Last week was arguably one of the loveliest of the season. Everything was in bloom, it was gloriously warm outside, and I stopped doing indoor work just because we needed to enjoy all this while it lasted. I mean, just look at all the good stuff that was out!
The machines were working…
The quince was blooming…
The men were working on the chicken coop:
The violets were everywhere: 
And dandelions too, of course:
What’s springtime without some dirt play?
And then there’s this shrub on the side of the yard with these gorgeous white blooms. We haven’t figured out what it is yet:
The garden is all set to go, and we transplanted our seedlings this week:
The daffodils were just at their end:
And the forsythia too: 
Okay, okay, now that I’ve bombarded you with pictures from around our house… Here’s some good pickins’ for you this week.
Tinkergarten– Has anyone heard of this program? A friend of mine just referred me to it. It’s an outdoor classroom, creative-play based learning program for kids from 18 months- 8 years. No classes in your area? No problem- just check out the free activities posted on the website. Or start your own class!
25 Free or Low-Cost Ways to Keep Kids Busy This Summer– If you have children of almost any age, I thought this was a valuable list to get you brainstorming your summer fun. But my favorite? “Let them be bored.” Sometimes boredom spawns the best creative sessions!
Help for Mothers Who Want to Give Up: I cried my way through this post. I’ve mentioned before that sometimes I struggle greatly with mommyhood, and even on my best days, I certainly never feel perfect. But what perspective it was for me to read this mama’s experience! Ann Voskamp watched her four boys go from hectic little whirlwinds as children- who made her want to give up- to good young men helping each other through thick and thin- boys she is obviously very proud of. I needed this encouragement, and maybe you could benefit from it too.
Hope you don’t mind that all the reading is child-centered this week. 😉 Have a glorious Saturday.
