Today is the first day of school. I love school, and I love that there are people out there who's only job is to give my children age-appropriate things to do that enlighten and enhance their lives. Reading, writing and 'rithmatic. 
We thought that we would keep Abigail nice and fluent in her addition/subtraction/multiplication facts over the looooong summer. Yep, that fell apart after about day 2 of vacation. She did one side of a sheet on Saturday. And she only did it to get out of doing another job. The Wii, however, did get lots of use. She can do lots of stuff on the Star Wars Legos game. After watching a couple of the videos she knows now to call "Chocolate Guy" by his rightful name of "Chewboka." We have also had fun making up our own Star Wars Jedi names. That's educational, right? 
Benjamin too starts school today. He'll have his first day Preschool today, and he will be taking the bus. Unfortunately we are in a bit of a frenzy looking for the Lightening McQueen backpack. And then . . . and then! Mommy has already started the laundry, there will be a croc pot going before he puts his first step on the bus, and then I will only have ONE kid! For a couple of hours! I am 'bout giddy with anticipation. SO much to do, so much to do!
So, I gratefully hand over both children today to the schools, and their friends, and recess! Have a good day. Come home smart! Maybe I'll find time to scrapbook your First Day of School while you're gone!
Monday, July 28, 2008
First Day of School!
Anatomy 101
We play this game at church in our family called "Tap Tap." You hide something in one of your hands, then turn your fists over to expose your closed fingers. The child points to a finger and says "tap tap" and you lift it up, and then they do it again until they can see what is in your hand. You usually choose something small, like an m&m that can be hidden under one of the fingers, and it's good dexterity exercize for your fingers.
Matthew tells me that he was playing this game quietly before church a couple of weeks ago with Abigail. In an effort to "educate while you play," he started giving her a bit of background on each finger that she "tap tap"ed:
M- "Which finger is that?"
A- "It's your pointer finger!"
M- "Yes, it is also known as the INDEX finger . . ."
A- "tap tap!"
M- "Okay, which finger is that?"
A- "It's your pinkie!"
M- "Right! Good job."
A- "Tap tap!"
M- "Okay, which one is that?
A- "It's the "SCREW YOU!" finger."
M- "WHAT DID YOU SAY!??"
A- "That one, the tall one is the "screw you!" finger.
M- "Where did you hear that?"
A- "I dunno, it's just the "screw you" finger dad. Everybody knows that . . ."
After our caucus, we discovered that neither of us gave her the specifics on (nor do we use in front of her) the "screw you" finger, and wonder if there is anyone out there who could tell us where she picked this up!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
How Obedient are you?
From the Wolfers blog:
Of course I have no idea what it does, but if you want to follow the link you can have some fun with the red dot, but remember that if you want to see it WORK, you have to follow this link here in red . . . http://www.85qm.de/up/BigRedButton.swf
Oh, and if you get to the 7th ring of hell call me - I will confirm your diagnosis of OCD. :D
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Hair Woes
I had noticed more-than-average hair around. On the floor, in the hairbrush, on the counter, in the car, wrapped around the vacuum roller etc. etc. and you might think, as I did, that having three young kids home for an Arizona summer would be enough to make anyone's hair fall out. It was when I brushed off a huge hunk from Abigail's head that I got a little freaked out.
"WHAT HAPPENED??!!!"
Now, dear reader, look at the circumference of your pinkie, and just imagine that you brushed that much of a long stringy wad off of your child's head in just one swipe. The hair was there, on her head, and then it was in your hand.
"I don't knooooooow . . ."
I did a quick think. Was it just her? Nope, my hair had been falling out too. I'd wash my hair and just pull out strand after strand. The drain had been clogged. Sam's, predictably, was falling out. Maybe it was that flesh-eating virus that only attacks . . . hair. 
"OH MY GOSH! IT IS FALLING OUT!!!"
I started brushing her hair vigorously to see the extent of the damage, and partially to prepare myself for what I would find when I brushed out my own hair. And then . . . how can I say this? There is a LOOK, a look that my child gives off, that betrays her quite effectively. She doesn't know that she does it . . . but I do. I stopped brushing and looked at her sternly:
"Abigail, tell Mama what happened to your hair."
I said it in that way that indicates, "I already know the answer, so just out with it - the jig is up." It was a total bluff, but it paid off.
"I wanted to look like a parasaurolophus (dinosaur)! I cut out a paper horn, and put it on a paper clip to stick it in my hair. But then it got nailed to my head and I couldn't get it off, so I cut it off . . ."
Ah. Yes. I see. She showed me the paper horn and the paper clip. Right. The cost of having a child with an active imagination. How the hair remained on her head until I brushed it is still a mystery to me. And now we have a shorn wad of hair, 'bout 2 inches long, at the crown of her head in the back. It sticks up no matter what you do.
It all made sense. As for me, I had forgotten that lots of your hair falls out after you have a baby. Oh, it's all coming back to me now! It's not a virus at all, it's life. 
As I look around at my poor family, I realize that most of us are having hair woes. Matthew doesn't want any of his "distinguished gray's" pointed out, mine is falling out in heaps, Abigail now has a . . . a set of bangs on the BACK of her head, Benjamin's grows relentlessly forward, and Sam is going bald as he loses his downy baby hair. Its enough to make you rip out your hair! If you had any! But, as Igor said in Young Frankenstein, "Could be worse . . . could be raining!" *thunder clap*
New Prophet Song
Okay, I am TOTALLY stealing this from Kelly Girl. It made me laugh. And, it's a lot easier to memorize than, "Latter Day Prophet's are . . . NUMBER ONE!"
Okay, now that you've seen it, see if you aren't tempted to watch it again! "L. Tom Perry is 6'3" that's my favorite part. Although getting "folks" to rhyme with "Oaks" is pretty funny too. :D Tee HEE!
Second Verse, Same as the First . . .
Rotten! I'm unique, just like everybody else . . .
I thought I might better my odds by using my maiden name. And I did. Oh yeah, I'm one of a kind now!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Salt, Pepper and Cinnamon
When my brother Logan heard that Samuel had dark hair, he said, "Well, now you have Salt, Pepper and Cinnamon for kids!" Every one thought that was pretty clever, including Matthew's dad. He made his own version of the humor and put it in this comic. It just makes my day to see my family in the comics. We've been in twice this year! Banner year for the Matthew Crane family.
Reagan pointed out that we also have Neapolitan kids. So, thanks to Logan for the spice, Reagan for the sweet, and Grandpa Crane for the nod. Either way, they're both spicy and sweet!
