Maple Days

Yesterday, we took the kids to Old Sturbridge Village to experience their Maple Days events. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate, and it was too cold for the sap to flow. However, we did still learn a little about the sugaring process and how maple products were used in the 1830s.

The first stop once we arrived was a small house where a man showed us how they would boil down the sap and pour it into a mold for the sugar and liquid syrup to separate. While there, we got to taste some maple sugar candy. K really enjoyed it, but AJ refused a piece.

Next, we walked over to the sugaring camp, where they were boiling melted snow over an open fire since the sap was not running. The man working there had put a wooden spile into a nearby maple tree, but nothing was coming out. He explained that the tree keeps the water down in the roots when the temperature dips below freezing. Once it warms up a bit, the tree sends the water up to the crown of the tree. This is what makes the sap flow perfectly for maple syrup. Once the weather warms up, the tree doesn't need to send the water back down to the roots at night anymore. Then the sap available turns bitter and useless to anyone but the tree.

Once we left the camp, we walked to the farm where they were demonstrating how the people in the 1830s used maple sugar in their baking. Saturday is "Bake Day" so they don't have to bake on the sabbath. Maple sugar can be used with a one-to-one ratio, and it doesn't leave a maple aftertaste. The ladies in the kitchen explained how to tell if the oven is the right temperature for the various baked goods. They stick their arms in the hot oven and start to count. When the temperature gets too hot to bear, they stop counting. That is what they call their "pie count".  Everyone has his/her own pie count, and the best way to learn is by someone testing the oven right before you. Then you stick your arm in and start to count. Whatever number you stop at is your own pie count, and you know that is what to aim for when baking without a thermometer in the oven. I found that fascinating.

After leaving the warm kitchen, we headed out to the barn, where we were privileged to see two calves. One was a little more than a week old, but the other had been born the night before. Both of them were so cute, and their fur looked wonderfully silky.

People were starting to get hungry, so we ambled over to the tavern for a meal, pausing at the carding mill, grist mill, and saw mill on the way. After lunch, K wanted to make a craft. She had saved her money to pay for it herself, so she made a punch tin ornament, and Timo took the boys to the indoor kids place to play. H had been looking forward to playing there since we left the house, so I know he enjoyed himself.

K hammering a pattern in her tin ornament

Once K was finished with her ornament, she wanted to design her own decoration on a tin tray. Then, we joined the boys. I heard that they would be milking one of the cows, and I wanted to witness that. I learned a lot about cattle and milking during this event, and I have already had a chance to share some of the knowledge with others.

K's pattern

Watching the milking of the cow

After the milking, it was time to go. S had fallen asleep in Timo's arms, and we needed to get home.

Although I did not really get to witness a true sugar camp, I did learn a lot, and I hope the kids did, too. I will miss the educational opportunities of OSV after we move.

Snow Day = Chocolate Day

We have experienced a lot of snowy weather recently, and it has occasionally resulted in the kids' activities being cancelled. This was true last Tuesday, when both karate and ballet were cancelled. I have to admit I was somewhat relieved. I look forward to the days when we don't have to hurry around to various activities.

Faced with an unexpected evening of free time, the kids and I decided to make it an evening of chocolate. First, we mixed together the ingredients for the center of some chocolate truffles. Then, we made the dough for chocolate cookies. Both needed to be refrigerated for two hours before finishing them.

When the two hours were up, K and I rolled out balls of truffle filling, stuck them in the freezer for several minutes, and commenced dipping them in white chocolate. The whole process was somewhat tedious, but we were very happy with the (tasty) results.

Unfortunately, we did not have time to finish both the truffles and the cookies on the first night, so we baked and dipped the cookies the following evening. S, H, AJ, and K all helped cut the cookies out, and K helped me roll out the dough. Once they were baked, the kids took turns dipping the cookies in melted chocolate and various extras.  The kids chose mini-chocolate chips, crushed graham crackers, and crushed peppermint candy.

During the whole process, I told myself that I would never again attempt something as involved with all four children by myself. However, looking back, it was not so bad. It means so much for them all to be involved. Sometimes, the memories are more important than a perfect outcome.

Recycled Robot

My sweet H loves robots. For months, he has been requesting to save various boxes from our recycling pile so he could build his robot. The pile had been growing in his closet for a while, and he finally got around to completing this much-anticipated project.

H also loves tape, and he found three rolls of tape in his stocking for Christmas. For any other kid, this might seem strange, but he was thrilled. The rolls included Batman duct tape, Superman duct tape, and some road tape that was made to look like streets once rolled out and taped down. Now, H was armed with tape for his robot.

H came down the other evening announcing that he had finished his robot. I was interested to see what he had done, and I found he had built a well-thought-out creature. He used empty diaper boxes for the legs, a Pellegrino box for the body, and a Lego box and electric toothbrush box for the arms. The head was made from a pizza box, and, although it is not evident in the photo, there are eyes, a nose, and a mouth on the front of the pizza box for the face. He also added a couple of extra boxes for compartments. After I took this photo, he reinforced the back of the head with an egg carton so the head could stand up better. He used his Superman tape to hold it all together, and he even cut the strips in half lengthwise to make it go further.

Now his robot is in the recycling bin. He and his brothers "battled" the robot with Legos and other various toys and objects. I found holes in the boxes, and the "robot" was badly maimed. I love little boys. They really are a boatload of fun and creativity.

H Haircut

H's self-cut hairdo

My sweet four-year-old is obsessed with scissors. He has been for as long as I can remember. If there are scissors to be found within his reach, he will find them and use them. On his clothes. On his sheets. On his hair. For the second time within the past year, my darling H gave himself a haircut.

His hair had finally grown out after his last encounter with scissors when he decided to help himself again. He found the hair-cutting scissors I keep in my bathroom drawer for trimming my bangs, and he gave his own bangs a bit of a trim. Okay, more than a bit. He whacked them completely off.

After his buzz cut. I couldn't get him to smile.
He wanted to growl.

I should have been paying more attention. He mentioned earlier in the day that he thought he needed a haircut. I told him that his hair was fine and dismissed the whole thing from my mind. Until I saw him looking like this.

Needless to say, we opened our barber shop and fixed his hair the best we could. He will be sporting a buzz cut for the next several weeks. I am just glad he is not a girl.

AJ's First Lost Tooth

AJ lost his first tooth today. It was rather unexpected as I did not even know his tooth was loose until dinnertime. He complained about it hurting when he bit into his food, and toward the end of the meal,  it came out. He was rather disturbed about how it felt at first, walking away from his unfinished dinner. When it was time to brush his teeth, he also complained that he did not know how to brush his teeth with a tooth missing. My poor boy has never liked change, and I guess that goes for lost teeth as well.

Christmas in Texas

This winter, we spent Christmas and New Year's in Texas. My sisters had arranged for us all to fly in to celebrate together, something that becomes increasingly rare and difficult as the years progress and our family sizes increase. Not everyone could be there, of course, but four out of six of us made it.

We spent about five days at a ranch a couple of hours away from San Antonio, and my kids enjoyed hiking, doing a high ropes course, and riding the zip line. They also got to meet some critters and even hold them.

AJ climbing the pole

K at the top of the pole. She had to jump for that trapeze.

Jumping

My niece climbing the pole

AJ at the climbing wall.

K conquering the climbing wall

AJ on the ropes course

AJ and Timo getting ready to do the zip line

Away they go

AJ

Timo

My love

AJ

K

K having too much fun

S holding a snake -- yes, it is real

K holding a tarantula

S hanging out

H with Grandma

Each night, a different family was in charge of dinner. One night, we chose a Hawaiian theme to honor my dad and the time he served in Hawaii during the Korean War. The menu and decor were Hawaiian, and K even performed a couple of dances as entertainment.

My parents and niece, Erika.

AJ

K dancing

Edith and K

After we left the ranch, we drove to San Antonio where we visited the Alamo. It was a short visit, but we had talked about the Alamo during history a while back, so I wanted to share the experience with the kids while I had a chance. Unfortunately, not all of the kiddos were thrilled about being there, so our visit was not as pleasant as it could have been.

Part of the Alamo

K in front of the Alamo

AJ in front of the Alamo

H in front of the Alamo

A rare shot of me (and baby in the belly)

The following day, we visited the children's museum. This was well-received by all of my kiddos. S had been sick, but he perked up at the museum. It was nice to see him happy and playing. 

K checking AJ out at the grocery store

S playing with trains

K giving a baby a bath -- practicing for her baby sibling to be born in April

AJ riding in the ambulance -- unfortunately, he has ridden in a  real one.

Uh, oh! Look who's driving the ambulance!

Riding the "horse"

S riding

H driving the "race car"

AJ controlling the space ship

Astronaut AJ. 

H wanted to ride in the ambulance, too.

Here, they put pipes together to use air to push little fuzzy balls out the top.

Carpenter S

AJ "roasting marshmallows"

K painting her face

All done

During the evenings, we also enjoyed the company of one of my sisters and her family. We walked from the hotel down to the San Antonio Riverwalk for dinner, which was crazy since the Alamo Bowl was just around the corner. Every single restaurant was packed, but it was fun to be able to spend a little more time with her and her family.

The buildings downtown were beautifully lit for Christmas

A church downtown

The day after the children's museum, we visited the zoo with my sister and her family. The weather was perfect, and the kids all seemed to enjoy themselves.

Riding the giant iguana

Fun pigeons

 In one section, you could purchase some special food to feed to these colorful birds.

AJ feeding a bird

K feeding a bird

H taking a turn

S on his favorite spot. We did bring a stroller, but he was happier here.

H looking at a crocodile

 Just outside of the zoo sits a train station. K wanted to see more animals, but my boys preferred a train ride. This got a bit chilly since the sun was setting, and we didn't all bring our coats on the train.

H, Timo, and S

AJ and H

I didn't get a photo of it, but H ended up with my coat on by the end of the train ride. My poor little guy was so cold.

After San Antonio, we drove up to spend a couple of days with my parents. We took it easy there, taking the kids to the park to play, visiting an old fort, and enjoying a more relaxed schedule. We also had the privilege of celebrating my parents' 56th wedding anniversary with them. They are an inspiration and a great model of a happily married couple.

K saluting by a cannon at the fort

Two saluting kids, one silly kid

H saluting by the cannon

Um... yeah

This was the first part of a fun display of Christmas lights. The kids REALLY enjoyed the whole thing.

A rare photo of me with my parents

My parents and I

We left my parents' house the afternoon before our flight left from San Antonio. This allowed us to sleep closer to the airport and catch our early flight.

The first flight went well, but we arrived to discover that our next flight had been cancelled. We rebooked a flight for the following morning, and, after waiting for a while at the airport (we had booked a hotel but could not check in until 3pm), we discovered that the second flight had been cancelled as well. At that point, we started weighing our options and decided to fly as close as we could to home and drive from there. We arrived home around 4:30am, but we were at least HOME.

The next day was a lazy day, and rightfully so. It was good to be home.