Picture Perfect: A Look Back at 2014

Season Greetings from the Li family from Kenneth Li

Three Act Summer Vacation

This summer’s vacation was the best of times, multiplied by three. We used the family reunion in Tulsa, Oklahoma to pack in vacations to Nauvoo, Illinois and Branson, Missouri. It’s a lot easier when your spouse drives. Thank you, Ginger.

Act 1 – Navigating Nauvoo: Sunday, July 13 – Monday, July 14

There’s nothing that says summer better than a pool, even one with trihalomethanes. Regardless of these activated radicals, that’s why I chose the Nauvoo Family Inn & Suites. As luck would have it, our room was across the pool’s entrance – two Robert Barone strides from our door. The kids swam both nights we were in Nauvoo. Aidan liked soaking himself in the hot tub, so he could feel the chill when he jumped back into the pool. (Okay, that’s not why he did this, but it’s what happened.) Aubrie enjoyed doing back flips off my knees, then swimming underwater and tapping my stomach with both hands – thump, thump. Where was Ginger? Somebody had to watch the Food Network. Just kidding. Remember those trihalomethanes? She did “sacrifice” herself at least once.

Somewhat Ironic: The Nauvoo hotel served coffee.

This was our first time at Nauvoo, the last city the Mormons settled before heading west. It’s also 30 minutes away from where prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were martyred in Carthage. Thirty young performing missionaries (YPMs) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 200 missionaries overall, staff Historic Nauvoo, as well as act in and stage all of the musicals and pageants. Brass bands and groups of merry men performed impromptu concerts and songs around the city.

With two of the cast of "Just Plain Amanda," one of the many shows performed by the young performing missionaries.

The kids loved (=fought foolishly over) the free souvenirs offered at many of the historic sites. We got prairie diamonds (a bent horseshoe nail) at the Web Brothers’ blacksmith shop and a Nauvoo brick from the Brickyard.  Aubrie loved that brick. We saw – and loved (or at least I did) – “Just Plain Amanda” (where everyone is “important”) and “Sunset by the Mississippi” variety show. The last skit, the Audition, in which the YPMs replayed a scene in a variety of ways—fast, slow and with cheerful pep—was our favorite.

Wonder Twins Power: Activate. The Li family shows off their "prairie diamonds."

We also took a “two horsepower” ride, to quote the senior missionary tour guide, through the village on a horse-drawn wagon that leisurely took us through the village and along the Mississippi River. We ate (free) gingerbread cookies at the Scovil Bakery and home spun rope at the Family Living Center (also: found out what a cooper did, saw how bread was made and learned how a loom worked). We toured the Brigham Young home where the 12 apostles of the Church met and were quizzed about various pieces of pioneer equipment at the Stoddard Tin shop. We also walked on the grounds around Nauvoo temple, a destination temple. It was amazing to see the temple overlooking the hillside from the village below.

Making rope at the Family Center. One of the many freebies are kids got to take home as souvenirs.

Destination: Nauvoo Temple. Rabbit ears courtesy of Aidan and Aubrie.

Our intention was to see a couple of other shows, including “The Promise” and the “Nauvoo Pageant” (American & British), but are kids were “showed” out. That would presume they actually liked the shows. However, I suppose if Aubrie was playing with stones during “The Promise” and neither kid really got into “Amanda” (at least not like the other kids when they were asked to do the motions for Primary songs), they probably never liked the shows in the first place.  One day they’ll be able to appreciate musical entertainment. Maybe when they’re 65.

Where's Aubrie? Playing below Ginger's knees during the "Sunset by the Mississippi" performance at the outdoor theater. Bonus question: Who's that man? I don't know, but he's about to step on Aubrie.

Act 2 – Tussling with Tulsa: Tuesday, July 15 – Friday, July 18

It was an 8.25 hour drive to Tulsa. It could have been faster, if not for the Mississippi River flooding the roads, which forced some detours. We quickly found out gas stations no longer sell maps. We relied on directions from a friendly local who overheard me talking to the gas station attendant. He was wrong. But at least he sent us in the right direction, until the GPS brought us back on track.

Kathleen Crockett is Ginger’s sister. She’s married to Richard Crocket and they have five children, two of whom are still living with them, Annalise and Emerson. They live in Broken Arrow (B.A.), a suburb just outside of Tulsa. The rest of Ginger’s family also converged on B.A. for a family reunion. Altogether, there were 26 folks staying at the Crockett home. In addition to the families of Ginger’s siblings, this included Janice, Ginger’s mom, and David, Ginger’s father, as well as David’s wife, Rayito. Jose, Melanie’s husband, was abroad on a tour of duty and the only one not presented and accounted for.

Here's 24 of us. Can you tell who's missing?

Aidan in his Batman pose on Ginger's bed at the Crockett home

Kathleen (and Ginger) did an incredible job of feeding everyone three square meals a day. Among my favorites were a ham omlette and beef brisket. You also can’t go wrong with grilled cheese. I ate some Lay’s potato chips that the teenagers had snuck in at the Dollar Store (snuck in because Kathleen likes to have healthy foods around and chips don’t count as healthy). Most of my time was spent with the kids. There were three age groups:  the teenagers (14 – 18 years old), the young’uns (9 -13 years old) and the super small (4 – 8 years old). And then there was two-month old Marcus. 

Ginger's sister Kathleen feeds 26 people. No miracle loaves and fishes. Just a lot of cooking. Thank you Kathleen!

I loved playing Ultimate Frisbee with the boys at an elementary school:  Ethan and Christian Coffeen, Nolan Stout, and Aidan Li. Their dads Jared Coffeen and Bryan Stout played too. Emerson Crockett played too while his father watched over the little ones at a nearby playground. Emerson was fast and all the kids caught and threw the Frisbee extremely well. Aidan sometime heaved it up for grabs when he panicked. We also played a Frisbee accuracy game with Bryan, Aidan, Nolan and Ethan in the cul-de-sac and a couple of rounds of whiffle ball where some of the girls joined us in the “park”. Said park was really the backyard of a few of the houses. The first day we were there, Kinsey Coffeen, Shelby Coffeen, Annalise, Ethan, Aidan and I played Ultimate Football.

One of these kids likes baseball. The other likes giving air high fives.

It was great seeing the girls express their creativity through video (finding link...). “The Interview” has a smart nerd (Annalise) and a beautiful girl (Kinsey Coffeen) both vying for a job. The nerd had an amazing application; she did invent sliced bread after all. The gorgeous applicant has hand-drawn pictures of a cat on her resume. Shelby plays the semi-mannish interviewer. When the boss (Aidan) sees the beautiful girl, you know who gets the job. I was the cameraman because I can’t act.

The cast of "The Interview." Aubrie and Ethan didn't participate, but they did visit the set.

The little kids and I played a game where we threw a pillow onto different objects such as a couch or on a certain step on the stairwell. I was able to get away with playing this game repeatedly. But the runaway hit of the trip was the card game Slap Jack. Not to brag, but I was undefeated. My reflexes are faster than a cheetah’s, and that of a five year old (and even a 17-year old). As we departed for Branson, the last scene was seeing the kids played this card game. It’s my legacy to them. When they share the game with their kids, even though they might forget, it’s because I taught it to them. I have to boast about this because I don’t have any practical skills to teach them like hunting with a bo staff.

What the Eighties Left Behind: Ashley Coffeen and Aubrie.

Shelby (pink shirt) watches Kinsey, Ethan and Nolan play a rousing hand of "Slap Jack."

Act 3 – Burning up Branson: Friday, July 18 – Saturday, July 19

First off, don’t you love the names of these different acts. Aren’t they dripping with cleverness?

There’s a lot to do in Branson. Hundreds of options. It’s like Vegas, but kid friendly. Trip planning was made easier because of our kids’ love for musicals – as in they don’t love musicals. This eliminated 99% of the choices. Goodbye “Jonah the Musical.” Technology also helped make the decision a cinch. Trip Advisor listed Silver Dollar City, a theme park based on the 19^th century American frontier, as one of the top choices. Then on the SDC website, they promoted a package that I couldn’t refuse: tickets for the entire family for two day, including a hotel room (with a pool, of course). Mom would love the bargain, the kid’s would enjoy the roller coasters, and I was done planning.

After an eight-hour drive to Branson, we arrived at 4p at Deer Forest Inn, which was (literally) right next to the park. We drove to Parking Lot 5 and took the tram in. Our first stop was a one-hour, one mile guided tour of Marvel Cave that was just starting. Not one complaint from the kids. We rode out of the cave on a train pitched at a 45-degree angle. Next, we rode on a wooden roller coaster called Thunderation. I’m not a roller coaster kind of guy, but it was fun. That evening around 9p, Aubrie, Aidan and I swam in the hotel pool and watched local fireworks. Well, we didn’t really watch the works, but they could be seen shooting up over the evergreens.

Tram on the way into Silver Dollar City. We were pleased by the efficient transportation and friendly staff. Except those photographers who waylay you and take your photo -- for a price.

We crammed a lot in on day two. The highlight of the day was probably the final rollercoaster: Outlaw Run. It’s the fastest (68 mph), steepest (16 story drop at 81-degree incline) wood coaster in the world. Aidan wants me to mention that I couldn’t keep my eyes open the entire time. Yeah, it was that intense. Yeah, I’m tht chicken. I’m not sure how the kids survived; they said the loved it. Ginger really delighted in Riverblast (sarcasm font on) in which we got totally drenched squirting other boats and passersby at the edge of the ride who were also armed with squirt guns. Aidan and I manned one side while Ginger and Aubrie took the other side. We also went on Wildfire, Powder Keg (not me, since I was still dizzy from the Wildfire), and the Grand Expedition (just Aidan & Aubrie) coasters. We saw the “Illusions of Brad Ross.” He was cute with the kid volunteers, but I think the family and I have been spoiled by the show “Magic’s Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed” since he did some of the same acts. Is it just me, or should magicians do their own acts, and not copy. It’s like me sticking my tongue and pretending to be like Michael Jordan. Fake. The Flying Ace All Stars, three aerialists plus one former Olympian who had skis on, looked like they had a lot of fun on the trampoline. The best segment was when one dude timed his jumps on the trampoline to propel another aerialist really high in the air.  Other rides: Lost River of the Ozarks, a white water tube ride that had an hour wait time and the kids trying to steal things out of my pocket (another Ken Li wait-during-the-line game); Magnificent Wave Carousel (vertigo inducing so I stayed grounded); The Flooded Mine, a laser gun attraction where poor Aubrie’s gun didn’t work and Aidan racked up the points; Grandfather’s Mansion, a fun house; and Fire in the Hole, an indoor coaster that was unique in that it killed someone. We also sampled some peanut butter brittle at Brown’s Candy Factory. I was approached by an elderly woman after I mistakenly said out loud that a 6-pack of Coke cost $3.00. I don’t blame her for accosting me. The park was selling Big Gulp-sized containers at $10 plus $3.50 per refill. So if you got three drinks, that’s $20. That’s just beverages! Fortunately, we had several thermos to keep us hydrated and protect our wallets.

Aubrie and Ginger (2nd from last row) on the climb up the Powder Keg. Ken chickened out on this one as he was still a bit dizzy from the Spitfire.

Ginger, obviously cringing in fear, on one of those rides where it swings you around in circles. Kids on the ride too, but their grimaces weren't as photogenic.

Ginger's favorite ride: Mystic River Blast. You get a little wet!

Sunday, July 20

After eating a continental breakfast that sounds better on paper (biscuits and sausage gravy – ‘where’s the sausage?’), we took 11 hours to drive what should have taken eight hours. All the rest stops added up, as does a pit stop to visit the world’s largest rocking chair. When we got home, it was neat to see the kitty and the cat greet us with so much affection.

Our last tourist attraction before heading through St. Louis on the way to Homewood.

Coda

• Dining (not) out: Guess how many times we ate out during our seven-day excursion? Twice. Ginger made a lot of bean dip and crackers and chips. Plus we restocked at Kathleen’s and an Aldi’s on the way to Branson. Kathleen, Ginger’s sister, provided all the meals in Tulsa. We ate out at a dinner buffet at the Nauvoo hotel. The middling Midwestern fare included scalloped potatoes, fried chicken, and raw broccoli (not green beans because they’re deprived of nutrients). Ginger called it the worst buffet she’s never eaten at. We also grabbed a late night snack at Buckshot Annie’s as Silver Dollar City was closing during Midnight Madness. Aidan, Aubrie and I split a mixed order of succotash (sauteed corn, squash, okra, peppers and onion chicken) and a harvest skillet (stringed beans, carrots, redskin potatoes and ham chunks).

• Aubrie’s favorite activity in the car was Farkle, a dice game similar to Yahtzee. She also wanted to play “Spoons” at night, but we had better things to do, like watch Animal Planet.

• On the iPod: Louis Sachar (author of Sideway Stories from Wayside School) books, including “Someday Angeline,” “Pig City,” and “There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom.” We also enjoyed “My Brother is a Big, Fat Liar” by James Patterson, an adult fiction author. Ginger tried to get us into “Cheaper by the Dozen,” but we just weren’t cultured enough to be entertained by it.

Overall, I give the trip two enthusiastic thumbs up. The polar vertex in Oklahoma kept things cool when we played outside. We saw family. We hung out as a family. The kids got to ride on adult roller coasters. We enjoyed some Church history. Sub in the bad buffet in Nauvoo with a different dining experience, and it would have been perfect.

Homemade Softserve Pretzels

I don't really need to describe what you're seeing, except to say that Auntie Anne's has nothing on Mama Li. Well, maybe a Facebook Page. I prefer Ginger keep twisting dough into contorted shapes. I'll do the hanging out on social media!

GroupCation

This annual fourth of July vacation in Solon was brought to you by GroupOn.

We bowled, ice skated, safari-ed, and ate at a Cleveland Heights restaurant -- all courtesy of half-off  internet discount packages that Ginger had researched in advance.

The best of the quartet was probably the African Safari where we fed carrots to domesticated deer as we drove around in a circle. It sounds a little lame writing it down, but the kids loved it.

The second best GroupOn was the Mad Greek restaurant and these two words that were part of the deal: "dessert included." We downed cake and ice cream like it was our first time ever. One was baklava ice cream and the other was chocolate chip cake and ice cream.

The kids also seized every chance to play ping pong on my old table in the basement. In one week, Aubrie added a backhand to her repertoire and Aidan mastered a low, fast serve. At my friend Vinay's house, Ginger and I also faced off for our first ever match after 13 years of marriage. I won't say who won, but feel free to go by the stereotypes.

With ye ye and nai nai, we packed in a lot of stuff, including watching a movie by Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron. Maybe next year, the waterfall will be just a little bit warmer. But we're not complaining.


Created with flickr slideshow.

Fun Foos-ing

Fun Foos-ing, a photo by Kenneth Changkuo Li on Flickr.

Forget about high school football. This is how Friday night should be spent: foosing around with your family at the office, then watching Goosebumps (a Twilight Zone for kids) on the big screen plasma display while drinking a mug of dark hot chocolate and scarfing Halloween candy.

We know how to make the most out of delivering Aidan's Cub Scout popcorn to my work colleagues! (Thank you @Kuna_5 for shooting the photo!)

Andrew Zimmern says Happy Father's Day to Me

Ginger and the kids presented me with a Bizarre Foods menu for Father's Day.  BF is a Travel Channel show hosted by chef-food writer Andrew Zimmern who says "if it looks good, eat it."  Except in Zimmern's case, even if it doesn't look good -- and that's most of the time -- he eats it (everything except Spam). 

Can you figure out which are the Zimmern foods on the menu below?

What’s Better Than a Birthday?

Answer:  A birth week.   

Aubrie’s birthday was on Monday, March 7.  Her birth week started on Monday, February 28.  She sped up the days by sleeping early—as early as 5 p—and waking up early.  Every day was special because it brought her one day closer to her birthday.

Then she got a double bonus.  On Saturday, she had her friends from church over, Sarah and Elizabeth Porritt (pictured below) and ye ye and nai nai.  Then on Monday, she celebrated on her actual day of birth, hanging out at the bowling alley with grandma and aunt Melanie.

We were pleased on Saturday that Aubrie invited her friends over as it’s a sign that she continues to be more open, and less shy.  Ginger was a gifted event planner.  The kids crafted sun catchers, strung together  necklaces (all made in the factory called China), batted a homemade paper mache watermelon-looking piñata (that Aubrie punched a hole through on her second turn) and topped it all off by digging into a homemade ice cream cake encrusted with Oreos.

At the bowling alley, Aubrie danced more than she bowled (video).  Ginger said Aubrie wanted to bowl more than one game.  But I know it was just an excuse to do the electric slide in her bowling shoes.

Ginger and I have mixed feelings that Aubrie turned 6.  She’s growing up, gaining more confidence socially.  But she’ll always be our baby that drools when she sleeps between us.

PS.  Aubrie promised to get messy in Grandma Scott's birthday apron!

Romper Stompers to the Rescue

Remember Romper Stompers, those those pre-school toys "designed for stomping, clomping, and imaginative play?"  This -->

I didn't.  Never heard of them.

But thanks to Ginger's recollection of these childhood gadgets and her quick thinking, we were able to negotiate the foot of floodwater in the basement that greeted us when we came back from the Stout's New Year's eve party.  (Aidan says, "Me no like floodie."  Thanks Aidan for your input.)

She took two metal cans used for food storage, punched holes in them and laced in rope to fashion homemade Romper Stompers.

Ginger was able to diagnose that the water wasn't coming from the hose feeding the washing machine, and then went stomping around assessing the rest of the damage.

I'm thinking about selling them on this website under an "Emergency Preparedness" category.  Anyone need a used pair?  Funner than boots, I hear.

What do Pop, Target and Air Conditioning Have in Common?

In 2009, Ginger taught a Relief Society class on being frugal.  She calculated that a family could save over $200,000 by cutting out simple pleasures such as buying pop, NOT shopping at Target (garage sales and estate sales price things far below retail) and sweating it out a little during the summer instead of turning on the A/C.

The video below was to be watched before the class; students were supposed to guess how this family was wasting its money.  It's also the first video I edited using Final Cut Pro.  Thanks to Keri Hofer for her excellent, patient tutelage.

4/30: Great to be Eight

One thing as parents you really wish for your kids is that they they're well liked -- that they have friends.  We're very pleased that Aidan has developed this essential talent. 

It could very well be that his friends like him because he has this "I'm so tiny you can pick me up" quality.  Whatever works. 

Here's are the 5 things you need to know about Aidan's birthday party.

1.  Balloon fighting -- pictured.  Kids need to blow off steam.  Especially boys.  What better way then beating each other up with harmless balloons (and carrying Aidan around)? 

From the left:  Jamie, Ethan, Aidan and Kevin

2.  Pizza Hut pizza and breadsticks.  I entertained the kids simply by talking about Star Wars.  It's my gift and my curse.  I take that back.  It's my gift.  Ginger took care of Aubrie and chowed down on breadsticks. 

3.  Chuckie Cheese's.  At least we didn't have to eat Chuckie's tasteless pizza (see #2 above).  You can't say we're stupid, only half stupid.

4.  Ice cream sandwich cake topped with Oreo crumbs.  Ginger was inspired by another mommy and turned out this delicious treat.  Only one piece made it to the freezer and Oreo lover (but not Hydrox lover) Abby Trytko was served it the day after.

5.  Chemistry magic show.  A former scientist client of mine performs chemistry tricks at events, so I thought I would try.  I burned some cash, made pepper separate and lit a candle without even touching the wick.  Go here if you want to impress your kiddies -- though none of Aidan's friends were entirely impressed by me.  Practice the burning money trick, or it can become the "kids laugh at you because you suck at burning money" trick.

Living on a Shoestring Budget

This past Thursday, Ginger taught a class about living frugally. She's very good at living the principles she teaches.

I may have not completely overcome my profligate ways, but at least I recognize the value Ginger brings to the marriage in terms of economical and smart spending.

I didn't realize it was over $200,000 in value, however!

As part of the class, we prepared a spreadsheet on how much can be saved over one's lifetime (40 years) if a family did a few basic things to save money, from something simple as borrowing DVDs from the library instead of buying them to something as difficult (at least in this day and age) as giving up cell phones and cable TV.

By only doing 10 of these things--there are many more--the frugal family saves $270,000 over the family that does not do these things.

Another data point. It would take a part-time worker 66 years to pay for these extra "indulgences". Whether you agree or disagree with the details, we could all find ways to trim expenses and still be happy. In fact, frugal living === happy living.

Click on the spreadsheet below for all the gory details. Email Ginger if you want her complete handout on Living on a Shoestring Budget.

Precocious Tomato Feet

Ginger asked me to "tweet" a story about her and Aubrie in an email, but I can't fit it into 140 characters. Here's the story:

"I was reading a book about hearts and blood vessels and blood components to Aubrie when she pointed the arch of her foot and said, "My foot hurts. Maybe it's from reading this book."

Then we both had a good laugh.

She's already getting tomato feet at such a young age. She's very precocious."

Jessie's Girl

Aidan and I tried a little experiment this past week. We hummed the tune to "Jessie's Girl" (Rick Springfield).

Later, we heard Ginger singing it...for the entire day.

Blast from the 80s past:

Reminders of Summerbridge

It's very rare that Ginger forwards me an email. So when she does, I read it.

This one had a link to a YouTube video of a 50-plus Slovenian acapela/jazz group called "Perpetuum Jazzile" (with its own very beat boxer) singing their version of Toto's Out of Africa. Ginger loves this song, that's why she sent me the email.

The Toto song opens with a simulated storm: the group's members rub their hands (simulating the start of the rain), then snap their fingers and progress to stomping their feet (mimicking thunder). I remember doing this exact same thing at Summerbridge, a school for underprivileged kids who want to actually learn during the summer.

What's that saying? Nothing is new.

But the video is enjoyable so here it is. A little research shows that their "Out of Africa" video received 1,000,000 views, making them the first Slovenian group to accomplish this task.

Their programmer says that they will be making compilations of other groups' songs, including those of Billy Joel and ABBA. If you like the Bee Gees, then you're in luck! I will make a request for a "They Might be Giants" medley.

Finding Utah

For 2 1/2 weeks, the kids and mommy along with aunt Melna and Grandma Scott hung out with Ginger's sister's family, the Crocketts.

My impressions based on multiple phone calls:

+Aidan loves computer games (he wouldn't talk to me until the last day)
+Aubrie loves uncle Richard. He's "funny."
+Ginger loves moving rocks and pulling weeds. The goal of the trip was to help the Crockett's move to Missouri. Mission sorta accomplished!

Enjoy ze slideshow.

Only One Has to Know How to Dance

Or maybe no one?

Good Times, Encore

Manoj, my best friend from Cornell University, stopped by our Homewood homestead. After whipping me in badminton, he made up for it, bestowing Monopoly upon my son. You can imagine what we spent all Saturday doing. (It wasn't Saturday buffet.)