No, no they don't.
Showing posts with label Nathan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nathan. Show all posts
Friday, February 20, 2015
Violin
I could talk at length about it, but in the long run, does anyone need to hear me babble?
No, no they don't.
No, no they don't.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Nowhere To Put It
I never understood this about the snow. To me it just piled up and then people shoveled it away. It never occurred to me that the snow had to get PUT someplace.
Right now cities are in a state of shock because they have already run out of places to put the snow. Streets are impossibly narrow. Corners are impossibly dangerous to see around. People are being hired to clear snow off roofs and truck snow out of parking lots.
We're supposed to get more in two days...
Friday, January 30, 2015
Birthday Party
Last weekend we finally had Andrew's Birthday Party.
Andy was born on December 17th. It's a horrible time of year to have a birthday party. Everyone is fraught with holiday tension, schedules are crammed with holiday parties, and because of all this the party planning really needs to start before Thanksgiving. It never does.
Last year none of the boys had a birthday party, so this year I promised. It's just that we had to pick dates that were a little later than the actual birthdays. Because of Christmas, basketball games... things like that.
These days parties get ridiculous. They're all at movie theaters, laser tag, arcades. The simplest party invites 8 people for $300, and you still have to bring your own cake. It's great if you can afford it because you don't have to worry about the pizza.
But I decided not to go all out.
Steve came over and set up the playstation on the big screen in the den.
Andy had a guest list of 7 people.
We bought an ice cream cake at the market basket.
I ordered pizza to be delivered.
It snowed 8 inches and three kids cancelled.
But the four that showed up had a great time.
This is how I'm doing all of my kids' parties. The boys had a blast. They hung out and did what kids do and I didn't need to do much of anything except clean my house and worry about folks getting up and down the driveway.
Nate's birthday party is in 2 weeks. We're doing this. I'll figure out if 3rd graders are as great as the 1st graders. But so far Nate only wants 5 kids...
Andy was born on December 17th. It's a horrible time of year to have a birthday party. Everyone is fraught with holiday tension, schedules are crammed with holiday parties, and because of all this the party planning really needs to start before Thanksgiving. It never does.
Last year none of the boys had a birthday party, so this year I promised. It's just that we had to pick dates that were a little later than the actual birthdays. Because of Christmas, basketball games... things like that.
These days parties get ridiculous. They're all at movie theaters, laser tag, arcades. The simplest party invites 8 people for $300, and you still have to bring your own cake. It's great if you can afford it because you don't have to worry about the pizza.
But I decided not to go all out.
Steve came over and set up the playstation on the big screen in the den.
Andy had a guest list of 7 people.
We bought an ice cream cake at the market basket.
I ordered pizza to be delivered.
It snowed 8 inches and three kids cancelled.
But the four that showed up had a great time.
This is how I'm doing all of my kids' parties. The boys had a blast. They hung out and did what kids do and I didn't need to do much of anything except clean my house and worry about folks getting up and down the driveway.
Nate's birthday party is in 2 weeks. We're doing this. I'll figure out if 3rd graders are as great as the 1st graders. But so far Nate only wants 5 kids...
Thursday, January 08, 2015
Immigration Simulation Day
They had an Immigration Simulation Day. For the third grade.
This means that Nate came home mid-November with a stack of papers. He had to put together a family tree. He had to pull together his heritage, which apparently means the countries you're from.
Not FROM from, but just from. Like way back. Many, many generations ago. Where you had your roots. In case you are wondering, the teachers don't think it's funny when you ask if New Jersey counts. Tennessee doesn't count either.
Nate had to pack a bag - not one with cartoon characters, or anything too brightly colored - to bring with him on his simulation boat trip across the simulated ocean. It had to have just a few objects, something to remind him of his "home" country, and a snack - nothing that would spoil during the long journey.
Nate was in tears looking for a bag that would be old enough. He stressed looking for a special object to remind him of his nation of origin. As I sorted through piles of pokemon and bakugan, I wondered aloud if we should try and convince everyone we had roots in Japan.
We also had to find Nate an outfit for his trip. Nothing too modern - the flyer the teacher provided assured us that boys should be in dark pants, preferably not jeans, and no modern graphics on the T-shirts please.
Then we got the chance - and this is so exciting it made me want to scream - to choose a special dish from our countries of origin to make and bring in for the immigration simulation workshop. I admit, I started wondering who exactly this simulation was for, and which one of us was actually a member of Mrs. M's third grade class...
I couldn't go to the simulation. I was working, and these things invariably take place during the work day. But I did get a good snapshot of him in his immigration clothing.
This means that Nate came home mid-November with a stack of papers. He had to put together a family tree. He had to pull together his heritage, which apparently means the countries you're from.
Not FROM from, but just from. Like way back. Many, many generations ago. Where you had your roots. In case you are wondering, the teachers don't think it's funny when you ask if New Jersey counts. Tennessee doesn't count either.
Nate had to pack a bag - not one with cartoon characters, or anything too brightly colored - to bring with him on his simulation boat trip across the simulated ocean. It had to have just a few objects, something to remind him of his "home" country, and a snack - nothing that would spoil during the long journey.
Nate was in tears looking for a bag that would be old enough. He stressed looking for a special object to remind him of his nation of origin. As I sorted through piles of pokemon and bakugan, I wondered aloud if we should try and convince everyone we had roots in Japan.
We also had to find Nate an outfit for his trip. Nothing too modern - the flyer the teacher provided assured us that boys should be in dark pants, preferably not jeans, and no modern graphics on the T-shirts please.
Then we got the chance - and this is so exciting it made me want to scream - to choose a special dish from our countries of origin to make and bring in for the immigration simulation workshop. I admit, I started wondering who exactly this simulation was for, and which one of us was actually a member of Mrs. M's third grade class...
I couldn't go to the simulation. I was working, and these things invariably take place during the work day. But I did get a good snapshot of him in his immigration clothing.
Monday, October 06, 2014
Friday, October 03, 2014
Like Cooking, but with Kids!
There are a ridiculous number of people in the world who believe that children should help in with the cooking.
Seriously, I remember being a kid and making Christmas cookies with my mom. I remember it well because there was this really odd shape of cookie cutter and I had no idea what it was, kind of a lumpy thing, and I liked using it to cut shapes out of the dough, and then I would eat the dough. My mother flipped out a bit, then chased us all from the kitchen so she could actually put some cookies in the oven, and so we would die from eating raw eggs. (by the way, the cookie cutter was a camel. I never understood what a camel had to do with Christmas, but that's because I was a heathen and camels didn't pull the sleigh.)
I've tried to get my kids interested in cooking. The books say you can... the many many cookbooks for children, most with large sections that say "GET MOMMY TO HELP YOU CUT THE CARROTS!" Made for children who are dumb enough to eat radishes just because they are peeled and placed on a plate in the shape of someone's hair. My kids are too smart for that, people. Put fruit on a pancake and guess what? It's still fruit. Only now it's ruined the pancake.
Anyway, I have my moments where I try to let the kids help. "You can get a four year old to tear the lettuce!" it says, larger-than-life smile implied in the tone of the font.
So a couple of years ago, in some strange moment of weakness, I purchased a monster cook book. It has things like mummy meatloaf and potato skins disguised as yeti claws. But it also has a few gross desserts. I let the boys each pick an item to make. Andy chose something called "Trifle With Death."
Before pouring in the lime jello, the vanilla pudding, or the marshmallows, the first step is to tear up a sponge cake. I figured if I four year old could tear lettuce, my three kids could tear up a sponge cake.
"Is this piece big enough?" Nick asked, holding up a crumb the size of a raisin.
"It says one inch pieces," I said.
blank looks.
"A little bigger, like this," I said, holding up a piece about the size of a large grape.
"Is this big enough?" Nick asked, holding up a crumb the size of a raisin.
"No," I said.
"Like this? Like this? IS this good?" as all three boys needed me to approve every single pinched morsel of squashed sponge cake that went into the dish.
It was slightly insane.
The boys ate half the marshmallows. They were really impressed with the jello. And the pudding, which was stirred for about three seconds before the boys gave up.
The concoction is now in the fridge until tomorrow, when we get to sprinkle the top with crushed oreos and gummy worms. And gummy eyeballs, if we can find them before then. I'm afraid, and already feeling slightly ill.
Seriously, I remember being a kid and making Christmas cookies with my mom. I remember it well because there was this really odd shape of cookie cutter and I had no idea what it was, kind of a lumpy thing, and I liked using it to cut shapes out of the dough, and then I would eat the dough. My mother flipped out a bit, then chased us all from the kitchen so she could actually put some cookies in the oven, and so we would die from eating raw eggs. (by the way, the cookie cutter was a camel. I never understood what a camel had to do with Christmas, but that's because I was a heathen and camels didn't pull the sleigh.)
I've tried to get my kids interested in cooking. The books say you can... the many many cookbooks for children, most with large sections that say "GET MOMMY TO HELP YOU CUT THE CARROTS!" Made for children who are dumb enough to eat radishes just because they are peeled and placed on a plate in the shape of someone's hair. My kids are too smart for that, people. Put fruit on a pancake and guess what? It's still fruit. Only now it's ruined the pancake.
Anyway, I have my moments where I try to let the kids help. "You can get a four year old to tear the lettuce!" it says, larger-than-life smile implied in the tone of the font.
So a couple of years ago, in some strange moment of weakness, I purchased a monster cook book. It has things like mummy meatloaf and potato skins disguised as yeti claws. But it also has a few gross desserts. I let the boys each pick an item to make. Andy chose something called "Trifle With Death."
Before pouring in the lime jello, the vanilla pudding, or the marshmallows, the first step is to tear up a sponge cake. I figured if I four year old could tear lettuce, my three kids could tear up a sponge cake.
"Is this piece big enough?" Nick asked, holding up a crumb the size of a raisin.
"It says one inch pieces," I said.
blank looks.
"A little bigger, like this," I said, holding up a piece about the size of a large grape.
"Is this big enough?" Nick asked, holding up a crumb the size of a raisin.
"No," I said.
"Like this? Like this? IS this good?" as all three boys needed me to approve every single pinched morsel of squashed sponge cake that went into the dish.
It was slightly insane.
The boys ate half the marshmallows. They were really impressed with the jello. And the pudding, which was stirred for about three seconds before the boys gave up.
The concoction is now in the fridge until tomorrow, when we get to sprinkle the top with crushed oreos and gummy worms. And gummy eyeballs, if we can find them before then. I'm afraid, and already feeling slightly ill.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Thursday, September 04, 2014
Homework
It's official.
All three boys now have homework.
None of them like to do it.
Right now, the boys are at Steve's, and there is an unfinished assignment on the kitchen table, due tomorrow.
I told the boy it should all be done yesterday, and was assured I was being ridiculous.
This would be slightly easier if the boys didn't have to be wrestled into their chairs to complete this stuff.
All three boys now have homework.
None of them like to do it.
Right now, the boys are at Steve's, and there is an unfinished assignment on the kitchen table, due tomorrow.
I told the boy it should all be done yesterday, and was assured I was being ridiculous.
This would be slightly easier if the boys didn't have to be wrestled into their chairs to complete this stuff.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Try, Try Again
Maybe I don't need to write something deep and meaningful every time I post on this blog.
Maybe I need to take some of the pressure off.
Maybe it can be something simple, like a comment. Or a short paragraph. Or a fleeting thought.
Maybe when a few of those have gone up, the deeper, more meaningful posts will come back.
Maybe it can start with a few photos.
Like a new start to a new school year.
Maybe I need to take some of the pressure off.
Maybe it can be something simple, like a comment. Or a short paragraph. Or a fleeting thought.
Maybe when a few of those have gone up, the deeper, more meaningful posts will come back.
Maybe it can start with a few photos.
Like a new start to a new school year.
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| School Day 1. Grades 1, 3, 4 |
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| School Day 1. Grades 1, 3, 4 |
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| School Day 1. Grades 1, 3, 4 I said "make a face like a Dalek" andNick grinned |
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| School Day 1. Grades 1, 3, 4 Photo Session Silly Face |
Friday, March 21, 2014
Guess Who?
Remember last year, when Nicholas did his Biography report and had to create his person out of a 2-liter bottle? Remember this:
Well, the good thing about having Nick and Nate in back to back grades is that we are prepared for the biggest assignments. I knew Nate was going to have to collect rocks. And I knew he was going to have to create his own bottle person.
Here he is:
No, it's not Einstein. Yes, the hair can trick you, but obviously this is Benjamin Franklin. See the kite?
His hair is just standing on end (I am informed) because of the electricity running through his body. Also, the lightning seems to be stuck to his back.
Nate was very proud of Bottle Ben Franklin. We hope he will get along with Bottle J.K. Rowling, who is still hanging around from last year. (Yes, I know it looks like George Washington. It's not.)
Here he is:
His hair is just standing on end (I am informed) because of the electricity running through his body. Also, the lightning seems to be stuck to his back.
Saturday, February 01, 2014
Sweet Beginnings
I hate February.
I really really hate it. It's overcast and it's cold and grey, even though by mow I'm ready for spring. January is enough for me. And yet, year after year, February settles itself in between the holiday recovery month and the month of March (which is when Spring begins to appear) with it's bland, cold, icy, self.
Sure, February is a short month. And it's a short month full of things like Valentine's Day, Birthdays of various Presidents, my mother's birthday, and an entire week of school vacation. Not to mention Groundhog Day, and Imbolc (the spring equinox). And a whole month of February is Black History Month, or African-American History Month, depending on how you feel like expressing it.
All respect for these important events and occasions aside, I still hate February.
But today, February 1st, is a little different.
It's Ice Cream For Breakfast Day.
We Celebrated. Even me. I strongly urge you to begin observing this sacred day of over-indulgence. It's Awesome, unexpected, and fun. We've gotten to the point where Nick starts counting down the days.
This morning, as we were navigating our way through melting ice-cream and sticky syrups, I asked the boys if they would celebrate Ice-Cream for breakfast day for ever, from now on.
"Yes!" said Nick. "Unless I get diabetic. Then I'll just do it for my family."
I really really hate it. It's overcast and it's cold and grey, even though by mow I'm ready for spring. January is enough for me. And yet, year after year, February settles itself in between the holiday recovery month and the month of March (which is when Spring begins to appear) with it's bland, cold, icy, self.
Sure, February is a short month. And it's a short month full of things like Valentine's Day, Birthdays of various Presidents, my mother's birthday, and an entire week of school vacation. Not to mention Groundhog Day, and Imbolc (the spring equinox). And a whole month of February is Black History Month, or African-American History Month, depending on how you feel like expressing it.
All respect for these important events and occasions aside, I still hate February.
But today, February 1st, is a little different.
It's Ice Cream For Breakfast Day.
We Celebrated. Even me. I strongly urge you to begin observing this sacred day of over-indulgence. It's Awesome, unexpected, and fun. We've gotten to the point where Nick starts counting down the days.
This morning, as we were navigating our way through melting ice-cream and sticky syrups, I asked the boys if they would celebrate Ice-Cream for breakfast day for ever, from now on.
"Yes!" said Nick. "Unless I get diabetic. Then I'll just do it for my family."
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Monday, December 16, 2013
It's Called a Schedule
Last week I say down and scheduled out the events leading us up to Christmas.
It's trickier than you might think. Remember, I'm dealing not only with my schedule, but with the boys' schedules, too. And nothing is ever as straightforward as you'd think.
So, Monday is the last day to send in a toy for the toy drive at the school. That morning I'm at the school library as a volunteer. Also, I have a music committee meeting. So I'll get Steve to take the boys.
That's it for Monday.
Tuesday is Andrew's Birthday! He's turning six! So exciting! Except Tuesday afternoons are really, really busy, with Karate for Andy at 4:15, Karate for Nate and Nick at 5pm, and piano for Andy and Nate at 6:30. I can't reschedule piano because they don't have lessons for the next two weeks. I'll make cupcakes and we'll have them with our regular Tuesday dinner-in-the-car. We'll have to have Andy's Birthday dinner on Monday.
Monday I'll pick the boys up, take them to the mall to see Santa, buy our annual ornaments, and then go out to dinner. Steve can come with us. We should be done in plenty of time for me to make it to Music Committee. And I'll wrap Andy's Birthday Gifts when we get back.
Wednesday I take the car to be inspected. Then that night I have Choir and the boys will be at Steve's so...
Thursday morning I can pack all the stuff we'll need for the DI meeting that afternoon - the boys will be creating gingerbread circuses out of graham crackers, ginger snaps, and sugar cones. And icing and candy. After the sugary meeting, we'll run off to Karate at 4:30 for Nate and Nick. OH! And it's the last day for some of the teachers to get teacher gifts, and I have to bake those...
Add to Tuesday AM - bake cookies at the same time as the cupcakes.
Add to Thursday take out trash. And Clean Bathrooms, because there is no other open space and that needs to happen.
And Friday is the last day of school with all of those parties. I need to buy napkins and plates and cups that are holiday themed. I'll need to go food shopping, but they had none at the grocery store or at CVS. Add to Wednesday - buy napkins, etc. And then Andy has a playdate at 3pm. And Nick has his DI meeting after school until 4:30. Andy will skip his karate because of the playdate, but Nate and Nick have Karate again at 5pm. Sometime in there I'll pick Andy up. Then we can have movie night and eat sugar cookies and watch Arthur Christmas or Scrooged or something.
This is all very manageable.
Only guess what? It's Monday morning, and Andrew is sick. Too sick for school. Too sick (probably) for santa and dinner out tonight.
So...
Monday, cancel the library volunteering. Email Steve and let him know we may need to reschedule Santa on Wednesday before Choir. Music committee was postponed (not because of me, ironically) so I have tonight to wrap gifts and bake cookies and figure out how Nate and Nick can conjure birthday presents for Andrew out of thin air. Also, the boys can do whatever homework they have.
Tuesday - as usual, school, library, karate, piano, dinner in the car. Only Andrew will be better (right?) and go to school so I can make all the teacher gifts.
Wednesday I take my car in, I'll run into Wal-Mart where they better have holiday themed paper dinnerware. That PM we do Santa, dinner our, then Choir, Steve will watch them here which means I have them...
Thursday morning, clean bathrooms, pay bills, DI circus, karate the day we give the teachers their gifts and I can stop thinking about them, and then
Friday, the last school day before Christmas Vacation, food shopping (buy wine), Andy Playdate, Nick DI, Nick and Nate karate, movie night, cookies, wine, and write out the schedule for the next couple of weeks so they aren't this hectic.
right?
It's trickier than you might think. Remember, I'm dealing not only with my schedule, but with the boys' schedules, too. And nothing is ever as straightforward as you'd think.
So, Monday is the last day to send in a toy for the toy drive at the school. That morning I'm at the school library as a volunteer. Also, I have a music committee meeting. So I'll get Steve to take the boys.
That's it for Monday.
Tuesday is Andrew's Birthday! He's turning six! So exciting! Except Tuesday afternoons are really, really busy, with Karate for Andy at 4:15, Karate for Nate and Nick at 5pm, and piano for Andy and Nate at 6:30. I can't reschedule piano because they don't have lessons for the next two weeks. I'll make cupcakes and we'll have them with our regular Tuesday dinner-in-the-car. We'll have to have Andy's Birthday dinner on Monday.
Monday I'll pick the boys up, take them to the mall to see Santa, buy our annual ornaments, and then go out to dinner. Steve can come with us. We should be done in plenty of time for me to make it to Music Committee. And I'll wrap Andy's Birthday Gifts when we get back.
Wednesday I take the car to be inspected. Then that night I have Choir and the boys will be at Steve's so...
Thursday morning I can pack all the stuff we'll need for the DI meeting that afternoon - the boys will be creating gingerbread circuses out of graham crackers, ginger snaps, and sugar cones. And icing and candy. After the sugary meeting, we'll run off to Karate at 4:30 for Nate and Nick. OH! And it's the last day for some of the teachers to get teacher gifts, and I have to bake those...
Add to Tuesday AM - bake cookies at the same time as the cupcakes.
Add to Thursday take out trash. And Clean Bathrooms, because there is no other open space and that needs to happen.
And Friday is the last day of school with all of those parties. I need to buy napkins and plates and cups that are holiday themed. I'll need to go food shopping, but they had none at the grocery store or at CVS. Add to Wednesday - buy napkins, etc. And then Andy has a playdate at 3pm. And Nick has his DI meeting after school until 4:30. Andy will skip his karate because of the playdate, but Nate and Nick have Karate again at 5pm. Sometime in there I'll pick Andy up. Then we can have movie night and eat sugar cookies and watch Arthur Christmas or Scrooged or something.
This is all very manageable.
Only guess what? It's Monday morning, and Andrew is sick. Too sick for school. Too sick (probably) for santa and dinner out tonight.
So...
Monday, cancel the library volunteering. Email Steve and let him know we may need to reschedule Santa on Wednesday before Choir. Music committee was postponed (not because of me, ironically) so I have tonight to wrap gifts and bake cookies and figure out how Nate and Nick can conjure birthday presents for Andrew out of thin air. Also, the boys can do whatever homework they have.
Tuesday - as usual, school, library, karate, piano, dinner in the car. Only Andrew will be better (right?) and go to school so I can make all the teacher gifts.
Wednesday I take my car in, I'll run into Wal-Mart where they better have holiday themed paper dinnerware. That PM we do Santa, dinner our, then Choir, Steve will watch them here which means I have them...
Thursday morning, clean bathrooms, pay bills, DI circus, karate the day we give the teachers their gifts and I can stop thinking about them, and then
Friday, the last school day before Christmas Vacation, food shopping (buy wine), Andy Playdate, Nick DI, Nick and Nate karate, movie night, cookies, wine, and write out the schedule for the next couple of weeks so they aren't this hectic.
right?
Friday, December 13, 2013
New Shoes
You know that song New Shoes?
Want to know what Nate's shoes look like after 6 weeks?
No?
Too bad. I'm gonna show you anyway.
Take a good look at that toe area. Yes, that's right. The sole is completely coming apart from the rest of the shoe.
I have admit, my reaction when I found this shoe was not to be filed under "parenting award nominee." After all, these shoes were not the school shoes I'd gotten for the boys in September. No, these were a replacement for those shoes, which had holes in the toes and were so bad that I finally told Nate we were going to throw them away after he wore them as part of his Zombie costume at Halloween.
Recently I found them crammed under his bed. Which turned out to be OK, because he had to wear them while I replaced these grey and orange things.
"What do you do to your shoes?" I shouted, shaking the shoe in the air like it was an etch-a-sketch and the hole would erase itself if I only shook it hard and fast enough.
Nate shrugged. "I just ride my bike, is all." And by 'ride my bike' he means 'drag my feet to stop the bike.'
So I had to buy Nate a new pair of shoes.
I never know if I should buy him an expensive pair of shoes, or a cheap pair. When I buy a cheap pair, I do it knowing ahead of time they are going to fall apart, so I feel like I'm not even giving Nate a chance. I can only blame myself for the holes and the rips and tears. But when I shell out three times as much for a pair of sneakers only to have the same type of thing happen, I despair. Then I blame myself for paying out so much because of COURSE this was going to happen, it ALWAYS DOES!
Actually I went and bought him two new (medium priced) pairs of shoes. Just in case. He also has a hand-me-down pair that is slightly too big, and also still shiny enough to pass as a dress shoe, so I won't let him wear them, you know, EVER.
Tuesday, December 03, 2013
Nate's Poetry
Nathan is working on a poetry unit in school.
This means that they're reading some different kinds of poetry, and also that he's writing some poems himself. He likes doing this a lot, and last night he informed me that when he grew up he was going to be a poet.
We had a short conversation about being a poet. I told him I thought he's be good at it, but that it was hard to make a living that way.
His response was to hand me three poems this morning for me to post. "And for every 'like' I get, you give me a dollar.
We haggled, and now I'm giving him a quarter for every comment left below. Remember, he's buying holiday gifts for some of you people. You might want to leave a couple of words.
Seriously, the last one is my favorite.
Christmas
Santa present
Red and red
Soon Santa's coming
So go to bed
Cookies
Roses are red,
Violets are blue
I know that cookies
Can be, too!
Rush Hour In The City
The trains are gone,
The busses are taken,
The cabs are, too.
Finally, there is a cab,
And I looked at my watch.
It was too bad.
I was late for work.
This means that they're reading some different kinds of poetry, and also that he's writing some poems himself. He likes doing this a lot, and last night he informed me that when he grew up he was going to be a poet.
We had a short conversation about being a poet. I told him I thought he's be good at it, but that it was hard to make a living that way.
His response was to hand me three poems this morning for me to post. "And for every 'like' I get, you give me a dollar.
We haggled, and now I'm giving him a quarter for every comment left below. Remember, he's buying holiday gifts for some of you people. You might want to leave a couple of words.
Seriously, the last one is my favorite.
Christmas
Santa present
Red and red
Soon Santa's coming
So go to bed
Cookies
Roses are red,
Violets are blue
I know that cookies
Can be, too!
Rush Hour In The City
The trains are gone,
The busses are taken,
The cabs are, too.
Finally, there is a cab,
And I looked at my watch.
It was too bad.
I was late for work.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Secret Identity
As part of his homework for school, Nathan is supposed to do 60 minutes of reading every week. His teacher chooses to monitor this with the help of reading logs. Every day Nathan is supposed to read from 10 to 15 minutes and write down what he read, how long he read, and the date he read it.
The thing is, Nathan loves to read. He simply hates to write anything down. Friday mornings we usually find ourselves scrambling to remember what he read, a task made more difficult by the fact that he also reads at school and at his dad's.
This past Friday Nathan insisted he'd read The Young Mark Twain for an hour.
Now, an hour is a long time, but I know Nate is capable of it. And I know Steve has this book because it used to live in the basement and recently made the trip to his house. I figured Nate probably did read the book for a little while. But it seemed like a challenging book for a seven-year-old.
So I thought I'd give him a test, a chance to show off.
"If you read that book then you must know Mark Twain's real name."
Nate nodded uncertainly. "Yeah!" he said. "It's Batman. Right?"
I gave him a funny look because I didn't get it at first. Mark Twain was Samuel Clemens, and I explained this to Nate, wondering why he would try to pass off reading the book with such an obvious untruth. I mean, Batman... Batman was... Bruce Wayne.
Bruce Wayne.
Not Mark Twain.
And then I started laughing.
Because I know Nate did spend time reading the book, and I imagine him sitting there, gripping it, turning pages eagerly, thinking he was reading about the early life of Batman.
The thing is, Nathan loves to read. He simply hates to write anything down. Friday mornings we usually find ourselves scrambling to remember what he read, a task made more difficult by the fact that he also reads at school and at his dad's.
This past Friday Nathan insisted he'd read The Young Mark Twain for an hour.
Now, an hour is a long time, but I know Nate is capable of it. And I know Steve has this book because it used to live in the basement and recently made the trip to his house. I figured Nate probably did read the book for a little while. But it seemed like a challenging book for a seven-year-old.
So I thought I'd give him a test, a chance to show off.
"If you read that book then you must know Mark Twain's real name."
Nate nodded uncertainly. "Yeah!" he said. "It's Batman. Right?"
I gave him a funny look because I didn't get it at first. Mark Twain was Samuel Clemens, and I explained this to Nate, wondering why he would try to pass off reading the book with such an obvious untruth. I mean, Batman... Batman was... Bruce Wayne.
Bruce Wayne.
Not Mark Twain.
And then I started laughing.
Because I know Nate did spend time reading the book, and I imagine him sitting there, gripping it, turning pages eagerly, thinking he was reading about the early life of Batman.
Saturday, November 02, 2013
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
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