Good Grades

Thanks to all the hard work of Tiago and Mia during this last grading period, we all enjoyed a fun lunch at Cheesy Jane's and a dozen doughnut from krispykremes for free. I guess studying hard really does pay off! I think I will have to remind them of this the next time someone whines about homework.

Freedom

For Martin Luther King day, we showed the kids a few clips from movies to help them understand the importance of the day. The first clip was from Martin Luther King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Then we decided to stress the importance of his message by watching the TV series America The Story of Us that showed how the slave trade operated and, in essence, was worse than cattle auctions. The show recounted the need for colored people to carry papers either stating their status as a freeman or who owned them. It turns out that Frederick Douglass , on his final and successful attempt to leave slavery, used borrowed documents from a friend to gain his freedom. It also showed how Harriet Tubman, a woman who already escaped to freedom, risked her life several times in order to offer that same freedom to over 300 other "slaves".

Still interested, I showed the kids part of Gandhi. Surprisingly, they watched over an hour of the movie asking questions the whole time.

I don't know if it was due to just finishing the book "The Hiding Place", but for some reason, the importance of standing up against injustices seemed more amazing and important to me this year. I wonder what I would do faced with such injustices. Sadly, I already know the answer. There are injustices all around and I do nothing about it.

Then my thoughts turned to the thoughts of Gandhi and his peaceful non-violent non-cooperation campaign. He spoke of how they would face pain and violence and even death, but all the people would have was his body. No one could take his spirit and will.

Our Family Home Evening lesson focused on the scripture in 2 Nephi 2

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and call things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;

29And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.

No matter our life situation, freedom is found within. I loved the metaphor of staying within bounds:

Oh, no he didn't!

I wish my camera would have worked to show you Fernando's reaction to this video. . .it was almost as entertaining.

Three Kings Day

Just in case you were wondering, this special holiday commemorates the Wisemen's arrival to the Christ child's home. The Epiphany is what many refer to this finding.

"Epiphany, from the Greek word Epiphania, meaning "revelation" is based on the biblical story that tells of the Magi or Three Kings - Caspar, (or Kaspar or Gaspar) Melchior and Balthasar - who saw a bright star on the night Christ was born and followed it to Bethlehem.

There they found the Christ child and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The legendary visit would later gave rise to the custom of gift giving at Christmas on the Feast of the Epiphany, today traditionally observed on January 6."

One should also get gifts for this magical day, don't you think? Well, we did. We bought a ridiculous amount of luxury bath towels. When we had visited my parents over Thanksgiving, we were introduced to the wonders of such towels, but at $25 a pop, we decided we would just dream of them. I search the internet for knock offs and "found" a $10 version. I ordered 4 as a trial pair. They were false and wrong and over priced normal towels.

Then, on Wednesday, my dad called with good news. Macy's, the seller of such fabulous towels, was clearing out some of their discontinued colors at a ridiculous $9 a towel. We stripped one store of all their dark towels only to hit the jack pot at another local Macy's. We took a time out to get a little Cheesecake Factory goodness. It wasn't my favorite Cheesecake Factory experience, but it was cheap. Back to the towels. . .while trying to figure out our actual purchase, a sales employee kindly pointed out to us that the sale was ending right then and to get ourselves to the cash register. We made it just in time and brought home this load:

I want To Ride My Bicycle Part II

For Christmas a few years back, we bought some bikes for the two oldest. The training wheels made them ride slightly sideways and when we tried the American iconic two wheel training wheel-less, there was nothing but anger and frustration from the kids. So, we bailed on the bikes and bought Razors instead. The kids had a new found freedom with the Razors which were much easier to control. Then one day a few months ago, Tiago decided to hop on to one of his friend's bike and took off. There was no magical let go and clap at his accomplishment. He simply rode past my shocked self and never needed anymore help. At that, Mia decided she should try as well. Done. No back aches due to hunching over holding onto the seat. No grumpy "I can't do this!" exclamations from the kids.

So, Christmas gifts were easy this year:





Talia's bike actually was a post Christmas purchase. I accidentally assumed that her love of Razors was for the item itself and not just so she could be like everyone else. After several snot filled bike sessions, we found a perfect craigslist solution.

Happy New Year

Nothing says New Years like a Celebration Tray of Sushi and dumplings!

merry christmas