Big Ideas

Our oldest twins have very big imaginations. When the two of them are on the same wavelength watch out! For some reason last week when they came down from their room after quiet time they were very excited and on a mission. Their imaginations were racing so fast their mouths couldn't keep up with what they were thinking. They were so excited to tell me about the race track they were going to build in the backyard. I asked if the racetrack was for their matchbox cars. They laughed at me. Of course not! They were going to build a HUGE race track with carpet in the middle (so when they fell or crashed it wouldn't hurt so much.) The track was for race cars that kids can drive, they told me. Mind you, we don't own one of the little electric cars. But, darn it, we will have a racetrack for one.

Carson asked me for paper and a pencil. He and Owen headed out to the backyard to draw up their plans. They sat at the little picnic table for almost 20 minutes or so. It was time to put their plans into action. They raced to the garage to get their carpenter aprons and loaded them down with tools, tape, and nails. Before long Carson and Owen were asking for wood and had a saw in hand. I was informed that the race track is going to have a bridge and a ramp.

Putting their ideas on paper.

I'm not sure where this idea came from, but a week later it's still on Carson's and Owen's minds. They continue to research race tracks online (with the help of Daddy) and continually tell me they have to get a new race car ... before Halloween they think. Ha! I guess it doesn't hurt to dream big.

The boys moved to the workbench in the garage to put their plans further into motion.

Star of the Week

Many of you know that being chosen for Star of the Week is a big deal in a preschooler's life. It's one whole week where the child gets extra attention at preschool. Owen was the first of our two older boys to be selected to be Star of the Week.

On Friday, October 01 Owen got to bring the Star of the Week pet (stuffed animal) Ozzie home. Ozzie followed Owen everywhere he went. We found Ozzie to be a very good little otter. He isn't much of an eater, though. On Monday Ozzie had to be returned to the class. Some of the "perks" of being Star of the Week include getting to bring show-n-tell all week long, bringing treats to share with the class, being the check-in helper, and on Friday a parent gets to come to class to read a book.

A summary of Ozzie's weekend with Owen. Ozzie got to witness a light saber fight, attend Owen's and Carson's soccer game, see a Jets game on television, ride bikes with Owen and play in the back yard.

Monday Owen decided he wanted New York Jets football cookies and took his Star Wars gun for show-n-tell.

Wednesday, it was Husker cupcakes. The Huskers played K-State Thursday night. We had to get everyone pumped up for a Husker victory. Owen took Spike the Dinosaur for show-n-tell.

Friday daddy came to school to read to the class. Owen brought Star Wars sugar cookies to share with his classmates and brought his Star Wars Storm Trooper helmet for show-n-tell.

Good Old Dirt!

"A kid's best friend has just got to be dirt." -Waylon Jennings

The kids have rediscovered the joys of dirt. I say rediscovered because in our old house Carson and Owen would play in a dirt patch (they created) by one of the trees in our backyard every day it seemed.

We have a dirt patch at the top of the "hill" in our new backyard. It hasn't seen much action until just recently. This has become a favorite spot for the kids to play. They will play there for an hour or so at a time. I almost hate saying it out loud, but the kids have been playing so well together. I'd like to believe this is not a phase, but a crossroad in my kids' lives. Maybe, just maybe, they are all (finally) getting old enough to play together and enjoy each others' company.

Dirt has brought them together. Maybe it's true when parents say that kids love dirt. I know it's true for this household.

This leads me to sing (in my head) the song Dirt by Waylon Jennings. It's one of the best kid songs I've heard. If you have a child who plays in the dirt you will LOVE this song. If I could figure out how to post it on my play list I would. It is a staple song in our house.

"Dirt. Dirt. Good old dirt. It may sound silly, but it really don't hurt to sing about good old dirt!" -Waylon Jennings

"Dirt is quiet. It don't make noise. It's fun to play with especially for boys. Girls don't much like it, but that's okay. Boys don't like girls much anyway." -Waylon Jennings

Stella chooses to ignore the part about girls not liking dirt.