Christmas Continues?

And our Christmas continues! Today I am in the kitchen cleaning up and making something good to bring to a New Year's Eve party tonight when a DHL delivery man comes to the door. And our very generous friends from Austria strike again! Here you see the kids displaying some of the yummy goodies enclosed for all to share. There is a ton of chocolates, spices, cookies, jams, hot cocoa mix ... It is possible our cupboards could have been bear this week. So, now we are replenished with enough good things until the next holiday. Each year we are overwhelmed with the generosity of our Austrian family.

And how were we lucky enough to get an Austrian family? Once upon a time Michael's mom was an exchange student in Austria. And we have been fortunate to be a acquainted with them. The rest, as they say, is history. That is the short story.

Here, below, are the six kids (well, a few of them are all grown up!) from the Burdis Family. They have come to the U.S. a couple of times. We have yet to visit Austria. But it is on our list of places to visit some day. And Greece. We haven't forgotten our Greek friends either. Or our Australian cousins. Or our Minnesotan cousins. Or my brother and sister in law in Arizona. Yes, we have many places yet to visit!

Christmas 2010

And another Christmas came and went. They seem to come and go quicker every year. I guess that's why I have to write everything down. I remember saying to someone way back in November that I will hardly remember December. But I will wake up in January with a heavier body and a lighter bank account feeling really exhausted and figure that it must have been good.



One of the highlights to our winter holidays is the visit from Uncle Dave. Every kid vies for his attention. Amira gave him a cello concert. This was followed by Uncle Dave playing a little number for Amira. He's such a good sport!



We started our traditional Christmas Eve at Neni & John's house. The tree was festive. And so was everyone else. But just to ensure a festive mood, John was ready with the martinis.







While the kids ran around taking in the atmosphere of all the decor and packages we chatted and moved on to the next martini.



White our Christmas wasn't a white one, being down in the flat lands of California, it was really pleasant outside. Most of us enjoyed the view of the bare oaks from Neni's deck. And we've shoveled ourselves out of white Christmases before in Truckee, so, yes, I'm bragging. Might I also brag that we had power all month long too. But back to the lovely oaks ...



In fact, here are Dave, Alan & Michael all in one shot. It's just as tough to get a good picture of these three together as it is to get one of the kids.



I have to say the kids were really good about the lingering pace of the adults as we savored dinner and moved on to the traditional Shubert's Snowballs. Favorite quote of the evening came from Susan, "Is everybody lit?" In the context, that question was hysterical.



Rex and John were finalists in the snowball burn-down contest. Rex beat John out by seconds. As soon as we smelled the last bit of singed sugar the girls sprang up from the table and raced to the packages by the tree. Let's face it, we drew it out as long as we could.



Miss Amira got the glamour-puss award. From her cousins in Portland she got a pair of fancy purple shoes (high heels!), jewelry and a fancy hat. No ruby slippers for this girl. It's purple pumps all the way, baby!





Just when we thought that couldn't be out done, she opened the "wedding dress" from Alliagor - complete with veil. Alligator had fun with the merchants while shopping for a wedding dress for his granddaughter. When asked what size, he replied, "Well, she's a six year old. But she's been promised for some time now." We expect CPS to come by anytime to inquire about the wedding of the six year old.



Rex has decided to give his sister away ... seriously ...

Valerie got such things as a Swiss Army knife, water colors, American Girl Doll clothes ... the classics. Rex got a few things things like a Ripstick (the skate board with two halves and only two wheels) and the monster nerf gun.



Oh, and these kids got much more too. Really the most fun is watching the anticipation and the thrill of diving into the unknown.

For some reason Christmas Day came a little early. Maybe it was the martinis. Maybe it was the wine. Maybe (for some) it was that rusty nail. I told Napoleon not to mix his drinks ... but did he listen to me?



There was a little more tearing into wrapping paper. Rex road his new long board out to get the newspaper. Frankly, between the ripstick and the long board, he couldn't decide which to ride first.



And, as is tradition, every Christmas Day brunch ends by Grandma shooting the place up after a few mimosas. (Standard American Christmas Tradition)





On Sunday it was boxing day. We celebrate boxing day by boxing up all the Christmas stuff and returning our house to normal. What a relief. And so it's back to yoga and no more eggnog for me. Well, for several months anyhow. January 3rd I'm looking forward to kids back in school and some sanity. That's the best gift of all!

We Wish You a Sparkling Christmas!

Courtesy of Cee Cee ... sparkling holiday vests for most of the family!

Bedtime Stories

Choo Choo & Cee Cee Came to Town

We were treated to a visit by Grandma Cee Cee and Grampa Choo Choo the day after Michael and Rex returned from Holland. We had so much fun with them. We spent our morning's at "Mom's" for the "health nut" breakfast. Apparently, health nut breakfast can be a spinach omelette or it can be chicken fried steak, bacon and biscuits and gravey. Choo Choo informed the restaurant that they had their definitions all mixed up. There was no pretending that the chocolate chip pancakes were healthy, but the kids were pretty stoked it was Grandparents taking them to breakfast instead of their parents.









We visited Max's Miracle Ranch in the hopes of getting our tree and taking a ride on the Christmas train and visiting the animals. Max's Miracle Ranch is a like the "Make A Wish Foundation" but on a smaller and more local scale (explained by Max's dad). We felt good about supporting such a great place in our community. Of course, we got their on Friday night and they were pretty much sold out of trees. That Facebook is apparently quite an advertising tool. But that didn't stop us from visiting the animals, talking to the owners, taking a train ride and letting the kids play around the bonfire.





On Saturday morning the kids and I met Cee Cee & Choo Choo for breakfast and farmer's market while Michael went out to find the perfect tree. Rex got an acorn woodpecker (I think that's what this was) to sit on his shoulder at the market. Some guy had totally tamed this bird. Well, and you might know of Rex's love for birds.





We all gathered around it to decorate that afternoon and have a nice lunch. Later Cee Cee and Choo Choo took the kids downtown for a little Christmas shopping and a sushi dinner at the Rawbar. Man, those kids were spoiled silly! And so were Michael and I. Because of their generosity with their time we were able to go to my company Christmas party. Cee Cee even gave us a ride there.







We sure miss them! It didn't seem like they were here long enough.

And for the girls, the spoiling weekend didn't end there. Neni came by on Sunday to take them out for ice cream and to the Nutcracker. Can you believe how lucky we are to have such a fantastic family? Here are the girls on their way out to the ballet with Neni. All dressed up!

Holiday Homestretch

According to our calendar, most of us are 7 days out from sitting amongst a pile of discarded wrapping and packaging at the base of a dying tree in someone's living room listening to the squeals of delight and laughter but dreading the impending Yuletide meltdown. So, really, I should savor the moment of today and reflect back upon the really nice week we just had.

Upon Rex and Michael's return from Europe, we settled back into our home school schedule with Rex. Our home school reality was, sadly, far from my dream of fun and creative ways to learn. Basically it was me going to bed at night looking for ways to make the curriculum more interesting, waking up hopeful only to have those hopes be dashed by a boy who wakes up surly and full of dread. After only four days of him being back I sent him out for "recess" and immediately started calling schools.

It wasn't working because Rex is a social creature. And sitting at home with me doing anything was just going to be no fun. And when I make corrections, it comes across as criticism. And when I assign work, it comes across as punishment. Regardless of my intent. I mean, there were days I took him to a cafe, got a hot chocolate, played a game of chess, discussed characterization (direct and indirect) and read Bridge to Terabithia with him. We followed that by meeting a couple of other home school friends for skating in a park. And as much as he enjoyed it at the time, he reflected back on how it just wasn't for him. Some kids need to be in a classroom going through the trenches of learning with others. You know what they say, "Misery loves company. And by company, I don't mean your mother."

I had long said I didn't want to have to straddle more than one charter school. But at this point, I was willing to do anything to get out of home school hell. It just wasn't working for us.

Fortunately, being the time of year that it is, change was on the wind for other families too. And I guess a few of them decided to leave Blue Oak Charter School for greener pastures. This opened up an opportunity for Rex at Blue Oak. Yay! Finally, all three kids at the same school during the same hours? Oh, this will be a happy New Year!

I did a dance, high fived several people and then called home to give Michael and Rex the news: THAT WAS THE LAST DAY OF HOME SCHOOL FOR US! In fact, Rex is so excited to go back to school in the New Year he actually woke up happy on Friday morning. I hadn't seen that in a long time.



In other news, Blue Oak had it's extremely impressive Winter Concert Thursday night. Valerie performed recorder and sang with the fourth grade. She even sang in Japanese. for one song. When her fourth grade class came out to play violin, she got to sit up with her cello next to them all and play. And she got to perform one more time with the orchestra. Of course we were proud and impressed. But the performances by the other classes were amazing too.



As part of the 8th grade curriculum studying American history the 8th graders created a "jug band" and played some really cool music. Also, this school has an advanced orchestra. It was amazing (as usual). I was totally blown away. I wanted them to keep playing. It's open to the community. Many of the older Blue Oak students are part of it as well as a couple of teachers and some parents. It was truly a magical experience that we just won't get at any of the other schools in Chico.

And our bonus concert experience was that Rex met the other boy who would be entering the 5th grade at Blue Oak as a new student along with him in January. They both seemed really eager.

So, now we are on break. Rain and wind are moving in and plan on settling here for the next week. Kids are home and climbing the walls with anticipation. And I'm really looking forward to January when I have all three kids back at one school. They will have music and art and handwork infused in their daily lessons. What an amazing school that cultivates life long learners instead of jaded test takers. If I could go back to school, I would totally go there!

Merry Dutchmas

Sinter Klaas is not always nice!

Merry Dutchmas!

Sinterklaas and Black Pete came by last night. Pete took my money and beat the crap out of me while Sinterklaas left the kids presents. Finn and Kels got Harry Potter legos and a remote controlled car. Rex got a Swiss Army knife with a picture of Che Rivera on it. The only thing Eamonn got was woken up at five in the morning by the kids. He and Karen are thinking that next year they are only doing regular Christmas.

Rex now doesn't want to go to Brugge, so we are going back to Amsterdam tomorrow. I'm sure once we get to Amsterdam he will wish we went to Brugge. The prince of regret.

Eamonn and I are going to take the kids out, I will write more later.

Watch out for Black Pete!



Here's Michael trying some Dutch "sushi"


Finn, Rex & Kels and their snowman


Good old fashioned sledding!


Here is Eamonn's house where they are staying:


And here is Eamonn's Fairy Tale Village:

Black Peter and Apple Butter

We've heard more from the boys. Rex and Michael call each morning. I guess they forgot today was Saturday and figured I'd be in a rush to get out of the house. They woke me up at 8am. But that's okay. It was good to hear from them. Lots of playing in the snow. Rex has been working with Eamonn's boys (Finn and Kells) to build a "bird trap". Rex just loves to catch birds for some reason. They also went to visit a working windmill to see the gears in action (which is coincidentally what Rex is studying for science at the moment). Unfortunately the windmill was closed due to all the snow they've been getting. (I asked Michael how much was on the ground and he said about 3 inches ... which is apparently a lot for the modern Dutch).

Although I wasn't able to download the pictures from Michael's site, there are a lot of beautiful snow pictures! You should check it out.

For more pictures of the Dutch Adventures of Michael and Rex, visit this website

And if you are wondering who "Black Peter" is or anything about the Dutch Christmas (which is fascinating in a scary sort of way) check out this link.

This morning I'm making french toast for the girls. As I whipped up the egg/milk mixture I dreamed of making more egg nog. But I need some adult company to come over and drink it with me. I think the kids like it, but don't appreciate it they way a grown up would. Who wants to come over for some nog?

Later this morning I'm heading over to a friend's house to make and can apple sauce and apple butter. Since I didn't do much canning this summer (as I was gone) I'll make up for it in December. A friend of ours had a contact for organic apple seconds. I've got all my little jars ready to go, jar lifters, lid lifters, giant pots and canners and knives, etc. I've even borrowed the ever important apple-peeler-corer-slicer from Susan. (Thanks Susan!)

This weekend we've had a few invitations for Sunday to attend a Hannukah party and go with Holly's family to the woods to fetch a tree in the snow. I think I'm going to lay low. As fun as both would be ... there is something so nice about taking a day off from everything (except the ever present laundry, cooking, dishes). Maybe I can just whip up some nog and have someone over? Or just kick back and fold laundry?

Joy Nog

Meanwhile, back at home in Chico I whipped up some egg nog today. And when I say "whipped" I mean it! There was much whipping involved. Now one of the things that made this Nog so wonderful was that we knew where most of the ingredients came from. We get our milk and eggs from Book Family Farm. And while Book Nog sounds okay, I went for her first name, Joy.

Here's the recipe I made ... you can make with or without brandy:

4 eggs separated
1 cup milk
1 pint cream
1/2 cup sugar (divided)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp vanilla

Whip up egg yolks with 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Slowly add the milk until you have a thick, foamy concoction that smells fantastic. (If this is an adult beverage, feel free to blend a cup of brandy in at this point).

Next, whip up those egg whites with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar until you have lovely stiff peaks.

Finally, whip up that cream and feel free to add a touch more vanilla because it is so delicious.

Now, fold egg white mixture with cream and then fold in yolk/milk mixture.

Pour delicately into a fancy glass and garnish with cinnamon stick.

Lastly, if you don't have left overs to share with your friends, don't brag that you made this. It will just make them feel like they've missed out. But if you slip up, feel free to offer to make it again because it is so darn delicious.

Happy Noggin'

Dutch Pigeons

Here's an excerpt from a message from Michael about their first day in Holland:

So I went back to sleep at around 5:30am and didn't wake up until 9:45am! Rex slept the whole night and I had to wake him up. After 14 hours of sleep he felt refreshed.

We walked around in the fresh snow for a little bit and the stopped in at a cafe (not a coffee shop). Rex got a pancake that looked like a giant crep and I got a coffee because that was all they had that I could eat. Rex was not impressed with the pancake, but ate it anyway. Afterwards we briefly went to the Amsterdam museum (for his schooling) then went back to Dam square to catch pigeons. Rex caught five. It was funny to see them in the snow.

Right now we are on the train going to Eamonn's house. The countyside is very pretty all covered with snow. I will try to send or post photos later. I'm going to look out the train window now.

Kale Chips Recipe

When I say recipes, I don't mean recipes for disaster. Well, sometimes I do. But in this case, I mean actual recipes! First, here is the long sought after recipe for Kale Chips. I hear these go great with crow.

You Will Need: a blender and dehydrator

Ingredients:

1 lb of kale (or more!)
1/3 cup almond butter
1/3 cup tahini
1/4 cup soy sauce (namashoyu, wheat free tamari, your choice)
3 T apple cider vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
1 bunch of Italian parsley
3 green onions
1 clove of garlic
water to thin

Procedure:
Wash and stem your kale (Any variety will do. You can use Red Russian, Dino or Curly or another dark leafy green. I prefer Curly kale. But that's me!) Put washed kale into a gigantic bowl. Take the rest of the ingredients listed above and put them in a blender. Add some water to thin it out like a salad dressing. You want the mixture to coat the leaves but not be clumpy and chunky.

Toss your kale with the dressing and lay out on dehydrator sheets. Put them in for about 24 hours at 105 degrees or until crispy.

These guys make a great salty chip like snack. And as long as you don't have sesame or nut allergies you are good to go! Kids eat them up yum!

Can you make these in the oven at a low temperature? I've heard that you can, but I haven't tried. I'm spoiled with my dehydrator!

Enjoy!!!

Homemade Crow

Okay, let me open today's post by saying that I apparently love to eat crow. Like the question, "How hard can it be?" I should also be on alert for things that fly out of my mouth beginning with, "I would never ..." For instance, I would never home school my children. Never.

Say, how do you like your crow? Broiled, baked, flambeed, boiled, pureed, on toast or au jus? Really, at this point I'm not even picky. I'm eating the whole thing, feathers and all.

Anyhow, it seems I've taken my desire to learn how to make everything from scratch (hats, cloaks, dinner, pie, lunches, etc.) to the next level. Yes, even our education will be "home made". I'm not even going to say, "how hard can it be". I'm not going to jinx it just yet.

How did I arrive here? Again, I believe it is my penchant for crow. But, seriously, it has been gnawing at the back of my mind for a while. As I watch our abysmal education system get sucked through the wringer and our children become more agitated and the teachers more frustrated, I kept thinking there must be a better way. I guess I started down this path years ago when I was a big advocate for public education (I still am) and said I would never send my kids to a charter.

Well, Valerie and Amira are attending a charter school. The Waldorf education they can get at the charter school isn't for everyone and it is certainly not available in the unified school district. I started sending them there because Valerie was taking classes like knitting and violin after school. She also had a desire to paint and create. Well, after a full day of getting math and language arts shoved down your throat and homework (yes, homework starts in kindergarten these days) she was busy after school with these other activities.

Waldorf education provides a main lesson everyday and also violin, Spanish and handwork during the school day. And the homework load was way less. She went from cramming her short term memory in order to take tests to an actual student who enjoyed learning and craved it. And I wrote less checks and drove around a lot less. We all became less stressed and more satiated as soon as she started at the charter school.

Rex was the only one who didn't make it over to the Waldorf school. But one day he realized he really fit in with the kids there and that the girls seemed to really enjoy school a lot more than he did. We put Rex on the wait list for Blue Oak Charter School last Spring. Even with sibling priority, he is still number two on the list. The fifth grade at that school is really impacted. So, I'm not sure he will get in soon or even this year.

In the mean time he started slowly withdrawing from school. He went through the motions of doing the work but not really enjoying it. He wasn't engaged at all. And each time he got an opportunity to be a "guest student" in Valerie's class, he was that more enthusiastic about changing schools and that much more disappointed to return to his own school.

I have to confess that I also am not at all enthusiastic about the work sheets and dry formulas for studying at Rex's school. I started thinking about how I would teach it if given the opportunity. Now, I didn't start thinking how I would teach to a class of 35 students with varying abilities ... I just started thinking about how much more fun learning could be for Rex if there were some flexibility. That line of thinking started me investigating home school as a TEMPORARY option to bridge Rex over to the Waldorf school when he could finally get in. I'm not suggesting he will be home schooled in a Waldorf method. I'm not qualified. But I hope to provide an enriched program for him during the "school day".

Tuesday night he and I attended an orientation at C.O.R.E. Home school in Chico. Rex was even more excited about home schooling after the orientation. (And believe me, the director indicated this is not for everyone. She emphasized the amount of work it is for the parents and the responsibility of the students to be a little self directed). Well, I have to admit, we are both a little excited about it. So, we are presently waiting for a teacher to be assigned to us so that we can officially enroll in the home school program.

In the mean time, Rex has decided that he wants to take violin lessons again. The home school program has a "Lego Club" where students meet every other week with a project they've built according to the assigned theme. Our friend who lost his teaching job last year will be available to tutor math on Fridays. Rex thinks quite highly of this fellow - as do we. He is an acquaintance of Michael's from high school. Also, Rex is going through an etiquette training at the gym so that he can have access to the equipment and classes. (That way I can selfishly still attend yoga! And maybe he can too). And on top of all this the teacher at Neal Dow (his current school) has said that he can continue to be on their chess team. Also, it is my hope that his grandfather (who is a microbiology professor) can possibly take him down to the lab at Chico State University when appropriate for a little fun and science.

And he will still be able to come to the girls' school to play with the other kids and attend special events. I figure between this and the Green Knight Academy, Lego Club and Chess Club, he will be socially stimulated.

So, I've also been looking at some fun experiential math ideas and combining the mechanics of language arts with social studies or science in order to kill two birds (crows, if you will) with one stone. Check out this link for a living math idea (not that it is applicable now, but you get the idea).

I don't want home school to be so attractive to him that he won't return to Blue Oak should he get an opportunity. I also don't want it so attractive that the girls want to pull out of their school to home school too. But I really am excited about creating and meaningful learning experience for him that he can be excited about. I really don't want to see him lose his love for learning or his wonderful ability to think critically. I hope this time will help us both grow and get excited about learning new things. I also hope this time doesn't drive us crazy because I realize there are not enough hours in the day to make everything from scratch that I want to. And by that I mean everything (food, education, knitting, etc.)

Now, excuse me while I open a few boxes of macaroni and cheese to feed the six kids at my house. (Shhhh!!! Don't tell!!)

What do you do, again?

So many times we are asked, "What is it Michael does for a living?" We all know he works and travels a lot. We know he does something with computers ... but what does he do??

For some people, pictures are worth a thousand words. So, here are a couple photos taken of Michael working hard on a recent job in San Francisco. He's running the graphics from back stage for an event. The nice thing is that he can create the graphics at home. But he does travel quite a bit to actually run them for the client shows.

Enjoy the candid photos below.




And when he's at work (as opposed to his home office) he really has all the eyes on him as you can see below. No pressure or anything.



And if this wasn't enough for you ... there is an entire gallery of show photos by clicking here.


Enjoy!

Awwwwwwe!

Okay, so he was totally asleep and had his little white belly showing. And when I tiptoed up to him (CLOMP! CLOMP! CLOMP!) to take a picture (CLICK! FLASH!) he woke up. It's so hard to get him still.