You Can Drag a Kid to Paper, but You Can't Make Them Write

The big focus this year at the girls' school is writing.  All the kids are being encouraged to become detailed writers.  Both girls have reading comprehension-type questions on their homework each week.  Vicki has had a lot of homework assignments that require her to read about an issue and then write an argument for or against the issue.  Lexi has simpler assignments, but they encourage writing nonetheless.

I love to write (hence the blog), so I think this is a great thing.  My children, unfortunately, do not tend to agree with me on this.  Vicki complains every night about how much she hates writing and how hard it is, and how stupid and boring and unfair, blah, blah, blah.  Lexi, however, has chosen a more passive-aggressive tactic.

She brought home a worksheet the other day that she'd apparently done in class.  The top of the worksheet said, "Draw a castle" with a nice big box underneath for drawing said castle.  Lexi's castle is magnificent.  It has turrets and ramparts and flags, and is even so detailed as to include a drawbridge, which, at the moment, is lowered, presumably to allow entrance to the princess waiting just outside the borders of the picture.

Underneath the drawing box it says, "Write about the castle", followed by a series of prompts.  Here is what my too-smart-for-her-own-good daughter had to say about her castle:

• Who or what? a castle
• Did what? sat thare
• Where? thare
• When? 2:00 am
• Why? it’s a castle

Alrighty then.

Random Thoughts Thursday

Did you know that the fastest way to better customer service is to bring along two little girls wearing fluffy princess dresses?

Why is my computer running so slowly today?

I finally feel caught up on the house after being sick! Now everyone better just stay healthy for the rest of the year!  And stop getting clothes dirty.  That would be nice, too.

I used to be such a compassionate mom when my girls woke me up in the night. I’d cuddle and love and cover and kiss and then crawl back to bed. I also used to be really good at falling right back asleep. Now, not so much. And not so much with the compassion at 2:00 in the morning. Get your own dang drink of water!

One day I will look back on the last 9+ years of interrupted sleep and laugh, right? Right?

I cried while watching Glee last night. I am such a sap.

It’s really cold in here.  But if I turn the thermostat up I'll forget to turn it back down at bedtime and we'll roast in our beds.

Why can’t I find a good day to take Ellie to the zoo to see the lions? She’s thrilled that we have not only Gloria the Hippo, Marty the Zebra, and Melman the Giraffe, but finally Alex the lion, King of New York!

Maybe Ellie watches too much TV.

Happy Birthday Sesame Street!

Today marks 40 years since the debut of what is quite possibly the most beloved children's program of all time.  I grew up watching Sesame Street and all its lovable furry monsters, and I'm proud to say my children love it, too.  Everyone has their favorite moments from the Street.  Please indulge me as I share some of mine.

This is the most awesome rubber duckie song ever:


Grover has always been my favorite monster. He's bumbling and clueless, but he's so sure of himself.  And he announces his presence by saying, "It is I!"  What's not to love?


The 70's colors and animation, the funky music...how many of us learned to count to 12 by watching this? How many of us still can't count to 12 without singing this?


I'm not embarassed to say that there are many, many more, but in the interest of time, these three will have to do.

And now I invite you to join me in celebrating this awesome show and tell me, what are your favorite Sesame Street moments?

Sleeping Beauty

Nine

(She wanted a carrot cake, and Dad delivered.  But we didn't have anything we could use as carrot jockeys.  Bummer.)

Vicki had a birthday on Saturday.  My oldest child is now nine years old.  That makes me...ancient.

In keeping with recent tradition on this blog, here are nine things about Vicki you may or may not know:

1. She has read the entire Harry Potter series more times than me, by a long shot (and I've read it at least seven times.)
2. She is completely unconcerned about what other people think of her.
3. She hates it when people spell her name wrong.  It's sort of an "Anne-with-an-e" kind of thing.

4. She cannot function if she doesn't have a book to read.

5. She has never needed as much sleep as normal people.

6. She loves projects.  For example: she has sewn herself a skirt and knitte several hats, and is currently crocheting a scarf and sewing a bathrobe.

7. Her favorite foods are: meatloaf, pork chops, chicken tacos, and pizza.

8. She loves to sing.

9. She is the most perpetually cheerful person I know.

Happy birthday, Vicki!!!

Random Thoughts Thursday

This is my 300th post! Release the ceiling balloons! (which makes me think of “Wewease da secwet weapon!” How's that for random?)

Why don’t other people care about spelling and grammar like I do? Am I some kind of freak? Wait, don’t answer that.

Halloween is over and I need someone to get rid of all the candy that my kids haven’t eaten yet. Preferably before I eat it.

When the rain comes, why do they run and hide their heads?

Turns out you have to book flights with mileage points waaaaay in advance for Christmastime. So we’ll be driving to Utah again this year. Ugh.

I miss England.

I’ve discovered that four days of being sick and doing nothing equals two weeks of making up for it. If only I had a magic wand.

Greek Mythology is awesome.

Sneaky mom trick of the day: “Surprise Mac”. When the kids are tired of plain old mac & cheese, hide hot dogs under it and tell them they’ll get a surprise if they eat all the macaroni. I’m such a genius. (I suppose this works best if finding hot dogs under your food is considered a good surprise.)

I am surrounded by princesses.

Ellie thinks Belle was her teacher in “baby school”. What a weird kid.

There is a mountain of laundry in the hall. I have been carefully avoiding it. I think it’s reproducing on its own now, though. Time to conquer.

Why I Will Never Be Accepted into the Punk Community

Photo courtesy of Becca and the church Halloween party

Reason #1: I am clearly making the "I love you" sign, as opposed to the "rock on" sign.  There were a lot of people behind the camera laughing at us and I think the pink hairspray affected my brain.  I got confused.  But I do know the difference.

Reason #2: I do not have a good sneer, or an exceptionally long tongue.  I was trying to look tough, but people were making me laugh.  Chris, however, seems to be channeling Gene Simmons.  Ew.

Reason #3: My jeans are not ratty enough.  It was too last-minute of a costume to sufficiently tear the one holey pair I had.  Rest assured, if I do this again next year, the jeans will be ratty.

Reason #4: My tatoos are not cool enough.  They actually don't look that bad in this picture.  But they're attached to the shirt.  Chris's are better.  His actually look real.

In conclusion, it's pretty clear that I'm a double-chinned, grimacing, loving, pink-haired something (with a really shiny forehead), but probably not much of a punk.  Alas.