Self-directed play

I love it when a good game of Ring Around a Rosy breaks out. Sorry about cutting their heads off as much as I did. I'll get better with practice!

In this second game, they decided to do it without holding hands. Ring without the ring?

Helping, Helping

I was doing dishes so we could make muffins ... and thus make more dishes, for which we needed room in the sink. This is called the domino effect of cooking.

 While I did dishes, the girls needed something to do. Why not put them to work, helping? The toddler table makes the perfect work surface. Ella gets to sort the cutlery into the tray, and Nora gets to fit the lids on all the food containers.

Perfect! It kept them busy for just long enough, and -- the best part -- you know what they're doing, right? Sorting and matching and putting like with like? Those are all pre-math, or math readiness skills.

Kitchens are great places for math activities.

And I had help with the dishes! A win-win.

A bundle of girl

I had been warned when she arrived that Nora had had a rather sketchy night's sleep. Though her mood was good all morning, in the early afternoon I wandered out from the kitchen to see this:

It had taken her perhaps three minutes to go from awake to crumpled.

Aaaawww... Poor little muffin! Is that not so adorable?

I opted to leave her be. She snoozed for about 40 minutes, then was ready to rejoin the fun!

Even after all these years of caring for toddlers,

sometimes they're just so sweet, it melts you.

A-Puzzling We Will Go

Puzzles are very, very popular around here these days. Here, Ada and Addie each work a puzzle that offers just the right amount of challenge.

For some reason, Addie preferred on this day to fit the pieces together in mid-air, before placing them on the floor. She would not be convinced that it could perhaps be easier if she did it on the floor. (She needed a greater challenge to her 3-year-old coordination??)

Nora was also doing a puzzle that day, but she was working in the kitchen, and for some reason, all the pictures I took of her are horribly blurred, so you'll just have to imagine her working on the big ballerina puzzle.

Bubbles, live!

Little girls and bubbles. 

I love the cry of pride from Addie: "I did iiiiit!!"
(Particularly amusing, given it seems to be Ella's stream of bubbles which provoked the cry...)

Only 34 seconds, because I was just trying out the technology. Next time it'll be longer!

Menu Monday

Menu Monday for a week that starts on Tuesday! I hope you're all enjoying the last day of your long weekend.

Tuesday:
First Course: gazpacho
Main Course: spinach pie
Dessert: muffins

Wednesday:
First Course: cauliflower and cheese sauce
Main Course: stuffed peppers
Dessert: fruit

Thursday:
First Course:salad
Main Course: enchilada bake
Dessert: fruit

Friday:
First Course: couscous salad
Main Course: lentil curry
Dessert: gelato