One moment we are swimming laps and drinking iced water, in another we are suddenly surrounded by golden, orange and crimson red leaves. Birds fly in the sky like poetry on a page. The water of the ocean
is still but for a trembling of the wind. We are driven by no apparent
reason to hikes and walks up the hill where we are faced with the most
gorgeous sunsets as if the earth has saved its best when we are ready to
settle. Our hearts guide us to our favorite sweater as we sit outside to feel and breath the crisp air of autumn. We have felt restless all summer long till those leaves start falling down on the ground and that simple act makes you want to sit down too. Blankets come out, hot chocolate is served, good books are being chosen, and chairs are occupied with peaceful expectations. Our spirits feel ready to receive the harvest that comes after a long day's work. A short season this autumn is but what marvelous metamorphoses it brings, in us and around us.
Every season has its beauty, but to me autumn brings with its sweet air a desire for resting from vigorous schedule and enjoying my family and the world around us together. It's warm colors bring me peace and satisfaction from life. Its harvest draws my attention to new recipes and delicious pies. The jazzy feel of this season puts a smile on my face and I feel like skipping instead of walking. I can't wait to take my children to walks, hikes, and parks to enjoy the friendship with nature this season offers to us all.
This past week found me celebrating fall each and every day.
On Monday, I accompanied my sweet James to his field trip to the Pumpkin Patch. I love it that neither of my boys are ashamed to show love and kindness toward me even in front of their friends. James kept hugging me and telling me how happy he was that I was with him.
He had fun pretend-milking the cow (and telling me that he would love to have a cow at our home and milk it); he enjoyed learning about different kinds of squash and pumpkins, his favorite being 'autumn wings;' he found some pretty flowers and picked a couple to give to me; and he had a blast jumping with his friends in the bean tub. His favorite thing, however, was picking a pumpkin with mom. He told me I had a good eye for picking out the best pumpkins - his was the biggest in the class. I told him I must have a good eye for having chosen him in the heaven to be my boy- he is the sweetest in the world.
Tuesday was spent enjoying the weather and its gorgeous colors. Charlton went to preschool and learned all about the seasons and autumn in particular. He had fun picking leaves with different colors and learning to write letter L.
When he got home, we read a bunch of fun books on seasons, fall, and leaves. The first book was The Giving Tree. I wanted to help him understand the process of planting a seed and its growth. Charlton was captivated by this book, but in the end when the tree offered herself to the man to be used, he started crying. He felt sad and upset. He didn't want the tree to be cut. He had made a connection with that tree throughout the story.
To smooth things over, I started reading one of Little Bear's books, Little Bear's Visit. He loves Little Bear books and I thought I had read this one to him, but boy was I wrong. This made him cry too. The story of the little robin leaving Little Bear's mother for better weather was unbearable to Charlton. He couldn't forgive the little robin for abandoning mother bear, even after I informed him of little robin's return.
I gave up hope on finding the right book for Charlton this day when all of sudden he picks a Clifford book. He loved the idea of jumping on leaves so much that after finishing reading it, we went outside and jumped on whatever pile of leaves we could find. He loved that, and I was happy that nature brought such joy to him.
Before story time on Wednesday, we went on a fall book hunt focusing on leaves, colors and fun. We found a bunch of fabulous books that didn't cause any melt-downs, fortunately.
On Thursday, I kept James out of school and took him and Charlton to a play,
The Emperor's New Clothes, at the Lesher Center for the Arts. This was an interactive production and James stayed the whole time sitting on stage "contributing" to the play. Charlton started off sitting with James on the stage, but by the time the villains appeared he got scared and had had enough of "interacting" with the actors. The story was just one hour and the kids got to visit with the actors afterward. James made me laugh when he said he wanted a picture with the emperor - and get this- because he felt sorry for the emperor for not being very smart. I personally think he liked the way he dressed. Charlton wanted to say hello to the princess, but wasn't quite satisfied because he had to share her with his friends. All in all we had a great time, and I was so happy to have brought James with us. This was a perfect outing for him.
I had initially planned to take James back to school after the play, but when we got home the boys were having so much fun that I just kept him home. They wanted the same lunch, the same books, the same activities. I could feel their love for each other as they shared, hugged, kissed and teased.
Friday was my day to teach art at my kids' school. Each class was going to use different materials to work on their project. K-1 was going to use the process of cut and paste as well as drawing with crayons to make houses and neighborhoods. 2-3's theme was Fantasy and Imagination. I had printed for each of them a copy with four different animals on it. They were to draw, paint and use their imagination into creating a creature with the head of one animal, the body of another, the feet of another, and the tail of another. Mine didn't come out as great as the kids' ones. They amaze me; they have such imagination. Jefferson, never one to follow rules, used parts from eight different animals and then he put his creature in space. I'm telling you, you can't compete with these kids. 4-5's theme was similar to the k-1, in that they were to draw and paint houses - their house, their dream house, a street of houses, a variety of house,etc- and find ways to add depth and texture through the usage of a combination of straight lines, curves, various shapes, colors, and patterns. The 2-3 class were to use tempera paints; the 4-5 were to use water colors. Most of them had never use water color before, and I hadn't either, so we were all experimenting. I was very proud of my first water color project, but I have to say the fifth graders didn't lag behind. What a fun way to use my October colors!
K-1 "Our Nieghborhood"
(Card board, Scissors, Glue, Markers)
2-3 "Fantasy and Imagination"
(Pencil, Tempera, Marker)
4-5 "Houses"
(Pencil,Water Color, Marker)
After a full week of activites, work and fun, I decided Saturday was going to be a rest day. I read mostly all day; Elijah helped in the house and prepared meals; and the children enjoyed each other's company be that while they were making creations with playdough, or drawing and painting, or playing board games. They played together all day, and they gave me peace and quite. I love being home with my family even when we are each doing different things.
How does Autumn make you feel?
