I recently added this fancy feature to the play yard--an old-fashioned water pump. It works beautifully and I'm so excited to see how children will use it. I think little water luggers will love filling their buckets over and over and hauling them to the sand pit, or the mud kitchen, or wherever! I'm hoping I can procure some way to also create a water "chute" to the sandbox that kids can play with, but it might be better to just let them use their own wills to get the water there! I'm thinking the will and might of three year olds might benefit most from this! 

It's hard to know what the school year will bring. I have so many ideas swimming around in my mind and I need to focus on one month at a time, reflecting on each child and what they seem ready for. We will start out slowly, not starting in on crafts or seasonal festivals right away, just letting the children get to know the environment and the things in it. Moving slowly from activities, so as not to overwhelm them (or myself!) with transitions, and letting them invest themselves fully in their play. I also have to remind myself that while I would like to have all the play things at the beginning of the year, some things will have to wait. That also gives kids something new to discover later on. Currently in the works is a water pump, which should be ready by the time school begins. Here's hoping!

Lucky for us, we're already beginning to have a few colored leaves falling in our play yard. It gets me excited for the autumn stories and fingerplays I'll be telling. Also leaf crown making, garland making, little sails for sailboats, decorations for sand "cakes"...what CAN'T you do with a leaf?!