And now For Something Completely Different

It is with the greatest regret that I am to inform you that I am not feeling funny today. You will not get anything remotely silly out of me. If you try you will be terribly disappointed and I will be forced to prove to you that there is not even the remotest possibility that there could be even the slightest chance that there could be even a snicker, laugh or tickle to be given. Nor will you find a snort chuckle or ha. Tears will not roll down your cheeks nor will you find any surprises in your shorts. Nope, nothing funny here. Now move along.

Top Ten Reasons to Letterbox with 6 kids

10. This is suppose to be secretive and every one knows 6 young kids can be very stealthy.
9. Looking for hidden treasure is fun dude
8. I really wanted the ink all over my clothing...it is decorative.
7. The boxes are where there are cool things like snakes and spiders.
6. It actually gets us out of the house for a good reason
5. It is a reason to go to the craft store and buy custom stamps!
4. Memories Dude Memories
3. Every one must decipher what the clues mean = school on vacation!
2. treasure hunt!
1. This is a reason to visit parts of America I had not considered and get to see the wonder of god while spending quality time with the gang.

Recently we took a sabbatical for Home Coming complete with bon fire, and a visit to the school mascot. While there we visited as many museums as time would permit. Boy, were we worn out! Boy, did we have a good time! We also received a private tour from a professor friend of the new science facilities!! My future scientist were really impressed. Then we letter boxed across campus. We collected many stamp impressions and had a good time trying to find them. We were really disappointed when we could not find a box or two but finding a few made up for it.
To learn more about letter boxing go to http://www.letterboxing.org/index.php
We also went camping at a modest camp site with cabins. There was room for all 8 of us. We petted miniature horses and watched peacocks nest in the tree in front of our cabin. We also got really cold but we had a great time. Now back to school!

And Now For Something Completely Different

Why is it that when I go to my quiet place to think it is only after I am completely engaged that I realize there is no paper on the roll?

Top Ten Reasons to Play Rebus Games with the Kids On the White board

1. They act like they do not understand what I am trying to say anyway let's go with that.
2. They will stare at the white board for hours.
3. Blank stares and Doe in head lights look for some thing other than a lecture
4. Making them think outside of school :)
5. Life lessons come in all shapes and sizes some of them are mbscabel (scrambled) or sdrawkcab (backwards) and definitely confusing
6. Makes them want to know how to spell correctly
7. Demonstrates the principle that Mom and even Dad do not have all the answers
8. It is another reason to use the giant 8 foot X 8 foot white board in my breakfast area
9. Interrupts fights at the swipe of the pen
10. I get to challenge my husband using my superior teinllect! {intellect}

GAFUNMES...FUN IN GAMES

This evening we had a little fun at dinner and had the kids try to solve some Rebus puzzles. A good link for them is http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/braintpics.htm . An example
HEAD
HEALS

Answer: Head over heals
Some of them can be quite tough. We made up a few of our own and tried to remember ones we had seen.
CHMADEINA
economy

Answer: Made in China and Growing Economy

Now to get them to clear the table and do the dishes!

And Now For Something Completely Different

All reports state that nothing truly funny happened today. A case of slightly funny was thought to have been observed only to discover that it was not truly funny at all.
..............................................{long dramatic pause}
In lesser news, honey ants have invaded the kitchen. The children observed that when the ants lap up the liquid poison their bellies swell and much to the delight of the children the ants then explode.
.............................................{longer dramatic pause}

Top Ten Reasons To Use M&Ms Chocolate Candies in Math

1. Lots of bright colors
2. It belongs in their mouth so who cares if this counter ends up there
3. I do not have to store them
4. Easily replaced
5. Chocolate yummy!
6. The kids naturally group them by color
7. Addition becomes an easy concept
8. Subtraction is natural
9. No one looses these counters
10. Children beg to do math

M&M ex-change

Today every child received $.60 in change. They each had 10 pennies, 1 nickle, 2 dimes, and 1 quarter. I played the merchant selling M&M's. Each child counted out pennies and M&M's. Occasionally, I made them count by 2s. They also had to figure how much the different groups of coins equaled. It was funny just how fast they figured out what those coins were worth when they knew they were receiving M&Ms. Oh they had me buy back and sell the M&M' over and over. As I began to stop the game they naturally began to divide the M&Ms by color groups. I think they would still be at it if I would have let them. This activity was inspired by the books The M&Ms Brand Chocolate Candies Counting Book by Barbara Barbieri McGrath and a great Jelly belly book about making change. Later when they eat the M&Ms we will add and subtract the groups and we will graph the colors to see which color there was more of. They sure had fun and so did I. They learned a lot too. Maybe next time we go to the store they will not struggle to figure out the change.

And Now For Something Completely Different

It is always important to put away the brown clay if you have a cat. When visitors see the baby pick up a small roll from the floor and put it in their mouth they always assume the worst.

Top Ten Reasons I Stay at Home With My Kids

1. Who else will kiss their hurts?
2. Money is nice but snuggles are priceless.
3. I would rather remember their stories than the bosses expectations.
4. Who would teach my kid morals and values? By the way, what morals and whose values?
5. I do not have to ask I know just what kind of day they had and what they learned.
6. Chocolate milk and gold fish enough said.
7. I am a friend and a parent to my kids.
8. Did I mention the snuggles
9. It is a privilege and an honour and I'm not sharing.
10. I want my house to look lived in.