Spring Break

So I think everybody but our school district had spring break a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday was the last day of spring break for the kids so Greg and I decided to take the kids out to Antelope Island since the weather was going to be perfect. It was a terrific place to go. We went on a 3 mile hike, looked for wildlife, and played on the beach.

Jensen and Chalisse didn't want to leave the water. It was probably the best place to experience the Great Salt Lake.

Greg and I had fun as well on the beach. It was the perfect way to relax after a hike. We really enjoyed being together as a family.

Andrea and Carson decided that the Greg mobile would be the best way to get back to the car. I think they just didn't want to leave the beach.

Carson was so excited to see all the sand. He has never been to a beach before and when he saw all the sand he said, "Look the sand box is everywhere".

Scooby Snacks

Carson and Jensen love to watch Scooby Doo. Since Walmart has Scooby Doo movies for $5.00, my sons find it necessary to purchase these movies (with their own money) and watch them over and over and over and over etc. Carson, in particular, thinks the fruit snacks we purchased in bulk at Costco are Scooby snacks and we pretty much can get him to do about anything for a Scooby snack. These snacks come in handy when you would like him to clean his room and practice his ABC's. But lately he has become addicted to these. On Saturday he came running in the house after playing outside and said, "Mom, I need a Scooby snack!" Today, I asked him what he wanted for breakfast. He of course said, "Scooby snacks".

I told him he could have a Scooby snack after he ate his cereal. But now I think the roles have reversed he is bribing me. Kids are to smart these days.

Man- i- What ?

Yesterday was my 17 miler day. I thought it would be nice to have a nice pasta dish as a carb booster. As my family sat around the table eating, Andrea said, "Mom, can I have some more maddie- cotti?" Carson, exclaimed, "It's not maddie- cotti- it's mandi- coddie!" Jensen being the older brother decided to let them both know that they were wrong and the correct name was, "manna-cotti". Chalisse rolled her eyes and said quite out loud, "It's manicotti!" Greg, being of sound mind said, "It doesn't matter what it is called-- just eat it!" And that is what we did.

Time For Disney Classics

The other day Carson put on a Disney movie. Disney always has about 5 minutes of previews before hand. Well, one of the previews was showing clips from the movie Bambi II that came out like 4 years ago. Anyway, Carson yelled, "Mom look! It's a baby reindeer!" I think it's time to get the classics out again.

Mom, Witches Don't Read!

Every morning before Andrea goes to school we read, do math facts, and go over spelling words. Yesterday was costume day at school. Andrea decided she wanted to be a witch. We borrowed a witch costume from my mom that Grandma Anderson made for Marlyse when she was a little girl and she looked darling.
When it came reading time, Andrea turned to me and said, "Mom, witches don't read." Of course they do! I replied. They have to read the recipes for witches brew and goblin mix. Then it came time to do math facts. Andrea turned to me and said, " Mom, witches don't do math." Of course they do! I replied. They have to know how to count so they will know how much to put in. Then Andrea turned to me and said, "Mom. witches don't spell." Of course they do! I replied again. If they can't spell, they can't read. Finally, I turned to Andrea and said, "Andrea, what do witches do?" "They fly" she said.

Making Ocolate Ookies For Dad

Today, Carson came up to me and said, "Mom make ocolate ookies for dad!" I had other plans that included cleaning the fridge, organizing the toys, vacuuming the upstairs, and working on the Levi quilt. But I guess Carson knows me to well and knows that I have a hard time turning down cookies. He also knows that chocolate chip cookies are Greg's favorite. So guess what we did today? Yep! We made ocolate ookies for dad. By the look on Carson's face you can tell he enjoyed every minute of it. I think he wanted a little one on one time with mom since I spent a lot of time on the treadmill yesterday (17 miles), and he used making cookies as an excuse. Kids learn so young how to get what they want.

When Good Things Go Wrong

Please help Andrea review the nursery rhyme "Little Miss Muffet" was the note that was sent home from kindergarten last week.
How silly I thought. I try really hard to help my children be prepared for kindergarten by teaching them of course their phone number, colors, shapes, and patterns. But I also teach them how to read, their addition facts, and nursery rhymes.

That evening I got out the good old nursery rhyme book and asked Andrea to tell me the rhyme Little Miss Muffet. This is how it went.

Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet
Eating her Nerds and gained weight.
Along came a spider,
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away.

I guess I will have to add vocabulary words to my list of kindergarten pre requisites.

Curds - solid part of sour milk: the solid substance formed when milk coagulates, used to make cheese.

Whey - watery part of curdled milk: the watery liquid that separates from the solid part of milk when it turns sour or when enzymes are added in cheese making.

I wonder if children understand these definitions. I didn't know what enzymes were until 7th grade. Wow! I'm impressed what things kids are learning these days.

So, Andrea and I worked really hard on this nursery rhyme all week and at the end of the week she was able to say it correctly. I guess no matter how hard you try to get your kids prepared for school, some things just go wrong.