Move over Oprah

Morgan and Annika have decided to share with you their personal summer reading recommendations, based solely on the books they pick out for reading. Today is the first day of summer vacation and we have plenty of books on shelves and in boxes (we are looking for additional bookcases). Based on this blog's popularity, I doubt if any of the Chung girls' recommendations will cause the chosen books to move up the Amazon bestseller list. But hey, it's worth a post. Sorry, no photos.

So what's first on the list?
1. Morgan is currently reading two books at the same time. For the third time this year, we are reading Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater. This is a fabulous book. Morgan planned on taking the AR test for this book, but we will read it again this summer and let her try next year. It's worth 3 points (a lot for a 1st/2nd grader). Additionally, she is reading Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren, by Barbara Park.

2. Annika chose one of my all-time favorite books (I know this because my mom shipped the book to me, with my name personally written inside the front cover), The Ice-Cream Cone Coot and Other Rare Birds, by Arnold Lobel - copyright 1971.

3. Ingrid likes Curious George and the Puppies apparently. While reading the above, she chewed on the corner of this paperback. It's currently drying on the nightstand.

The booklist will change, but this is a way to make sure they're reading all summer.

Hey Hey

School's Out for the Summer!

Morgan has a reason to celebrate today. Jacobson Elementary is out for the summer. Of course, since school starts the third week of July, the "summer" is half the size of the traditional twelve week, blast from the past-style school vacation. That's OK, there's less time to lose what you've learned.

Morgan had a great year coming from behind grade level in reading to now reading early third grade level materials. I certainly have to give credit to her teacher, Liz Goring, for her expertise and guidance. Of course, Morgan's tenacity this year was great. She really persevered and is really a great reader now. She's also a fabulous mathematician. Anyway, the best news is that Morgan's teacher is looping up next year, meaning Morgan will have Liz again for second grade. The class will stay together for the most part.

As a family, we went to pick up Morgan from school in the heat. The temperature reading on the stroller was 105 degrees at its hottest. We went through quite a few bottles of water. Annika brought her new training wheels bike. Of course, the ride was rather long for a short legged 3 year old. Morgan upgraded her bike last week, too. She's still working hard to get well acquainted to the newer 20 inch wheel. She's very happy with her new bike.

Nine Month Check-up

There were plenty of shots and dwindling smiles as Ingrid completed her 9 month well baby checkup at the doctor this morning. After getting Morgan out the door to school and Annika to the neighbors (Beerfella's home - see earlier post for explanation), Ingrid arrived wearing her pajamas to the doctor. When Morgan went, it was matching outfit or dress, socks, shoes, and hair bows. By the time it's your third child, you wind up convincing yourself, hey, at least she made it on time. Who cares what she looks like or whether she bathed that morning. It's a baby. Slipping off the pajamas, Ingrid came in weighing a respectable 17 pounds, 4 ounces; length 27 inches.

Here she's showing off her heel stick for a hemoglobin check.

All Smiles

Ingrid shows off her teeth

Podaegi

A podaegi is a traditional baby carrier from Korea. It is a piece of fabric that wraps around the mother and baby and is secured with two long sashes holding the baby in place on the mother's back. Long fabric is used in winter, short fabric in summer.

Woody used to ride around in a podaegi when he was little. Now his mom found a California style boutique podaegi in pink(!). Ingrid actually smiles and recognizes it everytime Harmony (Korean for Grandma) takes it out.

TGIF!!!!

Wow, the holiday weekend is drawing near. We have plans near home this year. Woody's parents are flying out for the weekend. We will go to the Playtopia park for some EARLY morning park time (The best time to go to the park is 6-6:30 AM). By 7 AM the park was full last Saturday. Breakfast is the usual picnic food for the early summer. We'll get some coffee and fruit and let the older two run amok.


Today is May 25, one day after my sister's birthday. When my sister was born, my twin aunts were about to turn 20. I won't reveal their ages now but for those of you who know when Susan was born - there's the simple math equation. So I decided to look in my photo archives (which has somehow been subdivided into multiple locations) and dug up these two scans I made from my old slide scanner. I hope Deb and Diane enjoy these pictures! Although they are fraternal twins, I labeled the pictures. Enjoy. I'm waiting to see the comments.... (aren't they cute. I bet my mom helped iron those dresses!). So HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Today was Annika's last day of YMCA's Bella Reggio preschool. Later this summer she'll return to Sunny Days, where Morgan went. Her class had a lunch party at the local park.

Birthday Time

H a p p y B i r t h d a y ! ! !



Today is my sister's birthday. Happy Birthday Susan. I love you!

New Kitchen

We finally picked up and put away the last of the items that made it into the kitchen. All during this experience, Ingrid is certainly enjoying the new deeper sink. It even fits Annika! We love the maple cabinets.

Ingrid is sporting her second tooth, which debuted last Friday. She was not the little Viking she was with her first tooth. Wow, what lungs!

Time is flying by

Is it Tuesday already? I still feel like I'm living in last week instead of this week. The kitchen remodel is essentially complete. Neighbors have been ringing the bell to check it out. We've given out the business card to the cabinet and countertop company a few times already. We have two more boxes to unload and we're done.

Morgan had a playdate today. It was one of her classmates from school. A typical Morgan playdate: tea party, push dolls in swings, do fairy castle puzzles and play dress up. Margaret then played the piano for us. Interesting seeing someone nearly the same age as Morgan play the piano. She had her recital piece memorized.

Good night for now. We're certainly tired.

Uff Da, Uff Da! It's Uba Tuba

Well, we are finally unpacking and putting our dishes back into the cabinets and enjoying the new granite - which is called Uba Tuba. Last week we went to make a final inspection before they delivered the granite. Here's a picture of Woody and Ingrid having a look at the granite in the yard. On Wednesday, they spent the whole day fitting the granite. It looks great. Yesterday was some final work on the cabinets, trim pieces and punch list. Woody spent late yesterday re-doing our sink and pipes. The new sink is deeper and further back. It's great not to have to wash baby bottles in the bathroom!

More pictures tomorrow.

17. Mai i Norge

It's Norway's National Day. This fact is not well known in Arizona. There are still those Arizonans recovering from "Cinco de Mayo", a Meixcan holiday on May 5 which is a widely celebrated in Arizona. Perhaps as a reason to drink and party but it is certainly not a national holiday in the United States. Many falsely believe it is Mexico's National day. However, "Cinco de Mayo" is a Mexican celebration which commemorates the Mexican army defeat of Napolean's army of 4,000 men (with significant help from Spain). Mexicans have turned this into a major celebration. On this side of the border, Arizona schools celebrate Cinco de Mayo wholeheartdly with costumes and parties and school assemblies. The kids have no idea of the historical context of Cinco de Mayo. So why do first graders spend weeks preparing for songs and dances to celebrate something that has lost its historical context.

What ever happened to studying and celebrating George Washington? How about an assembly celebrating literature? How about celebrating something American or is that now taboo? What about a complete international festival celebrating ALL countries and their diversities?

Arizona schools believe they are being cultured by celebrating this one day and one nation.

My mini norwegian flag is out but I'm not holding my breath for a school celebration that includes Syttende Mai here in Chandler!


BTW, tomorrow posting will have the reveal pictures of our kitchen remodel. We're in the home stretch. YEAH!

Playtopia

On Saturday, a brand new park opened in Chandler. Situated next to the big Tumbleweed park, Playtopia is three parks in one - farm life, city growth, and fossil discovery center. We went to check it out yesterday. It's absolutely beautiful. Check out the hanger-sized cover over the main farm play area. The picnic pavillions are available for parties. The whole place was great. Annika loved it - we loved the coverings and ample picnic tables. It's great to have so many playground and outdoor activites available here.

Happy's Mother's Day

Woody and I find ourselves extraordinarily lucky to have three great children. We're equally lucky and privileged to have super families and great mothers. In tribute to our mothers, I found two photos showing us with our mothers. One picture is from Seoul, Korea and one picture is from Fridley, Minnesota. So how lucky and extraordinary is it that the two of us met and along with our three children and families, are able to celebrate this day?


Thank you, Mom! Kam-sa-ham-ni-da, Amanim!

Jack's Out of of a Nursery Rhyme Job!

Annika be nimble;

Annika be quick;

Annika jump over the Ingrid-chic!






Wow. What a week. It's been an unbelievable whirlwind. With a kitchen completely gutted, our children have found extra time this week to add some over-the-top excitement and good old fashioned fun. From bike riding in the cul-de-sac with a parade of children, writing and practicing oral reports on hummingbirds; swim lessons; baby's first tooth excitement; HD movies on the wall with a new projector; field trip to a dairy farm; birthday parties and "hair raising" adventures with home remodels - well, we're quite tired.



Once the remodel is done, we'll post some before and after pictures. Until then, the "kitchen" is in our family room with pots and pans stacked on the floor.

First Tooth

It's been a busy week and it's only Wednesday. Another first rite of passage has found its way into the Chung household. Ingrid cut her first tooth. She handled it like a real Viking with no problems. Click on the picture to get a better look at that fancy tooth. Isn't she cute!

Rite of Passage

Ah... Freedom. The feeling of the wind whistling through your ears as you soar by. The first rite of passage has arrived for Morgan. The training wheels came off, and without ANY parents helping - off she went. No wobbling, no holding the bike, no flanking the right rear. It was like magic. It happened so fast. I ran in the house for the camera. When I got back outside, she was already down the street. Turning was a cinch. The kids and neighbors clapped and cheered her on. She loved it! The proud parents did, too.

Happy Birthday, Cha Cha Cha!

Today is Grandma's birthday. My daughters waited until they were in the bathtub to call and wish Grandma a happy birthday while screaming the Happy Birthday song with the echo of a large bathroom.

In honor of my mother's birthday, here are a few of my favorite photos that I will always cherish.

Happy Birthday Mom! You're the Best.

Shopping for that just-right gift

Today we (all five of us) were invited to a birthday party for the "Beerfella". In case you're thinking "Beerfella" is one of Woody's friends, think again. "Beerfella" is Annika's little friend, Mirabella, who turned three today. The name "Beerfella" is just one good reason Annika continues to get prior-auth'd for speech therapy...

Anyway, I took Annika shopping for a birthday gift for the "Beerfella". That was a trip. Ever wonder what three year old's think makes a great gift? Make sure you have some spare time and follow them around. That's what I did at Target yesterday. "Hmmm, Momma-ya, let me tink." or "Hook-a-dis" were frequent phrases. Annika entered the store, turned right at the card section and made a beeline for the camping gear. Before arriving she stopped and looked at someone's cart. She oogled the coil-hose and said Beerfella would like that to play in the backyard with her swimsuit. I'm sure she would, Annika.

Finally arriving at the camping gear, I asked why we weren't in the toy section. "Hmmm, Momma-ya, let me tink. Hook! I wanna get dis for Beerfella." Annika is pointing at the air mattresses. Wow, I can just see the puzzled look on the Mirabella's face as her parents tell her to remember the obligatory acknowledgement. "Thank you Annika for the queen sized Eddie Bauer air mattress with built in pump. Let's go play."

Chores

Last night, Morgan informed us she was going to be very busy on Saturday - she had eight chores to do and would need snacks and refreshments throughout the day to get it all done. I asked her what kind of chores and she replied, "lots". Not wanting to lose this thought process, I handed her a notepad and asked that she write out her "list". She thought it would be a good idea. Ten minutes later, at 9 PM, she brought us the following list:



1. Clene rooms

2. Wash dishes

3. mowe the gras

4. Dost

5. line up shos

6. grow flawers

7. do work

8. do the Londre



Well, it's Saturday morning now. We'll keep you posted as to her progress.

Our First Posting

Next week we're installing new cabinets and counters. Instead of cleaning out the old cupboards, we're teaching ourselves how to blog.

Also, our 8.5 month old daughter Ingrid, began crawling forward today. It was a great occassion and cause for celebration.

Look for our next posting this weekend.