7 Quick Takes Friday: World Down Syndrome Day Edition

Linking up with Conversion Diary again. :)

1. Years and years ago I learned a goofy trick for parenting toddlers and preschoolers. A trick so silly that I still can't believe that it works. But it does work. Virtually every time. And well into grade school, too. Are you curious yet??? Ok . . . now don't laugh, but here it is: Make It Talk

Really! Try it! Take that diaper or toothbrush or coat or shoe that your child is resisting, muster your best silly voice and say, "Oh Johnny . . . can I PLEASE [do whatever the object is supposed to do]? Please, please, pretty please? Yes? Oh THANK YOU! Can I give you a kiss, too?" [object 'kisses' child loudly and enthusiastically] "Whew! Ok, all done now. Thanks, Johnny!"

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I swear it has worked time after time with child after child. Try it with yours and report back here on whether it was a success.

2. This is hands down the best tomato soup recipe I have ever made. It's similar to the one that La Madeleine used to serve (Maybe they still do? I haven't been there in an age.) Yummo!

Tomato-Basil Soup

• Saute 3-4 cloves of minced garlic in 1/4 C olive oil.
• Add 1 tsp salt*, 1 tsp dried oregano and 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper and heat just until the spices 'wiggle' in the oil.
• Add (2) 28oz cans of diced tomatoes with their juice, 4C chicken stock and 1/4C pesto.
• Puree just a bit with an immersion blender (you want some chunks of tomato to remain, heat to a simmer and serve with a big blop of sour cream.

*Adjust the salt depending on how salty your tomatoes, stock and pesto are. I used pesto without any Parmesan cheese, so it was unsalted. Yours may be quite different.

 

3. Katrina Morris, a dear friend who was also in the process of adopting a child with Down Syndrome at the time of Russian adoption ban, went to Russia earlier this year to be a part of the filming of a documentary about the Russian orphanage system. It is a troubled system which needs a great deal of reform, but it is also a largely hidden system. This documentary is being made in the hopes of bringing the system to light and challenging the Russian people to improve the prospects for their most vulnerable citizens. The film is nearing completion and the producers would like very much for it to be shown widely and internationally and in order to do so they need to show potential backers that people are interested in seeing it.

This is where you come it!

Would you please take a few minutes to watch the trailer (it is in both Russian and English and subtitled throughout), like the Facebook page and invite your friends to do the same?

 Children of the State

Katrina also has information on her blog about her visit to Downside Up! - a Russian organization that provides resources and support to the families of children with Down Syndrome. They are a fairly new and underfunded organization, but have already had a large impact on the number of children with Down Syndrome who are surrendered at birth. Could you consider donating your Friday afternoon latte budget to them in honor of World Down Syndrome Day?  

4. Adoption Update: Our new and improved homestudy is almost (please, God!) complete and ready to be sent off to US Citizenship and Immigration Services so that they can generate the last document needed for our dossier. For those who have been following the news out of Eastern Europe, please know that our girl is not in Crimea or Moldova or anywhere else interested in becoming part of Russia. People in her country are nonetheless anxious about the goings-on and if you can spare prayers for their safety and our peace of mind, they would be greatly appreciated!

Both still available in the Easter Dress Sale!

5. Did you catch that our dossier is almost done??? That means that we will be submitting it to L.'s country in the next month or so and that means that The Big Fee will also be due. Our Easter dress sale has been a great success and only has 10 days left, but there are still lots of cute things available (for boys, too) so if you are looking for Easter clothes at great prices, check it out! 

Aren't these amazing? You know you want them! Enter here!

6. Our Montessori Toy Giveaway, on the other hand, could use a bit of a boost. These toys are just beautiful and I don't now why we haven't had more entries . . . could you share it? You get one free entry for doing so.

7. We're reevaluating curriculum again as (gulp) we hurtle towards high school. Anyone care to share an opinion on or experience with Angelicum Academy's Online Socratic Classes?