But don't worry... you can't fool your Aunt with that to-die-for toothy grin of yours. I'm on to you....
look who turned 1
Happy Birthday Sophia! You look marvelous at 1...
But don't worry... you can't fool your Aunt with that to-die-for toothy grin of yours. I'm on to you....
But don't worry... you can't fool your Aunt with that to-die-for toothy grin of yours. I'm on to you....
eid mubarak!
Eid Mubarak {blessed festival} to all of you! Eid fell on Sunday this year - after 30 days of focusing on our faith and patience - bringing us all closer together as a family, community, and around the world. Traditionally, Eid is celebrated for three days, where children gather among their elders, and a celebration of family encircles us all...
It was a festivities of gifts from family all around - each bag revealing a new activity the kids couldn't wait to dig into - especially the candy. We joke that really, that's all the kids would want since candy isn't an every day norm for them. But still, we couldn't help but give each child a toy embracing their characters now - like binoculars and a safari view finder for Hamazah who loves everything wild in the jungle... a tu-tu and pink glittery slippers for Ava who loves to twirl... cars and trains that make Noah zoom even in his sleep... and a new doll and books for baby Sophia...
Their calendar chain didn't survive the 30 days [mental note, use a poster calendar next year. Ava & Noah thought Eid would get here faster if they ripped off more loops off the chain!] but come Sunday morning, they were ready to enjoy the celebration of joyful living, new beginnings, and family...
From our family to yours - Eid Mubarak!
It was a festivities of gifts from family all around - each bag revealing a new activity the kids couldn't wait to dig into - especially the candy. We joke that really, that's all the kids would want since candy isn't an every day norm for them. But still, we couldn't help but give each child a toy embracing their characters now - like binoculars and a safari view finder for Hamazah who loves everything wild in the jungle... a tu-tu and pink glittery slippers for Ava who loves to twirl... cars and trains that make Noah zoom even in his sleep... and a new doll and books for baby Sophia...
Their calendar chain didn't survive the 30 days [mental note, use a poster calendar next year. Ava & Noah thought Eid would get here faster if they ripped off more loops off the chain!] but come Sunday morning, they were ready to enjoy the celebration of joyful living, new beginnings, and family...
From our family to yours - Eid Mubarak!
water pops!
Summer's are not summers without an icee melting in your mouth. I remember walking to the corner store with my sister on hot days just to buy a 10 cent popsicle that would be finished before we'd turn the corner back to head home. Those posicles are still around - and now you can buy them even in bulk. So when Aaron brought a box home, I knew I was in trouble.
For starters - there's nothing healthy about them - full of sugar and flavoring.... and of course - the kids love them. So when the box ran out, we knew the extra effort of homemade popsicles would be better for us all around. Aaron's been so great about filling the molds with natural juices, or blending a concoction from the fruit bowl for the kids to enjoy after dinner, swimming, or an episode of their favorite show.
But we've recently been slacking off in the snack department for Ava - and she's taken notice. So much so, that she has taken the making of special treats into her own hands - Ava style.
After dinner last night, Ava declared, "I'm going to have a water pop!" I disregarded her comment about the water - and informed her that we only had ice cream sandwhices left in the freezer. But to my surprise, when I opened the freezer door, there stood 6 beautiful pops in their stand.
I pulled the sleeve out for Ava and immediately zoomed in for a closer look. What kind of fruit did Aaron blend this time? It was crystal clear - like water - when all of a sudden Ava said, "It's a water pop!" and then grabbed the iceberg dessert out of my hand.
"Did you make those with Grandma when she was here Ava?"
"No. I made them all by myself," she said with a squeak in her voice, licking the water drops quickly reaching her wrists.
Ah yes - it's all coming back to me. When she was in the kitchen a little bit longer than usual the other day - I didn't think twice when she said she was going to go make water pops. I registered that to mean she was going to go get a drink of water. I figured the sounds of all the drawers opening were of her looking for towels because she spilled water while trying to fill her cup from the dispenser. Although I'm surprised that she did all of this all by herself, I am also very proud...
Because there's much to be said from this experience - even with just water. To start with, children should be very much involved in the kitchen and seeing how different foods react together to create something else. Cooking is basically science with food and they get to see first hand what happens when you boil, freeze, whisk, mix... and so on. Ava has picked up on these different methods, and learned that one of her favorite desserts - popsicles - is actually made from such processes - ones that she isn't afraid to do alone - especially with water - her most favorite...
For starters - there's nothing healthy about them - full of sugar and flavoring.... and of course - the kids love them. So when the box ran out, we knew the extra effort of homemade popsicles would be better for us all around. Aaron's been so great about filling the molds with natural juices, or blending a concoction from the fruit bowl for the kids to enjoy after dinner, swimming, or an episode of their favorite show.
But we've recently been slacking off in the snack department for Ava - and she's taken notice. So much so, that she has taken the making of special treats into her own hands - Ava style.
After dinner last night, Ava declared, "I'm going to have a water pop!" I disregarded her comment about the water - and informed her that we only had ice cream sandwhices left in the freezer. But to my surprise, when I opened the freezer door, there stood 6 beautiful pops in their stand.
I pulled the sleeve out for Ava and immediately zoomed in for a closer look. What kind of fruit did Aaron blend this time? It was crystal clear - like water - when all of a sudden Ava said, "It's a water pop!" and then grabbed the iceberg dessert out of my hand.
"Did you make those with Grandma when she was here Ava?"
"No. I made them all by myself," she said with a squeak in her voice, licking the water drops quickly reaching her wrists.
Ah yes - it's all coming back to me. When she was in the kitchen a little bit longer than usual the other day - I didn't think twice when she said she was going to go make water pops. I registered that to mean she was going to go get a drink of water. I figured the sounds of all the drawers opening were of her looking for towels because she spilled water while trying to fill her cup from the dispenser. Although I'm surprised that she did all of this all by herself, I am also very proud...
Because there's much to be said from this experience - even with just water. To start with, children should be very much involved in the kitchen and seeing how different foods react together to create something else. Cooking is basically science with food and they get to see first hand what happens when you boil, freeze, whisk, mix... and so on. Ava has picked up on these different methods, and learned that one of her favorite desserts - popsicles - is actually made from such processes - ones that she isn't afraid to do alone - especially with water - her most favorite...
the grace of friendship
It's been a difficult past few weeks for our family - with lots on our minds and hearts - emotions stretched so deep that our bodies responded with unique symptoms and ailments. And how fitting, that during Ramadan, we face such challenges... and turn to our faith to help us look even deeper inside ourselves, count our blessings, and draw on our humility and patience to help overcome these trials...
But some days this month - it has been especially difficult. Especially challenging - when the unexpected happens - laws of nature? Good karma? Grace? that flows through the door to help us get back on track - reminding us instantly how our faith in all that we know and don't - are powerful.
Moments after watercoloring today - we looked out the window and saw Aunt Corbin and Uncle Dave walking towards the door ...
Our best friends - going back to college years, where the four of us have shared many of life's blessings - from double dating to being in each other's weddings... helping each other fix up our homes to vacationing on beaches. From published articles, film productions, starting a company, and a family - some of the best of times - sprinkled across the last decade - spent together.
So I guess I shouldn't be too surprised when our dear friends, unaware of all our trials, stopped by today -- just because. Inbetween their errands, they stopped by to give the kids love and hugs, and quickly catch up with life's crazy details that has us all running. Corbin carried in with her a very thoughtfully beautiful Corbin-esque gourmet dinner spread -- Their kind gesture gave Aaron [who also has the flu] the night off from cooking so that we all could enjoy our favorite family hour without its pre-stress woes, wondering what to make.
It was a divine gesture indeed. My work meeting this afternoon ran until 8:30 - but dinner was ready and delicious from start to finish...
Well.... almost. The kids didn't finish their chicken florentine, so we'll have to wait until tomorrow before we can devour these cupcakes [smile]. Thank you Corbin & Dave!
And thank you for being a part of our family.
Much love,
Zarlacht, Aaron, Ava & Noah
But some days this month - it has been especially difficult. Especially challenging - when the unexpected happens - laws of nature? Good karma? Grace? that flows through the door to help us get back on track - reminding us instantly how our faith in all that we know and don't - are powerful.
Moments after watercoloring today - we looked out the window and saw Aunt Corbin and Uncle Dave walking towards the door ...
Our best friends - going back to college years, where the four of us have shared many of life's blessings - from double dating to being in each other's weddings... helping each other fix up our homes to vacationing on beaches. From published articles, film productions, starting a company, and a family - some of the best of times - sprinkled across the last decade - spent together.
So I guess I shouldn't be too surprised when our dear friends, unaware of all our trials, stopped by today -- just because. Inbetween their errands, they stopped by to give the kids love and hugs, and quickly catch up with life's crazy details that has us all running. Corbin carried in with her a very thoughtfully beautiful Corbin-esque gourmet dinner spread -- Their kind gesture gave Aaron [who also has the flu] the night off from cooking so that we all could enjoy our favorite family hour without its pre-stress woes, wondering what to make.
It was a divine gesture indeed. My work meeting this afternoon ran until 8:30 - but dinner was ready and delicious from start to finish...
Well.... almost. The kids didn't finish their chicken florentine, so we'll have to wait until tomorrow before we can devour these cupcakes [smile]. Thank you Corbin & Dave!
And thank you for being a part of our family.
Much love,
Zarlacht, Aaron, Ava & Noah
the funny faces of picky eaters
a: I don't like it!
me: How do you know you don't like it if you haven't tried it?
a: because I don't!
me: ava, please don't act like that. Your brother is watching you and he is going to copy you. No whining - behave right now!
a: but I'm NOT whining [raising her voice and squinting her nose]
n:
me: ava, can you smile for the camera please?
a:
Noah laughs...
and then the copycat makes his funny face too...
Dinner time can become somewhat of a dramatic show. There's a plethora of parenting articles speaking about this subject, from tips on table ettiquete, to handling negative behavior, to even converting picky eaters - Too many scenarious to list here.
Maybe she's declared she doesn't like peas because they are round or green - and she wasn't referring to the taste... so in that instance, her proclaimation was very valid. Her reaction, squinty nose and all, was also warranted - because I raised my voice first - frustration fueled by my own exhaustion. I realize I won't get it right every time, but I think the key to happy dining is consistency.
Here are some of our tips:
Keep eye-contact with the kids. For Aaron and I, it's the first chance we're both sitting together in the same place - so we're tempted to converse and catch-up. This is the quickest way to disengage the kids - giving them the opportunity to get bored - and play with their food. And most importantly, we never force them to eat anything. I had traumatic experiences as a child with food - my parents thought force feeding would prevent me from dying of starvation. That's a little exaggerated, but still - they didn't realize at the time of its side effects - and its impact on me with food in general. I know that our kids won't let themselves go hungry. But if they do ask for something long after the table has been cleared, and they picked at their plate during dinner, then I know we need to do a better job with our menu plans.
[sigh] to be continued...
me: How do you know you don't like it if you haven't tried it?
a: because I don't!
me: ava, please don't act like that. Your brother is watching you and he is going to copy you. No whining - behave right now!
a: but I'm NOT whining [raising her voice and squinting her nose]
n:
me: ava, can you smile for the camera please?
a:
Noah laughs...
and then the copycat makes his funny face too...
Dinner time can become somewhat of a dramatic show. There's a plethora of parenting articles speaking about this subject, from tips on table ettiquete, to handling negative behavior, to even converting picky eaters - Too many scenarious to list here.
Maybe she's declared she doesn't like peas because they are round or green - and she wasn't referring to the taste... so in that instance, her proclaimation was very valid. Her reaction, squinty nose and all, was also warranted - because I raised my voice first - frustration fueled by my own exhaustion. I realize I won't get it right every time, but I think the key to happy dining is consistency.
Here are some of our tips:
- Offering a variety of healthy veggies with their meals should be ongoing and not just at meal times. Offering veggies as snacks are a great way to catch them in a different mood and time of day. There's no telling, when green will be in again.
[sigh] to be continued...
laptop art
Our art corner has currently taken residence in Noah's bedroom, which complicates matters during Noah's naptime. So Ava sometimes finds herself in the living room, or my office, to get creative. I sometimes let her sit on my lap and type on the keyboard. She'll type her numbers 1-10 [she even figured out the 1 and 0 made 10 on her own!]. Or she'll use Aaron's swively tablet laptop to doodle some fancy art... experimenting with the options of colors and brushes with her "digital pen."
On this particular morning, Ava ran into my office and said, "check your email Mommy" and then zoomed back out -- "email!" oh my -- and this is what I found :-)
On this particular morning, Ava ran into my office and said, "check your email Mommy" and then zoomed back out -- "email!" oh my -- and this is what I found :-)
zoo days
When I was little, a trip to the zoo was a once-a-year field trip we did through school - It was a big deal. And in fourth grade, my mom was actually able to take off from work and chaperone the event - Which was an even bigger deal. I can still remember her sitting with me on the bus... the vanilla ice cream cone she bought me and my two best friends... Perhaps I've cataloged these types of memories because they were so few and far inbetween... which has me wondering if I am stealing that away from the kids by making field trips to the zoo the norm....
By the time I debate my own theory, I decided that a family membership to the Dallas Zoo was perfect for us - for the simple fact that it allows us to be spontaneously adventurous - without breaking the bank. The thing is - our children are growing up too fast. And there is much to discover about our world with them - not just as their parents, but as their first teachers. We have to create the opportunities, prioritize each day, and strike that balance that fits our family. Even if that means we take unpaid time off from work to do so.
Ava and Noah themselves are a little different each time they go - they are older, funnier, more curious and daring...
... and the best part is that each time we go, we all take away something different too...
By the time I debate my own theory, I decided that a family membership to the Dallas Zoo was perfect for us - for the simple fact that it allows us to be spontaneously adventurous - without breaking the bank. The thing is - our children are growing up too fast. And there is much to discover about our world with them - not just as their parents, but as their first teachers. We have to create the opportunities, prioritize each day, and strike that balance that fits our family. Even if that means we take unpaid time off from work to do so.
Ava and Noah themselves are a little different each time they go - they are older, funnier, more curious and daring...
... and the best part is that each time we go, we all take away something different too...
funny.... with a dash of crazy....
Ava's portrayal of how we've all been feeling this past week... this cracks me up everytime!
a new way of travel
It's a jubilee everytime the kids get out of the house - by car for a long roadtrip, by plane for vacation - and now, by trains for even just getting around town....
Today - we felt like taking a road trip. Without our car. And without a road. Instead, we hit the tracks. Not only a first for the kids - but for Aaron and I as well. Figuring out our routes was complicated at first, until I found a very helpful phone number, where the woman on the other line actually plotted my route for me. A tourist in our own city, the kids, Aaron and I rode the DART all the way to Union Station, before jumping on the Trinity Railway Express for an hour long ride to Ft. Worth.
When we arrived into our new city, we needed to take a bus to head over to the arts district. Waiting didn't take very long - one Premium pass for $5 paid for both the train and bus rides all day. There were a lot of interesting faces and conversations around us. I wondered how much of it the kids absorbed - And am crossing my fingers-hopeful not much - as one passenger spouted off obscenities before getting off. The kids are so amazing in how they can distract themselves - with themselves.
Like when she belted out her "Do Re Mi" lyrics, and after finishing, realized she had an audience. He was nice enough to smile and pick up her notebook when she dropped it.. a few times...
Or Noah, our serious travelor, who occupied himself by tracing the lines on the bus map... and pointing out the various colors of cars, trucks, and construction vehicles in view...
When we got off the bus, we were dropped off in front of the arts district, and the quietness of the Friday afternoon made us feel a little like gypsies wandering in the city. Hot, tired, and hungry - and we haven't even gotten to the museum. 30 minutes later, we arrived for an hour long play, before turning back around so that we could make it back home in time to share Iftar with family. We ran to our bus stop, caught our bus back to the TRE station, and waited with the commuters traveling back to Dallas. Ava and Noah, unphased by the massiveness of the double-decker train, were acting like traveling pros by now. The 4 hours spent traveling was long and exhausting - but evenso, it was an experience that can't be missed.
Today - we felt like taking a road trip. Without our car. And without a road. Instead, we hit the tracks. Not only a first for the kids - but for Aaron and I as well. Figuring out our routes was complicated at first, until I found a very helpful phone number, where the woman on the other line actually plotted my route for me. A tourist in our own city, the kids, Aaron and I rode the DART all the way to Union Station, before jumping on the Trinity Railway Express for an hour long ride to Ft. Worth.
When we arrived into our new city, we needed to take a bus to head over to the arts district. Waiting didn't take very long - one Premium pass for $5 paid for both the train and bus rides all day. There were a lot of interesting faces and conversations around us. I wondered how much of it the kids absorbed - And am crossing my fingers-hopeful not much - as one passenger spouted off obscenities before getting off. The kids are so amazing in how they can distract themselves - with themselves.
Like when she belted out her "Do Re Mi" lyrics, and after finishing, realized she had an audience. He was nice enough to smile and pick up her notebook when she dropped it.. a few times...
Or Noah, our serious travelor, who occupied himself by tracing the lines on the bus map... and pointing out the various colors of cars, trucks, and construction vehicles in view...
When we got off the bus, we were dropped off in front of the arts district, and the quietness of the Friday afternoon made us feel a little like gypsies wandering in the city. Hot, tired, and hungry - and we haven't even gotten to the museum. 30 minutes later, we arrived for an hour long play, before turning back around so that we could make it back home in time to share Iftar with family. We ran to our bus stop, caught our bus back to the TRE station, and waited with the commuters traveling back to Dallas. Ava and Noah, unphased by the massiveness of the double-decker train, were acting like traveling pros by now. The 4 hours spent traveling was long and exhausting - but evenso, it was an experience that can't be missed.
Ramadan - it's about family
We hosted Sunday's Iftar at our house, and prepared meals from online recipes -- I especially love the sites that feature Ramadan foods from all over the world. Tonight, we tried the pomegranate stew with chicken served with basmati rice [cooked with cumin, peas, and pomegranate broth], and after dinner, spiced pears with pomegranates [pictured above].
After dinner, it was all about the kids. I especially loved this moment where both my daughter and niece were in the arms of our parents, laughing at Grandpa... and as my sister pointed out - that's probably what it was like for her and I with Mom and Dad 30 years ago...
For my sister and I - this is one of those treasured moments that has us spilling over with emotion. We're both little girls in complete adoration of our parents - unbeknownst to us, time has aged us. And in its place, gifted us with little girls of our own to experience Mom and Dad all over again with. When I tell Ava a story about my childhood, starting out with, "when I was your age, Grandma use to...," her eyes would glaze over and I could actually sense her connecting the dots with her Grandma... and my Mom.
Connecting the two generations is as spellbinding for our children as it is for our parents. For Ava, each family gathering has her confidence glowing - as she can feel the strong roots from where she stems... and blooms...
As the evening slowed down, and the dessert and tea cups were half emptied, we suddenly found ourselves in the center of a free concert, with Mom as lead harmonica player...
Our Family Hosting Dinner Tips:
Unfortunately, we don't get to host family dinners in our home very much - because truth be told, the best meals come from Mom's kitchen. But evenso, we like to give her a break every once in awhile and serve nontraditional foods she hasn't tried making herself.
1. New recipes are daring, but it's worth doing for such occasions because family will honestly tell you whether or not you need to tear this recipe out of your collection.
2. Traditionally, fruit is served after dinner while preparations for the "sweets" and hot tea are being made. Rather than peeling those traditional fruits, I tried this fall fruit medley to spice things up - and could prepare in advance. Use what's in season and coat it with a blend of light brown sugar, nutmeg and cinnamon. To cool some of that spice, serve with a dollop of cool whip on the side.
3. Our musical program was spontaneous - but I'm sure the open basket of musical instruments we keep accessible near the media center in the family room had a big hand in it. It seems to me like the natural place for it - so rather than reaching for the remote control after dinner, we have the opportunity to create live entertainment instead.
4. And speaking of TV, I'll be the first to admit that recording videos is a forgotten pastime for me. But when the opportunity does present itself - I am very grateful. Having a digital camera that does double-duty is helpful - although picture quality of action shots can get frustrating. [Sigh] Here's a quick clip of tonight's live concert home video!
Ramadan Craft
I started a Ramadan table in our family room -- a natural transition for us -- as I frequently change its display based on the season, holiday, and even my moods -- usually with fresh flowers and various found objects and pictures. I anticipate the "look" will evolve through the course of the month, and years for that matter, as we create and inherit new things, to artfully display what's going on in our lives.
Our latest addition to the table is a minature Kaba box. Using what we already had, "God's house" was completed in less than 20 minutes. The process was very spiritual for me, as I explained a little bit of background history and heard Ava ask, "How does God fit in there?"
Ava cut the fabric while I held it for her - she's getting soo good with scissors! I tought her how to "measure" the ribbon around the box so that she'd know how much to cut, and she also glued and reglued the ribbons until they were Ava-perfectly aligned.
Since the gift box we used had a lid, I decided to also make it into our zakat box - which means it'll also house our children's giving to charity for Ramadan. Ava has grasped the concept of money and what it's used for - but the numbers and president faces have no value to her yet. [She still charges me 50 cents for everything I buy in our play store]. But evenso, it's never too early to introduce giving as a way of life... And now we have just the perfect box to help us do so...
Our latest addition to the table is a minature Kaba box. Using what we already had, "God's house" was completed in less than 20 minutes. The process was very spiritual for me, as I explained a little bit of background history and heard Ava ask, "How does God fit in there?"
Ava cut the fabric while I held it for her - she's getting soo good with scissors! I tought her how to "measure" the ribbon around the box so that she'd know how much to cut, and she also glued and reglued the ribbons until they were Ava-perfectly aligned.
Since the gift box we used had a lid, I decided to also make it into our zakat box - which means it'll also house our children's giving to charity for Ramadan. Ava has grasped the concept of money and what it's used for - but the numbers and president faces have no value to her yet. [She still charges me 50 cents for everything I buy in our play store]. But evenso, it's never too early to introduce giving as a way of life... And now we have just the perfect box to help us do so...
When Aaron came home, she showed off her new project. He praised her work and handed her a few dollar bills. When I asked her again what the money was being saved for she said, "to keep God warm."
Oh, yes... She understands the concept - even more than me - just beautifully....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
