Torben and Lily

Torben brought a new friend home from school the other day, her name is Lily and she is the class friend. All the kids get to bring Lily home for one week and share exciting adventures, and then share those adventures with their class by a little show and tell speech and scrapbook.

Here are some of Torben's and Lily's adventures.....

 Torben first got Lily acquainted with her temporary home. "Lily, you can sleep in my secret hiding place!". Camouflaged as a kitchen cabinet, Torben's secret place is actually a pretty cozy, although a little loud during cooking time.

 Torben and Lily go for a drive at the hockey rink. Lily's hockey helmet (borrowed from Mr. Bear) doubles as a crash helmet.

 Whoa Lily! Watch out for that red car, Hold On!

 Onto the hockey, see Lily, the other little kids playing down there? Someday when I get bigger, I can play hockey too!

 Yey! They Scored!!! Celebrate Lily! Lets sing O Canada!

 Lily, I am sorry for all the shaking....lets go see the ice!

 Lily, this is the ice, its cold and the zamboni cleans it up. Bend your knees Lily!

 Despite the fact that Torben is wearing the same clothes in all these pictures, his adventures spanned several days. Don't let it fool you. The next day, it was beer making time, actually beer transfer time. Torben and Lily helped to siphon beer from the primary fermenter to the a secondary one. Torben ended up getting a face full of beer after Dada missed putting the hose into the carboy.

Here we go Lily, watch it go from one to the other! It looks like that beer wash is already taking effect on Torben.

Chile and Balloon Season

Balloon Fiesta occurred this last week, and also coincided with the conclusion of chile roasting season. I am sure we will see the occasional chile roaster out for a while yet, but the days of the entire city smelling like roasted chiles are done for this year. We of course got our 40 lbs stored away in the freezer, and Kris managed to get ristras from two guys on the side of the road over in the Hatch valley for a really good price (so much so I said to buy 100 next time and we can distribute).  Another indication of the season, Sandhill cranes have been observed overhead.

 Five ristras hanging ristras, don't do this at home with freshly minted hangings unless you want a horde of fruit flys!

The weather for Balloon Fiesta was good this year, only two events  were cancelled because of wind, and the rest were sunny and clear. We awoke the first morning of fiesta to the sound of "whooosh wooosh wo wooooosh" coming from our back yard. "Is that a balloon?" we asked, and to our delight discovered a balloon almost terra bound in out neighbors back yard! We got a picture, but not before it had gained some altitude. But the burner sounds continued, and we found that the winds had brought the mass ascension to us. Our neighborhood had been invaded by balloons!

 The first balloon we saw from our back yard, the forward scout.

One of many balloons floating through our neighborhood that morning, we actually spoke with the people in this one.

Torben has been into little spaces. He has conscripted one of our kitchen cabinets into his "secret hiding place", which is obviously not so secret especially when you hear him giggling away in there. But, he has stocked it with a flashlight, plate of food, blanket, pillow, pens and has decorated the walls with scribbling. He has yet to sleep in there despite he expressed interest to do so.

School days, time to get in trouble days

The monkey has been going to his pre-school called A Child's Garden starting back in the summer, and has now transitioned into his new class for the fall three days a week. In case any of you are interested in some of the activities he undertakes, here are a few examples. (All these were taken by his current teacher)

Let's see, what should we do first? How about trucks! That away Torben, deliver that load.

 Now, lets explore gravity. Can you tell me how it works? (Never mind, I probably wouldn't understand anyway)

 Hey, lets practice our letters! Ohh, thats good writing considering the kung fu grip on the pen.I am guessing someone helped you with that.

 Now what should we build? A ship, a plane, a boat, hmmmm, I know! A rocketship, that's a good idea!

 Ok, now how about a little art, maybe an I love you mom card. With lots of sprinkles.

 And after I pound something to pieces with my hammer here, maybe an I am sorry card? No, that would be silly.

 

And finally, its Pirate Time! (which is after the running and hiding from the teachers time, which does not a happy da-da make)

Torben's First Construction Project

We decided to buy some shelves to try and organize Torben's toy hoard. Since the thing was basically an Ikea special look a like - particle board and pre-drilled holes and such - I decided to let Torben assemble it. It required only a hammer and screwdriver, phillips. Torben collected the proper tools from the shed, read the instructions and laid out the parts.

So far so good.

We laid out the first panel and inserted the dowels together, but then I let him to the rest himself. (except for the tightening of screws). and well, you be the judge....

(I started the nails...) but he did the hammer'n!!! (BTW, the shirt came off because he "was a hot worker guy")

Watch out for that thumb!

And the finished project!! Good job Torben!! Now, put my tools away or else.....

Wins a snake, but has tough day

Our most recent visit to the zoo was bittersweet. Torben did a really good job riding his pedal bike all the way there, but seemed a little tired once we arrived. The Zoo is celebrating was 85th birthday that day and since we were the 85th visitor, Torben won a snake! And boy what a snake; Torben displays his prize.

Despite the friendly addition to our party, Torben steadily deteriorated. We cancelled our plans to see the zoo snakes so they could visit with our new friend, skipped the seals, giraffes and lorikeets and moved right to the zoo train. Once we sat down on the train though, Torben fell asleep with a snake pillow before we even left the station. We made it all the way around the Bio-Park and back to the zoo before he awoke, and of course had developed a fever. He was delirious. Dada carried him and the bike all the way home, and immediately deposited him on the couch. Unfortunately, he didn't stay there long before creating a vomit trail to the bathroom, actually two trails.

Luckily, the sickness passed in a few days and the Monkey was back to his normal self, just in time to help clean the house! But of course, he made a game of it making the usual dreary chore much more entertaining.

 

Quick! Get that pile over there! 

He even tried to vacuum himself up as well.

Since Torben missed a day of school, we took a trip to Plants of the Southwest to get some ideas and check out some prices. We found some vines that may help us create a little organic shade in the back yard. So, let the hops experiment #1 begin!

Nugget, Chinook and Chinook (from left to right)

Time for new pics

Hello again everybody! It has been quite some time since the last post, mostly because Tim was traveling for work for several months and Kris had her hands full with the Monkey. There has been quite the goings on though, which we have to report about. 

Torben started preschool, really full time playtime - like that's anything new, its just with more kids - at A Child's Garden this summer. Five days a week, 8 to 5 pm. There apparently was a high pitched wailing and gnashing of teeth, followed by tantrums and an attempt to chain himself to the chair the following day to avoid his return to school. The pictures are representative of his behavior, though these are from his current fall session at preschool, are indicative of the previous response. Yes, he hated playing with all the new boys and girls his own age, his friends Leo, Alec and Skye. Yes, he hated constructing noodle dioramas, fake shark tanks from soda bottles and neo-modern representations of paper spaghetti. The bear was much more pleased about his situation.

Also, while I was gone, Kris and Torben accompanied the Lee-Lewis and Zanios clans on a rafting trip along the Chama river. An excellent time was had by all. Kris tried to make friends with all the rocks in the river, Torben reported being stuck a number a times. The boys enjoyed fishing with sticks, throwing rocks, melting marshmallows and sleeping in tents, and spending most of the time naked. Torben was really happy to be a "camper".

This almost fall we have developed some caterpillar webs in our cottonwood tree. Torben was convinced they were made by a giant spider, and only until recently were we able to see and extract some of the caterpillars. We don't know what kind they are but here are a few pics, maybe some of our more bug orientated friends will be able to identify.

Torben has learned a new trick. As you know he has been riding his balance bike for over a year now, and he has ridden that thing everywhere. However, based on the success of Alec (who is actually a few months younger) and his transition from balance to pedal bike, Torben would like to unveil his new skill. Look everybody, no training wheels!

we first started learning how to fall and put his foot down. And then after a getting him set on the bike in the ready position, he was off. There where a number "oh, oh oh, oh!"s emitted, keep in mind there was never a single "oh", the string was mandatory. But after a couple of days, he can now ride all the way to the local pool. Still has some trouble on the get up and go, but he will get there.

Egg Hunt

Torben is becoming an old hat at Easter shenanigans. He gets better at coloring eggs, finding them and most importantly finding the Easter nest wherever it may be hiding. Ohh, did I mention mention the love of the chocolate bunny is also increasing?