Pow Wow

(check out the belly on Gabe)

We took the kids to experience their first Pow Wow. It quickly became obvious just how underexposed they are to our native culture. There is nothing like seeing a pow wow through a child's eyes. They were so full of questions, loud comments and had no problem with pointing at people. This didn't bother me at all and no one else seemed to mind. I tried to answer all of their questions as best as I could.

Of course I have acquired some books on Ojibway heritage and ceremonies to learn more myself and hopefully pass some culture onto my children. The best book I found is The Mishomis Book The Voice of the Ojibway by Edward Benton-Banai.

It really was an amazing thing to experience with the kids, the drum drumming, the men singing, the people dancing, the circle of community surrounding them.

Its a start, the kids and I can learn together.

Rainbow's End

We really are book obsessed around here! I thrifted these books for the kids awhile back and they have become our new favourites.  The series is called Rainbow's End, written by Jane Patience and illustrated by John Patience. They are the cutest stories ever and the illustrations are unbelievably enchanting.  They are a pleasure to read and fun to look at.

Here is the book's description of Rainbow's End:

"It is located at the end of the rainbow in Nutshell wood.  It can only be seen by humans when a rainbow is in the sky, otherwise it is invisible to everyone except the gnomes who live there and the woodland animals. The gnomes of Rainbow's End are jolly folk who are always busy. Lots of exciting and interesting things happen in the village and no one is ever bored."

We have Wooly Foot's Good Idea, Toby Claypot's Wishing Well and Toddy and the Fox. As far as I can tell there are 5 more in the series but I can't find them anywhere, not even at the library.  They are published by Peter Haddock Limited in Bridlington England. 

Madison sits at her new desk and copies the stories word by word in her little workbook, very studious, when she's done I'll share a picture.

The Inspiration for it all

This is the book The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections written by Amanda Blake Soule that was the beginning inspiration for this blog and much of the recent "goings ons" around here. The book has simple projects and activities for parents and children including a felt pencil roll, sewing upcycled children's pants, freezer-paper stenciling, embroidered children's art, birthday crown, bunting and many more. It is broken down into four beautifully written sections which include: Gathering, Playing, Living and Connecting.  This will be my new go to gift for new parents and like minded mothers.

She eloquently writes about:

- the importance of imaginative play and how to have fun with fewer natural toys

- having high quality art supplies available to your children and displaying their art

- creating together with "Family Drawing Time"

- exploring and learning through nature including creating a nature table

- sharing the tradition of handmade including knitting, sewing, embroidery and felting

- the importance of everyday family rituals and celebrating your family

Her blog SouleMama gives me that daily dose of inspiration that I need to get our families' creative juices flowing. Please have a look and bookmark it.

Thank you Amanda and the Soule family for sharing, your inspiration is so greatly enjoyed and appreciated and has changed our family life in so many positive ways.

The House of Books

We have a lot of books in our house and most of what we do has something to do with a book.

I bought this bread making book for myself about 2 weeks ago and have been trying to read it ever since. But it seems that every time I sit down to read it with a cup of coffee my coffee is cold and I have to pour a new one or someone needs something or the dog wants out or a diaper needs changing . . . bla bla bla you get the point.  I have been talking about starting to bake our own bread since the summer time and I am determined to learn how even if it is from a book.

This is the book Complete Guide to Sewing that I thrifted at "The Village" for $3.99, which is a steal since its almost like a tailor/seamstress textbook. I also bought myself Amy Karol's book Bend-the-Rules Sewing for Christmas. I plan on making a knight costume for Carter, some matching clothes for Madison and Sasha (her new Waldorf doll), some aprons and bags. You know all of this in my spare time. I know this picture is blurry but I chose it because all 3 of their little precious hands are on momma's book while she is trying to take a picture, so telling of my life.

And here is a pile of new-for-us books for the kids, I tell you its better than bringing home candy they get so excited. I absolutely love buying them books, both fiction and non-fiction and reading to them and watching how they learn and explore through books. I want to find them some nice book plates so they can write their own names and glue them in, so much fun.

Lastly I wanted to share a Simoninigan story. Yesterday the kids were happily playing together, that is until Carter (who's 3) bit Gabriel (who is 11 months) on the hand and boy did it make Gabe cry, actually they both did. Of course big sister Madison claims she rescued Gabe from the jaws of Carter "just in time, Mommy".  I sent Cart to his room to think about what he had done. Once I had kissed poor little innocent Gabriel's hand better, we went to talk to Cart about what had happened. Carter decided, with some encouragement, to apologize to his baby brother and asked to see his hand. Gabriel held out his hand for Carter to see and then grabbed his hand and bit him back and hard too.  Carter started to cry and Gabriel had to apologize to him. Of course all this made Madison laugh and honestly I couldn't help myself from laughing too. I guess it was a lesson of what goes around comes around.