Memorizing the Preamble to the Constitution

Owen's 3rd grade class is studying the Americam government. What is more traditional than memorizing the Preamble to the Constitution? Did everyone else memorize it this way? I know I did!



I loved Schoolhouse Rock. I see perusing through youtube that they even made a few more after I stopped watching Saturday morning cartoons, ones I don't recognize. DO they still show them on TV? I don't know, my kids don't watch those channels. We've had fun watching some of my old favorties the past few days.

Elise reading

We read to our kids, a lot. School is expecting kindergarteners to read also, and Elise frequently brings home short early reader books, that she can breeze through. Mostly it seems she has them memorized. I haven't given her much other chance to read to me, so I had no idea of what she could do. In addition to the early readers that she brings home, they also bring home slightly more difficult books that the teacher reads in class. The goal is for mom or dad to read to them at home, then they write a summary of some sort in journals that are sent home with each book. I started to read this one to Elise tonight, and she asked to read a page. We alternated pages for a few, then she took over. She was did an amazing job of reading this somewhat familiar, yet still difficult to her, book.

Delicious Meals and FLower Girls

Spinach and basil seedlings:

Remember all those beautiful basil plants I keep photographing? Wellll.....

Pesto!!!!!

They were sacrificed. And it was so worth it.

Here is a delicious meal of just yummy stuff. Not a low fat nor low calorie meal, but yum. Pesto was of course the center of the meal, plus bread, some pasta for the kids, plenty of olive oil, olives, sun dried tomatoes, peppers, cheeses, and strawberries. And red wine.

Speaking of healthy seedlings, here are my happy peppers:

And that final amaryllis - beautiful:

The flower girl part. At dinner, Elise mentions who she really wants to be a flower girl in a wedding . We reply how we know of no one about to get married, nor do we know of anyone thinking of going that direction. And that flower girls are mostly "little" girls - oh my, wrong thing to say. Elise was devastated. A bridesmaid jsut won't do, she says. Tears, leaving the room.

Anyone getting married soon? Thinking about it? We have an available flower girl, waiting.

Speaking of mediterranean food, and flower girls, John has decided we shall invite ourselves along to our friend's sisters wedding. Yep. We'll be looking for that invitation.

Birthday, snow, and chicks.....

I woke up this morning to the sounds of my children in the kitchen. Cabinet doors opening and slamming, bowls clanging, spoons being dropped. Then the unmistakable sound of the mortar and pestle being used.
The kids were making cookies (found a recipe on the bakc of the Ghiradelli chips bag :-) and we are out of cinnamon - so they were grinding up some cinnamon sticks.
I love it.

Last time I actually posted here, it was the day we were planning to participate in "Earth Hour". We did, and at the same time celebrated my birthday. Here is my lovely cake, lit by the light of some of the candles we used that night. We also took a pic with our electric lights on, just for good measure. (You know how we must always document our birthdays through the wonderful cakes made.) This one is a gardening cake - see the banana rake, and the chocolate shovel? The beautiful flowers, which to me look like bromeliads? (Not much chance of them growing in *MY* garden!)

I received some wonderful gifts from my family- here is card made by Elise, showing what my cake *might* look like:

Opening:

This box is from Elise:

With a lovely necklace/bracelet inside:

Opening more:

A hose wand waterer! My favorite color!

We got a nice snow, and when it warmed up the kids went out to make a snow family: (l tor): Mom, Elise, Dad, Owen.

Owen:

Dad:

Mom (tall) and Elise (very small, to right):

Making the snow family:

In process:

And finally, we have to do the weekly bird update:

Brownie:

Fluff:

Roosting on the edge of the box:

Fluff again:

Pecky:

Fluff and Chipmunk:

Look at that wing! (They are using them more and more....)

Chipmunk:

Something very cool about my post today - all of the pictures were taken by the kids. (Except for maybe the cake picture.)

Lacking motivation

I've been lacking motivation for posting on my blog (maybe I've been too tired? - but I'll get two big(ger) paychecks this week from South Suburban to show for it!). So I finally found something worth posting:



I have new chick photos plus kids snow pictures to post later today.

Celebrate Earth Hour

http://www.earthhour.org/home/

My family will be participating in Earth Hour tonight, at 8:30 pm our local time. Turn off all of your non-essential electrical appliances, including lights, for one hour tonight. Candlelight is lovely.

Will we make a difference? Probably not tonight. But everything we do, does affect something else. Like a wave of water, we might not see the effect right here, right now, but it is making changes.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Spring Break!!!!!!!

We started off our spring break week with a friend's birthday party. Had way too much fun and stayed out way too late :-)
Tuesday we hung out at the Denver Art Museum all day. The kids got to do art - stained glass collages.

It was warm enough to eat lunch outside.

IN the native american area, someone was teaching fiber arts - carding wool, spinning, and weaving.

This exhibit was in the modern art section - very cool.

Gotta love the fake action poses:

Too cool.

A fun magnetic puzzle.

Weird, huh?

This is entitled "Elise going down stairs"

DAM has some pretty amazing architecture.

Wednesday was the all day playdate at my house. The main theme of the day was: Chicks!

All four of the chicks fell asleep in Elise's lap. SO sweet.