Winter Cleaning

I've had this stack of the kids' homework I keep meaning to recycle. I almost threw them out when I thought maybe I should sort through them to see if there were any I wanted to keep for their memory books. Then I thought it might be nice for you guys to see how they're doing in school. So here's one of each. (Click on each image and it should open a window with a larger view. If it doesn't, I'll upload them as large images. If you're reading this in your email, you may have to visit my blog to see them as larger images.)

Your future president:


Nate has been stoked about this meal worm project they did at school. I thought it was especially great when he brought it home and wanted to keep it as a pet. :-) I love his spelling of "magnifying glass" in his last line.

Ethan's greatest strength in school has always been math. This was his 3 minute timed test from earlier in the semester. He was the only one in class who finished in the allotted time with a 100%. You should see this kid at the grocery store. He logs each price in his head, adds it up, then adds in the 8.2% tax. He'll tell me the cost of our load before we check out. He's usually only a few cents off!

And this is just one to grow on. I found this in my stack of photos when I was putting together some albums for myself. I think it's circa 1994, but Jami can correct me if I'm wrong!

Playhouse

About 3 weeks ago, Darrick scored an overseas crate from a job. He decided this would be a perfect foundation for a playhouse for the kids. With a lot of free wood from his Dad, in under a week he transformed it from something like this:

to this:





With another week or two under his belt, the kids' cottage began to take shape. Here comes the roof...



He plans to build a kitchen, table, etc. on the inside. If any of you really know Darrick, you know he's very particular. So I'm positive it will be beautiful when it's done. He's even incorporating this beautiful stained glass Mom made for me a few Christmases ago into one of the windows...





I'm hoping he has it done by Christmas. Who hasn't wished they woke up on Christmas morning to a present as fantastic as THIS?

"Nuh-uh"

Earlier today I took the kids to grab some dinner. We sat outside on the patio to eat our grub. They were a little playful at first but as soon as the food came they settled right down. About halfway through the meal, an older couple strolled by and began to marvel at my chatty-but-calm children. With a German accent, they showered the kids with compliments.

"You are so vell behaved! Look at ze shildren! You are all acting like zuch big kids!"

At first the kids were a little startled, with a sort of "ME???" look on their faces. But eventually Ethan thanked them and everyone else followed suit. Then the couple asked how old Alex was. I told them he was 2, to which they replied, "Oh my! He is zo vell behaved!"

They were nearly applauding as they left; but Katie looked a bit perplexed. Looking down at the ground and mumbling, so we could hear her but the couple couldn't, she says, "They must be from another country."

Assuming it was because of their accents, I asked Katie why she thought that. Shaking her head, she said, "Well, they must be from another country because Alex is definitely not well behaved".