ECFE

Minnesota has a gem of an educational program called ECFE, or "Early Childhood Family Education." This remarkable program exists here, and only here, in Minnesota. It is an early childhood educational program for parents and children, funded by state tax dollars as well as tuition payments (based on income), and it provides education, support, and fun for parents and their children, ages 0-5.

Madeline and Isaac at recent ECFE classes:

I was skeptical about the program at first, but on a whim, I signed up.

After participating in this program for a year, I am now a firm believer: This program is a phenomenal use of tax dollars, and it should be implemented--everywhere. I wish that I had had access to this program years ago, when I was a first-time mom experiencing "parenting overload" in every stage of child rearing.

I have been fortunate, since becoming a full-time parent, to have the resources and support of my church's women's organization, Relief Society, which has consistently provided support, friendship, inspiration, and education. But I have often wondered what parents do when they do not have a support system in place. In Minnesota, this ECFE program is it. And it is incredible.

Because of this program, parents receive support from other parents...and professionals. Parents find friends in their same situation of life. Parents become better parents through the ideas and discussions presented. Children gain early social experience, and they develop a variety of cognitive and motor skills. Parents and children have precious, enjoyable time together each week. Parent-child relationships are strengthened. In short, it's fun and oh-so worthwhile.

When I started the program last fall, I thought I had little to gain from it, since I had already had three toddlers in my home. And it's true, I didn't necessarily learn much about the various stages of toddler development, or potty training, or sleep issues, or health issues. In fact, more often than not I found myself answering questions about these things. However, I did gain a wonderful group of friends, who helped me navigate a challenging transition to a new area. Isaac and Madeline also gained some little buddies. And I looked forward every week to the time with my twins--time when I could just show up and fun, creative, stimulating activities would be at hand for us to enjoy.

Minnesota may have high state taxes, but it certainly knows how to put those tax dollars to excellent use. Thanks, ECFE, for a great time. I'll miss you.

Ear Piercing

Before:

After:

Craft Bombs

Our Clara is an artist.

I don't mean a girl who loves to color and play with play dough. I mean a passionate, creative, intelligent girl who creates all day long. Her little brother recently commented with gusto, "Clara is addicted to art!"

Indeed, she is. Clara notices everything. She has incredible artistic perspective in her creations. Her dad, who is also quite artistic, often comments on the degree of complexity and technique in her drawings.

She is constantly on-the-lookout for another artistic "solution" to a problem. Last week she made a "hand-washing" solution by making a bowl out of Model Magic and then mixing lotion, hand sanitizer, and soap together in the bowl. She then wrote out detailed instructions for its use and posted them in the bathroom for our convenience. (She was bugged when I told her that this orange-colored gritty "solution" was not a substitute for proper hand-washing at dinnertime.)

She beautifies and decorates everything. Yesterday she gave a talk in Primary. We printed the talk from the computer, but then Clara mounted it on purple construction paper, punched holes around the edges, and wove yarn through the holes.

She has created notebooks, purses, bird feeders, wall hangings, calendars, games, containers of all sorts, and so much more. Her creations are endless. And generally, they are very endearing.

Except for one itty bitty detail.

We affectionately call them "craft bombs."

Below is the craft bomb she generated in twenty minutes a few days ago. It spanned the length of our eight-foot table and was added upon throughout the day.

Clara begins creating her daily craft bomb(s) the moment she wakes up in the morning--every single day. By bedtime, there might be craft bombs on the dining room table, the kitchen counter, the bathroom floor, her bedroom floor, and on top of and underneath her desk. There will inevitably be little bits of paper and fuzz scattered across the floor, waiting for a vacuum. There might be glue encrusted on the table and marker smears on the chairs.

I know that someday I will desperately miss these incessant craft bombs, but in the meantime, Clara, will you please come home and clean up your unwieldy mess?

Easter 2011

This post is about Easter.

But really it is about Isaac.

The kids and I went to an absolutely amazing community Easter egg hunt. Only the twins got pictures, though, since the older kids were on a different field with older age groups.

Isaac bonded with the Easter Bunny.

And he ate most of his Easter candy (of which there was plenty) before Easter breakfast.
G-u-i-l-t-y.
A-d-o-r-a-b-l-e. On our way to church later in the morning.

First Day of Ballet

Madeline tried to stand still and smile long enough for me to snap this picture.

But all she really wanted to do was get to her ballet class.
She was ready to go, yes she was.

She is obsessed with ballet, yes she is.

And since she has a twin brother, he gets to take the class, too.

The Other Side of Winter

Oh, Minnesota, how you taunt me.

You hold out an idyllic springtime offering: Sunshine. Birds chirping. Tufts of green peeking up from beneath the decayed gray and brown of winter.

For a few blissful days, the temperature rises above fifty degrees. We put away the boots, the down liners of our coats, the hats and gloves. I contemplate removing the down comforters from our beds.

The children jump on the trampoline. We frolic at the park. We wear short sleeves and relish the imminence of summertime.

With a vengeance, I yank down the plastic which had insulated our windows for the last many months. And then I take a picture of some of it, before tossing it into the garbage:

Oh, Minnesota. Yes, you taunt me. For on the other side of your winter, we find...more winter.

After a brief respite, the skies turn gray and cold again. The temperature nosedives. The wind picks up speed. We feel the chill, even inside our house.

It snows. And a week later, it snows again. Once again, we find ourselves sipping hot chocolate on a cold, dreary, winter-like May day.

Once again, we hide under our layers of clothing, wear our thick slippers, burrow under our heavy down comforters, and once again, we wait for the hope of the springtime yet to come.