Little Explorers: Milk Magic

A couple of friends have recently asked if I have any good science experiments they could do with their kids with basic household stuff.  Ummm...YES!  Of course!  I'll attempt to gradually post my favorites as I do them with Isabella and Oliver.  If you try it out let me know how it goes and if you want me to post more.  I'd love your feedback!

Milk Magic

Here's what you need:

• whole milk
• food coloring
• liquid dish soap
• q-tips
• pie plate

Pour the milk into the pie plate just enough to completely cover the bottom.  Let it settle for a minute.  Put a drop (or two) of each color of food coloring into the milk, near the center (but not on top of each other).  Dip the end of your q-tip into the liquid dish soap and put that right into the center of the milk.  Hold it there and watch the magic.  Younger kids will want to stir it, but encourage them to just hold the q-tip in one place.  Or pick up the q-tip and place it in another part of the plate to see what happens.

What is happening:

The fat and protein molecules in the milk are very sensitive to change.  When you add the soap to the milk the molecules go crazy and move around.  By adding the food coloring we can actually see how these fats and proteins act when combined with soap.

Extreme experimentation:

What happens if you try it in water or low-fat milk?

P.S. If any of you locals are ever interested in fun liquid nitrogen experiments (ice cream, perhaps?) let me know.  I can totally hook you up!

Attitude of Gratitude

I am grateful for a small home.  Some of the benefits of our little apartment:

• it is easier and quicker to clean
• we purchase and consume less stuff
• we frequently clean out and purge the stuff we do have
• we are always together as a family
• I can keep close tabs on my little ones (usually :))
• I use my awesome tetris skills when storing stuff in closets and cupboards
• it encourages us to get out of the house and experience new, exciting things

I love the random photos my kids take.  They are like little prizes in a cereal box.

Attitude of Gratitude

I am so grateful for my amazing body.  In the last four and a half years it has created and birthed three beautiful, big babies.  It heals quickly and despite the lack of sleep it continues to function well (and produces milk, how wild is that?!).  I feel so blessed to have such a strong, healthy body.

This photo was taken on our 300 mile bike ride from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. in 2004.

Simon Smiles

Simon first smiled the day before his 1 month birthday (Jan 13).  We've even had the joy of a few giggles.  Sometimes he will crack a half smile on his left cheek.  It's awesome.

Why I don't clean my home anymore...

As I was diligently cleaning one room this was happening in another...

When I saw the disaster I almost yelled, "What the $%&@?!"  But I didn't.  I bit my tongue, laughed and grabbed the camera.  Isabella sweetly proclaimed they were making me a birthday cake.

P.S. This happened a few hours ago and there is still a path of floury footprints leading to the bathroom.

P.P.S.  Don't ask how this could happen since we only have 2 rooms in this tiny apartment...I don't know...I have a newborn.

When life gives you snow...

go play in it!

Loitering on a Central Park bench.

Somehow she got a lot of snow in her boots early on.  Our usually very enthusiastic "snow angel" was not so happy today.

Right Now

Making the most of this winter wonderland.

More fun...

Isabella painted snowflakes with watered down tempera paints.  They turned out beautiful.

Oliver must be teething.  Everything is in his mouth lately and he's very emotional.

Isabella loves to "nurse" Simon.  She is a huge help in so many ways.

My loves.

No comment.

Mimicking Michelangelo

With the temperatures today topping in the teens we stayed in all day.  We made forts, read lots of books, baked cookies and muffins, and had a great time.  My personal favorite activity of the day was teaching Isabella a bit about Michelangelo.  After looking at some photos of the Sistine Chapel we taped paper to the underside of the kids' table and went to work. 

Attitude of Gratitude

Today I am so grateful for a warm, heated home.  As we came home from church this afternoon the bitter winds bit us to the bone.  It was so luxurious to walk into our warm apartment.  

Growing up our home was only heated by a wood burning stove in our family room.  Even though it was California (northern!) it was very chilly most or the winter and that stove took a while to warm up the living area.  As I walked into our apartment today I thought how nice it is to not have to gather and chop wood, build a fire and wait for our home to warm up.  I feel so rich and blessed!  (Dad, thanks for building such wonderful fires in that wood stove.  I still remember your "newspaper logs".)

I just checked the weather and it is 17 degrees outside.  With the windchill, it is 4 degrees.  Lovely!

Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.  ~Sarah Ban Breathnach

It's 3pm and I'm still in my p.j.s

Yes, that is right.  It is 3pm and I have not gotten dressed yet.  And, no, it is not out of laziness.  Quite the opposite.  My hands have not been free for one moment today.

Before anyone knew I was pregnant with Simon I asked a friend (an amazing mother of 5) which was the harder adjustment: going from 1 to 2 kids or 2 to 3?  She quickly responded, "2 to 3!"  Then she gave me some advice.  She said make sure you do two things everyday: 1-make sure you feed your kids and 2-make sure your kids know you love them when they go to bed at night.  If you do those two things you'll have had a good day.  If you do more, great, if not, not a problem.  After that simple advice she tearfully explained that the 16 months when she had three little ones at home (before her oldest started kindergarten) were the best 16 months of motherhood for her.  She was so focused on her little brood and such joy came from that simplicity.

I have taken my friend's advice very seriously.  I still get laundry done, make meals, and shower (most days).  But when things get a little wild, or three wee ones are begging for my attention I feel comfortable and confident dropping everything.  (Going with the flow is not something that comes naturally for me.)  The dishes are rarely 100% done and that's okay.  Those dishes won't change and will still be waiting to be cleaned no matter what happens.  But my three children, they won't stop changing!  It has been almost two weeks since my mom left and I've tried too keep our days very simple.  And, so far, the simplest of days have been amazing and wonderful.  Do I dare say the best days of motherhood, so far?  Perhaps.

P.S.  I'm typing this one handed while holding Simon in the other.  Him and sleep are not cooperating today.  And that's why I'm still in my p.j.s at 3pm.

I'm the luckiest!

I am completely in love with this little man!

Sledding!

We finally got a sled!  (Thanks Roseanna!)  And the kids (Daddy included) had a blast this morning.  We found the perfect hill for a 4 year old to climb up and sled down on her own.  Isabella ran up and sledded down at least a million times (I'm sure!).  Oliver is now addicted to sledding.  He squealed, giggled, and laughed the whole time (except when his mittens fell off).  He actually used the word "no!" when we asked if he was ready to go home and said the word "boots" today too.  So, I've decided sledding is beneficial for language development (at least for Oliver).

I was designated photographer, Simon carrier and speeding sled stopper.  Here are several favorite photos:

On our street, headed to Central Park.  Have a mentioned I love where we live?!!!

P.S.  I'm grateful for warm snow clothes for my kids (mostly from generous friends and family) so they can have so much fun in the snow without freezing!

Right Now

Simon: 1 month

It can not be possible that our sweet Simon is already a month old!  Time is flying all too quickly.  His face has changed so much: cheeks filling out, eyes open and staring.  Yesterday he smiled for the first time!  He has the most precious smile.

Simon is adored by Isabella.  She loves to help with everything and as I watch her closely I'm becoming more comfortable and confident letting her.  Yesterday as I was bundling up Oliver to go outside she gently put Simons socks and booties on.

Oliver usually does really well with Simon too.  He asks to hold Simon and will do so for maybe a minute everyday.  Oliver will help by pushing Simon's binky into Simon's mouth and carrying dirty diapers to the trash for me.  Yesterday Simon was laying on the couch while the kids were playing and I was doing a few dishes.  I turned around and Oliver was up on the couch, next to Simon, giving him tender kisses on his forehead.  Moments like that melt my heart.

Simon is such a sweet baby.  We all love and adore him and are grateful he is finally a part of our family.  I feel complete with him here as well as challenged to be a better mother.