Bryce Canyon National Park

We are staying at Kodachrome, really close to Bryce, so we thought we'd take a day off to hang out in Bryce, low key, get some internet and phone calls in. We did Queen's Garden/Navajo Loop which is about 2.2 miles and passes by some of the coolest hoodoos (spires of multicolored layered sandstone). It's always great to see Bryce - it looks like Disneyland and is so fanciful and enchanted and magical.

There are a bunch of tunnels cut through the hoodoos, some arches, lots of crazy chesslike pieces in rows. And a steady stream of tourists.

We explained to many people that Leo did this loop when he was 3 and that he ran up the steep switchbacks of the Navajo Loop, faster than the other adults. Well, it was hot and he was tired and it didn't seem like we'd even make it back home at the pace he was going. We had to keep seeking shade. Finally, we were at the switchbacks and steep hill up. We took a long rest and snack, and then he decided to run to the top of the trail. We hiked as fast as we could and hoped he'd stop at the top and wait for us.

Leo got his junior ranger badge too. He had gotten it here when he was three, but his friend "borrowed" it and we never got it back. He had to pick up trash, do a ranger program and do a bunch of worksheets but earned a nice badge for his junior ranger hiking vest.

In the top of the last photo, you can see the black smoke in the sky from a prescribed burn on route 12.

Peekaboo and Spooky slots

Today we revisited our fave slots ever, Peekaboo and Spooky. We came here accidentally last time, based on some internet tip. Then we got a book that had it listed as a top hike. However, we couldn't remember which route in we had taken and got confused and I managed to send us on a really bad, washed out dirt road 5 miles to the top of the canyons. The car took a beating although Paul says he's taken it on worse roads. It was deserted and we decided it was too difficult to get in, so we drove to the lower ends of the canyons which was where we had started in 2008 the last time we visited. We easily hiked down to the Dry Wash. The upper end of it was dry and enticing and slot like. last time we came, it was full of quicksand and we couldnt get in. But we held off and went to Peekaboo which had been full of water last time and the rock too slippery to climb. This time, we managed to climb up to the opening and get in, instead of walking around. Leo was giggling like a kid in a candy store. It was wonderful, twisty and sinuous and gorgeous orange sandstone. We went up through the twisty stuff, through the narrows, and out of the slot. Some was so narrow, you'd turn sideways and not breathe too deep. and hope you didn't suffer claustrophobia! Walked the hot desert sand across to Spooky which is a bigger wash that leads to a tiny slot. There were some near technical downclimbs past chokestones, but once we got past that, it was very narrow, claustrophic and cool.

About 3.5 hours. We would have liked to stay to do Dry Wash or Brimstone but it was late and clouds were coming in. I'd say this is our alltime favorite hike.

Zebra slot canyon

We drove the hour and a half down to Halfway Hollow, 8 miles down the Hole in the Rock Road. We got started on the hike about 11, a little late but the cowboys on front of me in the sandwich line had ordered a LOT of food. It was a good 2+ mile hike into Harris Wash, and when we found slick rock to climb up on, we got really distracted. It was a hot slog through desert sand in the wash with no shade though, and we all melted down in more ways than one when we finally found a big bush to sit under for lunch at Harris Wash. The entrance to Zebra was a windy and wind-y wash up to pink purply sandstone. The entrance to the slot was filled with sand dunes. It was tight and swirly and had the alternating left and right sides of the canyon swirling in on you. Leo ran the slot. Most adults had to brace themselves with their butts against one wall and their feet against the other. It got so narrow evryone had to dump their packs. We got out Leo's climbing shoes and let him climb up the difficult ending out of the slot with Paul close behind and me too scared to walk up the canyon walls real high with one foot against one wall and the other foot against the other. It was an aweseme slot, as good as they get. We then hopped on the slickrock to adventure home, though paths of moki balls. We next wanted to go to Tunnel slot but clouds were getting ominous, and it started to drip on us too. We forced ourselves to come back. The slog back through the sand was hot. I had to keep Leo going with silly jokes about myself and Paul had to carry him for a bit. When we were about a mile away from the car, we started talking about whether we could see the car, and Leo ran the mile back to the car. About 6+miles in 5.5 hours. Hot and dusty, but well worth it. Next time we'll start earlier to catch Tunnel slot.

First construction project

Leo has been itching to use his new toolbox. He made this teepee from scrap wood. It involved sawing, drilling, and nailing. A bit scary for me but he is unfazed by power tools.

Leo's Smoke Ring Science Experiment #2

Leo did another smoke ring experiment for class. This one was to test the smoke gun openings on the quality of the smoke rings.



If you can't see this, go to http://youtu.be/Jk2l_yVhITU

Hypro circular hydrogen nuclear bomb

Leo wrote us this letter:

"Dear Mom and Dad,

May I have a Hypro Circular Hydrogen Nuclear Bomb, to blow up my homework. This is important because NO one in the school likes homework. I have proof:"

Signature of 11 classmates

"These are people who don't like homework. Another reason is homework makes people mad. And you don't want a bull running around the house, do you? This shows that I deserve a Hypro Circular Hydrogen Nuclear Bomb.

Love,
Leo"

Monkey at the Leo Restaurant

Leo made monkey zaru soba. Yum!

Leo's homemade tapestry

Leo had art camp today and made this tapestry

Lunch lady of death

New comic book

Leo produced a new comic book when I was gone, "The Three Little Warts and the Big Bad Barf". It's a revised version of the old classic with lots of gross ickiness that could only come from a second grader.

The Timberline bump run

Leo and Lily on the Timberline bump run, a blue mogul run

http://youtu.be/tBOO8TnoMQc

Leo and friends

Some pictures of Leo and his friends on the slopes. Leo, Archie and Lily in the top one and Paul, Leo and Lily in the bottom.

In the trees

If you can't see this, go to
http://youtu.be/DLUKHP3Cnwo

Happy Easter!

Skating fun

Leo's been getting really good at the backwards skating:



If you can't see this, go to:
http://youtu.be/AMKlm_60z0o

Then we had the Cha Cha Cha Skate. I'm not sure what it was, but here we are trying to do it.



http://youtu.be/NVpOfXxxz5w

spring skiing

Leo and Grant went up for a powder day a couple weeks ago. Here they are coming down the mountain.




If you can't see this, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-dAgWuokcE&feature=youtu.be

My inbox

After Leo plays on the ipad, I get a whole lot of emails that look like this.

TAG program

Leo got accepted into the school's Talented and Gifted (TAG) program! Despite arguments and discussions with others about whether TAG is a good idea or whether the school needs to spend more resources on the learning resource side of the spectrum, we are very proud of Leo. We are curious, however, about the  enhanced "educational programming" that he is supposed to receive.

Leo's bakery

Leo has been asking to make these special cakes for a while. Homemade easy roll-out frosting over sponge cake. Yum!

Domo!

Paul was gone this week so Leo and I took advantage of the opportunity to eat Japanese food. Lots and lots of soba noodles. And donburi (rice topped with teriyaki pork or tuna sashimi). Miso! etc. Leo talked me into taking him to the Domo Restaurant in Denver. It's homestyle Japanese food in a rustic setting. The tables and chairs are pieces of a giant tree. They have a zen garden outside. I think they teach Taiko drumming there too and have other cultural events. Needless to say, we had the time of our life stuffing our faces.

Leo's visit to NJ in December

Leo wrote a little story about visiting NJ in December. 

For those of you who can't read "kid", it says, "Over the break, I traveled to my grandparents' house. In Jersey. for my mom's sister's birthday party! The cake was awesome! After the cake my mom's other sister gave me a present. It was the mini musical claw. "Ding dong" it went! After that my mom gave my cousin a present! It was a static electricity wand that makes a 8 fly in the air. I love winter break! The End. 

Reading at the dinner table

Yay! My dreams have been realized! Leo is reading a book silently to himself at the dinner table! I know I will regret this in a few years when he reads incessantly but in the meantime I will savor this!

Comics!

Leo produced his first comic book today. He made five copies to sell at recess today. It is titled, "The Fart that Ate Colorado" and details Finn's fart that becomes toxic and mutates and how everyone smells the fart to save the day. Unfortunately, this is followed by everyone burping, which sets us up for the sequel. He made 75 cents selling this at school and has more orders.

When you have homework to do, it's time to make a video

Leo had to make a poster about himself for homework this weekend. It consisted of like ten questions and some coloring. You would NOT believe the fight we had over this today. He got tired of coloring, his neck hurt, he decided it wasn't really due tomorrow, etc.

But he did have HOURS of time to make this video, consisting of 766 pictures. It is not yet done, either. I am sure he will make plenty of time to finish this:



If you can't see this, go to
http://youtu.be/Nqslh1Sg5bM

Regarding the music, my choice. He asked for scary music. I had none on the ipad. I suggested this. He asked me what it was about, but he did like it!

Kristin's 40th!

Kristin's 40th Birthday Party! Vicki got this amazing cake:

We had a huge blast. Kristin loved it - about 25 of her friends and family showed up. We danced, ate candy, laughed a lot. Here's the fam:

 We celebrated the next day too at a Thai restaurant:

 And I got to see some of Kristin's friends at work:

 

The Chocolate Fountain for Traditions Day at School

For Traditions Day at school, the kids were asked to speak about a family tradition and bring in some traditional food. Leo brought in a chocolate fountain. And he spoke about Burning Man and the Zander Lander. I don't think any parent had any idea what he was talking about!



If you can't see the video, go to:

http://youtu.be/43YplEC_68I

I'm not sure why, but it was also mustache day so all the kids came into school with mustaches:

Party in a Box

Leo started a new line of cards:

Art

Some cool art in Lisbon. It was a free museum of some rich guy's collection. The museum went on forever. It was definitely more fun than the castles and monasteries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ljPIRuPMmE&sns=em

Leo as a roly poly for Halloween

Leo dressed up as a roly poly (pillbug) for Halloween this year. Paul and Leo spent months on this costume, dissecting real pillbugs to figure out how they worked.




If you can't see this, go to http://youtu.be/-T2ETFOi5c8

Oops! The videos should work now!

Sorry about the settings on the youtube videos from yesterday. It should all work now if you want to try again!

Sushi Chef Leo

Leo in his new happy coat making a happy meal.

This is O-nigiri, a type of sushi. I have O-nigiri every day for breakfast in Japan. I buy them from the 7-11, where they come in the refrigerated section and are wrapped with layers of plastic that keep the seaweed fresh. They come in all kinds of flavors: raw tuna, eel, plum, caviar, etc. Turns out Leo loves this stuff too!



If you can't see this, go to http://youtu.be/mJfCm8UdXK4

Stick Bomb!

I got lucky and finally found the stick bomb toy on my trip to Tokyo.

If you can't see this, go to
http://youtu.be/2UB1omYwFVk

Tokyo

Arrived in Japan about 4pm to figure out the long commute into Tokyo from the airport. We had big luggage so we took the bus which is more direct but got stuck in Sunday traffic. Got to hotel about 7 pm. Then it took over an hour to meet co-worker's cousin at subway station next to hotel because it was so confusing. We then met cousin and took two different subway lines (which means getting out and walkin to different stop and paying again). Got lost trying to find sushi place and finally arrived for dinner at 9pm. Ate some really expensive sushi (cheap for Japanese standards) and made it home around 11pm way exhausted.

I wanted time to myself so I left the group to find Studio Ghibli which unfortunately is very popular and has restricted visitation plus is far from center of Tokyo. So I went to the Mori Museum. Did the Tokyo City view tower and spent morning viewing contemporary Arab art! Very cool and disturbing stuff.

Then an hour wandering around trying to find tempura soba to satisfy craving. I can't remember my Japanese alphabet well so it takes a LONG time to try to read menus and am in the foreigners area so here's a lot of pizza and no soba! Plus some restaurants have ticket machines or eve computers where you order and it was too intimidatin for me.

Settled for tuna rice bowl. Like poke bowl. It comes with teapot of soup stock. Not sure why but it is yummiest soup stock ever. Nothing like MSG to brighten a soup!

Can't get data plan working on phone or ipad but I try to find wifi when I can. Hope all is well back at home!