tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52962803653679328152024-02-19T11:14:32.076-06:00Momma Jorjea slightly crunchy mommaMomma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comBlogger704125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-50349915635868395772024-01-26T09:16:00.001-06:002024-01-26T09:16:00.249-06:00Spencer's Morning Adventures: Final Straw<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last Friday, Spencer's morning adventures reached their peak.
<P>He trashed my desk, found these keys, put on my hat and... left.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv09nynpvVXiMsdaVplGYw8PEwseem4MpVHAAExztU2x9s8jPNo7WxriRLioqu3wdNqh1j8aqJ3o_CqYtuRn9on4lEMfUjpa04wYQQX5RRQ00JVGW2uWwp4xPR9AkZSb-ltIDnERfm53N0yxtcRTa2oKhCkkYYh1PnOv4vxR-WqM5ldx9JDRlqUCVGfcw/s4080/PXL_20240119_164938247.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="keys and pill bottle attached to carabiner on a desk surface" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv09nynpvVXiMsdaVplGYw8PEwseem4MpVHAAExztU2x9s8jPNo7WxriRLioqu3wdNqh1j8aqJ3o_CqYtuRn9on4lEMfUjpa04wYQQX5RRQ00JVGW2uWwp4xPR9AkZSb-ltIDnERfm53N0yxtcRTa2oKhCkkYYh1PnOv4vxR-WqM5ldx9JDRlqUCVGfcw/s320/PXL_20240119_164938247.jpg"/></a>These keys go to locks we're not even using and the pill bottle is empty.</div>
<P><a name='more'></a>He went outside (no jacket, despite the freezing weather here) and tried to get in my car. When that didn't work, he tried to get into the van that lives in our driveway. He also brought our trash can part way up the driveway. Thankfully it had already been emptied. Then I guess he hung out on the front porch for a bit before coming inside and coming to tell me of his adventures. The sound of him closing the front door is what woke me up.
<P>A friend's son delivering some furniture last Summer messed up our front door and it hasn't hung straight since. Because of that, I haven't been able to use our slide-lock. I couldn't install a lock at the top of the door until I got it fixed, either.
<P>Ultimately, this meant that Spencer <i>lost solo morning living room privileges</i> entirely. Perhaps this was the "this too shall pass" for me... getting to sleep late. <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2024/01/sleep-wake-routine-for-2023.html">Our routine</a> has been, Spencer wakes up, I get his morning meds for him along with his tablet and the remote to his TV, then I go back to bed for a while. A short while later (once his meds have kicked in), he wakes me to let him out to the bathroom and the living room.
<P>I'm a night owl and often work late at night, but until this past year, always got up with him anyway. At least after the first bit of time he spends in his room. But this adventure was the last day of those kinds of mornings. At least I had to be up at a decent hour the next day anyway.
<P>If you read this far, you get a cookie. I'm just processing how fucking scary this was. <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2024/01/adventures-with-spencer-morning-tea.html">Tuesday's Tea</a> was one thing - he could have turned on the coffee maker. But Friday he tried to <b>LEAVE</b>. His plan was to <b>DRIVE</b>. Considering he didn't know those weren't car keys, I don't imagine he would actually know how to start a car, but he might figure it out.
<P>I managed to not beat myself up too bad. This has been a morning system that has been working for us for months. But this marked time for a change again. His diet has been shifting again, too. He's going through puberty, so I guess it's just a full season of change right now. If we could shift out of transition struggles, though, that'd be greaaaaat.</div>Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-37492752490713681612024-01-25T09:30:00.007-06:002024-01-25T09:30:00.255-06:00Spencer's Morning Adventures: Morning Workout<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In last Thursdays's morning adventures...
<P>Spencer is not loving having access cut off to the dining / kitchen in the morning. As shown by him grabbing what he can reach through his door to the dining room (also gated).
Today he pulled a folding table OVER his baby gate. 😶
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZ1ex8UbIzgQxCyE_qackmSbCC93WQcF2gbonYIJ-c20bGSMXUQLzE-lrj0u_NiySZPJp-NXevwrm7g_ZNccbkQlxrGJABMkT5dyQrXgBfK4-vnwrpjWy9wT97AlOxxwHWlRPkFIXDRiLKVJm-6Jz7WvFCAwYOaIJ-zWVJ6mjkKdmVQuyEN0v07_rjyI/s3072/PXL_20240118_171108545.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="Folding table leaning on wall next to small trampoline" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="2179" data-original-width="3072" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZ1ex8UbIzgQxCyE_qackmSbCC93WQcF2gbonYIJ-c20bGSMXUQLzE-lrj0u_NiySZPJp-NXevwrm7g_ZNccbkQlxrGJABMkT5dyQrXgBfK4-vnwrpjWy9wT97AlOxxwHWlRPkFIXDRiLKVJm-6Jz7WvFCAwYOaIJ-zWVJ6mjkKdmVQuyEN0v07_rjyI/s320/PXL_20240118_171108545.jpg"/></a>Folding Table... in the wrong room</div>
<P>He also got into <a name='more'></a>the drawers right outside his room, which do have kid activities in them, but are meant to be done at a table or under SOME supervision. He broke some busy bag activities, nothing valuable. We managed to find every single bead (there were a set number in the bag), but it meant a deep clean of his room, even under his bed. Then I even pulled his bed out and vacuumed... it was a whole ass project first thing in the morning that I had NOT planned for today. He had also lost a piece to Yahtzee Jr, so I needed to find that, too.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqQsBIsDMHAuYm4jplGV4Yxmot_CP-7YKOmZSikE0BC8EZnlgmei3-W8-pr-g6BRbbwd1ngkGu3Cx0Lmo2bAuLD1eGDLmNaCOownJKJ_ls0dlmM9f61VVay3b__DP-Evy600OBFuUiR7OkmAg7dlhhwI8GVnJs5Ok6E9E7FhCicL9AsMCeKHlDg7JysE/s4080/PXL_20240118_164159190.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqQsBIsDMHAuYm4jplGV4Yxmot_CP-7YKOmZSikE0BC8EZnlgmei3-W8-pr-g6BRbbwd1ngkGu3Cx0Lmo2bAuLD1eGDLmNaCOownJKJ_ls0dlmM9f61VVay3b__DP-Evy600OBFuUiR7OkmAg7dlhhwI8GVnJs5Ok6E9E7FhCicL9AsMCeKHlDg7JysE/s320/PXL_20240118_164159190.jpg"/></a> Not a huge mess, but there's 60 beads there, too.</div>
<P>** A few of you may recognize the busy bag stuff, since that's from a swap we did when mine were babies and you're still here. **
<P>On today's agenda, we planned to go to a friend's so I could replace the flame sensor in her furnace. Spencer had been looking forward to it all day. And yet, when it was time to go, he refused. 😕 Transitions, y'all. They are a bitch.
<P>We did, of course, make it out of the house. I try not to take it personally. But then I saw a "This, too, shall pass" sign someone put on an overpass and it did make me cry just a little.
<P>Then transitions back out from our friend's house were also hard. And then accepting that it would be bedtime when we got home (even though he was asking for a pillow in the car because he was tired).
<P>I'd like to add, though, that I feel really good about how I handled things this morning.
</div>Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-51039427235102079012024-01-23T09:27:00.004-06:002024-01-24T12:03:43.891-06:00Spencer's Morning Adventures: Making Tea<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I spent too much time last Monday cleaning my roommate's coffee pot (it had mold in it!). It needed done. The pot, basket, etc. were in the dishwasher overnight.</div>
<blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Knowing about our <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2024/01/sleep-wake-routine-for-2023.html">Sleep / Wake Routine for 2023</a> will help make sense of this post.</i></div></blockquote>
<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last Tuesday morning Spencer woke me up to ask for help cleaning up a mess he made while "making tea."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZcgnA9t-N1iPulbhJF6PS5Gfr5_3vvL6x_EsbpbUu_lVaNlu-cZY8KenH4nQzAt1RBEW94yEKFfmAcWciIixbiZba80TxlY-EBWPG03DpeoE8y7rcsYTNV3tRktFzMqmPww3YHuohtZ8cyiZ-F2l5Xh3xx0IrGvYq-CRCuhel1bmU7pCLDuN3RrcQZA/s773/Tea.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="overflowing cup of milk sitting in coffee maker" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="533" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZcgnA9t-N1iPulbhJF6PS5Gfr5_3vvL6x_EsbpbUu_lVaNlu-cZY8KenH4nQzAt1RBEW94yEKFfmAcWciIixbiZba80TxlY-EBWPG03DpeoE8y7rcsYTNV3tRktFzMqmPww3YHuohtZ8cyiZ-F2l5Xh3xx0IrGvYq-CRCuhel1bmU7pCLDuN3RrcQZA/s320/Tea.jpg"/></a></div>
<P><a name='more'></a>
<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then when I insisted <b>he</b> help clean it up, he yelled at me and slammed his bedroom door. While cleaning up, I also discovered he had gotten out some tempera paints and used my "Mongolian drinking bowl" and a baking pan for paint. And a regular drinking cup for paint water. Which he had spilled along the way.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPGhYWi4DIW8IdjEs8aZzjQ3GygHLsYlzyugS4nlAGhvna3FYFBA_hgjWuHT7g-vXmg8QpZsNMTW4s4ORfab7D3NYGZrBfCmCbUide5-pXTqV-RGLgT5u_mb1Gx-ztaCfoRcfszxfi2QW0ogUV85Yr99-gQFDLRST-VdrICF-EDrfNUDCfBovXQNd7LA/s1015/Paint.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="paint in silver bowl and square baking dish" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="1015" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPGhYWi4DIW8IdjEs8aZzjQ3GygHLsYlzyugS4nlAGhvna3FYFBA_hgjWuHT7g-vXmg8QpZsNMTW4s4ORfab7D3NYGZrBfCmCbUide5-pXTqV-RGLgT5u_mb1Gx-ztaCfoRcfszxfi2QW0ogUV85Yr99-gQFDLRST-VdrICF-EDrfNUDCfBovXQNd7LA/s320/Paint.jpg"/></a></div>
<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He did eventually pitch in a bit with the clean up of the tea mess. He was also very apologetic.</div>
<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">His leash got shortened. I brought the living room baby gate back into the house and reinstalled it that night.</div>
<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He knows the rule, "don't go in the kitchen without an adult." I'm super thankful he didn't pour the drink into the coffee maker and <i>incredibly</i> thankful he didn't turn it on!!</div>Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-28079874268381323262024-01-19T16:45:00.001-06:002024-01-19T16:47:28.139-06:00Sleep / Wake Routine for 2023<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know I haven't posted with any regularity in several years. But I've been processing through writing quite a bit this week and thinking I might start again. It won't be about babies, my babies are tween / teen (and adult) now. For the things going on lately, I need to explain our current routine / sleep schedule.</div>
<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both;" align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDtfp43ENkj9BURHcQGu2eAx7BaZwnGkHAwfzcDlRYr6T1Z47kIPhbuIwUwlSpXEmK2dxegHMNfGx7djtmXIlKn4NMVOatTog9RvEWQaON-9RI9n-t2xNC8-MvdX9H5P8LHNXUW2c8wzdrWxh1q8Gr3cAZXawqxqugFF5WR_7In8vl1syU_DC3gE_a7w/s1250/SleepingSpencer11.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="Spencer, asleep in a hotel, November 2023" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDtfp43ENkj9BURHcQGu2eAx7BaZwnGkHAwfzcDlRYr6T1Z47kIPhbuIwUwlSpXEmK2dxegHMNfGx7djtmXIlKn4NMVOatTog9RvEWQaON-9RI9n-t2xNC8-MvdX9H5P8LHNXUW2c8wzdrWxh1q8Gr3cAZXawqxqugFF5WR_7In8vl1syU_DC3gE_a7w/s320/SleepingSpencer11.jpg"/></a>Spencer, asleep in a hotel, November 2023<br>Road Trip to Amarillo with Mom</div>
<P><a name='more'></a>
<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sapphire (previously known as Sasha) and I are night owls. I often do my work at night when the house is quiet. Other nights I just suck at making myself go to bed. I also won't go to bed until she is tucked into bed, too.</div>
<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Spencer, however, is a morning person. He wakes up sometimes as early as 5:30. For the last year, we've had a great routine. He wakes up and calls out for me. (He is gated into his room with a tall baby gate.) I get his morning drink and meds and deliver them to him, along with his tablet and the remote for his TV. Then I go back to bed! An hour or two later, he is ready to go potty (he is old enough that he can't go first thing in the morning anymore) and be released into the wild (the rest of the house). I do that and then I go back for a little more rest. Then I either get up on my own (alarm or just when I'm done) or he comes to wake me up. Meanwhile, Sapphire gets up and grabs her phone so she can poke it and wake up at her own pace.</div>
<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This has been the <b>best sleep arrangement</b> I think we have ever had in all his 12 years! He still tends to wake up about 20 minutes after I get to my bed most nights. I usually go give him a drink of water (which stays in his room overnight), tuck him back into bed and restart his lullabies. But I've been getting more rest than I have in over a decade!</div>
<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All this will be important information for the upcoming posts. Which I'll link back to this.</div>Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-8304978887523104762023-02-15T21:33:00.004-06:002024-01-19T15:15:47.977-06:00The Bare Naked Book<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I recently saw a list of children's books that included ALL types of bodies. I immediately requested every single one of them from my local library!
<P>Tonight's bedtime story list included <a href="https://amzn.to/3XBwdyz" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><b>The Bare Naked Book</b></a> (specifically the newer edition) by <i>Kathy Stinson</i>, illustrated by <i>Melissa Cho</i>. (The other way to make sure you have the right edition, look for Melissa Cho.)
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;" align="center"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1773214721?&linkCode=li3&tag=momma07-20&linkId=1397b12028582e503e12f387bb648a5d&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfS61DILHa4CFJNLWmYlHLA8ghzbBt-4t6kOaFbDghqCG4TWXa2Gq-rF-Z933Kg70GOtVBlaNKCt0dC6CL5_o2exup5FHeMXFvLperAv2L6Vs-wBpZOnqZXoa4ymKwZjyDtEPGWE1SAyZX6YF0ykhe_QLgxtg2P9BkViLCWhhnFHaSo3gfPdgcjeCH1nw/s320/NakedBook.jpg"/><br>(affiliate link)</a></div>
<P>This book is FANTASTIC! Let this be your warning: my son felt the need to SHOW me each body part as we read the book... including genitals and bum (which are also represented in the book). So... know your kid and audience.
<P>That said, this book talks about all the parts of the body and how they can be different from person to person. The people in this book... so <b>beautiful</b>! It includes people of all <i>sizes</i>, people whose <i>gender</i> is not apparent, people with <i>hearing aids</i>, people <i>missing</i> body parts or using <i>prosthetics</i>, a person with <i>vitiligo</i>! It shows a nursing mother. And it celebrates bodies.
<P>I love this book so much I think I am going to have to add it to our personal library! Look at it at your local library or <a href="https://amzn.to/3XBwdyz" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">order it for yourself</a>!</div>
Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-88470539428634668262022-06-26T13:15:00.005-05:002022-06-26T13:16:37.478-05:00Want to get Your Tubes Tied?<P>Want to get your tubes tied, regardless of age, marital status, or how many kids? Sourced from here, she has a page of 150 gynecologists willing to tie your tubes.
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@pagingdrfran/video/7112898974801071402" data-video-id="7112898974801071402" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;" > <section> <a target="_blank" title="@pagingdrfran" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@pagingdrfran">@pagingdrfran</a> taking back what little power is left. let us help you while we still are allowed to <a title="roevwade" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/roevwade">#roevwade</a> <a title="tuballigation" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tuballigation">#tuballigation</a> <a title="childfreebychoice" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/childfreebychoice">#childfreebychoice</a> <a title="gyn" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/gyn">#gyn</a> <a title="obgyn" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/obgyn">#obgyn</a> <a target="_blank" title="♬ Knowledge - Vin Music" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Knowledge-7038930422125840385">♬ Knowledge - Vin Music</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-41448112324462107802021-12-28T11:15:00.001-06:002021-12-28T11:15:00.170-06:00Parenting Hit to Parenting Win<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>
<P>My daughter has been doing Kuk Sool Won™ for 8 months. In that time, she has tested twice. Both times she jumped up a full belt level. From white to yellow and then to blue. She has also competed in the World Championship and brought home two medals. Better yet, she has the skills to defend herself and it has really driven up her confidence and helped us focus on her health!</P>
<P><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;"><div class="picturecaption left" style="width: 602px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHJg90--EwXTpuFItxgaE6Lp7vgnfZJAAt8TVh-MvafuyKJjpTmza5h1rJExBG34Zr7IifCn2wc0fY5MiS_JGtu09GPS-FXIllHE9PvF3e2fycmSbomGRlcBVKRuTcxPvDze-7qvHNfFR7vJZsxyohQTqWDCg_9yMIpTCNQMnpcFfAOCT_XQkmWPrR=s900" title="Kuk Sool Won™ Training" target="_blank" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="Kuk Sool Won™ Training" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHJg90--EwXTpuFItxgaE6Lp7vgnfZJAAt8TVh-MvafuyKJjpTmza5h1rJExBG34Zr7IifCn2wc0fY5MiS_JGtu09GPS-FXIllHE9PvF3e2fycmSbomGRlcBVKRuTcxPvDze-7qvHNfFR7vJZsxyohQTqWDCg_9yMIpTCNQMnpcFfAOCT_XQkmWPrR=s320"/></a>Kuk Sool Won™ Training</div>
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<P>She has excitedly received a Student Textbook (quite the investment!) and we really enjoyed our travels together to the tournament. She is looking forward to her next tournament in a few months. So imagine my surprise when she told me she felt like she got herself into something and didn't know how to get out, that she wanted to "take a break" from Kuk Sool. I should have seen it coming, she's been getting belly or head aches right before class for weeks.
<P>But I wasn't ready to just fold.<a name='more'></a> Mind you, I <i>hated</i> Tae Kwon Do. But her experience with KSW is clearly very different than what I experienced in TKD decades ago. So I insisted she attend class that evening. Besides, they were board breaking - something she'd never even gotten to see before. And so she went, though we agreed to discuss the idea of "taking a break" when it wasn't time to get dressed and go. She struggled a bit, feeling scared to kick and hit the boards. But she also came home excited to have done it and to tell me all about it!</P>
<P>Once Spencer had gone to bed and she'd had a snack, I put an open spiral in front of her. One one page, I had her draw a smiley face. On the other, a frowning face. Then I had her write good things / bad things about Kuk Sool. And then we talked about what she'd written and I wrote my own entries lower down on the page. We talked about those, too. I made sure she knew that all of her points and feelings are valid. Yes, testing is <b>hard</b>. But how proud does she feel afterward with that new belt around her waist? She's incredible!</P>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvRy7j7lVt2zs0y_HRRfmvdF7GsLf6TYb1VrwLhCfs_YrG-UO4VvPd8KGMoe-dlLmBvhTLoG0cJpM3sncJo6TTf0-XEzG_WnUIwQipAs6kwdmb05XVLR00Gl3Zkm4pNi137XMOo0b8Pwyv153SuyFd2kh66yP0uUSZlYuBWN7So-tVlbNw2SM4UwXe=s900" title="Kuk Sool Won™ Photo" target="_blank"><img alt="Kuk Sool Won™ Blue Belt Student with SBN and DBN" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvRy7j7lVt2zs0y_HRRfmvdF7GsLf6TYb1VrwLhCfs_YrG-UO4VvPd8KGMoe-dlLmBvhTLoG0cJpM3sncJo6TTf0-XEzG_WnUIwQipAs6kwdmb05XVLR00Gl3Zkm4pNi137XMOo0b8Pwyv153SuyFd2kh66yP0uUSZlYuBWN7So-tVlbNw2SM4UwXe=s320"/></a><BR>Blue Belt Earned</div>
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<P>We also talked about how she feels like she's not good enough. That may be wrapped up in Kuk Sool, but is it's own issue apart from that, too. And we talked about that. In the end, she was happily on board with continuing in Kuk Sool. It needed to be <i>her</i> decision or at least a mutual one. I couldn't decide this <i>for</i> her. She's the one doing the work. I'm just supporting her. And I'd like to share with you that it was hard not to make it about the money. Because I just bought that book. I just worked off (barter) 4 months of classes for 2022. Yeah, the thought of all of that going out the window sucked. But she's worth more than any of that.</P>
<P>I took a parenting hit when she told me she wanted to take a break. But I made sure we had a calm space to discuss it and it became a parenting win! I am feeling really proud of myself! I hope you celebrate your wins, too!</P>
<P>If you're considering martial arts for your child, I highly recommend Kuk Sool Won™. Here is an exerpt from the World Kuk Sool Association Student Handbook that I think explains why I love KSW:</P>
<blockquote>CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE…
<BR>If children live with criticism, they learn to fight;
<BR>If children live with hostility, they learn to fight;
<BR>If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy;
<BR>If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel guilty;
<BR>If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient;
<BR>If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate;
<BR>If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence;
<BR>If children live with fairness, they learn justice;
<BR>If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves;
<BR>If children live with both acceptance and friendship,
<BR>they learn to find love in the world.</blockquote>Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-86358795262992756052021-12-09T14:30:00.001-06:002021-12-09T14:30:00.170-06:00What's the Opposite of Germophobe?<p>The most convenient sickness to hit our entire family was right after we moved into a government subsidized, 3 bedroom, 2½ bath house. Literally within a week, we all had the flu. With 5 of us, I was <b>very</b> thankful for those 3 toilets! Prior to that move, we lived in a travel trailer and tried to only use the on site facilities for such "movements," rather than our own toilet (which required dumping about once per month).<br />
<br />
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Gee, I have <i>no idea</i> how Ronni got sick!</div><br />
I've tried to keep my kids apart when they're sick, but... it just seems impossible. Who is going to turn away a pitiful sick child asking to be held and snuggled? Not that big brother!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eD1uM1yr8Hd35o6Iyo4yiBzCvgX5lbcXthAeIcb3facg50mOcQtn2dvxT3xxRRP0viEQT9_SXkXgkVSaZDwY2J52wL37qk3P5MlwNfsLs6zt9vMLWAVLHWwwXOqKsTR6OmzGc4NdXww/s1600/DSCF0647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="301" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eD1uM1yr8Hd35o6Iyo4yiBzCvgX5lbcXthAeIcb3facg50mOcQtn2dvxT3xxRRP0viEQT9_SXkXgkVSaZDwY2J52wL37qk3P5MlwNfsLs6zt9vMLWAVLHWwwXOqKsTR6OmzGc4NdXww/s400/DSCF0647.JPG" /></a><br />
Lots of random naps throughout the house as we all had <b>the plague</b>.</div><br />
We all managed to rest a lot, lounging and napping all over the downstairs of the house, mostly. This certainly made it easier to keep an eye on everyone and provide sustenance. We had almost zero furniture at the time, so we just napped where we landed.Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-79370727316940571592021-12-06T17:16:00.001-06:002021-12-06T17:16:10.804-06:00Tonsils, Adenoids & Turbinates, Oh my!<P>Sleep studies are a common screening done for kids with Down syndrome, especially if they snore. They can often have tiny mouths (and not so tiny tonsils). Spencer had his first Sleep Study when he was 3yo.
<P>In May 2018, Spencer was snoring badly, so he went for a new Sleep Study. Through that he was diagnosed with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It was so bad that the Pulmonologist called me <b>on Mother's Day</b>! He was very concerned that I follow up ASAP. Our ENT (Ear Nose & Throat doctor) said that a Tonsillectomy (the usual treatment for this) was contraindicated because Spencer has a Bifid Uvula. That means his uvula was splitting into two. Think of a Y hanging upside down in the back of the throat. So... we went with CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy). That involved going for another sleep study.
<P><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="20"><tbody>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhtmdKABnKcoHYa23jqro2z9mbMWAgjb8ICOM2xQdn3lwQTAZuA0QxcB4GVHG0Byk3vYSBbnfbXJC60xUeQOw3aiOclOPDkZkgu6ktzUyuRjGap4NkRYPbAu4y0cl6LqnK4jrR9iWGu8/s941/SleepStudy2.jpg" title="Child Sleep Study" target="_blank"><img height="300" alt="Child Sleep Study" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhtmdKABnKcoHYa23jqro2z9mbMWAgjb8ICOM2xQdn3lwQTAZuA0QxcB4GVHG0Byk3vYSBbnfbXJC60xUeQOw3aiOclOPDkZkgu6ktzUyuRjGap4NkRYPbAu4y0cl6LqnK4jrR9iWGu8/s200/SleepStudy2.jpg"/></a></div></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><div class="picturecaption left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcXwxz6CEoehgsJsh9XEm6qkqPMCS2kQ1hvRl4h2xJ0VUZw6XV-YsIwHjZEmD8BKEsGKEuV43wAUBBATZz9BPyClJH1Db4efG1xUUNNmgVRhQzzU4YxbpOGKHGEXQwaVJzHh5hBE_4A4/s877/SleepStudy3.jpg" title="Child Sleep Study with CPAP" target="_blank"><img height="300" alt="Child Sleep Study with CPAP" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcXwxz6CEoehgsJsh9XEm6qkqPMCS2kQ1hvRl4h2xJ0VUZw6XV-YsIwHjZEmD8BKEsGKEuV43wAUBBATZz9BPyClJH1Db4efG1xUUNNmgVRhQzzU4YxbpOGKHGEXQwaVJzHh5hBE_4A4/s200/SleepStudy3.jpg"/></a></div>
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<tr><td align="center">First comes the Sleep Study.<br>Then a month later...</td>
<td align="center">another sleep study to determine<br>the appropriate CPAP pressure.</td></tr>
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<P><a name='more'></a>
<P>Getting a 6yo to start using a CPAP is tricky. In fact, when we went back in for that sleep study, the Sleep Tech questioned me. "Are you sure you want to go with CPAP? He'll be on it for the rest of his life." Yes, I am sure! It's what our doctor has recommended for our special case and we're going to do whatever it takes! They didn't think he'd adjust to using it at all. But we do what we have to do, don't we? Yes, it was a bit rough getting started. But I put together this little CPAP for his treasured stuffy. And then his siblings and I stood around his bed at bedtime doing an Astronaut Countdown to blastoff. We still had some battles, but he adjusted and 3½ years later, he still loves to see his 100 score on my CPAP app!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwnx_6_tq28qRyR6z6UQhlKeseIbBmkwwdgM8lYVduFoT3QPWI5tbv4bXrvDGqg_fju2SaiSxNU6ivjPeDqGoNJsQKzCdtRJiG2t0Bto_8JQj0gQclKkhlQAqqMyEDW9YBSpLQTYYIuU/s1000/CPAP2018.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwnx_6_tq28qRyR6z6UQhlKeseIbBmkwwdgM8lYVduFoT3QPWI5tbv4bXrvDGqg_fju2SaiSxNU6ivjPeDqGoNJsQKzCdtRJiG2t0Bto_8JQj0gQclKkhlQAqqMyEDW9YBSpLQTYYIuU/s320/CPAP2018.jpg"/></a></div>
<P>But his diet has been narrowing. I asked his Occupational Therapist about Feeding Therapy. First she wanted a list of his typical diet. Then she requested a Swallow Study. My knee-jerk reaction was that she was just avoiding the actual therapy. I knew we needed help! She suggested I ask his Speech Therapist for her input as well. His Speech Therapist had some questions... questions that made it obvious that he <em>absolutely</em> needed a Swallow Study. We're in a new town and Spencer was released from care from his previous ENT because his hearing was consistently excellent. So I looked for local recommendations and chose a new ENT. It took a couple of months to get in to see him.
<P>Every single medical staff person that has ever looked into Spencer's mouth has been <em>shocked</em>. They usually audibly gasp and certainly comment. But I've felt confident in our treatment... until recently. Since that conversation with the Speech Therapist, I've been increasingly confident that the tonsils will go and that Spencer will likely come off of the CPAP. We finally got to see our new ENT! He did not gasp, but he did look sad. Sad because Spencer's quality of life could be so much better if he weren't living with these absolute boulders in his throat!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkVdpiJqHjDCxA8YLoJ2C16rfUZnTEoRS8LX72KSF5OxYByCD6ry1LI6AVyACyFuZwSJLsAi0MMOhoNHNlyAofz-uhaP1OLcX-3tArvwha9etTJYgwoS8FlAi-_L3xPbxXMl0M-zfi4k/s2188/PXL_20211206_185505623.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="2188" data-original-width="2188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkVdpiJqHjDCxA8YLoJ2C16rfUZnTEoRS8LX72KSF5OxYByCD6ry1LI6AVyACyFuZwSJLsAi0MMOhoNHNlyAofz-uhaP1OLcX-3tArvwha9etTJYgwoS8FlAi-_L3xPbxXMl0M-zfi4k/s320/PXL_20211206_185505623.jpg"/></a></div>
<P>Worse yet, he didn't even <em>see</em> the Bifid Uvula! He said it may be there and be very minor, but nothing to even consider. I'm heart broken that this has gone on for so long. And I wonder what the future holds. Will Spencer stop verbally stimming when he eats when his throat is more open? His voice will be less "hypo-nasal" (per ENT and Speech Therapist). Will he enjoy eating bread?? (We have to order his burgers with no bun.) Those two months waiting to see the new ENT seemed like a long time and now we have two more months to wait for surgery. The doctor will remove his tonsils. He will also reduce his Adenoids - if needed. I was worried about that, but I'm confident in this doctor. Hopefully my faith is not, once more, misplaced. And then he also plans to check (and likely reduce) his Turbinates. I had never even heard of those!
<P>Turbinates are small structures inside the nose that cleanse and humidify air that passes through the nostrils into the lungs. Spencer's Nasal Cavity is so tiny, it just doesn't have room for them! This doctor believes reducing them will likely reduce Spencer's ADHD symptoms, too. :-O He also expressed concern that all of his breathing issues could be causing the center of his face to not grow. There have been studies on this. And the CPAP just makes it <B>worse</b>!
<P>I have to believe that I was making the best decisions for him that I possibly could. But damn if that Mom Guilt<sup>TM</sup> isn't kicking in...
Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-90019668382740289892021-12-03T12:55:00.009-06:002021-12-03T12:58:46.136-06:00I'm not an "Anti-Vaxxer"<P align=center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_ltGR7wxjcDapFPGmghTildDzhx0-bVKV4eBQX008GIDMS4i5gfujHpGnXEQLPy1iHgZ9-qeeRFbxdLV6sYRG0dsEVjW2uzoEUcxtDq26V-ywsrOoNhBUQbSIctciJknY7qDFlurFX8/s220/sd2.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_ltGR7wxjcDapFPGmghTildDzhx0-bVKV4eBQX008GIDMS4i5gfujHpGnXEQLPy1iHgZ9-qeeRFbxdLV6sYRG0dsEVjW2uzoEUcxtDq26V-ywsrOoNhBUQbSIctciJknY7qDFlurFX8/s320/sd2.jpg" alt="Vaccine"/></a></div>
<P>I have written here in the past about my choice not to vaccinate my children. I wrote about <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2011/06/one-amazing-gran.html" target="_blank">my mother supporting me</a> through that decision and <b>in</b> that decision. So I really struggled with deciding on the Covid-19 Vaccine. First, how could *I* be vaccinated when I've been against vaccinating my children? How could I trust this vaccine? But some friends helped talk me through the decision and be alright with it, honestly. So... while not the first in line, I did get vaccinated against Covid-19. In fact, I just received my booster this week. My side effects were severe (by MY standards), but I will do another booster as soon as they tell me I am supposed to.</P>
<P><a name='more'></a>
<P>So then my kids... they have missed PEOPLE so very much! Sasha was nearing 12yo after they opened the vaccine up for 12+. We talked about it and she (despite being afraid of needles) knew she wanted to get vaccinated. She knew she wanted to protect herself, protect others and to also just get to be around other people safely! Spencer is about to be 10 years old and is not capable of making his own medical decisions. He got his vaccine soon after it opened up for his age group. His dad sat next to him and got his booster the same day.</P>
<P><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWA-THGYF8IBSzaGQTv6oQ7zqQABkO7kKcdloVP7wq-61fMFvFHnOD0hEbN5rmhjCAUI4freboZTcVy742U31tTA90HEOGC8egekAzQGyTsdmclhNUSEghUwGv7qReb1rZCAZJseBOIM/s2333/PXL_20211110_152734804.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1750" data-original-width="2333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWA-THGYF8IBSzaGQTv6oQ7zqQABkO7kKcdloVP7wq-61fMFvFHnOD0hEbN5rmhjCAUI4freboZTcVy742U31tTA90HEOGC8egekAzQGyTsdmclhNUSEghUwGv7qReb1rZCAZJseBOIM/s320/PXL_20211110_152734804.jpg"/></a></div>
<P>There were several reasons I decided not to vaccinate my children. (One being formaldehyde, but the vaccines that do currently have formaldehyde have less than 3 micrograms. And I suppose they need to do <em>something</em> to preserve the dead disease cells.) The reasons I have for vaccinating against Covid-19 have been on my mind... it's not just about protecting ourselves. And it's not about protecting other people that are vaccinated. It's about protecting the people that actually <em>can't</em> get vaccinated. It's about protecting the elderly, infants, and those with compromised immune systems. Choosing not to vaccinate is selfish, period.
<P>So... then I had to figure out how to get my daughter on board with getting vaccinated. She's old enough that I'm not going to force medical decisions on her. So we got educated on the topic. And then, despite her fear of needles, she quickly got on board and is ready to get vaccinated against other dangerous diseases. To protect others. Because she's an amazing young human.
<P>We even learned the history of the first vaccine, which is fascinating! Here is a playlist I put together and watched with her (includes the history of the first vaccine).
<P align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLlzGgxzM8zcMIi4vL_-p7bNdxacgui_U_" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<P>I've been very quiet in my personal life about choosing not to vaccinate because I am <em>not</em> an "anti-vaxxer." I never was. And all of the anti-vaxxer memes are hurtful. They don't actually help change anyone's mind, either. But friends being kind with me and getting more educated on the topic helped change my mind. I've put a call in to our new pediatrician to get started.
<P>Please don't feel ashamed or guilty if you've made the choice not to vaccinate in the past and are ready to start vaccinating. When we know better, we do better. We're all just making the best choices for our kids that we can. And I will still continue to stay educated on <em>each</em> vaccine, too. I spent time looking over the package inserts (which are ridiculously easy to find online). There is currently only one vaccine I'm actually worried about and it will likely be the last on the list for my daughter, so I don't have to worry about it just yet. I feel really good about making the right decision <em>now</em>.
<P>I would like to add that I supported Ronni in getting vaccinated when he was 17 years old. It was his choice. And he has not supported my choice not to vaccinate my younger children, but we have not fought about it. I believe in supporting our children's choices. That's why I'm helping Sasha make informed choices herself, rather than making them for her.
Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-78909919325329693992016-11-28T22:55:00.000-06:002016-11-28T22:55:04.559-06:00Bank of America - Clarification?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBg8tyvpBWtZVxCMoO4qvWahzBR1xSpyoQCUDkixamif6b2xQoMp1JhD1WKEVXYYfb53aqxKVDDnhXTe71YAhyoIqbajeEIjxIxLt-haPHYXkXwkaiI8p9kGtZanIxCwGDEYruigXUf98/s1600/DAPL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBg8tyvpBWtZVxCMoO4qvWahzBR1xSpyoQCUDkixamif6b2xQoMp1JhD1WKEVXYYfb53aqxKVDDnhXTe71YAhyoIqbajeEIjxIxLt-haPHYXkXwkaiI8p9kGtZanIxCwGDEYruigXUf98/s400/DAPL.jpg" width="400" height="240" /></a></div><br />
I just sent this email to Bank of America's President, CEO, and Chairman Brian Moynihan:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Please clarify whether funds Bank of America is providing are being used, in any amount, to pay for the heavily militarized response to the Standing Rock Sioux, including the attack dogs, sound-cannon trucks, heavily armed officers.<br />
<br />
Why is Bank of America sinking so much money into maximizing the amounts of oil and gas that can be brought to the surface and burned at a time when climate science is clear we have to maximize what we keep in the ground instead?<br />
<br />
As a customer of your financial institution, I reject the notion of my money helping to support your investment in the Dakota Access pipeline, an inherently dangerous and unjust oil pipeline that threatens air and water quality in many states, and violates sacred lands of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. I urge you to give up your financial stake in the Dakota Access pipeline immediately.<br />
<br />
Until then, I am currently looking into moving my family's several bank accounts to a credit union.</blockquote><br />
If you would like to see if <i>your</i> bank is supporting the Dakota Access Pipeline, check <a href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/people-power/how-to-contact-the-17-banks-funding-the-dakota-access-pipeline-20160929" target="_blank"><b>this list</b></a>.Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-60654956386924250242016-11-16T06:31:00.000-06:002016-11-16T06:31:05.213-06:00In Two Words...<br />
As our last Fitness Challenge Group recently came to a close, challengers were asked to describe, in TWO words:<br />
<br />
<ol><li>What being part of this group means to you AND</li>
<li>How you'd feel it was gone tomorrow</li>
</ol><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8taR07xGH29GaCTY0ZN3DQEH5ZmcjsJc-6WT2YoQRYV-a1o_C-qRp4JHBF50nE-17lx3N18nflYLjw8SYTZWoiG7bdoVMQzfigWDkJn1U6oBOU1JUx65fwWTsz47O8foOYvPFRZ07Wg/s1600/change+your+life.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8taR07xGH29GaCTY0ZN3DQEH5ZmcjsJc-6WT2YoQRYV-a1o_C-qRp4JHBF50nE-17lx3N18nflYLjw8SYTZWoiG7bdoVMQzfigWDkJn1U6oBOU1JUx65fwWTsz47O8foOYvPFRZ07Wg/s400/change+your+life.png" width="400" height="336" /></a></div><br />
<table cellspacing="10" width="80%" align="center"><th colspan=2 align="left">Here are some of the responses received:</th>
<tr><th align=left width="50%">1. What being a part of<br />
this group means to you</th><th align=left width="50%">2. How you'd feel if it<br />
was gone tomorrow</th></tr>
<tr><td> Sanity</td><td> Lost</td></tr>
<tr><td> Purpose</td><td> Empty</td></tr>
<tr><td> Support</td><td> Unsuccessful</td></tr>
<tr><td> Outlet</td><td> Loss</td></tr>
<tr><td> Connection</td><td> Disoriented</td></tr>
<tr><td> Accountability</td><td> Mess</td></tr>
<tr><td> Necessity</td><td> Alone</td></tr>
<tr><td> Everything</td><td> Abandoned</td></tr>
<tr><td> Acceptance</td><td> Unappreciated</td></tr>
<tr><td> Validation</td><td> Fail</td></tr>
<tr><td> Motivation</td><td> Unmotivated</td></tr>
<tr><td> Connection</td><td> Uninspired</td></tr>
<tr><td> Team</td><td> Sad</td></tr>
</table><br />
<br />
I am so thankful for all of the support, motivation, and accountability that my challenge groups have provided me this year! If this is something you would like to learn more about, please contact me at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fitjorje" target="_blank">Momma Jorje, Fit Hippie</a>.<br />
Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-83067585655919136872016-07-20T07:32:00.000-05:002016-07-20T12:31:13.077-05:00Stuffed Zucchini Boats - Gluten Free<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p><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;"><div class="picturecaption left" style="width: 402px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93zDMa0WXyWv9IuzyImTnhu5RlMMOUp8kuFBW68-9XkZp1qNV7EWnJSQ8JXKcUNOYWg7i9UMIHZrg4jr89XwpAyz0hUOX4HY3o-DrQLn8rjnKVVNHAg7Rr13bhvJ6vVIVUdHzXxwFmng/s1600/zucchini+boat.jpg" title="Stuffed Zucchini Boats - Gluten Free" target="_blank"><img width="400" alt="Stuffed Zucchini Boats on Plate with Pasta and Sauce" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93zDMa0WXyWv9IuzyImTnhu5RlMMOUp8kuFBW68-9XkZp1qNV7EWnJSQ8JXKcUNOYWg7i9UMIHZrg4jr89XwpAyz0hUOX4HY3o-DrQLn8rjnKVVNHAg7Rr13bhvJ6vVIVUdHzXxwFmng/s320/zucchini+boat.jpg"/></a> Stuffed Zucchini Boats</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>4 medium zucchini, cut in half lengthwise<br />
1 Tbsp olive oil<br />
1 lb ground beef (or turkey)<br />
fresh spinach (optional)<br />
1 clove garlic, minced (at least!)<br />
1 small onion, chopped<br />
2 medium, ripe tomatoes - chopped<br />
salt & pepper<br />
½ C Parmesan, finely grated<br />
½ C mozzarella, shaved or grated<br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 400°.<br />
<br />
Scoop out the flesh from the zucchini to make "boats." Place zucchini boats in a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Chop the zucchini flesh and set aside.<br />
<br />
Brown your ground beef (or turkey) in the olive oil with garlic and onion. Add chopped zucchini flesh, tomatoes and some salt & pepper (plus optional spinach) - cook until softened (about 4 minutes).<br />
<br />
In a medium bowl, mix Parmesan & mozzarella.<br />
<br />
Fill boats to a mound with beef mixture. Sprinkle with cheese mixture. Bake at 400° until cheese is golden (20 minutes)<br />
<br />
Optional: Top with tomato sauce and other favorite veggies, such as peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, etc.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/fitjorje/photos/a.1047974131940058.1073741828.1047169148687223/1126450757425728" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVez3FN1F2f-RIM_8Mo0IES3J8mmYCC_TBlETnYiPyBu8ypSgIiHtWyBGHBFsFNgRQsHiQo5ZWwmPwpgkvS2I77IzdnBRV5IlkttzFCK7shR1zSdQkYhLJMrNleKaBvv2i4s0yiRcsk8/s400/cover.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br />
<b>If you enjoyed this recipe and would like to learn more about clean / healthy eating, please join my FREE 7 Day Healthy Eating group, starting on Sunday, July 24<sup>th</sup>. Just click the image above to get to my Health & Fitness page.</b><br />
<br />
Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-46306921654804426142015-12-26T06:07:00.000-06:002016-12-09T17:02:11.850-06:00The Bittersweet End of an Era<br />
<br />
<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;"><div class="picturecaption left" style="width: 402px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIs2MKynQmFIPhs1yhydJOF4ddssU5kPke3EFjYn-RwbT-29yosvdY8Z-6QEuP5nLsY5FlcgM_zZ2DFnGJ9iHH0kmiDswUIwKocSDtzp4i5pa-lYWv3pfEECjRhQia3L5jTZ7Nlbkzrw/s1600/SDnurse.jpg" title="Spencer Nursed" target="_blank"><img width="400" alt="Ode to Spencer Nursing" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvj8Qn5X6682P4GThMQ5LJHd4sIbpRdMMZyTyGwYWZVyezj6WF7iDgKET5toE4eNthUxtzZ73unBEmJLRAGPFx-VwTX-WE5xXhyphenhyphenDa0UMy3TI8nUXVWZfHzmgc4nJm6phXdBfrWqebWC0/s400/SDnurse.jpg"/></a><br />
Spencer's nursing journey, over 4 years</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<p>Having nursed Sasha during Spencer's labor, which brought his birth on fast...<br />
Having nursed him through his stay in the NICU...<br />
and the slow cutting of those first sharp teeth at 12 months...<br />
Having nursed him through his diagnosis of having a hyperactive thyroid...<br />
as well as his Celiac diagnosis and resulting diet change for us both...<br />
Having nursed him even while he explored new foods, through medical procedures and to help calm him after surgeries...<br />
<br />
I nursed Spencer for 4 years. When he wakes up tomorrow, he will be 4 years old. <b>And officially weaned.</b> The last time he nursed was after his dental surgery earlier this month (seen in recovery in the bottom right photo). I knew it was coming, but I've been second guessing myself. He had dropped down to only asking for "Momma Milk" every few days. I was so glad to have it for him when he woke from surgery. I'm admittedly fearful of how we'll manage the next surgery sometime down the road. Spencer is my last child, so this is all behind me now. I nursed for a total of 10 years, tandem nursing for one of those!<br />
<br />
<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;"><div class="picturecaption left" style="width: 322px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj_uolK1TubGU6_IFix0oEMF1NaXfH_hqn_zxq3VCoPfWBRjYqpkBlV4yxPuYiYF1ELLeVc3cIyaVELKHdBC06OG64pn55EW5EhbQs2UUbyDecfmW7RoUCbiylg_LEBNAqTEcPWYwGvPe/s1600/DSCF1087sm.jpg" target="_blank" title="Momma Jorje: Breastfeeding at 2 Months"><img alt="Breastfeeding at 2 Months" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj_uolK1TubGU6_IFix0oEMF1NaXfH_hqn_zxq3VCoPfWBRjYqpkBlV4yxPuYiYF1ELLeVc3cIyaVELKHdBC06OG64pn55EW5EhbQs2UUbyDecfmW7RoUCbiylg_LEBNAqTEcPWYwGvPe/s320/DSCF1087sm.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
2 month old Sasha at my breast, swaddled</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
As a mother, I done good. I was feeling ready. But now that it's done, I don't feel so ready anymore. This is <b>the bittersweet end of an era for me...</b>Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-23715948103489987462015-07-14T06:53:00.000-05:002015-07-14T06:53:00.144-05:00Autonomy of a TickleThe topic of tickling has come up among friends recently and I'd like to get back into the swing of writing, so...<br />
<br />
This piece was originally published as a guest post on <a href="http://jonirae.com/guest-post-autonomy-of-a-tickle/" target="_blank">Tales of the Kitchen Witch</a> in December 2012.<br />
<br />
<hr width="80%" color="green"><br />
When I was a preteen, I remember my brother tickling me to the point of crying. I'd be yelling for him to stop, begging him to stop. He would point out that I was laughing, so I <i>must be enjoying it</i>. I do not ever want my children (or anyone, for that matter) to be put in that position.<br />
<br />
Babies can't even tell you they don't want to be tickled. But they are <b>so much fun to tickle!</b> There has to be a way to respect our babies' autonomy and still (possibly) enjoy a good tickle, right? There is! I have some suggestions for you.<br />
<br />
The most important trick to any tickle game with a baby is <b>anticipation</b>. If you can give them a chance to anticipate (and to learn when to anticipate) the tickle, you give them <b>the opportunity to object</b>.<br />
<br />
With Sasha, I would make tickle hands and chant "Gonna, gonna, gonna" (think Jaws music) as I got closer, then "Get you!" as I tickled her.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1TQz4X6POZZSbat5wQyyvMdYBp4FkSDdIB5bODo9S7mOz6zYOfW4nQ9tKA7W9dAqu8nG1UwQ0sFSkmKzFOXDdFqYiSEZoP3Ki7XCzGPJFR7n4me8GcMSbHrUOGhKlouyRU9fH-B7d0M/s1600/DSCF1970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1TQz4X6POZZSbat5wQyyvMdYBp4FkSDdIB5bODo9S7mOz6zYOfW4nQ9tKA7W9dAqu8nG1UwQ0sFSkmKzFOXDdFqYiSEZoP3Ki7XCzGPJFR7n4me8GcMSbHrUOGhKlouyRU9fH-B7d0M/s400/DSCF1970.JPG" /></a><br />
Sasha would also run away and back to me for more tickles.<br />
Also? OMG Look at that chub!! I do love to fatten up my babies!</div><br />
Here comes the next important tip: <b>Short bursts of tickling</b>. I would never tickle a child to <i>breathlessness</i>. It can be fun for both the tickler and the child, sure, but I want to make sure children are capable of communicating "stop" to me when they feel it necessary. It can be difficult and awkward to enforce this with other people tickling your child (even older siblings), but I really feel it is an important lesson. If any child says "stop" - that should be heard and <i>respected</i>. I think of this helping to prepare them for other sticky situations later in life.<br />
<br />
Back to fun tickling! With Spencer, I hold up my thumbs and index fingers like pincers. I tap thumb and forefinger while making a "tick" sound. I do that a few times before diving my fingers to him and saying "tickle, tickle, tickle!" as I tickle him. Three "tickles" is probably long enough for one burst in the beginning. As he has gotten older (he is a ripe, old 10 months old now, after all!), he reacts to the <b>preparation</b>. When I hold my fingers up and make the sound, he often <i>giggles preemptively</i>! <b>This lets me know that he enjoys the game!</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HGnBeBR9xbI?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br />
Love to nibble your babies? Oh, I do! I love to nibble around their little, fat, ticklish necks! Find a way to help your babies <b>anticipate the nibble</b>. I open my mouth wide and snap it shut while making an "Om!" noise. I do this a few times before I "Nom, nom, nom!" on them. (This munching is also awesome on ribs, especially on babies that are upside down!) This is one that will surely elicit preemptive giggles if it is a game your child enjoys.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MSz6Evp955w?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br />
I'm sure you're familiar with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Little_Piggy" target="_blank">This Little Piggy</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat-a-cake,_pat-a-cake,_baker%27s_man" target="_blank">Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man</a>. Both of these nursery rhymes are great build-up to tickle play. They offer other learning benefits, too.<br />
<br />
<b>How did you feel about being tickled as a child? How do you feel about it now? Do you play tickle games with your children?</b>Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-74457729497756958862015-01-02T06:54:00.001-06:002021-12-03T15:49:22.970-06:00Good Things JarThanks to an idea I got from <a href="http://www.momscleanairforce.org/" title="Mom's Clean Air Force" target="_blank">Mom's Clean Air Force</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/momscleanairforce" title="Facebook: Mom's Clean Air Force" target="_blank">on Facebook</a> through a shared post, a year ago I began a "Good Stuff Jar." The idea was to jot down any surprise gifts, accomplishments, beauty of nature noticed, LOL moments, good memories, etc. Then we would read them at the end of the year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-izxfBLWs8U8/VKYbPYN0qJI/AAAAAAAAItM/H2VZmGevsgw/s512/IMG_20150101_220259%257E2.jpg" title="Momma Jorje: Good Things Jar" alt="Momma Jorje's Good Things Jar 2014" border="2" width="350"></div><br />
Any project is difficult to maintain for a full year and this one didn't require a lot of attention, so it was often forgotten. Still, I did wind up with a handful and reading them with my husband on the first of this year gave us a chuckle and a reminder of some things we appreciate. I'd like to share them with you, since there aren't too many. Some of them were funny to us because they seemed great at the time, but didn't really pan out in the end...<br />
<br />
<UL><LI>Frying chicken + pork chops was a lot easier than I was making it out to be.<br />
<LI>Bonus plants from Patrick (for my garden - we laughed because my garden was a bit of a failure)<br />
<LI>Elmo cleaned the <u>ENTIRE</U> kitchen... for $25. HAHAHA (he felt underpaid)<br />
<LI>Gardening + catching worms with Sasha<br />
<LI>Daddy brought an OK Brown [tarantula] home from [work].<br />
<LI>Found Little Leafers (a local nature explorers group that died out before it even began, when the leader suddenly had to move out of state)<br />
<LI>Taste of Summer, Horse Awareness Day <U>and</U> Zoo - all in 1 weekend with Samantha (my stepdaughter, shortly after we gained visitation)<br />
<LI>Spencer choosing the [ASL] "monkey" sign to mean "Marcus" (his Speech Therapist).<br />
<LI>Cathulhu (the cat... that we immediately had to re-home when it was found that Samantha was allergic)<br />
<LI>Neighbor, Brent, brought wood + tools - <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2014/10/chicken-coop-project-part-i.html" title="Momma Jorje: Chicken Coop Project" target="_blank">spent 5 hours on coop</a>!<br />
<LI><a href="http://www.carnivalepsilon.com/" title="Carnival Epsilon Steampunk Sideshow" target="_blank">Carnival Epsilon</a> performing in our own back yard for Ronni's Sweet 16.<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qag-YniwJloKUEEMoppOLT4jckxBvvtbNu0ARjbMUP2YMHrUQR_VCN62lmYTqMtdUWAtUO3-3VWPS3lzlJHRl2V40nd71MI4sta8Un96xZe6cgCdmRjqEySkMct-BtTAFUzkQsjI1bA/s800/DSCF9804.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Birthday Sideshow" border="2" vspace="5"><br />
<LI>Awesome garden tools from Angie.<br />
<LI>Got to sleep with Elmo all weekend! (This would have been before the move, when I usually slept on a different floor.)<br />
<LI>Horse Awareness Day (apparently warranted being mentioned twice)<br />
<LI>Singing Disney songs in the van together<br />
<LI>I learned how to make paper seedling pots.<br />
<LI>Discovered the wonder that is spinach in scrambled eggs - new favorite! (I still eat this almost daily!)<br />
<LI>Spencer learned to give hugs & made a hugging game. (Taking turns hugging people) <br />
<LI>New-to-us stove deal - approved out of rent<br />
<LI>Last $325 [owed] to [last place of residence] written off<br />
<LI>Made Tubby Custard - Kids loved it! Sasha asked me to make it again the next day.<br />
<LI>Angela chose our family to receive her <U>free</U> [weekly] "<a href="https://www.meyerhatchery.com/productinfo.a5w?prodID=MMMF" title="Meyer Meal Maker" target="_blank">Meal Maker</a>" eggs. (She later sold me our 6 hens at a great deal!)<br />
<LI>[new home address] (We have been very happy to live in a <i>house</i>!)<br />
<LI>Courtney & mom [last name] - furniture including full size bed! (They gave us furniture they had in storage.)<br />
<LI>Got to be <a href="http://www.dulcefamily.blogspot.com/" title="Dulce de leche Blog" target="_blank">Dulce</a>'s guests to Taste of Summer (an event that includes free ice cream!)<br />
<LI>Elmo figured out how to safely install new-to-us stove.</UL>
<P>Considering how many times we forgot about the jar, that's pretty good! I'd like to continue the jar into 2015, but I think I'll add one detail - a date. I think it will be cool to be able to put them in order, remember when things happened and maybe even match them up with pictures at the end of the year! This was a really fun <b>thankfulness projec</b>t and I would definitely recommend it.Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-23280511053278977012014-12-17T11:01:00.000-06:002014-12-17T23:33:38.417-06:00Mamatography 2014 - Week 50In memory of <b>Norman Bridwell</b>, author who created <i>Clifford the Big Red Dog</i>, who passed away this morning at age 86. My kids have all loved Clifford.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h3>Day 341 - Sunday - December 7</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OG5Hj_zetnw/VJJfMh8zmvI/AAAAAAAAIbE/Gf6QuWHDung/s800/IMG_20141207_172244_nopm_.jpg" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: WW Foam Tiles" border="2" alt="Foam Number Tiles"><br />
Picked up these <b>foam number tiles</b> for free.<br />
I plan to use them for <i>flooring</i> in the playhouse.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><h3>Day 342 - Monday - December 8</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3z9xztAilK4/VJJgidi8J6I/AAAAAAAAIc0/IgpYJzavAbI/s800/DSCF0789.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Preschool Bedroom" border="2" alt="Preschool Bedroom with Toys"><br />
She's <i>somewhere</i> in there!<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 343 - Tuesday - December 9</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cDKvhR0qYnc/VJJiEhJg6OI/AAAAAAAAIdA/5dxn44SDAQE/s800/DSCF0794.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Unschooling" border="2" alt="kids on a table"><br />
<b>What do <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/search/label/unschooling" target="_blank">unschoolers</a> do?</b><br />
This is a group of kids, <i>of varying ages</i>, playing together atop a table.<br />
They did this on their own, including the part where the ages are mixed.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 344 - Wednesday - December 10</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-e60XYu8Vma8/VJJi5cbQbjI/AAAAAAAAIdI/XcnkKsq-KNg/s800/DSCF0800.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Speech Therapy" border="2" alt="Toddler, reading with Speech Therapist"><br />
Reading a <b>Clifford</b> book with his Speech Therapist.<br />
Spencer learned the sign for "<i>tail</i>" during this session.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 345 - Thursday - December 11</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UrjLiIhmhtk/VJJjjooZSZI/AAAAAAAAIdU/whCAsADr7t0/s800/DSCF0805.JPG" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: Dry Erase Alphabet on Mirror" border="2" alt="Dry Erase Alphabet on Mirror by Preschooler"><br />
<b>Sasha wrote the alphabet</b> all on her own for the first time.<br />
Daddy had her <i>singing the ABC song</i> to remember which letter was next.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 346 - Friday - December 12</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-exptIZ1lzqA/VJJk3tFwgJI/AAAAAAAAIdw/HuM2EbMKPo4/s800/FB_IMG_14184255498865313.jpg" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: 365 Feminist Selfie" border="2" alt="selfie"><br />
My <b>365 Feminist Selfie</b> project is almost over.<br />
This is my <i>favorite shirt</i>.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 347 - Saturday - December 13</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OLDhU2AZ9Gg/VJJlpE6oWGI/AAAAAAAAId4/dofBLD-SliI/s800/IMG_20141212_231735.jpg" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: Heavy Reader" border="2" alt="Toddler asleep on board book: Clifford"><br />
<b>Sweet boy</b>, asleep on top of a <b>Clifford</b> book.<br />
<br />
<a style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank"><img alt="mtbadge2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-udS4JzIMN4M/UsukEUxXREI/AAAAAAAAHJ4/iVWAQdfZymM/s800/mamatography.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="5" data-jpibfi-indexer="9" /></a><br />
<div title="mtbadge2" data-jpibfi-indexer="9"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;" title="mtbadge2" data-jpibfi-indexer="8">This post is part of the <strong><a title="Mamatography 2014 Invitation" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank">Mamatography 2014 Project</a></strong> with<strong><a title="Diary of a First Child" href="http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/" target="_blank"> Diary of a First Child</a></strong> and <strong><a title="Momma Jorje" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/" target="_blank">Momma Jorje</a></strong>.</div><p style="text-align: left;">We are taking (at least) a photo a day, a collage or a picture each week to keep a record of our year. Join us at any point during the year and start sharing your own daily photos!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Click <strong><em>Get the code here </em></strong>below to add the blog hop to your blog and join the fun.</p><br />
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-78057097401119492872014-12-10T06:56:00.000-06:002014-12-10T06:56:00.371-06:00Mamatography 2014 - Week 49<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h3>Day 334 - Sunday - November 30</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S-G5Gqc3ed8/VIZt0u3WcaI/AAAAAAAAIN8/JrzZuIku564/s800/DSCF0744.JPG" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: Visiting Chickens" border="2"><br />
<b>Headed out to see the chickens.</b><br />
And they're gathering up to see him, hoping for treats!<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><h3>Day 335 - Monday - December 1</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0jilpiGTs_Q/VIZvTRi_4RI/AAAAAAAAIOE/OjWfePqoY7Y/s800/DSCF0746.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Reading Turkeys" border="2"><br />
This was such a <b>cute project</b> from our Story Time.<br />
Turkey with feathers, we wrote books we had read on the feathers.<br />
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<h3>Day 336 - Tuesday - December 2</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NXH75h-M9ak/VIZwN3H6xzI/AAAAAAAAIOM/XbBWOUO9CHs/s800/DSCF0751.JPG" width="550" title="Momma Jorje: Unschooling Co-op" border="2"><br />
Spencer <i>loves</i> <b>running with the big kids</b> at our Unschool Co-op!<br />
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<h3>Day 337 - Wednesday - December 3</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KSR96VaMdAc/VIZydDKR7AI/AAAAAAAAIOY/tPA_y8PriZ0/s400/DSCF0757.JPG" width="400" title="Momma Jorje: CDS" border="2"><br />
Spencer is just about to <i>age out</i> of his Sooner Start services.<br />
This was his <i>last</i> appointment with <b>Kristen</b>, our Child Development Specialist.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 338 - Thursday - December 4</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Cm0n33Yuw2Q/VIZ0STFYUZI/AAAAAAAAIOk/vaK7l242N_A/s800/DSCF0759.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Kids" border="2"><br />
Teenagers are busy people. These photo-ops are fewer and further between these days...<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 339 - Friday - December 5</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eWCBFgw5pNw/VIZ1C7gmDlI/AAAAAAAAIOs/JU2DXrOmMOM/s800/DSCF0766.JPG" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: Mail Hat" border="2"><br />
Reduce, Reuse & Recycle<br />
Who knew that a Package Mailer would make such a <b>great hat</b>?!<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 340 - Saturday - December 6</h3><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhwiJFSJ5fh-DSHXJebgepkw7bXoESXkURJ_SWFEqDTMMsxWLxfyKSz1BtuLbOOiAlaszAmuglZJar7-gSp95SvwdRY1xaSRKjihwGwdCa1XTQ6ieXZWRAaoncJc1pLPEZ5K0LSHbMjI/s800/DSCF0788.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Macro Christmas Light" border="2"><br />
We went to see a big <b>light display</b>.<br />
I love taking <b>macros</b>, but my current camera isn't great.<br />
<br />
<a style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank"><img alt="mtbadge2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-udS4JzIMN4M/UsukEUxXREI/AAAAAAAAHJ4/iVWAQdfZymM/s800/mamatography.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="5" data-jpibfi-indexer="9" /></a><br />
<div title="mtbadge2" data-jpibfi-indexer="9"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;" title="mtbadge2" data-jpibfi-indexer="8">This post is part of the <strong><a title="Mamatography 2014 Invitation" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank">Mamatography 2014 Project</a></strong> with<strong><a title="Diary of a First Child" href="http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/" target="_blank"> Diary of a First Child</a></strong> and <strong><a title="Momma Jorje" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/" target="_blank">Momma Jorje</a></strong>.</div><p style="text-align: left;">We are taking (at least) a photo a day, a collage or a picture each week to keep a record of our year. Join us at any point during the year and start sharing your own daily photos!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Click <strong><em>Get the code here </em></strong>below to add the blog hop to your blog and join the fun.</p><br />
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-37050125261992492862014-12-09T06:06:00.000-06:002014-12-10T23:03:53.610-06:00Giftmas Ideas for Kids<!-- START TOP CODE --><strong>Welcome to the December 2014 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Greatest Gifts</strong><br />
<br />
<em>This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2014/12/natural-parents-baby-shower-registry.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> and <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2014/12/09/gift-letting-go" target="_blank">Code Name: Mama</a>. This month our participants have suggested go-to gifts and gifting experiences for the holiday season for all your loved ones.</em><br />
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<hr width="90%" color="green"><!-- END TOP CODE --><br />
While experiential gifts and memberships are the go-to gift suggestion for all people green, sometimes a grandparent (or friend, etc) wants to give a child an actual item that they can enjoy right that minute. I have some ideas for you... Music. Sounds simple, right? This past year, Spencer has become a <i>huge</i> fan of <a href="http://www.pattyshuklakidsmusic.com/" target="_blank"><b>Patty Shukla</b></a>. It started with searching for some of his favorite action songs (Itsy Bitsy Spider, anyone?). It has actually grown from there.<br />
<br />
Patty teaches a Mommy & Me Music Class, so she has plenty of classic songs that include finger puppets or other actions. There are songs with which you grew up, too. You know the ones! She also has some original songs that get you (your whole family) <i>moving</i>!<br />
<br />
Its impossible to narrow it down to a single favorite, but here is one of our top pics:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/tfoY49Nnnns" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br />
Spencer has the <a href="http://www.pattyshuklakidsmusic.com/products/dvd-wiggle/" target="_blank"><b>Wiggle It!</b> DVD</a> which also includes Choo Choo Train, She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain, 5 Little Penguins, Looby Loo, Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Bingo, Shapes, ABC (Upper Case), Farmer in the Dell, Mary Had a Little Lamb, I Like Fruit, Textures, and ABC (Lower Case).<br />
<br />
Here's another crazy-active favorite song around here:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/t9WAGkQUUL0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br />
We also have the <a href="http://www.pattyshuklakidsmusic.com/products/musical-pe-for-you-me-vol-1/" target="_blank"><b>Musical PE for You & ME!</b> DVD (Volume 1)</a>. It includes videos for 13 of Patty's most popular songs from 2 CDs (<a href="http://www.pattyshuklakidsmusic.com/products/play-with-me-sing-along-2010/" target="_blank">Play with me, Sing Along!</a> and <a href="http://www.pattyshuklakidsmusic.com/products/roar-like-a-lion-2011/" target="_blank">Roar Like a Lion!</a>) These songs get all of us moving, roaring and laughing together <i>every time</i>.<br />
<br />
Patty Shukla has a lovely family (often featured in her videos) and offers videos that teach kids Left / Right as well as Sign Language. I think her CD and DVD prices are <i>very</i> reasonable, making them a great gift idea and/or stocking stuffer! She also has <a href="http://www.pattyshuklakidsmusic.com/product_categories/music-apps/" target="_blank">free apps</a>, by the way! And now offers a <a href="http://www.pattyshuklakidsmusic.com/product_categories/workbooks/" target="_blank">workbook</a>, too. If you just really need to put something on the screen for the kids so you can have some time to get something done - why not make it something that's going to keep them moving instead of melt them into the couch?<br />
<br />
We love Patty and can (and <i>do</i>) listen to her songs over and over again!<br />
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<hr width="80%" color="green"><br />
Lest you think we're only about Patty, I'd also like to share another artist behind kids' music with you. This song is a favorite for singing along, but is a nice calming song and is even on my bedtime playlist for the kids:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RYJSC7hI2Cg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br />
<a href="http://www.tomknight.com/cds/" target="_blank"><b>Tom Knight</b></a> has several CDs out, too. We're only familiar with this one song, but would love to hear more. I'm definitely going to research more songs from him to add to our playlists!<br />
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<hr width="80%" color="green"><br />
I've got one more I'd like to mention. We found <a href="http://www.montyharper.com/" target="_blank"><b>Monty Harper</b></a> at our own local city/county library Summer Reading Program about a decade ago! He writes Children's songs, but also teaches <a href="http://www.montyharper.com/Workshops.html" target="_blank">workshops</a> for kids on how to write their own songs! His music matched the themes for the SRPs that were used at most libraries across the country each year for a while. We enjoyed his silly, fun songs so much I did some work with him, trying to get the word out to more libraries. Here is a silly song from Monty:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/i7q2vh_-aAY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br />
Monty is trying to raise funds to record a new science CD. He is <a href="http://www.montyharper.com/SFSFOrder.html" target="_blank">selling signed CDs and Holiday / Birthday Gift Packs</a> to help fund this project. I highly recommend <b>The Great Green Squishy Mean Concert CD</b>. I haven't even heard <a href="http://www.montyharper.com/SFSFAbout.html" target="_blank"><b>Songs From the Science Frontier</b></a>, but apparently it has remained his best selling title by far since its release in 2010!<br />
<br />
Long story short here, if you buy items from Monty, everyone wins! You can support future projects as well as enjoying some inspiring, educational music!<br />
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<hr width="80%" color="green"><br />
I generally love to support these kinds of artists. They have kids (at least I know Patty and Monty do) themselves and write fun music. <b>Do you have any favorites like this in your household?</b> I'd love to hear them so we can broaden our own play lists!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><strong>Disclosure:</strong> I received free DVDs from Patty Shukla for review purposes.<br />
None of these links are affiliate links. They only support the artists.<br />
I try to seek out only products I think you would find relevant and useful.<br />
If I don't like a product, I won't recommend it.</span></div><!-- START BOTTOM 2-COLUMN LIST CODE --><hr width="90%" color="green"><p><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/carnival-of-natural-parenting.html" target="_blank" title="Carnival of Natural Parenting"><img align="right" alt="Carnival of Natural Parenting -- Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama" border="0" class="alignright" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee159/lintpicker/CNPnaturalparent.jpg" /></a>Visit <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/carnival-of-natural-parenting.html" target="_blank"><strong>Hobo Mama</strong></a> and <a href="http://codenamemama.com/carnival-of-natural-parenting/" target="_blank"><strong>Code Name: Mama</strong></a> to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!</p><p>Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:</p><div style="clear: both;"></div><ul style="float: left; font-size: 11.5px; margin-right: 5px; width: 210px;"><li><strong><a href="http://wp.me/p5kSJc-1t" target="_blank">I Want to Buy All of the Things</a></strong> — <strong>The Economama</strong> discusses whether there's a way to buy all of the baby stuff she desperately wants for her daughter without spoiling her.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://lauriehollmanphd.com/2014/12/collectors-concentrators/" target="_blank">The "Collectors" and the "Concentrators": How Children React to Lots of Presents</a></strong> — Laurie Hollman, Ph.D., at <strong>Parental Intelligence</strong> discusses two types of children who receive gifts: the "Collectors" who rip open the wrappings on their their presents and love to count them and the "Concentrators" who spend endless time on each gift ignoring the array of presents around them.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://lifewithlucien.wordpress.com/2014/12/09/the-joy-of-giving-and-receiving/" target="_blank">The Joy of Giving and Receiving</a></strong> — Ellen at <strong>Life With Lucien</strong> shares her three-year-old son's new favorite toy for imaginative play.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://leavesoflavender.blogspot.com/2014/12/books-best-present-ever.html" target="_blank">Books: Best Present Ever!</a></strong> — Holly at <strong>Leaves of Lavender</strong> discusses some of the many reasons why books are the ideal gifts for little ones.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.nurturedmama.net/10-diy-gifts-still-time-make/" target="_blank">10 DIY Gifts You Still Have Time To Make</a></strong> — A roundup of 10 DIY gifts that don't take much time to make from Doña at <strong>Nurtured Mama</strong>.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.hybridrastamama.com/?p=9838" target="_blank">Pumpkin Gingerbread Loaves - A Delicious Holiday Gift</a></strong> — Jennifer at <strong>Hybrid Rasta Mama</strong> shares one of her favorite recipes to make and give during the holidays. This Pumpkin Gingerbread Loaf is much anticipated by her friends and loved ones. Learn how to create this delicious gift from the heart!</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://muminsearch.com/2014/12/christmas-gifts-for-dreamers/" target="_blank">Christmas gifts for dreamers</a></strong> — Tat at <strong>Mum in search</strong> shares her favourite books and resources that have helped her get inspired and move forward towards her dreams this year. </li>
</ul><ul style="float: left; font-size: 11.5px; margin-right: 5px; width: 210px;"><li><strong><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2014/12/natural-parents-baby-shower-registry.html" target="_blank">Natural parent's baby shower registry</a></strong> — Since she had everything already for baby #3, Lauren at <strong>Hobo Mama</strong> is amusing herself by building a list of essentials and a few fun fripperies for a natural-parenting nursery.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://peelingclementines.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/gifts-of-love.html" target="_blank">Gifts of love</a></strong> — Charlie at <strong>PeelingClementines</strong> recalls her favourite Christmas gift of all time and thinks about how to add this magic to her little one's first Christmas.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://codenamemama.com/2014/12/09/gift-letting-go" target="_blank">The Gift of Letting Go</a></strong> — Dionna at <strong>Code Name: Mama</strong> has discovered that when you're a perfectionist, sometimes the best gift is simply releasing yourself from self-imposed expectations. </li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.breadandrosesparenting.com/#!Montessori-Inspired-Gifts-for-Babies-and-Toddlers/c1kod/462497EB-FF54-4D4E-A068-D23F1BE5DAC9" target="_blank">Montessori Inspired Gifts for Babies and Toddlers</a></strong> — Rachel at <strong>Bread and Roses</strong> shares gift ideas that were a hit with her son last year and what's on her wishlist for this year.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2014/12/giftmas-ideas-for-kids.html" target="_blank">Giftmas Ideas for Kids</a></strong> — <strong>Momma Jorje</strong> offers an original gift idea that hasn't been overdone and is good for the kids!</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://livingmontessorinow.com/2014/12/09/favorite-cds-for-babies-and-toddlers-gift-guide/" target="_blank">Favorite CDs for Babies and Toddlers {Gift Guide}</a></strong> — Deb Chitwood at <strong>Living Montessori Now</strong> shares her family's favorite CDs for babies and toddlers, some of which were favorites of her children and are now favorites of her granddaughter.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://thatmamagretchen.com/2014/12/christmas-wish-list.html" target="_blank">The Birthday Turned Christmas Wish List</a></strong> — <strong>That Mama Gretchen</strong> forgot to share her birthday wish list this fall, but she's still wishin' and hopin' a present or two will arrive for Christmas!</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/8-thoughtful-non-toy-gifts-for-baby" target="_blank">8 Thoughtful Non-Toy Gifts for Baby</a></strong> — Is your family asking for hints for presents to give baby? Moorea, guest posting at <strong>Natural Parents Network</strong>, offers this list of ideas that won't overwhelm your little one with toys.</li>
</ul><!-- END BOTTOM 2-COLUMN LIST CODE -->Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-55054211274557804602014-12-04T13:13:00.000-06:002014-12-04T13:16:20.890-06:00Mamatography 2014 - Week 48<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h3>Day 327 - Sunday - November 23</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V1ZLI2gKkoU/VICoNJGaHPI/AAAAAAAAIMw/rV7CcJrcSw0/s800/DSCF0658.JPG" width="550" title="Momma Jorje: Stretched Out" border="2"><br />
He's getting <i>so</i> tall!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><h3>Day 328 - Monday - November 24</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Rkj6DJ4BpJY/VICoOoZ2GkI/AAAAAAAAIM4/E2m-Ki2rdgA/s800/DSCF0674.JPG" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: On Blanket" border="2"><br />
If only you could keep them <i>contained</i> so easily.<br />
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<h3>Day 329 - Tuesday - November 25</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CBuGOM2LRR0/VICoPUIWXEI/AAAAAAAAINA/YslXoZ4GGPE/s800/DSCF0681.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Dinovember Campout" border="2"><br />
I think our <a href="http://dinovember.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">dinosaurs</a> really outdid themselves with their<br />
<b>tabletop camp out</b> and <i>actually</i> roasted marshmallows!<br />
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<h3>Day 330 - Wednesday - November 26</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ca3clNBvgFw/VICoQMZW-xI/AAAAAAAAINM/UyZAtmvlX_Y/s800/DSCF0693.JPG" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: Dinos and Puzzles" border="2"><br />
Sasha picked right up where the dinos left off.<br />
Then <b>showed them</b> the completed puzzle.<br />
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<h3>Day 331 - Thursday - November 27</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B5Awo32Rs28/VICoQ4iNWgI/AAAAAAAAINQ/ZgxNEJDO1hw/s400/DSCF0709.JPG" width="400" title="Momma Jorje: PlayPlace" border="2"><br />
Visitation... on Thanksgiving...<br />
Too short and too far to go back home. <b>Play Place</b> all to ourselves!<br />
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<h3>Day 332 - Friday - November 28</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D0IeQcXH33Q/VICoRllUpqI/AAAAAAAAINY/FxcBPndKJJw/s800/DSCF0719.JPG" width="550" title="Momma Jorje: Thanksgiving" border="2"><br />
Obligatory <b>Thanksgiving Meal</b> Picture - Celebrated on Friday.<br />
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<h3>Day 333 - Saturday - November 29</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MY8RF6CqGEw/VICoSbfB2xI/AAAAAAAAINg/oeJsqhEaxAA/s800/DSCF0726.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Fort Pocket" border="2"><br />
The dinos built a <b>fort</b>! The kids' favorite part was the pocket.<br />
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<a style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank"><img alt="mtbadge2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-udS4JzIMN4M/UsukEUxXREI/AAAAAAAAHJ4/iVWAQdfZymM/s800/mamatography.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="5" data-jpibfi-indexer="9" /></a><br />
<div title="mtbadge2" data-jpibfi-indexer="9"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;" title="mtbadge2" data-jpibfi-indexer="8">This post is part of the <strong><a title="Mamatography 2014 Invitation" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank">Mamatography 2014 Project</a></strong> with<strong><a title="Diary of a First Child" href="http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/" target="_blank"> Diary of a First Child</a></strong> and <strong><a title="Momma Jorje" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/" target="_blank">Momma Jorje</a></strong>.</div><p style="text-align: left;">We are taking (at least) a photo a day, a collage or a picture each week to keep a record of our year. Join us at any point during the year and start sharing your own daily photos!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Click <strong><em>Get the code here </em></strong>below to add the blog hop to your blog and join the fun. (Also <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank">sign up</a> to be added to a comment group!)</p><br />
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-19101564338028268032014-12-01T06:28:00.000-06:002014-12-01T06:28:00.041-06:00Put your boots out: It's Nikolaustag!Every year, <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2013/12/put-your-boots-out-its-nikolaustag.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> posts about her family's <b>St Nicholas Day</b> celebations after the fact. I kept suggesting it would be better if she could remind us all <i>beforehand</i> so we could join in! Last year she did it, just for me!! We didn't get much notice, but we got a little. This year, I'm republishing her post (with permission) as a guest post and with <i>more</i> notice!<br />
<br />
So: Let this be your reminder! <b>Put your boots out December 5th and Saint Nicholas might just stop by to tuck some shiny little goodies inside!</b><br />
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(Unless you've been naughty, of course. Then all bets are off.)<br />
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<hr width="80%" color="green"><br />
Since we speak some German at home, we like to learn about the culture as well. That's why we celebrate <a href="http://german.lifetips.com/faq/36211/0/what-do-people-do-on-nikolaustag/index.html" target="_blank">Nikolaustag</a>, or St. Nicholas Day, each year.<br />
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Because the <b>feast day of Saint Nicholas is December 6</b>, empty boots (Nikolausstiefel) generally go outside the door the night of December 5, the eve of Nikolaustag (Nikolausabend).<br />
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<center><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee159/lintpicker/nikolaustag-2-boots-full.jpg" border="0" alt="Put your boots out: It's Nikolaustag! == Hobo Mama" width="520"></center><br />
Nikolaus is sometimes accompanied by a servant named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knecht_Ruprecht" target="_blank">Knecht Ruprecht</a>, who hauls the bag and does some of the work of sussing out whether children deserve gifts or chastising. In some regions, children are literally quizzed or asked to perform some religious feat. Since we skip the whole naughty-or-nice bit with Santa, too, we just assume boots are going to be filled.<br />
<br />
<center><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee159/lintpicker/nikolaustag-3-digging-1.jpg" alt="Put your boots out: It's Nikolaustag! == Hobo Mama" width="520"></center><br />
And they always are!<br />
<br />
<center><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee159/lintpicker/nikolaustag-4-looking-1.jpg" alt="Put your boots out: It's Nikolaustag! == Hobo Mama" width="520"></center><br />
When I lived in Berlin in junior high, I always spent the night before Nikolaustag with a German friend and her family. Her mom did Nikolaustag up right! Just as we do here, they lived in a unit in a larger building so our boots (or shoes) just went in the hallway instead of outside — but Nikolaus always found us, anyway.<br />
<br />
<center><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee159/lintpicker/nikolaustag-5-pulling.jpg" alt="Put your boots out: It's Nikolaustag! == Hobo Mama" width="520"></center><br />
Usual gifts are fruit, cookies, nuts, candies, and little trinkets — much like a stocking. Kids are theoretically supposed to shine their boots first, but fire boots don't shine very well. You can also leave a carrot for Nikolaus' horse, but how would a horse get up our stairs?<br />
<br />
<center><img alt="Put your boots out: It's Nikolaustag! == Hobo Mama" border="0" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee159/lintpicker/Holidays/nikolaustag-shoes.jpg" width="520" /></center><br />
When we can't locate boots, we go with shoes. Nikolaus is cool with that.<br />
<br />
<center><img alt="Put your boots out: It's Nikolaustag! == Hobo Mama" border="0" src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee159/lintpicker/Holidays/nikolaustag-treasures.jpg" width="350" /></center><br />
I love looking back at Alrik's baldie-mullet phase. I bet even at 2 years old, he will be thrilled to receive toothbrushes, an orange, and string cheese. Easy-peasy.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nikolaus_bei_der_Kinderbescherung.JPG"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OUTyfZZP9SU/UqBDNcdNBGI/AAAAAAAAFn4/5d8QszNH_pA/s1600/459px-Nikolaus_bei_der_Kinderbescherung.JPG" alt="Put your boots out: It's Nikolaustag! == Hobo Mama" width="350" /></a><br />
<i>Photo by <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nikolaus_bei_der_Kinderbescherung.JPG" target="_blank">Richard Huber</a></i></center><br />
Here's what a traditional Nikolaus looks like — a bishop, you see, same as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas" target="_blank">the original Nikolaos</a>. He's tall and thin with a white beard. This fourth-century Greek saint is the basis for various St. Nicholas celebrations around the world as well as the branching out into Good Ol' St. Nick:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus, whose modern name comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas, itself from a series of elisions and corruptions of the transliteration of "Saint Nikolaos." {<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>}</blockquote><br />
I think St. Nicholas Day is a nice time to <b>remind kids to be secret Santas themselves</b> — looking for little ways they can give at this season and the rest of the year, too. Maybe they could leave a little gift for a sibling or do someone else's chore without being asked. You could choose a giving tree or other charity in your town to brighten up someone's Christmas. You could prettily bag some clementines for friends to leave at their door, ring the bell, and run. You could choose a far-off loved one to receive a surprise care package. I was thinking a nice Nikolaus twist for us would be to make and leave goodies and an explanatory note at our neighbors' doors — even if they forgot to put their boots out!<br />
<br />
For some extra fun, you could <b>incorporate some other activities</b> into your celebration:<br />
<ul><li><b>Polish or give a good scrub to the boots</b> or shoes you're going to put out!</li>
<li><b>Make your own boot craft</b> — sew together two pieces of fabric or felt in a boot shape, or cut out a boot shape from construction paper and decorate.</li>
<li><b>Bake cookies in the shapes of boots</b> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitre" target="_blank">mitres</a> (bishop's hat).</li>
<li><b>Draw Nikolaus</b> in his red robes with his tall hat, long beard, and staff.</li>
<li><b>Head to the <a href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/for-kids/" target="_blank">St. Nicholas Center's kids page</a></b> for printable crafts, story videos, and online games.</li>
<li><b>Sing traditional Nikolaustag songs</b>, such as "Lasst uns froh und munter sein" — <a href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/lasst-uns-froh/" target="_blank">both the German lyrics and an English translation are available here</a>, along with recorded versions you can listen to and use to sing along. Here's <a href="http://www.nikolaus-von-myra.de/lieder/index.html" target="_blank">sheet music of the melody</a> if you or your children want to pick it out on an instrument. <a href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/kind-old-man-st-nicholas/" target="_blank">"Kind Old Man St. Nicholas"</a> is an English version of a traditional German song. Here's the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kling_Gl%C3%B6ckchen" target="_blank">German and English and audio file for "Kling, Glöckchen" ("Ring, Little Bell")</a>, a traditional song that's pretty fun to sing. Here's a <a href="http://www.nikolaus-von-myra.de/lieder/nikolaus_lied.html" target="_blank">more recent Nikolaus-Lied</a> in German.</li>
<li><b>Listen to German natives sing songs of the season</b>, such as this Nikolaus-themed mp3 album, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00140ZVTK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00140ZVTK&linkCode=as2&tag=hobmam-20"><i>Kling Glöckchen Kling</i></a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hobmam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00140ZVTK" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> that features the song <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001414WSU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001414WSU&linkCode=as2&tag=hobmam-20">"Nikolaustag."</a></li>
<li><b>Read a St. Nicholas story</b>, such as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984309306/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0984309306&linkCode=as2&tag=hobmam-20"><i>The Fiercest Little Animal In The Forest</i></a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hobmam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0984309306" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1558584560/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1558584560&linkCode=as2&tag=hobmam-20"><i>The Gift from Saint Nicholas</i>.</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hobmam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1558584560" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /></li>
<li><b>Bake something Germanic and yummy</b> — maybe these <a href="http://germanfood.about.com/od/bakingindex/r/Nutella-Recipe-Cookie.htm" target="_blank">Nutella & cinnamon cookies</a>, <a href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/cookies-other-traditional/#Haselnussmakronen" target="_blank">hazelnut macaroons</a>, <a href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/29086-pfeffernusse-german-spice-cookies" target="_blank">traditional Pfeffernüsse</a> <a href="http://www.cleocoylerecipes.com/2012/12/pfeffernusse-gingerbread-snowball.html" target="_blank">(pepper nuts)</a>, <a href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/candy/#Nikolausschnitten" target="_blank">Nikolausschnitten (fruit dainties)</a>, <a href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/candy/#Schokoladekugeln" target="_blank">Schokoladekugeln (chocolate balls)</a>, <a href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/candy/#Potatoes" target="_blank">marzipan carrots and potatoes</a> (for the horse — but really for you), or <a href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/breads/#Nikolaussteifel" target="_blank">bread baked in a boot shape</a> and decorated with sweets. For breakfast or a less sugar-heavy delectation, <a href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/media/images/b/banana-crozier.jpg">slice and alternate bananas and strawberries in the shape of a staff</a> or fry up some <a href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/main-dishes/#Pfannkuchen" target="_blank">egg-based Pfannkuchen (pancakes)</a>.</li>
</ul><br />
<center><img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee159/lintpicker/nikolaustag-7-prizes.jpg" alt="Put your boots out: It's Nikolaustag! == Hobo Mama" width="520"></center><br />
Nikolaustag is fun <i>and</i> cultural. Give it a try with your kids this year!<br />
<br />
<hr width="80%" color="green"><br />
Lauren blogs at <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> about natural<img src="http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee159/lintpicker/wavy-hair-12.jpg" alt="Hobo Mama" title="Hobo Mama" width="200" align="left" class="alignleft" hspace="5"> and attachment parenting and is the co-founder of <a href="http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/" target="_blank">Natural Parents Network</a>. She lives and writes near the beach with her husband, Sam, and their sons: seven-year-old Mikko, three-year-old Alrik, and newborn Karsten. Lauren happily shares her knowledge of German customs and language with all three.<br />
<br />
<i>This post originally appeared on <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2013/12/put-your-boots-out-its-nikolaustag.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a>.</i>Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-22571567313214439142014-11-26T06:48:00.000-06:002014-11-26T06:48:00.540-06:00Mamatography 2014 - Week 47<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h3>Day 320 - Sunday - November 16</h3><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEnl55DRzqiFBjQt26A67hW9A21BB84ERm_GWXzLoFMTHzQ-ETelJzPTAgZ87Dq7KtNvY0RcBLu4o4fr22OdhCij8QuF69682L7xWz8-bEssaTzxfYAJVzIndtQ-lzplrwG89f6Wipxo/s800/DSCF0584.JPG" width="400" title="Momma Jorje: Mittens" border="2"><br />
Playing with <b>Winter weather apparel</b>.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><h3>Day 321 - Monday - November 17</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-uNNyzNnAdKo/VHVWHtZBoWI/AAAAAAAAILs/f_vEFOJa-A4/s800/DSCF0605.JPG" width="550" title="Momma Jorje: Chicken Curtain" border="2"><br />
I finally got my little <b>denim curtain</b> installed for one <b>nesting box</b>.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 322 - Tuesday - November 18</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EhCKsZFJxvE/VHVXSDSRIWI/AAAAAAAAIL0/c3dogXcXaow/s800/DSCF0612.JPG" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: Story Time" border="2"><br />
It does not get much <b>cuter</b>!<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 323 - Wednesday - November 19</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8fRDHXqFvCo/VHVX8RRh2PI/AAAAAAAAIL8/jJooW_Hx9N4/s800/DSCF0628.JPG" width="400" title="Momma Jorje: Floor Furnace Safety Gate" border="2"><br />
I finally got a couple of <b>safety gates</b> and got this put together.<br />
I wish we had done this last year! <i>No more burns</i> for Spencer!<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 324 - Thursday - November 20</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ka491q_7LQs/VHVZpbH7T0I/AAAAAAAAIMI/kugvzh9fa90/s800/DSCF0638.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Visitation" border="2"><br />
<b>Visitation</b><br />
<br />
<h3>Day 325 - Friday - November 21</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qf3HyK2Lek0/VHVaZQcExQI/AAAAAAAAIMQ/5MjWFVuU2VM/s800/DSCF0647.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Feed Store" border="2"><br />
<b>Mud</b> is the <i>sweetest</i>! I could write a post all about her.<br />
She and Spencer share a love of horses.<br />
<b>She inscribed her childhood horse book and gave it to Spencer.</b><br />
<br />
<h3>Day 326 - Saturday - November 22</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KKzFxlShMWI/VHVbSqFqWYI/AAAAAAAAIMc/13cxTyGh_PE/s400/DSCF0653.JPG" width="400" title="Momma Jorje: Plumbing" border="2"><br />
<b>Plumbing is disgusting work.</b><br />
I rented a manual snake (sink auger) and fixed this problem <i>myself</i>!<br />
Of course, once I got the pipes apart I realized all I needed was <i>a hanger</i>!<br />
<br />
<a style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank"><img alt="mtbadge2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-udS4JzIMN4M/UsukEUxXREI/AAAAAAAAHJ4/iVWAQdfZymM/s800/mamatography.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="5" data-jpibfi-indexer="9" /></a><br />
<div title="mtbadge2" data-jpibfi-indexer="9"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;" title="mtbadge2" data-jpibfi-indexer="8">This post is part of the <strong><a title="Mamatography 2014 Invitation" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank">Mamatography 2014 Project</a></strong> with<strong><a title="Diary of a First Child" href="http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/" target="_blank"> Diary of a First Child</a></strong> and <strong><a title="Momma Jorje" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/" target="_blank">Momma Jorje</a></strong>.</div><p style="text-align: left;">We are taking (at least) a photo a day, a collage or a picture each week to keep a record of our year. Join us at any point during the year and start sharing your own daily photos!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Click <strong><em>Get the code here </em></strong>below to add the blog hop to your blog and join the fun. (Also <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank">sign up</a> to be added to a comment group!)</p><br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h3>Day 313 - Sunday - November 9</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AeG1u1OgDsY/VG1iUD8v4FI/AAAAAAAAIKc/rRpYCCwlMOs/s800/DSCF0531.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Dinovember" border="2"><br />
<a href="http://dinovember.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Found our <b>dinosaurs</b></a> using the bathroom sink as their personal wading pool.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><h3>Day 314 - Monday - November 10</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MXrwlBAj4vE/VG1jOX6aNRI/AAAAAAAAIKk/YiqFPOwsaOc/s800/DSCF0539.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Artistic Genius" border="2"><br />
This little genius figured out he could dig out a piece of "coal"<br />
from the fire pit and <b>use it to draw</b> on the burn barrel.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 315 - Tuesday - November 11</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oOXGSSCd5No/VG1jqvmuavI/AAAAAAAAIKs/Btla4Qhc-X0/s800/DSCF0544.JPG" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: Hen Foster" border="2"><br />
This hen from my neighbor's pen has decided to <i>live among our chickens</i>.<br />
She is warming up to me.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 316 - Wednesday - November 12</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rpg_s3N1Y8E/VG1kSk3HL1I/AAAAAAAAIK4/9f8PWU0zdus/s400/DSCF0550.JPG" width="400" title="Momma Jorje: Fuse Box" border="2"><br />
Yes, this is our <b>ancient fuse box</b>.<br />
My electrician brother says this system is actually great!<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 317 - Thursday - November 13</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F15wlgvQn4Q/VG1lAIHne3I/AAAAAAAAILA/6vFlLNAxt9A/s800/DSCF0556.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Teen Tablet Sharing" border="2"><br />
Ronni's boyfriend loaned him the <b>tablet</b> while his phone is getting fixed.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 318 - Friday - November 14</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zCIyVCIx34s/VG1luh_nxAI/AAAAAAAAILM/I-lZQgSgDws/s400/DSCF0563.JPG" width="400" title="Momma Jorje: Hyper Flexible" border="2"><br />
Spencer is <b>Hyper Flexible</b>. This is a common sight in our home.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 319 - Saturday - November 15</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zfiYlX3T_2I/VG1mVrlO91I/AAAAAAAAILU/IyQHRqq7qxw/s800/DSCF0580.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Vanity Plates" border="2"><br />
Yep, I'm still doing this thing.<br />
<br />
<a style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank"><img alt="mtbadge2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-udS4JzIMN4M/UsukEUxXREI/AAAAAAAAHJ4/iVWAQdfZymM/s800/mamatography.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="5" data-jpibfi-indexer="9" /></a><br />
<div title="mtbadge2" data-jpibfi-indexer="9"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;" title="mtbadge2" data-jpibfi-indexer="8">This post is part of the <strong><a title="Mamatography 2014 Invitation" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank">Mamatography 2014 Project</a></strong> with<strong><a title="Diary of a First Child" href="http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/" target="_blank"> Diary of a First Child</a></strong> and <strong><a title="Momma Jorje" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/" target="_blank">Momma Jorje</a></strong>.</div><p style="text-align: left;">We are taking (at least) a photo a day, a collage or a picture each week to keep a record of our year. Join us at any point during the year and start sharing your own daily photos!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Click <strong><em>Get the code here </em></strong>below to add the blog hop to your blog and join the fun. (Also <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank">sign up</a> to be added to a comment group!)</p><br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h3>Day 306 - Sunday - November 2</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Utnopn9pr50/VGwzVAcxprI/AAAAAAAAIJU/wIWZ13MdlbU/s800/DSCF0415.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Sleeping Boy" border="2"><br />
He rolled / climbed down off the couch in his sleep... to <b>sleep on the floor</b>.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><h3>Day 307 - Monday - November 3</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yyGUS1e6GSw/VGw0PxuqabI/AAAAAAAAIJc/4h960vWSzww/s800/DSCF0422.JPG" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: ... and toes!" border="2"><br />
... <b>and toes!</b> He loves this song.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 308 - Tuesday - November 4</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OZIXwwNRsw4/VGw1BUjXPfI/AAAAAAAAIJo/VlkXp7eYXtw/s800/DSCF0451.JPG" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: Dental Surgery" border="2"><br />
So glad I got this pic, Sasha was upset she didn't get to ride in the wagon.<br />
She was just too doped to recall. <b>Dental Surgery.</b> Let's not do that some more.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 309 - Wednesday - November 5</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vHPIA6xS1pw/VGw1t1AMOeI/AAAAAAAAIJw/Qjy3Yt-L47I/s800/DSCF0475.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Princess" border="2"><br />
My <i>beautiful princess</i>, out on a cool afternoon,<br />
barefoot and wearing a warm, floor length gown.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 310 - Thursday - November 6</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xRTS4m4cZFc/VGw2t-NYiWI/AAAAAAAAIJ8/6kEnzpI0Bck/s800/DSCF0498.JPG" width="400" title="Momma Jorje: Foxes" border="2"><br />
The <b>fox costumes</b> continue to be a big hit!<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 311 - Friday - November 7</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-t74-9ImwExY/VGw3GN2p3rI/AAAAAAAAIKE/csUHWDBkIiI/s800/DSCF0518.JPG" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: Mamatograghy" border="2"><br />
<b>Creepy? Terrifying? <i>or a bit of both?</i></b><br />
I got her out as soon as I snapped the pic! She was <i>not</i> in distress.<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 312 - Saturday - November 8</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FqMl-EQ1cpU/VGw3jM3yFSI/AAAAAAAAIKM/DfWFIgpVMng/s800/DSCF0527.JPG" width="400" title="Momma Jorje: Dinovember" border="2"><br />
Sasha is loving our participation in <a href="http://dinovember.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><b>Dinovember</b></a>!<br />
Saturday morning, we found our dinos watching <a href="http://www.harryandhisbucketfullofdinosaurs.com/CDN/" target="_blank"><i>Harry and his Bucket of Dinosaurs</i></a>.<br />
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<a style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank"><img alt="mtbadge2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-udS4JzIMN4M/UsukEUxXREI/AAAAAAAAHJ4/iVWAQdfZymM/s800/mamatography.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="5" data-jpibfi-indexer="9" /></a><br />
<div title="mtbadge2" data-jpibfi-indexer="9"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;" title="mtbadge2" data-jpibfi-indexer="8">This post is part of the <strong><a title="Mamatography 2014 Invitation" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank">Mamatography 2014 Project</a></strong> with<strong><a title="Diary of a First Child" href="http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/" target="_blank"> Diary of a First Child</a></strong> and <strong><a title="Momma Jorje" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/" target="_blank">Momma Jorje</a></strong>.</div><p style="text-align: left;">We are taking (at least) a photo a day, a collage or a picture each week to keep a record of our year. Join us at any point during the year and start sharing your own daily photos!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Click <strong><em>Get the code here </em></strong>below to add the blog hop to your blog and join the fun. (Also <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank">sign up</a> to be added to a comment group!)</p><br />
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Momma Jorjehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17736034293320117257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5296280365367932815.post-81274111681483479492014-11-14T06:50:00.000-06:002014-11-14T06:50:00.036-06:00Mamatography 2014 - Week 44<b>Seriously behind, but I'm trying to catch back up!</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h3>Day 299 - Sunday - October 26</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C5e_puiPAGE/VGWC1_CWXGI/AAAAAAAAIIA/2pD-LvzO7W8/s800/DSCF0352.JPG" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: Kritter Keeper" border="2"><br />
Our friend came to take 2 <i>Oklahoma Brown Tarantulas</i> away to breed.<br />
He brought his own <b>Kritter Keepers</b>.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><h3>Day 300 - Monday - October 27</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IePO04CGNKY/VGWDQzH5dQI/AAAAAAAAIII/kcMUiIFuei8/s800/DSCF0356.JPG" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: Toddler and Fried Chicken" border="2"><br />
Tried making <b>Gluten Free Fried Chicken</b><br />
That is his father's boy: <i>loves</i> Fried Chicken!<br />
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<h3>Day 301 - Tuesday - October 28</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DZVFiN6Muz4/VGWDXQb8iZI/AAAAAAAAIIQ/4Iu67pGy7Ec/s800/DSCF0362.JPG" width="350" title="Momma Jorje: Toddler Tween" border="2"><br />
What happened to my <b>baby</b>? Who is this kid on my couch?<br />
<br />
<h3>Day 302 - Wednesday - October 29</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iIzjqOH2zNA/VGWHTZmHwxI/AAAAAAAAIIc/IVSlW04kT5Q/s800/DSCF0369.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Backyard Play with Friends" border="2"><br />
I love having a <b>yard</b>! Sasha and Spencer play with their friend, <b>Cady</b>.<br />
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<h3>Day 303 - Thursday - October 30</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wEx2v0gt4fQ/VGWHkJYoa8I/AAAAAAAAIIw/EdTLEkVHRPE/s800/DSCF0383.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Playground Attack!" border="2"><br />
Daddy... and his 3 children torturing him. <b>Great fun!</b><br />
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<h3>Day 304 - Friday - October 31</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-t46m-O0ptmM/VGWIC-q_VsI/AAAAAAAAII4/-Tpv8hssEvk/s400/DSCF0400.JPG" width="400" title="Momma Jorje: What Does the Fox Say?" border="2"><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofNR_WkoCE" target="_blank" title="YouTube: What Does the Fox Say?"><b>What Does the Fox Say?</b></a><br />
"Happy Halloween!"<br />
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<h3>Day 305 - Saturday - November 1</h3><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Buy4AtL0_zU/VGWLT5YhjyI/AAAAAAAAIJE/1IByRkiov9o/s800/DSCF0408.JPG" width="500" title="Momma Jorje: Snail" border="2"><br />
One of <b>Sasha's pet snails</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank"><img alt="mtbadge2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-udS4JzIMN4M/UsukEUxXREI/AAAAAAAAHJ4/iVWAQdfZymM/s800/mamatography.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="5" data-jpibfi-indexer="9" /></a><br />
<div title="mtbadge2" data-jpibfi-indexer="9"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;" title="mtbadge2" data-jpibfi-indexer="8">This post is part of the <strong><a title="Mamatography 2014 Invitation" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank">Mamatography 2014 Project</a></strong> with<strong><a title="Diary of a First Child" href="http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/" target="_blank"> Diary of a First Child</a></strong> and <strong><a title="Momma Jorje" href="http://www.mommajorje.com/" target="_blank">Momma Jorje</a></strong>.</div><p style="text-align: left;">We are taking (at least) a photo a day, a collage or a picture each week to keep a record of our year. Join us at any point during the year and start sharing your own daily photos!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Click <strong><em>Get the code here </em></strong>below to add the blog hop to your blog and join the fun. (Also <a href="http://www.mommajorje.com/2013/12/mamatography-2014-sign-up-now.html" target="_blank">sign up</a> to be added to a comment group!)</p><br />
</div><br />
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