On Wednesday I went with 8 of the school children and 2 teachers to the city (about an hour away) to the International Cultural Festival for Special Kids. One of the teachers had devised a pantomime set to music so that some of the pupils could take part in this competition aimed to promote friendship week amongst schools (both special needs and not) in the area and throughout Romania. There was also a national dance performed by a group of special needs children form Portugal and a sketch by two boys from Poland.
I'm so glad I had the opportunity to go there. It was amazing to see how many had gathered to celebrate these special children who are so often pushed to the side and hidden or ignored. The day really warmed me and made me smile! There were little ones as young as 4 performing and there was even a dance off by some adults with downs syndrome which had the crowd cheering and clapping! I never thought I'd witness that here!! Amazing!
And the kids from my school - well we won 2nd prize! They were so ecstatic!! We took them to a little cake shop to celebrate (I had such a great pic to insert here but its not letting me upload them today - sorry!). This was such a wonderful experience for our kids. The first competition they entered with a piece like this and they came 2nd I'm so proud of them!! Even if they did leave the theater without me and had to turn the car around when they realised that 10mins later.
Anyway I just wanted to share that with you especially after the other (sad) day - see sometimes this place really does surprise me!
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Sunday Snacks
So Kiki and i made some amazing (and rather sweet) cinnamon pancakes today and I thought that I should share the recipe and maybe next Sunday one of you will make them and think of us while you enjoy the deliciousness of them! Now I regret not taking a photo - but i guess you cant taste a photo so if you want to see how scrummy these are I guess you'll have to make them for yourselves!!!
Ingredients
* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 3 tablespoons white sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 4 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 1 cup milk
* 1/4 cup butter, melted
* 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
* 1 cups confectioners' sugar
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon (approx) milk
Directions
1. In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and cinnamon.
2. In a separate large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, butter and vanilla extract. Stir in the flour mixture.
3. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium low heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.
4. While pancakes are cooking, mix the icing. Combine confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and enough milk to make a liquid frosting. Drizzle frosting on hot pancakes before serving.
NB now I admit this is not my recipe but I did adapt it (slightly) and they were so good so you should give them a whirl!! It's like eating a cinnamon bun in pancake form :)
Ingredients
* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 3 tablespoons white sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 4 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 1 cup milk
* 1/4 cup butter, melted
* 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
* 1 cups confectioners' sugar
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon (approx) milk
Directions
1. In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and cinnamon.
2. In a separate large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, butter and vanilla extract. Stir in the flour mixture.
3. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium low heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.
4. While pancakes are cooking, mix the icing. Combine confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and enough milk to make a liquid frosting. Drizzle frosting on hot pancakes before serving.
NB now I admit this is not my recipe but I did adapt it (slightly) and they were so good so you should give them a whirl!! It's like eating a cinnamon bun in pancake form :)
Monday, 22 February 2010
:(
Today was a day that made me realise that life can often hit you hard and that for some people having a say in the life they live really isn't always an option made available to them.
The instituition we visit weekly has occassionaly sent higher level adults out to the city to live in smaller assisted living opportunities where they can work, earn a wage and take more of an active role in how they live etc.
When we arrived at the state institution today I was suprised at first to see a face that had not been present there for the last 2 1/2 years. The joy on his face to see us after so long was unexplainable he was so happy to see us - but i feel sad. When he first left I had found it hard because we were never given the chance to say goodbye but I knew it was a better place where he had gone, somewhere he could take a bit more charge in his life rather than where he had been.
However now he's back. Sometimes I just don't understand how it works here. It makes me so sad that without much thought they take these people away from what they know place them into a situation although difficult - hopefully better for them - and then bring them back to the place you first sent them on from. Without a thought to ask them what they themselves want. Really, what's the point??!! We're just further harming, already damaged and fragile young people. It really is one step forward two steps back!
And I just - I wanted to cry when I saw him. I really thought that these people would one day move on to smaller group or assisted living arrangements but why then are we pulling those already settled in such situations back to institutions? I don't know what more to say :(
The instituition we visit weekly has occassionaly sent higher level adults out to the city to live in smaller assisted living opportunities where they can work, earn a wage and take more of an active role in how they live etc.
When we arrived at the state institution today I was suprised at first to see a face that had not been present there for the last 2 1/2 years. The joy on his face to see us after so long was unexplainable he was so happy to see us - but i feel sad. When he first left I had found it hard because we were never given the chance to say goodbye but I knew it was a better place where he had gone, somewhere he could take a bit more charge in his life rather than where he had been.
However now he's back. Sometimes I just don't understand how it works here. It makes me so sad that without much thought they take these people away from what they know place them into a situation although difficult - hopefully better for them - and then bring them back to the place you first sent them on from. Without a thought to ask them what they themselves want. Really, what's the point??!! We're just further harming, already damaged and fragile young people. It really is one step forward two steps back!
And I just - I wanted to cry when I saw him. I really thought that these people would one day move on to smaller group or assisted living arrangements but why then are we pulling those already settled in such situations back to institutions? I don't know what more to say :(
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Today's Conversation
Setting the scene: Walking past one of the big churches in the town......
Kiki: "is this Quasimodo's castle?"
Katie: "no his castle is in France"
Kiki: "so who has a castle here, in Romania"
Katie: "well some people say Dracula has a castle here in Romania, but its not in our town"
Kiki: "oh yeah Dracula if you go to his castle he bites your skin and drinks your blood - right?"
Katie: "hmmmm that's what they say - but I've never seen him"
Kiki: "well I have seen him. He has a BIG tail like a wolves, and he has black clothes and they are all ripped, and he has whiskers like Domino [our cat], and legs like the Beast [from Beauty & the Beast], and he is really strong."
Katie: "[laughing] and what about his eyes Kiki what colour are they?"
Kiki: "I'm not sure well no [and as we walk past a pile of mud on the ground] they are mud!"
Katie: "his eyes are the colour of mud?"
Kiki: "NO he doesn't have eyes they are just mud. Two big circles of mud!"
Oh the imagination of children!!
Kiki: "is this Quasimodo's castle?"
Katie: "no his castle is in France"
Kiki: "so who has a castle here, in Romania"
Katie: "well some people say Dracula has a castle here in Romania, but its not in our town"
Kiki: "oh yeah Dracula if you go to his castle he bites your skin and drinks your blood - right?"
Katie: "hmmmm that's what they say - but I've never seen him"
Kiki: "well I have seen him. He has a BIG tail like a wolves, and he has black clothes and they are all ripped, and he has whiskers like Domino [our cat], and legs like the Beast [from Beauty & the Beast], and he is really strong."
Katie: "[laughing] and what about his eyes Kiki what colour are they?"
Kiki: "I'm not sure well no [and as we walk past a pile of mud on the ground] they are mud!"
Katie: "his eyes are the colour of mud?"
Kiki: "NO he doesn't have eyes they are just mud. Two big circles of mud!"
Oh the imagination of children!!
Monday, 15 February 2010
Weekend away
Court, Martin, Jonte, Laz, Kiki & I spent the weekend away up in the snow covered mountains. Days spent sledding and chilling. Walking on the slopes and then running inside relaxing in our Pj's drinking hot cocoa and reading books or playing games. Nights sat round the fire (inside) roasting hot dogs soaking in the atmosphere.AMAZING weekend! Just what we needed - time with our boys, time to think, time to sleep, time to enjoy each other as I said AMAZING. Didn't want to come back but reality checks in so we're home and back to work. Oh well it wouldn't have been so good if that's how we always lived.......or??
So I just got my hands on this video and thought I'd add it. Laz and I going downhill and over the jump the boys had made and getting an extremely bruised butt cheek in the process!! the fun of sledding!!
Happy Valentine's
"Love Hearts" do you know what they are? Little candies that give little instructions or say little phrases of sweetness to give to your friends / loved ones. I found 3 to give to Kiki:1. Kiss - I received a kiss on the lips
2. Little Kiss - I received a slow motioned tiny lil kiss on the cheek
3. Sweet Kiss - Yup a lick on the face ..... well it was sweet with stickiness from the other Love Hearts. Ha serves me right! He thought it was hilarious!!
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