Alexa the Author

Alexa wanted to write a story when she got home from school today.

Here she is hard at work.

I scribed for her some and some she wrote on her own. Chloe help with some spelling too. She wanted to post it on here, so here you have it:

Alexa's Princess Story

I begin with a princess. She lived in a castle. Inside that castle was good. The princess loved to play and play with lots of her pets. She had lots of different pets. They were very nice and cute. She was never bored. If she got bored well who knew so I go on. She was a very happy princess. She was pretty. She loved to go outside. Her favorite animal was bunnies. Boing! Boing!


I am not actually sure it if is done yet or not as she had to stop to eat dinner.  

Blast from the Past

Little House

Alexa gave this playhouse to Chloe for her birthday.

Chloe had seen one in a catalog and announced that she wanted one. I had my doubts about how much she would play with it, but Alexa wanted to give it to her sister. It has been folded up for the last month and a half. She has worked on coloring it some. I decided to set it up for them this weekend. Alexa enjoyed it.

She and her dolls had a party in there.

Ice Rink

We have really had no snow to speak of this winter so far. Probably because I got the kids snowshoes for Christmas... very funny Mother Nature. On the up side due to the massive snow, changing to freezing rain, changing to rain storm yesterday; I now have a potential skating rink in the backyard.

So we can use the ice skates I got them for Christmas last year!

Friday's Photo... on Saturday

I walk past this scene about twenty times a day. It is possible that it is funny only to me. A few weeks back I engaged the kids in a massive clean out of toys. We donated about six bags of stuff to Goodwill. I tried to get rid of this doll house too. I do that every time as it is HUGE and they really don't play with it. Alexa wasn't ready to part with it yet and as proof that she would still use it she settled in later that day to play dolls... for about ten minutes.

At any rate, the dad has been digging into the fridge ever since. I am sure the humor in this comes from my life as a divorced parent, or maybe I am just sleep deprived.

Backpack Finds

Gratitude

I am forever amazed at the ability of things to simply work themselves out. I have been working on not worrying and building my faith in this fact. It is sometimes hard to do, but it is true. The universe hands us exactly what we need. We should say thank you for that. Good manners dictate that when you are given something you should say thank you. So thank you. I am grateful for the all of the wonderful people and events that have come into my life. They are well placed and much appreciated. And while I do know all too well that bad things happen to good people, more often than not it is the energy that we put into this world that comes back to us. Often too those bad things teach us so much about ourselves and others that we can take those skills and pay it forward. So thank you world for everything and thank you to you for reading this. I appreciate the time you took to listen to me.

Tuesday Morning

Before you leave the house in the morning it is good to take a moment and snuggle with those closest to you.

Then you should tuck them in for the day.

Don't forget to feed the pets before you head out the door too.

Things That Go On While I am Cooking Dinner

It is also what goes on when a certain creative nine year old has lost computer privileges for the week.

Sunday Afternoon

You want to settle right in and read your latest issue of Stone Soup.

You might even be so into it you forget you haven't put your laundry away yet.

Then you could snuggle in and watch a movie.

Pooh Bear

So I missed a day. Remember my goal to post something each day... even if it was just a photo. Well I missed last night. Sorry about that. I actually went out with friends for dinner. So I will catch us up and post two today. Really I am just avoiding the pile of grading I need to do since the grading quarter closed yesterday.

Alexa and I have been reading a chapter book just for her at bedtime while Chloe gets her shower. Chloe said she didn't want to hear it, although she has joined us the last few nights and laughed rather heartily at some of the parts. We have been reading the new Winnie the Pooh book that came out in 2009.

Obviously this is not written by the original pooh author A.A. Milne. It is written by David Benedictus who writes a wonderfully humble dedication and humorous exposition at the beginning of the book as he tries to pick up more or less where A.A. Milne left off. Eeyore points out the "He'll get it wrong see if he doesn't. What does he know about donkeys?" And Benedictus admits, "Of course Eeyore is right, because I don't know; I can only guess." I liked that, and the book seems to be written with the approval of the estates of the original author and illustrator. We have enjoyed the story immensely and now Alexa wants to have a Winnie the Pooh themed birthday. She also came home with her own version of  Pooh she drew in school the other day.

Any book that makes her think about it during the day is a mark of a well enjoyed adventure.

The Un-Valentines

I dislike Valentines Day. We have been through this before so there really isn't a need to get into the whys of this fact. I do try, however, to approach this holiday with at least fake enthusiasm. So last week while I was picking up picture frames at Micheal's I spotted Valentines Day stuff and thought, "You know I should get this now before it is all sold out." My kids like to make their class Valentines. I purchased some blank heart shaped cards and bought a bucket of foam heart stickers for them to decorate. I figured the head start would allow for them to make them as they wanted to over the next few weeks. Making the whole process more enjoyable since I don't have to hover over them pushing them on... "Come on just 8 more there are still more names on your list."

I am also still remembering having to rush the dog to the vet last year after he climbed onto the table opened the plastic containers (that were also taped together for added safety) and ate the chocolates intended for Alexa's preschool class. Nothing says an enjoyable holiday like a $300 vet bill to get the dog's stomach pumped. At any rate this year I opted for Valentine pencils for the kids to give out.  I feel fairly certain the dog will not eat them... well moderately certain that he doesn't need his stomach pumped if he does.

Alexa was overjoyed with the sight of Valentines last weekend and happily decorated all of hers.

Cute huh? I tucked them away for the coming weeks so that we could address them when the teacher sent home the list of names. Now imagine my surprise when she arrived home yesterday with a newsletter indicated that they would be celebrating "Friendship Day" instead. Could I please send in a treat for the whole class instead of individual items as not all the kids can participate. You see why I hate this holiday so much? Anyone got any ideas of how to make 24 cards and pencils into a group friendship gift?

Breakfast Requests

I made blueberry muffins this past weekend.Alexa has been eating them for breakfast. This morning she realized that there were none left. "Can't you make some more today mommy? They are my favorite breakfast." When I said maybe I could she asked for blueberry and raspberry ones.

Because you know I have nothing better to do on a Thursday night when I get home from work.

Teacher Alexa

Alexa got her Christmas present in the mail from Grammie Sharon today. Her very own school set. She was really excited to get this. Grammie we hope you are feeling better as you can see she really enjoys it.

Getting her supplies all set up.

Using her pointer.

Teaching the class.

Her students.

Board Game Design

Chloe designed a board game. It was done to earn a badge for Girl Scouts. This is what she came up with. She ran out of time at the last meeting and had to finish it over the weekend.

She had the new babysitter play it several times to make sure it worked. It is called Puppy Hide and Seek. I think we can sell it to fund her college education.

Puzzle Girl

Who doesn't want a three foot Hello Kitty puzzle?

Alexa Writing

I was going through Alexa's backpack yesterday. She brought her December writing journal home from school. I love these looks into what my kids are doing at school. It is important to keep in mind that Alexa is in kindergarten. For people not use to reading kids work as they are in the early stages of writing it can be tricky. I will translate the best I can for you. There was some of it she and I talked about together and even she couldn't remember all of what she was writing about. They write on a  different page each day. These pages do not fit together in a large story and should be read in isolation. Also her teacher stresses with them to write the sounds they hear in the words. English is an extremely difficult language to learn as there are so many trick silent letters.

"Once upon a time there was a mom the mom." (She tells me she didn't have time to finish this one).

 "My mom cooking." (I do often appear this perplexed while cooking).

"My Mom is going to a friends house." (Dig my wheels)

"My mom is running in the. " (She said she meant to write race too)

"My mom is at the" (When we read this together she said, "It was suppose to say gas station, but I have no idea how to spell that.")

I was really trying to figure out what this one said. I was escpecially curious to know who this guy is with me. All we could figure out together was "My mom is ______________ my mom______." She couldn't remember what she was trying to write either. Darn it. He is so hunky looking too. I was really wanting to know who it was.

" I see my sisters birthday. Her birthday is today." I read this to her and she was so excited. She said, "Did I write real words mommy? You could read it all?" You did baby you really did.

Sewing Away

It was a high of five degrees here today. That is five as in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. I want to make sure you all appreciate that. The sun came out and it warmed up from -10 to 5. Yeah. Winter. Needless to say we didn't go out much today. Well we did take Alexa over to a friend's house this afternoon to play for a bit. They live six blocks away. We drove. It gave me a good reason to make sure the car would start. Good car.

That left Chloe all on her own for a few hours. She decided to work on a sewing project kit I got her for her birthday.

She worked really hard on it and wanted to make sure you know she learned how to do four new kinds of stitches.

It was an owl kit. She started with the small one. There is a big one to match it.

She is giving the small one to her doll Lily.

We are off again tomorrow. It might get wild and crazy and warm up to ten or something.

Row Row Row Your Boat

Remember the oar I took home from our vacation to Maine?

I finally settled on what to do with it. I ordered large prints of a few pictures I took while on the island. The kind that would 100 times better if I owned a good camera. However we work with what we have here people. I went to Micheal's today and took it as a good sign when I got there and saw the sign for buy one get one free on picture frames. So I framed and matted the pictures and tah dah....

I don't really care for the shell thing on the right but it needs a little something for balance and I was playing with wire, shells, and sea glass and hot glue. I also noticed after took this one of the pictures was crooked so that has been fixed. Makes it feel all Mainy doesn't it?

Winter Showed Up

Cold Floors

warm toes.

To Aunt Andrea

You worked so hard on Kitty. You should know they sleep together every night.

She is very loved.