying, "Wuv you Mommy".
Gotta Love the great Out doors!

November Pumpkins

Pumpkin Patch Play date! What a great time!

Moms from our Learn and Play class went to a Pumpkin Patch last week and had a great time!

They had a corn maze, petting zoo, tractor, lady bug train ride, bouncy house, and of course, PUMPKINS!

After arranging the car pool, which means putting car seats in each others cars- if you have done this- you understand! the sweating, pulling, grunting, and fastening of mysterious straps is all very painful- once done, you hopefully get some car time with your girl friend Mommy. That is unless you are playing spaghetti arms to reach for the sippy cup that just fell, or singing ABC's for the 100th time, or cleaning up your entire out fit plus the car with a single baby wipe. Come on. You know you've done these things! And once you all arrive in one sane piece, the day is wonderful! Big pumpkins, small pumpkins, and the kids want them all! Savor in these adorable pics :) xox V

animals at the farm

the pumpkin patch (Fatou, Tristen, Livi)

farm chickens (Dylan)

Logan

Lady bug train

Corn Maze

Tractor

Trent, Gabe, and Olivia

Yeah for pumpkins!

Dress Up!

Dress up!

We all love to dress up...think about it. When was the last time your hubby asked if you wanted to go to a black tie dinner and you didn't say, "YIPPIE!!"

So let's not let the fun stop at Halloween. Dress up is a blast, and it emotionally and socially is beneficial for your child (therefore you).  I have a bin of scarves, hats, beads, and shoes that Olivia loves to dress up with. I also give her the freedom to choose different parts of her out fits each day, and her p.j.s at night. She is enjoying imaginary play, and is so creative with what characters she invents during dress up time. I encourage dress up for children, and adults. Want to have a girls night out anyone???

The fascinations of a child

Choo choo trains. We enjoyed a day at The Scottsdale Train Park, which I highly recommend, and Olivia was beside herself.  She could watch, talk about, and ride trains all day long and never tire of it.  What decides a child's fascination? Is it something new? something predictable? Something that they don't yet understand?? So many things are new to a child. It is in their delivery makes these new encounters fascinating, or boring.  Think about movies and TV shows... the delivery is so tempting that you are drawn into it. When we introduce foods, books, and other experiences and we are excited, curious, and also fascinated, our child will be drawn into the experience with us.  Sometimes I look at situations from Olivia's view and let myself feel 23 months old...unexpectedly awaiting the new events each day.  Living as a fascinated child can be so much fun!