cinnamon essene

I watched this great show last night on the travel channel about two British guys living with a hunter gatherer tribe in Papua while Chris stayed up all night to finish a homework assignment.  I didn't stay up all night.  I took the girls to a show today  that involved magic and learning about rhythm in music.  It was amateur in the way that, sitting in the front row, I felt I must smile and look like I'm enjoying failed jokes or they would feel bad.  Maybe that's my problem, but they looked sort of ... not confident.  The kids enjoyed it though and were picked to be helpers on stage which is their dream come true.  Gracie wrapped my arms around her torso for awhile and then just wanted to nurse.  

She is really good at communicating with pointing, nodding, and facial expressions.  She is repeating more and more sounds intentionally and enjoys our cheers for this trick.  She has a fantastic smile.  

My mom came over for lunch and I made chicken legs and guacamole.  The girls worked on cleaning their room in the morning but after lunch they just ran around whipping each other with towels, jumping on the couches, and yelling.  

Charlotte's visiting day for dance class was changed from the original day, which I couldn't attend, to the single day I had off work.  YAY!

I am enjoying work and the crazy old building we moved to.  I like my students, which I think is my saving grace with them as I sometimes fear I am not a very good teacher.  Only because I have no teacher training, not because I couldn't be.

When I got home, the girls were in their PJs and all wound up.  They begged Sue to sing the name song (banana fana...) over and over and she obliged, and they fell on the floor laughing every time.  I'm so pleased to see this dynamic.

I finally made essene bread from this interesting website and it is delicious!  I think I might even get Charlotte to eat it.  Maybe. It is three cups of organic wheat berries, soaked overnight in a sealed quart jar, then rinsed and towel covered in a big bowl all day, rinsed every few hours, then ground up as soon as little white sprouts appear.  I mushed them into a tuna salad-like consistency in tiny batches in the vita mix because I don't have a food processor (that would be MUCH easier) and it smelled like sweet, delicious bread already.  The girls were enthralled with this process from the beginning and helped mush in a little honey, sea salt, and cinnamon and then spread it thin on a buttered cookie sheet.  It's not supposed to be buttered, but I don't have a no-stick pan, either.  I baked it at 200 for an hour about.  Till I remembered it.  It's supposed to be awesome for you.