Sunday, March 16, 2008

A Sad Day Cometh

For a week or so Blankie, Kennah's pride and joy, has been shedding more than usual. We find bits of faded pink fabric under the bathroom sink, in the car, in our bed (after crawling in for a few minutes this morning), on the carpet, anywhere Kennah has been. When we find a piece, she comes running and lovingly picks it up and takes it some place. Maybe a Blankie safe house?

She is not too upset by the increasing frequency. In fact, it is kind of part of her grand plan. Once Blankie is small enough, it will fit into her little suitcase she received for Christmas.

But tonight when I tucked her in, she was very solemn. I asked if everything was OK. "Daddy says Blankie will die soon and I can't take him on our trip." I reminded her of HER plan to eventually fit him in her special case. But that was no comfort to her as she contemplated the next 10 days of life without Blankie. I told her that he could absolutely come on the trip. But with a warning that it may not be the best thing for Blankie. I think she recognizes it can't live forever, but it is sooner than she was planning.

Here are the words to an absolutely sweet book that a friend of mine is letting us borrow. I am going to make a Kennah version of it. I don't mean to plagiarize, but it is just so perfect. The illustrations (Geraldine is the cutest little pig) are just wonderful!

Geraldine's Blanket
by Holly Keller

Geraldine had a pink blanket.
Aunt Bessie sent it when Geraldine was a little baby.
And Mama put it in her crib.
Even when she got bigger, Geraldine loved her blanket.
She took it with her everywhere.
"You won't need your blanket at the market," Mama said. "I will," Geraldine insisted.
And she always found a use for it. (She's carrying veggies in it at the market.)
When the blanket got dirty, Geraldine helped wash it.
When there were holes, Mama covered them with patches.
And when the edges were all frayed, Mama trimmed them.
But Geraldine only loved it more.
"There's hardly any blanket left," Papa said. He was getting cross.
Geraldine covered her ears.
"It looks silly," Mama said.
"Then don't look at me," Geraldine said, stamping her foot.
Mama tried to hide the blanket in the closet.
But Geraldine found it right away. (This image Geraldine flipping through the closet with little scowl eyes.)
She kept it pinned to her dress all day.
And tucked it under her pillow at night.
Mama & Papa talked in whispers.
And at Christmas there was a new present from Aunt Bessie.
The doll's name was Rosa, and Geraldine loved her. "But I still want my blanket," she said.
"No," Papa said. "No," Mama agreed.
Geraldine knew what to do. (She is hiding under a table with scissors.)
"There," she said when she had finished. "Now Rosa has the blanket and I have Rosa." (She made a dress.)
Mama didn't know what to say. Papa scratched his head.
And Geraldine took Rosa out to play.

We'll have to see how Kennah's ending unfolds before finishing her version.

From his dad? Definitely!

There are definite traits that each of our kids take from us. For example, Sawyer is very rule abiding (at school) and has incredible behavior. Granted, once he gets home and breathes out, it is a different story. (Which reminds me of another story . . .for later.)

He gets that from me. Slade has no problem admitting that. I always behaved in school.

So, what does he get form his father? Well. Let me give you some examples from his homework this week.

His regular teacher has been sick for a few weeks (thus less/no homework from the subs.) However, the sub has been hired and as a result the homework is back. As we sifted through papers today, Slade asked Sawyer if all his homework was done. "Of course, Dad."

So Slade started looking over a 5 page packet. The first page, math--"Looks good Sawyer." The second page, rearrange the sentences to say the same thing in a different way--"Those will work, Sawyer."

The third page, at first glance, " Sawyer, if there are three lines, they are looking for more than a one word answer." "Oh." Then Slade started laughing. This is what it said:

Q. Did you know that the United States is the top meat eating country in the world each person consumes about 260 pounds of meat each year beef is the most commonly eaten meat. (Obviously a lesson in run-on sentences.)
A. No.
(The ideas was for him to rewrite it into three sentences. Instead he answers the question. No, he didn't know that information.)


Q. Have you ever notices that Abraham Lincoln faces the right on a penny he is the only president on a U.S. coin who does Sacagawea faces right on the new dollar coin, but she was not a president?
A. No.


Q. It would be fantastic to have a robot to do all my chores, help do my homework, and play games I really thing the day will come unfortunately, it won't come soon enough for me.
A. BOOOOOO!


It gets better.

Page four is all about reading maps.

Q. The symbol (compass rose) stands for:
A. chaotic (his current card game fascination and must incorporate the compass into the design)

Q. The capital of Wyoming:
A. Grand Canyon

Q. Boise is the capital of:
A. Hundred ecer (acre) woods

Q. The direction between east and south:
A. bottom right


We couldn't stop laughing. Probably not the best for his self-esteem. But, deep down I think he realized the were lame-o answers. He just doesn't like to be bothered by busy work. And THAT is where he and his dad share educational values!