A vignette, by Chloe

I was at the beach one hot summer day, and in front of me was a beautiful lake. I rushed with excitement and the air smelled of something wonderful. As I was splishing and splashing, a boat went by with a sound of a running motor and the rushing wind. Never before have I heard such a wonderful sound in my life. Looking down, I just noticed the beautiful colors of teh rocks and the sun shimmering on the lake. Beautiful it is, I thought anyways. Then after a while, we left. I was very sad but hoping to come back soon.

Ode to the TAKS test, by Halle

Halle wrote this poem in school last year. She was given an inspiration poem and used it to create her own lovely ode.

TAKS Test! Oh, TAKS Test!
I hate you! You stink!
I wish I could make you
disappear in a wink!
If only I could
explode you to bits,
Or maybe even rub you
in my arm pits.

I'd rather eat dinner
with a human-eating shark,
or start boxing a cheetah
alone in the dark!
Eat broccoli and spinach
and maybe cry
because of the TAKS Test
my teacher assigns!

TAKS Test! Oh, TAKS Test!
You're last on my list.
Why, I wonder,
do you even exist?
If only you disappeared
away in a wink
TAKS Test! Oh, TAKS Test!
I hate you! You stink!

Creativity with Chloe and Halle

About a month or so ago, the girls and I decided to decorate lamp shades for their room. See, we recently rearranged their room (maybe pictures will follow in the next six months to a year), and instead of their beds being side by side, sharing a beside table and lamp, Halle's bed is in the back of the room and Chloe's is in the front. Ergo, separate bedside tables. Ergo, need for another lamp, and, heck, why not take this time to go all out?

So we did.

Halle's lampshade:




And, Chloe's lampshade:




Each girl designed her own lamp (what decorative paper cuts we would use, the top and bottom trimmings, vertical stripes or diagonal) and Chloe largely put together the flowers (with some help from Halle and me), and I did the sticking-to-the-shade. Also, Chloe's lamp is one my mom gave us that used to be green. It's a handy thing to randomly have white spray paint in your house.

Creativity with Noah

About a week ago I convinced Noah to play by himself in his room. He doesn't like to do this, but I think it's a valuable skill.

Plus, everyone else was busy.

This is what he did ALL BY HIMSELF:






Isn't that so great?!? (Proud mama? What? Who?)