For Em's spelling list, the children are asked to pick two bonus words of their own. Emily picked Mississippi and abacus. I could guess why she picked Mississippi. It's a fun little ditty of a tongue twister to say, "em-i-es-es-i-es-es-i-pee-pee-i." As kids weren't we all a little proud when we finally mastered Mississippi? (I would like to note that I spent my elementary school years in Schenectady, NY in the community of Niskayuna so Mississippi was just the beginning for us but I digress). I was curious about why Em chose abacus so I asked her. She explained that it was something that was talked about in her math group the same day so she picked it. I asked her to share with me what it is.
"Well, it's something they used for math a really long time ago...before they counted on fingers."
So today I have a renewed appreciation for today's modern conveniences...like fingers.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
The Great Escape
The intent of this weekend's trip to Flagstaff was to escape the Valley's oppressive heat for a couple days and take in some AZ Cardinals training camp. It turned out to be that and much, much more.
The Cardinals camp was a great way to kick off the anxiously awaited football season...along with about 10,000-12,000 other fans! We knew it would be crazy before we went...so we took it all in stride. Plus, they really had it organized well and it was great to see all the fans out supporting our very own NFC Champions.
After practice we had a picnic lunch at a local neighborhood park. While the girls enjoyed the playground, we enjoyed the idle time lying on the grass under the shade of a tree, neither of which we've spent much time doing this past month of record breaking heat back at home in the Valley.
From there is where the unplanned fun began. We decided a drive out to Williams for dinner would get us away from the crowds in town. Along the way we stopped at the Grand Canyon Deer Farm & Petting Zoo. Despite their resemblance to Bambi, Megan was not too keen on being eye level with the residents. We still had a good time mingling with a variety of animals.
After a stop at the Grand Canyon Railway depot we had dinner at Cruisers Cafe 66 right on old Route 66. It was once a filling station, but now is a fun restaurant with yummy food and old automobile memorabilia.
In the morning we headed up to Arizona Snowbowl. During the winter, when mother nature is cooperating, it's a ski resort. During the summer they use the Agassiz ski lift to carry non-acrophobic types up to the 11,200 high peak of Mt Humphreys in the San Francisco Peaks. Today's views, which include the north rim of the Grand Canyon, were spectacular.
We finished up with some lunch and some of the festivities they were holding for Smokey the Bear's 65th birthday before making our trek back down to the Valley. It was a weekend that confirmed often times the best trips are those that have the least amount of pre-planning.
The Cardinals camp was a great way to kick off the anxiously awaited football season...along with about 10,000-12,000 other fans! We knew it would be crazy before we went...so we took it all in stride. Plus, they really had it organized well and it was great to see all the fans out supporting our very own NFC Champions.
After practice we had a picnic lunch at a local neighborhood park. While the girls enjoyed the playground, we enjoyed the idle time lying on the grass under the shade of a tree, neither of which we've spent much time doing this past month of record breaking heat back at home in the Valley.
From there is where the unplanned fun began. We decided a drive out to Williams for dinner would get us away from the crowds in town. Along the way we stopped at the Grand Canyon Deer Farm & Petting Zoo. Despite their resemblance to Bambi, Megan was not too keen on being eye level with the residents. We still had a good time mingling with a variety of animals.
After a stop at the Grand Canyon Railway depot we had dinner at Cruisers Cafe 66 right on old Route 66. It was once a filling station, but now is a fun restaurant with yummy food and old automobile memorabilia.
In the morning we headed up to Arizona Snowbowl. During the winter, when mother nature is cooperating, it's a ski resort. During the summer they use the Agassiz ski lift to carry non-acrophobic types up to the 11,200 high peak of Mt Humphreys in the San Francisco Peaks. Today's views, which include the north rim of the Grand Canyon, were spectacular.
We finished up with some lunch and some of the festivities they were holding for Smokey the Bear's 65th birthday before making our trek back down to the Valley. It was a weekend that confirmed often times the best trips are those that have the least amount of pre-planning.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Another reason I love 4 year olds...
Who else can I have an exchange like this with?
Megan: "Mommy, do you want to see how I do my mean face?"
Me: "Sure babe."
Megan: "Want to meet my little friend?"
Me: "Have you been watching Al Pacino movies?"
Megan: "What is an Apple Cheese movie?"
Megan: "Mommy, do you want to see how I do my mean face?"
Me: "Sure babe."
Megan
Me: "Have you been watching Al Pacino movies?"
Megan: "What is an Apple Cheese movie?"
Friday, July 10, 2009
A stallion, baby!
Megan, the one that won't go near a dog half this size, was feeling very brave this evening. Not only did she want to pet the pony that was making an appearance at the nearby Chick-Fil-A...she wanted to ride her. She mentioned something about a princess and her trusty steed.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Happy 233rd Birthday!
We spent the 4th camping up at Big Lake Recreation Area in eastern Arizona. We've been up to the area to enjoy the snow during winter and the summer was just as beautiful. If you were blindfolded and plopped down at our campsite, you'd have thought you were in the Pacific Northwest. But considering the temperatures back at home were in the 110s, we welcomed the 70 degree days and occasional drizzles.
We enjoyed the company of many friends...some we planned for and some were a coincidence. The kids enjoyed a boat ride out on the lake, fishing for crayfish, running between campsites, bonding with puppies and many other camping traditions.
I lifted this last picture...thanks Jillian!
We enjoyed the company of many friends...some we planned for and some were a coincidence. The kids enjoyed a boat ride out on the lake, fishing for crayfish, running between campsites, bonding with puppies and many other camping traditions.
I lifted this last picture...thanks Jillian!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Dad's day
We spent Father's Day weekend in our traditional fashion...enjoying one of the local resorts with our dear friends. The guys get in some golf on Saturday morning and we all enjoy the resort's wave pool, lazy river and water slides. The 'cooler' than normal temperatures and slightly smaller crowd made for an especially wonderful time this year.
This was our seventh year out there. The three of us first went when Em was a year old. We've enjoyed the last six years with the "J-Team". Our memories of each year are often triggered by each child's swimming abilities and whether or not they're tall enough for the water slides (the youngest of the brood, our Megan, has about another four inches to go). It's a treasured tradition that both families look forward to every year.
This was our seventh year out there. The three of us first went when Em was a year old. We've enjoyed the last six years with the "J-Team". Our memories of each year are often triggered by each child's swimming abilities and whether or not they're tall enough for the water slides (the youngest of the brood, our Megan, has about another four inches to go). It's a treasured tradition that both families look forward to every year.
Note: Which one doesn't belong?? For those of you counting the kids and wondering where the sixth came from...she's a darling friend of the oldest and has been a part of our time-honored tradition for two years now.
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