My Blog

If a little is good, then a lot must be better

Pirates belong on ships, not in stores

Music from movies don’t belong on the radio without the movie playing

All I have to say about the topic is that I would be sad if I was President number 2 through 15 right about now.  Everything you find about Presidents’ Day is about George or Abe.  I know they both have birthdays around now but there were plenty of guys in between them and lots more that came afterwards.  Why aren’t they cool enough to be included?

Well, it’s actually because this 3rd Monday is February is celebrating Washington’s birthday.  The official federal holiday is called Washington’s Birthday.  The holiday began in 1871 and was originally celebrated on his actual birthday, February 22nd.  It wasn’t until 1971 that it was moved to the 3rd Monday in February due to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.  There was a request to officially change the holiday to Presidents’ Day but it didn’t go anywhere.

The term Presidents’ Day is used only as a state holiday, in only about a dozen states, and something the advertisers have grabbed hold of.  Some states have included Lincoln because he also celebrates a birthday in February.  Randomly, there are even a few places that ditch Lincoln and throw in Jefferson for some reason.

So after all of that… Washington is the real reason we are celebrating today and why many kids are not in school.  Lincoln just got lucky in when he was born as to why he gets to join in the party.  If you live in a few select places, you’re wondering why I didn’t mention how awesome Jefferson is too.  In reality, most all of our presidents have done a pretty good job.  I know they get a lot of flack but I know that I wouldn’t want that job so I’m glad someone does!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NofK28kBto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1xKpScudV4

We have been working hard on valentines at this house. I have two boys that don’t exactly enjoy sitting at the table and writing or coloring. I think it’s important to have them help with their valentines though. They need to learn the importance of giving. It’s not just about the candy they will get!

I’ve broken the process into little pieces for the tall one.  It’s not as scary to do a just a few each time.

The best is that the short one has gotten excited about joining in!  It’s so sweet to watch him practice writing his “numbers.”

I’ve been catching up on youtube videos.  Afterwards I have fun wandering from suggested video to suggested video.  This time I discovered some videos about Zach Sobiech.  It’s a sad story about a Stillwater teen who passed away from cancer just last year.  He loved music and wrote songs to express himself and give something to his loved ones.  Besides being a completely touching story, the band is awesome.  I think the girl in the band can go far in life with a voice like that.  His big song was “Clouds” which is beautiful but my favorite is “Sandcastles” and “Star Hopping.”

Going through the papers from kindergarten, I came across a note saying crazy hair day was coming up.  Having a boy, I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal.  Apparently he thought otherwise.  I guess they talked about examples of what one could do for crazy hair day and different colors came up.  A certain kindergartner in our house took this to heart as a must.  I, on the other hand, don’t just own hair color.  Grandma to the rescue!

The other one couldn’t be left out.  I tried to lift chunks of hair and put it underneath so it wasn’t so obvious.  It turned out more of a moldy look than anything but he was happy.

And more importantly, my fingers were green until well into the afternoon even though I wash about every half hour at work.

With both boys in their own classes, I love hearing about what they enjoy doing and who they are interacting with during the day.  I get little slips of paper telling me a quick bits about the little one’s day but it’s interesting to actually hear their own perspective from both of them.

The three of us were in the car so they had no where to escape.  I asked different questions about what they enjoy doing and then ended by looking for who they consider their friends at school.  I started with the short one and he quickly told me, “I play wit Grant and Quiet.  Dey are fun in my quass.”  I laughed and then asked the tall one who is favorite friend is.  He kept saying, “You mean not [the younger brother]?”  I didn’t understand and kept saying that yes I was in fact asking for his response because I already heard from the other brother.  Very frustrated, he said, “No mom, I mean are you asking who my best friend is besides being [my brother]?  Then I’ll say Wyatt.  He is in my class and in Kid Kampus with me!”

I couldn’t have been more proud.  Even when they fight… even when they throw things at each other… even when they scream and break things… They are best friends!

As I was getting a picture off the camera for something else I realized there were some from quite a while ago… oops.

So as promised, better late than never… here are some Christmas pictures that were stuck in the camera.

Also, I found some bonus other pictures…

The Reindeer Pinata from kindergarten

The gingerbread house made at school with the help of grandma

Our astronaut and his space control panel

“Drive-in” movie night

They just look so sweet in pictures!

The Winter Olympics are in full swing.  That means this household will be watching lots and lots of curling… along with those other sports they show.

I love watching the opening ceremony and I especially love the sappy Olympic commercials they play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57e4t-fhXDs

They have talked the Olympics up during the past week at the tall one’s school.  He kept talking about how it was starting soon and he was very excited.  They even did a flag ceremony in the gym.  Everyone got to wave little flags.  I think someone got to carry a big one but the story was hard to follow.

He knew what day they would start and even that he had to wait until 7.  All afternoon he kept asking what time it was.  He would look at the clock and loudly read the numbers.  Even though he knows his numbers, he would still ask if it was time yet.  When it finally turned 7pm, he couldn’t wait.  I turned the channel and on came snowboarding.  He looked over and me and asked what that was.  I said it was snowboarding.  He looked mad, “I wanted Olympics!”  Apparently he didn’t actually know what that meant.  We talked it up and showed him the really cool jumps and twists.  Then he thought it was sort of okay but wasn’t exactly sold.

Poor kid.  Hopefully he’ll appreciate curling as much as his dad.

It’s both a blessing and a curse to have the short one in the same location as I am all day.

The other day I had survived the lunch sprint in my classroom and was getting nap time going when the side door opened and I was summoned.

“There seems to be a green bean incident and we need your help.”

I was envisioning an epic food fight with green beans plastering the walls and maybe the side of a few kids heads.  At least some green beans in hair and across the tables and floor.

Instead, this…

He apparently put two green beans in his mouth and then refused to swallow.  So they gave him some bread.  They thought that would help get things moving.  Unfortunately he just ended up with beans and bread in there.  Then the milk was offered to wash everything down.  Nope.  It just made everything nice and soggy.

That’s when the decided to pull out the big guns and get mom.  I had to look away so I could laugh at how ridiculous he looked.  After everything, he ended up still left with one bean in his mouth that had to be spit out.  At that point everyone else was finished with lunch and things were already cleaned up so, very much with my permission, the rest of his food went in the trash.  He still talks about his food in the garbage.  Every time he brings it up, we review the importance of just eating the food right away.  That had to be disgusting by the end and only shows how stubborn and determined he is.  I can only hope I find a positive outlet for that right quick!