Sweet Things (or Little Boy's Plastic Knights)

It is the sweet simple things in life which are the real ones after all. - Laura Ingles Wilder

Happiness, I believe, is found in the little things in life...things that you might rush quickly by and not even notice.  We have all heard the expression, "to view the cup as half empty or half full,"  but, I think it is much more than that.  I think there is significantly more "good" around us than we notice. Somehow, we let the short comings of our day fill our heads...and let the small sweet things slip by.  So, I just wanted to share one very small thing that made me smile today...
Currently, My children are studying the middle ages.  We have filled our shelves with wonderful books to learn about the era.  We have already read Beowulf (with and without coloured pictures), Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Beorn the Proud (about the Vikings), A Single Shard (about a medieval potter), Famous Men of the Middle Ages, Outrageous Women of the Middle Ages and now we are on to the Trumpeter of Krakow (about medieval Poland).

There have been many sweet things this school year (and even this day) but one of the sweetest was seeing my littlest one engrossed in learning a very long history documentary with the desktop covered with plastic knights (Perhaps all people would love history more if they had their very own set of plastic knights, too). For him, history is not a boring subject...but a story... and he was actively trying to learn every line...and re-enact his favourite parts.
 When a friend later asked him does he like school? I quietly smiled when I heard him eagerly reply, "Yes, I do! Do you?"

The end!

Homemade Playdough Recipe

Those who don't believe in magic will never find it. - Ronald Dahl

If you never have made homemade playdough...you are missing out on one item that should be added to everyone's Bucket List of Parenthood.  A basic recipe usually takes just a few minutes to make and can produce a dough that will inspire hours of creativity and smiles.

Today's homemade playdough recipes can be pretty fancy.  You can add vanilla essence...you can add neon colour food dye...you can add glitter...

Homemade Playdough Recipe

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 cup water
4 Tablepsoon cooking oil
2 teaspoons food colouring or two packets dry cool-aid mix (without the sugar)
optional: glitter, cinnamon for scent, or 1-2 teaspoons vanilla essence

Directions:
1.  Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

2.  Pour into a frying pan coated with a little oil.
3.  Stir constantly until a ball forms.

4.  Remove pan from heat.
5.  Turn out playdough onto a working surface and knead until smooth (this step children enjoy doing for you...just make sure the dough is not too hot.)

Enjoy!

Playdough can be kept up to six months in an airtight container in the fridge.

The End!

School Days

Life is either a great adventure, or nothing.  - Helen Keller

From my son's sketch book

I love this time of the year.  I think I like the fall better than the summer.  It is as if my mind begins to wake up again after a long sleep in the hot summer sun...and I begin to function again.
Today was my children's first day of school.  So, I am very excited.  I know, most parents are excited to be sending their kids to school, again, finally...
But, I homeschool.  I am excited to be learning again with my children.  I feel like I have been on a treasure hunt for the past month to find the most captivating things to teach my children. I have scoured the shelves of the local library....widdled my selection down to their top 50 books, organised our school room, bought great art supplies, prepared their notebooks, stocked my freezer with quick homemade meals and sweets, and I am ready to begin.  They are ready to begin...and they are asking to begin.
I think life should be like that...an adventure...where the ordinary or the most simple things always can be turned into the extraordinary.
(P.S. I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring)

Step by Step

What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

My eldest son was struggling over his math problems this afternoon.  He asked me to help, and I have to admit, I was lost.  I called my husband and complained.  I hated math the first time around, now, just to make sure my life was not too relaxed, it has come back to haunt me.  In front of me sat a scratched up piece of paper with my failed attempts to solve the problems. I picked up the phone to call my husband.  He was on an errand,  walking through a store.   He asked me to read the problems over the phone.  Without pencil and paper he was able to solve the problems...and shop at the same time. As he mentally worked through the problems, he explained...
The key was to break the problem up. To solve it step by step...starting with the simplest functions...and in the end...the answer will be made clear.  Initially, I had just looked at the problem as a whole...and felt overwhelmed.
It is funny, for all my dislike of math, this really made sense.  Not only in that moment of doing math with my son, but that little lesson helped me throughout the day.  When things became daunting... I just tried to solve it one step at a time...and in the end...the problems were no longer problems...and tonight I will sleep peacefully.  Who would have known.

Parliament Hill

May you live all the days of your life. - Jonathan Swift

Scene of Parliament Hill from across the Rideau Canal

We just had an unplanned adventure.  My children were not very excited on leaving the beaten path...and taking a jump.  They thought I was wasting their time, and forcing them on a needless car ride.  But what can I say, I like to be spontaneous.  So, sometimes you just need to buckle up and hold on for the ride (and I promise not to disappoint).  
My mother in law had a business meeting in Ottawa, the Canadian Capital ( My American friend's please jot that down in your notes...Ottawa, Canada's Capital...Canadians will be impressed if you know that fact).  She was to leave the next day.  I asked if she had room for my family.  Delighted to not be traveling alone, she instantly agreed.  The trip is three hours each way.  We live much closer to Ottawa than we have ever lived before. And to me, every child needs to visit their nation's capital.
So before the sun rose, I woke my sleeping children.  None had a smile.  None were impressed. (But of course I greeted them cheerfully...enjoying every moment of my sinister plan). 
First stop Parliament Hill...

Parliament

Centennial Flame

  Beside the entrance to the Parliament Building

 Still they were warming up to the idea of taking this adventure...But slowly, ever so slowly, they were beginning to smile...But, I needed some extra help to cheer them up.  A stop at The Cupcake Lounge was just the thing...with wall to wall delicious cupcakes to choose from...their adventure, just got a little more exciting...

The Cupcake lounge, located just a block from Parliament Hill

My children's selected favourites

The Canadian Capital boasts a stunning array of museums...all of them worth exploring.  With only three hours left...and my children finally agreeing to try to enjoy the day....we decided on  the Canadian War Museum. (What can I say...I have one teenage boy, one preteen boy, and a six year old boy...I think the art museum would not impress).

From start to finish...they were in heaven.  Reading every sign, studying every display.  I have to say, this was one of the nicest museums, to which I have ever been.  There were even volunteer WWII vets who were throughout the museum to answer questions.  In addition, there were many hands on activities and display tables set up throughout...encouraging children to ask questions and find out more...

By the time we finally reached the exit door of the museum, somehow, the sun was shinning brightly.  Lack of sleep did not keep them from smiling....and they were happy to have taken this unplanned adventure (I am glad I did not listen to their complaints).  I do think that life is full of possibilities and adventure...but many times we close the door...thinking we don't have time...or we will do it tomorrow.  But today only comes once...and "Tell me,what is your plan to do with your one, wild, precious life...( Mary Oliver)."