3-13-2010

So we have set a date March 13th 2010.
I love love love our venue and it's sweet rose garden.

We will be married in front of a gazebo, under the trees and then we will hold the reception in the rose garden.

I wish we had taken pictures when we were there because the rose garden is new and they don't have pictures online. booo.



So we are down to 100 days to go! yay <3

turkey break

So thanksgiving was great. We headed up to San Francisco to see my sister and her boyfriend. ... Auntie Banessa and Uncle Dan .
Aydin had a blast with them and I think she caused a bit of baby (kid) fever up there ;)

We got to see the king tut exhibit at the de Young Museum. So very cool. I am already intrigued by Egyptian history, but to see the actual pieces from inside his tomb, to be around that energy, to see the detailed work up close.... it was fascinating.


http://www.tutsanfrancisco.org/


We also got to see the man of the season.... Santa! He was great. He had the perfect belly laugh and came out to sing jingle bells with Aydin while we waited in the 45 minute line! The Mrs. was there too. Turns out she only shows up one day out of the year and we happened to be there for it. Perfect.
Aydin has been asking for a snow white baby doll for the past month and had her heart set on asking Santa for it. So we found it on black Friday (score) and snuck it into Santa before she went to see him. When she walked in and Mrs Claus was holding the doll she was in awe. She now is convinced he really is magical.

***click the picture to see full size.. for some reason the blog keeps cutting them off. hmp***



And it woulnd't be thanksgiving without pie:
Making mini pumpkin pies... YUMMM

updates

Wow, it has been a while since I posted last! Summer got away from me!
We had a few trips... one back east for the WAGR meetup (www.wagr.org) and one to Northern California to see family.
Aydi turned 4 and had a fun yo gabba gabba party (pics below)
We also celebrated her 2nd year of being cancer free!! wooo that still gets me excited =)

We also had a few scares with her health, but her immune system is back to normal and she has even fought off a few colds/flus.

We had a fun halloween! We had an Alice in Wonderland theme! (more pics below)

Our wedding was postponed due to the venue overbooking. That sucked, but made for good timing as we ended up with a stressful few months of getting Aydin into the right special ed services, and having to fight with the school district to get her needs met.

We talked about doing the courthouse, and we just really want a real wedding, a celebration, a commitment in front of family.... a day to remember... a day Aydin will remember. So I am back to wedding planning and trying to decide if the spring or fall of 2010 will work best.
A friend of mine (Jasmin do you read this?) suggested 10/10/2010.... what a fun date.... but that seems like forever to wait! We will figure it all out soon enough.


Oh and how can I forget? Nate has been rocking the poker tables... he came in first in a tournament and won 25k... also a few Sunday Millions (for those familiar with pokerstars) where he got 48th and 45th ..... good job love<3

Here are some pics.

Shamrock transferring

This is such a simple set up....Just bowls, a spoon, confetti and a tray. Aydin thinks shes just playing, but shes really building her fine motor skills, practicing patience, coordination and learning to follow through and complete a task given to her.

Before Aydi can use an activity, she receives a demonstration on the correct way to use it. She is shown how to find the activity, how to carry its tray or basket to the table correctly, how to work with the activity, how to clean up any messes and how to return the material to its place. Its very important that she receives a demonstration on the use of a material so that she understands the correct way to use the activities. This ensures that she is exposed to learning from the material as intended and also helps her learn to be responsible and safe with items such as glass, ceramics ect.


This activity comes from the practical life section of Montessori classrooms. Practical life exercises are very important in the Montessori method of teaching as they expose children to tasks they will encounter in daily life. They stimulate development of basic motor skills, improve concentration, encourage independence and coordination and establish an interest in the Montessori environment. Its also a fun way to keep busy while mom makes lunch!

Caterpillar Sequencing

I was surprised how quick Aydin picked up this activity.
I printed sequencing cards that match The Very Hungry Caterpillar book.
Points of Interest:
Pictures, Story, Science of Life cycle.

Control of Error:
Not having the correct card the story calls for.

Aims:
To demonstrate recollection of the story, ability to match pictures, ability to comprehend the story.

Age:
3 ½ and up

Language:
caterpillar, cocoon, butterfly, egg, leaf, food items,

Materials:
1- The Very Hungry Caterpillar Story book
2- Sequencing cards
3- Work rug

GENERAL PRESENTATION:
1. Have the child get their rug out.
2. Show the child where the game is located and have them carry to rug.
3. Lay out all the cards on the mat.
4. Read your child the first page of the book. Show the child the picture. Ask them to find the matching card.
5. Continue with each page and card of the story.
6. After all cards have been matched go over the cards and tell the story again to the child.
7. have child clean up the cards and return activity and cart to the shelf.

Variation: having child do the activity alone reading the story themselves or without the book.

Easter egg sound Cylinders

Aydi is loving the sound cylinders... although, ours are not cylinders, but easter eggs we found at target=) You can also search online and buy the real Sound cylinders from Montessori stores.

here's a lesson presentation if you want to try it.

Points of Interest:
Different sounds inside the eggs.

Control of Error:
Not having a match for the last egg.

Aims:
Sound discrimination, order, concentration, independence, ability to make a choice.

Age:
3 and up

Materials:

1- 4 Easter eggs all the same color (I used pink) partially filled with 4 different items to make different sounds when shaken. I Used pennies, rice, crumpled paper and basil.

2- 4 Easter eggs in a separate color (we used yellow) partially filled with 4 different items....same ones used in first set.
3- two matching bowls for each group of yellow and pink eggs.
4-work rug

GENERAL PRESENTATION:
1. Have the child get their rug out.
2. Show the child where the game is located and have them carry to rug.
3. Place the two bowls on the mat.
4. Separate the eggs according to their color so that all pink are in one bowl and all yellow are in the other.

5. Pick-up the first egg from the left (we'll say pink) side bowl and gently shake it. Then lay in the middle of the bowls.

6. Choose an egg from the other bowl (yellow) and hold near ear and shake it. If it matches the first egg, place it next to it's match in the center. If it does not match, return it to the bowl. Repeat the activity with each yellow egg until a match is found.

7.Continue until all the eggs have been matched by sound.
8. Place one bowl inside the other and then place all eggs inside top bowl.
9. Have child return the bowls to the shelf and rug to its location.

a great variation would be to use a blindfold on the child and help them find the matches.

Playstand=)

Aydin is loving the new playstand I made her.
It was so simple to make and turned out really cute.
We found the 2 foot wood pieces at home depot for $1 and glued them together.
I used left over fabric to tie them together.



I dyed the silk squares in kool aid and tada!
She's been having fun moving it around and making it into different things. So far its been her house, farm, store and camp out=)

Starting up

So I have decided to start a blog=) I'll be posting about our Montessori Home School process, crafty things, cooking, mama stuff and we'll see what else I come up with. I know, you're excited.