Big girl starts ballet

I am so behind on everything. My computer has been in the shop for the past eight days and I finally got it back.
December 12th, Asia had her first ballet class. It was a much anticipated event! For her birthday we had bought her a leotard and ballet shoes, all of her own, not hand-me-downs. She was so cute with her little black gauzy skirt, so excited and I was just amazed at how well she did.

The reason I had moved Bryttain up from the 3-4s class to the 4-5s class (even though the time worked better for our schedule) was that each time a brand new three year old would come in, the class seemed to slow down while the new student adjusted and the teacher worked on getting her up to speed. Some of the new students showed, quite clearly, by their lack of focus and ability to follow direction, that this was probably their first exposure to any kind of organized activity. But Asia astounded me...she was so attentive and worked so hard, following instructions and she looked like she had been having classes for months.

Of course, she has been watching Bryttain in her classes and Bryttain 'teaches' her at home, but she was truly amazing and she LOVED it.

There was a moment at the end when my heart broke a little for her though. This class had already started working on dances for the Christmas recital and their little leotard dresses had been ordered and were handed out that morning. With it being Asia's first time, she had missed that cut-off. She was not aware of all of that and as the dresses were handed out she saw one lying on the floor and excitedly grabbed it and came running to me to show me. I of course had to take it back as it was not hers and tried to explain to her that she would not be in the upcoming recital, but could next time.

She was SO disappointed, but she really tried to hold it together, she did not want to cry and was trying desperately to be brave! She turned away from me and wiped her eyes, smearing her stamped hand all over face as the ink merged with her tears. I could feel her pain and it was heart wrenching.

I know it is just a part of growing up but I so wish I could spare my children some of these moments.

I love this little girl more than words can say and am incredibly proud of her.

Prettying the tree

Love our nativity...the kids had fun arranging (and then I re-arranged)

Sunday was our day to decorate the tree. Normally on Sunday afternoons James and at least the two older kids, sometimes all three of them, go to the Thai Church in San Rafael, but there were big plans for that tree!

 

First things first, Daddy strung the lights

 Asia, as usual, was on hand to provide comic relief; trying on stockings, hiding in boxes, wearing the lights.

Busy little bees!

It really was a team effort.

 Arran decided, way at the start, that it would be he who placed the star on top.

 Admiring their handy work and the end result. Good work guys!

Such a fun family afternoon.

We got our tree!

Yesterday we went out and bought our Xmas tree. I love the idea of participating in cutting down our own tree, but the last few years we have bought our trees from Costco instead. A few times we have tagged along with friends (for the experience first), but it was hard to justify the much higher price, for not necessarily a better, or bigger tree. This year that all changed.

A good friend told me about Celesta Farms, out in Sebastopol. It was just a little further than a lot of the other farms, but it was a beautiful drive and the prices were great. They also threw in free netting of the tree as well as free coffee, cocoa, hot cider and cookies, all of which a lot of the other places charge for. The kids are at the age where they really can appreciate the whole experience now, so it was the perfect time to start a new tradition.

On a mission to find OUR tree.

Everybody had the chance to help with the sawing...until finally...TIMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The prize. Good work everyone. Great team effort.

Posing with hot chocolates and free cookies. The only picture I made it into, but at least there is one.

It really was a great experience and it was so fun to see them all so excited and eager to help. I loved it. More memories being made for our family. Fun, fun, fun!

A long day

Fridays are always long days, but this one has been especially so. I used to look forward to Fridays, it was almost the weekend, but those days are long gone. James' band practices on Friday nights, so it is just another day, made even longer, which I now, unfortunately, do not look forward to.

Today Asia seemed very angry and I know it was because she wanted her dummy. She still did not ask for it, but nap time was very, very, hard. She was MAD! Even though I let her come in my bed and tried to help, she was NOT HAPPY. She did not want to lie down, she did not want to sleep, she was crying and yelling and was not acting like herself at all. It was very sad. It lasted over an hour, before she finally, exhausted, fell asleep.

Add to that equation, the fact that we had our carpets cleaned today and so I was trying to keep the kids off of them and in our kitchen area and we were not a happy household. It took them all a long time to settle and actually fall asleep.

Tomorrow, or today as the case may be, is a new day. So glad that we can all start over.

Our birthday princess

Asia is now three years old. This is my sweet baby girl and yet she is baby no more; her beautiful chubby cheeks are reducing in size, she no longer wears nappies (diapers), she speaks clearly, in full funny sentences. SHE tells ME that she is not by baby anymore and that that makes me sad, she is right and she knows it. Of course, it is also hard for her to understand that she will, in fact, always be my baby.

Wednesday was the big day, and there had been much anticipation. Turning three came with some big changes, which we had been talking about daily, for weeks. The biggest hurdle was going to be giving up her dummy (pacifier), but she would also be able to start ballet classes and get to go to Cubbies.

I had no plans (I am not sure why exactly) for a party, but at the weekend as we had been talking about it almost being her birthday she asked

"Mommy, on my birthday can I go to my party?" and I realized that she was expecting to have a party.

It was then that I started to scramble. We needed to keep it small, as at this time of year it is too cold and dark to do anything outside and our house can feel very full very quickly. So we invited her two little best buddies and the cousins and one other family in town and we had twenty five people, just like that. It was a little crazy as we had fifteen children ranging in age from six months to seven years, but the important thing is that Asia (and James) got their party.

My three kids love dinosaurs these days and their favorite show is Dinosaur Train, so I was pretty happy when I found this cup cake mold on sale a while back.

My lovely, gracious husband whose own birthday will forever for the next few years, at least, be overshadowed by his own daughter's. His cake may not look like much, but I can guarantee you it was dark chocolate goodness, dense and rich. As you can see, he was celebrating his first birthday! We just could not risk the house being set on fire, had we used the correct number of candles :)

Asia handed over her dummy to me before even opening any presents on Wednesday morning and we bagged up all the spares which (as far as she is concerned) were then thrown away. She has not asked for one again. Nap time was hard and she kind of whined and fussed for quite a long time, but she did not beg or plead or ask for it even then. She has totally surprised me. I am so very proud of her.

Riding her new pink bike at her party - yes she was riding it indoors :)

Happy birthday Asia.

Happy birthday James!

Black Friday, White Snow

The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally, in the States, the biggest shopping day of the year, known as Black Friday. Stores open at ridiculous hours and offer special incentives for people to start their Christmas shopping and get the best deals. Now if you know me, I am NOT a morning person and my enjoyment of shopping decreased rapidly with the arrival of children and the departure of money, so you will not find me at any store at 3am!

I have started my Christmas shopping from the comfort of my own home and did venture into one store yesterday for one particular item which was not available for the same deal online as in store, but yesterday was all about the snow. My poor kids...Arran is the only one who has ever seen snow, when he was still less than two years old, as it just does not snow in our area. In San Rafael though, a town half an hour from where we live, every Thanksgiving they bring in snow machines and provide free sledding for the kids. Then there is a mini-parade, when Santa Claus arrives and lights the town's Christmas Tree.

The lines were long, but they did go quite quickly and having cousins to stand in line with, the second time around helped pass the time too. They were all so excited, but when Asia got to the top she chickened out, it was just a little too scary, as each child had to go alone and could not be accompanied. Second time around though, she went for it and loved it.

We finished off the evening with hot chocolate, topped with marshmallows and whipped cream. Hopefully we will be able to have a visit to some real snow this season, but we shall see.

Thanksgiving

 

I think that this may be the first time that I am in the photograph for Thanksgiving, after twelve years of celebrating this holiday.  Apart from my first year in this country when we visited my friend Karen's family, we have spent every Thanksgiving with our good friends the Buschs and whomever else they took pity on invited. 

There have been some smaller gatherings, especially in our pre-kid days but this may have been the largest. They moved sofas and chairs to make room for the super extended table, so that we could still all sit at a table and feel civilized and like one big happy family. With twelve adults (another two had been expected) and six children, this was no mean feat.

As is our tradition, we went around the table and each person prayed or stated something for which they were grateful. With so many people rather than having free reign this year, each person was asked to keep it to one sentence, so that the food would still be moderately warm by the time we were finished. None of the children, other than Arran opted to say anything, but he said the sweetest little heartfelt prayer, thanking God for Thanksgiving because he had so much to be grateful for and he liked that it was a good reminder for him.

As usual there was way too much food, and too much dessert, but it was all so good. We have leftovers in the refrigerator for lunch tomorrow which is always a nice bonus and one less thing to deal with on another day. 

We have so much to be thankful for, on a daily basis. Each night before I go to sleep I reflect on my day, no matter how hard or tiring or fun it was and thank God for as many things as I can think of, but I love that this country as a whole sets aside a day to do that too. There is always something to be grateful for and the world would certainly be a better place if we all focused a little more time on those things than on the things that drag us down.

A glimpse of beaty!

First day of Thanksgiving break was to be a good day; we were going to see the cousins! There was much excitement and anticipation, and fun had by all.

As we drove home, earlier than the two older children would have liked, so that the youngest child could get her nap, I kept glancing in my rear view mirror. The battle is to prevent her from falling asleep during the drive as she is too old to transfer to her bed now without waking, so I had handed her a little ziploc bag of cereal to munch on. It did the trick, but Arran and Bryttain crashed hard, they were out cold. Arran very rarely naps any more and Bryttain about half the time these days so I decided to drive for just an extra ten minutes to maximize their little naps, taking the risk that Asia would remain awake and not have her chances of sleeping destroyed.

I am so glad that I did, or I would have missed the highlight of my day. As I did my U-turn on a quiet country road, preparing to head home finally, I caught, out of the corner of my eye, the end of a rainbow. I LOVE rainbows. They lift my spirit. Every time I see one it is like a little gift that God is personally handing me. It makes no difference that everyone else can see it, it is for ME! I will never cease to feel the excitement, they will never become just another sight to take for granted, it is an amazing feeling that is hard to put into words.

Sometimes we can get bogged down by the dreariness, the rain, the stresses and strains of this life, but all it takes is a small shaft of sunlight at the right angle and we can be surrounded once again by wondrous beauty. Without the struggles we would not be able to appreciate these precious moments. It was a much needed reminder, for which I am very grateful.

Pumpkin Pie Social

This week is Thanksgiving. There will be no school, for the whole week this year, which is very lovely; no rushed mornings, no messed up nap times for the girls and of course, extra time with Arran. As a warm up for the celebrations and festivities we had a Pumpkin Pie social at Arran's school on Thursday. Children from his class and the class next door sang us songs and each child got to tell us what they were thankful for (Arran was thankful that the celebration was not canceled and got a little chuckle from everyone). Then we all ate pumpkin pie, which the children had made themselves, Arran served us himself and was so grown up.

The girls always enjoy going to school, but Asia, for some reason, seemed to be having a hard time. I only took about six photos but when I stood up to move across the table to get a shot of her with her sister, she just fell apart. I seriously was about four feet from her, these are tables for little children after all, but I may as well have left the building. Fortunately it only lasted a few moments, once I was back in reach and able to give her a cuddle and a kiss all was right with the world again.

All three kids ate all....the cream and left the pumpkin pie, but I could have predicted that.

Tea for two

...otherwise known as 'Would you like some tea with that sugar?'!

My girls love to have tea parties, but the truth is, that really it is all about the sugar. We have a wonderful little tea set that Aunty Caridad bought for Bryttain last Christmas, but it is a little disproportionate. The teapot and cups are perfect, but the milk jug is way too small and the sugar bowl a little large.

They feel so grown up pouring their own tea (although I normally start the ritual for them). On a regular morning they sometimes will just share whatever tea is leftover in my mug, but when they get to have a tea party they are allowed sugar! Sweet, warm tea, what could be better? Well, other than sugar on it's own! If a little spills, they quickly dab it up with an ever-ready finger. Once their tea has been drunk, out comes a finger again to salvage every last grain of sugar that might possibly be at the bottom of the tea cup.

There really is a little bit of British left in this house. I acknowledge that a smidgen more training is needed, but they will be ready for tea with the Queen before we know it!

Tolay Fall Festival

Last Thursday Arran had a school field trip to the Tolay Fall Festival. We had stumbled across it as a family a couple of years ago, before he had started school so I knew it would be a fun outing to take the girls on too. I feel bad that I cannot get more involved at the school, but a lot of things just do not work with two more little children in tow. I asked ahead of time though, if this one would be OK to bring them on and got the all clear. His teacher was very gracious, or wise, as the case may be, knowing I would have the girls with me she opted not to assign me as an official helper, responsible for anyone, but instead let me tag along with Arran and his assigned parent-helper.

Checking out some snakes!

We started in the Nocturnal Animal Barn which was packed, not only with kids, but starfish and snakes and spiders and scorpions and a very 'interesting' taxidermy collection with everything from a fawn to a bear, all sorts of amphibians and I am sure we only saw about on third of the collection.

A very important part of every day is, of course, snack time. We all met up again briefly for bottles of water, Graham Crackers and cheese sticks. The girls were so great, I had told them that it was Arran's trip and there might not be enough snack for them but they didn't complain or whine, just waited patiently. Fortunately there was plenty and Asia carried her water bottle around with her and (her piglet) the rest of the morning.

We took a hay ride out to the pumpkin field and thus began the search for the perfect pumpkin. I have no idea what makes the perfect pumpkin on any given day, but this can be quite the process; how it looks, how it feels, how heavy it is. It is a task to be taken most seriously...and not to be rushed. Fortunately Arran had both his sisters on hand to 'help'. The one rule I gave him was that he had to be able to carry it, it was his responsibility not mine. I was, on and off, busy carrying an almost three-year-old!

                                                                              Once the selection had been made, each child wrote

their name on the bottom of their pumpkin. Perish the
thought that a fight might erupt on the bus ride back to school as to the rightful owner of any given pumpkin.

We took the hay ride back then checked out some farm animal, ran through the hay maze and did some potato prints and seed planting in the eco-village. There was so much more that we could have done, but by then it was time to head back to school and for me to get the girls home for naps.