The Boys Are Getting Ready For Their Legoland Trip Next Month -- January 14, 2026

Updates 

Hey Dad, So I think we got all the things reserved and ordered for this trip. 

Again, Tim and I are so grateful and thankful for your generosity. 

We took advantage of discounts we could find, mostly through TIm's work -- including the $7 off/ticket for the San Diego Zoo. You have been very generous with your Christmas and my birthday money (got that check yesterday) so if you want us to cover any of these expenses just let us know. 

Levi is really looking forward to see zebras and Judah is eager to see more turtles. 

As for Legoland, I think they will be so surprised. Levi has been scouring my old brochures and park guides. 

We will definitely get them each their own guides, assuming they still make them. We also talked to the boys about ALL the gift shops at Legoland (I was looking at the website) and explained that day 1, we can look and write down ideas of things they want to buy and then on the 2nd day, we can so our shopping. 

 (I will encourage them to look for things that are either hard to find elsewhere/park specific -- i.e., nothing we can easily find on Amazon.) Though, we did go ahead and get the 3 minifigure package for them -- apparently you can trade with certain employees who will have minifigures on their badges. So no matter what, on day one, they will each go back to the hotel with 3 minifigures. (The cost was the same as if we bought the random build your own ones (not the ones in cases) at Bricks and Minfigures stores. Every time we go to the stores, they want to build one, so we decided we couldn't pass this up for them.). 

They want a mug (to match mommy and daddy) and a t-shirt. So I told Tim, packing smart means we pack less t-shirts knowing they will probably get at least 2 new ones in CA -- Legoland and maybe the zoo or from a beach vendor. 

Costs:

• Best Western Carlsbad $500 
• Legoland 2-day $286 
• Zoo $264 
• Car Rental $903 
• Best Western Huntington Beach $387 

Thanks again for everything, Laura.

 

 

 

Original Post

 Judah and Levi will be in southern California next month. This will be a lot of firsts for them, including the first time they will be flying! Wow.

Studying the map of Legoland. They are doing Legoland this year. Disneyland will have to wait until they are a bit older. 

For their Legoland trip, they will be a month shy of their sixth birthday. Absolutely the best age to visit Legoland. 

The Boy That Loves Hats -- November 30, 2025

 

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Family Vignette

Our five-year-old twin grandsons are home-schooled in Portland by two exceptionally well-grounded and highly educated parents.

The home school program is very well organized. 

Our daughter sent us this note today: 

My favorite math moment today was when Judah had to solve "8+8" in his workbook. He had to draw out the dots and then count them because he didn't know that particular problem off the top of his head. Thinking out loud, he said, "So, I need to draw four sets of four dots because "4+4" is 8, and I have two eights." -- sent to us December 15, 2025.

Wow, what a character.  

Flashback -- Christmas Pasts -- November 29, 2025

 

Thanksgiving -- 2025

Olivia's visit. Olivia and friend(s) drove up to Portland, OR, from Palo Alto, CA, to visit Judah and Levi.

The Art Page -- Judah's Helicopter -- November 23, 2025

 

Low Iron Saturation And Iron-Deficient Anemia -- October 29, 2025

Question: What does it mean when someone is said to have low iron saturation?

Low iron saturation (transferrin saturation -- TSAT) means your blood has a low amount of iron, which can lead to iron-deficiency anemia, a condition where the body doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen effectively. This can cause symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath because your body's tissues aren't getting enough oxygen. Causes can include poor iron intake, blood loss, or issues with iron absorption.

Anemia has those symptoms. Low iron saturation precedes anemia but shouldn't symptoms.

Question: Among otherwise healthy five year olds, how common is transferrin saturation (TSAT) level below the normal range? 

Answer:

It is not uncommon for healthy 5-year-olds to have a low transferrin saturation (TSAT) level, as iron deficiency without anemia is frequent in children, especially in certain global regions. Studies have shown that in a group of otherwise healthy children, a significant percentage can have TSAT values below 15%, even when their iron stores are considered replete. This suggests that a TSAT level below the normal range is a relatively common finding, reflecting low iron stores or the early stages of iron deficiency, which doesn't always present with anemia. 

Why TSAT can be low in healthy children

• Iron deficiency:

  TSAT is a direct measure of how much iron is bound to transferrin, so a low level indicates that there is less iron available in the blood for cells to use. 

  What this means
  

• A TSAT below the normal range (typically 15%-50%) can be an early indicator of iron deficiency, even before anemia develops. 
  
  

Iron deficiency without anemia:

This is a common condition where iron stores are low but hemoglobin levels are still normal, which means the child is not yet anemic. 

Age:

Iron deficiency is most common in infancy and early childhood, and a child of 5 years is still in this developmental period where iron needs can be high. 

Diet:

A child's diet plays a significant role. Vegetarian or vegan diets, or diets that are not rich in iron, can lead to lower iron levels. 

Nutritional status:

Nutritional issues can affect iron levels, even in children who are otherwise considered healthy. 

Limited resources:

In resource-limited countries, the prevalence of iron deficiency is much higher due to limited access to iron-rich foods. 

It is important to consult a doctor, as iron deficiency can affect brain function and development even without anemia. 

Other indicators of iron status, such as serum ferritin, should be considered alongside TSAT to get a complete picture. 

 

"New" 1931 Chevrolet Farm Truck

 

Stock photo: 

Brought home from the farm in late September, 2025:

Photo taken in late September, 2024. Garaged in "accessory building" built single-handedly by Tim.