DIY Days

We got some DIY things from Santa as well, so we let Sage try his hand at building and destroying....

First up was the gingerbread house

Getting just the right sprinkle quotient...

 Done! (plus the snowman he made in school).  A thing of ... beauty!

Next up was Paleo-time!  Santa brought one of those clay blocks with fossil pieces inside and Sage was all set.  To get a better view of his efforts, check out the vids....)

All set to get whackin'

 This is no time for finesse - we gotta get that fossil out!

Brush away the grit, brush brush brush...

Saw away the clay, saw saw saw

 Yeah! I did it!

(with about 80% dad's help....)

Actually, it was pretty cool and he was occupied for about 45 minutes (even after I helped him at times.  The pieces came out and then we needed to put them together.  He was ciked!

Misc pics!

Just some Misc recent pics added before the New Year!

Luckily, he knows how old he is....

 I told him to stop doing the Taiwanese photo habit of every damn time posing with a 'peace' symbol (holding up 2 fingers) since to me that is the equivalent of the American version of "duckface." So we compromised with him holding up 4 fingers since at least he is four years old.  Hopefully when he turns 5 this coming summer, he will be stumped as to what to do and just stand there like a normal human in a photo.....

I told him I wanted to make a Xmas town of just red and green blocks and he wanted to make Santa come on a train....

 That pose again....thankfully he is cute!

Sage's class had a field day to the High Speed Train Station in town and Jo and I chaperoned!

 The HSR mascot

Lego man

 Sage enjoyed the train exhibit (this is a store that you can buy models), as well as most other kid there - PLUS any dad in tow!  I still have flashbacks of the awesome trainset model my dad made for me as a kid - Thanx again, Dad - I will repay the favor by doing one for Sage at some point.

We went to a 'cardboard house' where everything was made of cardboard - and yes, the chairs were sturdy enough to hold me!

 Group photo sans Jo taking the pic as well as a few teachers trying to reign in a few stragglers...

See, that's what I am talking about.....but thankfully she is kinda cute, too....

This is my remodeled "strong room" next to the guest bed on our 3rd floor.  Sage like to go there and get an early start on getting stronger!

A bit too small for the bike...

I need inspiration when I am up there, so I have tacked cool pics on the wall...

 

 ...and ceiling for total immersion...

 

 Plus a pretty cool updated map of our solar system with Pluto, Huamea, Makemake and Iris all as dwarf planets...

I have been collecting cereal boxes for a few years (!) now for the express purpose of using them as large blocks for something.  Probably a castle type thing.

 That time came recently....

 So we started to put them together with tape and stack em up!

 Did not really have a plan, but it was starting to be clear the general pattern.

 I just hoped for enough boxes!

 That is all we had (about 80 of them) so I will continue to be collecting more and build other 'things'....

Inside with ambiance...

 

Comfy nook!

 

 Here are just a few pics of Sage reading to himself (he was talking out loud the story in his way)

Happy New Year, ALL!

Xmas Baking with Dad

I am NOT the baker in my extended family; my sister Jen takes that award (literally has taken awards for her creations) and my mom was the inspiration for all of us but they are of a different level.  My philosophy is "Doesn't have to look good to eat!"

So armed with that plus a great helper, Sage and I set off to make Xmas cookies. 

Note: Jo is officially banned from baking in our house for the simple reason that she tends to believe the heresy of "less sugar, less sweet" (which most Taiwanese people tend to preach), with the simple outcome of her cookies tasting like dog biscuits - which Mocha DOES like to eat, by the way.... But to be fair, she makes awesome 'salty' things like lunch and dinner; just not should-be-sweet things.....

Anyway, we are set to go!

Materials ready

Let the stirring commence!

Get the eggs broken...

 ...and pour em in.

Now the fun part of mixing (Dad did most of it since he did not trust Sage's enthusiasm)

Yes, Dad tends to go overboard on the vanilla, so what!

Sage is holding the measuring spoon for me here.

Now onto coloring!  (yeah, looks a bit gross for 'red') We were going for 'lava' but missed it...

Now the plopping begins

And WHA-LAH!  (or you cultured types: Viola!) Told you they do not need to look good!  But the did taste pretty good....Too bad I am trying to lose weight, not gain it....