9/20/17
Not So Little Berry
It's been so long since I've posted here. In many ways, I outgrew this space, but it still feels like home. I'm sitting right now at the park with our 2yo Izah while Little Berry is at school. After many years of unschooling, Mads decided this year to try public school, and it's going about as well as you'd expect. The kids are mean, mean, mean. They say the most hurtful things to the kindest kids. Mads comes home every day completely exhausted from the emotional toil of fending off bullies every minute of recess. It's not a healthy or sustainable way to spend ones days, and I doubt we will last at this school till Christmas. Honestly, I'm more worried about Maddison choosing to continue (out of fear of disappointing papa, the teacher, etc) than I am about Mads quitting. Mads, I assume someday you will read this, and it's really the only reason I'm here writing. Papa and I love you so much. It breaks our hearts to hear how mean kids are to you and the knowledge that there's an adult behind each of them who is just as cruel. You are so brave and tolerant of others. You do such an amazing job of putting up with cruel insults and tauts, even when we tell you you don't have to do it anymore. I hope you know that you are the bravest, fiercest, most amazing young human. I'm so proud to be your mom.
4/23/13
The Great Cloth Diaper Change
This past weekend we went to the Great Cloth Diaper Change here in Denver. It was so crowded! We waited in line at least an hour. I passed up on the goody bags since they were limited& my little one is out of diapers, but I heard they were full of super goodies!
I got to meet the nice folks from Boba which is a local company to me, and my favorite, Jessica-The Leaky Boob& Sugarbaby, who was having her first birthday during their visit! It was so busy at the event I didn't even think to get our picture together, but it was so nice to meet her in person finally after chatting with her on twitter for so long.
Here are a few terrible iPhone pics of the event:
I got to meet the nice folks from Boba which is a local company to me, and my favorite, Jessica-The Leaky Boob& Sugarbaby, who was having her first birthday during their visit! It was so busy at the event I didn't even think to get our picture together, but it was so nice to meet her in person finally after chatting with her on twitter for so long.
Here are a few terrible iPhone pics of the event:
and one of all the cute babies!
Did I mention the babies? This event gave me huge baby lust. There were so many cute, squishable wee bebes I think my ovaries singlehandedly tried to make me pregnant while I was there.
Did you go to a Great Cloth Diaper Change event? Tell me about it!
4/13/13
Giveaway! Mini Glider Glide Bike Set!
This is a review and giveaway of the children's Mini Glider, Helmet, and Bell set from Glide Bikes {ARV $132}. Their Mini Glider is designed for children ages 2-5 years and teaches them to balance without pedals or training wheels right from the start. The Mini Glider is a bike that is sized just right and features a truly innovative design which prepares children as young as two for biking adventures.
The Mini Glider is a real bike designed for children as young as 2 years all the way up to 5 years old. The Mini Glider does not have pedals, and so it makes riding fun and easy. Instead of pedals, the child uses her legs to kick-push herself along.
This design both improves motor control and balance and teaches children how to glide and how to sit on a bicycle without falling over. It features airless tires that allow children to glide long distances in between pushes, clever foot rests that are easily removable without tools, a quality hand break for safety and control, and an adjustable seat that allows you to get the perfect height for your young cyclist, as well as an included kickstand, which we chose not to install.
It requires some basic assembly, which I managed in under 20 minutes with a 4.5 yo "helper."
While in the past I had been skeptical of balance bikes, the Mini Glider has truly changed my opinion completely. I think it's amazing that my 4.5 year old can hop on a bike and glide without falling over and without any training wheels at all. My only regret with this product is that I didn't purchase one when our daughter was two; I think she would have had a blast on it even at that young age, and it would definitely have been worth every penny spent.
Traditional bicycles take children years to learn to ride; the Mini Glider can teach your child the skills needed to balance without training wheels within just weeks, because they are focusing on balance and steering rather than learning to pedal. Additionally, the Mini Glider allows them to balance at speeds as low as 1.5mph, making this the safest balance bike on the market.
What makes Glide Bikes even more unique is their patented foot rest that is in the same place pedals would be for your young bicyclist. As they develop the skills needed for regular bicycles, they will also develop the balance and coordination to rest their feet on the pegs. Even better, this foot rest can be easily removed in seconds with no tools required.
We love seeing our little one take off, and the mobility it has afforded her is changing all of our habits to be healthier: before we were driving places that are within a mile or two because it takes too long to walk there with a 4.5yo; now we can now pull out her Mini Glider and walk or bike beside her and be there within 20 minutes. I also absolutely love that she can ride along with me as I take my regular bike out; she keeps up with me just fine!
We also added a basket to ours after we received it in the mail. I wish we'd ordered one from Glide Bikes with the bike because she LOVES her pint-sized basket, but it doesn't fit perfectly, was a pain to install, and I know their basket would both fit and fit easier.
Glide Bikes also makes the Go Glider, a Glide Bike designed specifically for children ages 5-10. I think this is brilliant, so much better than giving a 5yo a bicycle they will be frustrated with for several years to come, or are not yet ready for at all. Many families don't realize Glide Bikes exist until their little ones are already too big for the Mini Glider, and this is the perfect solution. If our daughter isn't able to manage a regular bike without training wheels by the time she outgrows her Mini Glider, I will without a doubt be purchasing a Go Glider for her to use and enjoy.
This is a joint giveaway with Downside Up and Outside In and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only. Please find the section marked "Win it!" for the mandatory entry and optional bonus entries. Glide Bikes is offering our readers a giveaway of a Mini Glider Bike, a small helmet, and a matching bell set to our readers, a value of $131.99
About the Mini Glider Glide Bike
The Mini Glider is a real bike designed for children as young as 2 years all the way up to 5 years old. The Mini Glider does not have pedals, and so it makes riding fun and easy. Instead of pedals, the child uses her legs to kick-push herself along.
This design both improves motor control and balance and teaches children how to glide and how to sit on a bicycle without falling over. It features airless tires that allow children to glide long distances in between pushes, clever foot rests that are easily removable without tools, a quality hand break for safety and control, and an adjustable seat that allows you to get the perfect height for your young cyclist, as well as an included kickstand, which we chose not to install.
It requires some basic assembly, which I managed in under 20 minutes with a 4.5 yo "helper."
Our Experience with the Mini Glider
The Mini Glider is a fun, lightweight, children's bicycle that makes biking an exciting, accessible activity for younger children who are not ready for the balance required by regular bicycles. We tried out the Mini Glider with our nearly five year old, who is very tall for her age, with great success. I must admit that both my partner and I were very skeptical about whether our daughter would get the hang of using the Mini Glider, or whether she was too big to use it reasonably. We are both absolutely blown away with how much fun she has on it, as well as how quickly she mastered using the bike for balancing and gliding. In addition, it fits her just fine. All of her experience with the Mini Glider and balancing happened intuitively - with no direction from either of us. I wanted her to explore at her own pace, so I refrained from giving directions (other than the standard "Wear Your Helmet!"), and she just went for it with all the enthusiasm of a child, which makes me all the more excited about this product.The Mini Glider's Quality
There are quite a few features about the Mini Glider that I love. First of all, although you cannot tell it from looking at them or watching your child glide, the Mini Glider features airless tires. These are not the plastic-y tires that rattle when your child rolls, but they are foam tires that you will not have to refill and that give your child's ride a good deal of cushion. That's a huge plus here, because all too often once something we own has a flat, it usually takes us months to get around to repairing or replacing it (for example that jogging stroller on my porch!), and I like knowing that's not in my future, especially since she would be quite distressed if it was out of commission for any length of time. In addition, the Mini Glider's seat lowers to 11" - small enough for a tiny 2yo or younger to ride comfortably - meaning we can pass it along to a younger sibling or friend when our daughter outgrows it or is ready for a bike with pedals. I also love the hand brake on the Mini Glider - I didn't even realize it came with one until I was assembling it, but as I watch her use it I am realizing how nice it is for her to be learning now, while she also feels safe enough and in control while riding to put her feet down if she wants to stop. The Mini Glider we received (and the one being given away!) has a helmet and bell; the bell is another one of those details I am glad she is learning from the start, because it is surprisingly tricky for her to manage in terms of motor-skills. The helmet also is the first one I have found that actually fits our little one; most helmets we have purchased in the past have been clunky on her small head or way too tiny for her at this age. This helmet is comfortable, lightweight, and fits her perfectly. It is easily adjustable and has great details, like a chin pad to protect her small chin from the clasp buckle so she feels confident doing it herself.The Mini Glider is FUN!
While in the past I had been skeptical of balance bikes, the Mini Glider has truly changed my opinion completely. I think it's amazing that my 4.5 year old can hop on a bike and glide without falling over and without any training wheels at all. My only regret with this product is that I didn't purchase one when our daughter was two; I think she would have had a blast on it even at that young age, and it would definitely have been worth every penny spent.
Traditional bicycles take children years to learn to ride; the Mini Glider can teach your child the skills needed to balance without training wheels within just weeks, because they are focusing on balance and steering rather than learning to pedal. Additionally, the Mini Glider allows them to balance at speeds as low as 1.5mph, making this the safest balance bike on the market.
What makes Glide Bikes even more unique is their patented foot rest that is in the same place pedals would be for your young bicyclist. As they develop the skills needed for regular bicycles, they will also develop the balance and coordination to rest their feet on the pegs. Even better, this foot rest can be easily removed in seconds with no tools required.
We love seeing our little one take off, and the mobility it has afforded her is changing all of our habits to be healthier: before we were driving places that are within a mile or two because it takes too long to walk there with a 4.5yo; now we can now pull out her Mini Glider and walk or bike beside her and be there within 20 minutes. I also absolutely love that she can ride along with me as I take my regular bike out; she keeps up with me just fine!
We also added a basket to ours after we received it in the mail. I wish we'd ordered one from Glide Bikes with the bike because she LOVES her pint-sized basket, but it doesn't fit perfectly, was a pain to install, and I know their basket would both fit and fit easier.Glide Bikes also makes the Go Glider, a Glide Bike designed specifically for children ages 5-10. I think this is brilliant, so much better than giving a 5yo a bicycle they will be frustrated with for several years to come, or are not yet ready for at all. Many families don't realize Glide Bikes exist until their little ones are already too big for the Mini Glider, and this is the perfect solution. If our daughter isn't able to manage a regular bike without training wheels by the time she outgrows her Mini Glider, I will without a doubt be purchasing a Go Glider for her to use and enjoy.
BUY IT!
You can purchase your own Mini Glider at Glide Bikes or at Amazon. The Mini Glider retails for $99.99 and is currently available in the United States.WIN IT!
For your own chance to win a Mini Glider, Helmet, and bell set from Glide Bikes, enter by leaving a comment and using our Rafflecopter system below. The winner will receive a Mini Glider, helmet and bell set valued at $132 in the company's choice of color. Contest is open to residents of the US only- (including Alaska and Hawaii).MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Glide Bikes and tell us one thing you have learned about the company! You must enter your name and email address in the Rafflecopter entry system for your entry to count, after leaving a comment on this blog post.Leave a valid email address so we can contact you if you win. Email addresses in Rafflecopter are not made publicly visible. Please leave the same valid email address in your mandatory comment so we can verify entries. This is a joint giveaway with Downside Up and Outside In and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only, and we'll be recording IP addresses to ensure that there are no duplicate entries. That said, please do visit and enjoy both sites! BONUS ENTRIES: See the Rafflecopter entry system for bonus entries to increase your chance of winning after completing the mandatory entry. All bonus entries are entered directly into Rafflecopter. Give it a try, and email or leave a comment if you have any questions! for the badge is in the right sidebar on NPN posts. Leave your site URL in the Extra Info box. You don't have to do any of the bonus entries, but you do have to complete the first mandatory one. a Rafflecopter giveaway Rafflecopter will pick the winner through Random.org after the contest closes, and a representative from NPN will send an email notification. **Leave a valid email address** as you enter so we can contact you if you win. If we can't reach a winner, we'll draw a new name at random. The winner will have 48 hours to respond by email; otherwise, NPN will select another winner. Any questions, let our giveaway coordinators know: Sponsorship {at} NaturalParentsNetwork {dot} com.
Contest closes April 27, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Disclosure: Our reviewer received a sample product for review purposes.
Amazon links are affiliate links.
We try to seek out only products we think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If we don't like a product, we won't be recommending it to you.
See our full disclosure policy here.
Information About Our Reviewer
Mammapie is a blogger, a mama, and a sewing fiend who enjoys staying at home unschooling with her Little Berry and exploring the great outdoors of Colorado with her partner, daughter, and their goofy dog.
3/16/13
Moby GO Review and Giveaway!
This is a review and giveaway of the brand new Moby GO carrier from Moby Wrap, a new carrier designed just for carrying bigger babies and toddlers up to 45lbs. It is an adjustable, lightweight carrier perfect for wearing your baby or toddler on the go.
The Moby GO is a brand new carrier from Moby Wrap that is made specifically for babies 15-45 pounds. Moby Wrap is known for their soft, stretchy Moby Wrap, which offers a wonderful way to wear your baby from 8 to 35lbs. Now, Moby Wrap offers us the Moby GO carrier, designed for babies 15 to up to 45 pounds.
The Moby GO is a wonderful, ultra lightweight, soft structured carrier that makes wearing bigger babies easier than ever. We tried out the Moby GO with our nearly five year old daughter, who is too tall for many other carriers at her age but still wants to be carried. A lot.
And I must say, I tend to use carriers as much or more now than I did when she was a baby. A nearly five year old who predictably tires out on walks, hikes, and grocery shopping trips is, in my opinion, so much easier to wear than carry.
The Moby GO comes in stylish black and grey, and has unique cross-shoulder strap design that distributes your child's weight evenly, making it very comfortable on your back and shoulders. The straps are unpadded, but rest comfortably on both shoulders, making the wearer feel balanced under the extra toddler weight.
The back panel comes up very high on your child's back, and the base is very wide to support even older toddlers like my own. The carrier seat is designed to support your child properly as well. This carrier kept my daughter tucked in closer and feeling safe. The Moby GO has a pocket on the front with a matching (removable) hood tucked into it.
The first time we wore the Moby GO, Little Berry had just caught a cold and wanted to be touching me constantly. I expected it to be tricky managing the straps that first time with a sick kid on my hip, but it was simple enough, even while supporting her with my other arm to cross the strap and slip her in. The straps cross in the back, which you can do by unbuckling one, slipping your little one in, then buckling the second strap, or by leaving both buckled, sliding over your shoulders and sliding your child in from the top. As soon as I got her in it, she wanted to nurse.
Nursing in the Moby GO was easy and far more comfortable than I expected. The carrier straps adjust to be longer or shorter, and to nurse in it, I simply lengthened the straps so Little Berry was lower than usual, and then she leaned into my arm like a cradle while having milkies. I think with a younger child this would be a great use for the hood, as it creates a sort of cocoon and helps them relax and zone out from any distractions around them.
With that being said, Little Berry - at 41 lbs - is almost at the maximum recommended weight for the Moby GO. We did outgrow our Ergo Carrier about a year ago due to her height, and I was concerned we would have the same issue with the Moby GO, but it fit her very generously, and I feel it will fit her fine for a long time to come. And she loves it. She says over and over again how comfy it is and that it "feels like snuggles."
One very nice feature is how adjustable the carrier is to the adult wearer: the waist buckle is able to accommodate very large adults and very small adults with a just few tugs on the straps. I am a women's size 18, and my partner is a men's XS, but we both wear our daughter interchangeably. With only three buckles to adjust, this carrier was very simple to switch between us with minimal fuss. I did notice that her size helped make it fit better on my partner, as he had it on the smallest size.
Babywearing is a wonderful way to keep your little one warm when it's cold - something we really appreciate living in Colorado where the weather can change very quickly. When it's eight degrees below zero we truly do tend to wear her more, if only to keep her off the cold ground, her feet dry from the snow, and her chest warm.
The only downside for us was that the carrier is not designed for back carrying. However, I tried the carrier on my back and we did just fine. The straps ideally should be crossed in the front (which is tricky to do by yourself with a bigger child, so I suggest enlisting a helper with the buckles until you get the hang of it), but it is definitely possible to use in a back carry and is comfortable, even in our many layers of winter clothes. But the back carry did look and feel a bit funny as it crossed right over my chest.
I would say for an older child this is probably the most popular way to wear them, and so I wore her around for about an hour to see if it would hurt my shoulders. We were both comfortable, and she does enjoy it more than being on my front (unless she's nursing!).
I also tried it with un-criss-crossing the straps and wearing her on my back, but after a while it felt like the straps might slide off my shoulders, so I don't recommend wearing it that way for safety reasons.
Moby Wrap company is a wonderful advocate for parent-child
bonding through massage, breastfeeding, babywearing, and has a
wonderful easy-to-navigate website with details on bonding with your
baby while wearing them, doing Yoga, and even Infant Massage in their
carriers.
This is a joint giveaway with Downside Up And Outside In and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only. Please find the section marked "Win it!" for the mandatory entry and optional bonus entries.Moby Wrap is offering our readers a giveaway of the brand New Moby GO, a value of $79.95. The Moby GO is an amazingly comfortable, very adjustable front carrier for babies 15-45 lbs with cross-shoulder design straps, a padded waist belt, and easy to reach buckles. From our reviewer, Mamma Pie at Downside Up And Outside In :
About The Carrier
The Moby GO is a brand new carrier from Moby Wrap that is made specifically for babies 15-45 pounds. Moby Wrap is known for their soft, stretchy Moby Wrap, which offers a wonderful way to wear your baby from 8 to 35lbs. Now, Moby Wrap offers us the Moby GO carrier, designed for babies 15 to up to 45 pounds.
The Moby GO is a wonderful, ultra lightweight, soft structured carrier that makes wearing bigger babies easier than ever. We tried out the Moby GO with our nearly five year old daughter, who is too tall for many other carriers at her age but still wants to be carried. A lot.
And I must say, I tend to use carriers as much or more now than I did when she was a baby. A nearly five year old who predictably tires out on walks, hikes, and grocery shopping trips is, in my opinion, so much easier to wear than carry.
The Moby GO comes in stylish black and grey, and has unique cross-shoulder strap design that distributes your child's weight evenly, making it very comfortable on your back and shoulders. The straps are unpadded, but rest comfortably on both shoulders, making the wearer feel balanced under the extra toddler weight.
The back panel comes up very high on your child's back, and the base is very wide to support even older toddlers like my own. The carrier seat is designed to support your child properly as well. This carrier kept my daughter tucked in closer and feeling safe. The Moby GO has a pocket on the front with a matching (removable) hood tucked into it.
Our Experience
The first time we wore the Moby GO, Little Berry had just caught a cold and wanted to be touching me constantly. I expected it to be tricky managing the straps that first time with a sick kid on my hip, but it was simple enough, even while supporting her with my other arm to cross the strap and slip her in. The straps cross in the back, which you can do by unbuckling one, slipping your little one in, then buckling the second strap, or by leaving both buckled, sliding over your shoulders and sliding your child in from the top. As soon as I got her in it, she wanted to nurse.
Nursing in the Moby GO was easy and far more comfortable than I expected. The carrier straps adjust to be longer or shorter, and to nurse in it, I simply lengthened the straps so Little Berry was lower than usual, and then she leaned into my arm like a cradle while having milkies. I think with a younger child this would be a great use for the hood, as it creates a sort of cocoon and helps them relax and zone out from any distractions around them.
With that being said, Little Berry - at 41 lbs - is almost at the maximum recommended weight for the Moby GO. We did outgrow our Ergo Carrier about a year ago due to her height, and I was concerned we would have the same issue with the Moby GO, but it fit her very generously, and I feel it will fit her fine for a long time to come. And she loves it. She says over and over again how comfy it is and that it "feels like snuggles."
Comfort
Recommendation
I truly feel that Moby GO is a wonderful carrier choice for anyone with a baby or toddler with adequate head support. It is affordably priced, and is adjustable to fit many different ranges of adults, so all care givers can enjoy it. It has a great back support panel so that even taller children, like my 3.5 foot almost five year old can be worn with ease and comfort. It is simple and convenient to nurse even bigger nurslings in, and it has a cute, cozy hood that slips into it's own zippable front pocket when not in use or can be removed completely. The side buckles are easy to reach, and the extra wide carrier seat allows even heavier children plenty of support.BUY IT!
You can purchase your own Moby GO at Moby Wrap and at Amazon. The Moby GO retails for $79.95 and is currently available in the US and Canada.WIN IT!
For your own chance to win a Moby GO from Moby Wrap, enter by leaving a comment and using our Rafflecopter system below. The winner will receive a Gray Moby GO carrier valued at $79.95. Contest is open to the US and CANADAMANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Moby Wrap and tell us another item you like! You must enter your name and email address in the Rafflecopter entry system for your entry to count, after leaving a comment on this blog post.Leave a valid email address so we can contact you if you win. Email addresses in Rafflecopter are not made publicly visible. Please leave the same valid email address in your mandatory comment so we can verify entries. This is a joint giveaway with Downside Up And Outside In and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only, and we'll be recording IP addresses to ensure that there are no duplicate entries. That said, please do visit and enjoy both sites! BONUS ENTRIES: See the Rafflecopter entry system for bonus entries to increase your chance of winning after completing the mandatory entry. All bonus entries are entered directly into Rafflecopter. Give it a try, and email or leave a comment if you have any questions! a Rafflecopter giveaway
Contest closes March 30, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Disclosure: Our reviewer received a sample
product for review purposes.
Amazon links are affiliate links.
We try to seek out only products we think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If we don't like a product, we won't be recommending it to you.
See our full disclosure policy here.
_________________________
Information About Our Reviewer:
Mamma Pie is a blogger, a mama, and a sewing fiend who enjoys
staying at home unschooling with her Little Berry and exploring the
great outdoors of Colorado with her partner, daughter, and their goofy
dog.
3/11/13
Kid Craft: Plant Markers
This is a super easy craft for the younger gardener that involves making simple (not weather resistant) garden or potted plant markers. You will need: small wooden dowels, toothpicks, or even twigs, a hot glue gun for gluing, and sturdy card stock or index card type paper, as well as markers, paint, pencils, etc, and scissors.
Let the little ones draw whatever plants you are growing in your garden. Look at pictures together of those plants in different stages, sprouts, full grown, and the fruit or vegetable that grows on them (if any). Encourage them to draw whichever bit they want or write the words/ name of the plant on their card. This is great science activity for pre-schoolers as well as a writing and art lesson, and offers practice of fine motor skills (with the scissors and hot glue gun if you let them use it).
After the plants have all been drawn, written, etc, encourage your small one to cut those cards out while the hot glue gun heats up. I do allow my 4yo to use the hot glue gun with supervision- here's a good post from Teacher Tom that inspired me to start letting her try it and she does great :)
I used toothpicks for our plant markers. As you can see, our plants are still sprouting indoors and anything bigger would be overwhelming the space! In any event, hand over the hot glue gun, or glue the small markers yourself- to the sticks. Help your small person identify the sprout that goes with each sign, or let them go willy nilly (ours are all poked into one pot with the Lavender sprouts).
That's it! You've got a great lesson in handwriting, science, and fine motor skills that will keep your little one busy for at least an hour. Now go plant something!
After the plants have all been drawn, written, etc, encourage your small one to cut those cards out while the hot glue gun heats up. I do allow my 4yo to use the hot glue gun with supervision- here's a good post from Teacher Tom that inspired me to start letting her try it and she does great :)
2/19/13
Playing in Lafayette
This weekend we drove around exploring a new neighborhood (well, a different neighborhood) that we had actually stayed in this summer when we first moved to Denver. We love Lagayette- it's small, quiet, close to the mountains, and has lots of lovely nooks&crannies to it. In the summer we found a fountain/waterpark for the kids to play in, a lovely ice cream parlor/sandwich shop, several playgrounds, a neighborhood garden, and a super sweet children's museum as well. Here we are hanging out at one of their smaller parks- which is basically a bunch of rocks places in different places. And the kid loved it more than you would believe!
2/8/13
(in)definite
It has been...so long since I've sat down to see this space. I've felt contemplative and we've been busy, and this writing space got forgotten. Tonight I'm up listening to music while the two I love best and brightest slumber deeply and moonlight haunts my eyes.
Earlier, I sat just to watch the sun settle down in the sky from my seat at the window and felt awed with how beautiful and captivating the sun is as there is less and less of it visible to our eyes. This evening, this weather, both remind me of days spent walking along sandy beaches with our dog panting hard and trying to get at the seagulls, tugging his leash and giving us doggy grins as the sand flies in our eyes before Little Berry was even a dream. We were young and fresh and crazy in love, wild for one another and begging for more stories of the lifetime spent before the other came along.
Those days seemed to go on forever, holding hands and making jokes about old couples sitting in the sand while the world went on without them. It reminds me of the first day we spent in Paris and how long the day was because we'd flown in with the sun, how bright the sky, how fresh the world. The sun set so late there, we stayed up staring out our window over the rooftops hearing people whistle and musicians singing songs from their patios, us practically foraging for food, uncertain what the menus said and too hungry from walking, walking, walking- to care what we were served.
I have memories of watching airplanes go by as a child and wondering if I would ever fly in one. Wondering what it would feel like to sit in one, what exhilaration would overcome my heart, what mystery spoiled at the glee of flight? Wanting to see the world in a different way and believing strongly that it was never going to change. I know now that the world can change in an instant. That our lives are mere puffs of smoke- or fragile, finite frames of glass made to look at but not to alter. We might be transparent and fragile, easily turned to slivers and shards, but I do believe we are ever-changing, growing stronger, and by nature weaker, all at once.
Motherhood brings out the whispery side of me, the side that plans tea parties and sees magic in rainbows again. I make bubbles from scratch and play dough with home made dyes because I want the best for my little one, while what she will remember is not that I made it by hand, but that I played with her, making orange ducks and squishy blue clouds. And it is indefinite, because I never know how long it will last, when she will wake up and no longer want my snuggles or kisses, no longer need to fall asleep in my arms. The magic of childhood is rarely in the recipe you
use, its instead in the giggles while you share over a dish made together with miniature spoons and served on tiny plates that are painted with strawberries in a makeshift fairy garden with a dog by your side.
Earlier, I sat just to watch the sun settle down in the sky from my seat at the window and felt awed with how beautiful and captivating the sun is as there is less and less of it visible to our eyes. This evening, this weather, both remind me of days spent walking along sandy beaches with our dog panting hard and trying to get at the seagulls, tugging his leash and giving us doggy grins as the sand flies in our eyes before Little Berry was even a dream. We were young and fresh and crazy in love, wild for one another and begging for more stories of the lifetime spent before the other came along.
Those days seemed to go on forever, holding hands and making jokes about old couples sitting in the sand while the world went on without them. It reminds me of the first day we spent in Paris and how long the day was because we'd flown in with the sun, how bright the sky, how fresh the world. The sun set so late there, we stayed up staring out our window over the rooftops hearing people whistle and musicians singing songs from their patios, us practically foraging for food, uncertain what the menus said and too hungry from walking, walking, walking- to care what we were served.
I have memories of watching airplanes go by as a child and wondering if I would ever fly in one. Wondering what it would feel like to sit in one, what exhilaration would overcome my heart, what mystery spoiled at the glee of flight? Wanting to see the world in a different way and believing strongly that it was never going to change. I know now that the world can change in an instant. That our lives are mere puffs of smoke- or fragile, finite frames of glass made to look at but not to alter. We might be transparent and fragile, easily turned to slivers and shards, but I do believe we are ever-changing, growing stronger, and by nature weaker, all at once.
Motherhood brings out the whispery side of me, the side that plans tea parties and sees magic in rainbows again. I make bubbles from scratch and play dough with home made dyes because I want the best for my little one, while what she will remember is not that I made it by hand, but that I played with her, making orange ducks and squishy blue clouds. And it is indefinite, because I never know how long it will last, when she will wake up and no longer want my snuggles or kisses, no longer need to fall asleep in my arms. The magic of childhood is rarely in the recipe you
use, its instead in the giggles while you share over a dish made together with miniature spoons and served on tiny plates that are painted with strawberries in a makeshift fairy garden with a dog by your side.
2/4/13
DIY Sharpie Tee for kids!
We had a bag of plain white Tee Shirts sitting around that I kept meaning to do SOMETHING with, maybe kidpossible glue batik or freezer-paper stenciling? Anyway, Little Berry kept saying she wanted to "make one" for her bestie back in NC. I may have tuned her out at first, but she's persistent and asked again+again. Fortunately I finally asked what she had in mind& she informed me she wanted to draw on it. The only permanent drawing implement I could think of we're Sharpies, so I pulled them out& she went to town. Occasionally I made suggestions or clarified how to spell a word-but mostly this is all her. My friend K suggested doing this as a party-favor idea at a b-day party, and I think it would be fun to do one for all of us & have a family photo taken in them just for kicks. The benefit of letting your kids actually draw right on the shirt over glue batik and stenciling is that they can make much more detailed pictures on the item, have better control over it, and require much less supervision on your part!
In any event, all you'll need is a blank white tee shirt, sharpies- there are "fabric" sharpies available now called STAINED by Sharpie (we own 1, lol) but I recommend just using sharpies with wide+fine tips (we had more fine-tipped ones than not, and it was tricky for her to color things in fully), and clothes you don't mind your kiddo getting ink on (as well as a surface to color on that won't be ruined by the markers accidentally getting on them).And let your little one go at it! I've been told tossing it in the dryer&/or ironing it on the highest setting with no steam helps make the design last longer, and I suggest encouraging your little one to take breaks and come back to the shirt later if they're getting frustrated or running out of inspiration. It's easily a project that could be spread out over a week.
2/3/13
Lucky's bakehouse
There's this super sweet brand new bakery called Lucky's Bakehouse in Boulder that we've got quite a sweet spot for.
We've popped over a few times now and each time they seem to have more+more lovely treats.
And delicious ones too. They also offer GF goodies- including some really yummy cupcakes& cookies, they have Gelato, and marshmallows, and coffee.
The decor is simple but pretty, and Little Berry loves their colorful chairs. They have outdoor seating for the warmer days, and operate in what appears to be a converted garage, complete with garage door that opens into the store making it an indoor/outdoor space when the weather is nice. If you're over that way definitely check them out!
We recommend: the salted caramel brownie pie, the Chocolate Mint Pudding (made with fresh mint), GF lemon bars, handmade marshmallows (nom) and the hand spun cotton candy (which they won't sell you but happily serve you a sample of)- and from the Gelato case, the Salted Caramel Chocolate Chunk is divine.
Next door to Lucky's Bakehouse is the equally quaint Lucky's Market, where you can get your groceries, food from the deli, as well as buy local goodies if you are inclined. Both are very cute establishments and I promise you'll find yourself coming back again and again just because it's so pretty, the treats are tasty, and the groceries are convenient!
Lucky's Bakehouse is holding a fun Valentines Cookie Decorating Open House on February 10th from 2pm-4pm. The cost is $5/child for which they will receive 4 cookies (with option of Gluten Free) and can chose from available decorations to pretty up their
cookies!
You can follow Lucky's Bakehouse on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
And delicious ones too. They also offer GF goodies- including some really yummy cupcakes& cookies, they have Gelato, and marshmallows, and coffee.
The decor is simple but pretty, and Little Berry loves their colorful chairs. They have outdoor seating for the warmer days, and operate in what appears to be a converted garage, complete with garage door that opens into the store making it an indoor/outdoor space when the weather is nice. If you're over that way definitely check them out!We recommend: the salted caramel brownie pie, the Chocolate Mint Pudding (made with fresh mint), GF lemon bars, handmade marshmallows (nom) and the hand spun cotton candy (which they won't sell you but happily serve you a sample of)- and from the Gelato case, the Salted Caramel Chocolate Chunk is divine.
Next door to Lucky's Bakehouse is the equally quaint Lucky's Market, where you can get your groceries, food from the deli, as well as buy local goodies if you are inclined. Both are very cute establishments and I promise you'll find yourself coming back again and again just because it's so pretty, the treats are tasty, and the groceries are convenient!
Lucky's Bakehouse is holding a fun Valentines Cookie Decorating Open House on February 10th from 2pm-4pm. The cost is $5/child for which they will receive 4 cookies (with option of Gluten Free) and can chose from available decorations to pretty up their
cookies!
You can follow Lucky's Bakehouse on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
2/2/13
Hiking!
We went for a hike in Boulder at the very popular Chatauqua park- this was probably one of the busiest outdoor parks/hiking trails we've been on yet. It was an easy-moderate hike which Little Berry did just fine along side us except for a few spots where the trail was icy.
It was also very popular with dog owners, and since we had our dog Oreo along too there was much tail wagging&sniffing happening during the hike.
Boulder has an off leash dog tag you can purchase if you prove your dog is under voice command, but we always just stick with him on-leash as it seems safer than having to worry about something happening. Less fun for him I'm sure, but I think safety rules.
There was some tree climbing by Mr.T, and sunshine soaking by all of us.
It was also very popular with dog owners, and since we had our dog Oreo along too there was much tail wagging&sniffing happening during the hike.
Boulder has an off leash dog tag you can purchase if you prove your dog is under voice command, but we always just stick with him on-leash as it seems safer than having to worry about something happening. Less fun for him I'm sure, but I think safety rules.
There was some tree climbing by Mr.T, and sunshine soaking by all of us.
1/30/13
Dogsitting
Some friends of ours left their pups with us for the weekend. The dogs were friendly, (if a bit noisy), funny, and had so much personality (more so than some people I know!) and Little Berry was in loooove. Their smallest dog, Milo, would snuggle up in her laps& let her do whatever she wanted to him (including dress him up) and their biggest dog, Jewley, looooved treats- I think Little Berry probably fed her a whole box full while they were here!
We have a dog ourselves, but he's definitely no puppy and this absolutely made her day. It was well worth the extra walks and noise to see her enjoying herself so much!
We have a dog ourselves, but he's definitely no puppy and this absolutely made her day. It was well worth the extra walks and noise to see her enjoying herself so much!
1/18/13
Wordless Wednesday: later!
My kiddo has had the cold of the century this week, so my Wordless Wednesday Post is going up several days late (oops!) but you'll forgive me, I hope.
My sunshine is absolutely captivated by the library. We go about 4 times a week (except this week b/c she's had a cold!) and she can't get enough of it. Her favorites are the Biscuit Books for early readers :)
1/9/13
Sunshine
There is a lyricism to childhood that we as parents and mentors and employees and mess cleaner-uppers, and spill moppers, and shoe tier's and in and through all those mundane duties of adulthood are often apt to forget. We become masters of ushering in milestones and tucking bed corners and sniffing tops of heads and pulling on our little one's boots, and ignoring the whines. In that rythm of life we sometimes forget that children need to explore the elements of the world but do not need our approval, merely our companionship. They need us to be there with them, also exploring, creating, discovering, not saying with a nod and a placating smile,
"yes, honey. I know."
My little sunshine is four. She is bright and social and healthy and breaks my heart with her sweet yet halting eloquence. And in that she has taught me a crucial lesson: love and childhood are beautiful in a way nothing else it. They can't be misunderstood, there is no wrong way to say "I love you." There is no wrong way to be a child.
If you stand in the sunshine outside and spin in circles with your eyes closed, you will see colors dancing inside your eyelids as you spin, around, and around, and around.
Love is the same way: but it's there whether you spin or not.
I love you, my little sunshine.
"yes, honey. I know."
If you stand in the sunshine outside and spin in circles with your eyes closed, you will see colors dancing inside your eyelids as you spin, around, and around, and around.
Love is the same way: but it's there whether you spin or not.
I love you, my little sunshine.
1/8/13
Free bunny bunting!
I have something cute for you. A printable bunny bunting. Just download the image, save it, print onto card stock and cut them out, then glue to a string and you will have a sweet, fun, bunny-bunting! I like to chose 4/page in the printing options to make them really tiny. You can print as large or as small as you prefer though! I also like to print them onto 4X6inch unruled index cards and let Sunshine use them to send as postcards to her friends. They are cute for parties and birthdays or even glue to toothpicks for cupcake-toppers!
A few dresses
I've been at my sewing machine every day for a week, making lots of fabulous new goodies for an upcoming (but still far off!) spring festival. Pretty dresses? I don't mind if I do! What have you made lately?
1/7/13
Library Find: The Quiet Book
The Quiet Book by
Deborah Underwood& illustrated by Reynata Liwska is one of the the prettiest books for young readers I've seen in a while. We picked up The Christmas Quiet Book over Christmas (also by Deborah Underwood) and loved it just as much. The story is simply that of different kinds of being quiet: quiet while reading, or listening to music, or being curious.
The cute little animals, the whimsical accessories in their homes (really, how sweet is that cradle?) and the wee woodland elements (squee! Mushrooms!) make it fun to look at all the way through.
The only part that I'm not 100% happy about is the sad little animals in some of them- being quiet because they were "naughty" for example. It makes my very emotional youngster super worried for them as she doesn't like seeing anyone be sad.
Deborah Underwood& illustrated by Reynata Liwska is one of the the prettiest books for young readers I've seen in a while. We picked up The Christmas Quiet Book over Christmas (also by Deborah Underwood) and loved it just as much. The story is simply that of different kinds of being quiet: quiet while reading, or listening to music, or being curious.
The cute little animals, the whimsical accessories in their homes (really, how sweet is that cradle?) and the wee woodland elements (squee! Mushrooms!) make it fun to look at all the way through.
The only part that I'm not 100% happy about is the sad little animals in some of them- being quiet because they were "naughty" for example. It makes my very emotional youngster super worried for them as she doesn't like seeing anyone be sad.
12/8/12
Guest Post From Jen
What follows is a post my sweet, lovely mama friend Jen Green, who most of you know as @Jenners26 on twitter. I am fundraising for to help with medical bills& maybe even allow them to have some semblance of a normal Christmas for their five children. Her daughter Elle is one of my favorite people ever and I appreciate all of you who are pitching in to help them out. Jen hasn't asked for anyone's help, but with the fact that their landlord recently decided to sell the house they're renting& is making them move, her husband's ER visit (which she talks about below) and Elle's medical bills, they won't be able to do this all alone and I don't think they should have to. Please give what you can, and share with anyone you think can help them too.
You can donate to her via Paypal (just mark it as a 'gift' so she doesn't get charged fees) and feel free to enter the raffle I am holding as well, which is here.
From Jen:
Thursday morning at 3:30 a.m. I woke up to a very adrenaline-inducing, "JEN. GET UP." from the next room. It's my husband. And after I stumble to the living room, I find him sitting on the couch, holding our 3yo daughter. She's limp in his arms, but her eyes are open and she's staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Something's wrong with Elle," he says. I say her name a few times, and stroke her hair. She doesn't respond.
"Is she sleeping?" I ask. But her eyes are wide open, and she doesn't respond when I rub her tummy.
Finally, she looks at me. I take her and hold her, and ask her a few questions. She knows her name, and my name, and seems to know Shawn but won't say his name. I ask him if he thinks she may have been sleep-walking. We're both scared and unsure.
Suddenly, Elle says she has to throw up. I take her to the bathroom, and stand her in front of the toilet. I'm holding her at a weird angle and I ask her if she's okay to stand up and she says yes. I let go of her, and as I do, her entire body stiffens, and suddenly, as if her right side is heavier than her left and she can't bear the weight anymore, she stiffly falls over to the right and smashes her head on the bathtub. The sickening thump of her head hitting the tub is something I'll never forget. And my fear is only worsened, as my tiny girl, who cries at a hangnail, doesn't respond to the pain of the fall. I grabbed her instantly and rush her back to the living room. I'm holding her and Shawn is sitting beside us, and we're trying to get her to talk to us, but she says nothing. I tell Shawn we should call 911. We're both terrified, and I plead with Elle to talk to me.
"Elle, can you hear me? Please talk to me. Mommy is really scared. Can you hear me?" But she says nothing.
By this point, her head is turned to the right as far as it will go, and her eyes are locked as far to the right as they can look. She's not blinking and I'm terrified that I'm holding my baby as she's dying. Just 24 hours earlier, Shawn and I had made the heart-breaking decision to terminate my 5wk pregnancy. We have five children under the age of nine, and my debilitating pregnancies leave me unable to care for the children we have, so we make the choice that our family is complete. But now, as I hold my non-responsive toddler, I'm pretty sure that a god I don't believe in is punishing me for that choice by taking away my child.
Just minutes after Shawn called 911, a police officer arrives. This is the second time in a week we've had to call 911. Just a few days earlier, Shawn had been in the backyard and was bitten by a couple of fire ants and went into anaphylactic shock, prompting him to enter the beginning stages of cardiac arrest. And now, here we are again.
The officer checks Elle out and says he thinks she may be having a seizure. The cop turns the lights off and another cop arrives. He agrees it looks like a seizure. Shawn is holding Elle at this point, and she still hasn't moved, but begins to vomit. He turns her so she doesn't aspirate on it.
EMS arrives, and Shawn explains to them what had happened; He'd gotten up with her because our older daughter had woken him up and said that Elle was complaining she had to pee. He went in to get her, and she seemed "off." She did a weird shuffle walk to the bathroom, after she peed, it seemed like her right arm wasn't working, and she couldn't seem to get her hand up to flush the toilet. Then she couldn't seem to find her way to the bedroom and had wandered to the living room. He sat down with her and she slowly became non-responsive. She didn't know his name, and kept saying she wanted to go home. Then she was pointing at the tree mural on our wall and mumbling, "JjjjJjjjJjjjJjjj."
That's when he woke me up and I finish relaying the story to them. They stick me and her on a gurney and into the ambulance. Within just a moment, one of the EMS workers shoots a syringe full of clear medicine up her nose and she finally "unlocks" her eyes and neck and seems to come out of it. Total, she was locked up for over 15 minutes.
They start an IV and Elle seems to be sleeping through it, while ocassionaly waking up long enough to vomit.
Once we get to the ER, she's seen by several doctors and they order a CT for her. The nurse floats words like, "brain tumor" and my fear is only worsened.
Around 6:30 a.m. the pediatric neurologist comes to see her. He orders an MRI and an EEG and a slew of lab work. For the first time, I hear the word epilepsy, and my mind panics. Elle has severe food allergies: dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts. She's my spunky, rough and tumble girl with a personality too big for her body, which now seems too fragile and vulnerable to contain her.
The next 12 hours are spent carting her from test to test and watching endless episodes of Sponge Bob in between.
By late that night though, we have an official diagnosis: Epilepsy.
In the coming weeks we'll have pediatric neurologist appointments to help us formulate a plan. She'll be on medication twice a day from now until...who knows when. We have emergency meds to give her if she gets locked into a seizure for more than 2 minutes. Which is comforting, because at least we'll never have to know the panic of a 15+ minute seizure again.
But with the ambulance ride, and the expensive brain scans, the specialist visits, and the ongoing medication, we're looking at 5-figure medical bills. On top of that, and Shawn's trip to the ER, the homeowners of the house we're renting have decided to sell it, and we have to move out by the 31st of this month.
We're trying hard to keep from drowning over here, and I can't tell you how much it means to me that Marybeth is kind enough to run this raffle, but that you all are kind enough to enter. Your generosity and love are what keeps us going.
Much love,
Jen
Rafflecopter link is here OR you can donate to her via paypal (which is jenners26 (at) gmail (dot) com )
You can donate to her via Paypal (just mark it as a 'gift' so she doesn't get charged fees) and feel free to enter the raffle I am holding as well, which is here.
From Jen:
Thursday morning at 3:30 a.m. I woke up to a very adrenaline-inducing, "JEN. GET UP." from the next room. It's my husband. And after I stumble to the living room, I find him sitting on the couch, holding our 3yo daughter. She's limp in his arms, but her eyes are open and she's staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Something's wrong with Elle," he says. I say her name a few times, and stroke her hair. She doesn't respond.
"Is she sleeping?" I ask. But her eyes are wide open, and she doesn't respond when I rub her tummy.
Finally, she looks at me. I take her and hold her, and ask her a few questions. She knows her name, and my name, and seems to know Shawn but won't say his name. I ask him if he thinks she may have been sleep-walking. We're both scared and unsure.
Suddenly, Elle says she has to throw up. I take her to the bathroom, and stand her in front of the toilet. I'm holding her at a weird angle and I ask her if she's okay to stand up and she says yes. I let go of her, and as I do, her entire body stiffens, and suddenly, as if her right side is heavier than her left and she can't bear the weight anymore, she stiffly falls over to the right and smashes her head on the bathtub. The sickening thump of her head hitting the tub is something I'll never forget. And my fear is only worsened, as my tiny girl, who cries at a hangnail, doesn't respond to the pain of the fall. I grabbed her instantly and rush her back to the living room. I'm holding her and Shawn is sitting beside us, and we're trying to get her to talk to us, but she says nothing. I tell Shawn we should call 911. We're both terrified, and I plead with Elle to talk to me.
"Elle, can you hear me? Please talk to me. Mommy is really scared. Can you hear me?" But she says nothing.
By this point, her head is turned to the right as far as it will go, and her eyes are locked as far to the right as they can look. She's not blinking and I'm terrified that I'm holding my baby as she's dying. Just 24 hours earlier, Shawn and I had made the heart-breaking decision to terminate my 5wk pregnancy. We have five children under the age of nine, and my debilitating pregnancies leave me unable to care for the children we have, so we make the choice that our family is complete. But now, as I hold my non-responsive toddler, I'm pretty sure that a god I don't believe in is punishing me for that choice by taking away my child.
Just minutes after Shawn called 911, a police officer arrives. This is the second time in a week we've had to call 911. Just a few days earlier, Shawn had been in the backyard and was bitten by a couple of fire ants and went into anaphylactic shock, prompting him to enter the beginning stages of cardiac arrest. And now, here we are again.
The officer checks Elle out and says he thinks she may be having a seizure. The cop turns the lights off and another cop arrives. He agrees it looks like a seizure. Shawn is holding Elle at this point, and she still hasn't moved, but begins to vomit. He turns her so she doesn't aspirate on it.
EMS arrives, and Shawn explains to them what had happened; He'd gotten up with her because our older daughter had woken him up and said that Elle was complaining she had to pee. He went in to get her, and she seemed "off." She did a weird shuffle walk to the bathroom, after she peed, it seemed like her right arm wasn't working, and she couldn't seem to get her hand up to flush the toilet. Then she couldn't seem to find her way to the bedroom and had wandered to the living room. He sat down with her and she slowly became non-responsive. She didn't know his name, and kept saying she wanted to go home. Then she was pointing at the tree mural on our wall and mumbling, "JjjjJjjjJjjjJjjj."
That's when he woke me up and I finish relaying the story to them. They stick me and her on a gurney and into the ambulance. Within just a moment, one of the EMS workers shoots a syringe full of clear medicine up her nose and she finally "unlocks" her eyes and neck and seems to come out of it. Total, she was locked up for over 15 minutes.
They start an IV and Elle seems to be sleeping through it, while ocassionaly waking up long enough to vomit.
Once we get to the ER, she's seen by several doctors and they order a CT for her. The nurse floats words like, "brain tumor" and my fear is only worsened.
Around 6:30 a.m. the pediatric neurologist comes to see her. He orders an MRI and an EEG and a slew of lab work. For the first time, I hear the word epilepsy, and my mind panics. Elle has severe food allergies: dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts. She's my spunky, rough and tumble girl with a personality too big for her body, which now seems too fragile and vulnerable to contain her.
By late that night though, we have an official diagnosis: Epilepsy.
In the coming weeks we'll have pediatric neurologist appointments to help us formulate a plan. She'll be on medication twice a day from now until...who knows when. We have emergency meds to give her if she gets locked into a seizure for more than 2 minutes. Which is comforting, because at least we'll never have to know the panic of a 15+ minute seizure again.
But with the ambulance ride, and the expensive brain scans, the specialist visits, and the ongoing medication, we're looking at 5-figure medical bills. On top of that, and Shawn's trip to the ER, the homeowners of the house we're renting have decided to sell it, and we have to move out by the 31st of this month.
We're trying hard to keep from drowning over here, and I can't tell you how much it means to me that Marybeth is kind enough to run this raffle, but that you all are kind enough to enter. Your generosity and love are what keeps us going.
Much love,
Jen
Rafflecopter link is here OR you can donate to her via paypal (which is jenners26 (at) gmail (dot) com )
12/6/12
Raffle to benefit Jen and her family
UPDATE (12/22/2012) Raffle is closed and winner has been contacted! Thank you all for entering!
This raffle is to benefit Jen (@Jenners26 on twitter) and her family who have been having a really rough time lately. You have the chance to win one of several prizes (one from my own Etsy shop) which would make a fabulous Christmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Festivus gift for your children or grandchildren. To enter, simply donate to the family via paypal (which is included below in the Rafflecopter widget) and then leave a comment letting me know you did. You do not HAVE to donate to enter the raffle but as all funds go directly to the family, I think you will.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This raffle is to benefit Jen (@Jenners26 on twitter) and her family who have been having a really rough time lately. You have the chance to win one of several prizes (one from my own Etsy shop) which would make a fabulous Christmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Festivus gift for your children or grandchildren. To enter, simply donate to the family via paypal (which is included below in the Rafflecopter widget) and then leave a comment letting me know you did. You do not HAVE to donate to enter the raffle but as all funds go directly to the family, I think you will.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
11/7/12
Library find: Fox by Kate Banks
Today at the library we found this beautiful book called Fox by Kate Banks& Little Berry fell right away in love with it. Foxes have been THE Animal of fascination for several months now for her& this is one of the loveliest we've found in Children's Fiction about foxes.
The story follows a newborn fox (who is even shown nursing! :) as he grows up&eventually leaves his den&mama&papa fox behind. Most children love to ask for things they can't have& this fox is no different., but the beautiful illustrations that look like oil paintings-and insight into fox-ness is sweet. It shows them gathering fruit&berries, burying them, running through the forest, and playing in the river.
Overall, it was a lovely find& I wish I had better pics but we were so busy enjoying it I forgot to snap one until we were leaving.
Next time you're at your local library you should pick it up or request it if your littles are into foxes. Which leads me to my question:
What are your littles into these days?
The story follows a newborn fox (who is even shown nursing! :) as he grows up&eventually leaves his den&mama&papa fox behind. Most children love to ask for things they can't have& this fox is no different., but the beautiful illustrations that look like oil paintings-and insight into fox-ness is sweet. It shows them gathering fruit&berries, burying them, running through the forest, and playing in the river.
Overall, it was a lovely find& I wish I had better pics but we were so busy enjoying it I forgot to snap one until we were leaving.
Next time you're at your local library you should pick it up or request it if your littles are into foxes. Which leads me to my question:
What are your littles into these days?
11/1/12
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