Fall in Minnesota

By Dr. Yasmine Kalkstein
Fall in Minnesota, I (yasmine) think is the most beautiful season! Specifically September and October. I don't have a whole lot of good things to say about November and December. But the key to appreciating Fall is to consider it independently of what is to follow. If you go into Fall thinking "the trees are dying and winter is coming", you will undoubtedly despair. But if you really try to live in the present, Minnesota Fall is GORGEOUS.

Okay, on to our favorite subject. Tsipi is doing great--Tsipi spent a couple days at our friends' house who have 7 kids and after a few days there, Tsipi is always refreshed and more social than ever. I think there is no shortage of attention for Tsipi at that house. Tsipi and Sivan are also becoming friends--Sivan loves Tsipi's toys. Tsipi likes Sivan's toys. And they both bond over their love of cell phones and laptops.

As for Sivan Reyna, where do I start? I have never in my life seen anyone so fiercely stubborn, strong, energetic, and desiring of independence (I'm sure every parents says this...but really). We look at our relatives and have some ideas where she gets some of her traits. Particularly her "rise and shine" morning attitude. Thanks Larry Kalkstein--we really appreciate that. Particularly the 5 am wakeups--you know I hate to miss sunrise! Sivan, at 9.5 months, sports five little teeth. She has learned to drink through a straw, throw things, and wave hi and bye. In fact, yesterday we realized that if you say "hi Sivan" or "bye sivan", she'll wave! This FLOORS me. I mean, of course, she is supposed to understand language eventually (I teach this in Psychology), but...SHE UNDERSTANDS LANGUAGE?! She also is finally starting to pick up sign language--she brings her hands together when she wants more food, so now we are motivated to try to teach her some other signs.

When she was a baby, we called her Houdini because she hated being swaddled in a blanket (something most babies like), and she would manage to get out of any swaddle. Today, she performed another miraculous feat. She somehow managed to turn around and stand up in her high chair, despite having strapped her in. The girl cannot be contained! At least she's kinda cute...In fact, in case you couldn't tell, we went a little camera crazy on this beautiful Fall day. Below are Fall pics and then pics from the last 2 months.












I just have to say that it was really hard narrowing these down...there were plenty more...







Sivan is fascinated with her first exposure to pumpkins. Below, Sivan finds it amusing to ride in a backpack.




Below: Sivan has protested being the subject of any more photos!

Enjoying a last summer weekend by Lake Harriet.


Visiting with Kevin.

Celebrating grandma's 100th.

Getting ready for Rosh Hashana! A couple videos from today...

Sivan teases her hungry mom...


Sivan Reyna isn't so sure she likes goats...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2020 Summer (Make that Thanksgiving Card)

By Dr. Yasmine Kalkstein
Image
So, I was reminded yesterday I never sent out our annual summer card. Uh...2020 folks?  Can we just use 2020 and Coronavirus for all excuses? So, I decided this year, our 2020 Summer Card is a 2020 Thanksgiving Card.  And it's not a printing.  It's an online blog entry.  Wow, how far we have fallen... But at least I have some good pictures? 2020 started out with an amazing first week.  We had Sivan's bat mitzvah and barely a day goes by that I don't think how lucky we were to have our Israeli bat mitzvah pre-pandemic.   Per tradition, we did hers at 12.  During Chanukkah, we started in Rehovot and the kids saw their friends, and then headed to Emek Yezreal as our next base, while we explored that area bit, and then headed down the Jordan valley to the Dead Sea, where we spent a few days, and then to the desert (Mitzpeh Ramon) and then back to Jerusalem.  Sivan's bat mitzvah included a few celebrations--we did a tunnel ceremony, which meant an...
Read more

Happy 5782

By Dr. Yasmine Kalkstein
Image
Hello friends and family! Happy 5782 and Fall of 2021! . We hope this email finds you well, and that the start of the school year has gone well for all.  We've had an eventful year, although like many, it had its share of frustrations. As for us, Yasmine enjoyed her first year at West Point--it's been an inspiring place to work where our Army's commitment to a better world and character is so clear.  Yasmine works as the Lead Integrator at the Character Integration Advisory Group and is not ever bored.  She also loved teaching cadets.  Her typical attire is the uniform on the right, not left :) She even helped coach the coxswains on West Point Crew. Adam is also at West Point and just got full professor this year, a promotion that is the highest level in academia. His favorite memory was his severe weather trip, where he took a group of cadets to go find a tornado (I think Yasmine just simplified that one a lot).  Check out usmaweatheraid.blogspot.com if you wa...
Read more

Teaching thoughts: Positive Feedback

By Dr. Yasmine Kalkstein
This is going to sound totally dumb and simple.  But it's a simple revelation I had the other day. I LOVE being taught.  I relish feedback.  Right now I have five teachers--my art teacher, my horseback riding teacher, my Krav Maga instructor, and Talya, my colleague/mentor on the Fulbright.  Adam and I also started parent training, where we are being taught skills that may help us with our strong-willed angels.  I love my interactions with all of these instructors and realize it's because I relish feedback, and in particular positive feedback.  I should swim a few times a week, but without a swim teacher, I'm not interested.   I should do Yoga by myself, but I need someone to teach me.  I LOVE having feedback.  Yes, I have studied behaviorism.  I have heard a million times "positive feedback" (hell, I even teach that it's important) but I'd hereby like to apologize to all those around me in my life.  I do not do this enou...
Read more