Slowing Down

At times it feels as though our weeks get so full we are just going from one activity to the next, so for the new year my goal was for us to slow down. Willem keeps teaching me this lesson because when the day goes at his pace, he is much happier and more content. He loves playing with his friends but he's more content when he spends most afternoons at home with Ellie and I. A couple days a week we get home from school now, make snacks and go straight to the backyard to play. Those are our best afternoons it seems. We get to take in the fresh air, jump on the trampoline or paint the playhouse and then we all go in for a good rest.

Willem's friend David added popsicles into our rotation of snacks--another new family favorite. A popsicle can brighten the whole afternoon for Willem. He thinks they are pretty awesome.

Our new favorite trampoline game: Ring Around the Rosie

Show Me Night

Willem started at Faith North Montessori this Fall and has been hard at "work" learning all sorts of new skills. They offered a night for the family to come in and see what the kids were working on. Most days I get little if anything out of Willem as to what he does at school and it drives me crazy. It's strange having him out of the home 20 hours a week and not knowing what he is up to. I learned that practical life is his favorite area right now, specifically he's learning how to sew.

Grandma, Oom Rik, Dad and I sat and watched as Willem came close to threading the needle on his own and then sewed along a pattern. He's working to be able to sew pillows next. (fast forward a month and he brought home his first pillow this week!! He was beyond excited and told me all about it.)

Next he wanted to show us his pouring practice. He was a little shy about showing us his work at first but now wants us to all come back so he can give us more lessons:)