Mud Therapy

 I'm the mother that lets her kids do this. I'm probably crazy.

 But I've heard that kids who play in dirt have better immune systems.

And really, Matthew navigating soft, uneven surfaces, is very therapeutic. It's good for his gross motor development.

 So maybe what I really deserve...

Is the (crazy) Mother of the Year Award.

'Tis the Season...

Isabella's Christmas performance at school. The first graders walked out in elf shoes, sunglasses, and jingle bells around their wrists. They sang two songs. Isabella almost fell off the risers at the very end of the elf song when she stomped her foot, but she caught herself. Cutest thing ever.

 I was enjoying it so much, laughing and almost crying, I obviously didn't get any clear photos.

 Nana came to make gingerbread cookies with Isabella, er, Queen Elsa. Here is their fine work:

Matthew helped out by eating the gingerbread people. That's what little brothers do best.

The End of an Era

 This is Playschool.

This has been a haven for Matthew and for me, for a couple of hours, once a week, since he was about 2 months old. In the beginning, I would bring him and lay him on a blanket. He would explore toys and soft objects. He would get visits from the physical therapist, speech therapist, and other, always-smiling early intervention specialists. I would get to meet up with other parents of children with disabilities, and interact with the various teachers and specialists. It is a positive, happy, place where children with different challenges can play and get stronger. 

Matthew is now the King of Playschool. He's the master of the slide, the ball pit, the swing, and the roller coaster, a plastic car that runs down a little track. He runs from the toy room to the Big Room, and knows where he can get a snack, when he's hungry.

Because Matthew is three, his early intervention services are ending. In January, he will transition to preschool, and receive services through his new school.  I have loved being part of the Napa Infant Program and will never forget the women who have worked with Matthew to help him progress through his milestones and reach new ones. I will miss all the other mothers and teachers  I have had the pleasure of associating with on Matthew's behalf and I will miss, this safe, warm,  play place for Matthew.

I wish these were the things parents could be told at the same time they receive the diagnosis that their child has Down syndrome, or Angelman syndrome, or that their child will be blind or deaf. Because there is no fear in these little, magical spaces. Just love and encouragement and good, good people who are there to help. It takes a village for any child, and it is so obvious in places like these.

The Christmas Tree Farm

Every year, we buy our Christmas tree at the Home Depot. Cheap, yes, but totally boring. This year, with our now 6 year and 3 year old children, we decided it was time for a new adventure: chopping down our own tree.

We drove an hour to a tree farm in Sebastapol. We wore flannel shirts and boots. Correction: Matthew and I wore flannel shirts and I wore boots.

 There were old school swing sets (metal and rickety and therefore seriously dangerous.)

There was a zip line, a hay ride, a train, and a barn full of baked goods and ornaments for sale. Even Santa showed up and gave his word that the elves were busy making Isabella's plush Elsa doll. And there were trees. Lots of sad, short, sparse trees, that were WAY out of our price range. We had fun, oh yes we did, running and playing and riding on a trailer pulled by a stinky John Deere. But then we packed up, drove an hour back to Napa, and on the way home, stopped at the Home Depot and picked up a beautiful, bushy green Douglas Fir, for $44.  Boring and budgets are sometimes the way to go.

Thanks and Giving

 The Turkey

 The Table

 Family

Apple Hill

 The newest member of BFF's family: Naomi. And newest friend for Matthew.

Between the 7 of us, we devoured many different kinds of apple donuts, which is what you do at Apple Hill, says me.

 Matthew tries to tell Naomi what's up.

 Pony Rides

Daysha rode Milkshake and Isabella rode Brownie, whom she immediately fell in love with. She even took a moment to tickle his nose and say good-bye to him after her ride.

Back It Up to Halloween

 This year's family jack-o-lantern design was done by Isabella. She made the stencil and Mark carved.

 She was a pirate.

 So was he. 

She went as Camilla Cream from David Shannon's A Bad Case of Stripes (read the book!) and completely freaked out her students.

He went as The Second Amendment. (The right to bear arms...get it?)

Annual Halloween buddy picture with Pirate-Girl Isabella and Supergirl-Ally.

Boredom

 In our house, when one is bored, one gets creative with food, that just happens to be around...

This would be an apple cider-cinnamon-cookie sprinkles-sprig of rosemary stack, of course.

Time to Sing

Matthew is very good at coming over and tapping you if he wants you to do something for him. He came to me the other day, tapped me on the leg, and showed me the song booklet to the Frozen soundtrack. This meant, of course, that it was time for me to sing. I grabbed the dollar bin microphones  from the music box, and we sat on the bench in the sun room and sang ALL the Frozen songs. More than once.

Then I had to make dinner.

So, Matthew brought the song booklet to Mark--for another round. 

So Many Uses for Kale...

When the resident farmer gives you a giant kale leaf, you might choose to use it for a bike seat cover, instead of in a salad.

The Editor

Her first draft read, "I am a dog."

Apparently it lacked humor, so she fixed it.

2nd, Not Annual, Harvest Party

Fall is officially here. Time for another harvest party.

 There were arts and crafts, games, cider and apple cider donuts, and lots of fun friends, especially if you were 6 and under.

 

There were also leftover donuts and cider to enjoy on Sunday afternoon, while watching the Wizard of Oz. 

Happy Harvest!