Writer's Workshop

Another batch of Writer's Workshop papers came home yesterday in Emily's Thursday Folder from school. I'm so amazed as how much she's improved just since the last batch! The ones from January have much neater hand-writing, better use of capitals and periods, etc...

This is the one that made me laugh this time around:

(written as Emily wrote it)

I was a bride for hola-wene. My mom made my flawrs. I was happy cause it was wite with lots of beds (beads). It gose with anather story but I'm not gana tel it.
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Kind of leaves you wondering what the other story is, doesn't it?!?! She's got that cliff-hanger strategy down pat. LOL

It fits!

When Emily was 2.5 and Jared was six months old, a friend of mine, who was currently living in China, came home to visit her parents. I took the kids over to see her and was shocked to discover she'd brought gifts back for us. Emily was given a beautiful red "China dress" (as Emily calls it!) and Jared was given a blue outfit (which fit Emily at the time it was gifted! My friend wanted them to have room to grow.)

The red dress was placed in a safe spot until the time it actually fit Emily, and Emily is quite pleased to finally get to wear it! She wore it Monday for the Chinese New Year, and I bought the hair sticks for her hair at Claire's the day before. Isn't she cute?!? I'm wishing I'd taken her picture without the sweater on...

How times have changed

Emily and I were talking a few days ago and she was asking me what games I used to play on the computer when I was her age. I informed her that most people didn't really have computers in their homes when I was her age. If I wanted to play a game on the computer, I had to go to the library during a rainy day recess and wait my turn to use one of the TWO computers I remember being in the school, and the games were green words or objects on a black screen. And I truly don't remember getting to play games on a computer during rainy day recesses until I was in 4th or 5th grade. She looked at me with an expression of mixed horror and shock and exclaimed, "How did you look up information then??!!??" Books at the library, little girl. Books at the library...

HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED!!!

Build-a-Bear birthday party

Emily was invited to a Build-a-Bear birthday party for her friend Alexandria over the weekend. We had been to BAB several times in the past (mostly just to browse, but each of my kids received a special bear from Dan and I as newborns), but had yet to experience a BAB party. It was FANTASTIC!

The kids all meet in the front entrance to the store to get name tags and hear the "rules". Justin was in charge of the party and he was GREAT. Very upbeat and fun and really kept the kids' attention.


Then the kids got to choose an animal (their selection is dictated by the parent paying for the party). Emily chose the SOFTEST little bunny I have ever felt. Then the kids all go into a back corner with the employee leading the party (in our , case, with Justin) to do the heart ceremony deal, and then they got to take turns having their animals stuffed.


To keep the rest of the kids entertained while it wasn't their turn to stuff their animals, Justin led them in a few songs and games. The kids had a BLAST! Here's Emily playing Duck Duck Goose, except they didn't just say "duck...duck...etc" they said different animal names and the person being touched had to make that animal noise, then the "goose!" part was played normally. Very fun twist and really kept the kids' interest and attention.


After everyone had had a turn to stuff their animal, they took turns grooming their animals under the blowers, then they each got to pick out a shirt for their animal, as well as choose some ribbons and bows to dress up their animals.

Finally, it was time for a group photo!


The grandma of the birthday girl had saved a big seating area in one portion of our mall, so we'd all have a place to sit and have cupcakes and watch Alex open her gifts after we were done at BAB. It worked out great! I did spend $4 and some change on a little pair of leggings for Em's bunny to go along with it's Camp Rock shirt because I'm a sucker and the poor thing looked a little funny without any pants. ha!

There's currently a dinosaur there I'm debating on for Connor. Not like I need to spend that kind of money and not like I need another stuffed animal around this house, but he's been Mr. Chattypants about "dininsaurs" A LOT lately, and he's always so hard to purchase for (getting hand-me-downs of clothes and toys from Jared doesn't leave him needing or wanting for much of anything!), this could be a good gift idea!!

Anyway, I sure as heck wouldn't be paying for 14 kids at BAB like Alex's parents did, but this could be a really fun way for any one of my kids and 3 of their friends to celebrate a birthday. We'll have to think on it!!

Unbelievable

All this over a heart-shaped bowl I mistakenly put down in front of him instead of his sister???

One week to go!!

One more week until Superbowl! GO STEELERS!!

I miss this

We didn't get hit as hard as some other cities in Washington, and it didn't interfere with any of our major plans, AND the kids and I had a BLAST playing outside in it day after day, and I kind of miss this:


Maybe we'll get lucky and get more blast of snow before Spring hits. It could be years before we see that much snow again!