tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21428215343524871402024-03-12T17:10:45.048-07:00the BLACK Sheepfibers family and funAdia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.comBlogger530125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-56805173396223434322017-02-19T21:10:00.000-08:002017-02-19T21:10:53.173-08:00My most favorite holiday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last week was my most favorite time of the year. It's the annual Tucson Gem Show and the VNSA Book Sale!!!<div>
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First Neto and I spent the day walking around the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Tucson-African-Art-Village-105050889526617/">African Art Village</a>. </div>
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These were apparently used for currency, LOOOOOOOONG ago. Each one was like a foot long. Crazy!</div>
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I had two specific items in mind, and got those two items. </div>
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The first was some blankets (that will be used for a specific project at a later date).</div>
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I went thinking that I was going to get some white ones, BUT I found these yellow ones, and LOOOOOOVED them. I want/ need more, but they didn't have any more of the ones that I like. So hopefully next year they'll have them again, and I can get more.</div>
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The other shea, because I used to always make my own butters and creams, BUT the lady I bought my supplies from stopped selling. So we stocked up. BIG. TIME.</div>
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Then Saturday we went to the VNSA book sale. I seriously love this book sale. This year especially was a fantastic year. Book wise, for us. </div>
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We got, a few books. This doesn't actually include Bubba's books, because he filled his backpack and spent his own money. He got some Merlin books, a Calvin and Hobbes, a dictionary (so he can stop asking us what every word means), a book of Shakespearian insults (which he took to school the following Monday, so that he could be "prepared"), and some other stuff. </div>
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Some of the highlights:</div>
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<i>(You can click the images to enlarge them to see better, just an fyi.)</i></div>
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An illustrated book of Shakespeare. </div>
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Neto and I each came across these Chinese cut paper books. </div>
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They are so amazing. The paper appears to be tissue paper, or at least the weight of tissue paper, that they then cut and colors. They're gorgeous.</div>
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Neto and I strive to keep a library of art from around the world. Art and artists that we like, as well as others we're not that excited about. So when I came across this book, I was kind of on the fence about whether or not to get it. So I asked Neto to go through a stack of books, and this was one of them.</div>
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Now don't get me wrong. Illuminations and illuminated manuscripts are lovely and intricate and interesting, but personally I get bored with them after a while. I think mostly it's because they get so much attention while other artists, movements, styles, etc don't get as much attention. </div>
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Anyways. When Neto looked at the back of the book, he found the following excerpt about Hildegard of Bingen. </div>
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After reading that he decided that we HAD to have the book. LOL</div>
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What can I say? He loves strong women.</div>
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I don't remember where or how I found this book, but I am SOOO grateful that I did. It is a book of art and poetry from a handful of the children that were at the Terezin Concentration Camp. It's an amazing mix of optimism and sadness. It is so heartbreaking, but also an important reminder of the power of goodness.</div>
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Other than these we got a ton of books. Several more art books, about artists, art movements, and I even got one simply about different ornament styles from around the world. (Ornament, as in the intricate details found in architecture, interiors, etc., not Christmas ornaments.) And this year there was an abundance of Toni Morrison books, which I bought one of each (that I didn't already have). </div>
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I was so emotional for days after, because we found so many truly special and unique books. Let alone the books that were actually on our book lists. Needless to say we're already talking about next year. </div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-28781507375683155232017-01-23T22:41:00.000-08:002017-01-24T08:55:17.025-08:00Why WE Marched<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I'm sure everyone knows by now, Saturday was the Women's March on Washington, as well as every other state and continent. Before I go into our family's experience at the march I want to make a note about something. While people are complaining about protests, saying how people need to get over it (the election), etc. etc. I think that one needs to take note of the fact the MILLIONS of people in every state and one every continent are shocked and appalled by the results of our election. Why is that? It it simply because he is a republican? Nope. Is it simply because they wanted the first female president? Nope. It goes so much further than that. He has insulted and degraded EVERY.SINGLE.GROUP. of human beings besides white men, rich white men at that. He inspires the worst that our society has to offer to continue being awful, and in fact to become even more awful. At some point we need to take a look at the fact that this was not simply about differing politics. And if you choose not to look at that, then you are choosing willful ignorance. Which also means that you are accepting and allowing racism, misogyny, ableism, xenophobia, etc. In which case, the people protesting and fighting for change are definitely not the problem.<br />
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So now that I said that. Here's how our experience went.<br />
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We left early because we had about an hour and a half commute (we drove to the light rail, took a train, then walked). We were armed with our <a href="https://www.pussyhatproject.com/">pink pussy hats</a> (courtesy of my super quick knitting mother, and crazy step father that paid for next day delivery), snacks (that they sent with the hats), water, and other items they sent us for the march. Sunblock, chapstick, bandaids, wet wipes, etc. (I would like to add that I <i>really</i> hate that word, the p-word. But a gross person is going to use gross words to describe doing gross things.) We had hoped that we would miss a lot of traffic, etc, and we sort of did. The train was definitely full, but not so full that we couldn't get on. At the first sight of another marcher I began to feel even more excited, and more united. Living in Arizona I definitely feel like the odd woman out most of the time. (I actually didn't think we'd get the 7,000 that RSVP'd, but I was shocked to find we did and in fact reached around 20,000.)<br />
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We each had a our own specialized shirt.</div>
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Mine was a poem by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nayyirah.waheed/?hl=en">Nayyirah Waheed</a>. </div>
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all the women.</div>
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in me.</div>
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are tired.</div>
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Bubba's was a portion of a poem by Langston Hughes</div>
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<a href="https://theworkersdreadnought.wordpress.com/2008/12/13/good-morning-revolution-langston-hughes-1932/">Good Morning Revolution</a></div>
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Neto's was in response to <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=trump%27s%20quote%20about%20mexican%20immigrants">that infamous comment made about Mexicans.</a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h8zAnYoR4Lk/WIbdpWVvxqI/AAAAAAAAH_s/vGMy8_5bQ2AsJYZnhv0Iyg1N4Z7GpfrGQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h8zAnYoR4Lk/WIbdpWVvxqI/AAAAAAAAH_s/vGMy8_5bQ2AsJYZnhv0Iyg1N4Z7GpfrGQCLcB/s320/IMG_1234.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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On our sleeves we put this symbol I made up for Love is Love.</div>
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And BLM for Black Lives Matter.</div>
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We also tried to wear all black in memory of prior revolutionaries, specifically the Black Panthers. My black pants didn't quite fit, Neto didn't have any, and Bubba had black pants but they had a red stripe on the side. He said, "I can wear them inside out so that they are all black." LOL We told him that wasn't necessary.</div>
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As we walked up the park in front of the capitol building was already pretty full. Eventually we found a spot to hang out while they gave speeches, etc. before the march actually started. </div>
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I didn't take that many pictures during the events, only a few signs I really liked, or little things I noticed.</div>
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These three were huge and made of felt. </div>
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I loved this one for what it implies about how men fear women in power.</div>
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This one is pretty self explanatory.</div>
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Our signs were pink to match our hats. Bubba wanted his to say "we want peace, but with a big peace sign". I was going to have him do it, but by the time he gets home we get busy doing the normal after school stuff and ran out of time. So I did it.</div>
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Neto's and my signs had quotes and/ or snippets from poems on each side.</div>
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Neto's side 1:</div>
"If there is not justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government."<br />
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Emiliano Zapata</div>
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Side 2: </div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Albert Einstein</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Mine side 1: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">I still can't see, why Democracy means, everybody but me."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Langston Hughes</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Side 2: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">"Then we took what you chose not to give."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Natasha Trethewey</span></span></div>
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Bubba was very excited to see someone else with a sign that said the same thing as his.</div>
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Now we get to where I found some things bothersome.</div>
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Do you see this picture? What do you notice about this picture (below)?</div>
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What we have here is law enforcement. What do you notice about them? What are they missing?</div>
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Notice the lack of riot gear, the lack of aggression, the lackadaisical manner in which they are standing around.</div>
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While discussing the march beforehand with my mother I could sense the worry. She was extremely proud that we were going, and wanted us to go, BUT was worried. WHY? Well because in recent protests the law enforcement has been extremely aggressive towards peaceful protestors. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/07/11/graceful-in-the-lions-den-photo-of-young-womans-arrest-in-baton-rouge-goes-viral/?utm_term=.9c48d9f894b3">Remember this.</a> But I will tell you what. I was NEVER worried, not for one minute. I knew from day one that we wouldn't be met by that kind of opposition. Why, you ask? Because this wasn't a Black Lives Matter protest, where the very thought of protesting on behalf of black people sparks aggressive opposition. This was a protest for women, and I knew that they weren't going to start beating and/ or arresting a bunch of women, especially because the majority were white women. So what does this mean? It means that we proved Saturday that we CAN come together for a cause that we feel is worthy. So if we believe that all people are important and deserve justice, then we need to show this same level of support for other marginalized groups. The BLM protests have all been peaceful protests, except the law enforcement treated them as terrorists, and people NOT affiliated with BLM took advantage of the situation and got violent. (Much like <a href="http://dcist.com/2017/01/black_bloc_explainer.php">the masked "protestors"</a> on inauguration day.) If the same numbers were present for BLM or the DAPL water protectors, we probably wouldn't still be fighting for those things. They wouldn't be moving forward with <a href="http://theindigenouspeoples.com/2017/01/23/standing-rock-braces-for-pending-trump-order-approving-dapl-in-next-few-days/">the pipeline</a>. People (especially of color) wouldn't still be getting <a href="http://www.killedbypolice.net/">killed by law enforcement</a> at alarming rates. What we've learned is how white people listen to white people. So now white people need to be there for non-white people. Also, it was very noticeable the ease people were able to chant about democracy, women reproductive rights, and so on, but when charged with chanting about black lives it was a bit more difficult. It took the lead chanter several rounds of yelling black lives matter, before anyone else joined in, and even then it was a paltry few, and not for very long. Why? Why is it soooo freaking difficult to acknowledge that black people matter? How is that a political statement? Why is it so controversial? </div>
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I think when we look at any protest, complaint, etc. in situations like these. If we feel uncomfortable, irritated, etc we need to REALLY look inward and figure out why. WHY does it anger you that black people wanted to be treated the same as everyone else? (FYI other people don't need to demand to be treated better because they are already being treated better. ) WHY does it annoy that millions of women, children, and men gathered together on Saturday to declare that what this new administration aspires to do to women in not okay? WHY are you okay with Natives fighting to protect the water, but not bothered enough to help? I find that so many times people are so quick to get angry with those who are trying their hardest to protect others, but very slow to see <i>why</i> it angers them. </div>
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Ok, back to the good stuff. I was so grateful to be walking side by side with my husband and son. Hearing them chant with me. On Sunday Neto said they were having a discussion about how many of the men were fighting a lot with their wives as newlyweds. But that after they had children it got better. To which Neto brought up the point that the problem is that they didn't value their wives as women or humans until they, the women, gave men something, offspring. And that is a problem and that we need to teach our children from a young age to not do that. This was met with mixed reviews of course. So here's my thoughts on teaching our children feminism. We look at the world and complain about white male patriarchy and the negative effects it's had on society. Men are not going to listen to women, and white men are not going to listen to any one who isn't a white man. (Please note that I am speaking in VERY broad terms, and that I recognize that not all men are like this.) As we've learned with this weekend's protests, most people don't get involved until it negatively affects them. So the way I see it is that if we want the patriarchy to end, we have to raise boys that will use their male privilege to smash the patriarchy. Boys that will grow up to be men that should they attain power and prestige, they will use that to lift up and advocate for women and people of color. SO we took our son so that he learns NOW to fight for and advocate for all people. At 8 years old he won't even realize if the impending changes will negatively effect him, but that doesn't mean he can't stand up for what is right. That he can't stand up for women, for the disabled, for people of color, non Christians, etc. He's learning now not to wait until it affects him to do the right thing. Thereby stopping the problem before it grows too big. So that when he's older he won't feel offended when someone says that things aren't perfect. So that he'll listen to those who experience things that he doesn't. This is not to say that we shouldn't continue to fight for ourselves, because we should. Because as Zora Neale Hurston said, "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: left;">If you are silent about your pain, they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it.”</span></div>
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Which brings me to why I wanted to be there. I wanted to be there because this problem has gotten so big and so awful that the only way we will rectify this and prevent further damage is if we can come together. So while I didn't fully feel embraced in the march, I can still see the big picture. I can still find a way to work with those around me to hopefully prevent further damage. Being at the march made me feel happy, and like I'm not so alone in this state. It was helpful to see so many similarly minded people. People who are at least trying, because it often feels like there's only a handful of us here. But I learned on Saturday we are an army. And I hope that we can continue to come together and grow together. And I will always do everything in my power to support and lift the human race. Through which ever small acts and means I have at my disposal. So I march, I post on facebook, I have hard discussions with friends and family, I'll donate to causes when I can, sign petitions, go to protests, vote, and whatever else I need to do. I lose acquaintances and friends over it, but I sleep well knowing that I tried. And that is all I can do.</div>
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Neto and I kept saying that we hoped all <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/03/us/politics/taco-trucks-on-every-corner-trump-supporters-anti-immigration-warning.html">the tacos trucks</a> were out, and we were pleased to see several at the march. (It definitely made us giggle.)</div>
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But the lines were too long, and Neto knew about a cheaper Mexican restaurant, so we decided to go elsewhere to eat. </div>
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On the car ride home Bubba was knocked out. It had been a long day, and he ran all the way from the light rail to the march, then stood and marched, then ran form the the march the restaurant, and the restaurant to the light rail. It was one of the few days we kept him so busy he took a nap.</div>
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Once we got home, Neto passed out too. </div>
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All in all it was a lovely day, and I am so glad I participated. And I look forward to many more opportunities for us all to come together as one giant community, and hope that the next protests are bigger even.</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-8430698050230024412017-01-08T21:11:00.000-08:002017-01-08T21:11:19.727-08:00KWANZAA!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
December is a crazy busy month, because Kwanzaa starts the day after Christmas. This is the third year we've really tried to celebrate, and I'm still figuring things. But this year was really good. Originally I was going to blog each day individually. But as I'm way behind that's no longer going to happen.<br />
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Day 1: Umoja (Unity)</div>
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For the first day we did an activity to help bring our family a little closer together. We decided to paint one another. We each drew a name and painted the person who's name we picked. They turned out... umm... interesting. (To say the least.) We ALL struggled. LOL And we all had to start over at least once. But in the end they turned out fun.</div>
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Bubba's first present was the book copy of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078504/">the Wiz</a> (with pictures from the movie).</div>
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Day 2: Kujichagulia (Self- Determination)</div>
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For day 2 we set some personal goals, not really resolutions, just goals. Things we want to work on in order to achieve our future goals. Examples being, Bubba really wants to be a marine biologist so he's going to study more about sea life and learn to swim better. </div>
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Day 3: Ujima (Work and Responsibility)</div>
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We decided that we would have a free bike clinic. It wasn't as successful as we had hoped. (Because we didn't really plan it out to well, it came to me last minute.) But Bubba said it was successful, because we were able to fix our bikes. </div>
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We gave him the book <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/137491.The_Toothpaste_Millionaire">The Toothpaste Millionaire</a>, which he read that night and loved. And then which inspired him to pursue his own soap making business. </div>
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Day 4: Ujamaa (Cooperation)</div>
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To understand cooperation better we did an activity where we had to make <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/114067803042967918/">a cup pyramid without touching the cups with our hands. </a> It was very challenging, but a lot of fun.</div>
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Then we gave him the young readers version of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Figures-Readers-Margot-Shetterly/dp/0062662376">Hidden Figures</a>. We would have gone to the movie, but it wasn't out yet. But we did go see it opening day, and it's just fabulous, so you should make sure to go see it.</div>
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Day 5: Nia (Purpose)</div>
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We sat down as a family and made a list of service projects that we can do throughout the year. And we gave him this toy that will help him continue to build his math skills. (The gifts given on Kwanzaa are to promote education, creativity, community, come from the heart, etc. NOT just stuff we want.)</div>
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Day 6: Kuumba (Creativity)</div>
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Originally the plan was for us to make a movie with Bubba's new stop motion supplies. BUT that didn't happen, I can't remember why now. I think we got busy, and we couldn't figure some things out. So instead we watched <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0000417/">A Trip to the Moon </a>on Netflix. Bubba really enjoyed it, and thought it was so interesting what they were able to come up with when the film was made so long ago, long before space travel.</div>
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Then we gave him the book <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20578975-the-zero-degree-zombie-zone">Zero Degree Zombie Zone.</a></div>
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Day 7: Imani (Faith)</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">It was kind of perfect that Imani fell on a Sunday. So we went to church in the morning. Then when we got home we planted some seeds, since seeds are symbolic of faith and how the potential that it has to grow. </span></div>
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(Since last week several have already started to sprout.)</div>
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Then we had our feast, which is called the first fruits celebration.</div>
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We had shrimp curry, African chicken stew, ewa riro, puff puff, fried plantain, and Nigerian cake (basically pound cake). It's so funny, because a) everything turned out the same color- we try to eat from the rainbow, and used lots of colorful ingredients, but everything turned out red. And b) curry used to be something that Neto claimed he didn't like, but just everything had at least a dash of curry, AND every year he gets sooooo excited for the curry. In fact it's the only thing he eats, I mean he tastes everything, but he devours the curry. And now the curry smell has become so comforting for me. Neto even said that Kwanzaa is now his favorite holiday, because of the food. </div>
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Then for Bubba's final gifts we gave him a <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25785790-solving-the-puzzle-under-the-sea">book about Marie Tharp</a>. (To go with his ambitions.)</div>
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And a grow your own algae kit. (Again, to go with his marine biology ambitions.)</div>
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He was VERY excited about that. </div>
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It was SUCH a great holiday season for us, and a great way to finish the old year and start the new one.<br />
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-47202777334688827182017-01-01T21:12:00.000-08:002017-01-01T21:12:29.851-08:00Christmas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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On Christmas morning, Bubba and I, woke up first. So while we waited for Neto and Uncle Stevie to wake up we started prepping for our Christmas feast.</div>
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Bubba helped by pitting the cherries for me. </div>
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Once we were able to drag the boys out of bed we opened our presents.</div>
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Neto filled this little box with earrings!</div>
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He also got me the most awesome sewing machine!!! Hopefully now I can finish all the projects I've been trying to get done forever <a href="http://www.adiajamille.com/">for work</a>.</div>
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Also, my grandmother gave us a new addition for our nativity collection!!</div>
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Bubba was so excited about ALL of his presents.</div>
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(We got him the rest of a set of books he's been reading.)</div>
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Then we headed to church. Once we came back I finished making dinner. </div>
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After dinner we sat around, playing with our toys and watching more Christmas movies.</div>
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Since my machine is vintage, and Neto bought it as a surprise, he made sure to learn all about the ins and outs of how it works. THEN he proceeded to show me everything that he learned. </div>
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Because he's the best.</div>
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Bubba played with his animation set and legos. </div>
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And I rested.</div>
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It was such a pleasant Christmas. We had had a rough year and some how we pulled it together to have an amazing Christmas. I truly am a blessed and loved woman.</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-62148603966182661792017-01-01T19:38:00.000-08:002017-01-01T20:15:50.002-08:00Twas the night before...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Christmas Eve was a fun day. We started the day off with Mexican cookies and conchas, hot chocolate, and Christmas movies.<br />
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Then we spent the day making tamales and playing games. (Usually I have them done before Christmas Eve, so that they are ready for Christmas Eve, but I ran out of time this year.) In the evening Uncle Stevie came by and we watched Christmas movies and built our gingerbread houses. Another thing I am NOT good at. Actually I'm sure I would be perfectly fine at it, but I NEVER seem to have icing bags. This year I didn't buy any, because I was positive I had some. I did not. So we couldn't pipe the icing correctly. Oh well, they still tasted great. Neto on the other hand ALWAYS kills it. </div>
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Even Stevie did good, and NONE of his pieces lined up. (I really should use a cutter or pattern next time to cut the pieces. LOL)</div>
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Here are the finished products.<br />
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Here's mine. I looks ok. I covered up the blobs of uneven icing and mess ups with candies and gingerbread pieces. Teehee<br />
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Bubba only wanted to make "flat" houses. So he made two instead of one big one.</div>
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Stevie's.</div>
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Neto's</div>
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After the gingerbread we did our other Christmas Eve traditions. </div>
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Each night leading up to Christmas we read a scripture and hang a corresponding ornament on the tree. And on Christmas Eve we open a new nativity. And this was this year's. The propellers spin under the candle, and then the visitors spin around Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. It's so fun!</div>
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Then we each got to open one present. Generally we open the ones from my grandparents because I always get new pjs and knitted slippers, so I have to open that so that I have something to wear for Christmas morning.</div>
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Bubba got a minecraft toy.</div>
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Neto got a super cool Idaho shirt. (That's where my grandparents live)</div>
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Stevie got new socks.</div>
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My new pjs!</div>
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Then just before we went to bed I put some fruit in the crockpot and we woke up to the smell of fresh cider. It was delicious!!!</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-52898057829836180022016-12-28T13:52:00.000-08:002016-12-28T14:10:06.286-08:00Exposition Night!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
At Bubba's school they had exposition night, they used to have it quarterly, but changed that to the end of each semester. This time they got to pick something they worked on that they thought was meaningful. He chose to make a slide show about drawing in 2-point perspective, but he was only to present one slide for the entire group. (Afterwards, we could go around and finish watching the slide shows, and see the individual projects.)<br />
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He did so good and is getting so much more confident.<br />
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<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwkqOYeHOZrL6NylYq1H-wIQj2lX3J9WZOLaUWrYW5JByq1-XLNT6v8ZBYNYoy39bJ79uDnFE7qOhMk5AvTUA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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We also found a couple stories that he wrote and/ or co-wrote.</div>
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He insists that he's going to be a marine biologist, BUT as his mother I don't think he will. I think he's going to be a writer or some kind of story teller. Until things change, though, we continue to support his dreams of marine biology.</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-51325599520470362692016-12-28T13:28:00.000-08:002016-12-28T13:28:57.812-08:00'Tis the Season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
December was so fun for us, or maybe just me. After having such a hard time getting into the holidays it was nice to be home and decorate the house and do the things we usually do. A couple days after Thanksgiving we got the tree up. I hung the things on the walls, put out the nativities, etc, while Bubba decorated the tree. (A tradition we started a few years ago, and I absolutely love. I get the twinkle of the lights and ornaments, and Bubba gets to have fun decorating the tree.)<br />
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So far this is my favorite Nativity. It's vintage, hand painted from Mexico.</div>
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We even built a fire one day, just for fun, because it never really gets cold enough to build a fire here. </div>
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The boys played some games.</div>
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Friday nights have become Mama Bubba movie night. Some times we do a craft/ project/ etc., but we always have dinner and watch a movie.</div>
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(This time we were watching the Wiz.)</div>
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We quickly found out that Morrigan's favorite place to be is under the tree. Usually she would go all the way in the back corner and sleep there for hours.</div>
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Have I ever told you about how awful I am at cookie/ cake decorating? Well I am AWFUL. I guess it would help if I ever remembered to get frosting bags so that I could actually control things. Oh well, because they taste the same either way.</div>
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Here's my cookie:</div>
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Here's Bubba's:</div>
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Another fun thing I learned is that the cats do NOT like window clings. I put up these two snowmen that my grandmother had sent us years ago, and every time I looked they were missing another piece. Eventually they were completely gone. And I would find the pieces all over the floor. </div>
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Every year Bubba makes one present for all the grandparents. When I asked Bubba what he wanted to do for his present this year, he didn't know. But one day he was reading in <a href="https://www.lds.org/friend/?lang=eng">the Friend </a> and one of the stories had something about soap making. So he decided that that was what he wanted to do. </div>
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Instead of getting all the raw ingredients we just got some melt and pour soaps, because he's 8 and I didn't want to get stuck doing it all by myself if it took too long. We got some goat's milk, shea, and oatmeal. And Bubba picked out some molds, and we already had a bunch of scents.</div>
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These were milk, honey, and lemongrass</div>
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These were oatmeal, shea, and vanilla.</div>
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And these were milk, oatmeal, shea, with jasmine and lavender.</div>
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He really enjoyed making the soap, and wants to make more, just for us. Luckily we have more soap to melt. Also, if he decides he LOVES it, then I'll teach him how to make it from scratch. Who knows, maybe you'll find Bubba's Bars (trademark pending) on <a href="http://www.adiajamille.com/">the website</a> one day.</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-50676077301065156562016-12-28T11:42:00.000-08:002016-12-28T11:42:14.757-08:00Flora Mementos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
While on our trips to <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2016/10/sometimes-you-gotta-go-even-if-it_20.html">Idaho</a> and <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2016/11/self-care.html">California</a> in October Bubba collected a bunch of leaves. Why? Who knows, probably just because the landscape was so different from the desert. He mostly forgot about them, until I came up with a project to paint a tree and then glue the leaves on. BUT Bubba didn't want to do that. Instead he used old canvasses and glued them on. One of the canvasses even already had paint on it, but he didn't want to cover it. In the end I think they look really nice because tehy are all shiny from the mod podge.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i62CTtmNlwg/WGQUDpSr-7I/AAAAAAAAH2I/E-bWvwvJc3EoEbKDC4A9_kKnbcbQVDoDQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i62CTtmNlwg/WGQUDpSr-7I/AAAAAAAAH2I/E-bWvwvJc3EoEbKDC4A9_kKnbcbQVDoDQCLcB/s320/IMG_0948.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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He was so pleased afterwards. He even picked out where they would go. He said, "I know the perfect place!" as he pointed to the space on the wall behind Neto's chair. So that's where we put them. </div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-57413297930198294662016-11-27T17:23:00.000-08:002016-11-27T17:23:01.704-08:00Full o' stuffin'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This year I finally did it. I made THE.PERFECT. turkey. My turkeys are usually always good, I've never had a bad one. BUT THIS ONE was perfect. I dry brined, spatchcocked it (butterflied), and slow roasted it over night on a bed of aromatics. It was seriously soooo delicious. It <i>almost</i> makes me want to have turkey more often. (But we won't because I don't want to.) I mean LOOK at it. Just look. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Zu-Ts83ICw/WDuFkIfwKYI/AAAAAAAAH1g/gbN3rjHk1CYR6ceQ8o4vQuE3vhrW6eBaACLcB/s1600/IMG_0575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Zu-Ts83ICw/WDuFkIfwKYI/AAAAAAAAH1g/gbN3rjHk1CYR6ceQ8o4vQuE3vhrW6eBaACLcB/s320/IMG_0575.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Overall Thanksgiving was very low key. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving in terms of the pilgrims, etc. BUT I do celebrate being with family and being grateful for everything we survived each year. So no cutesy "pilgrims and indians" crafts. (Bubba did want turkey plates, but he didn't say anything until the day of and Neto didn't see any when he went to get some yeast. Oh well... Next year. We'll have to check the clearance sections for stuff for next year.) And a remembrance of the Natives that were slaughtered. Plus I like food and cooking. This year was small and simple (I miss being in college and having stray friends to come eat with us.) </div>
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I did have to make three pies though. Neto wanted pecan, Bubba wanted caramel apple pecan, and then Neto wanted pumpkin with a pecan crust. They all turned out super delicious.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LG6is-Au4Rs/WDuFrnEk48I/AAAAAAAAH1k/r8pmjeAng_47qdNIs0ePsb-3RbtYYKGVACLcB/s1600/IMG_0570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LG6is-Au4Rs/WDuFrnEk48I/AAAAAAAAH1k/r8pmjeAng_47qdNIs0ePsb-3RbtYYKGVACLcB/s320/IMG_0570.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Neto's brother came over and played some games and watched movies with us. And then we all took a nap while Bubba went and made video games. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ChwJ5YhbGw/WDuGYHOv9YI/AAAAAAAAH1o/PWgSB0Onj4sWFMRXSXeh5NlJdATm5DReQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ChwJ5YhbGw/WDuGYHOv9YI/AAAAAAAAH1o/PWgSB0Onj4sWFMRXSXeh5NlJdATm5DReQCLcB/s320/IMG_0579.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I meant to get a picture of the full spread, because it was so pretty. Also, I was so impressed by our giant table, because all the food fit comfortably on the table. BUT I forgot. Oh well.</div>
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It was a nice day, and I'm glad I got to spend it with the boys.</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-81775834307246636362016-11-20T19:48:00.000-08:002016-11-21T10:56:25.144-08:00Lemon White Chocolate Scones with Almonds (Gluten Free)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I realized a while ago that I haven't posted any recipes in a while, and I realized that it's because we've been cutting out gluten so I've been fine tuning and getting used to cooking with gluten free products. So here's one I made recently and it turned out UH.MAH.ZING.LY.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hHSqADUjz6A/WDJoz_ast0I/AAAAAAAAH1Q/YqXb1bNR-3I6r7e3-BUMvdvYZ3wyVQbjQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hHSqADUjz6A/WDJoz_ast0I/AAAAAAAAH1Q/YqXb1bNR-3I6r7e3-BUMvdvYZ3wyVQbjQCLcB/s320/IMG_0500.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>Lemon White Chocolate Scones with Almonds (GF)</b></div>
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Ingredients:</div>
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Scones:</div>
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2 cups gluten free flour (I used <a href="http://www.bobsredmill.com/shop/flours-and-meals/gluten-free-flours/gluten-free-1-to-1-baking-flour.html">this one</a> this time.)</div>
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4 tablespoons sugar</div>
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2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder</div>
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Zest from two lemons</div>
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1/2 teaspoon salt</div>
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1/3 cup cold butter, cubed</div>
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1/2 cup milk (I used almond milk)</div>
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2 eggs</div>
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1 teaspoon almond extract</div>
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1/2 cup white chocolate chips</div>
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Lemon icing:</div>
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1 tablespoon butter, melted</div>
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Juice of one lemon</div>
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1 teaspoon almond extract</div>
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2 splashes of vanilla</div>
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1 1/2 cup powdered sugar</div>
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1/2 cup chopped sliced almonds</div>
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Directions:</div>
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F)</div>
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1. Mix all dry ingredients and zest. (NOT the chocolate chips)</div>
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2. Using a pastry cutter or fork, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal (or until there are no large chunks of butter)</div>
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3. In a separate bowl mix wet ingredients, then add to the flour mixture.</div>
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4. Mix well.</div>
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5. Add in the chocolate chips, mix well. (The dough will be sticky)</div>
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6. Roll out mixture onto a piece of parchment.</div>
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7. Shape into a 12 inch circle.</div>
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8. Cut into 8 pieces, carefully spread the wedges out, keeping them on the same parchment.</div>
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9. Bake for 25- 30 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.</div>
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10. Meanwhile mix icing ingredients until smooth (The recipe makes icing enough for two batches, or one if you like a TON of icing.)</div>
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11. Allow to cool on cooling rack for ten minutes.</div>
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12. Drizzle with icing, and sprinkle with almonds</div>
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Enjoy!!!<br />
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I will say that Bubba said to Neto the other day as he was leaving for work, "Are you gonna take one of Mama's awesome scones?" So I mean they are delicious. They're sweet, but not too sweet, and lemony without being tart.</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-62620821981125645002016-11-20T19:01:00.003-08:002016-11-20T19:01:49.652-08:00Halloween stuff<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Halloween is usually so much fun for us, but this year with all the traveling we didn't really do too much. I <i>barely</i> got the decorations up, and I <i>barely</i> made Bubba a costume. Luckily the costume he wanted was simple and I had all the supplies to make it, so there was no added expense.<br />
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Bubba wanted to be a parrot fish this year, because "they're beautiful". So I had him find me a picture of one he liked:<br />
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<a href="http://www.fakiehaquarium.com/images/pages/species/9Rusty-Parrotfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.fakiehaquarium.com/images/pages/species/9Rusty-Parrotfish.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had some left over felt yardage from <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2015/11/halloween-shenanigans.html">last year</a>. Originally I wanted to use sequin fabric but the one I liked was out of stock. Then suddenly we had run out of time. So I quickly put together his fish costume, the night before the Trunk or Treat at church.</div>
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Bubba had a few requirements:</div>
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He wanted it to go over his head.</div>
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He wanted his head to be the body.</div>
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And his arms to be the fins.</div>
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I cut out a fish and sewed the edges leaving an opening for his body, and cutting holes for his arms.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GOYBUYJk4UM/WDJgnx1seZI/AAAAAAAAH0o/m7orJWrYND0nQlYisD5mouRKopyFqBJrgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GOYBUYJk4UM/WDJgnx1seZI/AAAAAAAAH0o/m7orJWrYND0nQlYisD5mouRKopyFqBJrgCLcB/s320/IMG_0292.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then I hand painted the entire thing.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PBdH9FDQyOw/WDJgoBMKX1I/AAAAAAAAH0w/_063LBa60ykA5kCwhRMzaUnIb8e27gBZgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PBdH9FDQyOw/WDJgoBMKX1I/AAAAAAAAH0w/_063LBa60ykA5kCwhRMzaUnIb8e27gBZgCLcB/s320/IMG_0293.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7I8xcrrAoVg/WDJgoGZg35I/AAAAAAAAH0s/TfATY9gCYvkbSW8d2iUeBvkovvRrUt1bgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7I8xcrrAoVg/WDJgoGZg35I/AAAAAAAAH0s/TfATY9gCYvkbSW8d2iUeBvkovvRrUt1bgCLcB/s320/IMG_0294.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I attached some elastic to the fins so that Bubba could stick his arms through.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wQy2cTTIi8s/WDJgusOPazI/AAAAAAAAH04/cXmMCIJIIx86sHctDDJH7pHqrgD_tyCkwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wQy2cTTIi8s/WDJgusOPazI/AAAAAAAAH04/cXmMCIJIIx86sHctDDJH7pHqrgD_tyCkwCLcB/s320/IMG_0299.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FBhYSeVY53w/WDJguQWE6zI/AAAAAAAAH00/3PFMVAjwKzs4uEIcpP3-pjSRjxRMtEJmgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FBhYSeVY53w/WDJguQWE6zI/AAAAAAAAH00/3PFMVAjwKzs4uEIcpP3-pjSRjxRMtEJmgCLcB/s320/IMG_0300.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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For the Trunk or Treat he was fluttering his fins every where and shaking his tail fin. He was swimming. LOL</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HKvnXG9JAn8/WDJg674A3FI/AAAAAAAAH1A/WLwXkNNx5SYli8Kimlo18y-xFiYIKqnwQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HKvnXG9JAn8/WDJg674A3FI/AAAAAAAAH1A/WLwXkNNx5SYli8Kimlo18y-xFiYIKqnwQCLcB/s320/IMG_0308.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Since it was such a simple costume we were able to take it to <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2016/11/self-care.html">my mother's house</a> so that she could see it too, but apparently I didn't take any pictures of that.</div>
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While we didn't do much (no trick or treating because he doesn't like it, no zoo trick or treating because we ran out of time) Bubba was super happy. He said it's his favorite costume EVER. Even more than the zebra monster costume, which he wore three years. (<a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2012/10/happy-halloween.html?q=zebra+monster">here</a>, <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2014/10/bubba-bullets.html?q=zebra+monster">here</a>, <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2015/01/christmas-was-nuts.html?q=zebra+monster">here</a>, and <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2015/10/let-festivities-begin.html?q=zebra+monster">here</a>)</div>
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Hopefully he'll get lots of use out this costume, too.</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-87751115705070234122016-11-14T21:22:00.000-08:002016-11-14T21:22:51.062-08:00Self care<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Several months back we were really struggling. Neto's leg continued to have issues, and he was continuing to have surgery after surgery to fix the problems. (I'm pretty sure the final total is nearly 30 surgeries.) It was looking like it was time to throw in the towel and just amputate. We discussed it and then realized that it could quite possibly be better if he did. We were tired and frustrated and had a little bit more money than usual (usual being none), money that didn't have to go immediately to bills. So we did the math and figured either way, whether his leg healed or he amputated, we would be done with the whole ordeal by fall. So we decided that we would take a trip to see my mother. It had been years since she had seen either of the boys, and I had only <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2016/05/kismet.html">seen her on a fluke</a><span id="goog_1762545290"></span><span id="goog_1762545291"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> a few months prior. We hadn't all been together since before <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2012/03/journey-to-philadelphia.html?q=pennsylvania">we moved to Pennsylvania. </a> So I made an executive decision that we were going to see my mother. I didn't care if we wouldn't have money once we got there, just that we got there. So we found the cheapest flights ever and booked the trip. AND just so I didn't back out when things got tight again (financially) I made sure not to pay for the cancellation protection. It didn't help that it was nearly as much as the flight itself. And we opted to fly instead of drive, because if Neto did amputate he wouldn't have been healed enough to help me drive the 15 hours to my mother's house.<br />
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The months continued to pass and our situation was still stressful, but there was one ray of light. Neto's leg miraculously began to heal. He went in one day because he had this <i><b>horrendous</b></i> rash covering his entire leg and spreading to other parts of his body. (I would post a picture, but you would probably throw up if you saw it.) So they did their tests for various possible infections, etc. and went back in, again. BUT this time the doctor said it was clear, nothing abnormal showed up on the blood tests and the inside was clean. So they cleaned it up again, and tightened up the flap, and finally seemed optimistic. Sure enough he's actually healed this time. He still has a slight rash, but they determined that it was extreme eczema (which I told him, because he already has bad eczema but now his leg was constantly wrapped and his body all out of whack, but I'm not a doctor so no one listens to me. Psht.)<br />
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ANYWAY. A couple weeks ago the day finally came for us to finally have a break from the realities of our life. So we head out to the airport, just before we arrived I got the text that the flight was delayed. But it was too late and we lived too far to go back home. So we went to the airport, which is super tiny, only one airline (I believe). And since other people probably lived closer so they didn't come until it closer to time to leave, it was abandoned.<br />
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It seriously creeped me out. I told Neto it was like a Stephen King movie.<br />I sent my mother this picture and she said, "Very <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112040/">Langoliers</a>." </div>
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Which was the exact movie I was thinking of. LOL</div>
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While waiting I read and Bubba made video games and made Neto test them.</div>
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He also read, because our 2 hour delay turned into a 4 hour delay, because the weather in California was too bad. </div>
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But we eventually made it, only about 7 hours late. Since it was so late we just went to eat and then went home.</div>
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The next day we ran some errands. (Very exciting, I know.)</div>
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Most of our time was spent hanging out, watching movies, drinking cocoa, and talking.</div>
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Bubba made a bunch of video games all week. Someone even played one of his games and rated it five stars!!</div>
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One of the big highlights of the trip was the family of deer that frequented the neighborhood for food.</div>
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Mother and I made some jewelry to match our outfits that we made, because...</div>
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We were going to see the LION KING!!! </div>
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This was a HUGE deal for us. She and I have wanted to see this play since it started. Nearly 20 years ago. My mother's birthday is in October so this whole trip and the play was for her birthday celebration. (And all of our sanity.)</div>
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The boys in the lobby.</div>
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Waiting (im)patiently for the play to start.</div>
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So fun story. Neto hates musicals, and theater, and plays, and basically everything. (It is the bane of my existence that he hates so many things to be honest.) And when we were first planning the trip he was expressed that he didn't have any desire to see it, but he'd go. For weeks I kept asking him if he was excited, and he kept saying, "yeah, I guess." Well as soon as the play started he began crying. LOL, Typical Neto. Needless to say he enjoyed the play and was glad he went. We were ALL so glad we went. It was just breathtaking. Bubba loved it. He loved the play, the music, the sets, the costumes, everything! (In fact he's been listening to the soundtrack frequently since we've been home.)</div>
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On our way home it was still sunny and gorgeous some how (usually the fog would have rolled in already, but it hadn't) so we decided to stop and take pictures.</div>
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So my mother is the manager of a craft and fabric store (akin to Joann) and was preparing for the next season so we helped her make some projects for the store. </div>
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Bubba made some ornaments.</div>
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<i>"Merry Cristmas"</i></div>
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"Marshmello" (LOL)</div>
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Neto made the snowman wreath int he middle, and I made the grapevine wreath.</div>
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She needed some mason jar projects, so here's what I came up with.</div>
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(I had another like this one, but instead it was with Santa and trees and stuff.)</div>
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Here's the foam core Christmas tree I made.</div>
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And the feather boa foam core tree Bubba started, failed, and then my mom finished, and then I made a little "Noel" string (that wasn't quite successful- you coudn't really see the letters and they kept sliding down.) I might add, we know this tree is ridiculous, but it was so fun. It's just one of those things, you know?</div>
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Finally, the Christmas countdown I made. Each little ornament is removable, you can either add or subtract as you count the days.</div>
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Then we went out on our last day and walked around downtown, and Bubba blew off some steam.</div>
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Before we left the Grands took us to the buffet again, since Bubba's favorite way to eat out is at the buffet. We also received some of the most disappointing fortunes ever. Bubba was NOT impressed. He kept saying, "That's not a fortune! That's just a random saying!"</div>
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Then all of a sudden it was time to go home. </div>
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The airport we flew into and out of was even smaller than the one at home. BUT it was the "Snoopy airport". And super cute.</div>
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When we got home EVERYONE was happy to be home.</div>
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While this was a trip we definitely couldn't afford, it was very necessary. And I think it was good for all of us. Sometimes you have to sacrifice the temporal needs for the emotional needs. And I am so glad we went. We crossed a lot of things off our to do list, spent some quality time together, and were able to step away from the stress, and be so far removed that we couldn't even think about what was happening in real life. If you're finding yourself overly stressed I would highly suggest remembering to feed your soul as well. Take some time out, even if you can't travel, to take care of yourself, to step back, and to breath.</div>
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Halloween also took place while on the trip, but that will be included in another post. Later.</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-35231186348756074532016-10-20T12:02:00.002-07:002016-10-20T12:02:59.869-07:00Sometimes you gotta go even if it doesn't make sense. (Part 2- Idaho)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We arrived to Boise around 10pm, and then the boy proceeded to enjoy delicious sandwiches.</div>
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Then we went to see my great grandmother.</div>
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Four of the five generations, just missing my mother.</div>
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Bubba insisted on a silly one. LOL</div>
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We were hanging out and my grandfather came over and said, "Do you want to see this tasteless comic?" Of course I did. This is the "tasteless" comic. </div>
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My grandparents have a gigantic black walnut tree so Neto went around collecting a bunch of walnuts for me so that I can make some dye. Apparently they turn the squirrels purples, so my grandfather thinks hat they will dye purple. I want to make some walnut towels and napkins like <a href="http://www.adiajamille.com/other-things/">my pomegranate ones. </a></div>
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Grandpa takes lots of pictures, many of which he turns into bookmarks and magnets, so he wanted to go to the park so he could get some pictures. And OH MAN! It was <i>almost</i> enough to make me want to move there, <i>almost</i>. LOL</div>
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While walking through the park Bubba was picking up leaves and making "leaf boats". He was sticking a leaf inside of other leaves and throwing them into the water.</div>
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The geese were going CRAZY! They were causing all kinds of ruckus and flapping around and fighting. Made for an interesting walk.</div>
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These two were like peas in a pod the whole time we were there. Grandpa even took Neto out to meet his friends while Grandma, Bubba, and I watched movies.</div>
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We call these "photo opps".</div>
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You're not supposed to feed the ducks or geese, etc, but people do, because as we were standing on the side of the water all the water fowl came swimming over. (We didn't feed them though.)</div>
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We saw this little bunny digging. Bubba said it reminded him of <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2016/03/easter-miracle.html?q=bunnies">Petunia.</a> </div>
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We found a tree with these little fruits. They reminded Neto of a Brazilian fruit. We wanted him to try it, but we weren't sure what it was. Then Bubba chimed in and said, "You know how to test something to see if you can eat it? You rub the juice on your skin and if nothing happens it's ok." We asked him how he knew that and he said that he read it in a book somewhere. #proudparentingmoment</div>
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Bubba picked up tons of fallen leaves for an undisclosed purpose. However, we have found a project to do with them now.</div>
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So my grandfather has quite the green thumb. He also likes spicy peppers. So he's been growing all these peppers, drying them, and grinding them up. Here is his collection. I asked him what he does with them after, does he make hot sauce?, etc. His answer, "I just show 'em to people." Sounds about right. LOL</div>
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He also grew a bunch of sunflowers (my favorite). He also grew some mammoth ones that he had already chopped, and that he let me take. Again, I didn't know what I was going to use them for at first, but I think that I have it figured out now.</div>
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Before we headed out we had to take pictures. </div>
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While riding back to Utah Bubba kept covering himself while he read, played, etc. We're not sure why or what he was doing. We just kept looking back and seeing him like this. </div>
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On the way home, we stopped by the end of the Grand Canyon for a break and because the sky was beautiful.</div>
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It was a trip that we couldn't really afford (and luckily someone else paid) but we <i>definitely</i> needed it. I've been soooo stressed out, and I needed a moment to get away and to relax. It helped put things into perspective, and reminded me of the many ways that my family is so amazing. Also, it was so nice to see fall weather, which is always calming. And as they say:</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-6862902635210900682016-10-20T10:58:00.000-07:002016-10-20T12:03:19.474-07:00Sometimes you gotta go even if it doesn't make sense. (Part 1- Utah)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last week we had the pleasure of going up to Utah for the <a href="https://www.lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/priesthood-ordinances-and-blessings/20.2?lang=eng&_r=1#202">baby blessing</a> of Neto's cousin's baby. We were debating about whether or not we should have gone or not, but in the end decided that we should take the opportunity that had been handed to us. And we decided we may as well head up to Idaho to see my grandparents and great grandmother, the <i>real</i> draw of the trip. My great grandmother hadn't seen Bubba since <i>his</i> baby blessing, and since he's 8 now, we thought it would be a good time to go. So here goes:<br />
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First we had to drop off MO and Neto's brother's house.<br />
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Saturday we went bowling with Neto's aunt, grandma, and our family friend.</div>
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Got him to smile!!!</div>
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I lost horribly. But Bubba beat everyone. He had a hard time getting the hang of it, since he's left handed and we're all righties. Also, he bowls super slow like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfJ-jMGQtm0">that scene in Uncle Buck.</a> We even got him a ramp to push the ball, but he still pushed it super slow. </div>
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Afterwards we played air hockey, Bubba's new favorite game. It was UH.MAY.ZING. It shot out about a bazillion pucks at once and it was a free for all. Bubba now wants us to get one. LOL </div>
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Afterwards we went for frozen yogurt, which Bubba dubbed "better than ice cream". Which is saying much since he doesn't <i>love</i> ice cream.</div>
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Sunday was the blessing. Afterwards everyone got together to eat and hang out. Bubba especially loved the cake. LOL</div>
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Afterwards we drove up to Boise to see my family.</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-46900330715960275782016-08-25T21:52:00.001-07:002016-08-25T21:52:35.540-07:00Things I'm grateful for<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So I've been having a pity party for myself lately. (We've got soooo much going on and it's so overwhelming sometimes. And I'm private about certain things, so that makes the weight even more.) But today I was reminded of why we chose to do one of the things that adds to the burden, sort of. We still haven't moved (argh!), and Bubba is still attending <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2015/09/770-miles.html">the same school as last year</a>. With Neto in the hospital it really puts a kink into our schedule. I work from home <a href="http://www.adiajamille.com/">doing what I do</a>, and Neto usually drives and works while he waits for Bubba to get out of school. But whenever he's in the hospital it puts a kink into everything, and I get nothing done. This week I had so much planned and NONE of it got done. But today Bubba reminded me of why we put him into this school, and why it's so important that he continue.<br />
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They've started doing things called workshops and three days a week they learn a new thing. The first one Bubba told us about was about <a href="https://www.rubegoldberg.com/">Rube Goldberg</a> machines. He really enjoyed learning about the different machines. He told us about one for turning on a computer, and how it was "too much stuff just to turn on a computer." (I would have shared a video but I dont' know which it was that they watched. ) But the workshop he really liked was today. It was called "Storytelling". (NOT like the movie, lol.) They used google docs to dictate stories as the computer wrote them down. While playing outside with MO, watching him try to play with a plastic bottle, he got inspired to write a story. So I set up a google doc for him, and he got to work. He said he only finished the first chapter.<br />
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I'm really hoping that he continues to finish this story. I'd like him to illustrate it, too. Then we could print it out and share it with the grandparents. Or at the very least keep a copy for him to read later. Although he says he wants to be "an underwater scientist" I see him doing something creative. I'm beginning to think he'll be a writer of some sort. He's always made books. When he was really little he would staple or tape pages together. His books used to just be picture books. One that he did was about the life cycle of a tree, starting as a seed, then each page it grew bigger. Then he started writing books with one or two words on each page. Sometimes he makes comic books. Sometimes he just scribbles, and pretends it's words. He REALLY hates writing, the physical act of writing. But he's got so many stories, and I think that him using the dictation on the computer may open a whole world for him, and eventually inspire him enough to write more on his own. </div>
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It just makes me so happy to see him inspired and curious. I love what he's getting from this school. It's such a sharp contrast to his last school. If your child is struggling at school, it may be the school environment. Bubba had such a hard time with traditional school. He was mentally ahead, but hated "performing" his knowledge (tests, worksheets, etc.). He just wanted to learn, but traditional school was NOT conducive to his personality. So much of it felt pointless, and then he would refuse to do it. But now he's always excited. And it's translating to home. <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2016/08/end-of-days-of-summer.html">He reads more</a>. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bubbacreates/">He creates more</a>. He just seems to try more, overall. I am so grateful that we found this school, even if it is 80 miles away, for now.</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-1759260446788805012016-08-25T21:05:00.000-07:002016-08-25T21:05:29.962-07:00Birthday Blues<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So Monday was my birthday and it kind of sucked. Neto has been having some issues with his leg, again. (Every time we think he's good to go something new happens and it's suuuuuuper frustrating.)<br />
For a couple weeks we had been trying to get the doctor to let him come in, and the doctor was insisting that he wait. Neto was sure it was infected again, and we just wanted to get a blood test so we knew what was going on. So he he got the blood test and there's nothing really there. GREAT. But not so great, because now the orthopedic doctor wanted him to come in on Sunday to do a CT scan. He gets there and does the stuff, and they're like, "You're going to have to stay overnight so we can monitor you, look at the results, [etc.]" Greeeeeaat. So then we spent the rest of Sunday in the hospital. Monday comes, and of course he's still there, because when they tell us overnight, it really means at least a week. The problem is he has TOO MANY doctors. He's got ortho, infectious disease, dermatologists, and who knows what else, and they don't communicate with one another effectively. So each doctor or resident or nurse or random hospital worker has a different timeline, different information, etc. So we never know what's happening. So my birthday I spent the day with Neto in the hospital and I bought some cake in the cafeteria. Neto then convinced me to buy myself dinner, and NOT to make a cake, because he insists he's going to do it when he comes home. So basically it wasn't a great day.<br />
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LUCKILY we had the foresight to celebrate a little on Saturday, and had I known what was going to happen I would have done the entire celebration on Saturday. Originally I wanted to go to the Grand Canyon and camp over night, but that didn't happen because we are too broke for that. Then there was an overnight sci-fi movie marathon that I wanted to go to, and Neto would have gone with me, but he wasn't super excited about it. I really wanted to go with someone who really wanted to go, but all those people live too far away. Then I wanted to roller skate, and I remember that a) Neto's foot is still too big to probably fit in a skate and b) his balance is off so he probably would have gotten hurt even if he could fit a skate. Then I googled drive ins on a whim and found one! So we drove an hour, got some burgers, and headed out to watch a double feature of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4302938/">Kubo</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3949660/">TMNT 2</a>. We were so worried, because it kept raining and I had plans to open the back of the car and sit in the back so we could all see, and I was worried it wouldn't stop raining and we would get crammed into the car looking through the front of the car. But we lucked out and the rain stopped almost as soon as we got to our spot.<br />
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Neto had never been, and so he was excited. Bubba was like, "What kind of movie is this?!" He loved being outside, being able to move around, being in the car, just everything. I hadn't been in years, and it's something I bring up a lot. I even told Neto that when we get a house we're going to build an outdoor theater.</div>
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This is the only photo I took of myself, since I had planned that we would get pictures on my actual birthday. Whoops. Oh well. The general consensus was that Kubo was definitely way better than TMNT2. I'm hoping we'll get to go again before we move away. I can't imagine driving two hours to go to the drive in. Plus we'd probably have to stay overnight since it would be two hours back, and the movies didn't end until about midnight. While the actual day of my birthday wasn't ideal, I did have a fun celebration. And I can't wait for my cake!</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-73278087437746710872016-08-15T21:33:00.001-07:002016-08-15T21:33:43.799-07:00Back to school!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You know how you always see commercials, blog posts, etc about how excited moms are about the kids going back to school?<br />
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Well it's all true!<br />
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In my case it's only because my son is ALWAYS hungry. And it really interrupts the work flow to have to stop to make him food all the time. LOL Although, he's pretty good about getting his own snacks (he's allowed to eat as much fruit and/ or vegetables as he wants without asking). But even still he still wanted breakfast, lunch, AND dinner. GUH!<br />
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He was very excited to start the new school year, though. He was very excited to show off his new glasses (That he barely needs, so we got them because a) they were free and b) so he will get used to it before he actually really needs them.)<br />
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We took his traditional photo in his t-shirt.</div>
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After his fun filled day at school the boys made it home, and Bubba requested brinner. So now I believe the back to school dinner tradition is brinner.</div>
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We had gluten free pancakes with peaches and cinnamon sugar pecans, eggs, and bacon. It was soooooo delicious! I'm very excited about this school. It'll be Bubba's second year (thank goodness for scholarships) and he's really getting the hang of things. PLUS, this year in addition to Neto teaching wood shop, I get to teach an art class. SO that's going to be lots of fun. (You can read about that stuff on <a href="http://www.adiajamille.com/blog/">my other blog</a>, though.)</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-90980052813156606102016-08-15T21:19:00.001-07:002016-08-15T21:19:16.611-07:00End of days (of summer)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last week Bubba started the school year up. And I have been neglecting to blog. Summer was so interesting. We didn't do anything. But it was a nice several weeks of freedom. So last year Bubba did the <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/summer-reading/_/N-rs9">Barnes and Noble summer reading challenge</a> and he loved it. So we made sure to do it again this year. The rule was that he couldn't play on electronics until afternoon (by that point it's waaaay too hot in AZ, even that's pushing it), and he had to read first. 30 minutes reading= 2 hours screen time. It actually worked out perfectly. Bubba has always been super responsible and understands if, then rules. During the entire summer he was doing art projects, playing, riding his bike, going to the park, etc. I think he only said he was bored once, and that was the first day or two after school let out. But the rest of the summer he occupied himself, which was great for me to be able to work.</div>
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Then most days he forgot about reading until about 3 or 4 in the afternoon, sometimes later. Other days he spent the entire day reading. He read like five books one day, five chapter books. Needless to say, he earned A LOT of books.<br />
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Not all the books are pictured. But he earned 11 books from Barnes and Noble. (It would have been more, because he's still reading, but he had no desire to read any of the other books left. He said that he didn't want to go back any more.) He also earned a free book and free prizes from the library for completing the reading challenge and scavenger hunt. He also bought a bunch of books from the library book fair. </div>
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We finally sent out his hair for donation last week, but not before he had a little fun with it.<br />
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So far he's loving his short hair, and surprisingly so am I. I was worried his curls wouldn't come back but they HAVE. And it's glorious.<br />
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He's loving the short hair, because now he can brush it on his own. For the first few days he would just walk around brushing his hair all day. The best was when he would do it in the morning and it was all dry and get huge and poofy. </div>
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Before school started back up he had a sleep over with a friend from school. One last hurrah if you will.<br />
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They roasted marshmallows. Bubba requested making s'mores, despite the fact that he doesn't like chocolate or sticky things. LOL He ate one, then just wanted the marshmallows.</div>
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It got too smoky for Bubba.</div>
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They even shared with MO. He had marshmallow ALL OVER his face.</div>
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Then they did an art project. The threw paint filled egg shells and glitter.</div>
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After which they jumped on the trampoline while Neto hosed them down. (No need for bath time when you got a hose.)</div>
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In the morning we had tasty waffles and watched some Animaniacs.</div>
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And they played memory with our new custom (free) memory game that had just come.</div>
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Then his friend had to go home and we got ready for the school year to start.</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-86687023489872985732016-07-31T21:49:00.004-07:002016-07-31T21:49:53.447-07:00Hair Stories<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Bubba has been growing out his hair since before we left Lancaster in 2013. He used to refuse to cut it for two reasons. 1) One time Neto used these old clippers to shave it and it freaked him out, because they were super loud. 2) He used to always say, "My curls make me awesome!" But we told him a couple years ago that when the time came we could donate it for another child. That made him super excited and then he made the goal to grow it to his butt before he would cut it. But the other day I cut my hair. I just needed a change, plus I want to dye it lavender and I didn't want to ruin my longer hair.<br />
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I've been really enjoying it because even on the "worst" day it's still great, and it just gets better with each day. Where as before you could DEFINITELY tell when I neglected my hair. </div>
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Anyways. I think him seeing that sparked a desire for a change, because the other day he says, "I think I'm ready to donate my hair." Which made me sad and happy. Sad, because I love his hair. I love when he's just a mess. I love when he wants to "fix" his hair so he brushes it and it gets HUGE. But happy because he's willing to sacrifice for another. He also told me (while I was cutting it) how he also doesn't like wearing ponytails at night.</div>
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AND he's been so fun with it. Wearing all kinds of crazy hair styles, and giggling because he thinks it's so funny. But he wanted to do it for the school year, and he wants to dye it blue, BUT I think he'll let me just spray it blue. (If he decides he really wants to dye it, then we will, but I just don't know if he's ready for that commitment.)</div>
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But today, his hair looked glorious so I kept sneaking pictures of it to remember. Also, Bubba told me as I was getting the braids ready that I could keep a little pieces so that I "can look at it whenever [I] want." LOL</div>
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Before</div>
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All braided and ready to get cut.</div>
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!!!!!</div>
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After I cut them, he rubbed his hands through his hair, and said, "I love it!" Originally he wanted it all cut short, but apparently he likes 90s hair.</div>
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He let me clean it up a little, but not <i>too</i> much. LOL</div>
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And apparently this hairstyle calls for sunglasses.</div>
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He kept them on until it was time to go to bed. Even when he went to "shave". </div>
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He really loves it. He kept smiling and rubbing it and shaking his head around. He told me, "I just can't stop smiling! I can't help it, I'm smiling like a creep." LOL</div>
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The best part is that his curls seem to be making a comeback! </div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-9659408992920470142016-07-10T21:30:00.000-07:002016-07-10T22:02:07.068-07:00The first step.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday Bubba took his first real step towards his own spiritual growth. He was baptized into <a href="https://www.mormon.org/">the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. </a> It was such an amazing day, for him and for me. I joined the church just before my 19th birthday and since then my faith has been the thing that has gotten me through the hardships that life has to offer. It is the thing that helps guide me through the world. It was helps me find new ways to love, even when it's difficult. It has softened my heart. Helped me overcome years of abuse and self doubt/ low self esteem. It helped me overcome my PTSD from the experiences of my adolescence. It's the thing that helped me serve a mission for 19 months in Costa Rica. It's the thing that helped me overcome personal roadblocks that kept me from my full potential. It's the thing that has taught me how to forgive and to seek forgiveness. I know that when people don't understand more than what they see or hear from others that sometimes it's hard for people to understand how and why I would want to be LDS. I can understand the apprehension people feel towards my faith. I can understand their distrust, etc. BUT I know without a doubt that this is where I need to be. At 16 when I had to figure out a way to tell my mother about the abuse I was experiencing at the hands of my father, I said a prayer to a God I wasn't sure was there. God answered that prayer. He helped me escape form a horrible situation and start a new life. And as the effects of what had happened to me began to take over my life, God helped me find the gospel, even though I wasn't looking. The promised blessings of that come with paying tithing have been what have sustained our family through years of schooling, countless moves, loss of jobs, health scares, near death experiences, etc. When I was <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-very-lengthy-post-on-my-2-weeks-in.html">in the hospital and my body was shutting down</a>, the promises of the truths I've learned over the years coupled with the power of <a href="https://www.lds.org/search?lang=eng&query=the+holy+ghost">the Holy Ghost</a>, and the power of <a href="https://www.lds.org/search?lang=eng&query=the+atonement">the Atonement</a> helped keep me calm as the doctors and nurses worried. The promises of my <a href="https://www.lds.org/search?lang=eng&query=sealing+ordinance">sealing marriage </a> were there to comfort me when we had to<a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2013/05/good-bye-to-boy-with-golden-hair.html"> let our sweet child go</a>. Then the Spirit was there a year and a half later, when I left to search for my husband the night he was hit by a car. The Spirit told me he would be ok, and helped me to be there for him. The spirit was there for me, and confirmed the power of our sealing when he couldn't open his eyes and yet he was still able to recognize who I was by the sound of my voice. When he responded to me and only me, and couldn't even recognize his family members. I've had an extremely rough go of life, and only the knowledge I've gained in the last 14 years through my membership of the LDS church and my pursuit of understanding has gotten me through those times. But with all this I want nothing more than for my son, and any future children to be able to find the peace that I've found through the gospel for themselves.<br />
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In our church children don't get baptized until they are 8, as they are innocent. At the age of 8, they have reached <a href="https://www.lds.org/search?lang=eng&query=age+of+accountability">the age of accountability</a> and thereby can begin to understand doctrine and principles. You may ask, then why not wait until later for them to be baptized? Because by being baptized they receive the greatest gift of all, <a href="https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-fundamentals/chapter-16-the-gift-of-the-holy-ghost?lang=eng">the gift of the companionship Holy Ghost</a>. And the companionship of the Holy Ghost allows them to have greater power to make correct choices. It allows them to access greater strength to stand up for truth, justice, and righteousness. It gives them a guide to greater knowledge. Basically it gives them the greatest tool to gain spiritual enlightenment and growth at a young age, allowing them to skip making as many mistakes as the rest of us. It gives them a chance to learn things through study, prayer, etc. without having to experience negative consequences of bad choices. It gives them the opportunities that many of us never had. And that is an amazing gift.<br />
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Although, my husband and I wanted him to be baptized, it was his decision. When discussing it we always made sure to first ask if he even wanted to. Then to ask him why he wanted to. Then we did our best to prepare him. We taught him as much as we could, as honestly as he could. And as the date neared, we continued to check in and make sure it was still something he wanted to do. My greatest fear is that he will make major decisions based on a desire to please us, although, that's never been his nature. And while he still has tons to learn, he was as prepared as he could be. And to be honest, no one really understands everything when they get baptized, but that's not required. All that is required is that you have the desire to follow Christ's example. The desire to live your best life. As the day neared he became more and more excited. And I got more and more nervous. Until the spirit helped me understand something that worried me, and calmed my heart, and gave me peace for what is to come for him, and for us as a family.<br />
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The day of his baptism he was surrounded by family and friends. And many had travelled to participate in the event.<br />
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Bubba and Grandpa</div>
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A couple weeks ago Neto was having another issue with his leg, as a result of the accident. He had a horrifying rash that we worried was another infection. We worried that he wouldn't be able to even perform the baptism because his leg was covered in open wounds and a weeping rash. Our hearts were breaking. We worried that he would be unable to baptize his first born, and that he was going to have to miss yet another important event/ activity due to this accident. Luckily it turned out to be a side effect to the antibiotics, and everything healed up nicely. </div>
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This woman (above) is Norma, the woman who first invited me to church, thereby changing the course of my life forever. She took me in for a short time, and even helped support me during and after my mission. Without her, this day wouldn't have happened.</div>
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This woman, Lupita, is my husband's aunt. And she showed up like an angel of mercy during my labor and delivery of Bubba. My pregnancy had gone smoothly and was basically perfect. But once I was admitted to the hospital and hit 7cm the contractions stopped. They then had to git me with several doses of pitocin and which made my otherwise bearable contractions, extremely difficult. They were soooo painful and weren't actually aiding in the labor, so they kept having to give me more and more. And suddenly and without warning she showed up and grabbed a hold of my other hand, and helped me get through the rest of the delivery. </div>
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As is customary, the person being baptized gets to pick who does what. Bubba picked the two hymns (songs) to be sung, <a href="https://www.lds.org/music/library/childrens-songbook/i-love-to-see-the-temple?lang=eng">"I love to see the temple"</a> and <a href="https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/praise-to-the-man?lang=eng">"Praise to the man"</a>. Norma spoke about the importance of baptism. Then Bubba rushed to the font (where the baptism takes place, it's like a big tub) and impatiently waited for Neto to meet him there. He practically ran, lol.<br />
Then Neto performed the baptism. Afterwards I spoke on the importance of the Holy Ghost and what he does. Then Neto confirmed him a member and gave him the gift of the Holy Ghost.<br />
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Everyone (in the family) who was able to come. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and even Bubba's great grandmother on Neto's side.</div>
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Afterwards we came home and ate and played games and it was such an amazing day. It was just perfect. I am so very proud of him, not because he did what we wanted, but because he made the decision himself. </div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-77429631597984056862016-07-06T21:02:00.001-07:002016-07-06T21:02:54.416-07:00Apple-palooza!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This year Bubba wanted an apple themed party, apple as in the fruit, not computers. <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_MaOpBt98s/V33EzSGYINI/AAAAAAAAHjM/GY9_5XyjDTIg5dDf4ZSkVy20ze2iU6fzgCLcB/s1600/IMG_3530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_MaOpBt98s/V33EzSGYINI/AAAAAAAAHjM/GY9_5XyjDTIg5dDf4ZSkVy20ze2iU6fzgCLcB/s320/IMG_3530.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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He had soooo much fun planning his party. This party had EVERYTHING. (Yes that is a <a href="http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/weekend-update-stefon-on-spring-break/n33632">Stefon</a> reference.)</div>
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Homemade apple cinnamon oatmeal:</div>
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An apple piñata (made by my amazing husband).</div>
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Apple decorations.</div>
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The cheapest apple costume. ($3!!!!!)</div>
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0432283/">Mrs. Bean's nutmeg ginger apple snaps.</a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4K906FcsKI/V33FZme0TbI/AAAAAAAAHjk/1gD8ohI8pMc1naHQm5XShliptl8PzZN7gCLcB/s1600/IMG_3539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4K906FcsKI/V33FZme0TbI/AAAAAAAAHjk/1gD8ohI8pMc1naHQm5XShliptl8PzZN7gCLcB/s320/IMG_3539.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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An apple shaped apple cake (with a giant cookie leaf- oops!)</div>
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<i>(Okay so this cake did not turn out- physically how I planned, didn't have all the supplies and cake decorating is definitely not my bag! I didn't have the green to make leaves for the mini apples/ cupcakes. BUT I did it. So who cares.)</i></div>
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Also, we had apple cider, apple Izzes, and apple chips.</div>
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The day began with Bubba sneaking into our room dressed in his apple costume. But it was waaaaaay to early so we didn't get up. He read or played, or I don't know, but we slept until 7 and then I got up to start the pizza spirals so that they would be ready when we got back. </div>
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So if you remember Bubba's <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2016/06/summer-time-heartbreak.html">old trampoline died,</a> so he hasn't had one for weeks. It's been soooo sad. So the big present was that he got a new one. Neto set it up Sunday night while I distracted Bubba all afternoon. We thought for sure he'd have seen it when he let MO out to go to the bathroom in the morning, but apparently he didn't even look. When we told him to look outside he gasped and shouted with glee as he ran out to jump.</div>
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Afterwards, we let him open a couple presents, just things that would be used for the party. (Games)</div>
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Then his BEST friend showed up, and we all headed to the pool.</div>
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Bubba learned to float, and all he did was go down the water slide and float.</div>
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I got a sunburn. It was fun.</div>
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Then we came back and ate, and the kids played. </div>
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We got a bunch of those bunch o balloons, and the kids went nuts. (The original plan was to cover the trampoline BEFORE they went out, but oh well.)</div>
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They still loved it.</div>
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Afterwards we watched Fantastic Mr. Fox, and relaxed.</div>
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Then Bubba opened the rest of his presents. His friend gave him so much cool stuff!</div>
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He got an old Huckleberry Finn, some angry bird plushes, and a super cool magnet that he (the friend) made).</div>
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We, Neto and I, as well as the grandparents, etc, gave him another book (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which he was really excited about and finiished the next day.), Legos, Legos, and more Legos. Also, my parents and grandparents, chipped in and got him a laptop so that he could use the programs he likes from school. (He was learning about coding and stop motion, etc, in school.)</div>
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Then we had apple cake. </div>
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Neto made him an awesome cake topper, and Bubba requested that we use sparklers like I did for <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2016/03/35-and-feeling-fine.html">Neto's birthday.</a> </div>
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Then we broke the boys broke the piñata. </div>
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It was filled with apple sauce, apple chips, and caramel apple gum balls. Bubba thought it was so funny that they would expect candy but there wouldn't be any. LOL</div>
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Bubba's friend stayed over night, another friend was supposed to come, but it didn't work out. (There was a mix up.) And we didn't invite tons of kids, because we needed to be able to drive them back home the next day. PLUS he has a summer, holiday birthday, and lots of people are out of town. Anyways. Then the boys played a video game for a little bit before they went back to Legos.</div>
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The next day the spent the entire morning building Bubba's Lego sets until it was time to go. </div>
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As we were dropping his friend off, his friend said, "The was an awesome sleepover!" </div>
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I guess that I did my job! </div>
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After we dropped his friend off, we went and got his free treat and another book (for the summer reading program) from Barnes and Noble. Once again when given a choice of cupcakes, fancy cookies, and a rice crispy treat, he chose a plain sugar cookie. LOL</div>
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Needless to say, but Bubba had a great time, and he even said it was his best birthday yet! Which made me so happy. I love this little guy so much and I would love to give him the world, but I can't and I give him what I can when I can. Which is generally only on his birthday.</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-76518979342042478802016-07-06T19:42:00.001-07:002016-07-06T19:42:18.992-07:00He makes his own fun.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sometimes summer can be boring, but not for Bubba! This kid is so resourceful when it comes to making fun for himself.<br />
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The time Neto had his last surgery and was stuck in the hospital for too long and every time we rode the elevator to go see him, Bubba did this:<br />
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The time he pretended to ride a dolphin in a race.</div>
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The time he wanted to climb in the trunk through the little door.</div>
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The time he entered into a staring contest with MO.</div>
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And the time he had a water fight with Grandpa.</div>
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The day after Neto got out of the hospital was Neto and my 9 year anniversary. But we were soooooo exhausted we bought a dessert from the grocery store and called it a day. But later we had to go to drop off some of my work stuff, so we went and got some Vietnamese food.</div>
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Honestly I was so worried that Bubba was going to be soooo bored this summer, what with all his friends being 100 miles away. But it's been a pretty full summer between doctors appointments/ surgeries, summer movies, <a href="http://www.adiajamille.com/blog/">my weekly art classes</a>, etc. This week has been especially full, which is why I'm only now blogging about the summer. Not that there's been much to share. </div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-4630775397240073262016-06-08T21:50:00.003-07:002016-06-08T21:50:33.907-07:00Summer time heartbreak<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I know that the last post was about how great summer has been so far, but there have been some horrible things that happened.<br />
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First, Bubba's trampoline officially died. We got it used last year, and it already had holes, etc. Well, one day Neto's brother, who is a big guy, went out to play with Bubba (because he's the best uncle). Apparently the trampoline did not enjoy their fun and he must have landed on a preexisting hole, because it just split right down the middle. Apparently he fell through a bit. (Don't laugh, Bubba is STILL irritated that his trampoline is broken.) Bubba was and is really upset about it, because, "It's the only fun thing I have to do." So this year for his birthday everyone is chipping in and we're getting him a brand new one. The old one wasn't worth buying a new trampoline part, or net, which was also demolished.<br />
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We did decide that it would be perfect to build a new habitat for the bunnies. So one day Bubba and Neto spent the day taking apart the old one, and building a space for the bunnies to run around.<br />
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We put it under the big tree in the back yard so that the entire space would be in the shade. And we attached their cages for their food, bathroom, water, etc. And covered it with the old net, to give them shade while in the cages. That way the ring would be only for running around. </div>
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Petunia and Sam were so happy, they were always together.</div>
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<br />Bubba enjoyed being able to go in the pen and hold them.</div>
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I swear Sam is hugging him in this picture.</div>
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Well Sunday afternoon, we went out to check on them, and because Arizona is the worst, they were all dead. It was 118° F. It looked like Petunia and Peter died, and Sam freaked out and tried to get out, and then knocked over part of the barrier (that we didn't open up yet and had a temporary block in place) and fell and then died. It was awful. Bubba couldn't stop crying. So I told him to go ahead and cry, and that this is the type of stuff you write in a <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2016/06/summer-time.html">diary</a>, so you can get your feelings out. So he went in his room, and sobbed, and wrote in his diary, and sobbed. Neto asked him if he had any books on bunnies, and he sobbed and said no. But Neto remembered that we have Runny Babbit. So then Bubba read Runny Babbit and sobbed. It was awful. Neto had to take care of it, because I just couldn't even deal. We also told Bubba that now Osiel has five little bunnies to hang out with, and that seemed to give him some consolation. He did request that I make him a picture book <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2014/10/45-days.html">like the one I made for him of Osiel. </a> I also told him that we will definitely get bunnies again, once we have a house, and can prepare for them the way we'd really like. The only reason why we had them in the first place was because <a href="http://theblacksheepfiberlounge.blogspot.com/2016/03/easter-miracle.html">they were free</a>, and to help out our neighbor. But we originally wanted to wait anyways. So it was a good lesson in proper animal care. We told him that the next bunnies will be able to withstand the desert, we'll build a proper habitat, and we'll be ready. For now the bunny habitat sits, sadly, waiting for us to take it down. But I don't think any of us are emotionally ready.</div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-20934125776761835332016-06-08T21:26:00.000-07:002016-06-08T21:26:23.160-07:00Summer time!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So summer has officially begun over here, and so far so good. Last month Neto had another surgery and it threw my schedule all out of wack, but I was able to catch up, AND start summer with Bubba.<br />
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So far he's done an excellent job entertaining himself. He's been riding his bike, going to the park, playing on his trampoline (until his uncle accidentally broke it), and more!<br />
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One day he came to me and asked if he could "sew with the hoop thing". It took a minute and then I realized that he wanted to embroider. He's working on a moon.</div>
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I started teaching a weekly summer art class, which is the highlight of his week, because the house is filled with kids for a day. And he gets to make art, too, but mostly the other kids.</div>
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This is his project from the first week. (<a href="http://www.adiajamille.com/blog/2016/6/1/art-smart-day-1">Read about it here.</a>)</div>
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I've also started doing some seamstress work. (Neto won't be able to work for a couple more months due to this last surgery.) The boutique I sew for is in Tucson, so we will be going down once a week or so. SO for the first time we dropped off my work, then wandered around a cute toy store. (Where Bubba got a diary finally. Junie B. Jones had one and he's wanted one- with a lock- for months.) After that we had a picnic in the park where Bubba played on the splash pad. I took the time to read a book, and Neto napped.</div>
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Bubba read Black Beauty. Three times. In two days. It's his new favorite book (He even asked if there were a longer version that we could get.), until he got a Judy Blume book from the Barnes and Noble summer reading program. He's already on his third, maybe fourth time reading that. </div>
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Fridays are our summer movie days. And since we live in Arizona and every one overreacts to the heat, Bubba made sure to come prepared for the freezing cold theater with a blanket. </div>
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Reading Black Beauty, again.</div>
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The picnic day Bubba decided that he really wanted pumpkin pie. So I made some pumpkin pie. AND I made it with a gluten free pecan crust. SOOOOOOOO delicious. One of the best ideas Bubba has ever had.</div>
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Today was the second class. And Bubba really enjoyed working on his project. Although we really need to invest in a variety of left handed scissors for my baby. Neto and I ended up having to cut all the stuff, because it was too hard to hold the scissors and cut the felt in the wrong hand. (He drew the pictures. Then we glued them to the felt, and then cut them out following his lines.) You can read about <a href="http://www.adiajamille.com/blog/2016/6/8/art-smart-week-2">this week's project here</a>. </div>
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If this is any indication of the rest of the summer, it's going to be a great one. </div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142821534352487140.post-2087847167164877192016-06-08T20:33:00.001-07:002016-06-08T20:33:44.332-07:00Last days of school!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This was the first year I was sad, for Bubba, that the school year ended. He's enjoyed his new school so much. It's amazing how much he's blossomed and grown this year. The first exposition night he was nervous, and fidgeting. But the last one, he was more confident. Their final unit was on "Change" and one of the ways they discussed and explored the idea of change was discussing race and politics.<br />
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They also made a poster showing all the things they enjoyed about the school year.</div>
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Bubba picked EBL (explore, build, learn) time. </div>
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These are guys building the EBL. Some have glue guns, and some have glue bottles. </div>
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These guys have hammers and nails.</div>
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When we were driving home, Bubba said, "It's perfect. I like it when people pay attention to me, and this way they have to." So now he likes public speaking because he has a captive audience. We also ended the night being stuck in traffic for 4 hours, because there was a huge wreck involving semis. Luckily Bubba slept the whole time, and I let Neto nap while I watched for movement. I guess I can't complain about it too much. I mean we went the entire school year without any traffic issues. I think we can handle one looooong night. </div>
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For the last day of school they got to go to a splash park, so he took his eye patch and satchel. (LOL)</div>
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Afterwards, they had Italian ice from Eegees. </div>
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Hanging out, one last time, before it was time to go.</div>
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We are so grateful we found this school, and even more grateful he was able to get scholarships to cover the tuition. (Otherwise we wouldn't have been able to afford it.) He's made friends with so many kids. It's been easier for him to find like minded children to be friends with, at this school. He's learned more independence. He's learned confidence. He's learned to follow his curiosity. Play based, student led learning isn't for everyone, I guess, but it's perfect for our little guy. He was stifled so much in public school, and even in first grade he was beginning to show signs of disenchantment towards school. But now we've overcome that, and he's young enough that it didn't hinder him too much. It's been a long year, but definitely worth it. </div>
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Adia J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09382862333896817445noreply@blogger.com0