Friday, March 14, 2014
"Hear Me Now?"
SOME one-on-one time afforded by Buggy's later nap period enabled Dad to share his ear buds with EJ.
He was quite fascinated with the sounds coming through the tiny speakers.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Reading Time
THE Twins "read" more than just books. They like to "read" anything they can get their hands on, including mail flyers.
Above buggy "reads" a flyer from a political candidate. Don't worry wannabe governor, she is not old enough to vote against you (yet). EJ reads a flyer from a fitness club.
Reading at their level currently involves skills like holding the material in the correct, upright, direction, paging through the book from front to back, using fingers to identify words and knowing the difference between words and pictures, identifying the beginning of a paragraph, and moving left to right sentence by sentence toward the end of the paragraph. They also utter "words" like Mom and Dad as they move through the text. While they cannot translate the text into words yet, their tone varies in pitch and frequency like Mom and Dad.
Reading at their level currently involves skills like holding the material in the correct, upright, direction, paging through the book from front to back, using fingers to identify words and knowing the difference between words and pictures, identifying the beginning of a paragraph, and moving left to right sentence by sentence toward the end of the paragraph. They also utter "words" like Mom and Dad as they move through the text. While they cannot translate the text into words yet, their tone varies in pitch and frequency like Mom and Dad.
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| Caught reading! |
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| And illegally sucking on a binky! |
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| "Whatever Dad. Go away." |
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| "I'm done. Would you like to borrow it?" |
Making Gains
DAD has been doing some reading on weight training. He has recently become convinced that he is not making gains in building muscle mass because he is not lifting heavy enough weight. So he added more weight. Progress so far? Last December would lift 35 lbs. with one arm; now he curls 70 lbs.
That is progress.
The Twins love to work out with Dad. EJ can lift 6 lbs. from the floor to overhead. Buggy, who doesn't seem to make as much effort, can lift 4 lbs. overhead.
Dad has also been influenced by a school of thought that dismisses the importance of cardio or interval training. Some claim that increase in heart rate accompanied by lifting weight is sufficient. He thinks the idea has merit, but those proponents overlook something important about cardio; it is fun!
That is progress.
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| 70 lbs. plus bar gets lifted to shoulder height. |
Dad has also been influenced by a school of thought that dismisses the importance of cardio or interval training. Some claim that increase in heart rate accompanied by lifting weight is sufficient. He thinks the idea has merit, but those proponents overlook something important about cardio; it is fun!
New Toy
NEW Family Mom hit the twin's club resale this weekend past and snagged a few bargains. This one turned out to be a hit.
The hard plastic wheels slide easily on the bare floors. EJ had a blast being towed along by dad and flung to spin round and round in circles.
Buggy too took a turn at pulling EJ around.
EJ figured out it was easier for him to push rather than pull his sister around.
As parents of twins, one never knows when to buy only one or two of something. This they seem to share well because the one can ride while the other pushes or pulls. Not every toy can be mutually and simultaneously enjoyed.
Buggy puts toys in the cart, EJ throws them out. Ha! That was too fun to watch.
The hard plastic wheels slide easily on the bare floors. EJ had a blast being towed along by dad and flung to spin round and round in circles.
Buggy too took a turn at pulling EJ around.
EJ figured out it was easier for him to push rather than pull his sister around.
As parents of twins, one never knows when to buy only one or two of something. This they seem to share well because the one can ride while the other pushes or pulls. Not every toy can be mutually and simultaneously enjoyed.
Buggy puts toys in the cart, EJ throws them out. Ha! That was too fun to watch.
Roasting Red Bell Peppers
FAILING is just another way of learning how not to do something.
Dad wanted to roast whole red peppers recently for use in red sauce. He had the temperature too high (425 F.). They burned. He lowered the temperature to 350 and they did nicely thereafter.
He will cut off the burnt parts.
Applying heat to the cell walls of vegetables (proteins too), causes them to excrete water. Likely the water entrained in the cells expands as it changes phase from liquid to condensation (what we normally call steam). Anyone who knows differently feel free to leave an explanatory comment below. Some of it evaporates, much of it re-condenses in the pan below. That water has flavor. Still it is largely lost. Dad wants to capture that lost water, well the flavor anyway. He is doubtful that roasted red peppers would flavor his red sauce as well as as uncooked peppers simmered directly in the sauce.
Also, removing water from the vegetables concentrates its flavor. The sugars are really easy to taste after cooking.
While cooking, his eyes teared up from the arerosolization of capsaicin. Who knew bell peppers had any? He would recommend keeping little ones away and using plenty of ventilation.
Dad wanted to roast whole red peppers recently for use in red sauce. He had the temperature too high (425 F.). They burned. He lowered the temperature to 350 and they did nicely thereafter.
He will cut off the burnt parts.
Applying heat to the cell walls of vegetables (proteins too), causes them to excrete water. Likely the water entrained in the cells expands as it changes phase from liquid to condensation (what we normally call steam). Anyone who knows differently feel free to leave an explanatory comment below. Some of it evaporates, much of it re-condenses in the pan below. That water has flavor. Still it is largely lost. Dad wants to capture that lost water, well the flavor anyway. He is doubtful that roasted red peppers would flavor his red sauce as well as as uncooked peppers simmered directly in the sauce.
Also, removing water from the vegetables concentrates its flavor. The sugars are really easy to taste after cooking.
While cooking, his eyes teared up from the arerosolization of capsaicin. Who knew bell peppers had any? He would recommend keeping little ones away and using plenty of ventilation.
Friday, March 7, 2014
New Toys
THE early morning sun illuminates the Twins new shopping cart.
Dad showed them how to ride and push each other around. They actually take turns riding and pushing.
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