H & H Birthday(s), School Auction, Skiing

Halmoni & Haraboji have birthdays suspiciously within one day of each other - but with Asians their birthdays are always ambiguous and non-concrete/lunar calendar related. Anyway, we ordered a BR cake for them and Dae said they said they couldn't remember the last time they had had a birthday cake for themselves (they said maybe in Chattanooga). So hooray! We pulled out the selfie stick naturally.

Another point of ambiguity: Haraboji's birth year is 1943 but he said he is 75. I asked if it's because Koreans are age 1 at birth, and he said no, but then I didn't understand his explanation. hehe

Christian only had half the time to prepare for his spelling test this week because we were in Phoenix but he thinks he aced it. Above are Christian's home practice test and Olin's home practice test. Olin wanted to get in on the action, too, and it sure was cute. Look at all the backwards stuff, including the number 10. 

School auction was last night, and where there is a photo booth, we are! This booth was subpar though. The countdown was not obvious so we were never prepared for our photos. Plus we had to stand. I think half the fun is sitting and cramming in the booth, personally. This coming from a photo boothing professional...

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Skiing White Pass again today, with the Kincaids. Again, sunny as can be. Again, warm. So all in all it was perfect conditions for us. The only hiccup was they gave my driver's license to the wrong person at pick-up (for rentals) and so we had to get that all sorted out. I guess I'll need to carry my passport around in the meantime. 

They both rode up the chairlift with me.

They did great! A little more complaining than last time. I guess I didn't realize they need breaks every two hours or so, at most. I thought they could go all day. haha.

Scottsdale in January

I set myself up for disaster by expecting balmy temps and jogging in the sun, laying out by the pool. It was unfortunately 50 degrees and felt cold, even though we had come from snowy Richland. So we indulged in other ways and had fun:

1) Food: 

In 'N Out, naturally. We went twice. The kids love the little sticker sheets they give. They are so simple - I think it's funny how much the kids like them.

We also visited Sprinkles cupcakes twice. They give you a coupon on your receipt - a surefire way to hook people like us in to coming back day after day. The red velvet was so good.

It works! Dae tried it out. They charge a 20 cent surcharge.

Delicious Mexican restaurant in Scottsdale.

With Rich and Young-Eun at True Foods in Scottsdale. Leelee took the photo.

2) Activity

Chess at our hotel

Hiking Camelback

Hiking Camelback. This hike is rigorous. Christian and I made it 7/8 up, and would have made it to the top had we not turned around to make it back in time for our 6pm dinner reservation and to make sure we weren't descending on rock in the dark. I was very proud of him. He said his legs felt 'floppy' afterward and I thought that was a good description.

Hole #8 was a source of many problems. There is some hold-up in the pipe and tons of balls get stuck in there. Our record was 9 balls stuck at one time and we had to go find a worker to tell them they were stuck. 

Dave & Buster's on the rainy Monday.

Live reptile display inside Life Sciences Building at ASU on rainy day

ASU

ASU

Workbooks on vacation. At this moment they are really good about doing their workbooks. Not very many complaints right now. Olin is doing 1st grade math book, which is confusing because it's starting out with stuff like 1+2. I find it hard to believe first graders are learning 1+2. Anyway, Olin keeps skipping ahead and I tell him to do the lessons in order and he says "But mom, I want to get really smart and do the really smart pages!"

2 Powers, and Olin's Pouching (Jan. 19)

1. Christian: "Mom I have two powers. First one is... I forgot...and second one is that I can stop a scary dream by waking up". Then Olin: "and my power is I can eat a carrot faster than you"
2. Olin loves going in to any kind of a pouch on a bed. So now we call it Pouching, as in "Olin is over there pouching". He will shimmy in to his duvet cover so that he's in that pouch, or he will slide himself in to one of our pillow sham covers. And then, the funniest part is that he used to tickle his own feet in the pouch, because the sheet makes them feel a little silkier or more ticklish or something. I used to catch him all the time laughing away by himself. Now, his feet don't seem to be as ticklish under his pouches, but he still likes to feel the silky sheet on his legs and feet!

1. We went to White Pass to ski with the Safranskis last Sunday. Loved it! I am not sure why we didn't go there much as a kid. The beginner's area has a Magic Carpet, Platter Pull, and lower chairlift which is a perfect assortment. 
2. I got this new contraption from Amazon for haircutting. It's basically what I've always wanted - a reverse umbrella shaped hair 'catcher'. I used it this morning on the kids and it works pretty well now that it's too cold to cut hair outside.

1. The kids have gone to one day of school so far this week (Tuesday) between snow days and MLK day. I have high hopes for school tomorrow.

Science Friday

For the second time, Leelee has told me he's "going to Washington Huskies for college, and going to be a scientist". And then he follows it up with the information that a girl in his class, Prayrona, also wants to be a scientist and also wants to go to Washington, so they "might be roommates or something". :)

Arctic Blast 2017

When I took the kids to school today it was a nippy 5 degrees out. It has since warmed up to 6 degrees. haha. It is so cold. One thing I noticed in this cold weather: If there is any part of your body that is underdressed or not covered, the cold seeps in immediately and severely!

All the trees are tipped in frost right now. Brrrrrrr.

The Current State of Affairs

The current state of affairs:

1) I need the kids to go back to school. Asap. Haha
2) We're constantly on the lookout for kid activities. Today we took them bowling and they had a great time.
3) I took the kids to Sporthaus to get them new (used) skis. Look at Olin's little feet on the measurer. So cute.
4) Our mudroom is a disaster. Any more mud and it will look like we have patterned tile!

3rd Snow Day (straight)

This year we have been inundated with snow. This week the kids have so far had no school...it worked out well since we were gone skiing on Monday at Schweitzer, but I am now ready for them to resume school hours as usual!

Here are some photos from our quick overnighter to Seattle a couple weeks ago and our long weekend trip to Schweitzer this past weekend. The kids still love skiing! Hooray!

This was our view from the room at Inn At the Market. Definitely my favorite hotel!

Riding the link rail (it is so convenient) to Dick's on Capitol Hill. Dick's is greasy and good, but it was so cold and windy outside we ended up walking to an adjacent indoor area next to a tattoo shop to eat our dinner!

Dessert at A+ Hong Kong Kitchen in Chinatown (took the light rail, again very convenient). This place was so delicious. My dessert consisted of: sweetened coconut milk base, red bean, mango chunks and tang yuan (black sesame balls). I ordered extra black sesame balls and Dae was jealous he didn't order extra. The next day we returned for Congee and dessert and we ordered triple the sesame balls. haha. 

We slept like this at Inn At the Market. Olin didn't really want to share the rollaway, and was very interested in sleeping on the end bench, so Dae set him up with some pillows and a blanket and we boxed him in with a chair on the other side so he wouldn't roll off. He was happy as a clam.

News: We've discovered the Crumpet Shop. Crumpets are quite tasty. I've had the lemon curd and ricotta, maple vermont  butter, and strawberry/cream. They are all very good.

Inside Pike Place waiting for Tenzing Momo (alternative health, weird shop...hehe) to open at 10am.

Dae's new hair. I think he hates it. I personally kind of like it. So tidy.

En Route to Schweitzer we pit stopped at Nordstrom Rack (spokane) for bathroom and new shoes for Leelee. His have holes. I tried to steer him toward all the Nikes and Adidas non-flashy shoes and he went straight for these. He loves how they look. They are also the most cushioned shoes I've ever seen - Leelee says 'they have memory foam in them' and he thinks it will help him run even faster.

Schweitzer! Sunny first morning. Overcast that afternoon and next day.

Ski & Ride center getting rentals

He was ready. He also wants poles so badly.

Olin on the magic carpet. He took 4 lessons. The last day he really, really wanted another lesson but we had to go home.

Baba and Christian on the Musical Chairs lift (bunny hill)

Fort

At the White Pines Lodge. We got a loft this time, and I wasn't aware that meant it came with a 3rd bedroom. Olin chose to sleep there, by himself. Leelee chose to stay close to us on the main floor second bedroom.

Olin asleep. He officially loves sleeping on top and wrapped around stuff. 

We made the kids eat egg and yogurt and gave them cereal as reward. Big surprise - they love Lucky Charms.

They always love this hill outside the lodge.

Snowball fight

Outside Schweitzer on the way to Sandpoint

Skis for Leelee! I found these bargains on Craigslist. Never mind that the boots are girls', purple with swirls on them. He is most excited about the poles naturally. And the skis. He's not so excited about the boots.

So much snow. Like one foot +.

Sledding yesterday on Snyder.