Getting back into the groove

Sunday we awoke, earlier than Chris and I would have liked, but Aminah does like to greet the sun upon its arrival. I think this is a wonderful habit, and so I do my best not to impede her. We had a slow kind of day, adjusting back to being home, and Chris getting ready to head back to work. I took arnica all day to help my finger, and did some arm and back stretches, which really helped to decrease the pain I was feeling. Aminah ate our gingerbread house, as I told her she couldn't before Christmas, and now I've given her a week of eating it willy-nilly until I throw it out (or compost it--the squirrels and raccoons may appreciate a sugar rush) :) Dishes, errands, and watching kids dvds and knitting, even though we just talked all weekend about watching less tv and possibly getting rid of our tv! My finger hurt too much to cut veggies, so Chris lovingly chopped veggies for our Moroccan stew while he watched football. I kept slowly knitting (as I had to watch out for my finger) a tree halfway up and then unraveling it again, as the stitches are still too loose to have it stand up on it's own--and it's good practice! Sunday night and bathtime, reading and sleep. Ahh, sleep. Aminah and I both fell asleep by 8:30 and didn't wake up until 7:30! Woo-hoo!

Chris went back to work, and Monday, is here. Aminah and I had a purposefully slow, connecting, simple day. I like to insert these days so that our schedule is not always do-do-do. I didn't insert as many in December as I would have liked. We played store-lady & customer. Then we played with her animal figures, each one taking turns playing freeze tag, and sometimes when they were frozen, they were "dead" only to come back to life once they get unfrozen. We also played with Mary, Joseph and Jesus, from our Nativity set. I guess I should say that they are the only pieces I have from the nativity set I intend to own. They are handmade in Germany, and I just adore them. You can see all the different options here. I have the Mary holding baby Jesus, and the Josef they show up top. I'm hoping to get more of the figures this year. I found a store in Minneapolis-St. Paul (on line of course, I have not been there), who sells this brand. They don't have their toys listed on their website, so they order the figures I choose and then ship them to me. I love it! I just decided which of the other figures I want, and emailed to ask them about prices for them, as each one is priced differently. Aminah also has 2 women from Biblical times (from this line of figures in this company) that her Nana got her, and we used them too.

We painted and drew pictures together, then lunched and headed up for a nap. Aminah asked, "Make up a story, or tell me about what poops. (Deciding in the moment which she prefers) TELL ME ABOUT WHAT ANIMALS POOP!!!" So we made a list together (verbally) about what animals poop and she got a good laugh thinking about it. Then we did a cube puzzle over and over and over again of animals, and laughed more about how those animals poop. Then, instead of sleep, we wrestled and had a super-hero fight. Then we popped back down to cook dinner. I had already put garbanzo beans onto cook, so now it was time to cook the veggies and then add the beans. Aminah and I also started our thank you cards, and she played with play dough a little. She also continued to demolish, with her teeth, the gingerbread house. Throughout the day we watched dvd's, while I soaked my hand in an oregano bath, to help my finger to heal--which it did considerably. It's the end of the day, and I have great movement back, with only discomfort, no pain. Yay oregano and arnica!