Catching up! =)

As I look back at the family blog for the last few years, I realize I used to write a lot more! As life has gotten more full, writing has decreased and there are major life events that have not been mentioned on the blog ... starting with the new toilet! Once upon a time, in a condo long long ago (pre-children), Chris and I were introduced to a bidet toilet. We had never used one before but quickly found it indispensable. We've missed having one in our new house so while Chris was in Saudi Arabia, my friend Carolyn and I installed a brand new toilet, compete with a bidet.  Girl Power indeed! The kids were astounded and amazed at our handywoman work and we laughed and laughed. Chris was quite surprised when he got home and found a new toilet waiting for him.

I finished my Nutritional Therapy certificate program and am so happy to have the program completed and studying done. I recently attended the annual Nutritional Therapy conference and learned even more. It's made me even more passionate about feeding our family in a vegan-with-a-side-of-fish style.

The kids are growing faster than we even thought possible. They remain the best of friends with a splash of fighting. They are the most cute at night and in the morning when they know they're fending for themselves. After we put them to bed officially, we can hear them playing and whispering and they're so cute that most of the time, we often let them play until they tire (which is usually pretty quickly) and put themselves (back) to bed. In the morning, whomever wakes up first (usually Jamisen), will play quietly until they hear the other one stirring and then from the other room, we delight in hearing the kids play quietly and kindly with eachother. The 10% of time this doesn't happen and everything devolves into tears and fighting is manageable because of those moments of sweetness. 

This photo - above - was taken at the annual Bramble Berry charity shopping trip. Both the kids came and helped pick out toys and clothes for families in need. Hopefully the  experience will make an impression on them as they get older coupled with consistent messaging throughout the year. 

Two More Funny Arizona Photos + School Photos

We almost forgot these great Arizona photos. They've put in a GIANT aquarium in the middle of the Arizona dessert and of course, we spent the day there with the kids. They have cold water animals (penguins) and lots of warmer, tropical animals (sharks, colorful fish).

They also have a photographer at the entrance to ensure that they wrench every last dollar out of our pockets. It worked. And now we're getting every last amazing drop of awesome out of the photos by putting them here.

Also, in other photos I was remiss in putting up, school photos! They are both thriving at school and are loving the self-directed nature of their school day. Jamisen especially is excelling and Lily is learning patience.

Lily is really working on hand eye coordination. Her teacher tells us she knows everyone's name and is a social butterfly. She is ridiculously mischievous with a sweet bent and has such a sweet cackle when she gets away with something. It makes it awfully hard to discipline her as the parent when you're struggling to contain your laughter.

Jamisen is starting to read now (!) and can easily sound out short 3 letter words (mat, cat, bat, hat etc). He does not love the actual practice (work) part of learning to read and spends more time whining about the actual exercises than the reading time but we'll get there. 

He is taking piano lessons and does better at practicing piano than he does his reading lessons. He is extremely musical and gravitates towards anything that involves a tune. 

In fact, he's been cast as a starring role in the community children's theater of Aristocats. He is playing the part of Roquefort, the mouse that saves all the kidnapped kitties. Like reading, practicing his lines is not something he is deeply in love with but we're getting there.