Cees 'Hi Sylvia, why is that person going into the tunnel?'
Sylvia 'No!'
Cees 'Why did you say no?'
Silence.
Cees 'Sylvia, why is he going into the tunnel?'
Sylvia, indignantly 'I am IGNORING you!'
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Quote of Day
Scene: Sylvia playing with toys, Cees walks into the room and tries to strike up a conversation.
Cees 'Hi Sylvia, why is that person going into the tunnel?'
Sylvia 'No!'
Cees 'Why did you say no?'
Silence.
Cees 'Sylvia, why is he going into the tunnel?'
Sylvia, indignantly 'I am IGNORING you!'
Cees 'Hi Sylvia, why is that person going into the tunnel?'
Sylvia 'No!'
Cees 'Why did you say no?'
Silence.
Cees 'Sylvia, why is he going into the tunnel?'
Sylvia, indignantly 'I am IGNORING you!'
Monday, February 05, 2007
Lesson of The Day
When the weather is this cold, do NOT take a shower before going to aikido. You will end up with frozen hair, even if you were in the car almost the whole time. That was a surprise ^^
The joys of living in New England.
The joys of living in New England.
It's All About Size
Never finished up the post about our day at the Boston Aquarium.
After the Aquarium, we went to the Imax Theater next door. My kids had never been to an Imax Theater, so they were suitable impressed. We watched the 3D movie Sharks. The first time a shark lunged at us, Kate visibly startled and got a bit scared. Very life-like.
Kate even tried to touch the sharks and jellyfish. The other girls said it was really cool to see the jellyfish head for their faces. They would get almost in their faces, and then suddenly disappear.
Sylvia liked the glasses for about two minutes, and then she decided she'd rather take them off and watch the movie that way.
It was time to go get the car. I had decided I was NOT going to take all nine kids on a frigid walk again, so me and Cees went for the car, while hubby took the kids back to the Aquarium to wait for us.
Cees and I had a tourist map of Boston and we thought we had a pretty good idea where the parking garage was. So we walked. And we walked. And we walked more. We assaulted people to please direct us to the parking garage. We consulted the map. We despaired. But FINALLY found the garage.
It was a pain to pay, first entered the wrong checkout, so had to back out of that while they redirected the traffic behind me. Such fun...
I had put a waypoint on the aquarium, and we had a map now, so it wouldn't be a problem to get to the Aquarium, right? Wrong! Too many one-way streets and too poor sense of direction does not go well together. It took us half an hour to drive the half mile (if that) to the Aquarium.
By now, everyone was nice and tired and cranky and we still had a 2.5 hours trip home to go. We decided to make a foodstop on the way home once we had cleared Boston.
Cees made a comparitive analysis of how this McDonalds dealt with orders compared with the way they do it at the McDonalds he works at. It's fun to see him think about things like that now. A few months ago, he would have been oblivious to the whole process.
The last leg of the trip was pure torture. They were sooooooo done with sitting in a car, and so were we. I am still amazed we made it home.
I would like to say that they all were so tired that they rolled into bed and didn't give a peep till the next day at 10am. But this is not a fairy tale, this is reality, and they didn't ^^
After the Aquarium, we went to the Imax Theater next door. My kids had never been to an Imax Theater, so they were suitable impressed. We watched the 3D movie Sharks. The first time a shark lunged at us, Kate visibly startled and got a bit scared. Very life-like.
Kate even tried to touch the sharks and jellyfish. The other girls said it was really cool to see the jellyfish head for their faces. They would get almost in their faces, and then suddenly disappear.
Sylvia liked the glasses for about two minutes, and then she decided she'd rather take them off and watch the movie that way.
It was time to go get the car. I had decided I was NOT going to take all nine kids on a frigid walk again, so me and Cees went for the car, while hubby took the kids back to the Aquarium to wait for us.
Cees and I had a tourist map of Boston and we thought we had a pretty good idea where the parking garage was. So we walked. And we walked. And we walked more. We assaulted people to please direct us to the parking garage. We consulted the map. We despaired. But FINALLY found the garage.
It was a pain to pay, first entered the wrong checkout, so had to back out of that while they redirected the traffic behind me. Such fun...
I had put a waypoint on the aquarium, and we had a map now, so it wouldn't be a problem to get to the Aquarium, right? Wrong! Too many one-way streets and too poor sense of direction does not go well together. It took us half an hour to drive the half mile (if that) to the Aquarium.
By now, everyone was nice and tired and cranky and we still had a 2.5 hours trip home to go. We decided to make a foodstop on the way home once we had cleared Boston.
Cees made a comparitive analysis of how this McDonalds dealt with orders compared with the way they do it at the McDonalds he works at. It's fun to see him think about things like that now. A few months ago, he would have been oblivious to the whole process.
The last leg of the trip was pure torture. They were sooooooo done with sitting in a car, and so were we. I am still amazed we made it home.
I would like to say that they all were so tired that they rolled into bed and didn't give a peep till the next day at 10am. But this is not a fairy tale, this is reality, and they didn't ^^
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Bitterly Cold!
Statement as of 8:20 PM EST on February 04, 2007
... Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect from midnight tonight to 10 am EST Monday...
Expect wind chills around 20 F below (around -30 C) after midnight tonight in western New Hampshire. Wind chills will rise slightly during the day Monday... but will continue to be bitterly cold.
And yes, that's what our windows look like when it is this cold. I love the patterns made by Father Frost.
... Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect from midnight tonight to 10 am EST Monday...
Expect wind chills around 20 F below (around -30 C) after midnight tonight in western New Hampshire. Wind chills will rise slightly during the day Monday... but will continue to be bitterly cold.
And yes, that's what our windows look like when it is this cold. I love the patterns made by Father Frost.
Quote of the Day
Hubby is playing World of Warcraft.
Tara and Sylvia are in the room, and Tara is pointing out to Sylvia 'Look! It's a guy flying on a dragon. Or it's not really a dragon I think.'
Sylvia offered her opinion 'Hmmmm, it's a butterfly, maybe!'
That is one darned, huge butterfly!
Tara and Sylvia are in the room, and Tara is pointing out to Sylvia 'Look! It's a guy flying on a dragon. Or it's not really a dragon I think.'
Sylvia offered her opinion 'Hmmmm, it's a butterfly, maybe!'
That is one darned, huge butterfly!
The Last Cupola
Last week, we spent some time caching (big surprise, huh?) and one of the caches was at an old covered bridge. Usually those covered bridges are part of a normal road, but this used to be a railroad bridge. It is not being used anymore, but preserved for its historical significance.
From the cache page: This covered bridge is nearly 100 years old. It was built late in 1908 and was easily able to carry a 150 ton live load. It is the only one in the U.S. remaining that has a full-length cupola. The bridge was scheduled for destruction in 1968, but was saved by placing heavy steel beams underneath. It was still used until recently.
I wondered about the reasons for the cupola and some google searching provided the answer. The full-length cupola provided a smoke escape, especially during the era of steam engines. Interesting. I found an old picture on the Vermont's Covered Bridges page.
To keep with the railroad theme, we found our next cache at an old railroad car.
Yes, was a fun day of caching, too bad I couldn't go out today. Although spending a quiet day at home isn't bad either, and at least I got some of the stupid mail done.
Up to 29 pages now out of the 37 map pages we have to do for the Delorme Challenge. Not bad, only eight to go. I planned part of those already, hope to get out to do them soon.
I really love seeing parts of Vermont I have never seen before. Also, in the process of doing this cache, I have discovered that Vermont feels way more like my home state than New Hampshire does. I found myself a few times thinking 'Ah, home again!' when we crossed the Connecticut River on this caching quest. Only to catch myself and realize we just entered Vermont and my physical home is in New Hampshire. Interesting. I never realized the powerful attraction I have for Vermont.
Maybe should move to Vermont some day. I hate moving too much to do it any time soon though ^^
From the cache page: This covered bridge is nearly 100 years old. It was built late in 1908 and was easily able to carry a 150 ton live load. It is the only one in the U.S. remaining that has a full-length cupola. The bridge was scheduled for destruction in 1968, but was saved by placing heavy steel beams underneath. It was still used until recently.
I wondered about the reasons for the cupola and some google searching provided the answer. The full-length cupola provided a smoke escape, especially during the era of steam engines. Interesting. I found an old picture on the Vermont's Covered Bridges page.
To keep with the railroad theme, we found our next cache at an old railroad car.
Yes, was a fun day of caching, too bad I couldn't go out today. Although spending a quiet day at home isn't bad either, and at least I got some of the stupid mail done.
Up to 29 pages now out of the 37 map pages we have to do for the Delorme Challenge. Not bad, only eight to go. I planned part of those already, hope to get out to do them soon.
I really love seeing parts of Vermont I have never seen before. Also, in the process of doing this cache, I have discovered that Vermont feels way more like my home state than New Hampshire does. I found myself a few times thinking 'Ah, home again!' when we crossed the Connecticut River on this caching quest. Only to catch myself and realize we just entered Vermont and my physical home is in New Hampshire. Interesting. I never realized the powerful attraction I have for Vermont.
Maybe should move to Vermont some day. I hate moving too much to do it any time soon though ^^
Durian!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bliss!!!
A friend went to Boston and brought me home my very own durian! The even better thing is that almost nobody else in the house likes it, so it will be mostly for me.
Not only that, but she also got me durian ice cream, jasmine tea, and tofu snacks. So much better than the stupid mail!
I was going to go caching today, but my friend couldn't make it and it's cold anyway. I'll be forced to stay home and study go all day ^^ Too bad.
A friend went to Boston and brought me home my very own durian! The even better thing is that almost nobody else in the house likes it, so it will be mostly for me.
Not only that, but she also got me durian ice cream, jasmine tea, and tofu snacks. So much better than the stupid mail!
I was going to go caching today, but my friend couldn't make it and it's cold anyway. I'll be forced to stay home and study go all day ^^ Too bad.
Nine Months Worth of Mail
When we get incoming mail, I usually take a quick glance at it to see whether there is anything important. If not, it goes on the stack of 'incoming mail to be sorted' on a desk in our living room. The idea behind it, is that once a month, I go through it and take care of things.
Naturally, this once-a-month occurrence is more like once a year. Or when I know there are some important bills which need to be paid. I never have won any awards for The Most Organized Person On The Block.
The mail stack gets bigger and bigger, huger, and huger, and is in constant danger of toppling over. Once in a while I take out part of the junk mail, so I can ignore it a few months longer ^^
Today, we FINALLY got around to tackling at least half of the stack and filing / throwing out the relevant mail . Heck, I might even be able to do my taxes now! It feels party good, partly depressing because there STILL is mail crap on the desk, even although we went through nine months of it.
Some day I'll be organized enough to make a system which does not involve HUGE stacks of mail. Some day!
Naturally, this once-a-month occurrence is more like once a year. Or when I know there are some important bills which need to be paid. I never have won any awards for The Most Organized Person On The Block.
The mail stack gets bigger and bigger, huger, and huger, and is in constant danger of toppling over. Once in a while I take out part of the junk mail, so I can ignore it a few months longer ^^
Today, we FINALLY got around to tackling at least half of the stack and filing / throwing out the relevant mail . Heck, I might even be able to do my taxes now! It feels party good, partly depressing because there STILL is mail crap on the desk, even although we went through nine months of it.
Some day I'll be organized enough to make a system which does not involve HUGE stacks of mail. Some day!
Friday, February 02, 2007
Counting
My girls have been working very hard on teaching Sylvia how to count. I mean, she is two years already, she should be fluent in basic counting, right?
I often find them holding up fingers to her 'Sylvia, how many fingers am I holding up?'
'One!'
'Right! Now how many fingers am I holding up?'
'Two!'
'Well Done!'
They usually make it to three, and then Sylvia starts saying random numbers. 1, 2, 3, 6, 4...
Yesterday, we went through the same exercise and Sylvia made it to five correctly.
'WOW Sylvia, you are so good! You counted to five!!!!!'
Tara started on her new hand and held up one finger, in addition to the open hand with five. 'Now how many fingers am I holding up?'
Sylvia proudly exclaimed 'One!!!!'
I often find them holding up fingers to her 'Sylvia, how many fingers am I holding up?'
'One!'
'Right! Now how many fingers am I holding up?'
'Two!'
'Well Done!'
They usually make it to three, and then Sylvia starts saying random numbers. 1, 2, 3, 6, 4...
Yesterday, we went through the same exercise and Sylvia made it to five correctly.
'WOW Sylvia, you are so good! You counted to five!!!!!'
Tara started on her new hand and held up one finger, in addition to the open hand with five. 'Now how many fingers am I holding up?'
Sylvia proudly exclaimed 'One!!!!'
Love is...
Getting a hand dyed t-shirt from a good friend, as a 'no particular reason, just because I love you present'.
Wow! It's beautiful! Bonus points to anyone who can read what the front says :) I am wearing it and smiling contentedly every time I look down at my shirt.
Happy Love Thursday!
Wow! It's beautiful! Bonus points to anyone who can read what the front says :) I am wearing it and smiling contentedly every time I look down at my shirt.
Happy Love Thursday!
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