New Game in Town

Skylanders Giants is the current number one game in our house. Both Princess and the Lizard King are hooked. While I am not one to play those kinds of video games (I'm more of an Animal Crossing kind of a gal), I totally see the attraction. It is a really cool concept!

Not only does it come with the game, it also comes with "The Portal of Power" and three Skylanders. Each Skylander has a different power and element. They have their own individual attacks. You need different elements to accomplish tasks that can only be done with that element. Additional Skylanders can be purchased separately and new ones are being released. You place your Skylander of choice on the Portal of Power and then play as that character in the game.

LK's first plan was to purchase one of each element to allow access and abilities in all areas of the game world. Now he is adding on to that. The really cool thing is that you are not limited to just playing the video game on your gaming system (and it's available on just about any gaming system), you can use the codes that come with the figures to play online.

Princess has totally gotten into all of it and recently decided that she wanted to create her own YouTube Channel and make Skylanders videos. So far she's made two. Check them out! If you'd "like" or comment on her YouTube page, Princess would be tickled. And if you subscribed to her channel, she would be over the moon. :) Thanks!

48

Yesterday, I turned 48. I started my day with a crossfit workout. That's right. I played like a girl.

I often have to remind myself how far I've come, and also where I've come from. Yes, I changed my way of eating to Paleo/Primal way of life and lost more than 40 pounds. I'm thrilled with that, especially with all you hear about once you're a certain age (and especially if you're menopausal) your metabolism slows down and it's so hard to lose. Eating a Standard American Diet (SAD) yes, it is. Go Paleo and watch how it changes. But that isn't the point of this post.

I go to the "box"for my WOD (crossfit lingo: box=gym; WOD=workout of the day). There are people of all ages and fitness levels. The thing is, I don't really run into anyone who I can realistically compare myself to . . . not that I should compare myself but I'm human. There are people my age, but I haven't met anyone my age who is really working out for the first time in their lives.

I have to look at the fact that I'm going, regularly. I work hard when I'm there. I feel great afterward (although often breathing heavy and sore the next day or so). I'm getting stronger. I'm feeling more fit. I still love crossfit! I even got past my funk and brief feeling of wanting to quit. Thanks to my best friend and one of my biggest supporters, Ute.

So what if my weights are significantly lower than everyone else's. So what if my rounds are lower or my time is slower. So what if it takes me six and a half minutes to run a half mile. So what if I have to modify most of the exercises. So what if there are some exercises that I just can't do. I'm still lifting weights. I'm still doing the WOD. I'm still running. I'm still doing the exercises. I'm still finding a good substitute for the exercises I can't do. And I'm still loving it. I have great trainers and great people who I work out with . . . and I'm having fun, getting stronger and more fit.

48 feels great!

2013 Goals

I have mentioned before that I don't do New Year's resolutions. I consider resolutions those things that everyone decides on and promptly forgets within a couple of months. I know it's really just semantics, but I like setting goals for the new year. And my goals will never be to lose X pounds or the typical ones that most people do. I like to set a goal of learning something new, starting a new habit or accomplishing something that's important to me.

This year, I have three goals.

1. Send/give birthday cards to family and friends
2. Make gift bags of various sizes from the holiday fabric that I have and complete this in time for Hanukka 2013. I'd also like to pick up some fabric to make gift bags for birthdays and other occasions.

3. And finally this one that I saw posted on Facebook. I'm going to encourage the Lizard King and Princess to join me in this one. :)

Tea Time

It totally works!! You see, I got this beautiful teapot a few years ago. It was a wonderful gift and I love it. The thing is, it doesn't stay hot. Disappointing, I know! I would only use it when sharing tea with a friend. I started searching and searching for teapot warmers only to find mixed reviews and then I'd have to keep buying candles for it. I wanted some way to keep my tea hot so that I could make myself a pot of tea and enjoy the whole pot hot.

I got to thinking . . . what if I choose the smallest burner on the stove and put it on the lowest flame possible? It was a risk, but I thought that if I could put it on a candle why not try this?! And it totally worked. Hot tea for me!

Disclaimer: I offer no guarantee that this will work for you. Attempt at your own risk.

Letter to Santa's Boss

You may have seen my post about our experience where Santa crossed the line. Well, I decided to write a letter (email) to the mall and received an immediate response.

The response:

First  I want to thank you for bring this matter to my attention. Isincerely appreciate you taking the time to inform me of Santas comments.  Iam extremely sorry your visit did not meet any of our expectation. Santa hasbeen counseled on this matter and has been replaced. If you would like I canarrange a special time for you to visit again.  If you would let me know Iwill make the arrangement so you can go to the front of the line and alsoprovide you with a complimentary 5 x 7 photo of your visit..
Again please accept my apology,
My kindest Regards,

And my response:

Thank you so much for your prompt and kind response. I'm relieved to hear that other children won't be subjected to the same treatment thanks to your quick action. Thank you for the offer to move to the front of the line and the complimentary photo. I spoke with my daughter and she doesn't feel that it is necessary to visit with Santa again. She already received her present from Santa on the first day of Hanukka. ;)
Thank you again for your apology and your quick attention to this matter.
Best wishes,

And finally her response to me (with my name changed for blog purposes):

Thank you Shady Lady, matters like this we don't take lightly.  Its veryimportant to me that every child who visits Santa has a wonderful andmemorable experience. I sincerely wish you and your family a wonderfulholiday season.. Kindest Regards,

I feel bad that they let Santa go, but am glad that no other children, or parents for that matter, will have the same experience we did. We're looking forward to a better experience next year.

Chagall at the Children's Museum

We made it back to the Children's Museum for the Marc Chagall exhibit. It was very hands on and interactive and Princess loved it!!

She became part of the art . . .

 and created copies of some pieces.

 She practiced some weaving . . .

 And putting together a puzzle replica of one piece . . .

 and another.

 She made her own computer art self portrait in blue.

 Finally, Princess created her own abstract painting.

Yes, another fun day at the Children's Museum!

Ho, Ho, Ho?

As we do every year, we went to visit Santa so that Princess could ask him for her Santa gift. This year was just a little bit different than past years. This Santa was rather snarky, rude and grumpy. What ever happened to jolly St. Nick?!

Santa asked Princess if she was "minding her momma" and she said no. She had no idea what he meant, so I explained to her that he was asking if she listened to me. He asked what she should do if I tell her to jump and when she said "Jump?", he said no,  you should ask how high. He asked her if she ate her vegetables (she doesn't). He asked her if she cleans up her room when I tell her to (I don't tell her to, although I may ask her to.). He told her that if she wants to be on Santa's "nice list" she needs to do all these things otherwise she'll go on the naughty list . . . or maybe Santa will just come whoop her because he's "old school".

Finally, Princess got to ask Santa for what she wanted from him. We explained that we celebrate Hanukka, but also that LK would be out of town during Hanukka so we were moving Hanukka and would he please bring her present during the time we are celebrating. He then started questioning if we "go to Shabbat" every week. Well, Shabbat is a day, not a place. I didn't bother explaining, I just said yes.

WTH?!?! I jumped in throughout the conversation, trying to move past what he was saying and make light of it. I don't want Princess' memories of Santa to be a bad experience.

Santa obviously had no clue who he was talking to. If I told Princess to jump, I would certainly hope that she would ask me why and not just follow random and ambiguous requests. After all, we are the radical unschoolers. We believe that being a child doesn't mean that she isn't a complete person. If I told LK or a friend to jump, I would certainly expect them to question it. Princess should question these things as well. I certainly don't want her following requests of adults simply because they are adults. Question everything.

And I'm assuming he was asking about going to synagogue every week, well being Humanistic Jews and atheists, no . . . we don't. LK said Santa was lucky he wasn't there. My goal was to keep the whole experience a positive one. I think I did that.

King Tut

We joined our friends from Village Home on a field trip to Seattle, via Amtrak, to see the King Tut exhibit before it leaves North America. Photos weren't allowed inside the exhibit, but I was able to snap a bunch of pics along the way.

 Lots of stuff to see in the gift shop!

 This lovely piece is only $8750!

Princess loved the exhibit, but is sad that it's leaving and hopes to see it again one day.

Crossfit Princess

On August 1st I officially signed up at a Crossfit box. No, we don't call them gyms. I drank the Koolaid folks and was totally hooked. I workout 4 times a week and some days, Princess goes with me and hangs out  while I do the WOD (workout of the day). She was so inspired by me, she wanted to start working out herself.

There is a workout class at Village Home called Strong, Fit Kids that Princess loves. She wanted more! Hey...maybe she drank the Koolaid, too? ;) She started at my crossfit box doing Crossfit Kids every week. A few weeks ago, I shot some video of her doing her WOD.

Ball slams, burpees, 50 meter run and do it all again!

Row, Princess, row!

I have always wanted to be an inspiration for Princess to be healthy and fit. I'm so glad I've found something I am passionate about. It may have taken me a long time to find it, but I learned something. It's never too late.

The Zoo

It was a beautiful Autumn day, so instead of the Children's Museum, Princess opted for the zoo . . . as long as I assured her that we would get back to the museum before the Chaggal exhibit was gone.

 Our friends joined us and Princess and I visited the Lorakeets for the first time.

It was such a lovely day!