A couple more good shots

December 14 Playgroup

Inspired by how quickly our beloved babies are growing and changing, we snapped some photos to capture this moment of these five playing together at 14-17 months old: Alita, Carmen, Shayla, Xander, and Asha. (anyone else have photos to upload from Thursday?) We missed Eleni and Serena and Olivia and Carolyn, and look forward to a photo of seven beautiful toddlers soon.

As I'm writing this, I'm struck by what lovely and distinctive names all our babies have, and how cute the names sound all together!

We tried out singing songs together for a little more structure and harmony, and the babies seemed to really respond to our music-making. I'm looking forward to learning and singing more songs with ya'll. --Lara

(click on photos to view larger)

Holiday Horse Hayrides and wreath-making 2008

Hey, while I was looking into family events this weekend, I found the annual horse-driven hayrides and wreath-making at Magnuson Park. I love that it is outdoors, nature-oriented and crafty too. I know that Xander isn't ready for a 45 minute hayride yet, but am posting it here to remind myself to look into it for next year. They welcome groups to do the event together. This could be really fun with our two-year olds in 2008. Could become a really lovely family tradition.

Holiday Hayrides Through Magnuson Park & Wreath Making
Saturday, December 8th from 4 to 8 p.m.
All ages
Celebrate a family tradition with live music, wreath making with Magnuson greens, refreshments and horse driven covered hayrides. Rides last about 45 minutes with a quick stop at the beach campfire (weather permitting). Please pre-register for wagon rides and/or wreath making at the Community Center by 12/4. GROUPS OF 25 WELCOME.
Location: Magnuson C.C./Windermere Room
Activity Fee: HAYRIDES: $10 adults and teens, $5 children
(Ages: 4-12), Free (Age 3 and under)
WREATHS: $10
Magnuson Park Community Center, Click on Special Events for more info

weekend holiday events

some fun Seattle holiday happenings:
Holiday Magic on Queen Anne
http://www.holidaymagicqa.com/
Friday December 7
3-7 PM


Green Lake Pathway of Lights

Saturday, December 8
5:30 – 8:30pm
Come join others in a “walk of lights: around the lake and take in the warm glow of luminarias that line Green Lake Park’s pathway. Listen to holiday music at the Community Center, Aqua Theatre, and Seattle public Theatre.
Rain or Shine!

Christmas Trees and Traditions

Here is our current Christmas tree solution: an outdoor tree on our patio, in full view from the living room! The start of a new tradition. Hoping to also get a tiny live tabletop tree this weekend and decorate with safe felt animal ornaments together. Any other holiday traditions your families are beginning or continuing?

Beaver Valley Lodge!

Thanks Olivia for researching, organizing, and booking our snow play getaway Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 26th and 27th!
http://www.beavervalleylodge.com/
Beaver Valley Lodging
18623 Beaver Valley Road
Leavenworth (Plain), WA 98826
Telephone
(509) 763-9012

1-800-763-5215
bcw@beavervalleylodge.com

and a link to pass reports:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/

The Christmas Tree Dilemma

Hello, what are you all planning to do for Christmas Trees this year? I love our family's Christmas tree tradition, but I am thinking that it seems like one more thing to supervise and be hands-off for curious, climing Xander. I'm looking for as many opportunities as possible to say "YES!" to him in support of his autonomy and curiousity, and I don't think I want to have something in the house which would mean a lot of "No"s. Maybe we will do a tiny tabletop tree. Would love to hear what you guys are thinking.
Also am passing along information I found really interesting about organic Christmas trees and health hazards of artificial trees....
"...Why do organic Christmas trees matter? There is concern about the
pesticides on farm-grown trees and their
health-adverse
effects on both farm workers and purchasers of the
trees, especially given that each tree gets sprayed
with pesticides every year for 7-10 years before it is
cut. One farmer I talked to who does use pesticides
recommended hosing the tree down several times and
letting it dry completely before bringing it in the
house. Great for us, but then the pesticides just get
washed into Lake Washington. And why should you
subject your family to the risk? Or support an
industry that puts farm workers at risk?

For those of you who care about these things, I would
suggest just asking your Christmas tree farm or
supplier if pesticides are used, and telling them why
it matters. If enough demand is there, the supply
will come. You can always go to a National Forest to
cut your own.

Why is it so hard, almost impossible to find organic
Christmas trees? Here's an interesting article that
talks about it.

http://www.tidepool.org/original_content.cfm?articleid=99552

And just for fun, here's an environmentalist's take on
the fake vs real debate:

http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2004/12/08/umbra-tree/

Basically, fake trees aren't much better, because the
plastics they are made from are toxic to create and
dispose of, and there is lead in the plastic as a
"stabalizer" that rubs off on anything that touches
them.

You can get your VERY OWN ORGANIC Christmas tree and
support a great cause by buying one from the UW Forest
Club. Print off the form, mail it in (orders need to
be received by 12/1), and pick it up from them.

http://students.washington.edu/uwforest/index_files/Page672.htm

The trees are organically grown in power line
right-of-ways so they are utilizing otherwise unused
land, with absolutely no pesticides nor risk to
workers or consumers. Plus the proceeds support the
UW forestry club, a great student group...."

Hope you all had a joyful and nourishing Thanksgiving Holiday! Love, Lara John and Xander

Some recent photos...

Some recent shots of the playgroup. Enjoy! Love, Leanne

Let's Blog!

Hello Mamas and Papas! I'm really excited that we are planning a winter getaway. It has been fun following the email ideas. As I was reading through the emails, I was thinking about how to create an even better way to communicate amoungst ourselves. How about trying out a blog? It would also be a fun way to post pictures and document our activities, post helpful weblinks, recipes, and have a discussion all in one place, and more. I am happy to take on the role of main blogger and photo-uploader, however, I'd love for the blog to belong to all of us. We can all by share the password and login so that anyone can post as an author. Or, you can just comment as a reader anytime without signing in. The blog format might be new to some, but it should be easier and more flexible than emails. It is like a yahoo group and a website combined. Feedback? Ideas? Shall we give it a try?

I went ahead and created "Our Seattle Village" just to show what is possible---hopefully we will all have had a chance to check this out and can talk more about playgroup about whether this sounds like a good way to document, plan, share, and communicate.

For a group blog example, see

http://nscctoddlerwednesday.blogspot.com/