Who's Assignment?

We got a Facebook post on our wall from a friend who has a daughter in Ingrid's class.  She frequently volunteers in the classroom:

"I have to tell you that Ingrid was cracking me up today asking me how to spell Annika's name. She wrote it on her paper trying to confuse Mrs. Thompson, as if she needs any additional help. It was hilarious!"

We certainly would not have noticed anything was amiss without this FB post.  After reading the post, I went to our recycle bin to pull out Ingrid's papers that she returned home in her backpack from school.  Like any parent rummaging through multiple backpacks after school - we looked over Ingrid's work briefly, but neither Woody or I looked at the top of her papers.  Sure enough, they were all signed "Annika".  Two examples (click on them to enlarge):

We asked Ingrid about this and she readily confessed to signing the school papers as such.  She said she wanted to make her teacher confused.  We asked why?  She said she wanted her teacher to keep calling her Annika.  Again, we asked why.  She said when Mrs. Thompson calls her Annika, the whole class yells back in unison, "IT"S INGRID!!"  Ingrid said she laughs hysterically when she can confuse her teacher.  Poor Mrs. Thompson.

***To clarify, Ingrid has the same teacher that Annika had in Kindergarten and we all know how much Ingrid and Annika look alike!  Oh Ingrid, you're so funny!!!!

Pinterest Projects

I've vowed to make a few projects that I've seen and pinned on Pinterest.  If you know what Pinterest is, you know it's a crafter's/Internet dream.  I'm addicted and I'll readily admit it.  But after pinning 1,000 ideas, I thought I should start making a few.  Christmas is coming up and there's so much out there.

First up:  Homemade Nutella.  I made it Saturday afternoon.  It turned out fabulous and the kids love it.  We will not return to the store bought kind!  And on Sunday I made some as gifts in cute little jars.

Follow-up:  A few folks have asked for the recipe for the homemade Nutella.  I've attached the website link here:

http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2011/02/24/homemade-nutella-oh-yes/

Pioneer Village

While we were in Anthem, we made a point to stop at Pioneer Village on I-17.  We've seen the signs numerous times, but usually we were coming home from Northern Arizona and didn't have time to make a three hour detour.  Today, we had lots of time and it was sunny.

Still dressed in church clothes, we pulled off and decided to have a look around.  The admission fee was reasonable and after going through the gate, we were transformed into 18th and 19th century Arizona - our very own "Little House on the Prairie". 

Our first stop was the word working shop with a working lathe and a plethora of other wood working tools.  Rather than a demonstration, the "proprietor" invited our kids back to try out these real tools [Read: real sharp].  The village is a hotspot for school field trips, but on Sunday afternoon it was nearly empty.  Perfect for our family.  Annika and Morgan tried out a lathe, worked the wheel to spin the lathe, used a wood plane and tried out wood drilling by hand.  It was quite an eye opener.

After we left the shop, we strolled the street and looked at a sewing shop, barber shop, miner's shack, Victorian house, teacherage, school and church.  Most of the buildings were lifted from other parts of Phoenix or the high country and brought to this site for continued preservation.  A few of the buildings are native to the location, meaning we were standing where a village once stood - with mountain backdrops.  The kids liked the difference between a wood log northern home (northern Arizona - very much like Laura Ingalls Wilder's home) and a southern home made of adobe and sticks (southern Arizona desert).  The bank was cool, too.  Finally, we stopped at the blacksmith for a demonstration of the great big bellows and the fabulous work the blacksmith does.  Yes, this is his hobby and he uses the setting to create lovely custom knurl pieces.  He gave Morgan a hook for her room that he made.

After a few hours of walking a peering into buildings, the kids were getting thirsty and we made our way back to the car.  There was a lot of chatter from the back talking about some of the unique pieces of history.  Score 1 for the parents on weekend education!

Note:  We're grateful for cellphones for impromptu stops, but wished we had the clarity of a DSLR camera.  Oh well, here are some cell pics to remember our fun family day!

Have You Tried Calling Us Lately?

After more than a YEAR of fighting with Qwest/Century Link, we finally convinced them that their line was causing more problems than our phone.  They agreed to re-do our phone line from their box to our house.  For now we have a temporary wire running across our lawn and our neighbors lawn.  We hold our breath every time the lawn service comes to mow wondering if we'll have a telephone signal at the end of their grass cutting.  The permanent line must be buried which requires a city permit.  It also requires small flags, a lot of colors of spray paint on our grass and curb and cul-de-sac.  And it requires multiple visits to our house in an official truck  Yes, the best part of this whole ordeal, according to our son, is a repairman who has a truck.  Erik was his self proclaimed helper the entire time the blue-staking was going on.  The repairman was quite accommodating and enjoyed "talking" with his new partner.

Certainly when the actual telephone line is to be dug, Erik will be right out there to help (and admire the trucks)!

Kartchner Caverns

Annika will need to be a guest blogger and describe her field trip day at Kartchner Caverns.  Woody was one of the parents selected to chaperone.  This made Annika very excited to be able to spend the day with her dad and ride on a very nice coach style bus for the three hour trip to the caves.  The cave is so delicate that volunteers watch your every move to make sure even your clothes do not brush up against a wall!

Family Movie Night

From the outside looking in, it seemed that Saturday night was a picture perfect assembly of kids, pillows and parents in front of the home theater watching a movie selection.  In reality, our Wii is on its last legs - caused by overuse of Netflix and other Internet apps.  We were forced into a few "intermissions" while the Wii reloaded our movie.  Time to find something else.  With the holiday season approaching, our choices for an Internet television/movie render are exponential.  We're looking at the newer blu-ray players, including 3D.   Ours is close to five years old and the firmware is outdated and cannot be upgraded.  A Roku Box is also a choice.  There are two newer generations to the one we have that is not year a year old! Electronics in this house are on a rapid paced half-life depreciation program, rendering them useless faster than we can think of their replacement.  Oh well, the research is half the fun.  We're so nerdy.

The kids loved the movie, Mr. Hobbs takes a Vacation.  Jimmy Stewart rocks.  So does Cary Grant for that matter.  Father Goose is a family favorite.  If you like great family pictures, take a trip back to the 50's and 60's.  There are some great gems from these times.  And none of the titles are followed by a 2,3,4 or 5.  The originals are meant to stay original.

Happy Movie Night!

A Trip Around the Rink

After Annika's soccer team win, the kiddos retreated to their homes to shower and get dressed for their teammate's birthday party.  The coach's daughter, Isabel, invited her entire soccer team and siblings to Polar Ice for the afternoon to skate.  Annika brought her sisters (and mom!) out on the ice for an afternoon of fun.  Ingrid's summer skating lessons paid off - she was shaky for a few moments but then took off on the ice.  Annika smartly wore jeans - she spent a lot of time on the ice...Morgan held the edge for awhile and then enjoyed slowly going around and around.  Annika and teammate Arianne worked their way around the ice together.

All in all it was a fabulous way to spend the afternoon, laughing with friends and enjoying each other's company without wearing soccer cleats.

Warning:  Cell phone pictures indoors without a flash...

Leah, Annika, Arianne, Ingrid, Isabella and Morgan "pause" for a photo on the ice.

Two soccer sisters, Leah and Ingrid, holding on to each other.

This is Ingrid asking Coach Mike if he'd skate with her.  They went around alone and she was all smiles...

Arianne and Annika - soccer buddies.

Booyah!!!

An amazing morning for the eight year old.  Not only did her team win with an 8 - 0 shut out, but Annika scored two goals in the game; one of which was an AMAZING air goal right over the head of the opposing second grade goalie.  There were gasps on both sides.  It was an unbelievable power shot from far outside the box.  That ball blazed through the air...The gasps were followed by massive cheers.  Way to go, Annika!

The photo demonstrates the kind of goal shot the Annika made this morning at Snedigar.

Old Photo Friday

Boys and their Tonkas!

I saw this picture on Pinterest a few weeks ago and fell in love. Click Here to see. So much so that for a fleeting moment I thought about the joys of another little baby boy - just to get such a great newborn picture.  OK, that's out of my system, now.  Still it's a cute picture, right?

My brother Todd had lots of Tonka trucks.  He constantly played with them.  We had neighbors on both sides of our house with boys Todd's age,  Timmy and Chris.  Each boy had a slightly different style Tonka fire truck.   They all had the same dump truck and bull dozer.  When they got together in Timmy's expansive sand box, it was notably filled with yellow Tonkas.  It got to the point that my mom had to write Todd's name on each of his trucks in order to tell them apart when the boys played together.  Todd also liked to play with his trucks alone in his room.

A few weeks ago, my dad was clearing out the attic to get ready to add more insulation.  Todd's trucks have spent close to forty years in the attic now.  Grandpa's Tonkas (yes!) are also there.  Grandpa had one of the Tonka trucks down from the attic earlier so Erik and Grandpa could play fire truck over the web cam with each other.   (To play this game, you simply point your Tonka Firetruck and Bruder Firetruck at your webcam and show each other while saying, "Firetruck") (over and over and repeat)

Now the Tonkas are lining the living room at my parents house - ready for the next generation and complete with Todd's name still visible on the tops.  Some of the trucks are going to remain in Rochester, some will go to the cabin to wait for Erik's first visit.

Some things never change.  Boys and their trucks are one of those things.

Simple Pleasures

I've found that I don't have much to say lately.  I blame some of that on a recent crazy work schedule and this cough I can't seem to shake.  I'm not sure if it's writers block or the feeling that life is moving at its intended pace and there's nothing out of the ordinary to report.  I don't know.

Tonight I came home from work and found this rose on my computer.  It's from Woody.  It's from our backyard garden.  Just because.  Simple and sweet.

That's all.

And Off it Comes

Earlier this year, we posted about our great DIY project to make the kids a chalkboard and cover our fireplace for the warmer months.  (Click here and here)  It's now November and the temperatures are dipping into the 40's and 50's at night (ok, high 50's).  The time has come to remove the fun chalkboard for the winter in order to use the fireplace.  So, with a small crowbar - off came the molding and the board popped out.  Neato!  We'll store it in the garage until next time.  ; )

Old Photo Monday

In honor of my uncle's birthday today, (and because I am behind in Old Photo Friday postings for the year) here is an old photo for the day.   Happy Birthday Uncle Chuck.

I really like the fact that sleep sacks are still the "in" thing to keep babies warm, both at night and out on the town.  Someone made this one out of a blue blanket, it's easy to see the blue satin binding.

My mom, Judy, Grandpa Robert Springer, and uncle Chuck Springer

The Styles They Wear

The personalities of my daughters are as different as their church clothes...The oldest (not pictured), with her straight skirts, fine sweater, ballet flats and perfectly combed blond hair. The middle daughter with her plaid skirt/converse shoes I'm-all-about-comfort look. Don't forget the band-aid on the knee and the untucked shirt to finish off her style.  Totally Annika (and a little bit of me).  I grin.   And my youngest - well, the picture says it all! Love it!

More Fun Train Pictures

A few collages from today's day at the Museum.

Chandler's Railroad Museum

The view of the museum from the wagon ride

One of the renovated coaches - executive style

Between the Rails

All Aboard the Steam Locomotive

Erik Chung, Electric Diesel Engineer Extraordinaire

Talking "shop" with Engineer (and new best buddy), Alan

 

Vagabonds running the on the Rails

Chandler's Chuckwagon Cook - off

Today was day 2 of the Chandler Chuck wagon Cook-off at Tumbleweed Park.  After getting a good view of everything yesterday (and realizing they weren't serving any of the delicious period food), we set out today after Annika's soccer game for some fun.  The weather was fantastic for a great stroll through the park looking at the wagons, food, demonstrations, and listening to the fiddlers.  We arrived at 12:30 and were surprised to find out the food was almost gone.  So much so that they wouldn't sell us any tickets.  We ventured near the wagons and decided to check for ourselves.  Yes, the food was going fast so they couldn't sell it to us for the full ticket price.  Instead they said, "How about $10 for everything we have left.  And we don't have any meat left."  For a family of six, ten dollars is a great deal.  We said, "Sold".  We got three heaping plates of dutch oven cooked beans with bacon, potatoes, dutch oven rolls, and peach cobbler.  Plus six water cups.  It was perfect.  And, although some slow cooked angus beef would have been great, we were more than satisfied with our lunch.

It was just after lunch when we heard the announcement of wagon rides that got our interest.  We decided to wait with the candle making and finished touring a 1911 original house that was ordered by catalog from the East Coast and shipped in 1000 pieces to be put together for one of the original settler families - McNaulty's.

The original wagon (think Laura Ingalls Wilder) was pulled by a modern tractor (think Erik's idea of Heaven), from Tumbleweed Park to the Railroad Museum.  It was a free 10 minute ride.  PERFECT.  We jumped aboard and had the wagon to ourselves, with the conductor, of course.  After 10 minutes and a lot of bumps, we jumped off at the Railroad Museum to check out some restored cars, locomotives and some works in progress.

Chandler Chuck Wagon Cook-Off Preview

Veteran's Day meant no school for the kids - a day of adventure for the kiddos with mom and dad.  With the hospital inspection/survey behind me, I thought it'd be nice to enjoy a day with "nothing special" to do.  We loaded up around 12:30 for some old fashion fun and food.  What we didn't realize is that Friday's events included set up and wagon display judging, but no actual food until Saturday.  There were very few visitors and we got to look at wagon and trail life up close.  Morgan was thrilled to look at every detail.  As you may guess, she's reading us clear out of our house!  I handed her the Laura Ingalls Wilder series and said "go for it".  In two days, she's on her third book.  It's quite a change from the mythology and fantasy books she's read in the past.  Now the series comes to life for her up close seeing the wagons, wood, food and supplies for life in the 1800's.

Annika and Ingrid were less interested and Erik was thrilled to be able to run around and look at everything.  We so happy our youngest is not into "touching" everything - so that you can be OK with him near displays.  He looks so grown up in his new plaid shirt and jeans.

We looked around for about 30 minutes and then left in search of lunch.  We made note to return Saturday for some great food and more fun.