EWH Easter

This year was a quiet "Four Schneiders" Easter weekend - with Saturday spent among friends at the neighborhood easter egg hunt. Last year it rained like cats & dogs. This year we had two little ones to run around collecting eggs in the greenest grass you've ever seen, under blue skies and sunshine.  Boy oh boy, days like this make our hearts ache at the thought of leaving East Walnut Hills.  Here are a couple of photos of our little ones soaking it all in.

(Very special shout out to Carissa for the dresses! MWAH!)

Easter Jam Session Preview

On Easter Sunday we traveled to Xenia where DD surprised Josie with the drumkit he had set up (a la Josie's favorite Fresh Beat Band member Marina). Before we know it, there was quite the jam session happening. I have dozens of videos from the music fest that day in DD's basement. Josie named her band "The LaLaLows".  Here's a little sneak preview.  Enjoy (and check out Lou on the trombone).

Lego Explanation

Oddly enough, playing with Legos just "clicked" with Josie and holds her attention now. Here's the 'lego creation' (as she called it) that she asked me to videotape on Easter morning.



(Sweet moment too in the final seconds. Love this girl.)

A spring poem by Josie

Josie was trying to write a poem on my cell phone, but after getting frustrated asked me if I would write while she said her poem. This is what rolled off her sweet little tongue. Enjoy.

Spring. By Josie

Flowers are blooming,

Trees are sprouting,

And all the people are coming out.

Everybody is going outside.

It is time for spring.

The trees and flowers are going to the mountain blue.

And all the people are coming out.

It’s time for spring.

With you.

Classically, after she finished the poem and I printed it out for her to illustrate, she looks at us and says, "What is a mountain blue anyway?"  We told her that having a mysterious part of her poem made it even more special. 

A montessori birthday and work day

So, there was another birthday celebration not too long ago!  Because Josie has a summer birthday, she gets to celebrate her half-birthday at school. Here are some photos from the montessori tradition - her circles around the sun.

Our little family joins circle time:

 

"The earth goes round the sun, the earth goes round the sun. It takes a year, your birthday's here. The earth goes round the sun, and now you're one!"

...and now you're two!

 And now you're three...

 And now you're four (and a half)...

Bea loves the singing and get a little daddy-smooch:

Josie makes a special secret birthday wish:

A very special secret birthday wish:

Best friend Lucia gets chosen to help:

Bea delights the class with her infinite cuteness:

I pause to consider how quickly Bea will be taking circles around the sun:

A couple of weeks later, Josie's school had its bi-annual parent work day. On this day, we get to come to the school on a Sunday afternoon to be shown the montessori ropes by our little ones. Josie was SO eager to take us through a work-cycle. It was amazing to see how her work choices have evolved since our first parent work day.

Some math using the bead strings:

Preparing us a hummus & carrot bread snack:

Spelling with the movable alphabet:

Learning from the masters at the art desk:

Showing me the steps to thumb-print painting:

More math, sorting the rods:

I can't tell you just how much we love montessori education.  It's so well-suited to our philosophies as parents, our core values as people and our priorities as a family.  Here's a great little overview of the difference between traditional and montessori education if you are interested in learning more.

Science Time with Josie

The Mammal Song

Bea's Big Birthday Celebration

 

Yea, even though we are a month out almost, Bea's first birthday is still pretty fresh in our minds. Here are some photos from her big bee-themed first birthday celebration that we had at our house on March 10th. Thanks to all the super special people who joined us to the celebrate the miracle that is Baby Bea, the wonder that is Josie as a big sister and the joy & gratitude we have to be a family of four!

Some sights from the big event:

An exercise in elapsed time

Last year's harvested sunflower seeds make great party favors
Hand Foot Mouth virus - not so much (Oopsies!)

I heart etsy.

 

A ***SURPRISE*** cake from our friend Teresa
(aka one of the kindest, most generous people we know)!!!

About 20 pounds worth of cake from Whole Foods

Some pre-party and early-party scenes:

Lyla & Josie fill the sunflower seed pouches

Make your own picture frame craft table:

Lots of friends:

Josie's bee dress :)

Look at that intensity! :)

  

A Fairy Tour courtesy of Cousin Morgan

CAKE TIME!

Bonus Footage from post-party:

DD & Girls (next time Grandma, hop on in!)

Lou & Bea, aka evidence Lou was there :)

Bea & me - see I was there too :)

Look - Bea and Josie are in a picture together 

A photo of all four grandkids

Bedtime after a Busy Day!

Thanks to Tia for helping with the photos! XO! Next year, I swear I am going to get all the family photos out of the way first.  At least there's some evidence that most of us were actually there. :)

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET BABY BEATRICE! 

I hope you enjoyed your first circle around the sun just as much as we did!

Sidebar: Here is the link to the shop where I got the decorations, Josie's dress and Bea's onesie. 

Isn't Etsy the BEST?!