kimberlyinkathmandu's Xanga

I love puppets

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:49:46 GMT

Okay, this may be a little known fact about me, but I love puppets. I always have, even as a kid I remember really liking puppet shows. Now that I have kids I want them to love puppets. I have bought some fun puppets, and even a curtain that we can hang up to have a puppet stage thing. Okay they have all gotten puppets in their stockings for Christmases, but not a one has really liked puppets. They humor me for a few minutes here and there but have not really just wanted to put on a show. I was actually thinking to give away or sell the puppets, after tripping over the puppet basket a million times. Then P found the puppets. She has put on at least one show for me everyday this past week. Her shows are a little slow, but hey at least one will play puppets with me. It is wonderful. I love puppets and now have at least one child who likes them. Go P play puppets.

Sustainable living

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:36:16 GMT

The past few months I have been thinking more and more about how to live simply and sustainably in America. Some things are easy and some hard. Some I think I just need to be more intentional about. Anyway I thought I would just write out what we are trying to do. We have a huge old garden that has been great for vegetables. So we have been canning and freezing away. We love zucchini bread and thanks to my mom's suggestion have a lot of bags of grated zucchini frozen so anytime this winter we can make some. We also have been hanging our laundry out to dry which smells so good. We have a push mower that is powered only by the pushing so no gas there, plus great exercise. We also try to be secondary consumers. That means shopping Craigslist, Once Upon a Child, consignment, or Goodwill stores. When we plant flowers in our yard we try to only use wildflowers that won't consume much water so we don't have to use a sprinkler on them. Also we always use shopping bags and when grocery shopping try to buy things only in recyclable materials. I have made some produce bags that are reusable so we don't even have to use those nasty plastic produce bags. Plus we have been able to get some free fruit and have been canning jam for the winter. We have several composting drums in the back yard which are great. It is amazing on wed morning as we take out the trash. We have one can of trash while so many people on our street seem to have so much more than that. We do however have a lot of recyclables. Our kids now check everything they pick up to see if it is recyclable. If you are wondering the wagon is recyclable Not that hard but I think it will make a difference.

Educating the kids and stuff

Tue, 26 May 2009 16:45:49 GMT

Lately my mind has been all caught up in what to do with the kids next year with regard to education. I have seriously been considering sending the middle two to parochial school just down the street. It is very integrated and the principal has adopted children from foster care and has a great heart for the kids in the school. He felt that it would not be the best option for Jedi as the third grade class is rather large and thinks homeschooling is teh best option for Asperger's kids. Adia would enjoy the school but has been excited about taking an art class at the art museum next year. Plus she is ahead in reading and behind in math. Math has been hard for her and it is worse with her competitive spirit to see Jedi breezing ahead in math while she struggles and struggles. It is great that I am able to give her a lot of time and encouragement as she plods ahead. Elijah could go either way. He enjoys company and has stated that he would like to do school at home but only if he can have friends over a lot to play with. He has several friends his age that he has met at various homeschool things so that is a possibility.

It looks like I will home educate the bunch again next year but it is a hard decision. I enjoy educating the kids, I seriously love the time curled up on the couch reading, exploring science in the yard. I especially love hearing Adia or Jedi read knowing I taught them that. Elijah is ready to learn to read so that is exciting. But it is hard as running errands involves four kids, all talking at the same time. There is no quick run to the store or quiet drives anywhere. I so much wish I could just go out for the afternoon without some of them for a bit. A trip to Target without four kids in tow would be delightful. does the bad outweight the good no, but somedays it seems reason enough to send them all to school and just have sweet p to spend the day with. It would be so nice to drive to the grocery store without four kids complaining about the trip, and the kids reviewing each purchase as to weather of not they like the food I will make. Anyway I am not sure why I am writing this I think I talk alot about how much I enjoy the time with my kids teaching them and people think it is all sweet, it isn't. It is hard and a struggle. One moment I love and wouldn't trade for the world. The next I am going crazy.

Wishes

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:41:33 GMT

Last night driving home from Awanas the kids were talking about wishes. Adia had seen something on TV about bracelets that you make a wish on and she was convinced that if she saved her money and bought one than anything she wished would happen. So the kids were busy discussing what they would wish for. Adia wish was to be the best babysitter and best tennis player in the world. Elijah would wish for a Lightening McQueen car that could drive him all around. Priya, who was hungry, said she would wish for popcicles. Jedi though made me laugh so hard. He said with great determonation that he would wish for earplugs becasue Elijah talks so much at bedtime. I know he finds that annoying but didn't know how much until last night. Funny he didn't say he would wish that Elijah wouldn't talk at night. I guess he knows that is impossible Later he said he would also wish for a starwars fighter gun ship as well. I was feeling so tired when I took them to Awanas then all the laughing made me wake up a bit. I love those kids. Who wouldn't really?

I am a lazy blogger

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:06:20 GMT

It has been awhile since I have blogged and so much has happened.

We got a newer used van that actually seats 8. Yeah!

Elijah had his surgery to get tubes in his ears and his tonsils and adenoids out. That was painful for him and he even had to get admitted back into the hospital for a night after the surgery because he got an infection, but now he can hear and that is an amazing thing. His attitude is so much better and he is so well behaved. I think life is just less frustrating.

The kids all started taking a homeschool P.E. class and the older two are now pretty great swimmers. Yeah!!!

Jedidiah turned 8 and Priya turned 3. Where did that time go?

I have joined a book club and that has been great to have stimulating adult conversations

We have gotten a lot of snow and watched the kids enjoy sledding for the first time in their lives.

We joined the Y and have had so much fun getting back into shape.

We started a garden so we should have some great summer meals.

We started attending a church we feel like we can be a part of which is a great feeling, plus the kids are loving their Sunday School classes and learning a lot.

Life has just been crazy, but good. I feel like I am coming out of a winter fog. A lot of the winter I was home without a vehicle so going out was not even possible but the days we had a vechicle it was just too much work to get the kids all bundled up to go out since only Jedidiah could get his seatbelt on while wearing gloves Now that spring is in the air I am more motivated to get out and feeling more ready to try to make some more friends here in Omaha.

Last week Jedidiah had his evaluation for ASD at the clinic and that went very well. The dr. said we are doing all the right things and that Jedi seemed to be doing great. Then we went to the pediatrician who said she saw marked improvement from the first time she met him. Seriously it has taken his so long to get over the anxieties that life in Nepal put him under. It wasn't until about 2 weeks ago that he started actually missing Nepal. But he had to get rid of the anxiety before he could think fondly of life there. I feel so much less anxious now that he is less anxious as well. Friends were saying a few weeks ago that Silas and I are different people then when we were in Nepal. We seem so much more relaxed and it is true we are more relaxed. We both are enjoying exploring who we are and being able to just be a family without constant distractions.

As great as we are doing we still continue to miss Nepal. Priya found some hair clips the other week as I was doing her hair and they look like the ones Rekha uses so she started cheering, "Yeah Auntie here." and walked around looking for her it was so cute. Thankfully our Nepal family has kept us well supplied with Nepali Dahl and candy so we eat a great Nepali meal once a week on our metal plates although last night Adia said it would taste better if we were sitting on the floor like in Nepal.

Busyness of life

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 21:09:52 GMT

This past month has been very busy. I think the trip east was great but getting home from that and Si being gone another week was a bit crazy. Although I think I got more accomplished that week than I would have had he been home. It seems like since he got back he have been going full speed. I am not sure what we have been doing but it has been crazy. Then this week arrived, I was exhausted starting the week and it has been a bit crazy. But in all the craziness it has been good. The dog ran away but Si found her and she was back that night. (I still can't understand why she ran away she hates the cold and I thought she was safe out with the kids while I ran in to get the stuff for the compost. Guess even for a few minutes she shouldn't be alone with the kids.) Now I know where she gets out of the fence. The tracks in the snow were a great help So, while it was annoying that she got out now I know what places I need to finish plugging. That same night Adia hurt her leg sledding and Si had to take her to the emergency room. Turns out ot was just a sprain but now we know the system for the emergency room, so that is helpful. Plus, let's face it in the busyness of the last few weeks she hasn't gotten much attention that night was all great for her.

Then last night the woodgrain sides van died Thankfully it was close to home and Si was able to bring the groceries he had just bought home and was also able to meet some of the people in the neighborhood so that was good. Si talked to a friends brother who works at a car dealership today and next week plans to go look at a van. It might be a blessing. We really would like to get involved in foster care but don't have any spare seats in the van for a child so hopefully in this we will be able to get a van with a little more room and that I can feel a little more comfortable driving. Pray it works out for us. There is a lot of little details we have to figure out. We also see how great of a community we have here in Omaha, several people have offered to let us borrow their cars so that has been an amazing thing to have so many people looking out for us all.

In the craziness of life Adia lost her second tooth. She was so excited about it all as she put in in the tooth fairy pillow. That night we had a crazy snowstorm, but Si and I were both so tired that we fell asleep forgetting about the fairy's visit. The next morning a crest falled Adia came out of her room but quick thinking Si said that the fairy probally couldn't fly in the snow So thankfully last night it wasn't snowing and she came. She even sprinkled extra fairy dust on Adia and the dog just to make up for not coming the night before. So now there is glitter in every crevis of the room The dog glows because she sleeps with Adia as well.

This week the older kids went to the pediatrician and it went great. Jedi got a referal to the autism center here in Omaha so that is great. We have to take him to be evaluated then they will help us to get him into the services that he needs. Huge sigh of relief on that.

So really while it seems like life has been crazy I see good in all of it. I see a light at the end of the tunnel and see how God has been with us in all of this. I even see time coming up for me to get a much needed haircut and last night as I was enjoying some much cherished quiet time I found a picture of how I want it cut so this is all good. Tomorrow after church I plan to finish up some Christmas shopping and then can just sit at home with no feeling like I should be out doing something since we won't have the van I am excited to see how this all works out.

Surgery for Elijah

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:25:21 GMT

Elijah has been having trouble breathing when he sleeps for awhile and he also has problems hearing. Friday I took him to see the ENT and was told that he needs tubes put in his ears so all the fluid can drain since the fluid in his ears is keeping his ear drum from being able to work properly. He also needs his huge tounsils and adnoids removed. So he is scheduled to go on for the surgery on the 29th of Dec. I am freaking out a bit about it all. This will be the first visit to the hospital for any of the kids. I keep thinking of him in a little gown being put to sleep and get all teary.

When we went to the Dr at first the nurse asked him to go with her for a test. He looked at her smiled and said, "you are very pretty. I will go with you anywhere you want if you will hold my hand." He is such the ladies man. As long as the nurse is a woman he will be at ease with it all of course all the nurses and doctors he has seen so far have been woman and all have been won over by his charms so he has made quite the impression.

Pray that all goes well as we think about the surgery.

Free family fun

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:12:53 GMT

I think one of my favorite things about being in the good old USA is all the free family activities that we get to do. O.K. that and clean restrooms and water fountains everywhere. Yesterday we got to have a great day visiting museums and the police horse stable here in Omaha and it was all free and lots of fun. The only down part was that it was so cold and windy our skin hurt. Priya kept crying whenever we had to go outside that her face was "ouchy". Thankfully the trolleys were heated and it was warm in the museums. The children's museum and library also had things being offered but we skipped them since the kids had just been to the children's museum on Thursday.

The day started out at the Western Heritage Museum, at least for us it did. We got to see Santa and the biggest Christmas tree in Omaha as well as tour old trains and trolleys as well as get a good glimpse of Nebraska history which was really fun. And there was a scavenger hunt for the kids which was a lot of fun as they panned for gold, searched for christmas cheer and musical instruments.

You can probally guess if you know my brood that their favorite part of that museum was the trains and trolley.

Then we got to ride in a trolley to the Joscelyn Art Museum where we got make Christmas ornaments, the kids got free remoter control stage coaches and Silas won a $25 gift card from Wells Fargo. But the best part was that Adia finally got to see the Diego Riviera works that are there in person. She was so excited to see them and i kept promising to take here but we have been busy so that was great.

Then it was back on the trolley to the police Horse Stables where we got to decorate cowboy hats, pet horses and the best part ride in a stage coach. I admit I was more excited about the stage coach ride then the kids. It was so fun I can hardly wait till next year to ride in it again.

It was such a fun day with hot chocolate being given out at almost every place so we kept warm. The girls fell asleep almost as soon as we got them in the van to come home. Yeah Omaha and Wells Fargo!!!!!

Decorating for Christmas

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:26:21 GMT

I thought I would put up a few pictures of us decorating our tree. It was a fun night. Elijah was just so excited to see a big Christmas tree. We watched Polar Express and ate pizza then decorated the tree. Elijah liked to hang the ornaments four deep on the lowest branches. Adia liked to hang all the "girl" ornaments. Jedi was very careful about what he chose to hang up and spent more time picking which to hang that he didn't gey to hang many.

I also thought I would put a picture of our house all decorated for Christmas. I think it looks cute. Teh bright lighhts at the bottom are a bunch on an old sled. The only problem is I couldn't open one of the windows upstairs so I put the wreaths up with suction cups and with the wind they tend to fall off after 5 days, so it is a little work to keep them looking nice. I know I could get magnetic wreath holders but I had suction cups so that was the cheaper option. Hopefully by next year I will be able to get the window problem fixed

And here is just a cute picture of Elijah with the cupcake tree. I have been trying to make Christmas treats this month so this seemed like a good treat. Normally this tree hold tealights but I saw this in a magazine, o.k. in the magazine it had greens in it between the cupcakes so looked more tree like but the kids liked it just as well this way.

Lost tooth

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:04:47 GMT

Monday night Adia and I were in the kitchen talking and she asked me to look at her loose tooth. It has been loose for awhile, well I was shocked when I looked in and there was another tooth growing in behind the loose tooth. Si tried wiggling but it wasn't coming out. When Jedi had his first loose tooth it came out eating a Starburst so Adia, who will use any excuse to have a piece of candy, tried eating one. It still didn't come out. The next day Si tried again. This time he pulled with pliers and out it came.

She was so excited. I had the tooth fairy pillow I had when I was little so into that the tooth went.

She has been sleeping in the guest room on the pull-out bed with the dog so after asking if Brownie would hurt the tooth fairy she went to bed. It took a long time for her to fall asleep she was so excited. It was a late night. Finally about 11:30 the tooth fairy was able to visit and give two dollars. Si said that you get two of whatever the local currency is, Jedi got 2 rupees a tooth in Nepal She was so excited when she woke up. First checking the fairy dust to see how the tooth fairy got to her. This time she came down the chimney and flew right to Adia even sprinkling fairy dust all over sleeping Brownie Yes, there is now pink glitter all over the house and I wonder if I will ever get it all cleaned up. Then she checked the pillow and was pretty excited about the 2 dollars.