Froggy Fun

Alec's "homework" this weekend was to bring home Froggy, the class "pet," and show him around. We had to write our adventures in the Froggy journal and add some pictures as well. Alec LOVED this assignment. Thankfully the weather was awesome this weekend and we were able to enjoy quite a bit of outside time. This is our Froggy report:

We had a great time with Froggy. On Friday, Alec and Froggy played outside in the backyard. Froggy really liked sliding down and swinging on Alec's playground set. Alec was happy to introduce Froggy to Darth Ribbit, our own family frog friend. Darth Ribbit and Froggy quickly became best buddies. On Friday night, Froggy enjoyed pizza and game night with our family. He liked watching Alec play golf on the Wii.

On Saturday we took Froggy to the Memphis Zoo. Froggy and Alec loved the leopards and lions, but Froggy's favorite animal was the Kimodo Dragon. Alec wondered if the Kimodo Dragon could breathe fire, but Alec's daddy explained that it was really just a big lizard with a funny name. Froggy also enjoyed seeing the other frogs that were real, especially the blue Poison Dart frogs.

On Sunday Alec woke up with really bad allergies and didn't feel like going to church. Froggy and Alec's moms stayed home with Alec. Alec and Froggy played a computer game about Oscar the Grouch on PBSkids.com. On Sunday night, Alec's brother Zachary vacuumed the living room and Froggy had to plug his little ears.

We had a great time with Froggy! Darth Ribbit and Alec are "hopping" Froggy will come back soon.

Fantasy: Story by Zach

Zachary wrote the following in response to an assignment to write a fantasy story using 12 spelling words. I'm typing it up as he wrote it. I think it shows a lot of promise! Shoot, I have COLLEGE students who have less creativity and many more errors! I wish you could HEAR him read this aloud. His presentation makes it even better. (Maybe I should record him.)

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Once upon a time there was a normal cat named Oliver. He was like all cats in the day. He used his food bowls to eat and drink with. He slept all day. He used his litterbox when nesasery! But at night? He changes to. . . Super Kitty!





He plays piano and violin, litsens to the radio, and can even talk! Super Kitty usually saves people. He has these powers: super strength, he can fly, he can go threw anything, he can see through anything, and he has laser eyes. He has a sister named Rainbow Kitty. Together they save lives.





One day Super Kitty saw that the bull rodeo was in trouble! He told Rainbow Kitty and the duo set off. When they got to their destantion the audience in the medium sized stadium were going crazy. Just then they saw Bad Dog: their arch enemy. "Hello Super Kitty" said Bad Dog. "You are going to pay for what you've done" said Super Kitty. "Ya ya, right" said bad Dog. "Like you always do. But first I am going to create my own evil rodeo, and here is a video for demonstration." After the movie the kitties shook their heads no and made their move. But right before the duo were going to punch Bad Dog, Rainbow Kitty had an idea. She made a rainbow bridge and a rainbow net. She trapped Bad Dog and then Super Kitty called the police.





When the due got home it was late. They two kittys ate cereal, watched a pioneer movie and went to sleep.





The end.
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Written by:

Inspired by:

Funny Alec-isms

When Mike picked up Alec from Bible class on Sunday, Alec's teachers were giggling over something Alec had done in class. They explained that Alec had been given the "role" of Jesus in their reenactment of the story of Jesus falling asleep in the boat while the apostles were scared of the storm. So Alec (as Jesus) was laying in the boat sleeping. When the other "apostles" woke him up because they were scared of the storm, Alec (as Jesus) yelled, "Hey! I didn't get enough sleep last night!"

Yesterday, Alec was talking to my dad on the phone. For those of you who don't know my dad, he is primarily bald with the little fringe of hair around the back. Alec said, "Poppa Jim, I'm going to be like you when I grow up, and I'm going to shave the hair on my head. But I'm going to leave the little bit around the back just like yours!"

My silly Alec Michael.

Favoritism

My husband and I have a DATE tonight. We're celebrating Valentine's Day just a tad early. We have a new babysitter coming over. She's youngish (14), but she's also the eldest sister of four siblings, so she's had plenty of practice at home. I am hoping that she loves us and that we love her (as a sitter) because I have been looking for a steady sort of "regular" sitter since we moved here.

Anyway, I'm rambling off topic. My topic is "Favoritism."

Mike and I are going to Melting Pot for our date tonight. We also went to Melting Pot for my birthday in September and will probably go there for our anniversary in May. I LIKE it, truly I do. It's my favorite restaurant. I have never had a bad experience there. It is a special sort of place for special occasions. I like that when we have a reservation for 6 p.m., we know that we'll be sitting at our table at 6 p.m. ( and not waiting out in an overcrowded entryway until a table is ready.) I love the food, but I especially love that when we're there we can just take our time and talk. No one is rushing us out the door so that they can seat another guest. It is leisurely.

On the summers that we are able to take a vacation, we invariably go to the mountains of New Mexico to spend a week at Mike's family cabin. It is what we do. Santa Fe, cool mountain air, leisurely cabin time.

I think we are creatures of habit, and when I sit down and really THINK about that? Honestly? It kind of bugs me. But it only bugs me on an intellectual level. I think we should probably be more adventurous, but at the same time I am so incredibly happy at the thought of going back to Melting Pot tonight that I don't know why I'd want to try anything new. I like routines, they make me happy.

What about you? Do you have a favorite spot to go to by yourself or with loved ones? Or are you more adventurous? Any suggestions for me?

Flakes of snow (please go go go)

Well. . . I think I'm ready for spring. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of snow. I really do enjoy it. And I am also a fan of the occasional snow day, both as a parent and as a teacher. However, this is our fifth snow day in the course of about a month and I'm starting to get 1) stir crazy; 2) irritated; and 3) concerned about my own students' coursework.

Believe it or not, in spite of my lofty concerns, my children are just thrilled with the snow. Yesterday's flakes were the soft, wet kind that make perfect snow balls. Today it is just too cold and too windy to enjoy, plus we haven't had any new precipitation. The really frustrating thing for me as a parent is that we are within walking distance of Zach's school, the roads are clear, and yet school is out for the day. Aaaggghhh.

Regardless. . .

FINALLY: A Living Room Makeover

Last week Mike and I made a much needed makeover for our living room. The boys' Christmas toys had completely taken over one corner of the room and I was going a bit insane. In addition, our old TV cabinet was looking pretty sad. (Yes, we are THOSE people who only have one TV in the house and it is pitifully small.)

Anyway, we found an old, but solid wood, hutch at my new favorite junk store and brought it home. About an hour later we had an instant transformation. You can see it in pictures:

Old tevevision cabinet:
Aaagggh! Too many toys!

New TV cabinet + toy storage area:

Wow, look at that awesome drawer perfect for Imaginext guys.

Ooooh Look!

The complete transformation!