Fun with Food Allergies

So Jenny's wheat allergy is negligible. I've considered it so for a while anyway, so that's not real news.

Jenny's egg allergy is somewhat improved. We can try giving her eggs and see if she tolerates it. Just need to keep the epi-pen handy in case she can't.

Peanut allergy is worse. No definitive news yet, but she'll likely have this allergy for the rest of her life.

No tree nut allergies. Yea! She can have almond butter and almond milk now. And I don't have to keep her away from the pistachios either.

Her milk allergy is also worse. However, she may tolerate milk cooked into things and cooked cheese. We'll only know if we try it. A little scary, but potentially worth while.

Good times.

Jenny Needs

"Mommy? Mommy? Mommy? Mommy? Mommy?"

"Yes, Jenny?"

"I need . . . I need . . . I need . . . I need . . . I need . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I need caaaake."

A Thank You Note

Dear Santa,

Thank you for visiting our home recently.

James would like to thank you for the rattle and teething ring. He slept through Christmas morning, but Jenny was more than happy to assist opening his gifts. Now that he has discovered he has hands, he is always looking for something to hold. Those little gifts fit perfectly in his tiny fingers and they taste good too.

Jenny would like to thank you for the beautiful butterfly bicycle and Dora the Explorer helmet. She is still learning how to push forward with her feet, rather than back, thus activating the braking system. She can get on and off the bike by herself, and loves to ride it up and down the hallway. Come Spring she will be a pro and will love the extra space she'll get riding it outside.

Brent would like to thank you for the backgammon attache. It suits him perfectly and he has spent hours stroking its fine leather and admiring the inlaid pips. The custom dice holder is a nice touch, and the dice cups are just right. He is glad he now has a board worthy of his brass doubling cube, which he has put in a satin pouch and put with the board. He hopes that you won't be offended that he has replaced the doubling cube you gave him. He has also traded out the balanced dice you gave him with some of his own that are personalized with his initials. He chose dice that coordinate with the colour of the pips. The whole thing looks custom done and is of such high quality that he is so excited! Now he really does need to participate in the backgammon tournament in Vegas next year.

I would like to thank you for my new MacBook. (Thank you, thank you!) It was very unexpected, as I understand your budget doesn't usually allow for such extravagant gifts. It was fun to get such a surprise. Perhaps I will use it to write the next best-selling teen pulp fiction novel and we can make it a tax write off.

We had a wonderful Christmas. We spent time with loving family, and that is always the best part. That and the food. The food was really good.

Hope your Christmas was just as delightful and filled with joy.

Love,

Maren

The Tree

This is our tree.

This is Big Ben

that Jenny hung on our tree.

This is the snowman

that is next to Big Ben

that Jenny hung on our tree.

Here is Pinocchio

who swings next to the snowman

that is next to Big Ben

that Jenny hung on our tree.

Here are some balls

that hang near Pinocchio

who swings next to the snowman

that is next to Big Ben

that Jenny hung on our tree.

If you couldn't tell, Jenny is a fan of the "cluster method" when it comes to decorating.

More Christmas Fun

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Monkey See Monkey Do

Jenny watches me teach piano lessons and has observed me writing notes in my students' books. Jenny copies this behavior, and I have to be careful that I don't leave any music I care about on the piano. Every time she sits at the piano she requests a writing implement.

Today she handed me one of Brent's laminated score cards that she had scribbled all over in wet-erase marker. She said "Look, Mommy, I made a lesson!"

Hallelujah!

Someday I hope to see this number done at my Ward Christmas Party.

Who says that being worshipful always has to be solemn?

You're welcome.

Thank you Annie, for this delightful addition to my day.