A Play and a Poetry Cafe

Abby's class performed a play on Friday called "Where are My Animal Friends?" Abby was the bear, and she was getting ready to hibernate in her cave.





Abby taking pictures of her animal friends.



The kids designed all of their own costumes and the props. My personal favorite was the hummingbird.



Abby also went to her first sleepover Friday night. "B" in the middle was celebrating her birthday and had several friends over to spend the night. Her mom said there were a few rough moments for all the girls, but they all made it through the night. The bruise on her forehead came from getting kicked on the playground (it was an accident). Also notice her top tooth, hanging there, danging by a thread. It came out tonight and we're expecting a visit from the tooth fairy.

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Adam's class hosted a Poetry Cafe. They kids invited their parents and served us cookies, coffee cake, coffee and tea. Then they eached recited two poems~one they had written themselves and one written by a poet.





Adam took some pictures of his friends too.



Adam's turn at reciting his poems.

It was a fun day spent at school with the kids.

You Need a Sense of Humor

Even though Adam's birthday was a couple of weeks ago, we're just now getting around to writing thank you notes. His first was to his teacher and went like this:





I think those creatures on the second page are sticking out their tongues and spitting. Thankfully Ms. Mizera does have a sense of humor.

Conversations with Andrew went something like this tonight:

Andrew: Mommy, do you know what the most important part of my day was?

Me: No, what?

Andrew: It was that I missed you.

And then he was talking about a little boy at daycare who called him an idiot a couple of months ago. I suggested that it was time to forget about that--let it go.

Andrew: I can't. It's always on my mind. I'm going to tell Miss Amanda about it. (Miss Amanda doesn't work at his school. She's at the elementary school).

Me: What do you think Miss Amanda is going to do about it?

Andrew: Well, she's gonna say, "Are you an idiot?" and I'm going to say no.

Andrew is a nail biter and he was telling me how his finger hurt in the place where he bites it. I told him he should stop biting his nails.

Andrew: Nails are always on my mind.

Me: Well, you need to think about something else and stop biting them.

Andrew: I can't. That's just the way God made me.

And finally, he's taking a bath...

Me: How are you doing in there? Does it feel good?

Andrew: Yes. I'm just playing with my pee pee.

Again, I really need to learn how to clarify--ask more direct questions...



That's Andrew in all his glory--speaking exactly what is on his mind, bruised knees and do-it-yourself hair cut. You really do need a sense of humor.

Wordless Wednesday

Blast From The Past

So I was told that I had given Adam gray hair in the last post. I was playing around with Picnik and had taken away some of the color. Here's the original of that image--minus the gray hair.



I mentioned that this picture reminded me of Adam when he was 4 or 5. This picture is him from April 2005.



And since I'm walking down memory lane, here's a blast from the past (August 2005).

The Eyes Have It

This weekend I wanted to do a little practicing with my camera (even shot in manual for a while). Sometimes, quite on accident, I get great images of my kids' eyes. I want to know how to do it "on purpose." I was snapping away and told Adam that I just wanted his eyes--this is what I got. He's sooo funny!

Nice eyes...now about that expression...I really need to learn how to clarify.

What did mom used to say about our faces getting stuck that way?

This picture reminds me of Adam when he was about 3 or 4.

Abby hasn't been that fond of the camera lately. She likes to make faces at me.

And Andrew, well, let's just say it's hard to hit a moving target.


He's dancing to iCarly and

singing his little heart out. Maybe another day he'll stop long enough for me to see his eyes.

Advice From Andrew

Andrew: Mommy, you should never say this, "Don't you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me? Don't ever say that because it's not nice. Okay?"

Me: Okay. [laughing hysterically]. Then, where did you hear that?

Andrew: At school, on the radio.

I did bring this to the attention of the director~suggested that it wasn't appropriate for this setting and maybe CDs would be a better idea. I wonder what tipped him off that it's not nice?



He also asked me for something last week and the answer was no. Then he says, "Pretty please with a cherry on top? Do you like cherries?" I told him that I don't like cherries. "Darn it. What do you like? What about chocolate on top?"

Wordless Wednesday - Just for Fun

Basketball

This past Saturday morning was again spent in the gym. It's so much fun to watch the kids play ball, interact with others, learn the skills of a sport and improve.

This is Andrew looking at his coach with admiration after the game. He was pretty happy with the victory.

I think this shot is the best at showing off his do-it-yourself hair cut.


Abby in the huddle after the game.

Adam "flying" down the court.

Andrew was fouled and got to shoot free throws. His hands look so tiny gripping the ball.

Both teams won and all three kids were super excited.

Happy Birthday Adam

Adam is 9 today and I just had to put a candle in his bagel. I love the look on his face. He's looking at Abby while we're singing Happy Birthday to him. But seriously, what is with me and candles. Or maybe my camera just loves candles--apparently it's all it can focus on.




I also thought I was pretty crafty last night when I made a birthday sign for Adam. I used glitter glue and everything. This morning Adam said it reminded him of Goosebumps. Here's to hoping it comes off the door.




Me and the Birthday Boy this morning before school (photo by Abby).




Abby also took this photo, laughed and said, "oops, I missed." But check out that bird thing in the lower lefthand corner and the sunrise was gorgeous this morning.




Andrew and I walked Adam and Abby into school this morning. He didn't think he could carry all of his stuff by himself--bookbag, birthday/Valentine's Day cookies, juice and paper plates so we gave him a hand. Check out the bean plant he's growing in class.

Happy Birthday Adam! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Adam's Collage

Remember when I said Adam was taking pictures of everything with the camera he received for his birthday (which actually occurs tomorrow)? Here's a little sampling of what he's photographed this week.


Top left and moving clockwise we have a picture of the pork chops we had for dinner one night this week. All of us love some pork chops fixed with Shake 'N Bake Oven Fry. We love that stuff; we could do a commercial for Shake 'N Bake Oven Fry. If this picture were on the box, however, I'm not so sure I would have tried it.

Next up, we have a motorcyle waiting at a stop light. We do enjoy watching the bikes.

And then, there is our ceiling fan and two of the four pictures on a wall in the living room.

Finally, there is the picture of the cover of the latest book Adam has read--a gift from his teacher for his birthday. It was also an AR book and he scored 100 on his test today. Yeah!

It's really been fun to watch him take pictures of everything. I can't wait to see how he improves over the next few weeks and months. I'll keep ya posted.

Wordless Wednesday

Another Year; Another Candle

Adam will be 9 this Friday and because he'll be gone this weekend, we celebrated his birthday on Saturday. I really love this shot of him, but somehow managed not to get a picture of him with his cake where he is the focus and not the candles.

The smaller kids wanted to blow out the candles too (and we relit the candles for them).

A favorite!

He was very surprised by this gift and is now taking pictures of everything!

A cute moment between Abby and Kylie.

Adam is really growing up. I looked through some old pictures and found these.

This is from 2006.

And this is from 2005.