Cousins!!! Christmas memories

Coming back from Christmas we stopped by "The Cousins" house in Texas. 

Much fun was had. Braums icecream has a mythical status in our house, as it is only in Texas and Oklahoma. On the drive out, the kids were begging me at 10 pm when we crossed into Oklahoma after 14 hours of driving, to stop and get them icecream at the Braums. I told them they were shut. And we'd stop on the way back

Stopping on the way back, with an envelope of cash from the Great Grandmother with the instructions to eat icecream with it, here we are.

BOTH of these kids know how to pose. And she's only 6 months old....

This one looks like our babies did. Keziah, to be precise.

Trying to juggle 2 babies who wanted to be held, and were desperately hungry for Banana. On looking at the photos now, it seemed the 6 month old rallied herself to smile at the camerakid.

My kids using Photoshop after the vacation

The little peaceful grumpiness <3

Making hamburgers

Note how the 6 month old manages to maintain eyecontact and smile at the cameraman (me, I think) through almost all these pictures.....

Distracted only because she is smiling at someone else.

 Good memories....

Cracking the No-Cavities-Tooth-Code...with Yogurt?

Can I reverse (and prevent) tooth decay with yogurt?

Quick backstory: I have struggled with tooth decay my whole life. From getting my teeth drilled for cavities from 10 years old, to little fillings becoming big fillings, and big fillings becoming crowns. I now have 2 crowns, 8 other fillings, and two active sites the dentists have wanted to drill and I'm trying to remineralize. It got really bad 3 years ago, when I had sensitive spots all over my teeth to the point I started using sensodyne, before I stumbled across Dr. Ellie Phillips, DDS, on youtube, and her advice to ditch the sensodyne (the large tin ions in the stannous fluoride can inhibit remineralizations) swish with xylitol to remineralize your teeth with your own spit, to only use Crest Regular toothpaste (sodium fluoride remineralizes teeth), and to swish with listerine and ACT fluoride rinse. Also, not to rinse after brushing with toothpaste, but instead just spit, and rinse my toothbrush and brush my tongue off, but let the residual toothpaste soak into my teeth. All my sensitivity went away in a matter of months, and I was able to arrest the cavity's development. My bad breath and 'tooth fudge' (that white stuff that used to grow on my teeth in the morning, and between meals) dissappeared. The dentist said that the "surfaces actually look pretty good" above my cavities. 

So I have seen first-hand what xylitol and (sodium!) fluoride can do. But can it get better?

Drumroll...

I woke up with shiny teeth. As in, very slippery, feel-good mouth this morning. Feeling fresh. Highly unusual for me.

I have seen connection with if after I brush at night I use listerine and ACT rinse, use xylitol, then my mouth is not super gross on waking like when I just brush at night. But this morning it was SHINY CLEAN like JUST BRUSHED AND SWISHED WITH XYLITOL ten minutes ago. After 7 hours in bed.

So what did I do last night?

1. Mostly skipped dinner due to bellyache, alas. But I had been grazing all day.
2. Swished with xylitol during the Bible readings (like....10 min?)
3. THEN ate a few bites of "zero sugar" (stevia yuck) Chobani greek yogurt the kids left on the table so as not to throw it out
4. Two hours later, Chewed xylitol, brushed teeth with Crest. [I don't think I even swished with mouthwash and ACT last night?]
5. Was so tired I fell asleep without kissing Josh :(
6. In the night had allergies & stuffy nose, but kept pressing my tongue to the roof of my mouth to open my nasal airways. I made a conscious decision multiple times waking in the night. But I normally wake breathing through my nose, so unsure
7. Extra data: In other ways my health is bad right now. Allergies, and sleep issues (I woke up at 5 instead of my usual 6:30)

This morning woke up with the shiniest cleanest freshest teeth.

So I'm guessing it was the yogurt, and the lack of mouthwash or kissing meant that was the final microbes that blasted my mouth, then were just brushed and not killed or competed with.

With this hypothesis, I turned to my eagerly helpful and yet often hallucinating research student, Grok. I followed through to his sources to make sure, and found legitimate scientific studies that proved my hypothesis.

Scientific Support for the Yogurt healing teeth hypothesis

Really cool study here that demonstrated yogurt's ability to prevetn cavities https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10338946/

Another cool study, that suggests the yogurt makes a competing biofilm that keeps the cavity causing streptus mutans at bay.

https://karger.com/cre/article-abstract/54/1/68/86011/Effects-of-the-Consumption-of-Probiotic-Yogurt?redirectedFrom=fulltext

More vague but interesting study here https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9305141/  

And a chicago dentist urging plain greek yogurt because of that study https://www.chicagokidsdds.com/blog/2015/07/greek-yogurt-teeth

Meta-study saying yogurt helps https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S096399692200285X

So basically, all of them found that consuming (plain?) yogurt, increased the competitive microbiome in your mouth that competes with the bad cavity-causing bacteria.

These alternative bacteria possibly contributing to the biofilm on your teeth, competing with the S. Mutans, and that this reduced cavities.

I had thought that since yogurt is an acidic fermented food, it would have hurt teeth. But no, it strengthened them.

AND with my experience last night, this confirms the secret to my super clean oral microbiome seems to be yogurt.

I don't know how to emphasize how fresh and shiny clean my teeth feel right now. Having brushed them 7 hours ago, feeling like I JUST DID.

 When I started using xylitol two years ago, it immediately took away the dreaded morning "mouth fudge."  But there was still some residual yuck, and the teeth feeling a bit softer in the morning (less "clicky" when they tap each other). This morning they feel AMAZING, clicky-hard, smooth, slippery, nothing feeling acidic or soft. (And this is with a few yr old cavity in there I'm trying to reverse)

Hannah's steps to Oral health So Far (what stopped me from getting new cavities constantly)

1. Not rinsing after brushing with fluroide regular Crest toothpaste (just spitting, and brushing my tongue off with a rinsed toothbrush, but not rinsing the teeth after), rather, letting it "soak in". This took away my tooth sensitivity
2. In conjunction with swishing with xylitol (I spit it out after 5 min) 1-3x a day
3. Now...yogurt as the last food in my mouth at night...before the final brush 

I want to try 

Hannah's New Tooth-healing Regimen

1. moving my tooth-brushing-listerine-ACT routine to after lunch
2. a 10 min swish with xylitol in the evenings after dinner, 
3. followed by 1 mouthful of plain greek yogurt (I really hope the dental benefits for me are not unique to this stevia one. I hate stevia. But it stands to reason that I shouldn't do a sugary one)
4. Regular tooth brushing at night
5. Make Josh do this protocol before bed, so I can kiss him and not get cavities

Are there specific yogurt strains that work better?

This paper says lactobacillus rhamnosus . https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12903-024-03893-8 lactobacillus rhamnosus

This scientific paper says these are specifically good to compete with s. mutans. L. Reuteri, L. Rhamnosus, and whatever Streptococcus Salivarus is.

 Specific strains such as Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Streptococcus salivarius inhibit cariogenic bacteria through competitive exclusion, acidity modulation via arginine metabolism, and production of antimicrobial compounds like reuterin and bacteriocins. 

From Scientific paper here https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/22808000251376427

 Now, looking at my "Chobani 20g protein zero sugar added" stevia yogurt that did this last night, it has got

• S. Thermophilius
• L. Bulgaricus
• L. Acidophilus
• Bifidus
• L. Casei
• L. Rhamnosus

So I think it was one of those, that did this miracle for me last night.

 It had better be one of those guys. And not be the stevia....(shudder)....

(I don't think it was the stevia though, given the fact that I brushed my teeth afterwards, and the fact that pure stevia seems to be about as effective as xylitol, and there was only a tiny amount of stevia in that yogurt, which I then brushed out, I would put my money on the live cultures that could hide in crevices, and re-colonize and reproduce in my mouth.)

Vegetables to grow in Phoenix that we actually like

 Winter season (plant in October)

Our Must-haves!

• Rita's Tomatoes!!! Simply the best. Our neighbor Rita has grown tomatoes that are the sweetest, most delicious, well-acclimated tomatoes. We can try some season-extension to up the microclimate warmth in the winter, and see if we can harvest all winter. Grow basil with the tomatoes
• [All the basils, citrus basil, Thai Basil, Sweet Basil] grow that under the warm tarp
• tons of Lettuce (kids loved it)
• Dinosaur Kale (Lacinto Kale)
• Try other kales (siberian blue, red russian etc)
• Try Ken's Chard!
• HERBS: oregano, lemon balm, thai basil, basils, mints, peppermint, to make teas and cook with

To try again

• Cilantro (ours was a little bitter, try again)
• Cucumbers, maybe they'll live past 3" sprouts this time....
• Sweet peas (kids liked it, but it didn't get very big. Tiny. Grew slowly. Not sure why, maybe planted it too late???)
• Bell Peppers [with season extension]

Flowers

• Hollyhocks!!!
• Roses
• Snapdragons from Home Depot

Probably Not again

• Nasturtium--Jenny allergic
• Dill---kids didn't eat it much
• Carrots---took up a lot of space, and were bitter. Just buy 5 lbs of baby carrots a week from the grocery store.

Summer Season 

Winter sow in the split milk jugs in February. REMEMBER TO WATER THEM.  plant out in March)

• Bell Peppers [with season extension]
• All the Basils [wintersow]

Chit and direct Plant in March!! (these need the heat to grow, do best with direct sow, keep them in cups for less than 3 weeks)

• Armenian Cucumber
• Cantelope (kids get a real kick out of it)
• Zuchini!!!!
• Okra! (along the back and east walls)
• Yardlong beans

And here is a picture of Daddy being awesome

Thankful for....

 Irene's shenanigans...

She is a little goofball, chuckling at her own wit

Desert Ranger plans 2026

 Little Rangers need to get their kits out at least once a month. They need to explore outside, learn valuable skills like tracking, stamina, waking at dawn, building fires, watching the stars....they need SKILLS and they are only going to get said skills by going out and roughing it in the wilderness.

Alas, one skill for a ranger mom trapped in the valley of the Sun, is to reserve campsites far in advance. 6-5.5 months in advance....

If we were really cool, we'd figure out how to make camp in the site-less wilderness...preferably under bracken where the Crebain of Dunland cannot sight us....but we aren't at that awesome yet. So we'll stick with reserved sites, until our skills are much much better. Dispersed Camping is far far more epic. This year, research dispersed camping and how it works, also scout out places for dispersed camping near our favorite sites.

UPDATE:  IT seems that contrary to my impression, Payson is actually COOLER than Sedona in the summer....So next year we are going to check Payson first for June, July, Aug. Sedona is more for April, May, Sept

UPDATE UPDATE: Driving up towards Heber from Payson gives you 2000+ ft of elevation, and its a little cooler, at the cost of 20 more min driving.

Feb-March really focus on my own little piece of earth, gardening, etc.

March--AZ Desert dawn hikes, Lost Dutchman campsite...or THE MINE cold 

[I need to reserve the Spring reservations by Nov/Dec, and Summer reservations by Feb/March]

April -- AZ Rim-country/Sedona Oak Creek--- AZ desert Dawn Hikes 

• [too hot to camp in AZ desert]
• [Mingus Mountain and Mogollan Campground and Aspen AZ not open till May], 
• THE MINE Morenci, AZ
• Yavapai, White Spar (Prescott) is open [but terrible bathrooms] not alot of trees 
• Sedona/Oak Creek stuff is Open
• Maybe....Payson IS ALL FF IN APRIL [Christopher Creek] and Ponderosea (AZ)
•  Houston Mesa [Payson near Water Wheel, Flowing Springs] are FF in April 

May -- AZ Rim-country, Prescott, ----Sedona/Oak Creek stuff is Open  (Payson is open)

• Mingus Mountain! 
• Ponderosa AZ ??
• Sedona/Oak Creek stuff is Open(Pine Flatts) [We had a great time at Cave Spring Sedona in May] Manzanita campground?
• Christopher creek might have water in it
• Houston Mesa Campground NEAR Water Wheel Falls (Payson) 
• Mogollon Campground on Rim ?? (too cold?) 

June 

• last chance at Prescott,  
• Payson-ish Houston Mesa Campground (5200 ft) NEAR Water Wheel Falls (Payson) NEAR Flowing Springs
• Payson--Christopher Creek [bit too hot only 5000 ft elevation]
• past Payson towards Heber, up on the rim, elevation 7000 ft higher on the Rim near Woods Canyon Lakes---Sinkhole Campground (7560 ft), Spillway campground, Aspen AZ (7000 ft)Mogollon campground (7700 ft)
• Maybe Sedona & Oak Creek Canyon Too Hot

July--Mountains or Creeks, 

• CHRISTOPHER CREEK IN PAYSON (no water in the campsite creek yet, hot at 5000 ft)
• Houston Mesa Campground NEAR Water Wheel Falls (Payson) NEAR Flowing Springs
• past Payson towards Heber, up on the rim, elevation 7000 ft higher on the Rim near Woods Canyon Lakes---Sinkhole Campground (7560 ft), Spillway campground, Aspen AZ (7000 ft) or Mogollon campground (7700 ft) 
• Maybe Oak Creek Canyon/Sedona [bc of Oak creek. Also Manzanita is COOLER they say, Pine Flats, Bootlegger, Cave Spring], 
• Maybe Mogollon Campground is 2mi from a lake....  Too Hot
• DREAM: THE ROCKIES, GORE CREEK

Aug--Mountains or Creeks, PAYSON,OR THE ROCKIES GORE CREEK Oak Creek Canyon/Sedona... Too Hot

DREAM: THE ROCKIES, GORE CREEK

CHRISTOPHER CREEK IN PAYSON 

Payson-ish Houston Mesa Campground NEAR Water Wheel Falls (Payson) NEAR Flowing Springs

Sept--Mountains or Creeks, PAYSON, OR 2nd half of Oak Creek Canyon/Sedona [Finally Cool Enough!...]

• CHRISTOPHER CREEK IN PAYSON  EARLY SEPTEMBER
• !!! Houston Mesa Campground NEAR Water Wheel Falls (Payson) NEAR Flowing Springs [fIrst half september 87/57, SECOND HALF OF SEPTEMBER 82/52 sweet spot.

Oct -- AZ Rim-country, Prescott, Mingus [may-oct] OR Oak Creek Canyon/Sedona...

• Last chance for Mingus !!!!
• Cave Springs, Sedona
• ??Houston Mesa near water wheel 72/42 range

Nov--AZ Desert 

• AZ desert dawn hikes,  
• Hidden Valley, 
• Fat Man's pass
• Sears-Kay Ruin (Hohokam)
• Check out Alltrails
• ??Montezuma's well [3 hr drive]
• Pioneer Museum? 
• Lost Dutchman campsite

Dec & Jan--AZ Desert dawn hikes [Hidden Valley, Pioneer Museum? Fat Man's pass, Sears-Kay Ruin (Hohokam)] Have back-yard fires and toast marshmallows.

Feb --AZ Desert dawn hikes, Lost Dutchman campsite. 

• Feb-March I really focus on my own little piece of earth, gardening, etc. 
• October/Nov is put the winter garden in. 
• February/March is put the summer garden in. 
• July--Sept you kinda pull the plug on the garden [grow yams and basil?], focus on keeping the trees alive

So camping season is really May--October 

And how to homestead...when we are in a little quarter-acre lot in a desert, and may move in the near-ish future?

Homestead, but not as the homestead being the goal---as we may need to sell, and later owners destroy it. Plant fruit trees, for the future if owners keep it. And always garden with the kids. Involve my little rangers as much as possible...because its about the memories being forged WITH them, and the skills being forged IN them, and not about the physical garden or home so much. We are traveling, but we can make these way-stations along the way as beautiful as we can. As green as we can. As productive as we can. 

But it should always be about the little Rangers, and not the way-station.

So let's get out there, and go Rangering....

Our New Era---trying to transform our family culture *be* the Morning People

I want to do more than keep my kids alive.....I want to teach the kids how to actually live.

I told the kids this was our new era. We are going to run a clean household, and actually invite their friends over (after me promising 'when the house is clean...' for the last decade)

Each Tuesday in Lent, I will expand on one of these points, which I will hyperlink here.

 OUR NEW ERA

God our strength : put on your own oxygen mask!

Make prayer, worship, and Bible-study the rhythm of our lives

1.      Morning Prayer 

2.      CircleTime Intercessory Prayer

3.      Worship

4.      Bible at night with Daddy (focus, absorb, discuss)

5.      Life Skills

a.      Bible Study

b.     Intercessory Prayer

Now that your oxygen mask is on....

Outward Focus: Be a blessing to others

1.      Intercessory Prayer [Think of others]

a.      VOM prayerlist

b.     Prayercards of others in our lives

c.      Circle Time Prayer style [draw cards out of the deck]

2.      Social Skills [Kindness] Teach it to them rooted in scripture, in real life stories

a.      Think of Others before yourself

b.     Spread Kindness with your mouth

c.      Seek to find why God brings ppl into your life (humility, openness to listening etc)

d.     Christian boundaries, etc.

3.      Functional Sanity---the car needs to run, to be able to go anywhere

a.      Food

b.     Chores

c.      Laundry

d.     Homeschool Basics

4.      (Be a net plus on the world)

a.      Project sanity/youre ok….especially of the little ones!!!

                                                              i.      Appearance---grooming: hair, smell, clean face

                                                            ii.      Appearance—clothing [nice enough or looks on purpose]

                                                          iii.      House---like the family that hosted the dance---their home was amazing. It exuded little house in the prairie vibes. Or medieval cottage vibes. Because everything was clean, organized, and beautiful even if it wasn't fancy/expensive/fixed. FUNCTIONALITY and USEFULNESS and BEAUTY

                                                          iv.      Outside of House---even more important

b.     Try to bring more food to events than we take

c.      Give generously

5.      Joyful Charity

a.      Go with them to Donate to Foodbanks, buy socks, etc

b.     Visiting those in Prison//for kids: Visit hose home-bound, older people, nursing homes, hospitals, and in hospice

c.      Packs for Homeless people, Feed my starving children, etc

d.     Help them donate money to cool charities (like buy a goat, etc), where they get to put money toward it, by doing various chores for us, etc. So they are working to help others.

Fragile Beings Suspended

 We are such fragile beings, suspended above eternity.

Just one lungfull of oxygen, one burst brain-blood-vessel, one heartbeat away, from the edge of time. From the mysteries that sages have searched for, mystics climbing mountains. Just there, just hovering, right on the other side.