Santa Claus Came To Town

Our beautiful Christmas 2014. A few Santa Claus shots  Pictures say it so well.

Granpa Santa Mike brought the unicycle

Granpa Santa Mike Brought the Slack Line

Thanks Uncle Scott for the lego trains!

Thanks Uncle Scott for the Microscope!

Community and Connection and Celebrating Winter Solstice Waldorf Advent

Tonight we celebrated the winter solstice/Waldorf Advent with a couple other homeschooling families. We had fun Christmas Caroling and the children placed the feeders out for the animals and played. It was very moving to watch the shift in the boys (6 boys and 1 little wee girl in the group) from rowdy to reverent.

Steiner says:	At Waldorf Advent Spiral we see:
"When Christmas arrives, a turning point is reached. The light increases, days grow longer and nature reawakens. So the birth of the light at Christmas time has been celebrated since the times when the light became the symbol of revelation in the world and man." ... Read full context	...a candle in the center of the spiral, and the light increasing as the flame of each child's candle is lit.
"One spiral of the sign of Cancer indicates the end of the Atlantean culture; the other, the beginning of the Aryan culture. Our ancestors thus perceived in the heavens the outward sign for the rise of the new Aryan culture." ... Read full context	...the outward form of a spiral laid out in pine trimmings on the floor
"Whenever an important event occurs in the world, whenever one stage of evolution is superseded by another thereby bringing something new into the world, two such spiral movements intertwine. One spiral of the sign of Cancer indicates the end of the Atlantean culture; the other, the beginning of the Aryan culture." Read full context	...children walking a double spiral: they walk the spiral in, and they walk the spiral out

Christmas, Catapults, Castles, Creativity and Cocoa

We've been in the midst of Christmas and creating all week. With a visit to Santa (we love this guy - he's always so kind and talks with the kiddos - Dax wrote he wanted a "real live kitten with all the things it needs for care" Santa tactfully said he'd have to talk to Mom about that one.

I snagged a family portrait as I realized we don't have any together from this year. But the boys were sports and it only took a few minutes of interruption from their Munchkin Zombie game (ugh - but they love it and play it daily with their dad)

Horse Back Riding with Ryder coming in to his own and loving every minute. Dax tolerates it mostly but has improved with his focus and centering.

Today we had the lovely pleasure of meeting with a new Waldorf Home School Group where many adventures unfolded. Followed by a new library with a wonderful Home School Program. They learned about Castles and made catapults and used them to save the princess from the dragon.

We ended the evening with lots of cocoa, Kid Fit at Cascade Athletic Club and returned home with a new present from Uncle John on the doorstep.

Dax and art. Now he has his own beautiful art set.

Play Time, Chocolates and Snow

When

When the lego magazines come in I expect a few days of intense lego building and then I try to move them back to more sensory rich activities. However, the creations that the boys can come up with are quite fun. We've had a lego orchestra this week as well but I didn't catch a photo of it -

During this season (starting with halloween) candies and sweets come out in droves. Because I practice and teach that food is our medicine and medicine is our food I know that sugar is quite toxic. As I wouldn't deliberately poison my children with any toxic substance I teach my boys how to make real food. From marsh mellows to chocolates. Ryder now makes utterly mouth watering chocolates - from mint to caramel truffles. These are from raw cacao, organic coconut oil, raw local honey and pure food grade peppermint essential oil. That's it! HEAVEN!

Last week we had an early snow. A couple of snowballs made it into the freezer from Dax and mini snowmen appeared just a couple weeks after halloween - that's a little treat. Honestly glad I don't live in Buffalo NY thought - sending safe and healthy vibes that way.

In case there is a question as to what "learning" we've done - Ryder is doing long division now as well as fractions, decimals and percentages. His realization about mathematics is fun to observe.

Dax continues the Waldorf introduction to the alphabet and Roman numerals.

We are all continuing our French language studies. Ryder continues daily violin and has learned Silent Night. He has also decided he wants me to teach him piano. So we have begun that. Dax has not shown any more interest in the piano and I will not push him right now. He plays the keyboard on his own - banging around and hears me practice. When he is 7 I will begin formal lessons. For now, I want his playful spirit to explore to hearts content.

New game has come into the house - can't say I approve fully - Munchkins. They have fun and a good connection with Dad - and that's really what's important.

We have been studying Native American women Sacagawea and Zitkala-sa. We will do more tracking and guiding each other on adventures in two nature parks near here.  We will also finish tracing their heritage back to my great great grandmother and Chippewa heritage in the midwest.

Read aloud we finished the Princess and the Goblin. We started Water Babies but it seemed difficult reading. We will finish Rabbit Hill this week. 

I'm implementing more flower essence and essential oils in our daily routines as the 9 year change occurs in Ryder. Dax now 6 is shifting in his 7 year. I am so thankful that I am aware of these developmental stages and appreciate the wisdom of Steiner and the Waldorf community. I still miss my Enki community but the fundamentals will always live within me and my children.

Only a few more weeks left of 2014. Feeling a great need to "sharpen the saw" as a mom and "teacher". I'm exhausted from the significant speaking and extra work I've been doing to create a steady stream of positive cash flow. I sometimes wish for different things - more support, more appreciation.