Current Anderson Fad: Kenken Puzzles

So Jeff and I seem to find an activity that we enjoy, and then we do it all the time. Past fads include Text Twist (a game on Jeff's palm where you rearrange letters to spell words), Set (a card game), and Ticket to Ride (a board game). While we still enjoy these games and play them every once in a while, we seem to focus primarily on one game at a time.

Our current favorite pasttime is Kenken puzzles. They're not as popular as Sudoku puzzles (yet), but they appeared in The Reader's Digest in October of last year, as well as the New York Times on Thanksgiving. And you can buy Kenken books at Borders and Barnes and Nobles.

Here are the rules for playing (posted on the official website http://www.kenken.com/, my comments are italisized):

1. Choose a grid size.

2. Fill in the numbers from 1 to grid size. (Ex: 1 through 4 for a 4x4)

3. Do not repeat a number in any row or column. (Similar to Sudoku)

4. The numbers in each heavily outlined set of squares, called cages, must combine (in any order) to produce the target number in the top corner using the mathematical operation indicated.

5. Cages with just one square should be filled in with the target number in the top corner.

6. A number can be repeated within a cage as long as it is not in the same row or column.

Jeff and I like playing for free on-line on the kenken website, where they post a new set of puzzles every day, ranging from 4x4 to 9x9. You can also find puzzles on the NY Times and Reader's Digest websites. We play just about every day, and it's fun to see how we're getting better. We like playing together, because we have different strengths in our logic and check each other's thinking.

I encourage you to try it out! It's a great exercise for your brain. If you only want to play for a few minutes, do one of the smaller puzzles, like a 4x4. But if you get hooked and are up for a challenge, work your way up to a 9x9 (when we first started, we couldn't complete the 9x9; then it would take us about an hour to finish; today, we completed one in 26 min).

Summer is here!!!

Well, Christine and I haven't written lately and its about time. I have to say we have definitely enjoyed the nice weather recently. We are trying to take advantage of this nice weather because you never know when it might snow again. [shudder] So we had some fun outdoors this past week.
Monday we had a little family home evening at the park. We decided to go play bocce ball. We got a bocce ball set at Christine's bridal shower and hadn't played with the set since we got it. So we headed over to the park and had a great time playing. It was fun when people would stop with a question about the game or say how much fun the game is. It is not very often that people play bocce ball in the park. It was a close game with a come from behind victory (I won). It was definitely loads of fun.
Then after we got home, I checked a message on my cell and found out that some of our friends were playing volleyball that night so we ran over to their apartment complex and played sand volleyball for about an hour. People were impressed by my jump serving and overall playing ability. People are often suprised because they don't expect much from a short guy, I guess. Anyway it is always fun to impress friends who haven't seen me play before.
We also enjoyed the weather on Friday evening. Some friends of ours invited us to go up the canyon and roast hot dogs and marshmallows and have smores. It was loads of fun getting to know some of our fellow ward couples with no kids. We did a little hiking and playing a game around the camp fire. There was little creek next to our camp and a nice little waterfall not far from the camp fire. Christine decided she would cross a branch that had fallen across the creek. Then she crossed a different branch on the way back - one that was really slippery and sure enough took a few steps in the creek. It was all fine because she just took her shoes & socks off when we got back to camp and dryed them out by the fire. We played a fun game where you ask silly questions and everyone answers secretly and the person asking the question tries to guess which person wrote which response. We weren't very good at guessing, but we both got each other's right.
All in all, we hope to do a lot of fun things this summer. We look forward to doing some day hikes and getting some good outdoors time.

Mormon Women

I got this poem in an e-mail from a friend of mine. I felt like sharing it after my sister-in-law Rachel posted her thoughts and insights from a Women's Conference that she attended last week.
If you, or someone you know has ever felt overwhelmed by all they feel they need to do, Vickie Gunther of Redlands, California, wrote this hilarious poem, Dr Seuss style, about how much LDS women try to take on. David B Marsh used it at Women's Conference and Vickie gave permission to share it.
Even if you've read it before, it's fun to read again. I know that sometimes I feel like this, too.

The Girl in a Whirl
By "Dr.Sue" (a.k.a. Vicke Gunther)

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do if you only knew how.
I study the scriptures one hour each day;
I bake, I upholster, I scrub, and I pray.
I always keep all the commandments completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.
I help in their classroom! I sew all they wear!
I drive them to practice! I cut all their hair!
I memorize the names of the General Authorities,
I focus on things to be done by priorities.
I play the piano! I bless with my talents!
My toilets all sparkle! My check books all balance!
Each week each child gets a one-on-one date;
I attend all my meetings (on time! never late!)
I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But, that is not all! Oh no, That is not all.

I track my bad habits 'till each is abolished;
Our T-shirts are ironed! My toe nails are polished!
Our family home evenings are always delightful;
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.
I do genealogy faithfully, too,
It's easy to do all the things I have to do!
I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;
I know all the names of each youth in the stake!
I read to my children! I help all my neighbors!
I bless the community, too with my labors.
I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;
My visiting teaching is done the first day!
(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.
It's the least I can do for my cherished ward Sisters.)
I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each "lost lamb" on my Primary roll.
I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all.

I write in my journal! I sing in the choir!
Each day, I write "thank yous" to those I admire.
My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!
My kids got straight A's! and their bedrooms are clean.
I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautiful groomed for my honey.
I go to the temple at least once a week;
I change the car's tires! I fix the sink's leak!
I grind my own wheat and bake all our bread;
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.
I make sure I rotate our two-year supply
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!
These things are not hard; 'tis good if you do them;
You can if you try! Just set goals and pursue them!
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!
"It's easy!" she said and then she dropped dead!