Summer Reading

Adelaide was very excited about joining the summer reading program at the library near her school. At first I told her we were only going to do the one at our neighborhood library, but she was really determined to do the other after hearing about the prizes from the librarian who came to talk to her class. So, we went and got a new library card and signed her up. We usually get a pretty big stack of books when we go to the library, and this time was no exception.
The goal for the summer is to read or be read to for 1000 minutes. The kids color in a square for every 20 minutes they read. We started keeping track on Monday, and Adelaide is more than halfway to her 1000 minutes. She is a reading machine!This morning she set herself up with her stuffed animals, blanket and pile of books. She read about 10 books before heading off to camp. She almost lost her breakfast to the cat, she was too busy reading to eat.

Dumb Stuff Yahoo Calls News

Every time I sign out of my email account, I read the headline-blurb on the Yahoo home page. I hesitate to call this a headline, as that carries with it the implication that there is some sort of "news" it is relaying, but you get my drift here. I am frequently amused, occasionally annoyed, and often just perplexed at why anyone would care to know what is being posted there.

Tonight's headline read as follows: "Ranch dressings put to a blind taste test" and the blurb followed up with: "Food experts find that one popular brand stands out because of a "well balanced" taste. Another is 'too tangy'"

I will leave the links in place, not because I actually followed them or suggest that you do so, but perhaps you need to know more. I briefly thought I was actually on a link for the Onion, which would have made a lot more sense. I wish now that I had collected more of these informative tidbits to share, but I'm thinking this may need to become a regular feature of this blog. After all, when you need to know about cutting edge news, "Much Ado About . . . " is where you turn to, no?

A very good year

Today was the last day of Adelaide's Kindergarten career. She has come home with many many art projects, books, writing work, and projects from the year, and this recent one is one of my personal favorites. Here a few of my favorite pages:

Grandma will be so happy her hair will curl like mad!

The best part of the book was the pictures Adelaide drew of herself on the first day of school and the last week of school. I knew I would be able to see the growth and changes, but I was really shocked to see how far she has come. What an amazing year it has been.
August 2009:
June 2010:

Girl Power

Today was field day, and among the fun activities was a tug-of-war station. The stations were staffed by 6th graders, who showed the kids what to do and divided up teams.

After a few go-rounds with smaller groups, the 6th graders set up a boys versus girls competition with the whole class. Here are the girls just starting to pull:
Here are the boys, 3 seconds after the girls started pulling:

I wasn't even able to catch the boys standing, as the girls had them down and dragging along the ground in about 1.75 seconds. Granted, they outnumber them by 6, but when I suggested that the 6th grade boys help on the boys side for a re-match, the Kindergarten girls had those boys down on the ground again in no time. Way to go, tough girls!

First Hike of the Summer

We finally had some nice weekend weather this past weekend, so we headed up to the hills for a little hike. There were any number of other people at the state park we chose, but we managed to find lots of spots for peace and quiet along the trail.
Adelaide packed and carried her own backpack with the things she needed (minus a few dolls and stuffed animals who had to stay in the car according to my rules).

We discovered a side trail off of the main path with a lot of beautiful things to look at and no other people. After some lunch at the river we pulled out our books to sit and read for a while.
Adelaide had narrowed it down to about 15 titles and read several to me and the 2 stuffed animal friends who were allowed to ride in the backpack.

Although there were many falls to be seen on the hike, Adelaide was especially fond of this one because she felt that she discovered it. It was off a path which looked a bit deserted and down which no one else bothered to venture.All in all, we had a very nice time and I am encouraged that we will enjoy more hikes as summer progresses.

Stolen from Grammar Blog

Grammar Blog

Oh, lovely internet, thank you for all that which you offer. I was looking for the punctuation police, and found the grammar police (who also deal with spelling, apparently). Love that someone is watching out for us. Awsome [sic].

Survey Says . . .

Okay, just wondering if I can draw any conclusions from a little informal study of our childhood heartthrobs and how they translate into adult tv fantasy crushes. Were you a bigger fan of Ponch or Jon? Take the poll.

Ponch or Jon?
	Ponch, dude.
	I prefer Jon.
pollcode.com free polls

Christian or Sean
	Christian all the way.
	Sean for sure.
pollcode.com free polls

Oh, and how about Richie or the Fonz? And don't even tell me if it's Potsie, I just don't want to know. (oh, but on a side note, try a google image search of Potsie and look for the sombreros. Not going to post the link here given the family-friendly nature of this blog, but pretty funny.)

Great Philosophers exchange ideas, or "The Other Nietzsche Family Circus."

"Mommy, if you don't wanna bake a cake, I'd be OK with a pie instead." . . . "This window's lettin' the outdoors in!". . . "A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away." . . ."I'm so mad at Billy, but I can't 'member why!" . . ."Daddy, don't they make a BRIEFER case than this?". . . "They invented hugs to let people know you love them without saying anything.". . . "I drew this guy but he's too tall for my paper.". . . . “Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.”. . ."You're never too old to learn. I guess that's why Grandma knows so many things.". . . "What else did I do that was funny when I was little?". . . "Dyeing eggs isn't the same as killing them, is it, Daddy?" . . . "I'm a lot better at skatin' when I stay on the grass." . . ."Clean my room? . . . But I'm not done getting it dirty." . . ."Mommy, how did Daddy get little?" . . ."Mommy's spelling things on the phone 'cause Barfy's listening." . . ."I just figured out I'm unemployed." . . ."Do I hafta wear shoes with this skirt?" . . . "Who threw sunflower seeds all over this floor?" "Not me!" . . . "Daddy, will you move the sun, please?" . . . "Can you do anything with scenery besides look at it?" . . . "I'm ready if anybody wants to break something." . . . "Grandma, I'll keep it a secret if you want to tell me I'm your favorite." . . . "Why do I have to keep writin' in these K's when they don't make any noise anyway?" . . . "In a couple weeks that caterpillar's gonna get promoted to a butterfly." . . . "it's okay, Mommy. I didn't spill ALL my grape juice." . . . "Cameras shrink us so Grandma can carry us around in her wallet." . . . "Daddy, are you feelin' under the weather or over the weather?" . . . "My left leg weights 'zactly the same as my right leg." . . . "I was just yawning 'cause PJ did it first." . . . "I'd make a good teacher, Mommy. I just taught PJ his alphabet up to C, 'cept sometimes he forgets B." . . . "i'm sorry. I think my fingers got away from me." . . . "it's too close to dinner for a cookie." "Can't dinner be later?". . . "I don't know if I'm rarin' to go, 'cause I don't know what 'rarin means." . . . "Why's it called that? It doesn't have any ticks, tacks, or toes!" . . . "How many one-of-a-kinds are there?" . . . "We're makin' mother's day cards at school! But we're not to tell a soul, 'cause it's a secret." . . . "No, how 'bout we play Hide-and-DON'T-Seek." . . . "I left my shirt untucked so I don't need a napkin." . . . "No way did I do it. I can draw a lot better than that." . .


All quotes copyright Bill Keane. Don't try to take credit, Nietzsche!

Nietzache Predicts Facebook

Thank you, Internets

Where would we be without the web? Such brilliance, just a mouse click away . . .

A Star is Born

Adelaide's class performed a medley of songs interspersed with a re-enactment of the story "Rainbow Fish" last week. The full version will be posted elsewhere for those of you who want 10 plus minutes of Kindergarten thespian action, but for most of you, I have created a short video with some highlights. Video quality is low but you get the idea.

Note: the headgear are shower caps with ribbons hanging off them, to look like jellyfish. Adelaide later plays the octopus, and dons a balloon octopus head.

Flash Mob Crazy!

What started as an obsession with other people breaking out into dance has now turned into a new hobby . . . or maybe will become one. Took a quick trip downtown during my lunch hour today to join the flash mob surprising the Swedish employees during their photo shoot for their 100 year anniversary. So fun! I'm on the far right, in black. You can only see me in some of the shots, which is probably a good thing.