Family Time - Cookies!

Sunday. Something was different about this Sunday.

Nathan came back around 6pm and we joined forces for a large Broccoli Rabe dinner, new recipe, and then N8 and Des decided they wanted to make cookies. Nathan has *never* had the inclination to make cookies himself -- he has inclinations occasionally on my behalf though. So they got to work but it became clear that they really needed some help and soon I was interpreting the recipe for them (Eryn, we're still making your cookies!) Then before long Zoe pulled up a chair and I realized that the 4 of us were all side-by-side, totally engaged in this yummy project and I was smilingsmilingsmiling and feeling joyjoyjoy!! Des&I have cooked together frequently but to have Nathan&Zoe there working with us was so cool!!

Most of you know our crazy schedule, it's either NPJ with the babes or me. Having the four of us together, at one time, engaged in stuff, happens infrequently. So moments like these are priceless. So simple, so mundane but totally blissful.

Comic Relief

Thanks to Leila for bringing up Ali G amid our non-stop, political, social, intellectual, spiritual conversations these past few weeks.

She's given me so much to think about and then from time to time there is humor.

These series of clips have to be my favorite of what I've viewed so far on the Ali G YouTube assortment. They are sports related and I'm the last person you'll find watching/talking about sports. Nevertheless, funny is funny.

Of Persian Persuasion

Reading through some blogs tonight and was provoked into thinking more on that crazy week of the opening of the United Nations General Assembly and especially the visit by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The hardest part of that week was having a close relative of a dear friend of mine remark that we should just "nuke" Iran before their nuclear program develops full scale. I know people feel this way, but hearing someone say it, over a nice dinner, someone who is actually sort of a government person, completely rattled me.

Here's where I'm coming from: I love that part of the world. I love the Arab world, I love the South Asian world, I love the Persian world. I simply have a soft spot, in general, for the Muslim world. I love their history, I love their spiritual truths, I love their art, I love their music, I love their food, I love their films, and all these things have created a lovelovelove for the people. I have only been to one little city in the Arabian/Persian Gulf, but I dream all the time of going to others throughout.

So, specifically, about Iran. I know Persians. I love Persians. It seems to me that our media, our government cannot bring us any depth beyond what to fear, what to protect, what to defend. OUR INTERESTS. The President of Iran seems for most important purposes a loathsome creature. But more intriguing that week, in and around the U.N., was what Persians were saying about him and why. The Iranian diaspora is coming from a different place -- than the US media/government -- they condemn Ahmadinejad out of fear and love for their country, their people. Why is he evil in our eyes? Are we concerned more for our nuclear monopoly/safety or for the dignity/freedom of the Persian people? What are the motives for the U.S. abhorrence of Iran's leadership? Where will that lead our actions? Will it be positive/constructive for the average Iranian?

Does it make us love the Iranian people?

I just don't understand the math -- so we punish Iran with nuclear weapons for wanting to have nuclear weapons, ostensibly to protect themselves from being destroyed by said nuclear weapons. Are they not permitted to defend themselves? We are likely a real threat, especially when one considers that the only country in the world to have ever used the nuclear bomb on another country has been the United States. We are rather threatening. Should we really be telling others not to have bombs themselves?

I HATE all this, I really do. No one should have the bomb. I love America. We should be nuclear free, that should be our pride in the world. We should lead with the most astounding non-violent act: Get rid of it, get rid of fear, initiate peace and reconciliation.

The great American Thomas Paine, who proposed so many revolutionary ideas for this country (including it's name!), said this:

The world is my country,
all mankind are my brethren,
and to do good is my religion.

Amen.

Film, art, music, literature inform me a great deal when I want to understand a culture/people – watch _Children of Heaven_ by Majid Majidi. He’s made numerous, unspeakably lovely films about his people. Ahmadinejad should not be the only face/voice/instrument one thinks of when Iran is mentioned.

Desi Candor

Zoe? Do you like the beverage I made for you? Zoe? Do you love it? Can I give you a hug? (No response from her) Zoe? Can I give you a kiss? Argh! You gave me a slap?! Argh! Are you gonna throw eggs at my face too?!

I’m drawing a letter for Thomas to remind him that I love him.

It’s the season of Falling.

I’m mad cause I didn’t get any sleep – daddy was snoring louder.

Zoe dances like a bus.

I’m the Prophet, follow me Zo!

Me: I wonder what time it is?
Des: I think it’s time to go outside and get me a toy.

Will dad still be here when I grow up like another dad and my sons come?

Mom! I was in like a girl dream! (He was frightened!)

When I was a baby I wanted my name to be The Marshmallow Kid.

I’m stuck here, I can’t move – like a wall or a ceiling!

What a beautiful juice (then he took a long swig and sighed deeply)

Mom, can you make some North Pole Salad?

I want Zoe to ride in the Ogre (he meant Ergo)

That’s an important box mom. It has important papers in it that says: Go to Mars.

I’m making something special for Heidi. I miss her. It makes me sad when Heidi’s not around. It’s not fun when Heidi’s not around.

I’ll go inside and cheer her up (Zoe had just woken from her nap and was crying)

Zoe was relentlessly trying to eat all of Desi’s cereal when he finally snapped, “No more naughty babe!”

I love her cute little arm.

I poked her madly.

When I’m big I’ll walk around town.

Mom? I want more fun-ness.

Can you help me eat this so I can be strong and beautiful?

I’m refreshing!

Me: You’re cute.
Des: Thanks! Thanks for noticing that I’m cute!

You’re fun Zo!

Des: I think Zo wants to be like me. Zo, do you want to be like me?
Zo: Nonononono!
Des: Zo don’t you want to be like me?
Zo: No! ME!
Des: She said, ‘No ME!’ She talks now! She didn’t when she was a baby.

You will be the bum leader, Zoe will be the teacher, and I'll be the consonants.

It smells like Heidi's place. Isn't it great to think of Heidi? And smelling her apartment?

My boyfriend likes ballerinas.

After telling Des that he was going to spend the weeked with Heidi he said, "I'm gonna scream and cry out of loveness and cheer!"

Preschool, Climbing Trees and Ponytails

Preschool has started 5-days a week now, though there are plenty of Jewish holidays to shorten the week. Des is now attending the Y in our neighborhood for 2.5 hours a day. The walk takes us about 30-minutes and that's x 4 (!) I'm getting a lot of extra exercise and Zoe is getting a lot of extra stroller time ( and not always happy about it.)

Des really enjoys his time in class and is quite proud to show the art projects from the day. I love it and think that he is so ready for this. It's a miracle we got into the class really or rather its a miracle we found a class that was still only half full and for his age group and in the neighborhood.

Many of our friends had their babes on waiting lists for the schools in the Bronx. I wasn't sure how to proceed knowing that we'd be leaving the country and thinking we could continue to do our co-op preschool arrangement. Just days before the school year began our friend Natasha mentioned her son's preschool (the Y) and that there was still space and to contact them about it. Suddenly it all clicked and I knew what I should do and, most importantly, I felt like doing it. So DPJ was able to start the second day of the school year and he's so acclimated that I'm shocked he hasn't once (not yet) rebelled against going. Des and Porter B. have become fast buddies and the teachers there are so nice! Today one of them hugged Des and actually told him she loved him. They are going apple picking this month too!! AWESOME!

So Natasha and I stopped by a great climbing tree on the way back from preschool one afternoon and the babes really had a great time being monkeys. Even Zoe continues to be fearless and ape like the boys. This was also a big day as she kept the ponytails in her hair for longer that 2 minutes (they were in for 3 hours or more!) What can I say, this was a triumph!

While we're on topic: the pic above of Desi in ponytail glory was not the first day of preschool -- though wouldn't that have been funny!? It's actually from a recent Sunday, before church, when he decided to help coax Zoe into keeping her pony-do in and, well, he got a little too into it. I negotiated for only the walk to church and then a full removal of all hairbands once we reach the font of the church bldg. By the time we got there he complied without incident declaring that, "ponytails are for girls anyway." I marvel that he can sometimes reach these conclusions without my hinting at them.

DesmondDiscussions#1

Des shares his thoughts on insect biology and imaginary informants.


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Under the Influence of DPJ

Summer Wrap Up

September dawns and I'm feeling so full and content with our first time ever, fully local, summer -- read: we didn't go ANYWHERE. Well, except to Ohio.

M a r o o n e d.

But lotsa lifesavers. Here's a recap (in pics):

FAMILY

Mom and Dad's blissful visit sans Nate&I (Ohio). Babes& Grandparents had a lot of fun. Thank you!

My sisters ALL came to brighten our days – WE LOVE THEM SO MUCH!! Holly started off the summer – she is the epitome of sunshine. This girl lights everyone up! We love you so much sister/auntie! (ok, so we went to CT too)

Heidi – Des cannot get enough of her. CT is too far away for him and Zoe now calls any lovely lady who befriends her, “Heidi”.

Hailey came for a blessed 4-5 hours on a Sunday in August and we loved having her and Randy. THEY ARE SO COOL!! We love you guys!!

Grandma&Grandpa Jones hung out with us for two weeks and we were so spoiled! Most relaxing and rewarding! Grandma Jones (a committed Anglophile, an indifferent cook) and I had little YouTube sessions every night watching Posh Nosh (crazy stuff!) and we were able to escape once for some girltime shopping. ahhhh. . . nicenicenice. Nate and Grandpa Jones went to Phila for a few days to do something about that, er, house that we own . . . what house?

Vanessa stayed with us for about 4-days in August. She is so much like family to me and I thank my Father in Heaven for her every day. We’ve grown so much together. It’s great to grow with someone.

RANDOM

Zoe turned into a super walker this summer -- she'll walk 10 city blocks without complaint.

I made an attempt this summer to actually do some girlie-cutie things with Zoe's hair :::gasp::: (I've been pretty hands off) She's great about letting me put all the elastics in and do all the styling but within 2minutes she has it all undone/removed and I can't figure out what to do about it. Any advice?

Des started posing in this very interesting, statue-esque way. Curious kid.

Then there was the emergence of the awful-freaky-scary-face. Argh!

Where did he come from mom?

PICNICS & FOOD

Lower Manhattan is a fabulous community with lotsa $$$ to sponsor some reallyreallyreally great events. The Fugals used to be Lower Manhattanites so we joined them and the Briens one gorgeous evening, on the waterfront, with some Lombardi’s pizza for a picnic, and drum circle with the locals! What fun! Some silly footage to come postpost.

Cute pic of Nate, Zoe and Emilia.

Drummer Dudes

Lotsa spontaneous family picnics in Isham Park -- so spontaneous I frequently forgot the picnic blanket (curses!) Nevertheless, I got to lounge while Nate did all the rough stuff. Zoe's crazy about the Greek yogurt too.

Zoe's quite the expert now at putting on her own shoes -- yeah for velcro!

This summer’s vegetable was Broccoli Rabe and I declared Saturdays to be

“Broccoli Rabe Saturday Night”

We’ve had BR nearly every Saturday night. SO YUMMY! Email me if you want some recipes. Mmmmm. . . [Kendra C. I credit you with the BR re-introduction. Remember?]

Des also went camping for the first time with Nate at the Father & Son Campout. He was pretty excited about the hotdogs, tent, and rocks.

Le babes took a twirl on Le Carrousel in Bryant Park -- cute french childrens music plays as you spin! Off to the side was a little spot with tables and chairs and a rolling BOOK rack -- with childrens BOOKS! HOW AWESOME IS THAT IN A PARK!?! I loved it.

FRIENDS

Girls Night Out with May -- she builds tofu structures for fun. She's really good at it. But nothing beats her flair for writing -- this girls can weild a pen, er, keyboard!

Ahhh. . . this is funny -- Zoe has on maybe 6 seperate occasions caught the eye of some random young boy at the neighborhood playgrounds. Ages averaging between 8 to 11 or so. Each of these little guys approached me saying something like, “You have a cute baby”. Then most of them would take it upon themselves to be her little helper in climbing the ladders, going down the slides, pushing her in the swings (she’s quite a good climber/slider on her own), etc. Some of these boys she didn’t put up with and expertly dismissed in her little 18-month old way. But there were a couple whom she liked and had a really great time playing with.

This little boy was my favorite, we met him at the Indian Road playground, I think his name is Joelle, a reallyreallyreally nice kid! Hope we run into him again.

And this was Michael we met him at Payson Playground during LunchBunch.

We love Loretta!! She puts up with a lot from DPJ. This is a good example of her sweet coping mechanism -- plug it up and tune him out!

And, of course, there was sadness at the beginning of this summer (well Spring actually) when Thomas Poulsen left NYC&DPJ for NJ. This picture was taken a coupla days after they left as we found ourselves walking by his apartment.

In Remembrance

James E. Faust

1920 - 2007

Apostle of God

A couple of my favorite Faustian ideas:

"Doing things sequentially—filling roles one at a time at different times—is not always possible, as we know, but it gives a woman the opportunity to do each thing well in its time and to fill a variety of roles in her life. A woman does not necessarily have to track a career like a man does. She may fit more than one career into the various seasons of life. She need not try to sing all of the verses of her song at the same time. " - A Message to My Granddaughters: Becoming “Great Women”, Ensign, Sep 1986, 16

"Our love of God must be pure, withour selfist intent. The pure love of Christ must be the motive in our devotion" "Where Do I Make My Stand?" Ensign, Nov. 2004, 18 (S.W.K quote above this one in the text is also profound!)

LDS Newsroom - President James E. Faust Remembered

LDS Newsroom - President James E. Faust Remembered

Grandma and Grandpa Jones

Thank you

Happy Grandma

for all your generous trips to the TOY STORE!

Thank you
Helpful Grandpa
for all your watchful care!

THANK YOU

For helping us

slow down

for two weeks and

e-n-j-o-y

each other.

THANK YOU
For spending a G R U E L I N G summer vacation with us