Thursday, July 24, 2008
Crème Brûlée by Steve
I like Crème Brûlée, real Crème Brûlée that is. As an ice cream, it is like a potato chip trying to be a Dorito. Not the real thing, and no express need to try. The custard ice cream was fun, a little thicker and creamier than regular ice cream. I thought for a fleeting moment that I might have a potential winner on ice cream base alone, then I encountered the crunchy caramelized sugar swirl. Things went quickly from promising to "not a chance." Fully expecting the half-burnt tasting, crunchy, thin crispy strip of roasted sugar taste that would top real Crème Brûlée, I was greeted with a crunchy swirl of oversweet and sticky sugar mass. It tasted nothing as I had hoped yet everything like another ice cream I had tasted in New Zealand, Hokey Pokey. An interesting fact about Hokey Pokey ice cream is that it is New Zealand's most popular flavor. Kiwis swear by it. I dislike the flavor. That correlation made, all was lost. Dead last. Yes, dead last is the ranking here. Next week I will turn my sites to true contenders, pulling exclusively from the flavors ahead of NYSFZC on Ben and Jerry's top ten list. Wish me luck!
Days of '47 Parade by Daniel
(Note by Mom: We took the family to the annual Days '47 Parade for Pioneer Day. It was the first time we have taken the kids, since Steve hasn't usually had the day off. What fun!)
The parade was really cool. We saw lots of floats. In one of the cars we saw President Monson. There were a lot of marching bands and it was REALLY hot. My favorite float was of seagulls eating crickets. We saw all the motorcycles of all the Sheriffs of Utah. They preformed a lot of tricks (formations). We saw the Mayor and lots of really, really old cars. My favorite marching band was the Post Office Band. My favorite part of the Parade was seeing President Monson up close.
If you can't tell from the picture, the seagulls are BBQing the crickets for a picnic. Very funny!
The parade was really cool. We saw lots of floats. In one of the cars we saw President Monson. There were a lot of marching bands and it was REALLY hot. My favorite float was of seagulls eating crickets. We saw all the motorcycles of all the Sheriffs of Utah. They preformed a lot of tricks (formations). We saw the Mayor and lots of really, really old cars. My favorite marching band was the Post Office Band. My favorite part of the Parade was seeing President Monson up close.
If you can't tell from the picture, the seagulls are BBQing the crickets for a picnic. Very funny!
This is the Place Heritage Park by Steve L.
On Thursday, for Pioneer Day, we went to This is the Place Heritage Park. When we got there they were about to do a little parade through to village, so we quickly got dressed up and joined in. Then we went and walked around the village. They had a barber shop, a ZCMI store, a bank, a petting zoo and lots of activities (like stamping leather, a mini train ride, and coloring wooden fish and snakes.) My favoirte place was the blacksmith's shop, where they were really making things out of metal. A little later, they did a candy cannon. They took a real cannon, loaded it with explosives and candy and fired it into the crowd! After that there was a mad scramble. I only got 3 pieces, but it was fun!
On Parade 
Blacksmith's Shop
Candy Cannon!
Stamping real leather
Printing Press
On Parade
Blacksmith's Shop
Candy Cannon!
Stamping real leather
Printing Press
Christmas in Christchurch by Noreen
On December 23rd we made the marathon drive from Golden Bay to Christchurch. In the process we ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere (thank goodness for roadside assistance insurance!) and our trailer breaks caught fire. (They only flamed for a moment, but it demanded all of our newly filled water bottles to get rid of the smoke. We drank juice the rest of the day.) We had been in a remote area with no chance to Christmas shop, and planned to do it this day on our way into Christchurch. We knew one of NZ's stores, The Warehouse, would be open until midnight on the 23rd, so we planned to stop as soon as we found one. That didn't happen until we pulled into Christchurch at 10:45 pm. We woke the sleeping children and rushed around getting our shopping done. Steve helped the kids pick out a present for the sibling they had drawn, and I grabbed a few things for the kids. Christmas is certainly not all about the presents, but waking up to no presents would have been a little depressing. Since Christmas Eve was a Sunday and we wouldn't be shopping, we just squeaked it in. Like lucky Cinderellas we checked out right at the stroke of midnight.
Steve and I didn't fall into bed until 2:00 am that night, by the time we set up camp, and the only late starting ward in the area on Christmas Eve was a Samoan one. One of our goals has been to expose the children to many different cultures and languages, so we decided to attend. The only words we understood the whole Sacrament Meeting were Christmas and Amen! The great thing was, we felt the spirit just the same as attending any other ward. We also had the chance while touring the South Island, to go hiking with Jewish family from Israel, share a small rain shelter with Chinese University students, and made good friends with a family from England and a single mother from Germany and her adorable 18 month old son, Ruben. We heard French, Indian, Russian, German, Swedish, Samoan, Chinese and Japanese being spoken. We only met two other couples from the US at all the campsites we have stayed at, and people always ask us if we are Canadian. Apparently, Americans don't often do the Motor Camp circuit.
Getting back to Christmas, we forgot to buy a Christmas tree, so Whitney fashioned one out of driftwood and green contact paper we had for lining our trailer shelves. The kids decorated it with sea shells and pine cones and we were all quite proud of it. We had a simple and lovely Christmas Day playing together.
Steve and I didn't fall into bed until 2:00 am that night, by the time we set up camp, and the only late starting ward in the area on Christmas Eve was a Samoan one. One of our goals has been to expose the children to many different cultures and languages, so we decided to attend. The only words we understood the whole Sacrament Meeting were Christmas and Amen! The great thing was, we felt the spirit just the same as attending any other ward. We also had the chance while touring the South Island, to go hiking with Jewish family from Israel, share a small rain shelter with Chinese University students, and made good friends with a family from England and a single mother from Germany and her adorable 18 month old son, Ruben. We heard French, Indian, Russian, German, Swedish, Samoan, Chinese and Japanese being spoken. We only met two other couples from the US at all the campsites we have stayed at, and people always ask us if we are Canadian. Apparently, Americans don't often do the Motor Camp circuit.
Getting back to Christmas, we forgot to buy a Christmas tree, so Whitney fashioned one out of driftwood and green contact paper we had for lining our trailer shelves. The kids decorated it with sea shells and pine cones and we were all quite proud of it. We had a simple and lovely Christmas Day playing together.
To see a map of the places we traveled so far in this series, click on this link: <http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&ie=UTF8&ll=-40.359103,172.875366&spn=8.067848,12.128906&z=6&msid=116765397961150020384.000451b63510a46db34d4>
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Chess Camp by Steve L.
Last week I went to a week long Chess Camp taught by Chess Champion Adam MacIntosh. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I went to private lessons with him where he taught me some special techniques and maneuvers and gave me quite a few tips on playing the game. On Tuesday and Thursday I went to group lessons with five other kids interested in Chess. We played chess, learned techniques, ate snacks and had fun. For all you people out there who are reading this, I need more people to play chess with. If you do know how to play chess, please contact me, and if you don't know how to play Chess, learn quick and then contact me!Fact: Did you know Chess dates back thousands of years. The furthest we have been able to track it back is to the Crusades. It was a popular Muslim game. I LOVE CHESS!
Book Review by Whitney
Kicked, Bitten and Scratched
Author: Amy Sutherland
Type: Non-Fiction
Subject: Life and lessons at the World's Premier School for Exotic Animal Trainers.
Summery: Journalist Amy Sutherland, takes a year long look at Morrpark College's exotic animal training and management program if California. The students are essentially cut off from family and friends for two straight years and intensively train in the dangerous, yet potentially rewarding career of animal husbandry. She tells it as it is, not at all masking over the danger, controlled chaos, adrenalin, or blood loss. She follows the students of this program for a year as they make their way through their training. Students range from aspiring dolphin trainers, to retired plumbers. She tells of the many different events of the year 2005 ranging from Lulu the camel giving birth, to the big fire. (They didn't have a fire plan at the time and the first years found themselves trying to shove random animals into crates and cars while the advancing California flames claimed casualties.) I can only say it had greatly influenced my plans for future careers.
Rating: 10 out of 10 AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME.
Recommended for ages 12 and up. Has some things that smaller kids wouldn't understand.
Author: Amy Sutherland
Type: Non-Fiction
Subject: Life and lessons at the World's Premier School for Exotic Animal Trainers.
Summery: Journalist Amy Sutherland, takes a year long look at Morrpark College's exotic animal training and management program if California. The students are essentially cut off from family and friends for two straight years and intensively train in the dangerous, yet potentially rewarding career of animal husbandry. She tells it as it is, not at all masking over the danger, controlled chaos, adrenalin, or blood loss. She follows the students of this program for a year as they make their way through their training. Students range from aspiring dolphin trainers, to retired plumbers. She tells of the many different events of the year 2005 ranging from Lulu the camel giving birth, to the big fire. (They didn't have a fire plan at the time and the first years found themselves trying to shove random animals into crates and cars while the advancing California flames claimed casualties.) I can only say it had greatly influenced my plans for future careers.
Rating: 10 out of 10 AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME.
Recommended for ages 12 and up. Has some things that smaller kids wouldn't understand.
Cup Scout Day Camp by Daniel
I went to scout day camp. It was really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really cool. At scout camp we drew the solar system and we went on an obstacle course and we carved soap and we talked about constellations. We did archery, and threw Frisbees through a course, shot Beebe guns, played a game called poker (not the card game), we went on a hike, and went to the trading post. We panned for gold in a river and at the trading post I bought an alien, a rubber band gun and a bow and arrow set. I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK NEXT YEAR!
(Note by Mom: The first day of camp was a frontier theme and the second day was centered around space. He came home both days, so excited about the days events, covered with dirt from head to toe. He announced, "This is the LIFE.")
(Note by Mom: The first day of camp was a frontier theme and the second day was centered around space. He came home both days, so excited about the days events, covered with dirt from head to toe. He announced, "This is the LIFE.")Summer Fun with Cousins
We were so excited to have our Idaho cousins visit us for 5 days this last week. We don't get to see them nearly enough, and since Steve's brother Andy was coming to town to do some work for Steve's company, we invited the whole family. It was such a treat to have them visit with 6 of their 7 children. (Calvin is a Boy Scout Camp Counselor and couldn't make it.)
EVERYTHING FUN, IS MORE FUN WITH COUSINS!
Puppet Shows,
Swimming,
Crafts,
Playing games,
and voice lessons with Aunt Emily.
Even math is more fun with cousins! Whitney had her High School placement test on Tuesday and her cousin spent hours helping her brush up on her math facts for the test. Thanks!
EVERYTHING FUN, IS MORE FUN WITH COUSINS!
Puppet Shows,
Swimming,
Crafts,
Playing games,
and voice lessons with Aunt Emily.
Even math is more fun with cousins! Whitney had her High School placement test on Tuesday and her cousin spent hours helping her brush up on her math facts for the test. Thanks!Book Review by Steve L.
Abraham Lincoln by Tanya Lee Stone
This book is a biography of the entire life of Abraham Lincoln, from the time he was born to his assassination by John Wilkes Booth. With nice illustrations and fact boxes and easy to read, it is a very interesting book about the life of one of America's favorite Presidents. Did you know that one of Lincoln's first official jobs was being a lawyer? And did you know that Abraham Lincoln was elected President three times? And did you know he died just 4 days after the end of the civil war? I give this book 10 out of 10.
This book is a biography of the entire life of Abraham Lincoln, from the time he was born to his assassination by John Wilkes Booth. With nice illustrations and fact boxes and easy to read, it is a very interesting book about the life of one of America's favorite Presidents. Did you know that one of Lincoln's first official jobs was being a lawyer? And did you know that Abraham Lincoln was elected President three times? And did you know he died just 4 days after the end of the civil war? I give this book 10 out of 10.
Ellie Update
I am happy to report that our brave Ellie has finally recovered from her 3 week ordeal. Unfortunately, the latest round of liquid steroids really affected her mood the last week. She would fall to pieces if you so much as looked at her. (Sorry Aunt Lilly!) We were finally able to wean her off her medications and she is breathing easy and back to her old cheerful, spunky self. That's the good news.
The bad news is, she saw the dentist yesterday and has almost $2,000 of dental work that needs to be done. The inhaled steroid that she has needed off and on for the past 3 years has weakened and damaged her teeth. Poor thing! Because of her asthma, the dentist is limited in how he can numb her for the procedure. He'd like to admit her to the hospital and put her under to do all the dental work. I can't even imagine what that bill would be. We are hoping she is brave enough for the cheaper (choke, choke) $2,000, in office solution.
Her last breathing treatment, in the shelter of her umbrella fort.
Phish Food by Steve
I''m hooked! Since trying Phish Food I must admit that I do enjoy chocolate ice cream as seems to have a soothing effect on my evenings. Packed with marshmallow and caramel swirls and stocked with fish shaped chocolate pieces, Phish Food brings it's fight from the first bite. The ice cream was named for a local Vermont band that formed in 1984 which while unknown to me was named by Rolling Stone magazine as the most important band of the 1990's. Which means that this is the third flavor I have tried that was named after a musicians or rock band. Hmm, any more to try? Well, this weeks flavor ranks second behind NYSCF for the fact that the chunks just keep me going. So, can a flavor climb to the top simply by it's flavor merits alone or does it need chunks to win my palette? Only time will tell. Next week a reader suggested flavor, Creme Brulee. See you then!
Abel Tasmin
We found the most amazing beaches in New Zealand. One of my favorite was the Abel Tasmin Bay at the northern tip of the South Island. It can only be reached by a very windy, gravel mountain road. When you finally reach it, it takes your breath away. The sand is the color of pumpkin bread batter with spices mixed in, and like all NZ, water it is a beautiful turquoise that you can see straight to the bottom of. Truly paradise.
I love the different ways my children approach a beach. Whitney of course immediately goes towards the birds. She always has, since our first trip to the beach in California when she was 18 months old. She has to follow them, feed them, chase them and tell you all about them.
Stevie, Daniel, and Janey go straight for the water. They just get their toes wet to begin with of course, especially if they happened to be fully dressed. They always end up drenched however, Janey ¾ dipped because she is so short. They always invent some game to play together in the waves, and Daniel loves to taunt the ocean, “You want a piece of me?” sure that it makes the waves come in further.
When Ellie approaches a beach, she goes straight for the sand. She immediately picks up two handfuls and examines it, as if judging it’s quality. She sits down where ever she is and digs, and builds and buries herself. She will play for hours alone in the sand and mud, and beware if you get anywhere near her, because she will always throw it playfully at you.We often stopped at a beach to look at some famous or amazing sight as we are passing through, so the kids didn't always have their swim suits on. I’ve decided they have more fun in the water fully dressed, because they are not really supposed to be getting wet. This made for a laundry nightmare, but as Steve put it, “If life was only about clean clothes, we wouldn’t be in New Zealand.” It’s a good thing they usually had dry swimsuits in the car to change into for the ride home!
To see a map of the places we traveled so far in this series, click on this link: <http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&ie=UTF8&ll=-40.359103,172.875366&spn=8.067848,12.128906&z=6&msid=116765397961150020384.000451b63510a46db34d4>
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)