Lear the Builder

This is what I mean when I say that this boy will be an engineer. He made this Transformer out of blocks while I was in another part of the house folding laundry. I'm amazed that he figured out how to build this thing on two freestanding legs, and at the symmetry of it all. This kid is amazing!

Creative Use of Underwear

I only work for money two hours a week, at home, teaching flute lessons. This is what happens when my kids have to entertain themselves while I'm teaching. It might not be EVERY piece of underwear that they own (today is laundry day), but it's probably close. Sorry for the sideways pictures.

Lear quote: "I got in trouble in school today because I drew a swimming goggle factory on my assignment."

Ella quote: "My mouth can't do that." (Ella's excuse for not being able to pronounce a word I asked her to say.)

I forgot the video.

Lear's First Day of Kindergarten

I'm actually sad. I'm not looking forward to him coming home and asking me what certain words mean, or why naked women are so interesting, or something else like that. I know he's excited, and that he is more than ready to go out and learn. This boy can already read simple books all by himself, and he knows so many things that I don't remember knowing until I was older. I have to remember that I can't hold him back for my silly personal fears.

Lear quote: "Won't it be fun for you when Ella and I are both in school, Mommy? Then you'll have a break from yelling at us." They never remember the good times....

Ella quote: "I love giving you hugs and kisses, Mommy."

Hooray for $2 Tuesdays!

I took the kids to the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point today. Most of the stuff there is only $2 on Tuesdays during the summer. I realized that today was the last Tuesday in August, so I booked it down to Lehi to go. (This is also the first Tuesday all summer that I've had a car, since Cory usually had our only car on Tuesdays. We bought a little Chevy Aveo last week, however, since Cory's starting his MBA, and he couldn't get to class on public transportation unless he wanted to be half an hour late every time.) We've been promising the kids, especially Lear, that we'd take them there for weeks. Regular admission is $13 for kids and $15 for adults, so I was happy to wait in line to get in and brave the crowds for once. Usually, crowds and lines are sure to make me change my plans.

Lear quote: "That tyrannosaurus rex painting is frightening!"

Ella quote: "Lear! We goin' to da die-sawr loo-mee-mum!"

Apostrophes

Should I be bugged that a flyer that I got for Lear's school has bad grammar on it? Or am I just being too picky? Is it too much to expect a public school to be able to use apostrophes correctly?

Here's a hint for whoever works at the school that doesn't understand the concept:

An apostrophe indicates a possessive noun or a contraction, not a plural. NOT hard to understand. Therefore, the line should have been "Come meet the teachers," not "Come meet the teacher's." The use of the apostrophe actually equals two grammatical errors, because now the sentence is unfinished. Meet the teacher's what? Pets? Significant other? Toenails? Long lost uncle, twice removed, who had a recent lobotomy?

I know it's probably some office worker who made the flyer, not a teacher, but one would think that someone who cares about how the school represents itself would proofread what they send out. Or maybe the proofreader doesn't understand basic punctuation either.

I'm not saying this to show off my superior knowledge or perfection. I mess up all the time, but I really make an effort to use correct English. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the people who are in charge of educating my children to be able to use and understand these simple concepts.

(Before someone questions my use of an apostrophe in the words "it's" or "don't," I would like to point out that they are contractions. "It's" is a contraction of the words "it" and "is," for example. Possessives and contractions, people-and don't quibble with me about exceptions.)

Lear quote: When Daddy said the word "transformer," I thought he was talking about the toys. It made me think, "What the?!"

I can't think of an Ella quote, but here's another Lear quote:

Mom: What's up, Lear?

Lear: Good.

It's a little late, BUT

Our anniversary was on August 9th, our seventh. Cory planned it all without me, hoping to surprise me. He's not very good a keeping secrets, however, so I kind of knew what was going on. He gave up surprising me a few days before hand. (I love Cory's openness and guilelessness.)

Cory's parents were kind enough to take our kids for the weekend while we went to (fanfare, please!) Sandy! We stayed at a hotel a grand total of six miles away from our home - but it was great. We went to an outdoor Utah Symphony concert in Deer Valley, and spent the rest of the weekend doing the Salt Lake Parade of Homes. We really enjoy snooping through homes we can't possibly afford, and it's great for decorating ideas. Not that I spend a lot of time or effort on decorating, but it's fun to dream.

We did call up Nana to bring the kids to the hotel pool to swim, however. We just couldn't pass up the opportunity to swim with the kids. Lear was totally fearless, but it took Ella a while to get comfortable. She liked the jacuzzi a lot more than the pool. And, I learned that I can float - I never could when I was younger - but I have a lot more buoyancy now, since I weigh about 20 more pounds than back then. Since floating is so relaxing, however, I'll count this as the one upside to getting older and fatter. At least Cory and I are getting older and fatter together.

And on that note: Thank you, Cory, for the best seven years of my life so far - I know it will only get better from here.

Lear quote: "Yeah, I really want to marry Elena someday." Not until you're at least 25, mister!

Ella quote: "I gonna cook dinner to you, Mommy." Play food of course, but I appreciate the sentiment.