a playhouse...

i got inspired.

from here, a subtle revelry.

and the ideas started to flow.  a little playhouse for the kiddos.  in the backyard.  with some pallets.

a little space that could be a house... a restaurant... a reading nook... anything that could be imagined.

so i shared the idea with my husband, who so kindly made it a reality. (without making me feel crazy since we not so long ago finished building the treehouse).

and this is what we came up with...

simple blocks, amazing possibilities...

just some wooden blocks...

let the imagination flourish...

creativity bloom...

gravity be defeated...

simplicity be explored...

and a world of play open up.

start with some blocks... and see where they lead you.

a little science and a lot of imagination...

baking soda + vinegar + food coloring + dinosaurs = 

mini eruptions... 

tiny little bubbles...

discoveries in color mixing...

 precision...

endless fascination...

 

and a wonderful world of imagination.

a treehouse...

a little over a year ago, the idea of a treehouse started to brew.   

a space for the kids to hide out... read a book... dream up imaginary worlds... 

we have one little tree in the backyard, and it was just calling for some company :)

and so we began...

we used these plans from treehouse guides to guide us.  we made alterations along the way to fit our tree and our imaginations...

sometimes, we worked into the night...

we made slow, but steady progress...

learned a lot throughout the process...

dreamed of the things we'd do up there...

and the ideas became reality.

we added a way in...

and a pretty awesome way out...

collected some tree stumps for below for even more fun...

we made sure there was a way to make deliveries...

and added a sweet little path...

with some special messages...

and, after a lot of hard work, and some great memories...

our treehouse is complete.

  

  

we've since added a few little fun details here and there.  but that's for another day.  

learning in everyday moments...

our days are full of learning... in everyday moments... 

what can seem like a simple trip to the grocery store, a walk around the block, some backyard exploration, playing at the park... things that we all do... things that every childhood is filled with... all these moments are teaching about textures, mathematics, colors, socialization, the senses, fine motor skills, gross motor skills... and most importantly, life.  

that doesn't mean that every so often i don't have a minor panic attack that the kids aren't in school... that i don't have lessons created... that our schedule isn't full with activities...

and so i've started some reminders for myself... and anyone else who may need them... to see that life is FULL OF LEARNING.  that children are learning constantly.  that the natural curiosity of a child will lead them to discover amazing things.   

 

i'm adding some text to photos... capturing the daily moments, but adding to it what we've learned... what skills were practiced... just through living our lives.

i'll post them here sometimes, but they'll be on instagram regularly.  come see them over there.  at a_happy_wanderer

a little bit of motivation...

a few things to do in the morning...

and a few things to do in the evening...

for a little guy, can sometimes be hard to remember (and not always too much fun, either.)

so, with this inspiration from my name is snicker doodle...

using pictures to stay on track, he covers each one as it's completed ...

and completes some cool pictures as he moves along...

it all makes for one happy little boy and one happy mama :)

head over to my name is snickerdoodle for a tutorial!