Fall Meet-ups and Pumpkins

We've done a lot of pumpkin play. Wooden spoon banging, playing with the insides, letting the kids get messy with the guts. Last week, we met at Natalia's condo and the kids really seemed to be getting the feeling of the songs and play time. The grown-ups were really enjoying the granola, roasted potatoes, and fruit too. Anna made some lemon bars. SO, yeah, we were kind of focused on eating, but the kids were in their halloween costumes and it was great to see them run around. There were two bees and two dinosaurs. I think it will be time to start the Thanksgiving theme crafts soon.

Tara's Links

1. Nurturing Pathways (per the instructors recommendation we are signed up for the Sat. a.m. Waddlers class, although Hunter is more standing than walking so we may go to the baby class a couple times and then transition into waddlers). Anyway, details about class, cost, etc. can be found at:

http://www.nurturingpathways.com/schedule/class/calendar/christines-schedule

2. Library Storytime

http://www.spl.org/locations/ballard-branch/bal-events-at-this-branch#/?i=1

3. Zoomazium

http://www.zoo.org/zoomazium

4. Greenlake Wading Pool (obviously only good during summer hours!)

http://www.seattle.gov/parks/wadingpools_detail.asp?id=307

5. Mall play areas - Bellevue Square Mall - this place is a hike/total trek, I know...but they have an awesome play area which is good to know (I had no idea until a friend mentioned this to me) I took Hunter once when already in area to meet up with friends. It is geared more towards walkers - kindergarten age but still fun.

Other fun places include Golden Gardens (more summer), Loyal Heights Community Center Events/Ballard Community Center (I believe these were both already mentioned).

I have heard this is a good Children's Museum. Again, it is a trek, but just fyi....

http://www.yelp.com/biz/kidsquest-childrens-museum-bellevue-2

Red Tricycle is a good newsletter to sign up to receive (If you don't already) since it sends information about things happening locally.

http://www.redtri.com/seattle

Also, the consignment sales I was mentioning that are happening this weekend:

Just Between Friends (Renton area)
http://seattle.jbfsale.com/pages/home

Family Multiples Sale (Shoreline)
http://www.seattlemultiples.org/

Tara & Hunter
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Pumpkin Exploration @ Karin's House

Well, gulp, I was late. To be fair, we were late. Anna and I managed to turn a four block walk into a half an hour hilarious "power walk" with two nursing babes and some drizzle coming down, it was kind of funny when we finally reached our destination. It was music to my ears though when I heard the "hello" song drifting in from the play room. The activity today was exploring the guts of a pumpkin with wooden spoons. Otto was a fan. He seemed to want to eat all the seeds so it was a great thing when strawberries and bananas came along to distract him. We sang some songs and the babes ate pizzas and Evy broke all of our hearts with a little "bye-bye" that made me want to do anything but leave.

Wow, A different scene

Well, it's hard to believe but I am updating this blog from across the country. We moved to Seattle and we are trying to copy the amazing experience we had there with the second round of babies. By we, I am referring to the fabulous Anna Painter and myself. We sent out a notice to some moms groups and invited anyone who was interested to join and we hope we now have a core group of parents and babies (all moms to be honest but you never know...). We are sticking with our format and we'll see how it evolves. I will try to do a better job and post our activities so that this time we have more of a data base to draw from. Last week, for the activity, I wrapped toys in bags and let them open, discover and trade toys for about 7 minutes. This week, the activity was colored water and water pouring. Snack on week one was egg casserole and today was mini-muffin pizzas. Simple activities but pretty high levels of buy-in both times.

Craft ideas

Just found this site - LOVE IT

http://www.kidscraftweekly.com/index.html

Oscar's turn to host...

Super late on posting this...

When we met at our place, we read a very English book called 'the tiger who came to tea'. We made collages with yarn, tissue paper and feathers using contact paper, which we all agreed was rather easier than glue. Oscar opted out of circle time and mummy opted out of outdoor time (busy with boobs). Everyone played beautifully together.

Word of advice (though possibly this related to my previous session) - don't get the musical instruments out until you're actually ready to use them. The kids fell upon them greedily and pretty much lost interest in singing the songs.

Fall Leaves Day

Discovery (10 mins)

Hello Song (Alex played the guitar)
Old MacDonald (kids supplied the animals--that's progress)
Happy Birthday (To Eli)

Melted into Dance Party because Oscar said "Let's dance it up"
We danced to "Palito" (un poco de espanol)

Outside Activity: Leaves
We ran up and down the street and ran through the leaves.
We pointed out the sound and the various colors.
Next, we gathered leaves and scooped them into a leaf bag. (There was variable interest here and at one point everyone was lined up at the gate clamoring to get out)

Snack time: Banana Bread

Story: Leaf Man (A-can you supply the author). Only Peter was really listening. Everyone else was drumming on the table. It was kind of hysterical.

Art time: Leaves on Hand Tree (cut out brown paper in the shape of a hand). Kids applied colored ribbons (read: leaves) to the tree and used crayons and pencils to decorate. Not a big hit with the boys but our resident girl seemed to dig it.

Bubbles and Goodbye-although there was a fair amount of lingering and some more free play this week.

We noted that the kids are playing better together than ever and seem to know the "schedule'. That said, not everyone joined in for songs or stories