Mamas and Babies

Aine is fascinated by mamas and babies. She discusses them daily. If a child or young animal is seen, talk is often geared toward the missing mama. If she spots a woman, Aine asks where are the children and babies.

Today, we read a chapter in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane that brought Aine to tears. I was not expecting it. The passage involved the death of a little girl in the arms of her brother. Aine asked why the little boy wanted her to breathe. I explained that the little girl died. Aine layed down and sobbed. She sat back up, climbed on top of my and wept in my arms. She could not understand why the little girl had died, why there was no mother and how the little boy was left alone with a rotten dad.

We had to put the book down for later reading. She wanted to be held while we read a more light hearted book, The Mighty Pigeon Club.

This link sums it up for me nicely and leads you here. Like Molly Coddle, we don't watch much TV. We go in spurts, but my children know who Mr. Rogers is through some books and DVDs from the library. I fondl recall Mr. Rogers and have watched the program with my children. It is a heartening show in sharp contrast to the programming of today. I am off to write a letter.

Activism

Our playroom has been infiltrated by ants. Today I set out a bit of poison (agave nectar in lieu of honey laced with boric acid). Eamon and Aine were intrigued by it. They noticed that a LOT of ants were attracted to the bait. Suddenly Aine spoke up:

A: But, wait, the ants will take the poison to the queen and she will die.
H: Yes, she will die and the colony will die. It should et rid of the ants.
A: But if she dies, herbabies will be lonely.
H: Perhaps.
A: We can't kill her. Her babies will die. Stop!

That is the hope.

Mmmmmmmm

He gets hotter with each thing I read about him.

Snow Caps

We are watching my parent's dog, Gus, for a few days. Apparently he has a favorite food. Enough said...

Snail Mail

Eamon and Aine love receiving mail. This week they received a package from Grandma and GrandDad. Inside was the book I Love Dirt, two calculators, two dowels, two nails, four beads, and instructions on making pinwheels. We immediately grabbed some scissors and a hammer setting out to make our pinwheels. After only a quick assembly, Eamon and Aine were blowing their pinwheels and devising outdoor locations for them. Each had clipped their calculator to their belt, and we headed outside. The pinwheels were given homes in the garden, and we made plans to flood the other garden for mud play the next day.

Sammy Says...

The kids and I headed over to the new Chandler Environmental Education Center for a puppet show. The show was performed by a gentleman from the Great Arizona Puppet Theater. Eamon and Aine enjoyed the show which was called "Hotel Sauguaro." It discussed the environmental impact of the saguaro and the many benefits of our state tree.Afterward the puppeteer showed up all of the puppets and how they work.

Three and a Half

Aine is now three and a half. She recently gave away most of her dolls since they were plastic and opted for a handmade Waldorf style doll. It came the day before her half birthday, and they have not parted company since.