Shorts and Snow Boots

Here you see Will having fun with a quarter at the Hub. This picture however was taken to document his amazing outfit. You see, my children dress themselves. I really like this outfit Will chose, but what exactly is it saying?

The shorts are channeling spring, but the boots and the snow falling outside say, "not quite yet, Will. Not quite yet."

The smile is the perfect final accessory.

Kindergarten Carpool Club

Seriously love these kids :)

First Day, Huh?

This little giraffe is trying to stand shortly after being born at Aalborg zoo in northern Jutland, Denmark. This picture makes makes me think, "I've had day's like that."
The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible - and achieve it, generation after generation. ~Pearl S. Buck

The distance is nothing; it is only the first step that is difficult. ~Marie de Vichy-Chamrond, Marquise du Deffand, letter to Jean Le Rond d'Alembert, 7 July 1763

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. ~Author Unknown

The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me. ~Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead

The best angle from which to approach any problem is the try-angle. ~Author Unknown

The 3rd Grade Disney Program: FEATURING SPENCER!!!

 

Click on it for a closer view. Spence did a WONDERFUL job! Massive thanks to Mr. MaWhinney, Mrs. Hopkins, and Ms. Marshall and all the parents who worked so hard. Well done!!!

Alice In Wonderland, A Movie to See

In anticipation of the movie release, I read the books (Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.) They were pretty wierd. And I'm not sure why, but they gave me nightmares. Could be the original illustrations by John Tenniel. . . Look at those distorted dismal faces.

I have to admit after reading the books, I had some hesitations about the new movie coming out. I figured the Disney cartoon (which I love) was going to be as good as the story could get. Au contraire.

Last night, Alfonso and I and my mom and dad, went to see it in 3-D. They managed to take a totally nonsensical book and turn it into a beautiful and wacky story that actually has a point!!! In one part, a young Alice asks her father if she's gone mad. He says, "I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are." Those words are so nice to hear :)

I don't want to sound cheesy, but it was a VISUAL FEAST!!! Everything was distorted and bizarre, but beautiful. The characters were fabulous, the Mad Hatter, endearing. I absolutely loved it - so much so, that I keep thinking about it.

But leave the kids at home if they are nightmare prone.

Suddenly It's Spring

This sweet little cartoon features Raggedy Anne in her early days. To help her sick friend get well, Raggedy Anne goes to see if Mr. Sun will shine again. I love this little show - especially today considering the fact that our once spring-bound, empty yard is now covered with a foot of snow. Spring will come. Spring will come.


(Keep in mind how long ago this was made and excuse the part with Mr. Wind, it's a little racial.)

A Small Dose of Disappointment

Closed for the season.

That's what the sign said when we pulled up to see the ice castles at the Zermatt Resort last night. Ever since I went with the Young Women in my ward, I have been so excited to take the boys there! Finally we had a good night to go see the amazing ice formations up close. We were one day too late - they closed the day before. I don't know why it hit us so hard but we were SOOO disappointed. Spencer kept saying, "Bum, bum- bummer." We tried our best to get a good look from the outside, but it really doesn't compare to seeing them up close. We also tried our best to keep a positive attitude. It wasn't easy. Notice the smiles in spite of the yellow tape. In Ben's prayer later that night, he prayed, "Next time, please help us go see things like Legoland and the ice castles before they close forever."

Thank You, Coach Hader.

Forgive my amateur video turn your head or monitor sideways and check out what my Will can do!!! I am super proud!

Good Answers

As the kids are getting older homework has become a bigger and bigger part daily life - taking up more and more time. Sometimes, the kids just can't take it anymore. Here is evidence:

Exhibit A. Problem 21 from Ben's homework:

Exhibit B. Problem 8 from Spencer's homework: If I let them actually hand in those answers, I can guess the teacher would smile before marking the answers wrong. I know they made me smile.

Dear Sun, I miss you.

The other day, Ben chose "The Car Washing Street" as the book to read before bedtime. We all sat on the couch and read about a boy and his neighborhood on a hot summer day.

"Matthew and his daddy sit in the steps in the sun. All along the street people are washing their cars. . . The block is filled with music and water and happy sounds."

"Maybe we should get out of the heat," Daddy says to Matthew.

"No, Daddy - can't we sit a little bit longer?"

Soon the whole neighborhood gets caught up in this massive waterfight. My favorite part of the book, the part that brought tears to my eyes, was the part about how hot the day was. I miss WARM sunshine. Most days in Heber are cloudy, cold, and laced with snow. The sun shines too, but the air stays very cold. I can handle it. I even like it most of the time. But this book made me wish for just a moment, that I could sit out in the HOT sun, and bake like a Thanksgiving turkey.

Mark my words, ROCHELLE WILL BASK IN THE SUNLIGHT ONCE AGAIN.

. . and it will look something like this.