Chuck D & Mr. T

Coco’a bouncy birthday

Mitzi and Grandpa so sweetly took us to Disney on Ice. Despite monetary disappointment at not skiing with the princesses, everyone was beyond thrilled.

I can’t get enough of kids and facepaint. It is just so sweet and so cute how they love it and really think it transforms them.

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:)