Want to do something that will get your heart going?

Yesterday was wonderful, Alex came in for some vocal fun with the kids.
They had a wonderful time exercising the voice, all sorts of sounds were coming from the
meadow.



My kid quote for the day comes from Isis."Want to do something that will get your heart going?" Isis asked a child who took a break from picking up. "Pick up a broom and start cleaning up."



Oh the priceless words spoken at the forest!




Picture of Whitney and Sydney at the Vibe.
Sampling the newest biz in town.
Num, num vegan treats.

Schemes and things

So the scheming continues.....we weren't halfway off of school grounds when Izzy says, "So, you are the knight and we have to find people for the other parts and I'm the director..".
I knew the scheming and excitement had begun a new year of the kids initiating their own productions. I love when this happens because I don't have any part in it.
Not because I don't want to but because they have started this with their own creative energy.
Of course if production is the end result, costumes, scripts, sets and a bit of panicking is the part that I end up playing. Until then, it is an entire kids production and I just think that's so cool.

Eco High Five
Whitney took home the eco lesson from last EKO meetup. She told her Mom that putting bottles of stones in the toilet will help with water consumption.

Goal Get 'Em
Almost all the kids have goals at the forest that they are working on fulfilling, including myself.
Jayla completed one of her goals yesterday and we were so proud of her. She put a cork in it too! (see prior post if this seems odd)

Thrilling News
So the kids are learning Thriller, yes the MJ dance.
Since it's been the rage lately, Halloween is coming and it
would be just super nice for them to learn something old school,
they are doing the zombie dance.
Guess what else?
We are registering the kids for the Worldwide Simultaneous "Thriller" Dance, happening Saturday, October 24th.
If you would like your child to participate with us, your child is required to attend every Friday for the month of October (10.00 if you are just coming for the class), fill out a permission form and agree to escort your child to the event happening in downtown Orlando.

We can't wait to be zombified!

Fridays Are Fabulous

It's no secret that the kids are drowning in homework lately.

I've been trying to provide as many paddling boards as possible but it still seems as if

there can never be enough support.

That's why we looooooooooooooooove Fridays. No homework.

Fridays are fun days. Maddie and Griffin brought cupcakes to celebrate.

We were doing cartwheels, skipping and singing. We were for all intensive purposes being kids, including myself.

There's something amazing that happens when kids can be kids...

Creation happens!

Play happens!

Conversation happens!

Plain old fun happens!

Fun happens and learning happens all at the same time!

Learning about how to take care of plants, learning about remembering Dr. Seuss, learning that

we can communicate with eachother in a positive manner.

Friday Kid News:
The kids were so creative! Without my knowing they helped Chet remove his oh so aching tooth.
Even though I disapproved very lovingly regarding this event, I have to give them credit that they are quite creative, scheming and clever young beings. I had Chet illustrate, on an envelope that enclosed the tooth, how this tooth pulling scenario occurred. (see pic)
I had pictures by the handful drawn for me. I always come home with kid treats that I post on my fridge. The Vibe, event at the Cameo, was Friday and so many of our Misty kids showed up and had a wonderful time receiving henna, eating yummy vegan, looking at art, listening to music and seeing their community at work.

This new season brings thoughts of growth, fruition and gathering and we are here to harvest all the good things that are to come.

Our new fall session begins today and classes are posted.

We are so excited to start a new theme and we are gearing up for our fall presentation.

It's going to be different, cultural and it will all happen in pure Misty style.

Won't you join us?

Put a cork in it

Okay so we have to clarify the phrase "put a cork in it."

We've recently added a visual system of kindness performed at the forest.

There is the "Friend of the Forest" glass jar, "Kind action and Kind word" glass jar and "Eco Effort" glass jar. When an action is committed, such as cleaning a room without being asked, a cork is given to the child to put in the jar.

Yesterday I was catching myself saying, "put a cork in it" all day. I felt like I was in the Cinderella scene where all the birds pull everything together all at once. The kids were suddenly taking pride in their space. Phew...I've been trying to spread this message for 3 years now. They were so into it that at one point I had to say, "put the dustpan down."

Every day I see little buds of expansion occurring in the forest.

Today a broom and a lending hand created a simple and rewarding kind deed.

I knew it struck a chord to the kids when "Maddie-cakes" asked, "Miss Leah can I bring in Halloween decorations to decorate our forest?"

I couldn't have smiled big enough. I knew that she understood the fact that the forest wasn't for us, it was for her. I am so grateful to share these seeds of growth and inspiration. I see it happen every day and I think everyone should learn about the good things that are happening, because there are millions of them.

Sam brought out a broken spoon, 2 buttons, a wooden block, a drum and a mickey mouse hat.

He said to me, "Miss Leah do you want to see what I can make with all of this stuff?"

"Wow," I said. : )

It's been a looooooooooooooooong time

Did you miss me?

We've missed you!!!!!!!!!

We've been more action-oriented than archive-oriented.
We want to be more pro-active with our blog.....so we are going to have the coolest blog ever!
There have been so many unbelievable things at Misty Forest that have gone down I'd have to start a newly themed blog just to catch you up.

So for now...we will start from scratch.....
What to look forward to?
Kid quotes
Happenings
Events
News
Little tid bits like......
Who saved the beetle by using their homework paper to guide it outside?
All the little things that make what we are who we are.
Till the next post....welcome to the Forest blog!