"A" is for Annika; "I" is for Ingrid

The younger girls had the extraordinary opportunity to spend New Year's Eve at Disneyland with Woody, his brother Andy and Andy's girlfriend, and Harmony (the girl's grandmother). It was extraordinarily crowded, but they still managed to have fun. Andy's girlfriend, MiHae, was the designated co-rider with Annika on the rides.

The New Years fireworks ended up canceled because of the winds. The parade was fantastic and the decorations were amazing.

Woody plays Checkers

Morgan is missing her dad and her sisters. They are spending today at Disneyland. I can't wait to see the pics.

For now, she said she was going to play checkers with Woody. When I turned around I found her literally playing checkers with Woody.

Mind Over Splatter

The bachelorettes are still at it. Today Morgan and I went to a ceramics painting center called Mind Over Splatter. You select your ceramic item, pay a sitting fee and create your masterpiece. In Morgan's case, another horse. I know everyone is not shocked by her selection. She worked carefully for over two hours - waiting for each coat to dry and only asking for help with the last minute red saddle. We will pick up our completed work (they'll fire it) next Saturday. I know Morgan will be itching to see her finished masterpiece.

Outings and Downtime

Morgan and I had a wonderful Saturday planned together. We woke late (7:30), and played before having an oatmeal breakfast. Morgan continued playing with her dollhouse while I did a project on the computer until lunch.

Lunch was planned at Sushi Eye in Motion (the Sushi Belt). We enjoyed veggies and Ebi shrimp. I had a Las Vegas sushi roll (delicious) and tea. We planned to go home after lunch and go to a 3:30 matinee. When we went to the mall to go to the movie, we literally were without anywhere to park the car. There were four cars trying for each spot and we crawled from row to row only to find more cars "trolling" for vacating shoppers. We left disappointed. Morgan was VERY disappointed and had trouble calming down after it was explained that no one was at fault, there was simply too many people out and about.

At home, Morgan settled into a book on CD to relax (Junie B. Jones). I continued with the computer project and did some house cleaning. After a long call with Mom in Rochester, Morgan asked if we could have a tea party dinner. We got take out Greek food. When Morgan told the restaurant that she was going to have a tea party with her tea set, they surprised us and put in two doilies with two pieces of baklava.

With dinner done, Morgan got out the Playmobil set.

Where's Woody and the younger girls? They are helping their California grandparents with projects around their house. Really it means they are babysitting the younger girls and Woody is spending time at Industry's Home Depot and Lowes. I hope to get a report on their day and some e-mailed pictures (they took the good digital camera, I've got the cell phone camera) late tonight. Woody starts an 18 month training program in two weeks. He'll have little vacation time after that so we decided he should go to California now. I have to stay in Arizona because our hospital is opening a new wing next week.

Yum Yum Sushi

Tea Party Dinner

Post dinner movie and Playmobil imagination

Tonight's Reading

Tonight, the three girls and I read two books together:

Andrew Henry's Meadow, by Doris Burn, copyright 1965.

Paddington at the Circus, by Michael Bond, copyright 1974.

Retro Christmas Fun

This year we made good on our effort to avoid "Made In China" toys and focus on the toys of Christmas' past. (Literally). This was made easy by the wish lists from our daughters: chess set, tea set, diary, bath toy. It also was made easy because my parents did some "attic shopping" on our behalf. Mom and Dad sent our family Lincoln Log set, Matchbox cars (the ones that were made in England!), Fisher Price A Frame Houses, HO Train parts, Tinker Toys, Erector Set, wooden Judy, Playskool, and Sifo puzzles, and plenty of board games. We are saving some of the above for the future because Ingrid is so small. It was very fun for me going through the boxes and remembering our old toys. It was equally fun to see the girls unwrap the toys and love them all over again.

Additionally, we bought some new HABA toys from Germany for the girls (http://www.oompatoys.com/ and http://www.moolka.com/) . Morgan's tea set is a retro set from the Ideal Toy company bought on Ebay in the bubblegum pink color she loves.

We didn't completely avoid the China thing - the mat for the Lincoln logs from Pottery Barn Kids that I love is China made.

It was a great day at the Chungs. Here are a few photos of the early morning (and late evening).

This one's from Christmas Eve (Annika did not enjoy the "dress")

Christmas Morning photos below

Congratulations Tom and Nicole and Chad and Alison

Congratulations on the birth of Tom and Nicole's son on Dec. 20.

Here's the updated chart, I think. Anyone having additional information, please take the time to confirm the accuracy using the comment feature. (See yesterday's comments)

Merry Christmas To All

A very merry Christmas from the Chung Family. We'll be back online on 12/26/2007.

Waiting for the Big Day

What do girls do to amuse themselves in the last few days before the big day? They can get very creative...

Things Go Round and Round

Yesterday we had to take some school papers to the district office for Morgan. It's a district workday but school is out. We didn't realize the district workday would include closing the office for a TWO hour lunch for a department Christmas party.


Since we were in the area of downtown Chandler, we decided to head to a new restaurant opened by a Korean family called Sushi Eye in Motion. At first, Morgan thought we would be eating just fish eyes. Instead the girls were delighted to see the first "Sushi Belt" in Arizona. Their food was delivered on a belt that goes around the sushi bar. You can pick the items you'd like to eat and you are charged for the plates you take. Morgan loves edamame and cucumbers, crab and shrimp sushi. The girls absolutely love masaga roe (fish egg) sushi. We didn't take a picture of that sushi belt but Annika liked the "sushi on a train."

Chandler has a 75 year history of having a town Christmas tree in the center park downtown. It's very special because it is made entirely of a local found "greenery", tumbleweed. Here's a picture of this year's massive spraypainted tumblewood tree. The park is near the sushi belt restaurant.

After lunch and play at the park we attempted the district office again, only to find out they close to the public at noon on Fridays (which was right in the middle of their party). How convenient for them and a complete waste of our time. We headed out to Mesa to Roy's Train Store to get some cleaner and HO smoke. There was a multitude of train set ups between N Scale, HO, G, and Lionel running along the top of the store. They had the biggest Thomas the Train playset for the girls.

The store had everything but the HO Smoke. Roy's Train Store called a competitor in Gilbert and asked them to hold a bottle for us ( I didn't think it was such a popular, hard to find item). We made our way to the store in Gilbert to see a different train set up going round and round and a play train for the girls. With smoke in hand from the Gilbert store we continued listening to the song "Silver Bells" in the car, paying close attention to the song's line: "It's Christmastime in the City." That was very, very evident by the massive number of cars on the streets and freeway of the Phoenix metropolitan area. In the end, we decided to get Ingrid from preschool early on our way home rather than go back out. The girls are playing dress up and Woody is hiding, cleaning train gears. If you can guess, we have a small train we want to set up for Christmas.

Tonight's Reading

Morgan settled into a new book - a gift from her two teachers. I don't know anything about the series, but the title sounds interesting - Reindeer DO Wear Striped Underwear.

Tonight's Reading

Morgan starts her Christmas vacation this evening (starting after school today). For us it means one less evening bath (yeah). For Morgan that means more reading time. Also for Morgan, she can read whatever her heart desires. It was an obvious decision.

Christmas Lights

We took a short drive this evening looking at Christmas lights in our neighborhood and the next neighborhood. Ingrid is now saying, "S'hat?" meaning, "What's That?" Here's a picture of our house with lights at night:

What's that? You can't see any lights? That's OK, you got the right address...our house is the one missing outdoor Christmas lights this year. With 5 days left, I don't think we'll be participating this year.

Awaiting the Birth of Our Savior

The Fisher Price baby Jesus has not been found. More importantly, is that Morgan said it was OK that Jesus was missing. Why? Because he's not born until Christmas. That's what is Christmas for Jesus. So we don't have to find him until Christmas. Smooth one, Morgan.

Reward for Jesus

I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not, but I offered my children $1 for the Jesus figurine. He has been missing in our house since this weekend and the nativity scene looks a little off without him.

Cozy Reading and Strange Socks

Annika and Woody snuggled in tonight for some evening reading. Actually, we were waiting for Ingrid to fall asleep before sneaking back in with Annika. I captured the two of them reading some of Annika's more favorite books:

Tonight's Reading

Morgan and I worked on two books with Annika and Ingrid:

Annika's Christmas Wishes

Annika worked on her list to Santa as part of a class project at school. We did not see the list until we picked it up last night. Frankly, as to a couple of items on her list, we were without words and left without an explanation.





Last time I had her checked, and without an official count, Annika had at least 206 bones... Why more?





I'm not even going to comment on the first item.

Hofbräuhaus

Woody and I went out this evening to a wonderful restaurant in Phoenix - the German Mill restaurant. They serve very authentic German food. We had Jägerschnitzel and Beef Rouladen with Bread and Kröter butter. We also shared a Hefeweizen smooth wheat beer. Delicious.

Where were the girls? The owners of Annika's preschool opened the school up for a private venture this evening (not part of the preschool) and offered babysitting at the school until late in the evening. Most parents had holiday functions. That was obvious by the significant number of cars on the freeway this evening. We went out for early dinner only. We were gone less than two hours. When we got back to the school, some kids just were arriving. Morgan and Annika's friends were there which made their time just as fun as our dinner out. We stayed two additional hours at the school to help the owner. The kids had macaroni and cheese with veggies and ham. They were able to play outdoors for a bit of time and then did crafts and homemade playdough. We helped with dishes and Woody vacuumed before we got the mats out. The other children brought pajamas and were settling in for the night. The toddlers were in another room and were already asleep. Ingrid was in that room and was clingy went I picked her up. She had no idea we were at the school for the previous two hours.

We got home and the girls were prompt about going to sleep. I think they had an eventful day.

Those Fabulous Aprons

Cookie Party 2004


Cookie Party 2005

Cookie Party 2006

Cookie Party 2007

Morgan's 4th Annual Christmas Cookie Party

This morning we hosted Morgan's cookie party. As you read from the title, this is the fourth year that Morgan has had a Christmas cookie making party. They decorate sugar cookies and make other cookies or candy from recipes I find on the internet. I'm especially fond of Familyfun.com and the magazine Family Fun.

The girls decorated sugar cookies, made candy cane twist cookies, and created a recipe in a jar complete with decorations and hand written baking instructions.

With every year's party, my dear mom creates magnificent aprons for all the girls. Two of the girls have been invited to each party since its inception. It's fun to see them each year in their new aprons with their names. This years apron was reversable. The girls all liked the blue side best.

Once again, it was a great party. A super special thanks to Woody for doing all the dishes! What a sweet guy. Woody also took most of the pictures, made the lunches and set up the jumpolene outdoors to end the party with a sugar high and bouncing excitement. We know how to send them home!

The Chrismas Program

Tonight we went to Annika and Ingrid's preschool for their annual Christmas program. The program includes songs and plays/skits performed by the children. Woody was the videographer and set up in the back to record the event. After many years of attending (with Morgan first, then Annika and now Ingrid), we should know where to sit. This year, however, there were others in front of us, so it was difficult to get good pictures.

Fortunately, another parent captured some great shots of all the children, including ours. Here's Ingrid performing Jingle Bells and Annika in her class performance, I Walk by Faith.

The Coat

Much like our previous post about the well traveled strawberry dress, my baby coat has gone through several relatives before making its way to Phoenix. I dressed Morgan in the coat, Annika in the coat. From the previous generation, I know the coat was worn by Katie and by my sister. There may have been another cousin in between.

Anyway, I was absolutely excited that the temperature dropped enough that the girls were able to wear their dress coats to the Christmas program. Ingrid is now the proud wearer of my coat. Isn't she adorable?