After seeing Sleeping Beauty, this is the costume E wanted
Our little kitty kat
Princess E and cousin H
1 year ago
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Trunk or Treat!!!
Our church has a trunk or treat every Sunday before Halloween. We used to switch the clocks back that Sunday so it was dark, but now it feels like you are just walking around taking candy out of cars instead of really T-or-Ting. And sadly, the attendance has dropped WAY off. We still take the kids since it is a safe place to experience their first few trick or treats. Iz ran circles around the parking lot the whole time, so pictures are scarce.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Random day at park
I feel like I am starting to title my blog posts like piece of art....
With the weather being so beautiful in October, we try to take the kids out as much as possible.
Look Mommy! A-pane!!!!
With the weather being so beautiful in October, we try to take the kids out as much as possible.
Look Mommy! A-pane!!!!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
More from Jacob's Bday
This wasn't his real party. I didn't get any pics of that because I was busy trying not to fall over on my skates. But we did have pizza with the family the night before his Bday. I don't have any pics of the older kids. They were just too busy to stop and smile. And, honestly, we were too busy chasing little people around.
E's turn
E and her bff J
Look at my teeth!
Iz riding the m-go-round
E's turn
E and her bff J
Look at my teeth!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Can you guess how old I am today???
He looks much more like a teenager in this picture. In fact, I got a little misty the first time I saw the picture in his backpack. I always think I have longer until he gets older. He was born a month early (his original edd was 11/14). He tried to join us in September, but the Dr. was able to stop my labor that time. As you can see he has always been eager to grow up faster than we'd like him to.
He now rides his bike to and from school with friends and didn't ask for a single toy for his birthday. He asked for a video camera to make movies (which he got from his Nana) and a cell phone (I'm still considering that one). He is the best big brother a sister could ask for!
Happy 9th Bday J!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
What have we been doing???
The girls were a little under the weather last week, so everything came to a halt. We're not really sure if it's allergies or something else. It hasn't slowed them down much as far as playing though. I've been super busy with Lango as I start looking for those perfect teachers! And as the weather FINALLY starts to cool off, we have spent a lot more time outside.
E went to a model search event and got a free toothbrush
Sharing juice boxes...
Discovering nature
Nature at the zoo
Sharing a banana with daddy
Getting ready for church
Throwing a tantrum while getting ready to go to church
Reading a book
Oh my runny nose mommy!
Discovering nature
Nature at the zoo
Sharing a banana with daddy
Getting ready for church
Throwing a tantrum while getting ready to go to church
Reading a book
Oh my runny nose mommy!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Exciting news!
Some of you may have already received this via email:
I am pleased to announce my position as the new director of Lango DFW North! Lango offers foreign language classes for children ages 18 months- 9 years. At Lango, children learn Spanish, French, or Mandarin in small-group, 45-minute full immersion classes 1-2 times per week. Our teachers use culturally based music, art, games, and stories to teach a second language in an environment kids will love. Through immersion-based classes, children will make developmental strides, experience other cultures and make new friends.
My plan at this point is to have classes starting this January. In the summer, we offer language-immersion day camps! Right now my first objective is finding locations and teachers to hold class.
In the mean time, please feel free to check out our website at http://www.langokids.com/ . I don’t have the DFW North section up and running yet, so please feel free to ask any questions you may have. And, please feel free to forward to any parents you think might be interested in children’s foreign language as well as native speakers of French, Spanish, or Mandarin that might be interested in teaching. Must love kids!
If you have any questions, or would like to be on our mailing list, please contact me! langodfw@verizon.net
My plan at this point is to have classes starting this January. In the summer, we offer language-immersion day camps! Right now my first objective is finding locations and teachers to hold class.
In the mean time, please feel free to check out our website at http://www.langokids.com/ . I don’t have the DFW North section up and running yet, so please feel free to ask any questions you may have. And, please feel free to forward to any parents you think might be interested in children’s foreign language as well as native speakers of French, Spanish, or Mandarin that might be interested in teaching. Must love kids!
If you have any questions, or would like to be on our mailing list, please contact me! langodfw@verizon.net
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Something we all should be concerned with
About a month ago, I read a couple of books that started a new trend in our family. The books mostly talked about the health benefits of eating organic, whole, minimally-processed foods, but it also informed of hidden dangers lurking in everything we use. City water treated with chlorine, artificial sweeteners, shampoos with sodium laurel sulfates (SLS). The most toxic thing in your bathroom, one book said, is probably your lipstick!
Naturally I was concerned about the health of my family, so we have converted most of what we eat to organic produce, nitrate free lunch meats, whole grains, and we have ditched high fructose corn syrup. I bought natural shampoos, body soaps, paraben-free moisturizer and deodorants, and we are currently looking for a filtering shower head.
A lot of friends and family roll their eyes at me, but the truth is that these things (aside from the awful deodorant) taste better and make our skin feel better. We love making our food as colorful as possible by adding organic avocados, tomatoes, and spouts to ordinary turkey sandwiches! It feels better to eat and live clean.
Today as I was watching my morning news show, a piece came on about the dangers of teen girls an their products. From what I understand, they tested 20 random teens and every single one of them had harmful chemicals in their blood (such as parabens, SLS, formaldehyde). They also said that the average teen uses 17 beauty products a day. That seems like a lot, but add up what you use. (BTW, toothpaste has SLS in it too...nice hunh?).
They gave a list of ingredients to avoid in your products to reduce the amount of chemical exposure. My notes are included in red for your reading pleasure.
— DMDM hydantoin and imidanzolidinyl urea, which are toxic contaminants
DMDM hydantoin is a preservative that works by releasing formaldehyde into the product. It is used in shampoos and cosmetics to prevent molds, mildews, and bacterial spoilage.
— Fragrance and dyes, which can lead to allergies, cancer and problems of the nervous system
— Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone, which can cause allergies and problems of the nervous system
— Parbens or “-parben,” which can lead to hormone disruption
Parabens are phytoestrogens (plant hormones) found in plants such as blueberries. They are used as preservatives in food, cosmetics, sunscreens, shampoos, and many other products...like lipstick.
— “PEG” and “-eth,” which are toxic contaminants
Polyethylene glycol. Used in toothpastes and creams as stabilizers. Some report that this chemical has a "low toxicity"...but when it is in everything you use??? Who knows.
— Sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate, which can cause skin damage
Commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products that we expect to "lather".
— Triclosan and triclocarban, which can lead to problems with the thyroid and environmental concerns Found especially in antibacterial products and plastics with microban. Found in 75% of all liquid hand soaps and 30% of bar soap. Studies have shown Triclosan to be present in the milk of 3 out of 5 nursing women. Studies on regarding the effects on the thyroid gland led to evidence of a hypothermic effect (lowers body temperature) and a "non-specific depressant effect on the central nervous system. Good times.
— Triehanolamine (TEA), which can cause allergies and contain toxic contaminants
It's scary to see all the weirdness they put in things. Anyway, if you are interested you can check out the full report here and listen to what Dr. Manny had to say regarding the report. Something that really caught my attention is that for years we have been hearing people say that the average age of puberty-onset is dropping. One example was premature breast development in 8-9 year old girls. Now they are showing evidence of hormone-altering chemicals in teen girls' blood. Coincidence? You decide!
The full report
The analysis
Naturally I was concerned about the health of my family, so we have converted most of what we eat to organic produce, nitrate free lunch meats, whole grains, and we have ditched high fructose corn syrup. I bought natural shampoos, body soaps, paraben-free moisturizer and deodorants, and we are currently looking for a filtering shower head.
A lot of friends and family roll their eyes at me, but the truth is that these things (aside from the awful deodorant) taste better and make our skin feel better. We love making our food as colorful as possible by adding organic avocados, tomatoes, and spouts to ordinary turkey sandwiches! It feels better to eat and live clean.
Today as I was watching my morning news show, a piece came on about the dangers of teen girls an their products. From what I understand, they tested 20 random teens and every single one of them had harmful chemicals in their blood (such as parabens, SLS, formaldehyde). They also said that the average teen uses 17 beauty products a day. That seems like a lot, but add up what you use. (BTW, toothpaste has SLS in it too...nice hunh?).
They gave a list of ingredients to avoid in your products to reduce the amount of chemical exposure. My notes are included in red for your reading pleasure.
— DMDM hydantoin and imidanzolidinyl urea, which are toxic contaminants
DMDM hydantoin is a preservative that works by releasing formaldehyde into the product. It is used in shampoos and cosmetics to prevent molds, mildews, and bacterial spoilage.
— Fragrance and dyes, which can lead to allergies, cancer and problems of the nervous system
— Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone, which can cause allergies and problems of the nervous system
— Parbens or “-parben,” which can lead to hormone disruption
Parabens are phytoestrogens (plant hormones) found in plants such as blueberries. They are used as preservatives in food, cosmetics, sunscreens, shampoos, and many other products...like lipstick.
— “PEG” and “-eth,” which are toxic contaminants
Polyethylene glycol. Used in toothpastes and creams as stabilizers. Some report that this chemical has a "low toxicity"...but when it is in everything you use??? Who knows.
— Sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate, which can cause skin damage
Commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products that we expect to "lather".
— Triclosan and triclocarban, which can lead to problems with the thyroid and environmental concerns Found especially in antibacterial products and plastics with microban. Found in 75% of all liquid hand soaps and 30% of bar soap. Studies have shown Triclosan to be present in the milk of 3 out of 5 nursing women. Studies on regarding the effects on the thyroid gland led to evidence of a hypothermic effect (lowers body temperature) and a "non-specific depressant effect on the central nervous system. Good times.
— Triehanolamine (TEA), which can cause allergies and contain toxic contaminants
It's scary to see all the weirdness they put in things. Anyway, if you are interested you can check out the full report here and listen to what Dr. Manny had to say regarding the report. Something that really caught my attention is that for years we have been hearing people say that the average age of puberty-onset is dropping. One example was premature breast development in 8-9 year old girls. Now they are showing evidence of hormone-altering chemicals in teen girls' blood. Coincidence? You decide!
The full report
The analysis
Pre-school update
Thank you everyone for your prayers and thoughts. Emma had the worst day at school on Monday crying most of the time. Through those tears she somehow managed to make a baby Moses in a basket during craft time. She is very proud of it.
Today was the best she has had yet. She cried when she was dropped off, but Mrs. J said she didn't cry the rest of the day. She also took pictures of her and sent them home so we could see her playing happily and enjoying snack time. Her favorite thing about school must be the hand washing. She always wants to wash her hands over and over. Maybe she will pass on that passion to her siblings!
Today was the best she has had yet. She cried when she was dropped off, but Mrs. J said she didn't cry the rest of the day. She also took pictures of her and sent them home so we could see her playing happily and enjoying snack time. Her favorite thing about school must be the hand washing. She always wants to wash her hands over and over. Maybe she will pass on that passion to her siblings!
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