Bags, boxes, and bins of instruments wait in my kitchen to be swished, shaken and tapped. Just look at these smiles to see what a difference Kindermusik International has made in the lives of these particular children - and will continue to make every day - now that they have instruments of their very own. 
This was a great day when we were together to watch our dear Brooke dance in her spring recital. I have always loved this picture of my mom, my daughter and me. Judging by Lorelei's size, clothes and my hair color I think it was about 11 years ago.
Just look at this beautiul multi block ice carving - it was not the winner but it is my favorite. With the "arctic blast" the weather reporters can't stop talking about these sculptures will be around for quite awhile. If you head down to the Winter Carnival this weekend - don't forget the warm clothing drive going on. Bring out grown coats, hats and mittens - everyone needs to keep warm. Thanks for sharing.
The St. Paul Winter Carnival starts this week-end. I like it for the amount of fun free entertainment it provides on a few mid winter nights. The ice and snow sculptures never cease to amaze me, they are well worth the trip to HARRIET ISLAND (this is different from past carnivals where the sculptures have been in RICE PARK). 
All you need is a heart of grace to serve.
Have you seen the story about the day Shay got to play? Click the picture here to read this story. A beautiful display of decency made by children for a child. A window on the heart of a man who is father to a special child. Take heart.
Of course it’s best for children to turn off the tv and do something with their hands, minds, and bodies. If you need a little help flipping the switch or pulling the plug, visit tvturnoff.org where you will find tips and support for those seeking to limit screentime and encourage creative play.And while you’re suffering from tv withdrawal, here’s a list of online resources that give great ideas for things to do instead:
My dad is always up to help with a project! Here we are a few years ago, working on a landscaping project. With his bobcat he cat pop wheelies, pull out tree stumps and 20 year old yew bushes. With his strong body he can shovel a trench, lay land scaping fabric and add rock. With his light heart, quick smile and encouraging words he makes even hard, yucky, dirty work fun. We all love you dad. Happy Birthday!
Today is my big sister's birthday. Jenny and I were close in age and size (me being somewhat chunky and she being thin and willowy) we shared much. Toys, clothes, a room, (along with our little sister), a car (for a brief time) books and stories. Memories are so sweet, we lazed away the 1960s and early 70s in the yard, a tractor tire sand box, a tire swing, infinate numbers of acorns and choke cherries collected and squished and made into so many mud pies. Big piles of dirt for no apparent reason in an empty lot next door, a wooden teeter totter (where Jenny suffered a compound fracture of her arm when she was just tiny).
Thanks to Darcy Brown and her son Xander for this fun on line version of LIGHT BRIGHT. Thanks to Darcy Brown and her son Xander for this fun on line version of LIGHT BRIGHT. 
This is a great day for writers. Three of my favorites were born today.
The MOMS club of Eagan - West has compiled a Family Favorites Cookbook. 
Here is a blog posting from Molly Greene, Kindermusik educator from Greenville SC. She recalls the special memories of having tea time with her mom as a child, enjoy.Here’s a cup,
And here’s a cup,
And here’s a pot of tea.
Pour a cup,
And pour a cup,
And have a drink with me!
When I was a child my mother would make tea for us to drink together on cold winter afternoons. Though my mother never sweetened or used milk in her tea, the warmed milk and sugar in my own tea cup was called “Cambric tea,” something my grandmother served to my mother when she herself was a child.
Although it happened often enough, taking tea with my mother using grown up teacups and saucers, stirring in my own sugar and milk as my mother overlooked (without worry for the china) the splashes and puddles from the hurricane of my spoon, all of it made me feel special and burned into my memory that I was important enough to engage in grown up chit-chat and sipping.
Whether you’re enrolled in Our Time’s Milk & Cookies this semester or not, but especially if you are, why not take time to have tea with your child, and often?
Cambric Tea
Tea Treats to Bake Together
Wooden Tea Sets for Pretend Play
Music to Take Tea By
Today is Thanksgiving Day, the day Americans express gratitude for their good fortune by eating one of the biggest meals of the year. Americans as a whole will consume about 10 million tons of turkey this week, along with about 75 million pounds of cranberry sauce.
In our Young Child level 1 class we have been learning about birds and their songs. Here is a collage of our favorite birds. My daughter Lorelei, who is a wiz at photoshop, put all of our work together. The artists are: Zach, Raef, Lydia, Emily, Riley, Anna, Emma, Abby, Hannah, PJ, and Ruby.
Sometimes you hear me say the words "WORLD WIDE"
The Burnsville High School Marching Blaze are preforming an INDOOR marching band show on Saturday night. (This Saturday, October 14) at 7:00 in the BHS Gym. Tickets are $8.00
Kindermusik of the Valley SIGN&SING classes start next week and there is still room for you!
Music is a very powerful subject - It has been used since the Greek times for healing, communication, relaxation and for enjoyment. Even before birth we are aware of our mother's heartbeat and during infancy are relaxed by the song of a lullaby. Every day everybody hears some form of musical pitch or rhythm and it can even be found in nature such as how birds communicate through a song-like speech. Music is such a powerful force, it creates deep emotions in humans - it is played at weddings for happiness, in horror films and during war for fear and at home for happiness and because of this lends itself to relaxation, stress relief and health therapy - and the connection between music, body, and soul has even been shown to improve physical and mental health.
Skills such as working in teams, communication, self-esteem, creative thinking, calmer attitudes, imagination, discipline, study skills and invention are learnt and improved through the study of music and by focusing on the fact that young children are mostly highly receptive to pitch and rhythm - one of the main ways a child learns its language - that we can drive education in music to children to help them with benefits ranging success in society and in life.
Click HERE to read more.
