Chuck D & Mr. T

Building a pumpkin snowman snake “for me, for us, for mama.” I’m honored to be part of that group.

We had a lovely conference today with Charlie’s teacher Whitney. I’m
So happy he is doing so well and loves school and has such a nice class. And I’m so grateful to his amazing teachers for teaching him how to read and do math and be a student. I’m so indebted to them for taking such care and consideration with my Charlie. And so proud of Charlie.

I once left a dhurrie I didn’t want at Keshishian rug dealer after I had forgotten to pick it up for weeks maybe even months right after Charlie was born. I figured they could keep
It and donate it. I had paid and was in a postpartum fog. Anyway I went in there today to pick up a rug Johanna had dropped off for me last week and the owner asked me if I was related to the Bermans who loved in Georgetown and were in building. Uh oh. Did he remember me from six years ago? I’m unforgettable but really? Was he going to get mad at me for basing giving him a rug? Or maybe did I actually not pay and just let him have the rug?? Oh well it ever went anywhere.

Charlie and Teddy had so much fun during the weekly play date with Oliver today playing with nerf guns. The three boys are so sweet. Thank
Goodness for Nicole who ran the family while I was on Boston.

Trying out mottos (we told
The kids at breakfast this morning that like the Olympic athletes our family is a team and we support one another and cheer for one another and when one of us does well we all win).

We work together to win?

Go team Berman?

To the hoop mini Quakers ( a riff on MJs favorite sidwell cheer?)

E pluribus unum?

MJ and I have been working on a family mission statement after reading The Secrets of Happy Families which is an excellent parenting book (I recommend Penelope Leach, the Sears books (if you take their total attachment ideals within reason), Brazelton, Playful Parenting, and Sex and Sensibility). We’ve been making a list of what is important to us:
If there is an opportunity to try something that would expand your mind, abilities or life in a positive way take it
The world is full of great opportunities you shade take advantage of them
Have fun and love life 
Be grateful and appreciate what you have in your life and what you’ve done and have 
Be generous of spirit 
Take on the world with assuredness and contentment, knowing that you are loved 
Laugh at yourself and life
Embrace and Learn from all situations whether good or bad
Be humble
Encourage and applaud others 
Be generous of sprit 
Collect experiences
Be inclusive 
Respect for nature and animals
Be true to yourself
See the beauty and importance  in the small and the large 
Cherish yourself and your family
And friends
Always be curious about life
And every once in a whole
Take a moment to sit back and look at what you’ve made and enjoy it and take a moment to look at the world around you. 
Live life fully honor other people and your relationships with them, with humor and dignity and thoughtfulness you can have a great life love others help others 
Kind sass is rewarding
Be honest through thoughtful respectful and fun loving in what you do 
And responsible and
Joyful in what you do 
There is always a solution and a positive side /silver lining 
No problem is too great 
Feel emotions fully

Teach the kids the idea of “why not?” As in why not try that thing?
Respect yourself which means if you do something do it with pride so it well take care of your belongs and your person
You are always a representative of the family
Respect respect respect 
Take pride in what you do. Complete your task. Respect others
Respect your finished Product. Be proud of the things you make
And do and say. If you make a
Mistake it’s ok. It’s ok to say you’re sorry. It’s ok to admit you’re wrong. Move on try again. 
Practice for the things you want to be good at. 

If you take care of your body and live for pleasure rather than success, (which lowers the stress in your body and mind) and learn to trust the universe, you will carry yourself with ease. I don’t know if I read this in some
Sort of Tao book but it is so good to try to think this way. I try to do this. I think it works as I’m a happy and peaceful person (I generally don’t like when people say “I’m this kind of person” because one would know that from
How the person is and you don’t need to say it, but these thoughts are for you my littles to read one day so I will say it anyway:)

As chaotic and tough as it can be (carrying to screaming toddlers out of the store in snow coast while pushing a huge cart of groceries), taking the girls to the grocery store can be so much fun. Everyone stopes to look at them and say how cute and they are so excited about everything, moving through the store in a little train of glee and giggles.

Teddy is also fun to take. He is most focused on babybel cheese and cereal purchase.

Charlie is actually helpful in his way and we can talk about what to buy and the negotiate about how much candy he can have. He has some good insights into healthy food.

My sweet friend Margaret have me a cool cook book with photographs of veggies, grains, and seafood that has been so much fun looking through with the kids. Still hasn’t gotten them to eat much more but fun. Except for nelly- she will eat almost anything which pleases me so-she will have such a more fulfilling time.

Yesterday we passed the National Archives and Teddy asked what it was. I told him about it and that the Constitution was there which of course meant that we needed to talk
About how the constitution laid out how our country should be rules and how the laws made and Charlie said like the law “No wrestling with your brother on the bunk bed,” with Teddy adding “No grabbing toys.” Excellent
Points guys.

When we got home we looked at the archives website and checked out more about the constitution. Charlie was really into the old style writing and wanted to know why there was no one from DC represented as an author.

Today was warm and sunny but the snow was still piled up on the ground. I really wanted to go jogging but wanted to play with the girls so I took them with me. They were so excited and kept saying “going jogging with you!! Everyone going jogging!!” It was so cute. When they both talk together and then I talk with them it’s like a cheers go up about everything. I think they’ve inherited my enthusiasm (the boys too) so it’s like we run around cheering ourselves on for each activity.
Anyway, we took and ran around the block for a half hour. It was so much fun! They were wearing boots so stepped in the snow and climbed around and I sort of ran slowly. Towards the end they started making tiny snowballs and throwing them at each other and me-it was hilarious. We were all laughing. They also had a really good time when I suggested we pause at each house we passed to comment on the door color.

I can’t wait to keep doing this with them and I look so forward to them
Being older and us all running together. I see Georgetown students being their moms to the Georgetown barre classes and I think of how the girls and I will do it one day.

I understand how people say their children are their best friends now. My children are absolutely my best friends. Who else do I love spending so much time with, and have so much fun with? I want them at my side all the time.