Vegan for a Month

Around the end of December Kyra decided that she wanted to follow a vegan diet for a significant period of time.  This has now been defined as the month of January to be repeated periodically through the year.

If you are not familiar with the term vegan - it not only means no meat but no animal products like dairy and eggs.  I have often referred to the diet we regular follow because of Allen's food allergies as vegan plus meat.

So if you know our family diet restrictions due to Allen's allergies and Kyle's sensitivities it looks like this:

• no milk, cream, sour cream, etc
• no cheese
• no butter and most margarine
• no eggs
• nothing with any of the above in them
• no nuts
• no beef
• no peas
• white flour based bread/pasta in moderation

And Kyra's vegan month has now knocked chicken, turkey, fish and pork off the list of available food as well.

Honestly, I don't mind the food - fruits, vegetables, grains.  It's healthy.  I have good cookbooks and because of Allen's allergies we are most of the way to veganism anyways.  The biggest annoyance to me is menu planning.  I'm not used to cooking exclusively vegan multiple days a week.  I've had to do some extra time with my cookbooks and extra time cooking recipes I don't know by heart.  By the end of January I should be in the routine and then Kyra will want meat again.

Back to School

 Kyra
8th grade
organized school supplies and folders yesterday
reviewed independent study plan
got up 2.5 hours before school bus arrival

Allen
10th grade
threw some paper, a pencil and two pens in his backpack 20 minutes before leaving for school
woke up 1 hour before school bus arrival

"I Need A Day Trip to Paris"

When asked where she wanted to go this summer, Kyra listed Italy, Copenhagen and "I need a day trip to Paris."  Don't we all?

This statement could only come from the mouth of a wonderfully spoiled child (and she is).  But in context it is not so awful as it may seem.

Context -
Paris by train is less than two hours away.  For my northern Virginia friends, think of it as going to Richmond and back in the same day.

Kids here will in one breath tell you they don't travel much and in the next breath list off 3-5 countries they have visited this year.  "My family doesn't travel much."  "Well, where did you go for Christmas?"  "Oh, we went skiing in Germany and took a day trip to Paris."

When Kyra and I went to Paris in December, the Eiffel Tower looked like this.  One day we could sort of make out the top of the tower through the fog, but mostly it looked only partially built.

Had this been a once in a life time trip (which for many people it is) the Eiffel Tower enveloped in fog would have been most disappointing. Kyra ever the pragmatist, looked at it and said "well, we'll just have to come back."

So go back we did.  Yesterday started off rainy and gray.  So we started with indoor activities - the Louvre (Kyra is free) and lunch.  While the Louvre doesn't lack for popularity (particularly when it is raining) I knew once in, we'd be out of the crowds.  Why?  Because I wanted to visit the History of the Louvre exhibition.  So unpopular that the signs for this exhibit are only in French.

After lunch at Angelinas (separate blog post, maybe tomorrow) we began our walk to the Eiffel Tower.

As you can see, the day was lovely.  I have not done anything to enhance the photo.  The sky was a beautiful blue.  The clouds were white and fluffy and we enjoyed a nice breeze.

Kyra and I enjoyed a trip to the top of the tower and Kyra got her much hoped for photos of her with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Now to see if we can indulge her other travel wishes....

Cherry Pie

In the past I have noted for you the many differences between our US home and our Belgian home.  Often these differences are lacks - no garbage disposal here, no storage space, etc.

One similarity is that both yards have a cherry tree.  In the US the tree is ornamental and here it produces fruit.

The tree has been tremendously accommodating in coming into full fruit during the Reeves family visit.

Kyle invited the girls to pick some cherries.  Some cherries turned into alot of cherries and before we knew it we had several bowls.  More than eight people can easily eat.

I posted some photos on facebook of Kyra and my nieces with their cherries.  This prompted a comment that cherry pie should be made (thanks mom).

Of course the girls thought that this was an excellent idea.  I told them if they pitted enough cherries, I would make a crust.  Thus they pitted and I pulled out the cook book.

 The girls pitted four cups of cherries and cleaned up after themselves.  I rolled out pie crust dough.  My dough wasn't terribly wonderful so the double crust pie turned into a single crust with decorations on top.

The decorations were the girls' initials - Kyra, Julianna and Hannah.  Kyra added an "m" (for me) and a heart.  Hannah added a smiley face (just above the K).

 The end result was quite delicious we all enjoyed the warm pie within moments of it coming out of the oven.

It was so good that the next day additional cherries were picked, pitted and baked into a second pie which was enjoyed after Sunday evening's dinner.

I'm getting pretty good at pie crust from scratch.  So who knows what other types of pies the summer holds in store....

I Miss Buffa's

Recitals are a major production.  There are multiple classes, types of dances and ages to mix into a performance of reasonable (ish) length.

Schedules for rehearsals need to be worked out.  Decisions must be made about make-up, hair, costumes, the color of tights and various accessories.  Space and time have to be set aside for rehearsal and performances.  There are many many moving pieces.

By the time we left the US, I had the Buffa's Dance Studio recital mostly figured out.  I had all the necessary equipment - brush, gel, hairnet, bobby pins, hair pins and all important safety pins.  I knew which brand and color of tights to buy.  Kyra was in the right place at the right time with the right stuff.

Now we are a bit of a mess.  We have to learn the recital routines of two studios - in French.  To add to that neither studio is helping us out with clear communication.  At the beginning of recital season Buffa's would mail out the recital packet - about 8 pages of color coded information - everything a mom would need to know to successfully navigate the craziness.  These studios provide us with a sheet of paper with some information on it every now and again.  Some information is announced orally in class in French behind closed doors (Kyra doesn't speak French).

I'll have Kyra in the right place at the right time.  She'll have a costume (rented - much cheaper - I like that).  She will know her dance and be able to perform it.  After that all bets are off - her bun might not be at the right height, her make-up will probably be different and tights and shoes who knows?

Kyra and I will both be glad when this is over.  It stresses us out to just see how things go but without information we can't prepare so things will be as they will be.  No matter what Kyra will dance beautifully and her mom will be proud.

Civics

I am for the next few months home schooling Kyra in Civics.  Social studies here at the American school runs on a different schedule than in Fairfax County.  Given the timing of our move here and then back to Virginia, Kyra would entirely miss any instruction in Civics.  As both Kyle and I feel this is important subject matter, I have worked with the school here to free up a class period in Kyra's schedule so that she and I can study Civics together.

I am sure in future blogs I will be reflecting on the joys of home schooling one's pre-teen daughter and the lovely attitude one enjoys when spending one on one time with someone who believes you are an idiot.  Fortunately we are not yet there.

What I have realized is that Kyle and I are more civic minded than I would have initially characterized us.

According to Kyra's text book civics has to do with the rights and responsibilities of citizens.   Kyle has recently begun to work on our taxes (responsibility).  We are both quite diligent in voting in whatever election is held (right and responsibility).  Kyle recently wrote our senators and representative about mixed seating for the parties during the State of the Union (right).  I signed a petition to the President about ending human trafficking (right).

I hope we are making civics come to life for Kyra.  This isn't just something in her book, this is something her parents actively participate in.  At least we have her attention, she was quite surprised that Kyle and I both take the initiative to communicate with our elected officials at whatever level of government.

Have you given any thought recently about your practice of civics?  What rights are you enjoying?  What responsibilities are you addressing?  Are there services, protections and freedoms you take for granted?  I'm certainly more mindful of this these days and grateful for the opportunity to share them with Kyra.  She may find it boring, but she's learning more than she thinks.

Patisserie

I'm in trouble.

There is a patisserie between our house and SHAPE.  I drive by it almost daily (sometimes multiple times a day).  I have never been in it before today for a variety of reasons most of which have to do with the fact that it is always raining, I'm usually going somewhere else, there isn't any parking and I'm an American and  it is not a one stop shopping kind of place.

Today though I wanted bread for lunch.  I only needed one thing and it is the closest bread store - a bread store with all kinds of yummy looking treats in glass cases.  I'll have to take my camera on my next visit so I can show you.

I bought bread and I also bought a chocolate ganache thing.  I would have taken a photo of that, but Kyra and I devoured it too quickly.  It was about 4 inches high and 2 inches across.  It was layers of meringue and fresh whipped cream with raspberries all covered in gooey chocolate.  Very good.  I did have the sense to buy only one and then show it to Kyra so I would be compelled to share.

However, good sense will not keep me from making return visits to the patisserie.

Kyra wanted a nod

 

While writing my blog about how Allen spent Christmas day, Kyra asked if I would be writing about her as well.

My first thought was no, as she played he Sims3 expansion pack game for hours.  Not interesting blog material - My child mindlessly played on the computer.

But then I remembered the other gift she used for hours.  She has wanted a "snow hat" for a while now.  The hat must be knitted, have ear flaps and ties.  She wanted a pom pom on top.  I couldn't find one like that, but I did find one with a long braid/tassel.  As she has worn it every waking hour since unwrapping it, I would say she likes it.

Opening Night

 Last night was opening night of the SHAPE Players' production of Bye Bye Birdie. 


Kyra was cast as a "sad faced girl."  She and another "sad faced girl" Renee were in the number Put on a Happy Face.  

Their characters were sad because Conrad Birdie (a teenaged heart throb) was going off to war.

In the number, Conrad's manager, Albert encourages them to cheer up and put on a happy face.

He makes funny faces at them and acts goofy and eventually gets them to smile and dance with him.

The number was cute and all three did a great job with the acting and the dancing.

Kyra is currently quite sick so she's had to push herself to put energy into her performance and she has three more to go this weekend.

She'll make it but after Sunday's matinee I expect she'll go to bed and stay there until Monday morning.

I'll let you know how the weekend goes....

Bye Bye Birdie

Because Kyra does not have enough to do in her after school hours, she auditioned for the community theater production of Bye Bye Birdie.  In her audition, the directors noticed that she can dance (surprise!).

She was cast as a "sad faced girl."  This means she dances in the "Put on a Happy Face" number.  Over the past few weeks she has had the opportunity to work with a professional choreographer from California.  This has been a neat experience for her and is a bit of a change from the norm of having dance classes with her choreographers.  She is also dancing with a non-dancer so she is learning that what she takes for granted is much more difficult for others.

She has about a month of rehearsal left before performances start.  Then there is a break and in February the show will be performed again as part of a competition.  The SHAPE theater is truly an award winning theater.  Their most recent production took top honors in several categories at a European competition and will be progressing on to New York.

I'm sure I will have more to say about Bye Bye Birdie as the production gets closer, so watch this space.

Homecoming Dunlap Style

 This weekend was SHAPE homecoming. This past week was spirit week - each day with a theme, such as wacky tacky, pirates vs. ninjas, cartoon characters, green and gold, etc.

Friday evening was a parade and a bon fire.

Saturday all the teams had home games/meets.

Saturday evening there was a homecoming dance for the middle school and a homecoming dance for the high school.

 In case you have not yet observed this fact - Allen and Kyra are not very formal kids.  Allen prefers to wear jeans and t-shirts and Kyra has the same preference.  Outside of dance, Kyra doesn't wear dresses or skirts.  She is not a girly girl.  I was a bit surprised when she asked me if she could order a dress for homecoming.

The other girl you see in the photos, is Kyra's friend Zoe.  Zoe's parents are out of town this weekend and she did not want to miss homecoming, so Kyra has some extra company and a friend to go to the dance with.

 As you look at the photos of the kids you may be wondering, where is the Dunlap style??

Look down...