mathmom's blog

During the winter Olympics we recorded some days and watched them later (less commentary, no commercials, no hockey) (sorry, hockey loving friends). One day we watched figure skating, downhill skiing, and the snowboard cross---4 snowboarders going down the hill all at once. Guess which one Amanda wants to do when she grows up. Not figure skating. She thought the snowboard cross looked good. I guess at least it's not hockey =)

(I realize that for trademark reasons I should call it "disc golf". As Michael points out, however, "disc golf" does not slide off the tongue. And we all know what it really is.) A new park opened up nearby recently, complete with a frisbee golf course. There are signs near the road: "Watch out for flying disks." There are goals along the road. And I wondered when it opened whether 6 year olds and 4 year olds could play. It turns out they can. We have gone a couple times over the holidays. When my family plays (at least when the kids and I play together) frisbee golf turns out to be more a walk in the woods, with occasional throwing and chasing of frisbees . Amanda has gotten it into her head that she needs to hit the trees, which she does with some success. Eleanor tries to throw the frisbees long and straight, with some success. Even Luke knows what to do: he drops the frisbee in front of him and says, " yay !" He also knows th...

We (along with most of America, I think) have been enjoying watching the Olympics. I heard a report yesterday on All Things Considered about kids are staying up later to watch the games. Eleanor has been staying up a little bit later, but since school started for her last week, we mostly get her to bed on time. Eleanor's favorite part was the torch lighting ceremony. We have mythtv (a bit like tivo , but open source) so that every time I suggest watching olympics , she asks to watch the torch lighting ceremony. She refuses absolutely to watch women's gymnastics---a sharp contrast to 4 years ago when she loved watching "the girls doing gymnastics". Eleanor and Amanda both enjoyed watching rhythmic gymnastics. One of the "apparatuses' is a jump-rope type thing, and Amanda was leaping and dancing all around the room. My favorite was the ribbon---I think I will get the girls some ribbon. My favorite sport was synchronized diving. I had no idea that this ...

Eleanor, while looking at the TV over the bar in our favorite Greek restaurant: "Daddy, what game are they playing on the TV?" Michael: "That's American rules football, as distinct from Australian rules football and soccer." This exchange tells you something about our family...