How Schools Kill Creativity

Please take a few minutes to watch and listen to this TED presentation by Sir Ken Robinson.

concert time!

Last night was Mickey's orchestra concert- but things didn't go as planned. An hour or so before it was time to leave, Jeffrey came down saying he didn't feel good and laid on the couch. Then after having some sprite... he barfed. Sooooo- I had to stay home with him while John and Mary Beth went to the concert. I don't think I could have carried his bass so it had to be John. Ha! So I sent my camera with them and wished them all luck.

Mickey was pretty upset but he did great! They recorded it all for Jeffrey and I to watch when they got home. And since we always go out for ice cream after concerts- they brought that home for us too!

Poor John- he said it was really hard to see Mick even though he got front row seats. The basses are always way in the back. Look at how cute he looks with that giant instrument! As they were packing it up to leave for the concert I said "gee, Mick- could you have picked a bigger instrument?" Thankfully, that was the only time we've had to take the one at our house anywhere- he has another one at school he uses there. But this concert was at the middle school so he had to bring his home bass.

We are so proud of you Mickey- I'm sorry I had to miss it. I can't wait until the next one!

The Bear Facts- Valentine's Day Edition

Mary Beth's teacher has her 1st grade class publish "The Bear Facts" twice a year. It is hilarious. Jeffrey's class did it too when he was in 1st grade. I thought I would share Mary Beth's answers with you- you can see some of the other kids' too... so funny! I took a picture of the question that was asked and then one of the sheet that has Mary Beth's answer on it:

"She watches him all the time to see if he needs her."

"When I can make pumpkin pie for my husband."

"He will bring me pink flowers every week."

Five m&m cookies and a glass of milk. Use red m&ms."

"Take her dancing. Wear a pink shirt. Leave the kids at home."

Mary Beth's bear(wearing ballerina shoes).

Ice Skating Classic 2012

Well, it was that time of year again... when I have to bundle up and go stand in the cold and snow all afternoon trying not to get killed by 3 million little kids flying around on ice skates. Luckily, the weather wasn't half bad this year again and I managed to live through the experience although I was quite exhausted at the end(must have been all the walking through snow).

Here are the highlights:

first some cute pics of Mary Beth and her BFF Emma...

It took my forever to find Jeffrey in this mass hysteria which is why he isn't in any of the earlier pictures. John was at a workshop and had to miss this for the first time so I was on my own!

Mary Beth decided to race- and without a chair! It was her first year in the Classic so I was so proud of her! She didn't fall once and did really good.

5th place!

(I think she was upset she didn't finish last though because she wanted the pink ribbon!)

Jeffrey had a master plan... to race with a chair for a better chance at the blue ribbon.

And it worked! But there's a story there... he raced against one other kid- a fourth grader who was in the lead the entire time. But then, right at the end, the other kid suddenly fell somehow and Jeffrey skated by and crossed the finish line first. It didn't make any difference to him how it happened- he was so happy that it ended in a blue ribbon for him!

Mickey never wants to race... he isn't big into entering into a competition that he isn't sure he will win. And there is never anything I can say to change his mind. He had fun skating around and drinking cocoa though!

getting ready to leave... Mary Beth flopped down in the snow and declared it was "so hot!"

What a day!

Race to Nowhere- please find this and watch it

gifts for teachers and friends

I got the brilliant idea this morning that we would make candy cane reindeer for everyone in the kids' classes.... that's about 75. So when it came down to actually making them this evening with the kids, it stopped being fun after about the 20th one. And that's about the time I stopped getting help. Oh well, they turned out cute!

Tomorrow morning is also the "favorite things" gift exchange my friends and I are doing. We are each bring 5 of our favorite things to pass out and so everyone will leave with 5 presents- the concept is like Oprah... but not a car.

I am bringing one of my favorite lip balms and a navy blue wool/felt flower pin that I love making. I hope everyone will like them!

Then we also had to make the teacher gifts: snow globes from jelly jars that the kids made and a gift card to Barnes and Noble for the female teachers- Scheels for Mickey's teacher.

They turned out so cute!

Here's how we packaged it:

Busy night but lots of fun crafts too!

Mickey's Christmas Concert

Tonight was Mickey's first concert of the year... and his first one playing an instrument!

He played his bass in the orchestra for the first half of the concert...

and sang in the choir for the second half.

His brother and sister were so proud of him!

This is his good friend Ally:

Mickey did SOOOO good! Our friends/backyard neighbors the Lewis' came to watch him too which was really sweet and we all got FRONT ROW seats!(one of my biggest accomplishments) - we arrived before the lights were even turned on in the gym. YEAH!

Afterwards we all went to McDonald's for ice cream to celebrate.

I recorded everything but I'm not sure how to put that on here yet...

Next concert is Feb. 7th at 7pm if anyone wants to go!

Jeffrey's Birthday Wish

I just looked at the calendar today and realized that Jeffrey is going to turn 9 in a week and a half!?! My little baby Feffers- how can this be? Do you like how every birthday I'm completely shocked that my kids are getting older?

Remember how Mickey saved up his birthday money for Hogwart's Castle? Well I guess it's Jeffrey's turn now because he has his eyes on Diagon Alley. And this, I'm pleased to announce, would completely finish off our Harry Potter lego collection. So... if anyone is looking for birthday ideas for our little man there it is- money to put toward this gigantic lego set(I know some people always like ideas!). They have all the HP sets on display on top of Mickey's dresser- and they play with it ALL THE TIME. I must admit it does look fun! :)

I guess I better figure out when to have his party- and where! I think he's leaning towards a pool party this year like his brother and sister have done in the past.

Oh and just a tid-bit from his parent-teacher conference on Tuesday night: his teacher told us he is basically the only kid in the whole class that always looks like he's paying attention and making eye contact with her. :) And that he never talks when he shouldn't be and is a kind friend to everyone and an excellent student. That's our Feffy!