Winter Wonderland

On our road trip North for Thanksgiving, we encountered some snow in Pennsylvania so we took advantage of the chance to frolic. I'm not sure who had more fun: Bryant or the children. Click on the video below to see the fun.

Let it snow, let it snow let it snow!!!

What More Could You Want?

On our drive up to Boston, I was buckling David back into his car seat after a pit stop. He made a whiny noise, so I said to him, "Dude, you have dry pants and a full belly. What more could a little kid possibly want?"

Sarah piped up from the back seat, "How about a plasma screen TV?"

{And she thought this was so blog-worthy that she wrote it out for me tonight when we arrived at the hotel room.}

Thanksgiving History

Sarah was studying for her Social Studies test, and we were talking about Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims.

She said they learned that Columbus discovered America, and I asked her if she knew the year.

Sarah: Well, we didn't really talk about that part.
Me: Well you should know it; it's an important year.
Sarah: 1999?

Then she mentioned Plymouth, and I reminded her she's been there.

Sarah: Hey, I remember! Is that that place Auntie took us where we had to walk and walk just to get to that tiny little rock?
Me: Yeah, that's it!

Then we talked about the Mayflower.

Me: You know, Sarah, we have a relative that came to America on the Mayflower.
Sarah: Don't tell me ... Grandpa??
Me: No, Sarah, it was a long time ago.
Sarah: Auntie Sister?
Me: No! I don't mean it's a relative that you know. I just mean it was one of our relatives.

Sources of Wisdom

Charlie and I were working on the computer at the kitchen table and it was too bright, so I asked David if he could reach the light switch to turn off the lights. He did it, but the sun was still in my eyes, so I said, "David, the sun is still too bright. Can you turn off the sun too?"

He looked at me, and then broke into a smile. "I can't!"

Me: Why not?
David: I can't reach it! It's up in the sky!
Charlie: Besides, if he did turn off the sun, the earth would slowly turn into a lifeless ball of ice.

I looked at Charlie.
Charlie: What?! I said 'slowly.'
Me: No, you're right, I'm just wondering where you heard that.
Charlie: I read it.
Me: Where?
Charlie: Calvin & Hobbes.

Live! At Hogwarts!

Charlie's enjoyment of Harry Potter has rubbed off on everyone around the house. Sarah has seen a couple of the movies on the Disney Channel, and even David will pick up the drumstick Charlie uses for a wand and will cast pretend spells on us.

Here's the new part: several weeks ago, each kid chose a Hogwarts House to represent, and they earn points for their house. Charlie is Gryffendor, Sarah is Slytherin, Allison is Ravenclaw, and David is Hufflepuff.

They get points for cleaning up and doing good things around the house and for each other. So far, no talk of a House Cup, but Charlie and Sarah do know their scores. (The little kids aren't so interested in their running totals, but enjoy being awarded points nonetheless.

Charlie and Sarah also posted the rules for their House Common Rooms on their bedroom doors:

Charlie - Gryffendor:

Pants Required

Rule 1. No female from age 5-8 allowed.
Rule 2. Must know password.
Rule 3. Must own some sports posseshion (basketball, soccer, ball, baseball, etc.)

If they hold the name of Sarah they can come in -- possibly written in different handwriting, but crossed out.

*Rule 4. No smoking tabbaco or alcohoal beyond this point.
* Every rule broken is 50 cents fine.

Sarah - Slytherin:

Rules for comen room
1. Must be wearing all close.
Must know password (must knock if not know password)
Thank you for following the rules!

Sarah Soccer Grrrl

Sarah just finished a fabulous soccer season. This year she moved up from Under-6 to the Under-8 league. U-8 is a different game from U-6: it's a bigger field, they play 4 on 4, and they separate into boys' teams and girls' teams. Sarah also graduated from Coach Daddy, so that was another change for her. (And Bryant got the season off from coaching, for the first time in several years!)

Sarah had an amazing season and really has a good head for the game. She is tough and played well. She scored a lot on offense, and knew where to be on defense. One game she scored six goals! Her end of season certificate says she is the Princess of Scoring. We're proud of our soccer girl!

What Dreams Are Made Of

Allison, before her nap: Mommy, I'm going to dream about you picking flowers!

Allison, after her nap: Mommy, I couldn't dream about you picking flowers, because my dreamer is out of power.

Me: So what did you dream about?

Allison: Nothing! My dreamer was out of power.

Mamas, Watch Your Babies!

Allison: Mommy, can we visit each other when I'm a grown-up?
Me: Oh, yes.
A: But where will I live?
Me: I hope you live close to me.
A: Oh, I know: I won't be a grown-up for a long time, so maybe I can live in Fiona's house when they're done with it. Then we can be next-door neighbors!
Me: Oh, I would love that.
A: There's only one problem: who will my kids be?
Me: Well, you'll have your own kids. They'll grow in your tummy and then they'll come out.
A: But how do they get out of your tummy?
Me: That's how babies are born. They come out of their mommy's tummies.
A: Hey, I have an idea of who can be my kids: Baby Rowan!
Me: Well, he's Aunt Dargan and Uncle Matt's baby.
A: And I don't want to steal their baby?
Me: No.
A: Because it's not nice manners?
Me: Right.
A: OK, then I have another idea: Mallory Baby can be my baby.
Me: Well, doesn't Mallory already have a mommy and daddy too?
A: And I can't steal their baby either?
Me: No.
A: Oh, all right.

Writing Lovely Things in Cursive

Charlie is learning to write cursive in school, so Sarah wants to learn it too. The other night she asked me to show her how to write her name, so I did. Then I went online and printed out a page of all the letters in cursive so she (and Charlie) could learn what they wanted.

This morning, before I got up, she wrote me a note in cursive: "Dear Mommy, Thank you for all you've done for us. Love, Sarah C. Mackey." She left it with a Reese's cup (my favorite) from her Halloween bucket.

I thanked her for the note and complimented both the idea and her mastery of cursive. Then she said, "But I have one question. Shouldn't there be TWO apostrophes in 'you've'? Because there are two letters missing: the 'h' and the 'a.'"

More Than a Little Baseball

Putting David to bed tonight:

D: Mommy, when can I go to baseball camp again?
Me: Maybe next summer.
D: How about next weekend?
Me: Well, there's no baseball camp this weekend, but maybe we can play a little baseball. Would you like to play a little baseball this weekend?
D: No -- how about a big baseball?