Happy Chinese New Year!

It's pretty Awesome!

Chihuly Exhibit

Happy Birthday to Grandpa! We went to the Chihuly Exhibit at the Desert Botanical Gardens. We saw some really awesome glass sculptures. I've been wanting to see his work since I saw a PBS special about him several years ago - and then...YAY! His work appeared in Phoenix.

Go, Grandpa!

Today is race day...
Here he is, running the 1/2 marathon, one day before his 75th birthday!

Satvinder and I cheered him on. The race course takes them right through our neighborhood, just a few streets over from where we live.

Goals

One of the things Satvinder picked out today was this goal making chart. She came up with some goals for herself and wrote them down. I LOVE how she writes.

Her goals for each day:
1.Pla - Play
2.Sodnu - Do Sadhana (daily spiritual practice)
3.Scool - go to School
4.Sum Pudls - jump in some puddles (this one could be hard since we live in the desert.)

Daily activity not mentioned but if it was, she'd definitely earn her daily sticker: "Overload my mother with my fantasticly ridiculous cuteness!!! "

76 degrees in Phoenix

A sunny Winter Saturday in Phoenix - we got gelato and strolled around

Dollar Store Shopping Spree!

My dad LOVES dollar stores. He goes to them in any city he visits. For Christmas, he gave Satvinder a gift certificate to The Dollar Tree and we saved it for his visit - so he could enjoy the witnessing of her shopping spree. And today...was the big day.

Dollar Store Puppet Show

Satvinder's shopping spree at the dollar store inspired this talking-hands "puppet show" (p.s. "private credit card" = gift card from Grandpa):

First "jell-o"

Satvinder has never had jell-o before now. Most jell-o is made with gelatin, which is not vegetarian. (Gelatin is made from animal bones, hooves or connective tissues.) She's seen kids at school eat it and has really wanted to find some that she could eat.

The other day, we found a vegan brand of "jell-o" at Whole Foods that does not have gelatin and Ohhhhhhh, the excitement! Satvinder is a fan!

It's BJ Weekend

Every year my dad comes to visit and runs the 1/2 marathon. We're happy to have him with us this weekend.
Taking pictures with the statues outside the Herberger is an annual tradition.
Monkey with statue
Going downtown to pick up the race pack
Satvinder and her Grandpa BJ

Daughter of a Birth Junkie

Satvinder: I finished my dinner. I ate some of my placenta.
Me: It's called polenta.
Satvinder: No...placenta.
Me: That was polenta.
Satvinder: I can't say "Polenta."
Me: You just did.
Satvinder: oh.

Karaoke

We got a karaoke game recently that we've been having fun with. Last night we had a few friends over for dinner and song.
Kids Singing Nirvana - this was really amusing to me for some reason.








Kids amused themselves by wearing our laundry hampers - a use for hampers that I had never anticipated!

Back to School

Satvinder is back to school today after the Christmas break.

Here is some 2009 fashion advice from The Pinky, as seen in this morning's picture:

Forget Matching
Matching is so last year.

Go for Stripes!
Striped shirt and stripe leg warmers (thigh high!) are great, especially if they are in totally different shades (see above.)

Love your Layers
For warmth and fashion, I recommend layers. Here I am wearing two shirts, a pair of capris, a skirt with shorts, leg warmers, and socks. I would have also added a pair of sparkly star pants but my mom talked me out of it.

I also am a fan of wearing multiple pair of underwear.

Do NOT ask your Mother for fashion advice
(see above.)

Stay Current
Yes, I am bringing leg warmers back. No, I am not wearing them the old, 80's way. I like to wear socks pulled over my leg warmers. So it is completely different. All new. Totally now.

Pink Shoes are Always Good
Don't worry if it looks a little funny, once you put on your pink shoes, it will all make sense. Trust me.

Knitted Things

I am very pleased that today I knitted for the first time. My friend, Narsingh, who teaches handwork at the Waldorf school, taught me a couple of projects that she's done with the kids. I made a little mouse and an owl!