Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Precocious Art Critic?

Erin (getting ready to do an art project):  What can I draw you?  I can draw people!
Brian: Draw me the Mona Lisa.
E: What does she look like?
B (looks up the picture on his phone): There!
E: Wow. Why is she smiling?
B: …….  !

Sunday, February 16, 2014

"Take 10 Interesting Pictures"

We have an "I'm Bored" jar - a jar with about 50 little slips of paper with different activities on them.  If any kid says, "Mom, I'm bored." she gets to pick out a slip and has to do the thing on that.  Some are chores, like "help fold laundry" some are fun like "do hopscotch outside".

This morning Erin was bored and got the "Take 10 Interesting Pictures" assignment.  Here they are:

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Girls with Power Tools

For the first time, our school's girl scout troops get to do their own pinewood derby. Look it up. It's cool.  Because (a) girls are good at design (b) girls are good at using tools and (c) girls are good at applying physics concepts. 

Erin learned how to use a sawzall:


Chiseling: 



Belt sanding (not shown) and other cool stuff. 

Robin was content to color her block rather than shape:


And then gave us all a riveting rendition of the "Roses are Red" poem, beat-poet style. 


I love Girl Scouts!


Sunday, February 9, 2014

Kid Date Night

Erin and Brian went to the Daughter Dance at her school:


Robin and I went to the Hofbrau for some corned beef and hot dogs. 



Fun was had by all. 

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Wrestling Rules


Translation:
This is just for people over 1 year old
All wrestlers must have undies on.
No jewelry while wrestling.
Play gently!
and have fun!

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

The Loot


In the envelope was a few postcards from his bookstore, a CD of children's songs, a DVD of 3 of his stories in animated form, a flier on "The Dot Day" and a personalized and hand-watercolored thank you:


We are off to find other authors asking for snail mail!!!!!

He Wrote Back!!!!

A couple weeks ago, Erin wanted to show us some interactive art thingie she did in her class that was based on Peter H. Reynold's book "Ish".  We browsed his website and came across this in the Contact section:

Snail Mail
I actually love snail mail... so feel free to send me a note the old fashioned way at:
c/o The Blue Bunny
577 High St.
Dedham, MA 02026 USA


Robin set down and wrote out a "letter" to him consisting of a few pictures, and probably the word "Butterfly" which she is currently fond of writing.  We sealed it up, popped it in the mail.  I put a little note on the back envelope that it was from a fan, "Robin, age 3" and briefly described the drawings she did.

LOOK WHAT CAME IN THE MAIL TODAY!!!!!!!!

I'm so excited!!  I'm so curious to know what's inside.  We will have to browse other authors' websites for similar invitations to communicate. 

Saturday, February 1, 2014