My weekend was a full one. It was a go-go-go kind of weekend, that included one amazing and much needed date with the hubby (we got a babysitter-yay!), three family photo sessions, visits with friends, a birthday celebration for a friend and beautiful warm unseasonable weather.
It's starting to feel more and more like the Christmas season here. Christmas lights are going up throughout the nighbourhood (ours will be soon), craft shows are taking place every weekend, and the stores are displaying their Christmas merchandise-trying to temp us all.
But for now I am holding back a bit. I am excited for Christmas, yes, but this year I am trying to make a conscious effort to scale back on the excess and try to enjoy more of the magic of the season.
This year the fake trees will stay in their boxes and we will look for a small real fresh tree that will envelope us in it's delicious scent. Many of my decorations will stay put away in exchange for a select few of our absolute favourite ones. And with less stores to buy from, I won't be focussing so much on the quantity of gifts that I give my family, as it will be more about the quality.
More and more, the above examples are becoming my feelings about how we live our life. More simply. I read a great interview that describes Waldorf education in a nutshell. It was linked to via Bluebird Baby and I thought I would share with you all. Waldorf education makes so much sense to me- provide children with quality toys made of natural elements, provide plaenty of opportunities to be outside discovering nature and to include hand crafts as an educational tool (just a few of the concepts). Doesn't that kindergarden classroom look like the most inviting place ever to be? Oh I wish I could send Noah to a school like that when he is older.
Hope you had a great weekend dear friends! Here are a few out takes from one of the sessions I had with my friends Leanne, Jeff, Sunny and Evey. Love that family so so much.
I love the idea of making the holidays more simple and more special! There is so much about Waldorf that appeals to me too. It's been difficult sometimes to reconcile some of that with some of what I know about education from a public education perspective. I love the idea of the simplified and natural playthings though. Have you seen this blog?
ReplyDeletehttp://natural-kids.blogspot.com/ It is a team of bloggers who also have etsy shops. One is my dear childhood friend whom I recently reconnected with!
Those photos are so gorgeous, especially the last one. I love the focus on that and the mountains in the background. Really lovely!
I agree with Kerry. I've shifted a lot of how we do things after reading blogs and wanting a more natural play environment.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics, too, Johanna.
yep...here too....going for a less commercial and a more christmas from nature approach...lots of natural pine, red berries,pinecones, candles...quiet and peaceful....no malls for me...just sitting by the fireside..listening to christmas music and enjoying the peacefulness of Christmas....
ReplyDeletelove the great photos of the kids...darling
kary and teddy
xxx
I adore her blog with all my heart. Been thinking lots about schooling and education lately... not sure what road we'll take, but we doubt it'll be the one most traveled.
ReplyDelete