Happy Spring! I have been looking forward to this day for weeks now, and I have to say that this year, it really feels like Spring is peaking out, eager to bring us all out of winter with it. Pictured above is a lovely gift from Montessori Mama, a bird that she handcrafted for Creative Kismet’s Birds of Change Exchange. As I have been nursing a cold this week (sipping tea and trying to rest too), Montessori Mama’s bird arrived just in time to remind me that warmer weather is around the corner and that hope is around every corner too.
Meanwhile, this week has been busy. First, I have been working to organize and assemble two applications: 1) I have been writing and writing and writing to complete my application towards becoming a leader for Attachment Parenting International, and 2) I have been gathering information, taking on-line tutorials, and making contact with my professional past as part of my application to renew and advance my teaching license in English. At present, I have no immediate plans to return to the classroom, though I do want to stay current in my field as well as keep all doors open for when the time comes to teach again.
Second, as much as I’ve been trying to fight off this cold, I’ve also been busy with Annabelle, getting outside to wander, to meet up with friends at the park, and to take lots and lots of photos. Right now I feel somewhat obsessed with photography and am reading everything from digital SLR how-to books to essays about Ansel Adams. If you’d like to see what books I’ve been looking at, you can check out the titles at my GoodReads page. Also, I’d love to hear title suggestions from those of you who are also interested in photography. I am thirsty to read, read, and read some more!
Now, back to Spring! In the coming weeks, my family has much to do. Our families will be in town, we’ll take part in the National Cherry Blossom Festival (I am seeing the beginning blossoms now), and we’ll be taking part in a children’s farm and gardening program at one of our local farms. At home, I am planning to garden, spring clean, and play in the mud with Annabelle (if she’ll let me . . . more on that below). In fact, I have been inspired by so many wonderful spring ideas from my favorite blogs:
- Jean, over at the Artful Parent (a must read for artsy parents and their kids), made pinecone bird feeders with her daughter Maia. Between the peanut butter, the pinecones, and the seeds, I know that Annabelle will be delighted by all the textures of this activity.
- Cyndi, who takes gorgeous photographs over at Collecting Leaves, shared a lovely mystical poem that her friend from Kolkata, India sent to her. Accompanying the poem is one of Cyndia’s beautiful photos.
- Robin at woowoo mama writes poetic prose in her post “59″ about her happiness with Spring weather and how 59 degree weather adds up to so much more than simply getting outside.
- Wendy at Mother Rising documents her and her son Satch’s mud pie making adventures. This one is an activity that Annabelle may be resistent to try . . . I’m not sure why, but Annabelle hates to get dirty, and she cries when she gets mud on her rainboots. Any tips from other moms of girly girls?
A few other Spring things that I’d like to do with Annabelle I found while browsing the net. I’d love to try this activity on introductory preserving and collecting for young children, as well as a few of the suggested growing projects over at Family Fun. We may also try to make a homemade bird feeder from a soda bottle, like this one.
Last I’ll leave you with some Spring Inspiration that I discovered at A Doodle a Day, titled “Ready for Spring” as well as a post by Daily Dalia titled “Spring has Sprung.”
Again, happy Spring, and I hope you’ll stop by this Sunday for a stroll through my neighborhood. Until then,
Jessica
{ 8 comments }
Wow! In CT, we “mandated reporters” are required to report even a suspicion of abuse to the Department of Children and Families. I guess it’s a different world there.
Robin, I did see the “black heels to tractor wheels” love story and wondered whether Rhee is also a novelist. Her writing is outstanding; though I wondered at the “voice” of her prose, since although she’s a rancher now, she has roots in the city. Maybe it’s like a Madonna case . . . her British accent just evolved after living in Britain for a while. =)
Sunnymama, I think the Spring is contagious. In the words of Mark Twain, “It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want – oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”
Abbie, yes, I am in agreement. I did work hard for my teaching license and may someday decide that the public school system is where I need to be. At the same time, I learned surprising things about Virginia State law while preparing application (including startling intricacies of our child abuse system). If anything, this part of my application made the process so relevant for me now, as a stay at home parent and API leader (for example, physical abuse does not necessarily need to be reported by a teacher if a child does not seem unhappy with his or her parents. At the very least, odd, yes?). Anyway, yes, I am glad to have taken steps to renew.
I’m glad you’re keeping up your certification. It would be a shame to let something lapse that you worked so hard for :)
I’m really enjoying everyone’s spring posts at the moment. Thanks for all these spring links – I have spring fever too :)
yes well beware – i am totally hooked on her site. wait till you find the “black heels to tractor wheels” love story section. you might not blog for a few days and you might go though a box of popcorn. but, i told you not to look so do not blame me!
there used to be an api group in my area but it disbanded when the leader moved away. now i am trying to figure out if i want to begin the process to get one going. i think i could do it, i think i could be good at it, i am not sure if it is something to start right now. do you know what i mean? how did you decide this was the time for you?
is annabelle spirited? i denied the label for so long with the bean and when i finally got the book i couldn’t believe how well he fit the description! why was i pretending he didn’t? not sure…
ok, this doesn’t need to be its own novel.
Robin, I love the Pioneer Woman! I just added her to my links. Her photos are amazing (and her life is too).
Thanks so much, and for everyone else, you should definitely head on over to see the Pioneer Woman.
robin, no way! I really enjoyed “59.” Made me smile, =).
As far as becoming an API leader, I say go for it. It’s been a long process but one that I have learned a great deal from. Ah, I will check out pioneer woman’s photos (her blog avatar sounds interesting at the very least).
Also, I loved Raising Your Spirited Child but I have not yet read Siblings Without Rivalry. I will have to give that a read prior to having #2. I hope we nurture a good and healthy relationship between our kiddos.
hey there, thanks for the linky. i am so embarrassed since it is one of my lamest posts ever but i still appreciate it :)
i have been contemplating working towards becoming an api leader in my area…how are you finding the process to be?
do you ever look at pioneer woman’s photo section?
ok, i am gong to go check out your goodreads page. but right now i am in the middle of “raising your spirited child” and “siblings without rivalry.”