I started a play group with two Mexican women I met recently. We had our first gathering last week and it was wonderful! Not only did I meet two great, new friends, but I also got to surround Sasha by Spanish (she understands everything I say in Spanish, but after she's done repeating everything I said, word for word, in English, she responds in English!) Another great thing is that one of the women is a trained Montessori teacher! So we had lots to talk about.

Here are the kids: Mariel on the left (2.5 years) and Ilan on the right, (20 months)



The Moms: Natania on the left (Ilan's mom) and Karina (Mariel's mom)



Thursday study circle with Mattise:




We went to an Ayyam-i-ha party last week. Here are a few pics of the children doing an art project with sugar cubes and candy!


Cool Sasha with her sunglasses and cell phone:

The art project:



Beautiful Mattise:





We decorated the house for Ayyam-i-ha. Here's Sasha thoroughly enjoying running through the doorway decorated with colorful streamers:


New activities
Using a baster to empty one container and fill another.


Music is a very important aspect of Montessori education. And even though James and I have music going almost all the time, one of their suggestions is to let the child have access to a stereo and teach them how to use it. So here she is with her own cd (we're in the process of making more) and working her stereo. She was really happy with this. She sits in front of it, as shown in this picture, and listens to her music.. It's so cute. Then later she'll dance or just have it in the background while she plays.


Another Montessori activity is to place things in order by size. The actual Montessori game is really expensive because the blocks are made from solid wood (it's called the pink tower). But these cardboard ones work just fine and they're very cheap:



But her all-time favorite activity is to draw on her white board:



She also loves her books. I'm always fixing up her reading corner to make it tidy and cozy and with only a few books on display at a time. Her favorite books right now are some that my Mom just sent her for Ayyam-i-ha: "Why Can't I Fly" and "The Biggest Sandwich Ever". She asks us to read them to her over and over! (Thank you Mom!)



Showing off her finger-puppet:



Daddy hugs:







Fun with the Ruhes:

We spent a couple of days with my brother and the rest of the family. We shared Ayyam-i-ha gifts, a birthday dinner (it was Colin's birthday last Thursday) and went sledding! We all had a great time.. it always makes us happy to spend time with them.

Here's Colin and his sister, Anna:

James pulling Sasha up the hill:

Colin and Anika:




She went down the big hill with Daddy, and down the small hill by herself!