Dear Parents, Friends, Teachers and Business Friends,

It's about family and our children, is it not? 

If you are a parent and you have any challenges at all in raising your children or if you are a teacher with a challenging student in your class, you will surely enjoy reading Suki's 2009 parenting and homeschooling journey which she reviews in her blog.  It will take you through a  re-visiting in a year in the life of her delightful and creative daughter.

Giving homemade gifts or time and "presence" requires more energy than purchasing gifts but have a long lasting and deep effect on both giver and receiver.  Still, it's fun to give tangible, store bought (local!) presents, especially when you come up with a gift that truly connects with a strong interest of the recipient.

Then there is tikkun olam and tzedakah which Suki writes about: "...tikkun olam (repairing the world) as a primary goal in one's life.... and... tzedakah (charity or justice). It['s] not enough to live a good life - you are required to help others live a good life, too." 

It begins within the family, extends to neighbors and friends, expands to our community and for some of us influences the world.  We are raising our children to be ambassadors of our family culture. We do our best with our awesome responsibility!

Have wonderful holidays with your families!

Parmalee

Norman Rockwell images

It’s nearing the end of the year, and I’m starting to feel nostalgic. Also, my daughter just turned seven, and somehow that seems very momentous. It occurred to me that I’d like to publicly thank all the people who have helped her this year. It’s been an amazing year for her, full of growth and promise. And I know we wouldn’t have seen nearly the amount of positive change without various people’s help.

The longest-term thanks goes to...>>>>>>

Is it possible to eat healthfully and still have tasty food? I went to a Christmas party put on by Jennifer Brewer that featured seasonal vegetables. While I am not a vegetarian, I'm striving to change my eating lifestyle. One change I've made is a major increase in my greens and veggies intake. I have even gotten to the point of eating greens three times a day and especially for breakfast. One preparation tip I have learned is that adding the right combination of spices makes veggies taste great!

I use many of Jennifer's weekly recipes and confess I am majorly impressed with the great variety of dishes you can make with veggies. Jennifer's a nutritionist and natural foods chef whose clients subscribe to her weekly meal planning service with shopping list, recipes and directions. She's affiliated with New Leaf, so each week's shopping list comes with a generous coupon! I think by using the coupons that I actually come out ahead.

I tasted a small helping of everything, potato-leek soup with a kick, baked polenta wedges spread with a white Bean Puree and topped with Mushroom Ragout, a spinach/squash salad and texas caviar on blue corn chips. My favorite was Creamy Cashew Cheese spread on toasted sourdough topped with a sun-dried tomato relish on one end and pesto on the other. It was so tasty I could have eaten several more but I was saving my calorie allotment for one of the cookies.

Choosing only one cookie was a challenge, but I stuck to one, the Cherry Chocolate Crinkle, crispy on the outside and yummy soft on the inside with a piquant cherry surprise in the middle! Recipes are below.

Visit Jennifer at her website and learn how she conquered 20 years of yo-yo dieting, eats well and will share how to do it it with us!

Whether you have a child who spells easily or one who is challenged, Heddi has found a great spelling program/challenge for you.  Check out this book.   If you think you are an excellent speller, ask your children to quiz you from this book which contains the "...most frequently used and frequently misspelled words..."  and if you know you are spelling challenged, perhaps you can get some help from this source.  Read Heddi's blog to find out more. >>>>>>

Below is only a partial list of upcoming events and activities so be sure to click on our EVENT CALENDAR so you do not miss anything >>

Use the PARENT PLANNER to click on events and resources you are interested in and click PRINT MY PLANNER to print or email your list.

Holiday Events | Movie Showtimes

December 19 - January 3,  MAH,  Toy Trains Poster

Join us for a rotating cavalcade of operating toy trains from the 1920s to the 21st century. Watch a massive standard gauge steam engine from the 1920s start up-headlight flashing, drive wheels spinning, smoke flowing from the smoke stack and of course a mighty whistle. On another track, see a remote controlled modern production of an O gauge diesel with all the latest electronic features. Hear the roar as the diesel starts up, the blast of the mighty horn, the squeal of the brakes at the train slows for a curve and the chatter between the engineer and the control tower. Toy trains have come a long way over the last century, but new or old, the emphasis is on fun!

Toy Trains 2009 features the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad with its famous Chicago-California streamliner "The Super Chief" in miniature. Children and the young at heart have the opportunity to operate the trains, sound the whistles and much more! Visitors will view vintage advertisements extolling the advantages of luxurious Pullman train travel of the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Examples of many interactive accessories some and colorful catalogues produced over the years will also be displayed in the exhibition. Members of the Over the Hill Gang will be on hand to help young engineers' master controls and to answer questions. Don't miss this nostalgic exhibition.

Toy Trains 2009 is presented by The Museum of Art & History in conjunction with the 'Over the Hill Gang'--a group of local toy train collectors who love to operate their trains. The "Over the Hill Gang' has generously donated a new Lionel Santa Fe passenger set complete with track and transformer for this year's free raffle prize at MAH. Just sign up at the Museum for a free chance to win! The raffle winner will be announced on Sunday, January 3, 2010 at 3pm.

Special Train Event on Tuesday, December 22 at 11am: Live Performance with Liz Anderson from Musical Me. Liz will entertain children young and old with an interactive train themed musical experience!