Samsam Fan

The boys are currently in love with Samsam. A French superhero whose motto (translated) is: "The smallest superhero." There is a TV show (episodes of which we watch on DVD), books and magazine. The love it and play "Samsam" often. Luka even made his own "Samsoucoup" (Samsam's super duper flying machine - "SamSaucer" in English) out of paper, cutting out his great design, along with a hole for his head, so he could tape it to his head.

Here is Samsam in French:


I found an English version of Samsam here for you non-French speakers:


-

You can get the scoop on the English (British) site about Samsam and his friends: SamSam, SuperTeddy ("Samnounours"), SamMummy (SamMaman), SamDaddy (SamPapa), SuperJulie and others. See Taffy's site (English-language media company for Samsam) for full list of the creative and fun characters.

Late Summer and Fall Fun

Axel funny face

Luka confetti hay

Ooo! Scary dudes!

The family at the record-breaking Denver rally for Obama with 100,000+ attendees

Luka's birthday with fellow-birthday boy Connor

Luka at 1st day of school!

Leadville Boom Days Spiderman fun

Axel's 3rd Birthday Party

The Ax Man having fun on Boulder's Pearl Street Mall

For more photos of our last few months and Halloween fun, check out our Flickr account. You can see a slide show or just view a few. The most recently posted photos are Fall 2008 and Late Summer 2008.

Here are some photos of late summer and fall fun this year. We celebrated Axel's birthday (August) and Luka's too (October). We had a great time in Leadville where we have our new condo and also some great camping.

Reynald finished his 12-year quest to climb all 59 14'ers in Colorado (peaks over 14,000 feet) and we (Eve and the boys) hiked in 2 hours (the boys hiked by themselves on the way up) and camped with him at Geneva Lake at 10,900 feet, from where, the next day, he started the the S-Ridge route for summitting Snowmass mountain. He carried in a bottle of champagne (along with the dehydrated spaghetti and tuna salad!) to celebrate with some friends who met him there and one of whom was also finishing his 14'er list. For more pictures and description of this event, written by Reynald's fellow 14'er finisher, go here: 14ers website report.

In October, we decorated lots of pumpkins, went to the pumpkin patch, did lots of trick or treating (the night of Halloween and the weekend before), went to the mountains and had other fun.

Luka and Axel were both excited to be Black Spiderman (Luka) and (red) Spiderman (Axel) again for Halloween. We did save money on costumes that way!

The Christmas season has started already. Perhaps a bit earlier for the rest of us, but the kids were excited to see snow flakes, stockings and toy soldier lights hanging from lampposts already near Luka's school. Axel keeps asking if he can go skiing -- we just need more snow!

More to come soon from our winter adventures...

Palin SNL Video and Anchorage Comments on Palin

If you missed it on TV (like I did), here is the Saturday Night Live skit with Tina Fey as Palin and Amy Poehler as Hillary in its entirety. It was hard to find in full on the Internet, so use this link.

Go here http://www.hulu.com/collections/99 and click on the first video. (It doesn't seem to allow embedding so just click on the link.)

HILARIOUS!

Also check out this Anchorage-based women blog for some (anti) Palin commentary. It is interesting since the writer has an "inside" perspective.

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/

As a born and bred Alaskan now living in Colorado, do not get me started on Palin or you will need a few hours. Life and background are complicated matters that shape our views--I guess you can't escape your roots. I am not voting for her (her stance on social issues are too way out there for me among other things), but do think she is impressive and have some perverse Alaskan pride in her rise.

You gotta love this election!!!

Eve

Lost in Translation

Clever film showing the risk of using web-based machine translation.

The original text was translated through various languages and back to English. Here are the hilarious results.

Popsicle Report

After visiting our friends near Lyon, France this summer who made lots of yummy homemade popsicles, the boys were into them, so I have been experimenting with popsicles since our return (see our earlier entry about our France trip report and photos!)

Here is what we went through to find the successful recipes stateside, below!

Experiment #1: A lot of recipes suggest using vanilla yogurt and mixing with various things. First experiment was to mix with mini chocolate chips and also, separately, with fresh, mashed strawberries. Result: the choc chip one was weird. It was too hard and when it started to melt, it was, well, like yogurt. I like the strawberry ones (taste is really good), but they are too hard for the kids.

Experiment #2: Second experiment was "chocolate pops" cool whip (to make popsicles softer when frozen, as I would never buy this normally - ick), some milk, and 3 oz. pack of instant chocolate pudding, from a recipe online. I should have gone with my first instinct, because these were yucky. The chocolate had that fakey taste, like instant chocolate pudding, I guess. My kids' taste buds are too sophisticated I guess, because they were not too keen for them either. ;)

Success Story #1: Then, I made the tried and true approach that Cathy in France had used. Went to liquor store to get fruit syrups (very common in France, and you can buy at liquor stores in US). I bought grenadine and orange syrup. They have lots of other flavors. The kids really liked these. They are a bit hard too, but not so bad and more appropriate for this type of mixture.

Recipe for Fruit Syrup Popsicles
2 cups water or fizzy water
1/3 cup fruit syrup

Pour into popsicle molds and freeze overnight or 4+ hours.

Success Story #2:

Watermelon Raspberry Popsicles
2-1/2 cups seeded diced watermelon
1/2 cup fresh raspberries or frozen unsweetened, thawed
6 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon crème de cassis (black currant-flavored liqueur) or light corn syrup

Combine all ingredients in blender or food processor; puree until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds or paper cups, dividing equally. Freeze overnight. These worked really well--the consistency is also very good--and are so tasty!

Variations: use strawberries instead, use jam if you have no fresh fruit, add some fresh mint. Use chambord instead of cassis. Leave out liqueur if for kids (I guess - would one TBS really matter?).

Tips:

Consistency: I read on the Internet that the main problem with homemade popsicles is that they are too hard, which our experiments have born out. The use of corn syrup (or liqueur) is used to counteract this (see watermelon recipe above).

Molds: I ordered shooting star molds and they are nice. But, they are also kind of big (big serving for kids for sure). I also have used kid-sized paper cups. You can either freeze part way and then insert wooden popsicle sticks, or cover each filled cup with plastic wrap. Cut a small hole in middle of plastic wrap with point of a knife and stick popsicle stick in there. It will hold it in place as popsicle freezes. Make sure the sticks are straight up after you place them in the freezer.

"Stats" on Our Trip to France 2008

Click here or image above to see photos from our 2008 trip to France.
27 hours time spent in Paris: Bâteaux Mouches, admiring the Eiffel Tower, taking the escalators up in the Centre Pompidou to see Paris from above, playing in the funky fountains outside in Beaubourg, walking the Champs Elysee, taking the metro.

3 different sets of friends seen in Paris - Mommy's friend Carolyn, Nicolas and family, Fabrice and family.

1 rental car and 3,000 kilometers driven in said rental car.

2 grandparents for lots of fun.

16 days: time Reynald spent in France

1 night spent at Pascal's in Metz visiting with him and his family

7 cousins 15 or under, seen and played with

3 nights in Treport at the Baie de Somme in Normandy - kids in RV with their grandparents and Eve and Reynald in a very nice B&B - the Manoir de Beaumont: http://www.demarquet.com/

48 euros per night for two at the Manoir! How inexpensive, even if you are spending dollars!

3 number of times we took the funicular with the kids (twice up and once down) on the cliffs at Treport.

2 people (Reynald and Luka) playing in the waves at Treport while laughing like deux petits foux.

2 stitches Luka got in his chin at the emergency room in Metz. Oops!

3 types of currants growing in Jean-Claude's garden (plus raspberries, cherries, questch and mirablelle, too. Yum!)

4 kinds of lettuce we eat from JC's garden

2 Game Boys that Luka got from his cousins (first one broke, second one is still going strong)

2 aliens, 2 monsters on stilts, 4 donkeys, 5 lambs among various renaissance fare, seen at the Renaissance Festival in Bar-le-Duc (or http://festivalrenaissances.com/)

1 juggler that wanted to brush Axel's teeth with a broom (!)

2 fishing ponds at Mandre (camp ground owned by Reynald's aunt and uncle)

3 horses that Axel got to pet (chevaux de trait)

1 postcard Luka and Axel received while in France (from Eve's friend Diana in Japan)

8 T'choupi videos on the iPod downloaded from YouTube.

3 Trotro DVD's waiting for the kids on arrival in France

3 times the picture radar flashed Reynald while he was driving - ouch, those speeding tickets hurt. (See this posting for more info.)

4 evenings at the campground for kids and grandparents while Mommy out of town.

2 training wheels that are no more - Luka learned to ride a two-wheeler on his own at the campground. Yay, Luka!

5 fantastic days in Frontonas with the Henry Family near Lyon: friends, fun, pool. 3 children in their family: Mathilde, Pierre, Claire. 4 times the kids got to go in the pool! 1 birthday party while there. 5 hours and 2 trains to get there (St Dizier - Dijon - St Verpillier).

1 relaxing day in Nancy with Edith (just Eve)

3 nights for Eve in the camping car - Mommy's "secret cachette"

50th Fourteener climbed by Reynald in Colorado while the kids and I were still in France ;)

Eve in Spain !!!!

Some Spain pics and the scoop below.

Eve and colleague Eduard in Barcelona - the city view behind us

Colleague Eduard showing off his home city
Eve with bike from Barcelona bike tour
Tapas - little works of art!
Original Roman columns in a hidden courtyard.

Famous Gaudi building - dragon (St George) theme

July 10: Mommy trip to Spain! Luka and Axel are having fun taking care of Reynald´s aunt´s campground with their grandparents and sleeping in the "camping car", Daddy is back to work at home, and Mommy is in Barcelona (yee ha!).

My colleague, Eduard, has been giving me the personal tour of the city. It is great to have a personal guide who is a native of the city!

Today, we are working which is very interesting too (if you like all that technical stuff like we do :)

July 11: Spa visit today, took tram up to see great panamoric view of Barcelona, some exploring the city, and real Spanish tapas for dinner at a hip restaurant. Fun, fun!

Tips for eating tapas in a real Barcelonan tapas bar (courtesy of Eduard educating Eve at one of the currently most popular tapas restaurants in town): everyone stands, like at a reception. Take a clean plate from the bar--you can share the plate with others in your party. Select tapas that look interesting to you from the many plates of gorgeously presented little masterpieces.

Push your way in among the many people at the bar if needed, or ask the bar man to pass you a specific plate of tapas you cannot reach. Here in Barcelona, there were many fish tapas, but also crab, chicken, cheese, vegetable, olives--lots of different choices. Eat as many as you want. Keep all the toothpicks from each tapas you ate. When you are ready to pay, the server will count all the toothpicks you have and charge you accordingly. Have fun!

July 12: A great guided Bike Tour of Barcelona for half the day; tapas again for lunch ;) with some friends made on the bike tour at a good place recommended by the guide (I saw dessert tapas here as well: small, satisfying morsels of sweetness to finish off the meal.); visit to the Cathedral of Barcelona with a visit of the roof top as well; relaxing pedicab drive to Gaudi's church. First purchase for the condo back home - for the boys' room. A lovely dinner at Cafe Princesa. The food and service at this restaurant were excellent. If you are in Barcelona and want fine dining, check it out: http://www.cafeprincesa.com/.

July 13: post cards to write and then it's leaving, on a jet plane and back to France.

Language fun: All public signs and things like newspapers are bilingual in Spanish and Catalan. It is fun to read the signs and try to figure out what you can from both Spanish and Catalan, and note the differences (even if you speak neither).

I was not able to learn any Catalan words (but Gracias - spelling? which differs from Spanish in pronunciation and probably the spelling as well), though my friend was very helpful and is, himself, bilingual in both languages, I got by with a few key Spanish phrases since my Spanish is basically non-existent. Resulting in....

Eve's list of essential Spanish phrases:

Tapas - Tapas
Cidra (spelling?) - hard cider in bars
Servicios/lavabos - facilities/restroom

Sangria - well, you know that one. ;)

Yes - Si
No - No

Thank you - Gracias

Hello - Hola (when entering stores)

Goodbye - Adios (when leaving stores)

Good morning/good day - Buenos dias

Good afternoon - Buenas tardes

Good evening/night - Buenas noches

See you soon - Hasta luego

I don’t speak Spanish - No hablo Español

(Knowing the numbers 1 - 10 and mutiples of 10 is also helpful.)

This list got me far, as many people speak English and are very friendly. Even when there is no common language, it is fun to communicate and be successful at getting the point across, even if it is with gestures. Or, even if someone speaks English, it is polite to say "thank you" or "goodbye" in the local langauge. Web sites and guide books will give you a more complete list of "essential" phrases, but this is what worked for me.

Little known fact about Barcelona:

Eduard told me that he saw in the city's laws that it is not illegal to walk the streets naked. So, if you decide to do so in Barcelona, you may make a splash and have people pointing and laughing at you, but you will not be arrested! Something to add to your "must do" list?

New Tips for Traveling in France

Tip #1:
Safe Kid Car Seats in France

If you are traveling with a child still in a 5-point harness (infant or toddler), if you are bringing your own car seat, be sure to bring the metal clip provided so you can block the car's seat belt.

Cars in France do not have locking seat belts and you need it to keep the child seat actually restraine and not sliding freely even though it is in the seat belt. Or, you can rent a seat at the rental car check-in (or buy one at Cora, Auchan or LeClerc for the same price). French kid car seats have a built in way to block the seat belt.

Tip #2:
Avoid Speeding Tickets

All through France on the highways, there are automated radar machines that take pictures of your car if you are speeding, even slightly over the speed limit. Be aware of this and don't learn the hard way. This is a new initiative in France the last few years and we were surprised by it (and have several tickets to pay!). You must respect the speed limits or you will pay the price!

Even if you rent a car, the rental company will eventually charge your card once they are notified of the speeding tickets by the French police (through the mail).

Luka's Graduation Ceremony

Luka - kindergarten graduation boy!

Luka and his teacher, Miss Melissa

Luka and friend Kristin

Luka and assistant teacher, Miss Jessica

Luka's school had a wonderful kindergarten graduation ceremony on May 29th, the last day of school. (He will start summer camp on Monday.)

Above are pictures of our little graduate.

Next year, he will repeat kindergarten again (public school requires it), but we are excited that he will be attending the new arts magnetic school in our district, where they purposefully integrate music, performing arts, art and language arts into the curriculumn to contribute to the overall learning process. Yay!

Amazing Hiking in Boulder

While the moms were at an all-day translation seminar, the dads took the kids to Boulder to go hiking. They were amazing -- Luka, Ada and Axel all hiking on their own, up and back, to the Royal Arch in Boulder at Chatauqua: 5 hours round trip! Luka and Ada did it effortlessly as they played along the trail to get to their goal, and Axel was determined to do it on his own, and not once did he say "Carry me, Daddy!" He also insisted on using one of Reynald's trekking poles the entire time!

Will these guys climb Everest next?

Latest Update

Luka (5-1/2 years old) Kayaking - Boulder Creek Festival


Axel (2-1/2 years old) Kayaking - Boulder Creek Festival


Axel Kayaking at Boulder Creek Festival - Go, Ax!



Axel Skiing at Ski Cooper


Luka and Axel Singing Frère Jacques

Reynald at 4,350 meters (14,265 ft) on top of Quandary Peak getting ready to ski down a 3,000 foot face. He looks like he is loving it, doesn't he? (This was taken April 20.)

Joan, Eve, Corinne after running 9K in the Title 9K
Mother's Day at the Boulder Reservoir

Joan, Eve, Corinne
Axel, Ada, Luka
Title 9K Mother's Day Race

Luka, Axel peeking out of their big
cardboard box house in backyard

Luka and cardboard box fun

Axel and cardboard box fun

Axel, Eve, Luka
Mother's Day Tea at School

Luka and Easter Fun

Luka, Axel licking the beaters

Axel saying "yum, yum"

Axel with his ski face on

Luka and Axel and their Mr./Mrs./Ms. Potato Head creations

As Luka finishes up his first year of Kindergarten, this is the first time we have dealt with the end of the "school year" (well, since we were kids). He will have a special graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 29th and will then start "camp" at school where they do tons of field trips (Denver Art Museum, NCAR, Fountains, Pottery Making and more!), until we leave for France. He is excited about camp and about France! He is really a "big" boy now. He is reading so well and also loves numbers. He is going to attend a new public school in the district next year that is dedicated to integrating arts into the daily curriculum.

Axel is growing so much too, he changes day by day. He is such a great talker and very perceptive. He adores reading and singing and dancing, so we are excited about him going to the arts school someday too! He was really sad ski season was over, but next year will come fast enough. He loves talking to his grandparents on Skype and can't wait to see them!

Both Axel and Luka (and Mmommy and Ddaddy) were so happy to have Grandma (Eve's mom) visiting us in early May. Mommy had to work too much, but otherwise it was a wonderful visit! Grandma and Mommy had a great 9K race on Mother's Day.

See some recent pictures above.

Luka is Double Axel's Age Today

We have been waiting for this day: the only time in their lives when Luka will be exactly twice as old as Axel.

Luka was 2,044 days today - Saturday, May 24, 2008, and Axel was 1,022 days old!

In other words, Luka was 5 years, 7 months and 5 days old and Axel was 2 years, 9 months, 2 weeks and 4 days old.

Our men!

Life Lessons Important to Learn

On my run the other day, I heard a podcast of This American Life's episode 355: The Giant Pool of Money that aired on May 9, 2008. You can find it here to download and listen or read their summary: Giant Pool of Money. 

This is a must-listen show. It discusses the how and why of the current economic crisis, including the US mortgage crisis and how it relates to the little guy, the Wall Street guy, the world pool of money, and everyone in between. 

It is fascinating and horrifying at the same time. However, I think it has several general life lessons in it as well. Not to be paranoid, but they are truisms. Here they are: 

1) never trust anyone else to make big decisions for you; you must make decisions on your own that can affect your well-being, and take the time, care and responsibility of doing so. As the old saying goes, no one is gong to do it for you, so you'd better look out for yourself. 

2) Never, ever, ever blindly follow the crowd. Be an independent thinker. Even if the whole world is doing it, it does not mean it is right. Be guided by your own moral compass. As the story recounted in this podcast clearly shows, following the crowd can contribute to the general malaise of human kind, and fighting against it, can, at times, make more difference than you could ever imagine - to you and to all of humanity. 

Listen to this podcast and learn about the makings of the current economic mess we are in, as well as learn something about basic human nature.

 

Luka on the Local News!

Luka's Kindergarten class was visited by the local newsman for Channel 7 Denver News. You can see the video clip of him and his classmates here:

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/video/16021201/index.html

The first class shown is not his (they are in 3rd grade and a different school); Luka's class is The Academy Kindergarten class and show in the second clip that plays. He is right in front of the camera! Hi, Luka!

Recipe: Olive Oil Garlic Pizza

I made this up the other night and we thought it was mmm, mmm good!

3 - 5 garlic cloves, cut up fine (not pressed)
~1/4 cup olive oil + some extra, aside
bunch of fresh parsley, chopped fine (1/4 to 1/3 cup)
good quality salt to taste

shredded pizza cheese (I used RGB-free mozarella)
canned artichoke hearts
fresh tomatoes, sliced

whole wheat pizza dough or your favorite pizza dough recipe

To make the sauce, combine the garlic, olive oil, parsely and salt together in a small bowl.

Put rolled out pizza dought onto a pan sprinkled with corn meal to prevent sticking. Turn up edges of rolled out pizza dough to prevent liquid from leaking. Spread sauce on dough. Add cheese, then spinach. Splash some the extra olive oil over the spinach. Then add artichoke hearts, and tomatoes.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes, till done.

Have a tasty dinner!

Some recent photos

Luka at the park
Luka's artwork from school

Axy wearing his Valentine's Day artwork

Luka showing off the gorgeous and delicious cake he made at kids French cooking class

Axel playing with poles -a favorite pastime

Axel's famous finger painting of a dragon - no help from an adult!

Axel and Mommy's playdough snowman

Luka "Star Student" at School

Luka's is currently the "star student" in his Kindergarten class. This means you get to make a poster about yourself and it hangs outside the classroom for a week or two. Luka came up with all the biographical information himself, and Mommy and he worked on the poster. Here it is!

Luka's stats:

• Favorite movie: Jungle Book [where did that come from?]


• Favorite colors: green, red and blue


• Favorite toys: My teddies (Snakey, Diego, Beary - see drawing above)


• My family: Luka, Mommy, Daddy, Axy (see drawing above)


• My favorite Books: Les Pyjamasques (see pictures pasted above and check out these great books at Amazon.fr)


• What I want to be when I grow up: Pilot


• Favorite places to visit: Alaska and France


• I am so good at: running


• My favorite animals: lion, tiger, cheetah


• My favorite food: chocolate and vanilla ice cream


• My best friends: Billy, Connor, Haley, Abigail, Kristin, Cody

Even though Axel was not star student this week, here are his current interests, says Mommy:

• Favorite movie: Polar Express in French (the "princess movie" - go figure)


• Favorite color: yellow


• Favorite toys: garbage truck from Santa - yeah!


• My family: Luka, Mommy, Daddy, Axel -- Grandma, Jean-Claude and Annick. He loves to talk to his grandparents on Skype! (Luka is sad Grandma only has a phone and no computer!)


• My favorite books: Les Pyjamasques as well as L'imagier des engins


• What I want to be when I grow up: garbage man? construction worker? engineer?


• Favorite places to visit: Alaska and France (of course!)


• I am so good at: skiing of course - 2-year old prodigy that I am!


• My favorite animals: monkey?


• My favorite food: I like all food, but today I did, in fact, enjoy a yummy choc/vanilla ice cream cone at the mall with Mommy. Messy, but yum!


• My best friends: Luka, Mommy, Daddy and my friends at school: Anna and Ahlias

No more TV at our house!

Well, sort of. We took the big step--we cancelled cable! We never even had cable till around three years ago (late technology adopters in this case), but it does start to feel like a necessity, doesn't it? We still kept discussing the fact that we did not really need it and finally kicked the habit.

Goodbye DVR, my one-time love, goodbye on demand! I thought I needed you both, but did not realize that for $0/month in TV fees compared to the $85 (!) we were paying, we can get pretty much anything, anytime we want to watch ONLINE. The DVR requires you to remember to set up a recording, and also that something is on the tube that you WANT to record. On demand worked pretty well for the kids shows, and I liked the idea, but there is just no way cable can match the content available online.

Also, for now, we must say goodbye to HD programming. :( This is because Denver is the only major market without "over the air" access to HD programming. However, the Denver area is now on track to make the Congress-imposed 2009 deadline for all channels to be HD (and not require cable or satellite as is now the case), so another year won't kill us. (And the quality of online network shows is excellent.)

What do the kids think of all this? Well, they are too busy watching French kid video shorts "on demand" on youtube to even realize they don't have television receiption in the house. We think this is innovative, but by the time they are 10, I am sure it will be passé. The love it! Their current favorite is Trotro (the same person voices Trotro the mischievous donkey and T'choupi, but I don't think they have noticed that yet!). They also like dancing French penguins, and of course, T'choupi himself. T'choupi à la ferme has them laughing their heads off. Here is one of their favorite Trotro episodes--check it out:



While you are at it, you may as well check out Axel's all time favorite show, T'choupi's Premier Bal. Learn the T'choupi Cha Cha Cha so you can dance with Axel next time you visit!



I actually should specify that we do get one channel that we pay for: the French channel available to US residents: TV5. We pay $15/month and enjoy watching French news, movies and game shows (well, Reynald likes the latter).

Since I am not 20 years old (yes, it is true), I do like (American, I mean) TV shows like others of my generation. But, I now realize, no actual TV is needed--we should have done this ages ago and saved almost $1,000/year in cable costs! We have a fast Internet connection that supports streaming excellent quality videos/shows even through wifi. Check out the sites of all the networks like ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX. Fox is in beta and the shows I have watched so far have had NO commercials. I am sure that won't last, but the commercial breaks the others take are limited compared to actual network-aired TV, and not that bad. (Someone has to pay for this, I guess!) AOL Television also offers thousands of shows, in full, for free.

If I were an executive at the TV networks, the cable companies or the satellite companies, I would be running scared. In less than five years, surely the current landscape will have changed even further, and the traditional delivery models will NOT be leading the pack.

With youtube, network shows, kid DVDs, and things still to be discovered online, we are sitting pretty using our Internet connection. I am watching more "TV" than I was before we cancelled cable! Who knew?! We have not even signed up for Netflix yet, and we can't forget that we can always buy previous episodes on iTunes if needed, for two bucks a pop!

This is a lot different than when we chose not to have TV for 2 years from 1999 to 2001: we just went cold turkey and that was it--and we didn't miss much! But long term, hopefully, we will again have more time for reading and relaxing and be better able to resist the pull of the tube/computer and save money at the same time, and when we can't resist, at least watch things we like, of our own choosing. What a concept!

Drawing by Luka

Luka's drawing of a "tigr", "cheta", and "liyin" (lion). (Click to get a larger view.)

He did this a few weeks ago and just looked at it now and said, "Mommy, I left out the "e'' in "tiger", the "e" in "cheeta" and the "e" in "lion"." (OK, well, we have some work to do on lion... ;)