Happy Holidays!

While contemplating whether or not to write a holiday letter, I realized that I haven't updated the blog since May. I don't even know where to start!

I just posted a few family photos from our summer shoot. This was so Rayna would have a family photo for her Children's House classroom.

Rayna is in 5K Montessori. She is starting to read and write a lot. Some of the other "work" she brings home often is: plant/animal drawings, float/sink drawings, map work (names of countries) and she just started decimal beads of 10. Rayna also learned to ride a bike this summer. And she has lost 6 teeth so far (she'll have both front teeth for Christmas).

Alizah also learned to ride a bike this summer (if she didn't have to use the brakes). She had a little leopard balance bike and she decided to get on the little girl bike and could go! but couldn't stop (good thing for Levi's fast feet). Since then we have been practicing using brakes on the training wheel bike. She has also been practicing the letters of her name and is really getting good.

Both girls are in Irish Step Dance classes- thanks to Grandma Sally and Grandpa Dan getting them to their lessons (and watching the girls while I'm in school/working). We just finished watching The Nutcracker on PBS and they are dancing all around the house. They have also been practicing the first few lessons on the organ with Levi (I even had my first music lesson too). They are hoping to learn Joy to the World and Jingle bells for Christmas.

Levi and a few of his friends performed a tribute to The Last Waltz on Thanksgiving night and raised money for Feed my People food bank. Here is a clip from their performance.

I have been busy with Acupuncture classes about 3 days per week. This week I finished up the trimester, and am now feeling a little more in the holiday spirit. If it would snow, that would be great! I am looking forward to sleeping in, sledding and watching a few movies on break. And hoping for a winter visit from the Brannan's.

Uh oh- here goes the first round of "Dominic the Donkey".... (here it is in case you need it)

Family Photo Fun.

 
 
 
 
 

This was a long photos shoot with silly girls. Our friend Anna was very patient.

Happy Holidays!

SC trip- these are few of our favorite things.

Seeing friends and family
Meeting my newest nephew
Celebrating my niece Noelle's birthday with her
City Roots Farm- Columbia, SC.
http://www.cityroots.org/
Clementine & The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker (audio CD)
Seeing dolphins at the Charleston pier
Home Team BBQ
http://www.hometeambbq.com/
Sullivan's Island beach
The smell of honeysuckle on the beach boardwalk (thank you locals who identified it)
Marengo Cave- Marengo, IN
Alizah explaining what Navigate means

Chicken pox for your birthday

So, Alizah did not get passed over. They arrived just in time for a celebration. We held off on the fun stuff until she was cleared up and then celebrated at Chaos water park. This day also signified the day she was officially a "big girl." So the Nuky fairy came and whisked them all away and left a cougar in place (per Alizah's request). She was very disappointed that it was a "magical cougar" in a music box (note attached). She kept saying "its not magic, its just a toy." She really wanted a REAL cougar to eat the monsters. There are monsters on the neighbors roof you know- black around the vents. Levi looked out the window with her and told her they were just vents. Later in the week we took a trip to Gander Mountain and looked at the stuffed cougar. She still thought we should get one, even though all week I repeatedly told her it would eat her for a snack. Levi told her they were not good pets because it would eat her. Some how when dad (not mom)says it, its real. Kids imaginations are so fun!

I Can't Wait

The other week at the library I picked up a CD (in the kids section) because of the cover. Station Wagon: Songs for Parents. It reminded me of old blue, the brown Caprice Classic and of course The Safari. Good times traveling with my dad and learning to drive and chauffeuring Aarika's bachelorette party out to Osseo with 3 full rows of seats. I really like this song and a few more on the disc- I wish I could have added the music- but here is the lyrics.

Sara Groves
I Can't Wait

When you reach the proper age
I will teach you to read and you can turn the pages
How to dress and tie your shoes
Your one plus ones, and your two times two's
And you'll teach me
Of hearts and dreams
And all the most important things
And all that i have lost along the way
And I can't wait
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/sara_groves/i_cant_wait.html ]
As you grow, I'll show you things
How to ride your bike and kick your legs out on the swings
To fold your hands and bow your head
How to say your prayers before you go to bed
And you'll teach me
Of hearts and dreams
And all the most important things
And all that I have lost along the way
And I can't wait

How do you sleep so peacefully?
How do you trust unflinchingly?
How do you love so faithfully?
How do you dance so joyfully?
Oh you'll teach me
Of hearts and dreams
And all the most important (essential) things
And all that i have lost along the way
And I can't
No I can't
Come teach me
Of love and dreams
And all the most essential thing
And all that I have lost along the way
Cause I can't wait

February- it is so quiet in the house!

Rayna is back to school and Alizah can finally visit friends after a long week of illness. We have had a full month of illness due to change in daycare and new environment settings. Pink eye, stomach flu, common cold and then we introduced them to chicken pox. (Isn't parenting fun some times!)

Chicken pox was not as contagious or as scary as all the literature warns of, but maybe its just that I have lots of books to give good suggestions. I would highly recommend every parent have at least "Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child" on their bookshelf. Of course I got through it with a little help from my friends- Holistic Moms Network support, online or within a local chapter, is a gift again and again. And a TCM herbalist as part of your health care team is a bonus.

First Rayna had some sort of tight chest cough. Thankfully we have a friend who is a respiratory therapist who helped us out with this. Seems like Bronchiolitis was going around the school. Pretty scary going into Chicken pox because pneumonia is one of the potential complications. Figs, pears, mint tea with honey(had to be in a medicine dropper) and Boiron Chestal honey cough syrup helped tremendously.

About 3 days after the cough she slowly started to sprout a few spots. We have been working with an Acupuncturist/TCM Herbalist and he had given us some herbs for chicken pox. Well, every night or when itch or pain was happening with the spots (really only 1 time a day), Rayna dutifully took her bitter herbs mixed with pear juice followed by a yogurt chaser. She slept through the nights. We had no issues with scratching. She was out of school Mon-Tues because of cough, then Friday-Tues for rash. Alizah never developed a traditional rash because early on she was restless and had a low fever, she hadn't slept well the night before and was really clingy, so our acupuncturist said to give her a little of the chicken pox herb. I gave her 2 small doses 11 hours apart and the next day she had a minor splattering of rash across her chest after a hot sweaty nap and within 2 days it went away and she has been getting more energy ever since. Who knows if a reexposure will make her have the distinct rash in the future but I am grateful for healthy household and quiet sunshine through my window!

Rayna is really happy to be back at school since some new baby birds hatched in her class! I was surprised to learn they are pink- she said they don't have feathers. We asked what color she thought the feathers would be- they are parakeets and the parents are yellow (Ming Ming) and blue (Booksen). Green perhaps?

Alizah is having a playdate with her neighbor friend. Next Saturday she will be turning 3!

I am enjoying an hour of creative kitchen time. Because of shared lab testing for Anatomy and Physiology, I have no class this morning (but I did have to take my test earlier in the week). Actually it was a full week of exams, culminating with a potluck style TCM food therapy discussion. And even though my cultured vegetables did not get voted one of the best foods, they helped stave off any abdominal pain from all the eating!

If you are curious, here's what's happening in the kitchen:
http://christensenka.squarespace.com/imported-20100106014405/2010/1/26/turnip-and-kale-soup-gluten-free-vegan-acd.html

http://www.thedailyspud.com/2009/03/04/posh-spicy-beans/