Luke Skywalker, Call Me Maybe

We interrupt the serious stuff for a total bit of fluff.  
This made me laugh out loud and my kids love it (although each loves it for a different reason) 

Not That Birds are Known for Their Intelligence

but this one has spent all afternoon trying to fly through a closed window.  He (or she) sort of stopped when they saw me through the window with the camera but as soon as I walked away all I hear is "chirp, chirp, bonk.  chirp chirp bonk...."

Random Thoughts

Electricity is really just organized lightning.

-George Carlin

In Case You Were Wondering...

If a person waits until June to sign their children up for summer camps, they should not be surprised when every camp is already full.  (and the couple I found that sound really cool and aren't full are either the week we are on vacation or the week we are already committed to attending (for some of us) or working (for others of us) at Vacation Bible School.)

Note to self:  Next year sign up for classes in February....

Look What Just Moved In

Mama duck has laid about 7 eggs in the planter just outside of our front door on the porch....  We are used to having ducks in the swimming pool this time a year but looks like we may have a family this year.

(once we open the pool we better start building a ramp to get the ducklings out of the pool)

I Guess I Should Just Be Glad They Listen to Me

The other day the girls were playing house and D was the Mommy and K was the daughter.  Apparently, Mommy D set a limit on daughter K to which K protested

"I don't like you Mommy"

Apparently taking a page from my playbook, D shook her head, shrugged her shoulders and replied

"It's okay if you don't like me. Sometimes I am mean."

However- in light of this article- I will consider this evidence of my of my status as a "good mom"

Goodnight iPad

I Miss Summer

Can You What???

Scene:  I am in my office (at home) working on lesson plans for school.  I am watching "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" on TV.  
(well- not really watching since I have seen every episode several times- it's more like background sound)  
K and D are in the other room playing.  

K walks in and briefly watches the TV, looks at me and says 

"Mom, can I slay?"

"What?"

"Can I slay?"

"Ummm..."

"You know- can I slay outside in the snow?"

"Oh- can we SLED?  

No- there isn't enough snow"

For a minute I thought I was going to have to explain that slaying is not a viable career option.

National De-Lurking Day- this means YOU!!!

Apparently today is National De-lurking Day 

(on an aside note is there anything we don't have a holiday for in this country)

But anyway- today is the day that those of you who read and never comment get to leave a comment and say "Hi" 

(or whatever else  might be on your mind)

Really- it's easy.  

Then you can go back to lurking until next year.

Need a Gift Idea for Your Favorite Kid (or Adult)?

 I have no affiliation with the company that makes this toy

(although if they want to pay me I will be happy to let them)  

However- before the toy buying frenzy starts in the now less than 90 days before Christmas  I thought I would bring you a recommendation for a really outstanding toy-

WEDGITS

I purchased this toy 3 years ago for my classroom when I was short on manipulatives for the kids to work with.  I did not think much of it except that it seemed like a cool toy that would be used for about 10 minutes.  
Let me tell you- it is played with EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. 
in my classroom and has been for the last 3 years.  
(I have actually added a second and third set last year)  
It is used by kids with and without motor delays, with and without cognitive delays- seriously every child in the class plays wih this toy.
And as surprising as it is to see how much the kids love this toy- it is as surprising to see how well it is holding up.  My special needs preschool class is rough on toys and things often don't last.  I have had two of the pieces break in half horizontally (along the seam where the top and bottom are fused together).  However, a few pieces of electrical tape and they are perfectly useable.  It is not unusual to hear their towers crashing to the floor as gravity exerts it's influence on their creations- and seldom have they broken.

And lest you think only preschoolers enjoy them, the other day I found a travel set of them (so smaller versions of the original) and A and X played with it for a long time.  It is actually engaging for all people, toddlers to adults.

Any toy that gets this much love from EVERY kid I know deserves a shout out

A Side Effect of Blogging

is that I haven't printed a picture in over 8 months (which I realized as I tried to find some current photos to send to Ethiopia with K's yearly post placement report).

And not only have I not printed them, they are sitting in my electronic "junk drawer" not organized and not even edited.  Not to mention not uploaded to Shutterfly. 

Is it too early to start wishing for a snow day so I can get some work done?

I Think My Fortune Cookie

Is telling me to go shopping.

What do you think?

"As the purse is emptied, the heart is filled."

I. Miss. Summer.

Since the Adults Can't Get it Right

how about some kids singing the National Anthem?

This is a video that went viral a while ago but I thought that since I don't have time to do a longer post due to my ongoing uploading issues in light of the Super Bowl lyrics flub and the fact that these girls are beyond amazing that I would share it with you.

Enjoy

Oh, Target, Why Must You Tease Me?

Mommy, Do You Want a Book on Your Head?

Just one of many strange questions I have been asked recently.......

Of course I politely declined stating that, in general, I prefer to read my books, rather than wear them.

A Lesson for Humanity

How is it that these animals can figure out what we can't-

that relationships aren't defined by size or color or even (in this case) species

A Somewhat Meaningful Meaningless Post

So my plan for my dear loyal readers is to update the blog every 4-7 days (or until I get so bogged down in paperwork for my job that I forget I even have a blog) and although DW's birthday is rapidly approaching this week, I thought I would post this bit o' fluff.

There are many versions of this song and most have the ability to move people to tears. It is a song that is full of meaning for many people. However, this one actually is rather amusing. These are the Canadian Tenors singing Leonard Cohen's song Hallelujah. About halfway through Celine Dion (unbeknownst to them) comes on stage. Watch the reaction of the blonde and then watch the guy playing the guitar and check out his expression when he sees her. I have to admit I smile every time I watch it. (Oh and they aren't bad to look at either)

You Don't Have To Go Home but You Can't Stay Here

So normally the ducks leave once the pool is less pond like and more pool like but...

We come home from an art show having promised the kids that if they stopped whining about how hot it was at the art show they could go swimming when we got home. They are in their suits within 30 seconds of walking in the door and are headed out (with the dogs) when we notice there is a duck in the pool. No biggie, they usually fly away when the door opens but then we see she is not alone. Eight very cute ducklings are swimming behind her as if they own the place. After about 10 minutes we realize they are quite comfortable and aren't planning to leave on their own anytime soon so B goes out to "encourage" them to leave. Of course, the ducklings, who had no trouble getting into the pool, are too small to get out of the pool. So B makes a step and a ramp and eventually out they go, only to walk to the outside of the pool fence and get comfy in the bushes WHERE THE DOGS CAN GET THEM. Now I can't think of much I would like to deal with less than one of those ducklings becoming part of the food chain in front of my kids. So we try to wait out the ducks. After about 30 minutes A comes in and says "you can let the dogs out, Dad says the ducks are gone from the bushes" I look out the door- the ducks are gone from the bushes because they are back in the pool!! So the whole "encourage them to leave" starts over and they leave the pool and go right back to the bush (ducks are not the smartest animal in the world) B decides it's time to really encourage them to leave so he gets Nevada (65 lbs) on the leash and out they go to motivate momma duck to take her babies elsewhere. Momma duck sees the dog coming and pretends to be injured flapping and flailing so that the dog follows her. Meanwhile the ducklings all run back into the pool. Finally though B did shoo them into our neighbors yard and they haven't been back since.