An Enchanted Childhood Playschool ~ March 25th-29th ~ Easter

Lots of child-requested painting went on this week!!  Every day!

Our book for the week was The Easter Egg by Jan Brett.

The children painted Easter eggs...

They painted crosses...

They painted blown eggs...

And they painted bunnies!

Have a wonderful Easter!

 

Each week I joined several linky parties!  What a fun way to share and learn! 

Natural Living Monday,  The Children's Bookshelf,  Monday's Kid Corner, Hey Mom, Look What I Did!, Montessori Monday, Made by Little Hands, Homemade Mondays, Mama Moments Monday {Link Up}, The Gathering Spot,  Little Wonders' Days,  Mom's Monday Mingle,  Hip Homeschool Hop, Mom's Library,  Tuesday Tots, (tot school tuesday), The Tuesday Baby Link-Up, Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}, Tuned in Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, TOO Cute Tuesday, Open Call Tuesday, Backyard Farming Connection Hop, Tuned in Tuesday, Kids in the Kitchen,  Waldorf Wednesday,  It's Playtime, We Made That Linky, What I Learned Wednesday, Super Link Party, Kids Co-Op,  Artsy Play Wednesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Adorned From Above, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Kids Crafts, Link and Learn, Thrifty Thursday,  Hearts for Home,  needle and thREAD, Made U Look, Tender Moments with Toddlers and Preschoolers,  Natural Living Link-Up, Small Footprint Friday,  Our Days Homeschool Link-Up,  For the Kids Friday, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday, Read. Explore. Learn., Creative Learning on Friday,  Preschool and Kindergarten Corner, Friday's Nature Table, The Friday Baby Shower,  TGIF Linky Party, Family Fun Friday,  Creative Friday, Friday Flair Link Party, Shine on Fridays, Friday Favs, Outdoor Play Party,  Do Something Crafty, Tot School Gathering Place,  Sharing Saturday, Share It Saturday, Country Kids, Link and Learn, sharing creative, ideas {all weekend}, Show and Share Saturday, The Sunday Showcase, The Preschool Prekinder Nook, Fun Sparks, The Sunday Parenting Party, Making Boys Men, Made with Love

And each week I co-host two such parties:  The All Year Round Blog Carnival and Eco-Kids Tuesday Link-Up!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Don't forget to enter in the Connecting Family Through Creative Play Give-Away!  It ends this evening at 8pm EST and the winner will be announced tomorrow morning!

Fresh Flours

We have been gluten free since New Years. This change is something we had been thinking about for a long time. Celiac Disease runs in Papa's genes, and though he himself does not seem to have a gluten intolerance, there is the possibility that our girls (and any future children) could be at risk. That, plus the fact that the more research I do, seems to show that wheat (and the way that has been hybrid and genectically modified over the last century) is not very healthy anyway.

Since we are eventually hoping to have some type bread/crust, I have been searching out alternatives and options. Quinoa was at the top of my list. So I set out to make some quinoa flour.

I toasted 2 cups of organic quinoa for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Then tossed it into the food possessor and ground it into flour.

I can use this just like using wheat flour in muffins and cookies and pancakes and....

I have used coconut and tapioca flours from the health/bulk food store, but hope to make those as well as others in the future!

 

 

Each week I joined several linky parties!  What a fun way to share and learn! 

Natural Living Monday,  Tot School Gathering Place,  The Children's Bookshelf,  Monday's Kid Corner, Hey Mom, Look What I Did!, Montessori Monday, Made by Little Hands, Homemade Mondays, Mama Moments Monday {Link Up}, The Gathering Spot,  Little Wonders' Days,  Mom's Monday Mingle,  Hip Homeschool Hop, Mom's Library,  Tuesday Tots, (tot school tuesday), The Tuesday Baby Link-Up, Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}, Tuned in Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, TOO Cute Tuesday, Open Call Tuesday, Backyard Farming Connection Hop, Tuned in Tuesday, Kids in the Kitchen,  Waldorf Wednesday,  It's Playtime, We Made That Linky, What I Learned Wednesday, Super Link Party, Kids Co-Op,  Artsy Play Wednesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Adorned From Above, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Kids Crafts, Link and Learn, Thrifty Thursday,  Hearts for Home,  needle and thREAD, Made U Look, Tender Moments with Toddlers and Preschoolers,  Natural Living Link-Up, Small Footprint Friday,  Our Days Homeschool Link-Up,  For the Kids Friday, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday, Read. Explore. Learn., Creative Learning on Friday,  Preschool and Kindergarten Corner, Friday's Nature Table, The Friday Baby Shower,  TGIF Linky Party, Family Fun Friday,  Creative Friday, Friday Flair Link Party, Shine on Fridays, Friday Favs, Outdoor Play Party,  Do Something Crafty,,  Sharing Saturday, Share It Saturday, Country Kids, Link and Learn, sharing creative, ideas {all weekend}, Show and Share Saturday, The Sunday Showcase, The Preschool Prekinder Nook, Fun Sparks, The Sunday Parenting Party, Making Boys Men, Made with Love

And each week I co-host two such parties: 

The All Year Round Blog Carnival and Eco-Kids Tuesday Link-Up!



Wonderfull (Full of Wonder) Wednesday

Looking for the wonder in everyday life! 

I'd love for you to join me on this journey. 

If you find wonder along the way, please leave a link in the comments,

so others can share in your wonder 

It is a wonder-full thing to be given a plain sheet of paper to paint, only to find out someone left you a secret picture... of your current obsession... Jemima Puddleduck and the Foxy Gentleman!

The little gasp and the excited "it's the foxy gentleman" when she realized there was a hidden picture made it a wonder filled moment for the "surprise picture maker" as well!

Here & Now at Eco-Kids Tuesday

I am so ready for warm. I have a bad case of spring fever. Though I have made an extra effort to get outside more this winter, with two littles, it is a struggle to get everyone ready and out the door. Only to be met with biting winds and bleak... everything! I feel claustrophobic. I miss warm. I miss green. I miss bare feet on cool grass, dirt under my finger nails, and children playing in my creek.

Basically this...



Thank God we had a nicer day Saturday and spent much of it outside, in the fresh air. However, at the end of it, seeing a forecast of more snow left me longing yet again. So much so that I catch myself fantasizing about moving south, and living near the beach. There is a whole list of things that go along with this fantasy. A large piece of land with less hills, a few farm animals, a nice sized garden, a farm house, and on and on. (Hmm, I just realized I completely described the farm where we lived when I was young... Yes, that... Except near the beach...) As nice as it would be, I know in my heart that this is also just an unusually long, cold winter. So, I have set out to find contentedness where I am. Here and now. I will...

Whether The Weather 



Get out and play! 



Bundle up and make it fun.

Encourage puddle jumping and independent play.

As well as hitching rides and strengthening bonds.

Enjoy the dreams that have already come true.

 And remember that it even the smallest step,

is an important part of the journey...

Don't be afraid to take that step... or waddle :)

Cultivate the garden of my heart and bloom where I am.

Here and now.

(and of course the day after I wrote this--yesterday--we were hit with a heavy snow and babies with bad colds...  hurry warm weather!)

Before we head into the Eco-Kids Tuesday link-up, I want to remind you all of the awesome GIVE-AWAY here on my blog.  Go check it out and comment to have a chance to win.  I'll be there too... and maybe the workshop is just what I need to get through the last of the wintery days!

Connecting Family Through Creative Play E-Workshop Give-Away!

An Idea on Tuesday shared the CUTEST birds (as well as other Easter ideas)!

We love teaching children about colors.  We Made That has the greatest color mixing idea!

Freshly Planted shared her dream catcher made from repurposed plastic lids (ahem..like I just threw away...)

W have had fun making binoculars from toilet paper rolls when doig a bird study,
 but Sugar Aunts certainly trumped our plain ones with their rainbow binoculars!

Thanks to ALL of you for sharing such wonderful ideas!  If you were featured please feel free to grab a button for your blog.  And please keep linking up great all your Eco-Kid ideas!

The Link-Up

I hope that you'll share some great family-friendly posts that are also friendly for the environment.

Some ideas include:

• Nature Activities
• Outdoor Activities
• Crafts made with re-purposed or recycled materials
• Sewing and DIY home projects
• Science Experiments
• Posts on environmental issues for kids or families
• Non-toxic living
• Homeopathic Remedies

Eco-Kids Tuesdays is co-hosted by Organic Aspirations and Like Mama~Like Daughter this means that anything you link-up shows up on both blogs!

Feel free to link up several of your posts.

There are only a few rules:

Please follow both co-hostess' blogs, and visit some of the other posts and give them some encouragement!  Please stick to posts and photos not giveaways or items for sale.

By linking up, you are agreeing that Organic Aspirations or Like Mama~Like Daughter can feature your photos next week with a link back to your site.  

Please link back to my site using this button (once I get it fixed !!) OR simply text linking within your post!

Brown Cows & Chocolate Milk

There once was a little boy who, while throwing away an empty milk carton for me,

asked if it had been chocolate milk, or white.

Upon further investigation, he noticed the black and white cow on the side of the carton and exclaimed that it must have been white milk since only brown cows make chocolate milk.

Oh how I love the mind of a child!

 I explained that all mama cows make white milk,

then people put chocolate in it to make chocolate milk.

He wasn't sure he believed me, so we set out to prove or disprove my theory.

1 cup of organic whole milk

1 teaspoon of organic cocoa powder

&

1 packet of organic stevia

("Organic means it is healthier," he said.)

Shake well and enjoy!

He declared it DIVINE!

So much so that we had to make a second batch.

Learning is fun... and yummy!

Be sure to enter in my Give-Away!

I'll be taking the workshop, too, and am certain it will be wonderful!!

A Give-Away -- Connecting Family Through Creative Play Workshop!

We are so excited that Kat from Creative Playhouse and Gina from Connecting Family and Seoul gifted us with a GIVE-AWAY for Like Mama ~ Like Daughter readers!!

They are offering one of my readers a place in their E-workshop--

Connecting Family Through Creative Play

Kat describes the workshop like this:

This workshop is aimed at parents and carers of children from 0 - 5 years old, but anyone is welcome to join if they feel it would be beneficial to them. 

This is for you if you want to - 

• make deeper connections with your children
• discover new creative ways to play 
• find fun ways to bring your whole family together
• explore your family relationships and find creative ways to strengthen them
• create lasting family traditions centred around fun and togetherness
• deepen your understanding of the benefits of play and how it can help your children and yourself   

Perhaps you, your children, or your family have been through some stressful times? Or faced problems with behaviour, finances, conflict or separation? You may have had personal issues that you feel have stopped you bonding or connecting with your children in the way you want? Perhaps you are a stay at home parent that is tired of the day in, day out and want to enrich your family's lives? Or maybe you just want to focus on and spend time playing creatively and connecting with your family. 

We are not just catering for the 2.4 family! :) This workshop is for any kind of family; any amount of children and parents, any situation and circumstances, and from anywhere in the world.

Gina shares her thoughts:

We both believe that play incorporates much more than simply sitting on the floor and interacting with toys (although that is a very important part!). It also includes:

~ artistic expression (such as experimenting with watercolors or play dough)

~ nature exploration (play with nature items or even finding ways to simply enjoy the outdoors)

~ celebrations of everyday moments

~ real world experiences

~ games

~ talking and sharing memories with your children

~ sharing each other's passions 

~ learning through play

~ sensory experiences (hands-on play that awakens the five senses)

How does the workshop work?

Each day you will receive an email with ideas and information on a specific topic, followed by an inspiration to play, and a creative, play and/or family challenge. 

This is by no means a graded course. This is a workshop that you can work through with your family however it works for you, and you can choose to be part of the community that comes along with the workshop, where you can share your experiences, and chat to other taking part in the workshop. 

You will also receive some special guest posts from wonderful mums/writers who specialise in creative play and creative family living. 

Gina and I will be available to you through the facebook community or via email throughout the 30 days to support you in your journey.

How will the workshop benefit you and your family?

What you get out of the workshop will be partly dependant on how much you put into it. :) 

But you will definitely get 

• Tons of creative play ideas that you can adapt to your family's needs and interests
• Fun, interesting and lasting ways to connect with your children
• Ideas to capture the experiences you have and memories you make with your family
• Guidance and support on your journey, however great or small you choose to make it
• A space to meet and share with like-minded people 

This e-Workshop is for you if...

You would love to find ways to get the whole family involved with play.

You would like to discover techniques that incorporate play into the current rhythm of your family.

You are looking to find a balance between the everyday tasks that fill up your to-do list and connecting with your child in meaningful ways.

You've ever felt frustrated by the the monotony that sometime creeps into your days.

You already enjoy making connections with your children, but are looking for some fresh ideas.
You are a stay-at-home mom, working mom, grandmother, educator, or child-care provider to any child under the age of 5. (Although children under 5 are our main focus, many of the ideas and activities can be adapted and found very beneficial for older children, as well!)  

So now that you have heard their hearts, I am sure you'd love a chance to win a spot in this e-Workshop, which begins April 8th!

For a chance to win this wonderful workshop, simply leave a comment with a way to contact you! 

You may earn additional entries by doing one or all of the following:
*follow my blog
*follow Kat's blog
*follow Gina's blog
* "like" Like Mama ~ Like Daughter Facebook page

Be sure you come and leave a new comment for each entry so we can count each and every one!

The give-away contest will end Friday at 8pm est and I'll announce the winner Saturday morning!

And I'll see you there.  Kat and Gina sweetly offered me a place in the workshop as well!

**All photos from Creative Playhouse



The winner is #1  Natasha!  Congratulations!  I will make sure you have been notified and send your info to Kat so she can get you signed up!  See you there!!

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