tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85881760955162855122024-03-13T14:43:43.673-06:00There's a Silver Lining Somewhere . . . .Be grateful. Your most challenging child is the greatest blessing. ~Heather ForbesI am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-62199825832620938852012-11-21T20:15:00.001-07:002012-11-21T20:15:16.979-07:0024 hours of childhood trauma Today I felt the urge to document the past 24 hours in my house. Panda has a three week track break from her school. Poodaloo will be off school starting tomorrow through the week of Thanksgiving. They are both going to a local gym for day camp tomorrow. Am I glad? You better believe it.<br />
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Any change in regular routine is difficult for Panda (as with most kids who have experienced pre-verbal trauma). At school they have a set routine posted on the board. This is very comforting for Panda. I've tried doing the same at home. It does help her but I'm lousy at keeping it current. Posting the monthly school lunch menus in the kitchen is a stretch for me.<br />
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During track break, multiple times each day she asks me 'what are we doing today?' If there is anything she especially likes on the agenda, it must be done NOW. She gets agitated with any delay. I attempt not to allow her to control when things happen but it is exhausting. We have been together for two weeks now, with another ten days to go. Twice a week she goes to the day camp so I get a break.<br />
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Yesterday was a camp day with swimming at a local pool. When we arrived at the gym, Panda informed me she did not have her swim suit because I said I'd get it for her and I did not get it. Fortunately, there was time to return home and fetch the swimming suit before the campers departed.<br />
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Poodaloo had not been feeling well and I let her stay home from school. She is a model sick kid and is perfectly happy watching TV. I worked in my sewing room and did laundry most of the day. I suspected Panda would not be happy to learn Poodaloo had stayed home with me. Boy, did I get that right. Panda complained about Poodaloo's sick day for (what seemed like) hours.<br />
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Baba has worked late all this week. He gets home in time to see the girls briefly before they go to bed. This is another change of routine which has Panda on edge. As the girls got ready for bed, Panda realized one of the blankets was missing from her bed. (Both girls sleep on pads in our bedroom.) I said it was downstairs because I had used it to cover Poodaloo when she was cold.<br />
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That was all it took to cause total dysregulation. She screamed and threw things around the bedroom. Baba ran upstairs to see what was going on. I asked him to bring up the purple blanket on the couch. He returned with the wrong blanket. Screaming and fit pitching again. Finally the purple blanket was upstairs for her but she could not calm down. Poodaloo was afraid to get into her bed (right beside Panda's bed). Baba offered to lay down between them. I read a couple chapters in a book, as usual. Reading has always been a resource we've used to help her regulate.<br />
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The night was relatively quiet and both girls slept without waking. In the morning, Panda snuggled up to me for a few minutes. She then followed Baba about the house. Eventually, Poodaloo awoke. She crawled into bed with me. Then Panda came into the room and saw her with me. I scooted over so Panda could lay on my other side. Each of the girls tried to get more than half of my body space by inching out the other. This is not a relaxing thing so I quickly got out of bed.<br />
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I went down stairs to make coffee and start breakfast for the girls. Poodaloo is not much for eating breakfast but she will always drink a cup of warm chocolate soy milk. I figure that is a pretty good dose of protein and don't worry too much if she doesn't eat anything more. Panda does not like to eat in the morning. She really NEEDS to eat a good serving of protein to stay regulated. I made sausage patties for them. There was a smidgen of hamburger in the refrigerator so I mixed it into the sausage meat before making the patties.<br />
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When the sausage was cooked I called the girls to come eat. Panda wanted to know if the patties were sausage only. I explained about adding a tiny bit of hamburger. She would have nothing to do with eating because she 'hates hamburger'. It isn't possible to force her to eat so I asked her to please find some kind of protein she wanted to eat. (Yes, this is a common morning battle.) She likes to eat turkey pepperoni with cheese melted on it. She made herself a plate with a dozen or so pepperoni pieces on it.<br />
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It was time to get in the car and take Poodaloo to school (we had not been ready to catch the bus because of the sausage fiasco). Panda carried her plate of pepperoni into the garage so she could finish eating in the car. Poodaloo followed behind her with her backpack. She accidently bumped Panda and it knocked the plate of pepperoni onto the floor. It shattered. Panda got hysterical. I remained calm though and asked her to please make herself more pepperoni. We walked back into the house together (I had to get the broom). Got it cleaned up and Panda came back into the garage, still muttering about Poodaloo bumping her on purpose so she would drop the plate.<br />
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It is a few days after I wrote the previous part of this post. Surprisingly, not much has been said about the plate incident. I am certain it will be mentioned again at some point. Both girls have been home together for six days now. Today, the girls were really snipey and nasty to each other. I was tempted to leave home but couldn't think of anywhere to escape. <br />
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We had a plan to fetch J-Bear from her daycare and go to see a movie. I was not particularly in the mood for the outing, but staying home seemed a worse option. We went to the cheap theatre and saw 'Brave' because it had a family friendly rating stamp on the theatre website.<br />
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Good grief - I cannot imagine the criteria for family friendly. It was very scary!! By the end, Poodaloo was in my lap crying, Panda was clinging to my arm and J-Bear was sitting on Panda's lap. Everything turned out hunky dory in the end so we gave it a 'so-so' rating. Then I delivered all three kids to my sister's house for the night. Yippee!!!!I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-82471161177876290922012-09-22T17:46:00.000-06:002012-09-22T17:46:02.082-06:00Dare I write this? Panda has experienced an huge leap in emotional stability. Hardly any throwing things. She can often stop herself before she explodes in anger. This has been over the past several weeks. Her recent therapy sessions have focused on working through a book called, <i>What to Do When You Grumble Too Much</i>.<br />
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We aren't sure if this book has wrought the change but the timing is right. Could be all the strategies we've worked on the past year are finally coming to fruition. Perhaps is it a result of her Baba resigning from his job and landing another job. He is so much more relaxed and engaged in family stuff without the stress from work.<br />
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I suppose it doesn't actually matter. We are thankful for the changes, no matter the source! We love her so much!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7Flm_CxhLAQwO-SWET17AM2PAkPTOWOX853tNByhsB-9ZOhcvYFwOracHbeIdZVW-_WAtzCoOiAQpc4soxVWq9LLKjTeV1k-2DmmQPhNoi_FrqrOAPYyAOfGt-08rZux4D4qIq4JNx0/s1600/DSCF6459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7Flm_CxhLAQwO-SWET17AM2PAkPTOWOX853tNByhsB-9ZOhcvYFwOracHbeIdZVW-_WAtzCoOiAQpc4soxVWq9LLKjTeV1k-2DmmQPhNoi_FrqrOAPYyAOfGt-08rZux4D4qIq4JNx0/s320/DSCF6459.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panda and her gigantic cabbage. All third graders in the school district receive a cabbage to grow over the summer.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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<br />I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-89581362229830343932012-09-17T17:27:00.002-06:002012-09-17T17:27:34.981-06:00Why do French people do that? My girls<i><b> love</b></i> listening to audio books in the car. We always have one in the CD player. I like them, too. It has been fun revisiting or hearing anew books for kids. My faves have been the books written by E.B. White because he reads the stories. How cool to hear the author reading his own books. Can't decide if I liked <i>Charlotte's Web</i>, <i>Stuart Little</i> or <i>Trumpet of the Swan</i> best.<br />
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Which was your favorite kids book? Maybe the library has it on audio and you can listen in the car. No one else has to know. My lips are zipped.<br />
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From time to time we select an audio book I realize is too old for them. But by the time I figure out they are hooked on the story. For example, there is a series written by Jennifer Allison about a young lady who considers herself to be a psychic investigator. We've listened to three books in the series. It was the second book, <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gilda-Joyce-The-Ghost-Sonata/dp/0142412325/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1347923200&sr=8-3&keywords=gilda+joyce+series" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Gilda Joyce: The Ghost Sonata</i></span></a>,</span> which was too mature for Panda and Poodaloo. In the story, 14 year old Gilda receives her first kiss. Afterward, in the way of teenage girls, Gilda and her friend Wendy Choy talked about the kiss. To wit*, it wasn't a French kiss, just a <i>regular</i> kiss.<br />
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As you might imagine, Panda and Poodaloo wanted to know what is a French kiss. I always try to be factual & matter of fact when they ask questions of that nature, so I briefly described a French kiss. At the time, that completely satisfied their curiosity and they continued listening to the story.<br />
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Several weeks later, Poodaloo mentioned she and Panda had tried French kissing. Then she said, "Mama, why do French people do that? It's just sharing germs! Yuck!"<br />
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Totally cracked me up.<br />
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* <a href="http://www.blurtit.com/q314616.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Meaning of 'to wit</i></span>'</a> in case you aren't sure (like me).<br />
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<br />I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-65681580331800472132012-09-16T19:17:00.000-06:002012-09-16T19:17:11.176-06:00Summer fun Random photos from our summer adventures.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXRkJ82fyDmr-6nr_eIOZfT8iwe38m2KpOonPEM1DJhGNY935g7VvlB-fZjEO_vdZR1j78YVBLDpqxMOwUsnlor3jUFDXg0a7NWsQee9b0v55qjqcLFgL_RcjNCSInO0BweTnfWcQsGc/s1600/GS+collage+2012+June.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXRkJ82fyDmr-6nr_eIOZfT8iwe38m2KpOonPEM1DJhGNY935g7VvlB-fZjEO_vdZR1j78YVBLDpqxMOwUsnlor3jUFDXg0a7NWsQee9b0v55qjqcLFgL_RcjNCSInO0BweTnfWcQsGc/s320/GS+collage+2012+June.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girl Scout retreat in June. It was colder than our past retreats but everyone still had fun.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">End of school and early summer adventures.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_eHy1_rH4xLLWqzD6Wc6D59Hd2pktD_bPc_5kzPnAEw-RY-cGUYkid_9FUTqrVVW-vWz7iq4Lnn9r5ZVDchmWSAhYy0w8aSB6_CQMhyphenhyphen40X8O3E7A55ivrGPqboBmAqUbpu0cPqhZEbo/s1600/Veggies+cats+swimming+2012+June.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_eHy1_rH4xLLWqzD6Wc6D59Hd2pktD_bPc_5kzPnAEw-RY-cGUYkid_9FUTqrVVW-vWz7iq4Lnn9r5ZVDchmWSAhYy0w8aSB6_CQMhyphenhyphen40X8O3E7A55ivrGPqboBmAqUbpu0cPqhZEbo/s320/Veggies+cats+swimming+2012+June.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vegetables, cats and swimming lessons!<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girl Scout horse camp near Salmon, Idaho. They loved it and hope to go back next year!</td></tr>
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<br />I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-89930787990245140182012-09-16T18:40:00.000-06:002012-09-16T18:40:17.409-06:00Moderate to severe . . . .<br />
<i>Note: I began this post in April. Before it was finished, things got wild in our lives. You could say May, June, July & August kicked me in the rear-end. It was definitely a kick that caused me to neglect this blog and my five followers. </i><br />
<i>Sorry . . . . I will start posting again. Cross my heart.</i><br />
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A few weeks ago my therapist told me she thinks I am depressed. I completed some screening questions and the screening indicated I am 'moderate to severely' depressed. I made an appointment with my PCP (primary care physician - what a silly acronym - I call him Dr. R.) to change or add to the anti-depressant medications I take each day.<br />
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I've taken antidepressants for several years. Prior to starting antidepressant medication, I had the attitude of a certain dwarf*. I didn't realize grumpiness is a symptom of depression.My doctor told me that one of every three patients he sees suffers from some degree of depression. <br />
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* Grumpy<br />
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It also runs in families. My mother battled depression for many years. She was diagnosed as bipolar, except it was called manic depression in those days.<br />
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Previous to starting antidepressant medication, I had no idea depression was so common. Now, I make a point to talk about my depression and medication whenever I can. It is not talked about enough. People need to know they are not alone with it.<br />
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Over the past year I have noticed there are certain signs telling me I'm getting depressed. The problem is, when you are depressed, knowing it's happening is not enough to get you out of it. If I have an especially bad day, at least I know tomorrow will most likely be much better.<br />
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One sign has to do with my medications and the other with laundry. I don't remember to take my meds every day when I'm getting depressed. And, I cannot make myself fold and put away the laundry, either. I usually get it washed and we have to dig for clean clothes in baskets.<br />
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<br />I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-35101599895065148502012-05-29T04:45:00.002-06:002012-05-29T04:45:37.444-06:00School's out for summer . . . sorta May is almost over and it was a whirlwind of activities. Poodaloo is out of school as of Friday. Panda is very unhappy about the situation (i.e. she has school and sister does not). I'm in shock, thinking there was one more week before Poodaloo is out.<br />
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Golden parenting moments are when you are part of an experience that positively thrills your kids. And, it didn't cost anything, you didn't have to drive anywhere or make snacks. These were those kind of moments, a mirror, a fan and imagination.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxJzJ50ZAiRAwlMoZX39KZfvatZBaTsJfmQL8H04TAycriBi73EFVfxpdCxI76FkVZSgQEudps_XTD3G3CO75vgbSketDloevyg0qKj4_Pfz5teAR8d0hvfT6dJ9FyOP0AEvzUFFTnjw/s1600/DSCF5852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxJzJ50ZAiRAwlMoZX39KZfvatZBaTsJfmQL8H04TAycriBi73EFVfxpdCxI76FkVZSgQEudps_XTD3G3CO75vgbSketDloevyg0qKj4_Pfz5teAR8d0hvfT6dJ9FyOP0AEvzUFFTnjw/s320/DSCF5852.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look! I'm praying with one hand.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UboWyu7Bm61htBg1MVB4zeQCfD7FTi4Cbn5vTmHIZQPTzVNlOEDFwueQfMnlLo_kXsyrplJC0kgP_CON3we4x9IQkZ6BrG5H_GSFYWzk2-1PznGxgZQYNwPhjjx91ocfJvMiQa0uw9Y/s1600/DSCF5855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UboWyu7Bm61htBg1MVB4zeQCfD7FTi4Cbn5vTmHIZQPTzVNlOEDFwueQfMnlLo_kXsyrplJC0kgP_CON3we4x9IQkZ6BrG5H_GSFYWzk2-1PznGxgZQYNwPhjjx91ocfJvMiQa0uw9Y/s320/DSCF5855.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm a mirror image of myself!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJLgYgdfNwbxfjBAEbOu3qvrnhNtg7GWuNgAvI874AMY8PvkaZH1Xc0Ye0n6_BqJynET9o8fWYpR54ZpoDzBTgfMBeHfOyBoUg8FocTv7QbJ1oMci8030rnFlwoKMto0l27PcJwYOw0Y/s1600/DSCF5874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJLgYgdfNwbxfjBAEbOu3qvrnhNtg7GWuNgAvI874AMY8PvkaZH1Xc0Ye0n6_BqJynET9o8fWYpR54ZpoDzBTgfMBeHfOyBoUg8FocTv7QbJ1oMci8030rnFlwoKMto0l27PcJwYOw0Y/s320/DSCF5874.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making your voice sound weird by talking into the fan.</td></tr>
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May brings flowers (and showers) to the yard. Panda and a neighbor girl helped weather seal the new elevated garden bed. It is the herb garden and so beautiful. Then there is the new planter (which formerly resided in our purple bathroom).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrn3pB6GUAs1y6ZEG6gUZQqAP3xVJ_SKss8UI0UJmAEt7_JDb8m0L8vlOBPw4N4Pa587o8zk9GdFbxZW7hcAWMR3XkmxKjnc5Ulb-Yz-VH4vCNEKU75DAeAXvYa61ZnzidItCSiVRJGE/s1600/DSCF5860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrn3pB6GUAs1y6ZEG6gUZQqAP3xVJ_SKss8UI0UJmAEt7_JDb8m0L8vlOBPw4N4Pa587o8zk9GdFbxZW7hcAWMR3XkmxKjnc5Ulb-Yz-VH4vCNEKU75DAeAXvYa61ZnzidItCSiVRJGE/s320/DSCF5860.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, those are snow boots on her feet.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6TEPyRPDiuG3WiH7nPnuOzgv3t8iMr7Grgonq2qys7Ds4MhNHYq-rTZ0sDcmc3Exnpo8kXhdUR135eVXvX8d7WbILX6ZHaqsqYTx2pxFQou5sCjNO3i-z0USEEF1tdwS3tQFZOp62LA/s1600/DSCF5863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6TEPyRPDiuG3WiH7nPnuOzgv3t8iMr7Grgonq2qys7Ds4MhNHYq-rTZ0sDcmc3Exnpo8kXhdUR135eVXvX8d7WbILX6ZHaqsqYTx2pxFQou5sCjNO3i-z0USEEF1tdwS3tQFZOp62LA/s320/DSCF5863.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sprinklers are irresistable. The far raised bed looks very lush. Unfortunately, it is an outstanding crop of weeds. Ugh!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOkJHOHlzQvoVcGXMDYT0T-JuHdZhJKXgPIq5FuJITMWFeh6Reim28fP-g3EeasI0SWTkNK6mzfsP3VDLM3qgqTvH4gPJTjU5Aq6t8jN1BXN1jJP5kIL_2Sc-JRCMUCd-eH_41dXyP-8/s1600/DSCF5864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOkJHOHlzQvoVcGXMDYT0T-JuHdZhJKXgPIq5FuJITMWFeh6Reim28fP-g3EeasI0SWTkNK6mzfsP3VDLM3qgqTvH4gPJTjU5Aq6t8jN1BXN1jJP5kIL_2Sc-JRCMUCd-eH_41dXyP-8/s320/DSCF5864.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This looks even cuter as the plants grow & grow.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1vvgrXT0mxT_K2kpFwf7FXCTIG2g4Dl2hby2ZzOuMyaorLd_NFFj_Wp3dCRU3mAkWfyXuaN7l12fOMfdQxQa9cLYYXqv1kfGvLlxKAqw_y6z_HczVN-9-ihIaOOl3QoLRHC2MzQMTPE/s1600/DSCF5865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1vvgrXT0mxT_K2kpFwf7FXCTIG2g4Dl2hby2ZzOuMyaorLd_NFFj_Wp3dCRU3mAkWfyXuaN7l12fOMfdQxQa9cLYYXqv1kfGvLlxKAqw_y6z_HczVN-9-ihIaOOl3QoLRHC2MzQMTPE/s320/DSCF5865.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elevated herb garden.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfYsux5-qxGAhT3CcQQAbQm1aolvWjHXzf0pN6ejGnXjBNtfLBwyfoWCkgvPA-X8C57JO7Gu4ztPEKBwuJt2at-XdYo4nEZ8CEyCzgstOE19xlEgdEjpk2bCPphTRIogzWINx4RO8kFQ/s1600/DSCF5866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfYsux5-qxGAhT3CcQQAbQm1aolvWjHXzf0pN6ejGnXjBNtfLBwyfoWCkgvPA-X8C57JO7Gu4ztPEKBwuJt2at-XdYo4nEZ8CEyCzgstOE19xlEgdEjpk2bCPphTRIogzWINx4RO8kFQ/s320/DSCF5866.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgeuqXJPMlruSU6Ftq0ESZGLobRjVPeeqGvDU4PrOe25n1p1Mi_-rhtmDrDHckF6d-3Wr7wJ7XYsl2m7QgvuGircUIqFZu7Tc0sNeCXhe5ccbBbNZI9gQAW8l3WAvuXsHvu2btouEknU/s1600/DSCF5869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgeuqXJPMlruSU6Ftq0ESZGLobRjVPeeqGvDU4PrOe25n1p1Mi_-rhtmDrDHckF6d-3Wr7wJ7XYsl2m7QgvuGircUIqFZu7Tc0sNeCXhe5ccbBbNZI9gQAW8l3WAvuXsHvu2btouEknU/s320/DSCF5869.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out-of-this-world gorgeous clematis.</td></tr>
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This past weekend, Baba and I had an unexpected opportunity. Panda went camping with her friend J. Poodaloo spent the weekend with J-Bear (triple sleepover). While the kids were away, the parents played and rested and did any thing we wanted. It was the longest time we have been kid-free since we became parents. What a concept ~ must do this again (and again and again)!I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-87079134289352411312012-05-07T05:02:00.002-06:002012-05-08T09:08:54.246-06:00Rejuvination Spent the latter part of last week (Wed-Fri) in the Wood River Valley attending a conference. My first official dietitian job was at the small hospital in Sun Valley. St. Moritz (name of hospital) has been replaced by a modern facility south of town.<br />
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The conference was put on by the dietetic association in the state. I was very active in the association during my time as an employed person. I know people from all over the state and from many disciplines of dietetics. The conference is a highlight for me each year. This one was no exception.<br />
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The agenda seemed geared for my personal education, although I'm sure that was not the planning committee's intent. There were several presentations about relationship development within the health care team. One doctor presented information about functional and integrative medicine even though the session was called <i>Metabolic Syndrome something-or-other</i>. There was an allergist who explained a great deal about allergies and how he works with registered dietitians to help patients. A PhD candidate RD talked of her research in the area of autism. (Many parents of autistic children use a gluten-free, casein-free diet.)<br />
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And the best part of all? My family survived*, even thrived, during my absence!! Thursday morning was a little dicey, but they were all feeling fine from that point on. In fact, the only known undesirable outcome: Hogan ate four meals a day while I was gone. Gigi gets very unnerved without me around. She won't let Loren feed her. Hogan has no such qualms.<br />
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This next thing has nothing to do with dietitians or my trip to Sun Valley. Here is a fun <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/julia_sweeney_has_the_talk.html">monologue</a>. I had a similar experience with my children a few years ago. It began with cows instead of frogs. Enjoy . . .<br />
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* Friday morning Poodaloo complained of being too sick to attend school. Daddy brushed her off and sent her to school. At 10:30 he received a call from school. She had upchucked and they would like him to take her home. By the time I got home that evening, there was no evidence of illness.I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-38218018665008803682012-04-25T05:17:00.002-06:002012-04-25T05:17:45.509-06:00School carnival The next big event was the school carnival. It was held on a Friday night. I don't know how the faculty and staff can be so cheerful and excited on a Friday night. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdq3bsM6BF0kqKnPyMP8eZyc7DgSrfUm_KNoBugR37pyWFB8EAPgLvDPnJEhohRfrc_Cij746eEvRjnD31vOb9oRmOR5VkgeRWyUc2hUKnEP5dxmpr41hk4nqVDJiJLoBapZITez91jE/s1600/DSCF5824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdq3bsM6BF0kqKnPyMP8eZyc7DgSrfUm_KNoBugR37pyWFB8EAPgLvDPnJEhohRfrc_Cij746eEvRjnD31vOb9oRmOR5VkgeRWyUc2hUKnEP5dxmpr41hk4nqVDJiJLoBapZITez91jE/s320/DSCF5824.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoping to win a cake.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtwLkfBlbFFcoyEquU0iTX8FKNSSiBgBT_ddnr37zhPzIRQ4E8yQD2buN3Gt5R6E6BI1uGRpqY5uPnQNRVmSuq6pmBWsX-PiWaH4J5F2kaDkozdLRhTpUsWyw64pdFKH6_CN6xvgb8vM/s1600/DSCF5834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtwLkfBlbFFcoyEquU0iTX8FKNSSiBgBT_ddnr37zhPzIRQ4E8yQD2buN3Gt5R6E6BI1uGRpqY5uPnQNRVmSuq6pmBWsX-PiWaH4J5F2kaDkozdLRhTpUsWyw64pdFKH6_CN6xvgb8vM/s320/DSCF5834.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panda is in a purple-blue shirt in the center. She's wearing colorful sandals.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyuZY65u8D5f0qIq_VroBgDF1XvsdZYXbHk6rcYVWXY9jDpYHv7b1Gl4xVdDUD58ERlDpZ92RPG3KLg003GR4CqkqG6D9jS_A_F4V__XXAs5vxxt8KoUGBTt7OqiRh35_9y52JfTEpU0/s1600/DSCF5837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyuZY65u8D5f0qIq_VroBgDF1XvsdZYXbHk6rcYVWXY9jDpYHv7b1Gl4xVdDUD58ERlDpZ92RPG3KLg003GR4CqkqG6D9jS_A_F4V__XXAs5vxxt8KoUGBTt7OqiRh35_9y52JfTEpU0/s320/DSCF5837.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cake walk markers were countries from around the world (instead of numbers).</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZqEigizuMGDOnxtTpkhi0xBzjnpddDv-2crEBhsYgV69xFyJzaYBzzNn8vbz7yyvHKE54-mm2YykzujIj-CKgyYCqOoovNZEGE3XdprDSPSKu2zZewkyWgnNIUj2UI7erJXhjhbmE50/s1600/DSCF5831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZqEigizuMGDOnxtTpkhi0xBzjnpddDv-2crEBhsYgV69xFyJzaYBzzNn8vbz7yyvHKE54-mm2YykzujIj-CKgyYCqOoovNZEGE3XdprDSPSKu2zZewkyWgnNIUj2UI7erJXhjhbmE50/s320/DSCF5831.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One activity included glitter in the hair and face painting.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LHUAx446UjMA1aHGXJbp27dropHPHccjia_0dqtf6pN8CFx8b1SvoC-NG5VtZes2ecSg8q4eoC47v4LTm-2VdpP-NdY1Wr1YmpTcsw-qH1bD4mIL-QrCVkBjAA-gDQyVRenWlC4SpQo/s1600/DSCF5832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LHUAx446UjMA1aHGXJbp27dropHPHccjia_0dqtf6pN8CFx8b1SvoC-NG5VtZes2ecSg8q4eoC47v4LTm-2VdpP-NdY1Wr1YmpTcsw-qH1bD4mIL-QrCVkBjAA-gDQyVRenWlC4SpQo/s320/DSCF5832.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, there was food. She can't eat the bun but that just meant more room for hot dogs. Panda ate four dogs! (We ate dinner before going to the carnival.)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfTolDg7aVYbUpWGmK5YxpRK0_L83CEmmSGCScNSNFoFLGfBMeWZkq8BfR_zI79TlZCJnbgBdqcta7u6fMnHH613F8e6LEeFZFugn-a2RaMvFBMD5j4c8fMnJUwevnssuDNrmauHFwA0/s1600/DSCF5838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfTolDg7aVYbUpWGmK5YxpRK0_L83CEmmSGCScNSNFoFLGfBMeWZkq8BfR_zI79TlZCJnbgBdqcta7u6fMnHH613F8e6LEeFZFugn-a2RaMvFBMD5j4c8fMnJUwevnssuDNrmauHFwA0/s320/DSCF5838.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poodaloo takes aim for that teeny, tiny hole.</td></tr>
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They also have a silent auction. I love silent auctions! Unfortunately, I 'won' several items - including a new cordless drill. I thought the item was a $90 gift card from Lowes. I was sure someone would outbid.<br />
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I don't need another cordless drill. If YOU need a cordless drill, give me a shout - I will make you a really good deal. Really, . . . . call me!I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-32533088617756575082012-04-25T04:47:00.001-06:002012-04-25T04:47:36.575-06:00The Easter bunny was busy It was a gorgeous Easter weekend here. The girls love to hunt for and dye eggs. We celebrated with the Girl Scout troop families on Saturday. Spent Easter Sunday at church and then with my sister's family.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQsVP811NsabNr9X7jobitLXbwzQGvVV9h8WA7WSUlBw_uVijT8dP2-h21H592PHyZRpvMoGzfri0KMjGdLWenk0ID4aprXVyFqLvrJHXXvok-LBaQhcFecpCOgUKFCsSCUdxD_HH2tA/s1600/DSCF5794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQsVP811NsabNr9X7jobitLXbwzQGvVV9h8WA7WSUlBw_uVijT8dP2-h21H592PHyZRpvMoGzfri0KMjGdLWenk0ID4aprXVyFqLvrJHXXvok-LBaQhcFecpCOgUKFCsSCUdxD_HH2tA/s320/DSCF5794.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A first this year ~ we let the kids colored eggs at the party. Panda is in the middle in green shirt. Poodaloo is on the far right.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89IeKZGTAtNsYArUGc8lrlax-aB2wfjS4E3j-nkDEh3-OCuhzz7foKvVVB2m0Z0k_jDRYr8aSzxWIn_-PNE21LQzF4VU9kCocTZTFUVYDQDOjWhQlIa0TGfV4CuA01famBZptXmhiFzE/s1600/DSCF5801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89IeKZGTAtNsYArUGc8lrlax-aB2wfjS4E3j-nkDEh3-OCuhzz7foKvVVB2m0Z0k_jDRYr8aSzxWIn_-PNE21LQzF4VU9kCocTZTFUVYDQDOjWhQlIa0TGfV4CuA01famBZptXmhiFzE/s320/DSCF5801.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Must make time for some horse play! <br />(Action shots are my very favorite style of photo. It's a special treat to capture one.)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74I8gZRd0c5TiQ-y7JHobyqMY6hLMtPVaT4uk4-1mXzEIXmnTFKxu3dMM1Xp29DPzMk0VFsGCd5VvqiPbje14h3Si3gtS2YPt0bd7I3vt8Jib9W387sYM-P2_eiGZL8BFS7YvwVEA5H0/s1600/DSCF5803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74I8gZRd0c5TiQ-y7JHobyqMY6hLMtPVaT4uk4-1mXzEIXmnTFKxu3dMM1Xp29DPzMk0VFsGCd5VvqiPbje14h3Si3gtS2YPt0bd7I3vt8Jib9W387sYM-P2_eiGZL8BFS7YvwVEA5H0/s320/DSCF5803.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And ~ they are off!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf35j_VdfIG1cVr-anpO1swAijfZPUsjZRBszdoE5BOSD4kc8HSLTKAxBDMMv0s1MK8R3maPqu3NfsF_VpghYB5z30GGxVuzC5GaKZAjFxjZrhN_DSiYawQZMtPHXrcPS2KaFjI5m4Au4/s1600/DSCF5804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf35j_VdfIG1cVr-anpO1swAijfZPUsjZRBszdoE5BOSD4kc8HSLTKAxBDMMv0s1MK8R3maPqu3NfsF_VpghYB5z30GGxVuzC5GaKZAjFxjZrhN_DSiYawQZMtPHXrcPS2KaFjI5m4Au4/s320/DSCF5804.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panda strikes gold.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoMT8D2sF7QdqoZ3PRGW-yLl8tTwbIAWqMg41s0n6DdfsSdfc-GulAEgglcYNAGtF-phpd-AZVHRAgz6MkkpV-jFEVvGkUT2bF1kNYuqyjghbM-qG7ihf1NqRZwY6rcCd2x3lWeEbOhM/s1600/DSCF5806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoMT8D2sF7QdqoZ3PRGW-yLl8tTwbIAWqMg41s0n6DdfsSdfc-GulAEgglcYNAGtF-phpd-AZVHRAgz6MkkpV-jFEVvGkUT2bF1kNYuqyjghbM-qG7ihf1NqRZwY6rcCd2x3lWeEbOhM/s320/DSCF5806.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poodaloo and M count their booty. Only 12 eggs allowed per kid.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The next day it was off to church and brunch with the family. The church egg hunt has a twist. The kids hunt for cans of food. They exchange the canned food for a book. The food is donated to the congregation food bank. (Forgot to bring camera.)<br />
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An egg hunt with Aunt Shaw has been the tradition since Panda's first Easter with us. Shaw takes a special photo of <a href="http://itsmommymagic.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter.html"><span style="color: purple;">Panda and the sunflower</span></a> each year. See how she has grown. (Have I mentioned my sis has a blog? She's far more prolific at posting.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papparazzi capture the digital moment.</td></tr>
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<br />I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-38144182725638650682012-04-04T05:10:00.000-06:002012-04-04T05:10:52.730-06:00Reno bound and back We loaded the van and headed south last week. A spring break trip to see Grandma and the family was in order. We invited J-Bear to come along. Everyone was excited. And, a good time was had by all during our brief two day visit (plus two long days traveling on either side).<br />
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This was our first trip since beginning the gluten-free, dairy-free, egg & beef-free diets. No small feat to prepare for travel. The tradition for our visits is to have pizza at Grandma's house the night we arrive. I bought supplies for making 'safe' pizza for the girls. The only problem was I forgot to bring the most important supply: pizza crust! Upon arrival, Aunt K and I headed out in search of gluten-free pizza crust. Three grocery stores later, we hit pay dirt. Enough to say I am not impressed with the GF foods available in Reno grocery stores.<br />
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Following is a pictorial view of our visit!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivshuRY92kAbGvGj2zEGGRVTUYcTNuV7TZ4JxkuGcZfewOv7bvplQmH57wdGMMYFKiKF6M_UdZR9TiXvOoWwntpH0IoROS_7vy9SLBqyzfeouuet1biwovxcmcwqvjp6ntYfVWZMjcs0/s1600/DSCF5705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivshuRY92kAbGvGj2zEGGRVTUYcTNuV7TZ4JxkuGcZfewOv7bvplQmH57wdGMMYFKiKF6M_UdZR9TiXvOoWwntpH0IoROS_7vy9SLBqyzfeouuet1biwovxcmcwqvjp6ntYfVWZMjcs0/s320/DSCF5705.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers! A picnic in the back yard on Friday.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAn3lcyva8vzrhPQJV3Tn4YNhv4BoDWEW5KA9xuxP1CyoZDUYnTdRYH24BsSutpY3Xj8U5GRDlDJYrD3Iz6ya0eo14Kt_9ETbla1ExpBMjUtyn6nuupGejUt3-UGPrDcvjkfUxi5E2XQI/s1600/DSCF5708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAn3lcyva8vzrhPQJV3Tn4YNhv4BoDWEW5KA9xuxP1CyoZDUYnTdRYH24BsSutpY3Xj8U5GRDlDJYrD3Iz6ya0eo14Kt_9ETbla1ExpBMjUtyn6nuupGejUt3-UGPrDcvjkfUxi5E2XQI/s320/DSCF5708.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing computer games with cousin L. Notice J-Bear is not much of a gamer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6RD5Eq3hqJh-qXNeKYITeygQYFPKStBmT454khxfSYxQHBGpzDRTPuhdcEL5EZdMBGr8Id2hmVZ-fRQp6jWKibW7PX0ek0TnmHZxmLkwN45oDANUqYV5dCeMjIZg38KNmjenaDP_okk/s1600/DSCF5709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6RD5Eq3hqJh-qXNeKYITeygQYFPKStBmT454khxfSYxQHBGpzDRTPuhdcEL5EZdMBGr8Id2hmVZ-fRQp6jWKibW7PX0ek0TnmHZxmLkwN45oDANUqYV5dCeMjIZg38KNmjenaDP_okk/s320/DSCF5709.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4D0ImvAmI3kUDfdl1W67F0DYjkC2dUOcRjxpbTQju8iydgsAAEiKFYzrGzlp69LddfbjXbLgjeAzhEq3EKEAeAw_CoVphE6NipCunktnAqe8O8oN5etrvZUqiTi8NjoTahJ4iKp6sF-8/s1600/DSCF5713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4D0ImvAmI3kUDfdl1W67F0DYjkC2dUOcRjxpbTQju8iydgsAAEiKFYzrGzlp69LddfbjXbLgjeAzhEq3EKEAeAw_CoVphE6NipCunktnAqe8O8oN5etrvZUqiTi8NjoTahJ4iKp6sF-8/s320/DSCF5713.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw6XM1J1R0lpEWVvZV6uCDZD5u0eazOVLw9SCIO8YUg4leLU6-HDTMpBfWGOmfJjhS6qFhXQauGSxQZlSrEPAtkOZBnpsFJ-bD5wKg44jzyeAF3LK9lXAwTu7UTwNEk1sDfEJGiDQFsM/s1600/DSCF5716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTw6XM1J1R0lpEWVvZV6uCDZD5u0eazOVLw9SCIO8YUg4leLU6-HDTMpBfWGOmfJjhS6qFhXQauGSxQZlSrEPAtkOZBnpsFJ-bD5wKg44jzyeAF3LK9lXAwTu7UTwNEk1sDfEJGiDQFsM/s320/DSCF5716.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bath and ice cream on Friday night. It was non-dairy frozen dessert. We still call it ice cream!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Saturday was a busy day with a tree planting service at church. The tree was planted in memory of Grandpa B.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOozeM-_M6QilLpSYFitITvcQL-FMPsAvjziQZ_8TgfnRQTLch_iAQCjnb96G3lu03wtEyshielFj471vUfWceJqlerpr-UxrhpivbbYcutbMWWY5JaDrJaKT_XWbB85xV5j3Fa1ujaw8/s1600/DSCF5725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOozeM-_M6QilLpSYFitITvcQL-FMPsAvjziQZ_8TgfnRQTLch_iAQCjnb96G3lu03wtEyshielFj471vUfWceJqlerpr-UxrhpivbbYcutbMWWY5JaDrJaKT_XWbB85xV5j3Fa1ujaw8/s320/DSCF5725.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Digging the hole in preparation for the tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAE-9iLt981AFtjlrP_6tn4YP0rDD0WYwdTtVsaeLiO6G_rhfNegHdFUAi65k6i6LmbPVIge56XySftRJ-yMkUZoc-UMSu6y3tPFxqUCt4GvXuMtCho8DLIAKPcC78BR87Luc1_bO8ZI/s1600/DSCF5726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAE-9iLt981AFtjlrP_6tn4YP0rDD0WYwdTtVsaeLiO6G_rhfNegHdFUAi65k6i6LmbPVIge56XySftRJ-yMkUZoc-UMSu6y3tPFxqUCt4GvXuMtCho8DLIAKPcC78BR87Luc1_bO8ZI/s320/DSCF5726.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching the diggers from inside where it was not windy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMXGk1e2IKJ9Lu_ni0bEQjhbIfWrJXYNC7cUdnzkzqEdf8NTVPrkHTQdBoDtaiSAZZEMTY34WExsyE3qzoGKoaIlExLZf7y3pjhEpKNTuwGl3UXJgGTOMqfiVkVaQI4gpHlyMySCbI2A/s1600/DSCF5731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMXGk1e2IKJ9Lu_ni0bEQjhbIfWrJXYNC7cUdnzkzqEdf8NTVPrkHTQdBoDtaiSAZZEMTY34WExsyE3qzoGKoaIlExLZf7y3pjhEpKNTuwGl3UXJgGTOMqfiVkVaQI4gpHlyMySCbI2A/s320/DSCF5731.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poodaloo adding a handful of dirt.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDf2Kf_sA0vzhCxMTqoAO7J3nP8RVm0ndhEGefUwT5Wh1ByUjY6_m5iDLcOKuOUBMo4_7y1HhJFajFXzO4X0HKKtBMItEF7Dzb2sdS5mfBQC69jAaTgQMSZ_iJ5zZlTe-iMCPDiTpDpFA/s1600/DSCF5732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDf2Kf_sA0vzhCxMTqoAO7J3nP8RVm0ndhEGefUwT5Wh1ByUjY6_m5iDLcOKuOUBMo4_7y1HhJFajFXzO4X0HKKtBMItEF7Dzb2sdS5mfBQC69jAaTgQMSZ_iJ5zZlTe-iMCPDiTpDpFA/s320/DSCF5732.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A happy tree planting crew.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> After the short tree service, everyone went to Grandma's house for brunch. Grandma P. from Gardnerville joined us for a visit. Both sides of our family live in the area and we try to see everyone during a visit.<br />
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After brunch, Baba and his brother took the children to Scheel's to entertain them. Deer in the headlights is the look I received when gently posing the idea of taking a camera. Six kids and two men = no photos. It was later learned there had been one point when five of the kids had gone missing. The good news is everyone had a fine time and they returned with the appropriate number of children.<br />
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While the kids were off playing, the quilting bee commenced with the ladies. The ladies from Nevada are master quilters who oversee a quilting group at the church. They were very knowledgeable about how to divide up the tasks. With teamwork, we pieced and tied a quilt for the neonatal unit in our local children's hospital. The kids returned in time to help with tying the quilt (although some were too tired to help).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5levO2dHY2_hGKuZYkNUsVK-rjWOWxMrzniZg7dAKNuC0p8HEGXABal7hmPmF628_A15UpT4OB-CNrfw9QzJ5rLSd3L4Sx68pIC1OJRaJnpQPrdbQAC42Sj5fXT-hM8DoMew8xGF5wI/s1600/DSCF5756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5levO2dHY2_hGKuZYkNUsVK-rjWOWxMrzniZg7dAKNuC0p8HEGXABal7hmPmF628_A15UpT4OB-CNrfw9QzJ5rLSd3L4Sx68pIC1OJRaJnpQPrdbQAC42Sj5fXT-hM8DoMew8xGF5wI/s320/DSCF5756.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">J-Bear getting her first taste of quilting.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV_3iK6Rajna4OzcPk9Ukd2OGWLFfYWgibKo8Z6D-6xqwOpyf9wixRtatvS9oWyIaPeEqttd-TiAoI1eeKFl6Rs8mNWwYnkVfySVDUJXt4eu_Pwje1h76VSQC0sCMvmf1ZyMv5-H9aQ4/s1600/DSCF5758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV_3iK6Rajna4OzcPk9Ukd2OGWLFfYWgibKo8Z6D-6xqwOpyf9wixRtatvS9oWyIaPeEqttd-TiAoI1eeKFl6Rs8mNWwYnkVfySVDUJXt4eu_Pwje1h76VSQC0sCMvmf1ZyMv5-H9aQ4/s320/DSCF5758.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma is an expert at piecing and tying quilts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEahrSb68jz9IXEQsOLgXkqy2gM7MMq9Ro9rT3N9Ulix3FwidwCBbpcyHumlRHO-t12PgbORZqcu6C8E8wCHd7fdmKXhZSZtnLTssWMY3OOnI3DLqmH638SqjSxUQF2MR50o68s3sezY/s1600/DSCF5759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEahrSb68jz9IXEQsOLgXkqy2gM7MMq9Ro9rT3N9Ulix3FwidwCBbpcyHumlRHO-t12PgbORZqcu6C8E8wCHd7fdmKXhZSZtnLTssWMY3OOnI3DLqmH638SqjSxUQF2MR50o68s3sezY/s320/DSCF5759.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panda tying.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFxgtaWwrmdXzZ1wvlwOJ9F5GwNvWu_aOk9w1SH4exoTjHqfFXwzTJPt1uNyb-vE_PlSm1oxD4KbFsJ8PIKiEQ4pBk2h1sqN9-SZe90SjG8piiBq5Z32U4pgmFQw-sNgrzRmgqlJOFFk/s1600/DSCF5760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFxgtaWwrmdXzZ1wvlwOJ9F5GwNvWu_aOk9w1SH4exoTjHqfFXwzTJPt1uNyb-vE_PlSm1oxD4KbFsJ8PIKiEQ4pBk2h1sqN9-SZe90SjG8piiBq5Z32U4pgmFQw-sNgrzRmgqlJOFFk/s320/DSCF5760.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poodaloo and Baba took a nap.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Then it was time for the long drive home. Ugh . . . . halfway through the trip we stopped to blow the stink off everyone! This is typical of the 'scenery' for most of the trip.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poodaloo and J-Bear running amok. (They are NOT running on the highway!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBny0-io1C4AyWc6OND9HyAbn6M4goSG3hTEF-KHAA1iXmIAZODkLxde9ozVe0tN4VlW0tBAnvmt849kJqtbxFxwSKfqr6J-WY-qMJdAvPPrmoe2o0HjXjSPdrygHabwr3hMtj5NV9xo/s1600/DSCF5772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBny0-io1C4AyWc6OND9HyAbn6M4goSG3hTEF-KHAA1iXmIAZODkLxde9ozVe0tN4VlW0tBAnvmt849kJqtbxFxwSKfqr6J-WY-qMJdAvPPrmoe2o0HjXjSPdrygHabwr3hMtj5NV9xo/s320/DSCF5772.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wearing the nifty hats they bought at the mini-mart in Lovelock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> We arrived home around 8pm Sunday night. School and work for almost everyone the next day. Mama slept a good share of Monday.I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-67392962264383124602012-03-24T00:27:00.000-06:002012-03-24T00:27:16.168-06:00Starting the weekend It's Friday and the girls are both a sleepovers tonight. Yippee ~ we can sleep in tomorrow as long as the door is closed to keep cats out. Dogs are happy to sleep in with you. Cats are only happy when you get up and fill the food bowl, preferably before 6am.<br />
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Poodaloo is attending a birthday party for a classmate. They are staying in a trailer at a camp ground and all the girls will get feathers in their hair tonight. Nine little girls in a trailer. Glad I'm not the mother staying there.<br />
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As we took her stuff from our van to the party vehicle, I told Poodaloo that daddy and I were going to have a date tonight since she and her sister were gone. "Ooooo, a date!" Then she tugged on my shirt and whispered to me, "Tomorrow I want all the details of the date."<br />
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Huh?! Where on earth did she learn about getting details after dates? She doesn't even want to get married (she plans to be a Musketeer, like Barbie in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_86Ni3opiFU&feature=related"><span style="color: blue;">Barbie and the Three Musketeers</span></a> animated movie). I cast blame to Disney channel. We had it for six months and the girls would watch it 24/7 if we allowed it. Then I called the cable company to have it blocked. Bye-bye Mickey Mouse. It was nothing personal.<br />
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Panda is staying with her best friend, J. Mama arranged it once she realized it could be a kid-free night and we wouldn't have to hire a sitter.<br />
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Our '<i>date'</i> was fun. It has been awhile since our last date but we muddled through it pretty well. Happy to remember why I love my husband!I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-43092697244837368592012-03-18T18:10:00.000-06:002012-03-18T18:10:39.639-06:00It's cookie time Panda and Poodaloo belong to a non-traditional Girl Scout troop. It is non-traditional because all the girls are from families who have adopted from China. Typically, troop members are from the same school & neighborhood. This troop was formed to provide the girls with friends who have similar backgrounds (a peer group, if you will) and the girls attend different schools. As hoped, it has worked out beautifully for the girls.<br />
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What we didn't anticipate was the support group it also brings to the moms. These wonderful ladies know the challenges of raising kids with traumatic backgrounds. Each of these dear friends has helped me through tough times more than once.<br />
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Last weekend, we manned a cookie booth for three hours on a blustery day. The girls were excited and enthusiastic. They more than made up for the moms' lack of genuine enthusiasm.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdM33cMtDlnbIQjKehRw5u5W-3ARC26aota7DC__xv7asYi6lBqkQuFq0L5LqrGXwZiilQiKh5owGVfnJmi_1rmeAnNGK1P25gkRnZNrZsgRCjUZp8TZlYP2PNhB1ZlJVDjLc1JzERetM/s1600/DSCF5660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdM33cMtDlnbIQjKehRw5u5W-3ARC26aota7DC__xv7asYi6lBqkQuFq0L5LqrGXwZiilQiKh5owGVfnJmi_1rmeAnNGK1P25gkRnZNrZsgRCjUZp8TZlYP2PNhB1ZlJVDjLc1JzERetM/s320/DSCF5660.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We are bringing a small-ish supply of cookies when we visit Grandma over spring break. $3.75 per box. Checks and cash accepted.<br />
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Both girls are signed up for Girl Scout horse camp this summer! It will be four days without parents but the pull of horses is strong and they are confident of being okay. Cookie sales will fund a portion of the camp (we hope).I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-83723531468377181592012-03-18T17:51:00.000-06:002012-03-18T17:51:42.624-06:00Birthday celebration Panda had a birthday recently. We had a family dinner with my sister and her family. Panda chose to eat at a Japanese restaurant - where the food is prepared in front of you with a great deal of showmanship. First, a match was lit on the grill and a huge flame leaped into the air. Poodaloo hit the ground under the table and was not sure she wanted to come out again.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our chef preparing fried rice (we are sitting out of sight on the right).</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The three girls sit beside the pond.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEjzSAu39jHACqFy0eMctkJtC6oKoW15196ViXVngWXfVD9Prpl7x722k2wGmcBy9NzMQ1ia8L2QTY4qGPBsZSER9dKmEJtPNdNRo0D17LH3QODTEBuw6KcuAakKdrkJ8MEycgsGBiG8/s1600/DSCF5649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEjzSAu39jHACqFy0eMctkJtC6oKoW15196ViXVngWXfVD9Prpl7x722k2wGmcBy9NzMQ1ia8L2QTY4qGPBsZSER9dKmEJtPNdNRo0D17LH3QODTEBuw6KcuAakKdrkJ8MEycgsGBiG8/s320/DSCF5649.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful goldfish swim in the pond.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mHHCpEl-RL89I9UwPNncIwyS3jRiuLuzk9xteBcrB_FXeQymt0ghACaKCt2vGa3nlxTrq5nuI59kNrIqUuTa9LxLJiJOJMyv9bf0f5b8g2BwUPpZmXVy-q20CoKK4613X1wEwfKodRM/s1600/DSCF5650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mHHCpEl-RL89I9UwPNncIwyS3jRiuLuzk9xteBcrB_FXeQymt0ghACaKCt2vGa3nlxTrq5nuI59kNrIqUuTa9LxLJiJOJMyv9bf0f5b8g2BwUPpZmXVy-q20CoKK4613X1wEwfKodRM/s320/DSCF5650.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This fountain led to quite a conversation between the boys who were also eating at the restaurant.</td></tr>
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The birthday party for friends happened on the 10th. The party was at the YMCA swimming pool (for the second year in a row). I've spent the last year germinating the idea of birthday parties without presents. My little seed has borne fruit. We are calling it a 5 Spot Party with emphasis on lots of time for swimming. Guest bring $5.00 instead of a present. Panda will donate half to the local humane society and she can keep the rest to spend as she likes. My fingers are crossed for success. (Post script: It was a success! Most of her friends included handmade cards with the 5 Spot. Reading the cards gave the feel of opening gifts. The moms were thrilled with such an easy gift.)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">(No party photos ~ too busy managing the party. Sorry . . . . )</div><br />
Panda & I finished a really good book. It's called <i>Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cornelia-Audacious-Escapades-Somerset-Sisters/dp/0375835237" style="color: blue;">Somerset Sisters</a></i> by Lesley M. M. Blume. Spoiler Alert: There is sadness at the end of the story. Panda & I went through a mountain of tissues as we finished the book. (Okay, it was me who went through 3/4 of the mountain of tissues.)<br />
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We discovered electronic library loans and have gone crazy over them. There is one drawback to e-book loans: the library only allows five at a time <u>and</u> you cannot return a book early when you have finished reading it. This likely would not be a problem if I was not such a dunce about electronic things. I 'checked out' two e-books that are not actually Kindle books. They count as part of the five books but I can't download them. One is an MP3 file and the other has some bizarre file name that means nothing to me. Now we wait 14 days for the loan to expire. Sigh . . . .<br />
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Another fantastic thing about the modern* library: requesting books via the internet. An email tells you when the book is at the library (you can borrow from any library in the valley). You zip in, use automated checkout, and in next to no time there are new books for you to read.<br />
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* I used the book mobile when I was in grade school & high school but had not used a library since until recently. Unlike today, there was no library in Troy when I was a kid.I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-23958487548406351252012-03-08T11:22:00.000-07:002012-03-08T11:22:39.525-07:00Literal interpretation Poodaloo is still deep within the world of literal interpretation. Here are a couple of funny examples.<br />
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One day her cold lunch had an insulated container to keep food warm. She watched me add hot water into the container and put on the lid. Apparently, she did not see me dump out the water and add warm food. So, she didn't eat the food in the container that day. Not wanting to eat hot water for lunch she figured there was no reason to open the lid. (Seriously, when have I given her an empty dish of hot water?!?!?)<br />
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Getting ready for bed the other night, Poodaloo lamented the fact that two of her friends had gotten feathers in their hair. She really wants a feather in her hair, too. We talked about knowing the feather kiosk at the mall was no longer there. I suggested she should ask where the feather came from (can't remember my exact wording). She looked horrified and said she couldn't ask. I musingly wondered why she didn't want to ask her friends where they got the feathers.<br />
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"Mom, you mean I'm supposed to ask my friends? I thought you meant I had to ask the people who run the mall! I'm scared to ask those people, not my friends." We had a good chuckle over that one.I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-10430659490872867062012-03-08T11:08:00.000-07:002012-03-08T11:08:42.766-07:00Therapy updates<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> I met with a new therapist who will begin seeing Panda. She specializes in working with children and she uses EMDR. After reading our information (a five page document), she said this is one of the most challenging situations she has undertaken. Yikes, no wonder we are having a hard time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Panda has a recurring weekly appointment starting next week. At some point, Panda’s protective shell has to crack and let in a chance for more healing. I just don’t think it will happen without a neutral party involved. Too much garbage surrounds Panda’s relationship with me. The garbage stinks and hurts and it needs to be tossed out. Like any child, Panda deserves to be free of her demons.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> The silver lining is recognizing the many positive changes in the past two years. Panda's reading has improved. She likes books! During first grade, I feared she would never be good at, or even enjoy, reading. That year I despised helping Panda practice reading. She pinched or kicked me at each difficult word. And, when your eyes don’t track from left to right properly, there are many difficult words.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> Books have always calmed Panda’s dysregulation. During an especially bad time last week, Panda searched for a book to read. She – got – the – book – herself. I had no part in the search, not even to suggest it. Panda was the one who knew what to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> She is reliably able to get herself ready for bed and ready for school. She monitors the foods the orthodontist has said not to eat and does not eat them. She is helping prepare meals and does a good job. She feeds the dogs and empties the trash from time to time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> In the black cloud part of things, the chaos is non-changing or getting worse. Random violence & destruction of household items doesn’t happen much any longer, but the violence toward me continues. Poodaloo also gets a share of smacks and thumps. Baba usually only gets it when he's restraining her. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 18px;">(May have already mentioned the literature indicates mothers are usually the target in these situations.)</span><span style="font-size: 18px;"> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> My tears don’t flow at the drop of a hat anymore (yay) and I mostly ignore the words (yay) and I try to circumvent injuries (yay). </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> But . . . I want it to S.T.O.P. . . . N.O.W. (yesterday even better). </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> This can be my chance to firm up my backbone and establish more boundaries (not punishment or consequences). </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> The trouble is a boundary line is nearly invisible to me. B</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">oundaries have been difficult to establish all of my life. It has something to do with being the people pleasing child of an alcoholic.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The past couple of weeks have been stressful. About ten days ago I reached my limit of tolerance. Who knows why it happened then and not another time. I am tired:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> • of being a punching bag for anything that is not to her liking<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> • of unreasonable accusations and expectations<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> • of watching her hit Poodaloo without warning and for no reasonable purpose*<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p>* Honestly, I'd probably be okay with it if this was a 'regular' sibling fight with two kids willing to duke it out. This is not that kind of hitting. It's sneaky and usually without merit.</o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> I continue to see my therapist weekly. She is helpful and supportive. She reassures me. Circumstances are the responsible culprit, not me. I am trying to make things better, not causing the problems. When I fail to remember this, she tells me I am the mother of a special needs child and it is a difficult path. I must stay healthy, give myself (and others) grace, take time to do enjoyable things and spend non-kid time with my husband. He will be with me when the girls have flown the nest (even though Poodaloo maintains she will never move away from me).<o:p></o:p></span></div>I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-990152956339481962012-03-04T22:55:00.000-07:002012-03-04T22:55:56.755-07:00100% chance of sunshine Today was a gorgeous day, the best one of the year. Our friends Z & M invited us to the neighborhood park to play. Poodaloo and I accepted the invitation in an instant. We gathered up some snacks and water and made tracks down the street.<br />
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Panda had gone with Baba to a meeting at church. It was a training on the 'ins and outs' of making coffee for the Sunday services. Panda likes to help when its our turn to ensure there is coffee available. Turns out the training was BORING. Her texts flew in such rapid succession I could not reply before a new one arrived. Because I didn't answer, phone calls began. After half a dozen calls (Where is Poodaloo's bike helmet? Does she have to wear one? What if we can't find it?) she arrived at the park to join us.<br />
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All told, we spent more than two hours enjoying the sunshine. Hoagie came along and snoozed at my feet in the sun. At bedtime I noticed my chest is slightly reddened. So there you have it ~ first sunburn of the season on March 4!I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-31633255420575542362012-02-28T18:17:00.000-07:002012-02-28T18:17:53.845-07:00Teeth (again) I swear it is raining teeth in our house. Poodaloo lost another one last weekend. I was unaware the little beastie was loose. Now she has multiple holes in both upper and lower jaws.<br />
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And, once again the tooth was lost before it could be taken by the tooth fairy. However, this tooth was not swallowed. Poodaloo was attempting to booby-trap it and it fell to the floor and bounced. She was hoping to catch the tooth fairy when she visited. Thankfully, her booby-trapping skills are sub-par. It is doubtful the tooth fairy would visit again if she were apprehended in such a manner.<br />
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This morning saw Panda at the orthodontist office to have the latest spacer installed. There is a great deal of metal in her mouth considering she does not actually have braces. Her mouth was sore by the time school got over. In proper motherly fashion, I heartlessly informed her that is what always happens after a trip to the orthodontist. You mouth hurts!I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-52993207846554757872012-02-15T14:52:00.000-07:002012-02-15T14:52:24.450-07:00The minutiae of life Lots happening the past few weeks. Here are the highlights (or low lights in some cases).<br />
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<b> Teeth continue to haunt our home.</b> The tooth fairy has our house bookmarked. Poodaloo finally lost her other front tooth. <i>The bad news:</i> she swallowed it. <i>The good news:</i> the tooth fairy is a trusting sort and she trusts a tooth was lost when there is a note left where the tooth should be.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWLiO0ePE9oL7r-swyrVaCeh9P07UaKbDqgru64woOAYK3DFbm8Kz0uXvvhoJ36fu5YkeV8ztVBLhLX39Edm4Fx39-d5HyYJLVrP8CqH2Zm50sDJZTAa0n7NQfQ5RBKgqiyyv-3wKN5M/s1600/TF+letter.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWLiO0ePE9oL7r-swyrVaCeh9P07UaKbDqgru64woOAYK3DFbm8Kz0uXvvhoJ36fu5YkeV8ztVBLhLX39Edm4Fx39-d5HyYJLVrP8CqH2Zm50sDJZTAa0n7NQfQ5RBKgqiyyv-3wKN5M/s320/TF+letter.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear: tooth Fairy, I swallowed my tooth and am hoping that it will come out the rear end. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Date: 1-2-2012</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love</span><br />
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Be sure to notice the dot on the I in Fairy and the O and E in Love are shaped like teeth.<br />
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Panda has also lost teeth. One the natural way and another had help. This morning the dentist pulled a primary molar because its misbehaving. The orthodontist is placing another appliance in her mouth to keep the space open. The new one is for the lower jaw. Her current spacer is located on the upper teeth.<br />
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<b>Gigi's big adventure.</b> When I leave Poodaloo's room after putting her to bed, Gigi is waiting by the door. She rolls onto her back so I can rub her belly. Last week I felt something unnatural on her stomach area. More than unnatural, it was weird and icky. It looked like a fishing hook and I kinda freaked out. How could she get a fishing hook into her skin?!?! We don't own any fishing poles or hooks.<br />
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Baba and I determined it was indeed stuck into her skin. Gentle tugs did not dislodge the hook. It didn't seem to be the slightest bit painful. We are tired parents of elementary school aged kids. It could wait until morning. Zzzzzzzz<br />
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Gigi went to the vet before the girls got to the bus stop. It was a very strange circular piece of metal about the size of a penny. There is a small shaved patch of skin and not even a scab remains. We have no idea where the metal originated. The only thing remaining is fear of finding another oddity when I pet her belly each night.<br />
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<b>Living the gluten-free, casein-free life.</b> I am enjoying the challenge of finding alternatives for family favorite dinners. I've made cream of mushroom sauce for Tater Tot casserole. Spaghetti with rice or corn pasta is great. Creamy potato soup without milk is not so good.<br />
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The biggest success is finding a way to tolerate protein powder in smoothies. I can more or less manage to eat an adequate amount of protein for breakfast. They recommend 20-30 grams of protein. An ounce of meat or one egg has seven grams of protein. Do the math ~ four ounces of meat or four eggs. I cannot <strike>choke down</strike> eat that much meat or eggs for breakfast.<br />
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<b> Dynamic Dancing Dragons perform.</b> The girls danced for the Lunar New Year celebration at Poodaloo's school. They also performed at a Spring Festival celebration sponsored by the local Chinese community. My camera is too basic to get stellar photos but these are acceptable. Enjoy!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">High school boys performing the Dragon Parade to begin the Festival.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61aHEPMTh__V_mCX5s357com_QpU-_tR4kyvgTut_2dvzE-ifJFcUr7pfaZivZwadu6mFFv7iiSPi2p4p3MNTcfvdzDxKEmiNVRif-s42nt9inqM1szAVxd1jz0VKXbd3OI_eMgjjZuw/s1600/DSCF5571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61aHEPMTh__V_mCX5s357com_QpU-_tR4kyvgTut_2dvzE-ifJFcUr7pfaZivZwadu6mFFv7iiSPi2p4p3MNTcfvdzDxKEmiNVRif-s42nt9inqM1szAVxd1jz0VKXbd3OI_eMgjjZuw/s320/DSCF5571.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Two young men from the local air force base performed the Lion Dance next.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmtpLDJi3X8zdsLEh3GhgdU46Zd2OUVsif1AejEEYQ13R8mtVmYOoWDaXoBlgrN1vaOVQF1hcD3KL-dEOR7mXv55IbMpTnnnErbpM-wyR_YcpYF7J7I5JyjOEl_cTkLrDRoiOVgQmkyw/s1600/DSCF5574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmtpLDJi3X8zdsLEh3GhgdU46Zd2OUVsif1AejEEYQ13R8mtVmYOoWDaXoBlgrN1vaOVQF1hcD3KL-dEOR7mXv55IbMpTnnnErbpM-wyR_YcpYF7J7I5JyjOEl_cTkLrDRoiOVgQmkyw/s320/DSCF5574.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Panda's group dancing. She is fourth from the left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9jvmbfNBRFlbBjTqaA8mhMDeHVMrFMCLFAbZoOJOorUYaUXcUObJ9RC2zscYCb8Ep0ayMuDc-Xpj6KkiEwUtSgyg7SBhCEEvX7LcHf5ZP-eWSk5zDGsOkgziimC8KPxu29s3i27bQfc/s1600/DSCF5592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9jvmbfNBRFlbBjTqaA8mhMDeHVMrFMCLFAbZoOJOorUYaUXcUObJ9RC2zscYCb8Ep0ayMuDc-Xpj6KkiEwUtSgyg7SBhCEEvX7LcHf5ZP-eWSk5zDGsOkgziimC8KPxu29s3i27bQfc/s320/DSCF5592.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Poodaloo is in the center (just to left of the boy in black). </div><div style="text-align: center;">They are singing a song from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bzTGCyQnq7KjqBYHqrra6sIdz5SAz5GTpoZ7lJ_7lxOxksmoxOI2lLXldQ6_W1xSbg0zmb1wAiOilvtLJ21QQykvKxZyGwqhWdxihyphenhyphen8VwPbR2pKMTrxe6cCHqsssPDw1gHTKRxus_Nk/s1600/DSCF5596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bzTGCyQnq7KjqBYHqrra6sIdz5SAz5GTpoZ7lJ_7lxOxksmoxOI2lLXldQ6_W1xSbg0zmb1wAiOilvtLJ21QQykvKxZyGwqhWdxihyphenhyphen8VwPbR2pKMTrxe6cCHqsssPDw1gHTKRxus_Nk/s320/DSCF5596.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-41749579302885486792012-02-14T23:55:00.000-07:002012-02-14T23:55:53.031-07:00Flying high . . . . or maybe not Panda's class was one of several third grades invited to create paintings to illustrate a story. Panda's illustration of the Mississippi river was selected. She received a free ticket to attend the concert. Since Panda cannot drive, Mama was her chauffeur.<br />
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An exerpt from a press release: <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In</span><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Stella’s Musical Tour of America</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">, Stella establishes herself as a brave adventurer with an active imagination. From a hot air balloon, in just one day she sees the Mississippi River, Rocky Mountains, Pacific Ocean and finally the Grand Canyon before returning home. Along the way, the audience will hear the music Stella hears in her head as she discovers these amazing features.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><o:p></o:p></div><br />
They raffled a free hot air balloon ride. Panda filled out an entry form. But it said you had to be 18 years old to enter so we used my name. On the following Monday I received a call from the Philharmonic office. I assumed they wanted me to collect her artwork. This thought annoyed me.<br />
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However, that was not why they called. I had won the hot air balloon raffle. I might have said, "Oh, no!" on the phone to the nice philharmonic lady when she told me the news (but I hope not). I would rather poke a needle in my eye than go up high in a tiny basket.<br />
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At least I can't say I've never won anything!I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-18135598153291523142012-02-14T23:21:00.000-07:002012-02-14T23:21:54.099-07:00Panda learns about coherance<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">COHERENCE</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> the quality or state of <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cohering"><span style="color: #1122cc; text-decoration: none;">cohering</span></a>: a systematic or logical connection or consistency<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> integration of diverse elements, relationships, or values<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Synonyms:</span></b><span style="color: #7b7b7b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/balance"><span style="color: #1122cc; text-decoration: none;">balance</span></a>, <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harmony"><span style="color: #1122cc; text-decoration: none;">harmony</span></a>, <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concinnity"><span style="color: #1122cc; text-decoration: none;">concinnity</span></a>, <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consonance"><span style="color: #1122cc; text-decoration: none;">consonance</span></a>, <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consonancy"><span style="color: #1122cc; text-decoration: none;">consonancy</span></a>, <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orchestration"><span style="color: #1122cc; text-decoration: none;">orchestration</span></a>, <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proportion"><span style="color: #1122cc; text-decoration: none;">proportion</span></a>, <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symmetry"><span style="color: #1122cc; text-decoration: none;">symmetry</span></a>, <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symphony"><span style="color: #1122cc; text-decoration: none;">symphony</span></a>, <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unity"><span style="color: #1122cc; text-decoration: none;">unity</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Source: <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coherence"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coherence</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Last May, in an on-line <i>Every Day is Mother's Day</i> conference from the Beyond Consequences Institute, I learned about the<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.heartmath.org/about-us/our-focus/ihm-programs-services.html"><span style="color: blue;">the HeartMath Institute</span></a></span></span> (IHM). In July, my therapist (CA) suggested I use a device from IHM to teach my body to let my heart be in charge. I was very intimidated by the little box and didn't give it much of a chance. After a few weeks, I gave it back and said 'no, thanks'. We continued to work with EMDR and I try to remember to breathe, breathe, breathe when my buttons were pushed, pounded, and strangled.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> A couple of weeks ago, Panda met with CA to learn how to use <a href="http://store.heartmath.org/emWave2/emWave2-handheld"><span style="color: blue;">emWave2</span></a> handheld device. Baba attended as the technical person since the little box has me buffaloed. The device measures the the level of coherence between heart waves and brain waves. Red is low, blue is medium and green is high. There are games kids can play to improve coherence. For example, you can fill the pot at the end of the rainbow with gold coins by staying in medium or high coherence.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> According to the emWave2, Panda is very good at controlling coherence - far better than I. She likes it very much that she's better. Today we returned for a follow-up visit. Tonight we had one of the best nights we've experienced in a couple weeks. Coincidence? I think not, but I don't keep a journal to document it so who knows for sure.<br />
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It has been several weeks with the emWave2. She doesn't do it every night but remembers to use the wave most nights. Panda has returned to talk with CA a third time. They also did some bilateral therapy by clapping hands across from each other. EMDR is a bilateral therapy and CA uses it every time I meet with her. (Memories are moved to long term storage ~ where they belong ~ by way of repeatedly crossing the <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/images/ency/fullsize/8753.jpg"><span style="color: blue;">corpus callosum</span></a>.) </div>I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-24050346135740008562012-01-30T19:16:00.000-07:002012-01-30T19:16:14.802-07:00Good-bye January Tonight on the news, the announcer called this month Jun-uary because its been as warm as June in many parts of the U.S. We are part of the 'many places'. Bushes & other flora are beginning to show signs of life. Yikes! Don't they know that Jun-uary is made up? It isn't really spring, go back to sleep for a couple months.<br />
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We have been busy with life but nothing too exciting. The girls are taking cold lunches to school as part of the gluten-free changes. They think this is wonderful because cold lunch kids eat earlier than the poor schmoes who have to wait in line for hot lunch. Eating quicker means you get more time to play.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Panda helping pack lunch in the morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHcw6bnEY-Dv8EOIoQrv0cukV6XWvvZT2nNm6zsDMmpOnFxlR6Qlj7xqsZAIGRg3FeKozrWIMh-QYgx1gciYYEtmfuGX_ZWEn6y2JkGi3PZqLFIheh_N_v5W6SrAhctZEaRXrEXKZwnM/s1600/DSCF5463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHcw6bnEY-Dv8EOIoQrv0cukV6XWvvZT2nNm6zsDMmpOnFxlR6Qlj7xqsZAIGRg3FeKozrWIMh-QYgx1gciYYEtmfuGX_ZWEn6y2JkGi3PZqLFIheh_N_v5W6SrAhctZEaRXrEXKZwnM/s320/DSCF5463.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Free time is often spent taking self-portraits. Below are examples of the portraits.<br />
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My free time is spent quilting if I can make it happen. The top is finished for the quilt challenge blocks.<br />
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I'm also making blocks of <a href="http://cottonclub.com/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi?cart_id=8187922.9935.s0&lastmenu=submenu-1300.html&product=c_BuildBlocks"><span style="color: blue;">the Building Block series</span></a> from the Cotton Club. The fabric is batik - my most favorite kind of fabric. I am powerless against the pull of batiks. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Top row: log cabin blocks, bottom row: Jacob's ladder.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyEOtbE3AgGxoXwG68zHSuRVXC0O0Z1daeSmQaT_eo8BlAP9pCt4hcSP3q7UHK8DH-vOg8V5Fbf_NZ3C8jWPiNlQN-r6wyn429_nQNG7R560HOZe3u8sj5dZpD9XAM3TndAe_ydaeV80/s1600/DSCF5509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyEOtbE3AgGxoXwG68zHSuRVXC0O0Z1daeSmQaT_eo8BlAP9pCt4hcSP3q7UHK8DH-vOg8V5Fbf_NZ3C8jWPiNlQN-r6wyn429_nQNG7R560HOZe3u8sj5dZpD9XAM3TndAe_ydaeV80/s320/DSCF5509.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Panda and Poodaloo are taking a Chinese dance class after school on Wednesdays. The dance troupe is set to perform at the Lunar New Year celebration on February 4. (We wish you all could join us!) To advertise the event, a local news station broadcast weather segments from the school last Friday morning. The kids were to arrive at 4:30a.m. (yes, A. freaking M.) Panda was raring to go, leaped out of bed and dressed. Poodaloo was not ready or willing to go at this ridiculous time of day.<br />
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In the end, I drove Panda to school and went back home to coax Poodaloo. As I suspected, when she saw the dancers on T.V. Poodaloo was up in a flash. I trundled her off to school and stayed for a respectable few minutes. Then I headed home for a nap and to pack lunches.<br />
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Unfortunately, I'm not able to locate a way to see the segments on the station website. If anyone has better luck, let me know. The station is <a href="http://www.ktvb.com/community/blogs/wheres-larry/Gateway-School-Year-of-the-Dragon-138191759.html"><span style="color: blue;">KTVB</span></a>.I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-72479371153696107242012-01-18T16:35:00.000-07:002012-01-18T16:35:34.429-07:00Quilt Block Challenge Revisited Perhaps you think I gave up on my personal quilt challenge. Not so, although it didn't evolve as I had imagined. I made quite a few blocks from the patterns I found on websites. Some of them had crummy directions, in my opinion. For example, in spite of following the instructions this one ended up too small. I added sashing (border around the block) to make it 12" x 12" (finished). The more pieces a block contains, the more difficult it is to end up with the proper size.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTiMxoZodWyntB5YwFmAWsvPJCxDDUfLqk4BY9p27wdzOXwfNq4Mq2P_rza_nEGZGtkkrbtBzkGYxON2dBgz90O1qLlY3YoioCO9osITXmcpiD5uwrAgDknOCttuLTYWeZxHA174DuAA/s1600/DSCF5459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTiMxoZodWyntB5YwFmAWsvPJCxDDUfLqk4BY9p27wdzOXwfNq4Mq2P_rza_nEGZGtkkrbtBzkGYxON2dBgz90O1qLlY3YoioCO9osITXmcpiD5uwrAgDknOCttuLTYWeZxHA174DuAA/s320/DSCF5459.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photos by Panda)</span></div><br />
I invited Panda and Poodaloo to design blocks for me to cut and sew. It quickly became apparent that poor directions are considerably better than no directions at all. Copying a design made by a 6 or 8 year old and then cutting the pieces for a 12" quilt block is tricky.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDFxZ3VWGnmoxv83WxlXgs8Yqqc4fGm9ik3964PLFICa2U4N_AsVXQxS1wJTxFNQoN9LMxt7zWCGtyQ-ykl_fIex1Rb-wKnZXKBmLelnIdl-ootHCL-5w7NWqLdM2_Iv7GKykNxM5hRw/s1600/DSCF5451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDFxZ3VWGnmoxv83WxlXgs8Yqqc4fGm9ik3964PLFICa2U4N_AsVXQxS1wJTxFNQoN9LMxt7zWCGtyQ-ykl_fIex1Rb-wKnZXKBmLelnIdl-ootHCL-5w7NWqLdM2_Iv7GKykNxM5hRw/s320/DSCF5451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Panda's design (above) was way out there for me. She asked me to add green fabric triangles at each corner but I haven't done it yet.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03rbcQKz2kL2orb8CFMfuolgSja2ga323sZ-__wP_6PF1VIvaQENxougs69tPRrAEIRl7Cj4wq3J9ADeFjIqepe-PSyS3biMuWiVegiZ38vY21ouB_IH9LF49pp30DL9w89nKNlCuVKo/s1600/DSCF5443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03rbcQKz2kL2orb8CFMfuolgSja2ga323sZ-__wP_6PF1VIvaQENxougs69tPRrAEIRl7Cj4wq3J9ADeFjIqepe-PSyS3biMuWiVegiZ38vY21ouB_IH9LF49pp30DL9w89nKNlCuVKo/s320/DSCF5443.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Poodaloo wanted a diamond in her design. Sashing added because it didn't finish the size I thought it would. Those darn diamond seam allowances will throw you off every time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div> After free design proved less than easy, I sewed a bunch of half square and quarter square triangles. The girls put them together like a puzzle. It was nearly fool-proof in terms of getting what we expected.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IYZVABq35fC66yVRmfnk_tglB0sOijAoovTys4NmqOmxDFpam4oWKElMhG4x2x4B1LNzdJPYnr9U1AZjMsmxz0B0pGe5D4GEjjDjH1uS9Qh12sA7eSfb8SOfZ0skt3HgmXZEs8J8cWI/s1600/DSCF5454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IYZVABq35fC66yVRmfnk_tglB0sOijAoovTys4NmqOmxDFpam4oWKElMhG4x2x4B1LNzdJPYnr9U1AZjMsmxz0B0pGe5D4GEjjDjH1uS9Qh12sA7eSfb8SOfZ0skt3HgmXZEs8J8cWI/s320/DSCF5454.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMNnH4Z2_qypziedcrTe453_GidU4-Om_YXBy4_-EYYkTdHnMA2-IF5pBuhGewmbT9u42_XRSjasd97BgSUEC6c2OVPSlZTdHpuNz6LeyfKIKTjXipO_ZcKGjKo1eU95DAJm9zdLjvRA/s1600/DSCF5452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMNnH4Z2_qypziedcrTe453_GidU4-Om_YXBy4_-EYYkTdHnMA2-IF5pBuhGewmbT9u42_XRSjasd97BgSUEC6c2OVPSlZTdHpuNz6LeyfKIKTjXipO_ZcKGjKo1eU95DAJm9zdLjvRA/s320/DSCF5452.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The small parts of this block are half square triangles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmDIsJFN_mSJ9bnZ4ka5ZPn5ytVvopH6E2kGcJYSLAseA0rn8TRNhZ8fZICLN4irnED-PgF7NYbeNd7ckyCIM0CwM246rhZuJIt_oczq1hSZXZ9bQAMNpzSebESAxQQagLWxzBzHpxSY/s1600/DSCF5444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmDIsJFN_mSJ9bnZ4ka5ZPn5ytVvopH6E2kGcJYSLAseA0rn8TRNhZ8fZICLN4irnED-PgF7NYbeNd7ckyCIM0CwM246rhZuJIt_oczq1hSZXZ9bQAMNpzSebESAxQQagLWxzBzHpxSY/s320/DSCF5444.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The center of this block is a quarter square triangle.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Next step is piecing together the blocks and adding sashings to make a quilt top. Not sure when that will happen because I am stumped about what color to make the sashing. Any suggestions? Dark blue to match the blue in the lightest color pieces?</div>I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-82317048277806193272012-01-18T14:54:00.000-07:002012-01-18T14:54:54.519-07:00100% Chance of Snow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrLk4EUVoD3lNwDNhrwcWMVs_IXcdIMZl7PaI01bJ5FXi2HLc9412_V1Ns43NyfruFHYF1eqjmft-gCgW1OQVy-tY8EkkvSs31MItaxmbY46zJ5zzjCy6e0T5JTkgOiWE2J4h1qC4arA/s1600/DSCF5468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrLk4EUVoD3lNwDNhrwcWMVs_IXcdIMZl7PaI01bJ5FXi2HLc9412_V1Ns43NyfruFHYF1eqjmft-gCgW1OQVy-tY8EkkvSs31MItaxmbY46zJ5zzjCy6e0T5JTkgOiWE2J4h1qC4arA/s320/DSCF5468.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is what it looked like on our front sidewalk this morning. Panda and Poodaloo couldn't wait for daylight to play in the snow.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Panda is dressed up because her class is attending a live performance at a high class venue downtown.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMp5isuYoDFzGbarEFg5TNtTgEhKPG8rpUHkQ3Kwj_3v_Kxorw8NiYx2ufwttQPlsepPmyrRfpU3_qnPdW4G4Sjm8PsO-ptTS7rW1cYgnoUTOrihXRHQcgtxCZlGh4kmE9Yl4vNO4XgA/s1600/DSCF5466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMp5isuYoDFzGbarEFg5TNtTgEhKPG8rpUHkQ3Kwj_3v_Kxorw8NiYx2ufwttQPlsepPmyrRfpU3_qnPdW4G4Sjm8PsO-ptTS7rW1cYgnoUTOrihXRHQcgtxCZlGh4kmE9Yl4vNO4XgA/s320/DSCF5466.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Poodaloo is wearing a very warm scarf, hat & glove set she received from Aunt D and Uncle M.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdXubj-C6o_ORib75mrE0q7AObk_TdQLwwV4jkcH7EQhHSwEzOgUInxIRpU1sKFcoLz-H964MVSCi58W31OEIcrot3-lsLa4kPxwPjIwbD8TdfLHhHGXYbNzkG3yOmFaKKlQ6j5_suD0/s1600/DSCF5467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdXubj-C6o_ORib75mrE0q7AObk_TdQLwwV4jkcH7EQhHSwEzOgUInxIRpU1sKFcoLz-H964MVSCi58W31OEIcrot3-lsLa4kPxwPjIwbD8TdfLHhHGXYbNzkG3yOmFaKKlQ6j5_suD0/s320/DSCF5467.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-56697030856433697952012-01-14T09:06:00.000-07:002012-01-14T09:06:17.217-07:00No bread, milk or sugar In November, I began seeing a new <strike>doctor</strike> <strike>health care provider</strike> nurse practitioner (NP) who specializes in functional medicine. <a href="http://funmedidaho.com/?page_id=56"><span style="color: blue;">Here</span></a> is explanation about functional medicine. To become a patient with this clinic I completed approximately 20 pages of health history, including a seven day food record. Then I waited two months for a new patient time slot. The first appointment lasted 2.5 hours. NP had already reviewed my information and prepared a timeline of my medical problems. She verified for me that thoughts and concerns were on target. They drew 5 or 6 vials of blood for tests and sent me home with two additional test kits. I was also instructed to begin eliminating gluten from my diet.<br />
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Gluten is a protein found in wheat. It is responsible for the elasticity allowing breads to rise during baking. I am trying specialty gluten-free foods as I slowly remove gluten containing foods from our home. Thus far I have found satisfactory replacements for favorite foods (goldfish crackers, pizza dough, bread). Our city has a gluten-free grocery store within two miles of our house. Albertson's and Fred Meyer also have a selection of GF foods.<br />
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Some of my readers (if there are indeed readers of this blog) know I've been reading voraciously to figure out what kind of dietary intervention I needed to help my gastro-intestinal system. Last summer, I considered the <a href="http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/beginners_guide/beginners.htm"><span style="color: blue;">Specific Carbohydrate Diet</span></a> developed by Elaine Gottschall. It didn't give me enough information about why certain foods are not allowed. Then I bought the <a href="http://shop.gapsdiet.com/product.sc?productId=1&categoryId=7"><span style="color: blue;">GAPS</span></a> diet book written by<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://gapsdiet.com/Home_Page.html"><span style="color: blue;">Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride</span></a></span>. The GAPS book arrived around the time I found the new clinic and I have not read it yet. I still plan to read it as a companion to the information from the NP.<br />
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My next appointment (to discuss test results) resulted in eliminating casein from my diet. Casein is a protein found in milk products. If you don't drink milk (I do not), at first glance this might appear a simple change. It has not been simple! Cheese was my go-to protein source. It contains casein. Bye-bye cheese. I will miss you . . . . But, I've been avoiding milk products and it is helping my G.I. symptoms.<br />
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The third appointment with NP took place the day the girls returned to school after Christmas break (Jan 4). We discussed the poop test results. My intestines have dysbiosis. This means the types and quantities of microscopic bacteria is out of whack. In a nutshell, there are too many of the less-desirable guys and too few of the desirable ones. I'm taking probiotics to help change this back to the correct ratios of good to not-as-good. NP has also recommended an yeast-free, anti-candida food plan for a month. Basically, this means eliminating starchy/sugary foods like most fruits, corn, potatoes, rice. <br />
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I'm not doing it yet. It was simply too much for me to handle, given that I cannot have any dairy products, either. I've decided to wait until I am more comfortable with gluten-free and casein-free eating.<br />
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Needless to say, all of this has rocked my world the past two months. I was somewhat prepared for and expected many of these changes but it's still been difficult. That's why y'all haven't heard much from me lately.I am the mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02834905942380210360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588176095516285512.post-45580313096273759482011-12-18T12:41:00.000-07:002011-12-18T12:41:27.055-07:00Recent happenings We have been busy with fun activities, in addition to the regular, not-always-as-fun things like school, laundry, scraping windshields. Here are some highlights:<br />
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In costumes outside the fellowship in early December. Both girls had parts in which they were plants so they wore green.<br />
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Poodaloo on stage as a tree branch. The skit was about the difference one person can make. It was called, 'How Much Does a Snowflake Weigh?'<br />
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Panda onstage as a laurel branch. This skit was a trial concerning traditional winter celebrations. The greenery were called on the witness stand <span style="font-size: x-small;">(but that photo wasn't very good)</span>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM1Bh6-yra226pSdW0R0UTdjebclgkxDhPsnh3F401_bSaa24OjOQp7iHlY5CZf4vWZXj_JcEhj3yzFXEp9dQBhDeZqsNLhoGob10qbeG_2rGp5PpYPck-DZeRI7UWZUb3P45Ef80Ojc/s1600/DSCF5287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM1Bh6-yra226pSdW0R0UTdjebclgkxDhPsnh3F401_bSaa24OjOQp7iHlY5CZf4vWZXj_JcEhj3yzFXEp9dQBhDeZqsNLhoGob10qbeG_2rGp5PpYPck-DZeRI7UWZUb3P45Ef80Ojc/s320/DSCF5287.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Our Christmas tree was decorated by the girls. It is beautiful and glows out the front window for all to see.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRIbWdLsJ2iE563eOZ7YMOhqjJamDt8uiIt73wjs3UqMfDD63ZZwMUYgtoslABnW9yyZdWZPLyirZKCrsDjPrN2PLsq38pJtfC6FFTL2gmEUPZHteZZ4VyX_0VWruLcW-IwTvhwhRXKM/s1600/DSCF5297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRIbWdLsJ2iE563eOZ7YMOhqjJamDt8uiIt73wjs3UqMfDD63ZZwMUYgtoslABnW9yyZdWZPLyirZKCrsDjPrN2PLsq38pJtfC6FFTL2gmEUPZHteZZ4VyX_0VWruLcW-IwTvhwhRXKM/s320/DSCF5297.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
We attended a celebration at Panda's school. It was titled 'Milk and Cookies with Santa and Mrs. Claus'. In spite of us being the 92nd family in line to see Santa, a wonderful time was had by all the kids. Here Poodaloo is working on her letter to Santa.<br />
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Panda is making reindeer food using oatmeal and glitter.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjRV3q6-yMJVbXTYLm3uUm6gDwpinH1I0sU8UN7sQKiukRRU4EA9TTBhYopFa_9R35tKBMqN9I5a6Yhv7oIIoYN0JyvkfvpZfU5tEgzKVLdaRfKRgaPKLon_YwDejsY2o5txGumOvMjI/s1600/DSCF5302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjRV3q6-yMJVbXTYLm3uUm6gDwpinH1I0sU8UN7sQKiukRRU4EA9TTBhYopFa_9R35tKBMqN9I5a6Yhv7oIIoYN0JyvkfvpZfU5tEgzKVLdaRfKRgaPKLon_YwDejsY2o5txGumOvMjI/s320/DSCF5302.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div> Visiting Dasher the reindeer outside the school building.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4I-EJC7PMXBEvw9Yikq0DleRGv38o1PmGGME_noI7B4gPPThHlg0Hf6TftRpNtiW1bw6quUu5XXAoXoy2JVqpvc7eeqjnTqZj9P_32Psk7wqXcMDDCuvAxdMw0dd-7SRIB6X6vyueahE/s1600/DSCF5308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4I-EJC7PMXBEvw9Yikq0DleRGv38o1PmGGME_noI7B4gPPThHlg0Hf6TftRpNtiW1bw6quUu5XXAoXoy2JVqpvc7eeqjnTqZj9P_32Psk7wqXcMDDCuvAxdMw0dd-7SRIB6X6vyueahE/s320/DSCF5308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Mrs. Claus reading stories to children as they waited to see the big guy. Poodaloo is wearing a yellow snowflake on her hairdo. She made the snowflake while waiting in the gym. Panda didn't make snowflakes because she was busy running around the gym with her classmates.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9Qc-Dt-YeR9l54wf4dlY9oNRoMFH2kLXQHhwdfW0GuXMjyon8eBS1MMUbJjz3TdagGlMGwuFZdWpO73zcBLo8jPtzL7Kd8J3uC1s82med_CQArIBqoOrCdGQWP-fR2bavK-6hZuikp4/s1600/DSCF5321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9Qc-Dt-YeR9l54wf4dlY9oNRoMFH2kLXQHhwdfW0GuXMjyon8eBS1MMUbJjz3TdagGlMGwuFZdWpO73zcBLo8jPtzL7Kd8J3uC1s82med_CQArIBqoOrCdGQWP-fR2bavK-6hZuikp4/s320/DSCF5321.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This one is "the funny photo" suggested by Santa. Both Mr. and Mrs. Claus were featured in a <a href="http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/12/18/1921261/be-good-for-goodness-sake.html">story</a>. <br />
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