Quilling and Quinoa

I made a little purple snow flake this morning. I wanted to try out "Quilling" and the snowflakes not only seem the most practical thing to make but also very pretty and I didn't have to follow a pattern.

I really enjoyed making my little purple snowflake and will probably make some more.

Alison looks up from reading "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"

Its one of her favorite books right now. Her top books are: "Pocket full of Posies", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", "Nurse Nancy" and "Saggy Baggy Elephant"

Eating lunch. We tried something new today, Quinoa. It's supposed to be a really healthy grain.

Alison liked eating her bowl of strawberries the best though. She ate them all and snubbed the green beans and only a few bites of the qoinoa.

I think its a little bland but not at all bad...I need to look up some different ways to give it a bit more flavor. 

Star Child

 Alison and I went shopping and picked up a few thing at JC Penny. We went after Alison had taken a nap and after she ate her post nap lunch so we would be in the optimal mood for going shopping. 

While we were there Alison heard a sales lady tell someone to "have a nice day!" and so Alison randomly would tell people we walked by to "have a nice day!". Most people didn't hear her but one lady did and told Alison to have a nice day too.

This morning we got to Skype with Grandma Carolyn. Alison LOVES talking to Grandma. Frequently when I open my computer she will say "Talk to Grandma?". Sometimes Alison clams up when she is on Skype but today she showed off her singing by serenading Grandma with the "ABC" song and "Twinkle Twinkle". She also showed grandma her horse and tried to sing the chorus to THIS. I always sing it (da-da-dun, da-da dun, da-da dun dun dun) when I am making her horse run around and Alison likes to dance a long and laughs, its pretty fun. I thought it was cute her trying it out for herself.

Since I didn't take any pictures today I will show you something I am really excited to give Alison for Christmas!

This book is based off the Brother's Grimm story of a little girl who gives all her belongings to those in need. I think this book helps children understand the beauty and importance of giving, especially during the winter season when they receive so much.

 Book description from Amazon:

"There was once a young girl whose only possessions were the clothes on her back and a piece of bread some kind soul had given to her. But even these few things meant much to others less fortunate than herself, and in selfless love, the girl gave the little she had away. In this beautiful Grimm tale, her virtue is rewarded a thousand times over."

 I saw this book featured on the blog Rhythm of the Home and thought it would make a beautiful bedtime story for Alison.

To go with the book we got a little doll of the Star Child

Till tomorrow, warm hugs to you all!

First Haircut!

Big Day! Alison's hair has been in her eyes for a few weeks now so we made an appointment with our good friend and hair stylist Michell to have those crazy bangs trimmed up!

 As you can see they are pretty long

 No matter how we brush her hair, it does what it wants!

 "Daddy's cape"

 "And here is your cape Alison!"

 Alison got to hold a comb while Michelle tried to cut her hair.

 "Mommy do I have to?"

 Michelle was really patient.

 Alison didn't really want her bangs trimmed...

Michelle found out that distracted by a Kit Kat candy Alison would hold still enough for a quick bang trim!

 

There are her beautiful blue eyes!

I took the video with one hand and took pictures with Chris' camera in the other!
There is a pre-candy video where you can watch 3 minutes of Alison pushing Michelle's hands away if you want: CLICK

Cooking

Alison "borrowed" my little pot today, took it right out of the cupboard. Alison really likes being in the kitchen and sometimes she even helps me unload the dishwasher. She will hand me things to put up and she likes to help put the big spoons in the cooking utensils drawer.

Alison is cooking a delicious dish of apples and mushrooms.

Putting around with Pottery

I have always thought that pottery painting was really neat but I had never actually done it so when one of the mom's from our Waldorf playgroup called me up and asked if I would like to go I answered with an immediate "yes!"

We decided on painting a mug and a Christmas ornament.

The colors will come out more purple after they are fired in the kiln.

The mug is going to be my Christmas present from Alison this year! 

We had wanted to make a bunch of ornaments but Alison didn't really like having paint on her hand lol.

Alison likes using the paint brush but wanted mommy or daddy to "help please!"

This all took place at Hillside Artisans Children's Boutique in San Diego. This was my first time there and I plan on going back! They have some really cute wood toys, colorful clothes and adorable yet sturdy shoes. They have a little area off to the side where we painted, from what I understand they have different work shops there for parents and kids.

Now! Pictures from Chris' camera!

We should be getting our pottery and a couple weeks.I am really excited to see the finished project!

Happy Veteran's Day! Happy Martinmas!

Daddy had the day off from work today!

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I was in the kitchen making breakfast, luckily with my phone close at hand, when these two walked in.

Alison not quite ready to start the day but perfectly content to snuggle with daddy and daddy perfectly content to snuggle her.

 

Since Chris and I are both veterans we went to Chili's to get some free Veteran's Day food!

It was really good!

We had wanted to go to Balboa Park so Alison could do her lantern walk there but it took a bit longer at Chili's then we had expected so we did the next best thing, we went to play on the lovely green grass of the golf course behind our house.

Alison walking down the sidewalk with lantern holding daddy's hand

I wish you could see how pretty the lantern glowed with the little "real" LED candle inside

Happy Martinmas!

Before we headed out we read a short story of St. Martin:

(I did a little editing but I got the story from here)

St. Martin (The Martinmas Story)

Long ago their lived a good man named Martin. Even as a boy, he knew that one day he would serve in the military. His father was an important military officer. And, although he desired a more peaceful life, he knew that it was his duty to follow the life of this father. So, Martin joined the military, became an officer and eventually was assigned to garrison duty in the town of Amiens.

One bitterly cold winter evening, the young Martin rode through the gates of Amiens on his fine, proud horse. He was dressed in the regalia of his military unit: gleaming armor, a bright helmet and beautiful cloak lined with lambs wool. It was nearly freezing outside, but his thick cloak kept him warm.

As he approached the gates of the town, he saw a poor man, a beggar, dressed with clothes so ragged that he was practically bare. The man was shaking and blue with cold, but no one reached out to help him. People passed through the gates, looking straight ahead, so their eyes would not meet the poor, desperate man.

Martin, seeing this, was overcome with compassion. He rode straight to the poor man and took off his cloak. And with one stroke of his sword he tore the lovely mantle in two. He wrapped half of the cloak around the freezing man and the other half around his own shoulders.

The people nearby watched in amazement. To see a fine military officer do such a kind thing was unheard of and they were touched by the goodness that Martin showed.

That night, as Martin slept, he had a dream. A man appeared to him who looked familiar, it was Jesus! And he was wearing the half of the cloak Martin had given to the poor beggar. Martin saw in the eyes of Jesus the light of goodness which we each carry within us.

From that day on, Martin's life was changed forever. He left the military to become a monk and to live a life in service of others.

Sharing, Caring

Kind and True

St, Martin we Honor you.

Paper Lantern

Oh breakfast, most important meal of the day!

 

Alison, and the rest of us for that matter, really likes bacon. Ham and bacon are about the only meat she wants to eat. She gets oatmeal every morning with flax seed mixed in and a little syrup over the top. Occasionally we have other things in addition like fruit, yogurt and toast but always oatmeal. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day around here because Alison eats more at breakfast than at any other meal.

 

Tomorrow along with Veterans Day is Martinmas or St. Martin's Day.

It's a holiday a lot of Waldorf schools celebrate and so I thought we would celebrate it as a family since our school isn't doing anything. Traditionally you do a lantern walk with a paper lantern. I made this lantern for Alison using instructions from the book "All Year Round"

Doesn't it look pretty with the sunlight filtering through?

 

 

One side I didn't cut out a window to glue tissue over but wrote a cute little verse I came across, I wish I remmebered where:

Sharing, Caring,

Kind and True

St. Martin We Honor You