Creatures craftily cut by creative crew of kids

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

FROM THE SHUPEVILLE ZOO

CARVINGS BY GRACE, GRANT, JOHN AND EMILY

John

Emily

cat

dog

arms up

dad

Grant

mom

eyes

elephant

arms down

fish

baby

clap

hi

nose

mouth

Ok...so what's up with the eye chart you ask? 

These are the words my daughter (no, not emily) has learned to read the past month or so.  I finally caved and bought the "Your Baby Can Read" video set.

Do I really feel the need for my baby to read to be a success in life?  Ummm, NO!!  I was just way too curious if it would really work.  Plus I actually HAD a baby (well a very OLD baby) and a toddler about a year and a half ago when I bought it. 

No they really don't take pacifiers.  They were just being weird.

They never were very interested in the reading program at the time I bought it.  All of a sudden Grace has recently taken a liking to the flash cards that go along with the videos.  We play games with them and she likes to type the words on my computer. 

The other day I had her sitting on my lap while I set up my computer for her to type.  I started typing in the words from the video series and she kept identifying them correctly.  I really had no idea she knew so many.

At the end of the day, I have to admit my baby (now terrorist toddler who is almost three) CANNOT read because he won't even sit still for five minutes to watch the video.  What did I really expect, right?

My four year old can read about twenty words which is far from qualifying her for mensa status....not that I really put much importance on early achievement anyway.

Still,it was worth the price of the videos.  I satisfied my own curiosity.  In my unprofessional opinion, a person could probably use these videos and teach a baby to read, just not mine....and I am quite alright with that.  I think they are  too!

It's Quiz Time Again

This was Emily today moments before walking out the door to go to school.  The reason she was wearing her pajamas was....

     a)  she was running late (as usual)
     b)  mom hasn't done laundry in a month (almost true)
     c)  her brother dared her to do it
     d)  it was a drug induced decision

The correct answer would be D.

Today was 'wear your pj's to school day' for red ribbon week.  This is a week used to raise awareness among students about the dangers of drugs.  Personally, I think it has morphed into an excuse (like they need another one) to distract from the job of learning something while they're there.  No one asked my opinion though.

Oh look, John has his on too.

He was a little unsure about wearing his this year.  This is a total role reversal for these two.  This is the first time Emily has worn hers.  She's always been too shy to draw the attention to herself.  John on the otherhand has always loved the limelight.  I think the problem for him this year is that he is getting older and these things just don't seem "cool" to him anymore.  I think my fifth grader is quietly turning into a full blown adolescent right before my eyes!!  God help us all!!

As you can see, the younger one has no reservations about public wearing of pj's.  She even suggested that in all fairness she should be allowed to wear hers to Kroger today.  I nixed that idea....just not in the mood for the nuttiness.

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What is that on Grant's head you say?

Apparently he's been taking his fashion cues from Grace.  Those would be his big boy pants.

I am not quite sure the fascination with underpants on the head.  It's not like David or I walk around the house or anywhere for that matter with underwear stuck on our head....really!! 

It appears to be a thing with all of our kids though.  At the risk of the two older ones killing their mother, I could post pictures of them doing this same deed at about this age.

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DISCLAIMER

Contrary to photo evidence provided on this blog, my youngest son DOES OWN multiple shirts without bones printed on them.  He does however own two "bone" shirts which are his favorite right now and thus always on top of the pile in the drawer!!

Yes, I know!!! More Halloween!!!

My kids spent the better part of an hour avoid alligators that were lurking on our living room floor.....see them?  They're pink!

I am not looking forward to a long cold winter staying home to dodge the swine flu when it has already come to this kind of entertainment.  These are the desperate things usually reserved for February and March!!  Anyway, here it is.......

Aaannnd JUMP!

Oh!  Too bad!!  The gator got you!

Aannnnd JUMP!!

Much nicer this time...

Grace got in on the action too.  She's just too fast for my camera today.

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Tonight for some unknown reason (probably having to do with edible game pieces) my older two begged to play Halloween bingo with the younger two.

Grace is competitive....look.  She has two cards she's playing.

Grant did pretty well following along.

See?  John was eating the game pieces!

They ate the game pieces every time they cleared their card.  What's a little sugar buzz before bedtime??

To bed early tonight.......goodnight!!

Halloween (again)

Yep, we're still celebrating Halloween here.  We are quite the party family.  Today was Grace's preschool party....a Halloween party. 

All the schools here are now moving away from naming holidays.  They celebrate "seasons".....a fall party instead of Halloween....winter party instead of Christmas so as not to offend other religions......spring party instead of Easter.......you get the idea.  I am sure it is more than just our community doing this. 

The irony is that I send Grace to a church affiliated preschool.  At the church preschool they are not affraid to call it what it is and celebrate it in a traditional way.  The kids had a HALLOWEEN party and wore costumes and shouted trick-or-treat as they paraded the halls.  Simple common sense and seeing the innocent fun that it is for the kids.....now those are things I can appreciate.  I wish it was still like that for all kids.

Anyway, here's the pictures I took today during Grace's fall celebration Halloween party at preschool.  They paraded around the school to show off their costumes.  Not all classes had parties today....just those who only go Monday/Tuesday.

Then it was back to the classroom for a snack and a Halloween craft.  In typical Grace fashion she consumed the icing and tossed the cupcake.

After the craft, their teacher Mrs. C, read them some Halloween books while the other room mom and I cleaned up.  Then it was time to hurry up and pack up their backpacks and head out the door.

Look what I found in my kitchen this evening!!!

In eighteen years, he hasn't missed a year yet!

Eighteen and counting

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

THANKS FOR 18 YEARS.

You're a good listener

definitely a hard worker

somewhat unconventional

a fantastic father

and loads of fun.

What more could a girl ask for??  I cannot think of a better way to spend eighteen years unless it involved a beach, a boat and a full-time nanny at the condo watching the four kids.

I LOVE YOU

Ghosts of Halloween Past

2003

2004

Notice the repeated costumes?  They actually wore the same things for three years in a row.  I just don't have digital pictures any earlier than 2003.  I had them hemmed really short and just kept letting them out a little more each year.

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

To be announced!!!