Snow, Snow, Snow…or Not

Earlier in the fall of 2011, we planned a trip to the snow to visit Dave’s brother’s family at the beginning of the New Year. There was to be snow for sure and Anya could get some of what she misses so much. Well, if you are from Southern California, you know there was no snow. There was a tube run made from fire hoses shooting out near a fan a night when it was cold, so we had a bit of snow to play in.

Our oldest daughter came down to visit us in January and decided to join us on our trip up to the Sierra Nevada’s. Matt’s girlfriend was able to join us too. It was about a seven hour trip when you add the eating and bathroom stops and Anya did exceptionally well, especially if you compare it to the same trip one month after she arrived in America. The only problem was on the way home when none of us noticed Anya drink most of her sister's coffee. After the initial buzz and LOUD AND CRAZY caffeine high, she didn't like the way she felt. Make a mental note for future reference.

I purchased (on eBay, at a thrift store and on sale) three different snow suit sets for Anya. I altered them all and felt kind of weird with three sets-isn't that a bit obsessive? Even with that little snow, I needed the two sets I brought. Anya was all over the snow and dirty and wet everywhere. The first thing she did was to take a handful of it and smear it all over her face. Any time we stood in snow, she was on the ground, rolling and wiggling in it like very young child would. Regression in these kids leads to healing and for her first time in snow since she's been here, she was very regressive and very young. Glad for the chance to heal in the safety of family!!

"Really, Mom?"

"Better watch out!"

Nailing Uncle Tom.

Just love how her hair looks in this one.

Anya was able to go tubing down a hill and loved it! She went by herself the first time and then went in trains of people many times after that. That night we went ice skating. Boy oh boy, was that up her alley. She hadn’t done it before and they had skates available that had a double blade on the bottom and straps to hold it on your own shoes.

Help from big brother...

and from big sister. The two of them skated around like they were in the Olympics, we'll one did more than the other (and that would be the one who actually knows what the Olympics are).

 

 

 

The easier way to skate.

Below are actual videos of Anya skating. In the bottom one one she is propelling herself backwards as her cousins skate around her and in the top one, she demonstrates the key to learning how to skate-dancing along with the music.

She was in “the body meets the earth in an organic way” heaven. She decided it was easier to skate by bending in half and propelling herself with her hands, even at the risk of possibly losing a few fingers. Her entire being was covered in the snow dust your find in a skating rink and was, despite my protests and her cousin’s disgust, delighted with eating the dust. She kept going and going for ninety minutes; I know it would have been longer if the ring hadn’t closed. We were the last ones off the rink. Hopefully later this spring we get some real weather in the local mountains so she can have a bit of her Motherland Winter.

Uh, yeah. What I said before. And, I let her do it.

~Monica

No matter how smart you get, you could use some kindness there girl.

Anya’s teacher says the change in three weeks in her understanding of all things school is amazing and all of a sudden it will click and she will jump ahead. I, however, feel like I will be sitting next to her in this class until she is 26. I am too close to the trees to see the forest.

There are 70 phonograms that the kids are learning. A phonogram is basically a letter or group of letters that makes a sound and has a rule. For instance, “dge” is shown on a flashcard and the kids say, “j (the sound of j), three letters”. They also take tests where the sound and rule are given and the kids write the proper phonogram. Obviously I have to learn them too in order to help her. So, the teacher held up a card and Anya chanted off the three sounds it made. I didn’t know she knew it nor did I know if she were correct until the teacher gave the answer. She is learning them faster than I am! She took a test and told me, “I am remembering in my brain!!”

Anya was melting down at number 17 out of 20 on the test (it was the first one I had her take alone while I watched) and the teacher pointed out that during the first three weeks of school for rest of the class, they only had to learn 10 phonograms and Anya is trying to learn 70 in her first three weeks. After meeting with the reading teacher for her weekly assessment, she had done really well and came back in the room saying/singing and dancing to me, “I’m getting really smart, I’m getting really smart!” Of course that set her into a bit of regression (changes and advancements she didn’t know she could do cause that and this one has great possibilities) and the rest of the day was pretty difficult for her.

Compassion 101 by Anya

The previous weekend I’d taken Anya for a burger and a couple in their late 70’s or 80’s were getting out of a booth to leave. I told her, “Someday Papa and I will be really old like that. Then you can help us walk.” Pause. She squints one eye a bit.

“No way. Use your stick.”

That’s my girl.

~Monica