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About this Blog
Thus continue the lessons of Pinnockfamily.com, created by the parents of Allie and Grace for the friends and relatives of Allie and Grace.
So follow along as we wake up, smell the coffee and try to keep pace with the girls, whose adventures will take us -- and their toys, dishes, clothes and tempers -- down the staircase and back again, from breakfast until bedtime and every bath in between.
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Tuesday, August 05, 2008
A midday getaway
This weekend the girls conned mom into a trip to the health club. (Actually, begged, pleaded and bartered is more like it.) The mission: Pool time.
And our timing couldn't have been better. Not another soul was in the pool for the duration of our stay, leaving the girls to their own devices.
Which meant only one thing: water noodle rodeo!
posted by Geoff 9:05 AM
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Checkout time at the hive
It's no secret that Dad does not react well to bee stings, so we're always on the lookout for nests built by our sneaky wasp friends.
Well, Allie found a mother ship yesterday in a brick wall behind our storage shed. The nest, about the size of a child's fist, was crawling with several wasps when Dad saw it this morning. But a quick shot with the death ray blasted some of them straight backward and dropped a few others onto their backs.
Let's just say it's not crawling any more. Buh-bye ....
posted by Geoff 11:10 AM
Friday, August 01, 2008
So we're movin' on up ... to the East Side ....
Allie was more than engaged in the WebKinz Web site today, throwing a party, moving furniture, playing games and buying things for her virtual pets.
But her party plans grabbed Dad's attention.
"I moved the swimming pool to the front yard," Allie crowed. "And I put a couch out there. And a chair."
"Hey," Dad said to himself, "that sounds like our old neighbors."
posted by Geoff 12:35 PM
Thursday, July 31, 2008
They call it a driveway for a reason
Allie had a hankering to shoot some hoops yesterday, so out the door we went to the girls' new adjustable basket.
There were two requirements:
1) All basketball outings must be done in uniform -- as in, the Upward Basketball uniform.
2) And we must use the official Upward ball Allie was given at the league awards ceremony last winter.
The scoring system, however, slowed the pace a bit. Gracie insisted on keeping score, which is great. But she also insisted on forming the numbers -- after every basket -- with twigs and sticks.
posted by Geoff 9:47 AM
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
So this is what it's like to be an empty-nester
The girls have been engaged the past few weeks by a family of robins in a plum tree just off our deck.
The activity heightened this week as mommy robin continuously brought food to her three hungry -- and boisterous -- babies. Yesterday morning, we saw one of the wee ones out of the nest, perched on a branch. Today, they're all gone.
Their absence -- and the accompanying silence -- are noticeable. But before they went out on their own, we were able to snap some quick photos. And below, check out video of mom feeding her family.
posted by Geoff 8:49 AM
Monday, July 28, 2008
Birds of a feather
Overheard when Mom and Allie were cleaning Georgie's birdcage.
Mom: "He's almost as messy as you."
Allie: "Hey! At least I don't miss the toilet."
posted by Geoff 2:36 PM
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
A summer visitor
The girls were thrilled and amazed yesterday when dad pointed out a backyard intruder.
The deer calmly wandered across the grass, looked around but disturbed nothing. And within minutes of us sneaking out the door for a closer look, he soared over the fence and onto the neighbor's property.
Of course, the girls immediately went to work on a warning system -- hanging a small bell from a tree. Because, you know, he'll ring the bell next time he stops by.
posted by Gina 8:56 PM
Another exciting day on 15th Avenue
Dad was working at the downstairs computer Wednesday when he heard a noise coming from the back room.
Dad: "Allie, what are you doing back there?"
Allie: "Watching paint dry."
posted by Geoff 6:37 PM
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
From the mind of our little girl
With the end of the school year drawing ever closer, the girls have been bringing home projects, journals and the like -- transporting a fine mess from their classrooms to their bedrooms, as it were.
As evidence that Gracie must have a secret life, we submit this journal entry dated April 29 and titled "My family:"
"I love my sister. We play Polly Pocket and we play Barbies. The thing I love most is the trampoline. My dad is a hunter and a worker. My mom is a barber and works at the Spokesman-Review, too. ... I love my family."
The question is, which family?
posted by Geoff 10:23 AM
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
A giant step for mobility
So it came to pass that Gracie learned how to ride a bike.
In a Sunday afternoon session that was much less stressful than anticipated, Dad took the girls to their school, home of a nice big, flat blacktop. While Allie took off on a ride around the playground, Dad instructed Gracie to ride across the blacktop with her training wheels on, as fast as she could go. He met her on the other side and removed the training wheels.
And lo, the little one didn't spin her wheels one bit in the learning process. In a matter of minutes -- seriously, less than five -- Gracie was doing laps on the playground with Dad jogging alongside.
When they got home, just to make it official, Dad looked at the girls and said: "Everyone who can ride a bike, raise your hand." Gracie's was the first to go up.
posted by Geoff 8:53 AM
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Color that girl elated
How do you turn a frown upside down? Well, with unexpected good news, of course..
In the wide world of Webkinz -- those cute, fluffy animals which also exist in an Internet universe -- Allie is perched upon Cloud 9.
Our little brainiac came home from school yesterday, utterly and tearfully disappointed that she would not be attending an engagement with one of her friends.
Enter the local Hallmark store, which recently sponsored a Webkinz coloring contest. Imagine Allie's surprise when she listened to a phone message announcing she had won the contest.
The personality shift was so sudden, she could have been Sybil.
Mom took her up to Hallmark to collect her booty: some cute figurines and cool bookmarks.
And at least one kid's day ended on a happy note.
posted by Geoff 10:56 AM
Thursday, May 01, 2008
She's a pickin', and we're a grinnin'
The girls had their day in the spotlight today after an all-school Mass honoring Mary.
As part of "Grandparents/Special Friends Day," students, parents and guests in a packed Saint Peter's church looked on as the girls participated with their All Saints classmates in a well-orchestrated (i.e., short) school concert.
But the big moment for Allie came afterward, when she was among five third- and fourth-graders who took turns sitting alone in front of the congregation to perform guitar solos.
Allie played the Servant Song, which she learned at home without the benefit of sheet music. She taught herself the tune from memory and wrote down the notes as she went.
She performed her solo flawlessly, deftly strumming twice through the song before exiting to a warm round of applause and a few hoots and hollers.
Watch the video.
posted by Geoff 11:47 AM
Clearing out a little room
After much pushing, pulling, twisting and angst, Gracie has one fewer teeth in her mouth today.
The renowned All Saints loose-tooth puller, Miss Vogel (who also happens to be her teacher), did the dirty deed yesterday afternoon. For her patience and pain, Gracie came home with a lovely tooth necklace. The little chopper was safely tucked inside a small molar-shaped box.
And to add a little frosting to the cake, Gracie woke up this morning to a gift from the tooth fairy.
All we can say is .... cha-ching.
posted by Geoff 11:41 AM
Monday, April 28, 2008
No language barrier here ...
While attending Take Your Daughter or Son to Work Day last week at the newspaper, Gracie met a little boy who spoke with a southern accent.
She wasn't sure how to react when he started talking to her.
So when she responded, she talked with a southern accent, too.
posted by Geoff 2:34 PM
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Welcome to the numbers game
It was snacktime in the household, and the girls had a hankering for a cookie.
"You can each have a couple," Dad told them, acknowledging the goodies' small size.
"A couple means three," Gracie said matter-of-factly.
"Oh?" Dad said. "Then we have a couple loads of laundry for you to fold."
Gracie took two cookies.
posted by Geoff 9:32 AM
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Not your average speed bump
Allie was buzzing around on her scooter today when she zeroed in on a target -- there appeared to be a banana peel in the carport.
It never had a chance. Allie made quick work of the obstacle, neatly pressing it into the concrete.
It was grand fun, she thought, until ...
... she realized it wasn't a banana peel after all.
It was a hunk of cat poop.
posted by Geoff 8:06 PM
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
We know who's in charge
Dad recently uncovered Allie's homespun newspaper, which she created a couple months ago on several pages of construction paper.
Most revealing, other than the normal scandalous, racy tabloid-type stuff, were the credits:
Editor: Allie Pinnock
Co-editor: Allie Pinnock
Photo editor: Allie Pinnock
Headline editor: Allie Pinnock
Photo taker: Allie Pinnock
Comicer: Gracie Pinnock
Boss: Allie Pinnock
Crossword editor: Allie Pinnock
Crossword maker: Allie Pinnock
posted by Geoff 8:57 AM
Monday, April 07, 2008
Library Dad has navigational issues
Mom is tied up in some specialized work training today, so Allie was hopeful that Dad could fulfill the duties of a Library Mom.
Shouldn't be a problem, Dad said this morning -- other than he'd never ventured into the All Saints library.
So Allie made things simple: She drew him a map of the school.
posted by Geoff 12:51 PM
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Melting snow, hyperactive kids and The Hobbit
And if that makes no sense at all, allow us to explain:
1) We can see our entire backyard again, thanks to a steady rain on a 47-degree day.
2) The girls are bouncing off the walls because it's a bit too sloppy to go outdoors. Thank goodness school resumes tomorrow.
3) Allie claims she has run out of things to read, so we're introducing her to J.R.R. Tolkien. She polished off all seven Harry Potter books in a little more than a month, and read the rest of her Lemony Snicket books during spring break. It's a bit scary.
posted by Geoff 3:01 PM
Friday, April 04, 2008
Pacific Coast Highway goes both ways
And we traveled in both directions Thursday, first heading 20 miles south to the fishing town of Newport, then turning around at the end of the day and beginning the long trip home.
Among the highlight stops on the way to Newport: the gift shop at Cape Foulweather, the first named cape on the Oregon coast. (It was named in 1778 by Captain James Cook, the British navigator.) The girls later marveled at -- and posed in front of -- the 135-year-old Yaquina Head lighthouse, perched on an amazing lookout near Newport. While at the lighthouse the girls took an enjoyable trip through an interpretive center, watched thousands of screeching birds crowded onto a cliff above the angry bay, and checked out a small group of college students collecting whale-watching data for Oregon State University.
Further down the coast in Newport, the girls loaded up on memories. They could only describe as "totally awesome" the Undersea Gardens aquarium; the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum; and the Wax Works museum.
Mom and Dad agreed the museums were beyond cheesy. And Dad noted that the Undersea Gardens hadn't changed since he first watched the deep-sea show -- complete with a diver holding various sealife up to the many windows -- about 40 years ago. But the girls were stunned and amazed, and that was the whole point. And mom would second the motion that her lunch alone was worth the drive.
View vacation pictures: March 31 | April 1 | April 2 | April 3
posted by Geoff 3:30 PM
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Back at the beach
Day 3 in Lincoln City was a busy one. The girls were up early and down to the beach before the winds kicked up.
The highlights of the day: Another visit to an amazing starfish habitat at low tide, where the girls today saw hundreds (seriously) of huge starfish on the rocks and in the water; a trip to a way cool kite store; and a visit to a Lincoln City candy store that Dad visited many times as a child.
We're happy to report that the girls played in the sand for hours without suffering the indignity of a dog lifting his leg on their efforts. (See yesterday's entry.)
Coming up: A trek south to Newport and the Undersea Gardens -- another of Dad's favorite spots as a boy.
posted by Geoff 9:51 PM
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Day 2 in Lincoln City: Everyone's a critic
Allie used her new beach bucket this morning to build a sand castle.
Pedestrian traffic was light and the tide was going out, so her carefully crafted project seemed reasonably safe.
Until, that is, a Yorkshire terrier pranced up, made a quick inspection, lifted his leg and marked his territory.
View vacation pictures: March 31 | April 1.
posted by Geoff 4:23 PM
Monday, March 31, 2008
Coastal dreamin'
Today we made our second pilgrimmage to Lincoln City, Ore., where two years ago we discovered a wonderful no-frills motel with fireplaces, kitchens and private beach access.
The trek takes between 7 and 8 hours, but it's well worth it. We drove from snowy and foggy Eastern Washington to the sunny and cool climes of the Central Oregon coast.
The first day was a keeper, as the photo gallery will attest.
posted by Geoff 10:04 PM
So much for the experts
Either Allie is luckier than the rest of us, or she knows how to pick 'em.
Either way, she's richer today than she was yesterday.
Allie took over first place in The Spokesman-Review's NCAA Tournament bracket pool after the fourth round came to an end Sunday. For her efforts, she earned $45.75 and embarrassed the tarnation out of the 60 other folks -- all adults -- in the pool.
The capper: She still has a chance to win the final pot -- or another $230 or so. Stay tuned.
posted by Geoff 10:00 PM
Saturday, March 29, 2008
You sure it's called "spring" break?
On the first day of a much-anticipated vacation, the girls arose this morning to a lovely mess: three inches of snow -- and counting -- on the ground.
"This isn't springlike weather at all," Allie groused.
Indeed, old man winter has yet to let go. One of Dad's former colleagues, who now works at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, said it was snowing outside her office window yesterday.
And so it goes.
Gracie, however, isn't complaining much. She has a birthday party to attend today, and that means only one thing: a party dress.
posted by Geoff 7:41 AM
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