Matteo's Pond

It seemed each kindergartener was to bring something to school that would help his classmates learn something about him. This "fishing pond" was perfect. It is Matteo to the T. Choose a rod, pull up a fish, and read a tag with a little something about Matteo, like "Matteo wants to be a paleontologist." I think there was some Mom help. Very cool.

BTW, tomorrow night it's Rattlesnakes at the SLO Children's Museum!...

Solvang Century

"Century", in this case, refers to a 100-mile bike ride. And who do you suppose decides to tackle a half-century, 50 miles, but Tracy and Janice. Wow. Spoiler alert: they were smiling almost as broadly at the end as at the beginning. What an accomplishment! Solvang to Lompoc and back. Photos: JF2.com/140308/

Hand To Hold

4/10/2014 - Update - I am just $100 away from 1st place with less then 24hr to go!!  Please push us into the lead!

#update with in an hour of posting you guys pushed me into the lead!!  Love you all, tears of joy!  Dont let that stop you from donating if you haven't, I still need to stay in the lead!

Wow, what a week/few months it has been in these parts of the world.  Probably one of the most trying weeks for all of us (I know me or sure).  With the twins super sick, unable to communicate their needs the amount of crying in these here parts has been out of control.  During this mornings scream fest I texted a dear friend a plea of help.  She always has the wisest advice and new ways to look at the situation.  In her return text she wrote back with a list of things that could be causing this cry feast and at the end wrote:

 "if that's the case, they are further proving the fact that they're little miracle babies who just don't sound very miraculous right now." 

If that statement wasn't the truth I don't know what is.  It made me laugh and cry all at the same time and think about where my boys started and how far they have come, maybe just maybe, today they need a few extra hugs because they have fought harder in their 2 years of life then some people will ever fight in their life time.  

Which of course always makes me think of our NICU and those faithful doctors, nurses, therapist, and cuddlers that cared for them as they would their own.  

Our charge nurse and 2 other nurses form the NICU holding the boys at our NICU reunion just 3 months after we were released.

I so badly want to give back to them what they have given our family..two healthy happy boys.  But nothing every seems right.  We take them cookies or little treats, stop by and just say Hi, but I would love to give them something more to help them, the way they helped our boys.

Enter the Hand to Hold NICU Giveaway.  

Hand to Hold is a non profit organization that helps get educational materials to NICUs, and support NICU families and bereaved families.  I found them when we were introduced to the NICU two years ago and I learned so much and loved their support.  I still visit their website pretty regularly to learn about new developments in the care of preterm babies and also to seek support in their section on "life after the NICU"

They are currently trying to raise money for their programs and have an awesome giveaway.  Basically the person who receives the most donation will be able to give a $5,000.00 grand prize to the NICU of their choice.  The prize includes things like new equipment for the NICU, education for the staff and more.  I would love nothing more then to give that grand prize to our local NICU.  This would be a dream come true.  I can't even express what that NICU and their staff means to our family.  

So if you are able I would love it if you could donate to Hand to Hold to help out our local NICU!  I am currently in the second place and would love it if you guys could push me over the top!!  Here is a direct link to my page which has more information about Us, Hand to Hold and the NICU Giveaway:

My donation page.

Here are few pictures of our beloved  NICU staffers with our boys!  

The #1 cuddler.  One of the first people to hold our boys, he spent almost every night our boys were in the NICU holding them and loving on them.

Our Primary Nurse.  Words can not express the spot she has in our heart.  So many tears shed the day we left the NICU with our boys, of joy and sadness.  She had loved my boys with all her heart and still does today.

Special Signs one nurse made for both our boys.  Taking into account their culture!! So much love.

Our boys final crib before coming home.  The nurses always made sure they had cute blankets and toys to look at.  LOVE!

Please if you could see it in your heart to give to a good cause, any dollar amount to earn our NICU the grand prize it would mean the world to our family.  It might be a little but as they say;

"Small things matter in the NICU."

Hayride

Some of the best times are when  life slows down for a bit and we just live in the moment. On the way home from Serafina's video filming with Actor's Edge, we stopped at the Avila Barn. We fed the animals, explored every nook and cranny, and... Took a hayride. It was a great time for Nana and Serafina to chew the fat as they watched the world drift slowly by.

Dzia Dziu - an Experimental Film

Dzia Dziu is Polish for Grandpa, and is pronounced, as best I can tell, like zha-zhu (the first syllable like Zsa in Zsa Zsa Gabor, and zhu rhymes with zoo). Through connections with the SLO Little Theatre, the film's student writer/director, Alexandra Ruttschow, found Serafina to play herself (Alexandra) as a little girl. She had no luck coming up with someone who had a 12" beard, so Papa Jamie was asked to fill in as Dzia Dziu. That's Alexandra in the whimsical, dream-state dress in the photos below. The film is basically a dream that Alexandra has where she sees herself years ago as she played with her Dzia Dziu, and occasionally getting into the dream herself. We filmed on locations in Morro Bay where Alexandra and Dzia Dziu actually spent these times together.

 


We started out at the Golden China Buffet on the Embarcadaro. Dzia Dziu would have young Alexandra count the bubbles when a little salt was added to his beer (it was impossible, way too many bubbles to count). The restaurant has an old photo of the two of them at this booth posted near the front door.

Dzia Dziu and Alexandra spent time at the Achievement House on the Cuesta College grounds. He loved the "Bargain Store" there, and they tried to catch lizards with his black hat. They tried a fun "take" from the lizard's point of view where the hat was removed from covering the lens to reveal the two girls staring down at the lizard.

 

Toward the end of the film, younger and older Alexandra find themselves on the beach together, and discover to their dismay that Dzia Dziu is heading out to sea.

 
Older Alexandra tries to give chase, dives in and swims for a while, but to no avail. The film ends with younger Alexandra consoling older Alexandra, and giving her the hat. Not sure when, if at all, the film will have any public availability. The project is due for class in a couple of weeks and Alexandra also intends to submit it to a film festival ("if it turns out OK").

David at the
Achievement House

We filmed at two other locations: Morro Rock and City Park. Both, of course, were places the two of them would hang out and play. Back in the day there was no signage at the Rock preventing squirrel feeding.

We all had a great day with this project. Alex and Damon Hayes (videographer) are great people who made the "work" most enjoyable; we had a lot of fun! And thanks to them for the celebratory dinner at Pizza Port after dark when it was all "in the can". And I think we'll have peanuts to shell for a month since we couldn't feed those squirrels!

Thanks to Tracy and her cell phone for getting the pics above.  David was with us for most of the day, and thoroughly enjoyed the venues himself!

Back to the Theatrics page.

The Twins are Two!!

 Two years ago, you were born.  No one knew your future.  No one knew if there would be a future for you.









But you two fought.  And so so so many people prayed for you.  God brought you to us.

After a year of struggles you turned one.  You bet all the statistics up to this point but we still had so many unknowns.  We still didn't know if you would walk or talk.

And today after a year of great joy and growth you turned two.  You walk, you run and even try to jump.  You both have bet all the odds.  Not one doctor looks at you with out uttering the words miracle.  You are God's miracle.  I feel so blessed to get to see you grow every day, and see the great things you do.  Happy birthday boys!

How Many Men...

How many men does it take to help a 3rd grader with her homework? Three, apparently. The issue at hand was "Is a galley a part of a ship or a location on a ship?" Had to pick one. Rob's caption was, "Her advanced quantum physics class homework is pretty challenging! I will not be sticking around for differential equations homework."

From a Shower to a Tornado

The first of two events for the day was a baby shower for Jen. It was a grand time from the parasol decorations (Melodrama garage sale) to the outstanding truffles and baby headband manufacturing. Rumor has it that the baby's name is Clementine! All the photos: http://jf2.com/140201/

And then it was off to the theater for Wizard of Oz by Kelrik Productions at the Cuesta College Performing Arts Center. Wow! The show was fantastic! Such memorable characters make doing a convincing performance very difficult, and they pulled it off from top to bottom, from a "just right" Dorothy all the way to the most delightful 4-year-old Munchkin. Our 5yo Matteo was totally enthralled from beginning to end! It was a special delight for us to see several of our Sound of Music friends doing their thing again. Pictured at left are Tracy and Serafina chatting with Glinda (Allison King), the Good Witch of the North. She and Serafina were in Sound of Music together at the SLO Little Theatre.

Nobody Goes One for One

I auditioned for a play this past weekend - the father/mathematician role in "Proof" (more about the play here). The play was intriguing to me, and so was "Robert." My first theater audition. Ever. It's a little daunting to prepare and present "two contrasting monologues". I thought about backing out at the last minute, but realized this would be my only opportunity to show off what I'd put hours into. So I auditioned. Audience of one, the director. Felt surprisingly good. Afterward, I mentioned to a friend that I couldn't remember saying half the lines; he said that was a good sign. I didn't get the part; nobody goes one for one. Except Serafina.

Tangent: As chance would have it, I just read an article about the power of creativity, even over passion, for entrepreneur success. One of the ways to build creativity is to learn new hobbies, skills, etc. The article specifically mentions the arts: "but learning a new art form is one of the best methods to train the mind in developing creative problem-solving skills. The arts require the use of divergent thinking, which is the half of creative thought that is typically missing in corporate America" [full article].

Pinocchio Opens Tonight

I got to photograph again last night (Thursday) as well as Tuesday night. It was, of course, final dress rehearsal. They looked ready, able, and much more than willing! It's go time! Here are a few shots of our Village Teen / Puppet. Don't miss the show at the SLO Little Theatre, January 10-26, 2014.

Her cast-mates include a student of mine from SLOCA last year (far left)
and another returnee from Sound of Music (middle).
Serafina is far right.

Back to Theatrics...

Crunch Time for Pinocchio

It's "tech week". It's all coming together. Rehearsal every night leading up to Friday's opening at SLO Little Theater. A few more photos are here.

Biking Beginnings

 Six months ago if you would have told me it was possible to use biking as a means of transportation for a family with six kids who live down a step hill and long "country" road, I would have laughed in your face.  Probably in my not so Christian sarcastic manner asked you "What are you smoking?"

But if you told me that same thing today I would 100% agree because well we do it!  Why you ask?  Because one day I basically woke up and needed a change.  I wanted to take up biking, and do triathlons with my friend but didn't know how to start or what to do with the kids.  Then one day poking around on the internet I ran across a couple articles on biking families (mostly in Seattle area).  I began researching bikes and realized, if I had a cargo bike, I could bike with all my kids by myself and what better way to get in shape for a triathlon then training while pulling a ton of weight.

So I researched cargo bikes until my eyes popped out and decided that Yuba Mundo was going to be the best one to start with.  And boy was I ever right.  I love it.  It is so versatile and so safe with the kids, easy to maneuver, and can handle hills well.  My favorite part about it is the redesigned NuVinci 360 hub for shifting.  I don't have to think about changing gears or worry about losing a chain while I have the kids with me, you can even change gears while stopped.  Its pretty much awesome.

Here is my Mundo with the twins on it.  They absolutely love to go on the bike.  When I only have one peanut seat on they fight for who gets to ride there and who has to go in the trailer!!

Here is the Mundo with the trailer attached and one peanut seat off.  In this configuration I can literally take all 5 kids with Sam riding his bike by myself.  It is slow and heavy but can be done!  

I am also getting stronger which is good.  The trailer was a bit difficult to figure out how to attach, I ended up asking my brother (the aerospace engineer) to get'er done and he sure did!  I will have to take some close ups of it for another post.  

We have picked the kids up from school with bikes and rode to and from gymnastics and then just varies other rides for fun and or weekend activities. We haven't attempted morning drop of to school yet, with cold/rainy weather and then the holidays it just wasn't the right time for a first attempt but we will in January.  The commute to school is about 30 minutes and the commute home 45 minutes (home is all hill).  Round trip is eleven miles.  

Serafina loved it! (I don't know why it is snowing but I can't make it stop)

Its really fun when Janice comes along for the ride, which is most the time!  She is always up for taking a few pounds off my bike, here she pulled Serafina on the trail-a-bike, with AJ in the trailer!  You go girl.






Matt had the twins in a trailer which meant I only had Matteo, I felt spoiled all though my bike does weigh twice if not three times as much as theirs.  But who's keeping score

Here is our fleet of bikes all lined up after another ride to the Voler outlet store for some great deals!!  I had the twins on the Mundo, Matt pulled Matteo on the trail-a-bike and Janice pulled AJ in the trailer.  (Serafina was at rehearsal!)  

Loving the shadow.

The boys ready to cruise.

Riding the Railroad Safety Trailer into SLO on Christmas eve.  Matteo and Serafina got to ride their bikes along the safety trailer but then when we hit the streets of downtown we locked up their bikes and they had to get on ours until we headed back down the trail.  So much fun and so great to see Matteo and Serafina get a chance to ride, they were loving it (ok Matteo loved it, Serafina not so much but she is getting better).

And sometimes after you do a 20 mile + ride with your BFF you have to stop for Milk shakes and fries and village grill, right?!?

So if you ever wanted to bike and thought you couldn't, maybe you should think again!!

Some more photos: click here.

The Foster Christmas

We had the Foster Christmas Saturday evening - meaning Nana and Papa and all their descendants. Very traditional menu: prime rib, 7-layer salad, twice-baked potatoes, and ice cream with caramel syrup for dessert. OK, the caramel ice cream was a little different, but a big hit. We tried a new prime rib cooking process. Very simple. Not-sure-it-could-work simple. But it worked well - process. All photos: http://JF2.com/131228/

A Review of Kindle's FreeTime App

In case you hadn't noticed we are a little conservative when it comes to our kids and electronics, gaming, phones, and all that jazz.   Our kids do not have cell phones, personal iPad's, personal computers, TV's in their rooms, or unlimited access to such devices.  When it comes to all that they are strictly monitored and limited.

However as my kids have grown older they have been requesting more access. Also I can see the good things this technology can bring to them.  Like reading, and learning, and math skills.  Access to up to date information and learning problem solving skills and how to research.

I feel this has lead Matt and I down a tug a war of parenting, how to let out the reins but still guard, their hearts, eyes, and minds.

We tried getting the kids iPod touches last year.  They have been OK.  But we found we still had to watch closely what they were doing. We still couldn't allow them in their rooms and once again it was a fight or battle.

Then this Christmas, enter in the Kindle Fire HD.  We have a couple old (as in original kindles) but hadn't ever upgraded to this new technology.  We use the kindle reader on all our I Pads and phones and love it.  Then I heard about the FreeTime app.  I read about it and decide what the heck, let's try it.  My parents bought the kids two Kindle Fire HD's for Christmas and the kids (mainly the older 3) where so excited!

Matt and I setup the FreeTime app and I was immediately impressed by the app.  I didn't spend much time looking at all it offered as the kids were excited to get the kindle in their hands, but what impressed me off the bat was I could setup different accounts for each child (all of which can be accessed on any of the two kindles because they are all under my one account), and that once a child is in the app they literally can not access anything but the programs I have selected, nor can they exit the FreeTime app with out my password.  Even if you turn the kindle off and back on again.  So we handed the Kindles over and the kids were off.  They enjoyed playing games, reading books and watching shows (hey it was Christmas).  

Finally, when they were all off in bed it was my chance to really dive in a learn more about FreeTime, and what I found made me as giddy as a school girl.  

This is the interface that my kids see.  It works just like that of the Kindle Fire but they only have access to the content I choose (see I am not a horribly mean mom, they have Temple Run and Angry Birds).  Also, when they are in FreeTime, your GPS location and ads get turned off in all apps.  AWESOME!  They literally can not get out of this without a password.  Its like full lock down.  Trust me I tried.  A lot.  No getting out. 

Here is the parental control center.  You can see all the kids accounts, and how many items (ie -apps, books, shows) each kid has access to and who has timers and goals set.


This FreeTime app not only does everything I mentioned above but I can set up time limits on every category. There are basically three categories, Reading, Apps, and Movies.   I can setup up the program so the kids can have unlimited access to everything or I can limit it all by having the Kindle shut off after a certain amount of time.
But it gets even better then that.  You can limit just one or the other.  For example, you can allow 30 minutes of Apps, 45 minutes of Movies and unlimited Reading.  WHAT!!!  That is awesome.   
From there I found you can also have unlimited reading but setup the program to turn off at 9:30 pm so your kid doesn't stay up all night reading.  


So at this point I was pretty sure I had died and gone to heaven.  I had spent 'God knows how many hours' trying to find a program like this for the Ipad to no avail and here it finally is on the kindle..why had I waited so long.  

And then I found the holy grail.  

You can setup up reading goals.  As in, the program will lock your kids out of Apps and Movies until then Read X amount of time.  WHAT?!?! It's as easy as that and I personally don't have to monitor it?!?!  The app does it for me?!?  Sign me up and count me in.  You can also set it so they have to play X amount of educational apps before they can play say angry birds.  I immediately setup this bad boy feature up.  Thirty minutes of reading a day before you can access anything else!!  And you know what?!?!  My daughter woke up this morning and said I think I am going to read this morning!!  LOVE IT.   Also you can setup up different time limits and goals for the weekdays vs the weekend!!!

It hasn't stopped there.  When all of them run out of app and movie time...they READ...even Matteo, he has Bob books and other beginning reading/picture books on his account.  Did I mention, I control what each kid has access to and each kid can have different times/goals/and content.  So Matteo doesn't have all of Sam's books in his account and Sam can't spent 30 minutes reading Bob books!! 


Basically I am ready to by 4 more Kindle Fire HD's so all my kids have their own personal one and I have NEVER felt that way about any other electronic product and it is all because of this app.   Thank you to the makers of Kindle and Kindle FreeTime for finally getting it and getting it right.  I couldn't be happier.  I felt like I need to share this with the world, because I know their are other parents out there trying to balance technology and raising kids who stay innocent just a little longer.  This is a beautiful combination of both and it motivates reading and who can argue with that!!


(I am not getting anything for writing this post.  I was just truly that amazed and happy with the FreeTime app I wanted to share my thoughts)

Nana's Christmas Reflections

Christmas at the Compound - a warm fuzzy day for all. In the middle of the night I was awoken to Serafina singing at the top of her lungs “Born is the king, rejoice in the day…” only then did I realize that it was 7:30 Christmas morning. Oh my goodness, I cannot remember ever sleeping in until 7:30 on a Christmas morning! I ran upstairs to get the bubble bread in the oven only to be greeted with the yummy aroma of bubble bread baking in the oven. Tracy was hard at work in the kitchen preparing the potatoes and veggies we would enjoy in our breakfast burritos later in the morning. I could hear Matt in the bedroom trying to keep the six excited Christmas urchins at bay until all were ready for the grand entrance to the “Christmas Room.” Ahh….my Christmas blessing – the changing of the guard – Matt and Tracy have lovingly taken over the major chores and responsibilities of the Compound.

We got Robob tucked snug in a chair, then me and my coffee and pa with his camera we waited for the children’s entrance down the stairs...

From there the day was a relaxed blur of squeals of delight, juggling, games, books, laughter, and yes, even a nap! Favorite memories – Matteo’s delight when he finally “saw” the giant bear Santa brought him (a special request). The bear has been named “Giant” and is now being dragged everywhere Matteo goes. Sam’s delight in his Bronco hat and pillowpet. Serafina wearing her lensless spectacles (yes, they are still on today). AJ quietly playing with a tiny car wrapped in his own world while a tornado of activity surrounds him. AND the twins – one can’t even begin to explain the overflowing joy, love, and amazement one feels while watching those two toddle around actively exploring their world – our little miracles.

Christmas 2013, a year of enjoying the moment with the folks you are with, quiet – “secret Santa” gifts that no one will ever know who the benefactor was, and enjoying the joy life brings to us all!