Democracy vs. Dictatorship

Has it really been a month?? Time flies by in certain ways. Junie is now 14 months just about. Halloween was last weekend and it was spectacular. I didn't get any photos, unfortunately though...

First we went to the Waldorf Halloween Journey, which as usual was incredible. This year, I coordinated and wrote one of the scenes. There were about 8 scenes, all very magical... A Fallen Star, Grandfather Cedar, the Elf King, Jack Frost, a Pirate (our scene), a Bee Hive with Queen Bee, a Peruvian Folktale, and Grandmother Moon. Each scene told a story with one or two actors, and then gave a gift, symbolizing the story that was told.
Our scene was a Pirate who had been searching for treasure for 150 years and has almost given up. He asks the children to help him and he stands up (he had been sitting on a bench by a campfire) on the bench is a giant red 'x' which he had been sitting on the whole time!
The children loved it, shouting 'It's right there!! It's right there!!"
The bench was actually a chest, which contained lots and lots of gold! (gold painted rocks).

After that, Josh, Richard and I took Aloka trick-or-treating and she had SO much fun! She got tons of candy, and when we got home we divided it into piles; the cow dairy pile (she can't eat) hence the Daddy pile, the Aloka pile, and the "Great Pumpkin" pile, where the majority of it ended up after Josh's was set aside.

So she ended up with a nice small little basket of treats, and then put out the Great Pumpkin's into a basket with a little note and drawing for him/her. (She was wondering if it was a boy or girl)
The Great Pumpkin replaced all her candy with yummy treats (mama, I think the Great Pumpkin shops at the co-op) er... she got peanut-ginger chews, sesame sticks, carob covered almonds, fruit leathers, peanut butter pretzels, a cool little card game and a YOYO!! She was very excited about the yoyo and had been asking for one for a while. That clever Pumpkin.
She was very very happy with her trade.

So, I can't remember if I mentioned our wonderful Thanksgiving we had. We had Josh over and our friend Tony with his daughter Avie (a good friend of Aloka's). I brined a turkey (OH MY GOSH it was amazing, I will never cook a turkey any other way) and Richard made his famous German red cabbage dish with apples and cloves. It was a huge feast, and here's a little clip of all of us hanging out in Aloka's NEW room Richard built in the new addition. Soon we'll post the before and after photos to see the transformation of this home. It started as a teeny little trailer, and now it's a 1200 sq ft house. Aloka's was the first room to be completed, and the bathroom is almost done. Next will be the kitchen, we're just about to hang the cabinets. So, more pictures soon!


Ok, and some very exciting news: Josh and I have officially gotten permanent residence in Canada!!! We're SO excited, and totally relieved. It's over!!
So, yesterday I was talking about how we'll have all the same rights as Canadian Citizens except that Permanent Residents can't vote:
Aloka: What's voting?
Richard: Oh, it's complicated Aloka. Maybe when you're older...
Aloka (slightly distraught): But I'm a curious little child!
Mama: well, say there were 6 kids on the playground and you wanted to make a new rule. You asked everyone whoever likes your new rule, raise their hand, and you count 4. And whoever doesn't like the new rule, raise their hand, and you count 2. The most hands wins. So now there's a new rule. And that's voting.

Later on that night, I was in the bathroom with Aloka getting ready for bed. Juniper was sleeping in our bed (where we all sleep) and I told Aloka we couldn't read our story in our bed like we usually do. We'd read it in her room. She'd didn't like that.

Aloka: Mama, I really want to read a book on the couch instead!
Mama: No, sweetie. Let's read in your room.
Aloka: NO, I want to read on the couch. Hey, mama? How 'bout lets vote.
Mama: Ok, now here's where I'm going to explain the difference between a Democracy and a Dictatorship. In our country, it's called a Democracy, where everyone votes on things. But in some country's, there's a ruler and everyone has to do what that ruler says. In our house, it's a dictatorship. So you need to do what i say!
Aloka: NO. I still want to vote.
Mama (being reasonable): Well, tell me why you want to read on the couch so much?
Aloka: Because it's nice and warm, and cozy, and my room is cold and far away from everyone.
Mama: Ok, so what this is called is a debate. Where you try to convice me of your position.
Aloka: Can we vote again? Everyone raise their hand who wants me to read on the couch!
Richard: (raising hand) It doesn't matter to me, let her read on the couch.
Mama: (smiling and raising hand) Ok Aloka you win. We can read on the couch. Good convincing!

Aloka was very happy.

Here's another video of Aloka in her very messy room, and she totally stuffed herself in a leotard. It was hilarious.



And here's cute little one of Junie. it's amazing with the second, everything Aloka does, Junie imitates. Here, Junie is imitating making her stuffy talk...



And one more funny copy cat clip... Junie copying aloka putting on lotion: