At the end of July I started working part-time at Creative Minds Children's Center. A special place for infants, toddlers, & preschoolers to learn, grow, & explore in a safe environment with a strong family-like support system.
I also began taking a course called "Chance for Change" which will in the end give me my Child Development Associates Credential. (Qualifying me for better positions in a preschool setting.) :)
I am learning so very much especially right now about the Reggio Emilia Approach and environments. Our teacher, who is also the center's director/owner, is having us re-do the playground. My partner and I are doing the water table area and will be building a water wall.
This weekend I found some odds and ends around the house and decided that I was going to build one for Ella at home. James quickly hopped on board to assist me in my endeavors. I learned a lot about using a hand drill. :D
We quickly decided to make our "masterpiece" porch-worthy we would need more supplies. We went to Pick & Shovel and bought some materials, no more than $10-15.
Here is a picture of our final creation:
Everything is pretty much able to move and designed to shift if she wants to make new path ways.
Materials used:
Recycled/re-purposed/had: Water bottle, soda bottle, small buckets, sippy-cup bottom, toy cups from kids meal, nesquik bottle, 1 funnel, drill & screws, board.
Purchased: Pool hose: $1.29/foot (used about a foot), turkey baster bottom $1.50, red baskets (set of 3 for $3, used 2), metal brackets .25c/each (used 3), duct tape $3, Funnels $2.50 (set of three), pipe $1.49, & clear tubing $1.65/foot (used 2 feet).
First little sprout of my peas.
"Like a big mountain, a small garden stimulates, restores, and delights us, just as it poses challenges, promotes mastery, provides exercise and relieves monotony."
- The Power of Place, Winifred Gallagher
It all begins with a seed. A tiny little seed that holds such amazing magic inside. With a little tender love & care they can transform into delicious nutritious food that is good for our bodies. However, for me, the process of growing it is just as beneficial as the reward. :)
Gardening is good for the soul.
Studies have shown that even just spending 30 minutes digging in the dirt can lower the stress hormone cortisol & help boost your mood.
Pea sprout transplanted into the garden.
Peas growing strong.
Starting a plant from a seed is like welcoming a new little baby into the world. You get wrapped up into caring for it and wanting it to survive and do well. Once it is outside and on its own you worry about the elements and what effect it will have on the plant. And then you rejoice in the "fruits of your labor" when all that TLC pays off.
Flowers on my peas. :D
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Radishes. :)
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My daughter Ella, after a nice trip to the garden. :D
And then there is sharing my passion with my young daughter. We have lots of fun gathering peas and carrots together and eating our gatherings right away.
By having Ella help me in the garden she is also learning valuable life skills such as: patience (waiting for things to grow), responsibility (by taking care of the plants), & also a little about loss as the plants wither after harvest. She is also learning about where good food comes from. Garden vs. Grocery Store.
Yummy Carrots!
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Some of our peas.
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Now I am waiting on my cucumbers, squash, corn, peppers, tomatoes, & jalapenos to grow some more. I love learning new things about gardening. I love the trial & error. I love getting dirty and having Ella excitedly spray the hose all over the place. I love my little pea picking/ carrot pulling helper.
I love gardening!! <3
So go get dirty & plant something. Probably radishes since they are one of the fastest to grow or some pretty flowers. Breathe it all in and enjoy!
Ella with her ever-growing instrument collection.
When it comes to Kindermusik, I guess you could say that I have the best of both worlds. By day an enthusiastic Kindermusik educator for loving families and silly children, by night a Kindermusik Mom to a true blue Kindermusik Kid.
Ella is now 27 months and the terrible twos have come on full force lately.
Last night she was kicking me, repeatedly. But the part that made it hard to be mad was that she was kicking me with a steady beat and singing "kicking, kicking, kicking." Hard to be mad at the progress that is so easily shown in all that she does. :)
Hard to be mad... when she decides that although musical instruments do have a fun purpose they can also be used as weapons in time of anger. Let's just say that Ella's instrument collection also sees a time-out every now and again.
She loves to dance..and dance..and dance and is starting to have a beautiful little singing voice. :)
My Own Journey into Early Music Exposure...
with my Nephew
Here he is at around 2 weeks with his first encounter with the triangle shaker. Bright eyes/ so alert! :)
Here he is at 4 months with the three-bell shaker!
Team Bella: The Gallace Family, Jessica Harris, & Ella and me.
I am very late in posting this. The walk was at the end of May.
Team Bella had a wonderful time in the sun and walking around the track.
We were the youngest team and the smallest team but we were all there for the same reason.
To find a cure for Bella and everyone just like her.
Our team raised over $1,700 this year. :)
Halloween Classes were fun and interesting! My Imagine That class was a small class of 3 due to sickness, but we managed to do alright with out trip to "Grasshopper Park." I look forward to starting my very small baby class next week! :P
Today I had my first two Kindermusik classes ever! I am now even more excited then ever to continue on this journey! I have such a hard time accepting that my classes went well for them being the first ones ever!! I am pretty critical I guess and needed some reassuring. :P I love wiggling & giggling with my full class of Our Time friends! And the trip to Grasshopper Park with my Imagine That group was lots of fun! I can't wait until next week and to get more comfortable! :) Love it!!
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