Happy New Year from our family to yours. 2008 was a rough year!
The loss of Grandma Betty hit us hard, as did a long surgical
procedure for Archer. But we learned to value our family and friends
all the more, and 2009 is dawning, full of hope.
Aeddon Wolf is 2 and loves to paint. He can talk quite a bit
now and doesn't use sign language as much. He worships Eeyore.
Morgan Finn, 8, is our artist-in-residence, constantly drawing
and creating art out of recycling bin raw materials. This year, he
cut off his signature braid and has a new "Leonardo DeCaprio" look.
Archer ,10, visited Boston twice this year to receive treatment
at Childrens' Hospital Boston. He visited the Science Museum, and
drove a "Duck" (amphibious vehicle). He is also quite the pianist,
and now has his own bedroom.
Rhiannon, 12, is taking tap, ballet, hip-hop and jazz classes in
Wilton. She enjoys crochet and doll-making, and is incredibly
creative with scrap fabric and a sewing machine.
Rowan is 16. He got his permit this year and looks forward to
his license. At Sacred Harvest Fest, he was honored as Teen Guardian
for his leadership at Teen Camp. He plays bass guitar and travels
often.
Tabitha, 18, lived at Sweetwater in Missouri. She attended Ozark
Technical Institute. She traveled to and worked at many festivals
over the summer. She visits home often. She is moving to Minneapolis
very soon.
Melanie became certified as a Fat Chance Belly Dance Instructor
and has been dancing as much as possible. She is still slowly working
towards a degree in Nursing. She plans to attend both belly dance and
midwifery conferences in the coming year, and to spend more time
working to make midwifery legal in Iowa.
Christopher went to Boston with Archer, and learned to ride the
"T" like a pro. In October he bought a bloodhound, whom he named
"Gerdie". This summer he begins grad school to get his Master's in
Educational Leadership.
Our 2009 plans include traveling to PSG and SHF (of course!),
more visits to Boston and Chris and Melanie's handfasting. Around the
house we plan to add more beehives, a new chicken/peacock coop, and
maybe a new woodstove.
Check our flickr.com to see our family photo blog.
Here's wishing you Love and Treasure in 2009!
-Many Hands House

--
Melanie

"A woman without a belly is like a night without stars"
-Arabic idiom
www.tribeunda.net
people.tribe.net/midwifemelanie
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www.myspace.com/salometribalbellydance
www.ravelry.com/people/midwifemelanie
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