Pants or Shorts?

This morning when Samara got up and dressed, she came downstairs as I was sitting at my desk.  I heard her say, "What am I wearing Mom?  Pants or shorts?"  I quickly looked up and this is what I saw: 

So my response was, "You're wearing pants".  (obviously right?)  

Well, then the serious question turned into a fit of giggles as she turned around and said, "Nope . . . you're wrong!"  And here's what I saw: 

What a silly girl!  She's been playing so hard lately that a lot of her jeans have holes in the knees.  I've cut a few of them into shorts but I guess these ones didn't get done yet.  So she decided to use her imagination and wear them in a very creative way.  She told me that when she gets older, she's going to have a store and she will sell pants like these.  That way she can wear them and everyone else can wear them and they will just be the style.  I love it!  

Books for Boys

I am so happy to have kids that love to read.  Both Mike and I read a lot as kids and so it’s neat to see our kids dive into books too.  Both Victoria and Austin spend an hour or more reading every night before bed.  Because of this, I don’t have them do independent reading during our school day.  I figure they get enough in at night.  However, because they enjoy books so much, I often find them reading during the day too.  Nothing better than getting lost in a good book! 

Reading in the sunshine and a dog to keep you company!

Here are some of Austin's favourites that he's read in the last few months (or more): 

The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright

The Bobbsey Twins series

The Swiss Family Robinson - isn't it great when kids pick up and love the classics!  

Plunked by Michael Northrop

Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan

Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner

I Survived series - although they're fiction, it's amazing how much Austin now knows about these major historical events.

Gordon Korman's MacDonald Hall series.  I think these were the first Gordon Korman books that Austin read.  I'm pretty sure he's now one of Austin's favourite authors.  

The Swindle Series - another one of Gordon Korman's series that Austin loved.  

The 39 Clues Series - this is what Austin is reading right now.  Two more books to go.  He can't get enough of them.  They're all written by different authors and Gordon Korman is one of them.  The hardest part of reading this series is waiting for the next book to be ready at the library!  

And these are just a few of the many books that Austin has read and loved.  I'll do another post at some point on books for girls and list some of Victoria's favourites.  

A boy's best friend

I was going through my pictures the other day - sorting and organizing - when I came across these pictures.  They're from quite a while ago but I couldn't resist posting them.  Denver was upset about something and went to sit on the stairs and wallow in his sorrow.  Frodo isn't a big fan of anyone being upset so he right away went to keep Denver company.  

Here they are lying at the top of the stairs. Heads down.   

I think they're both pouting in this picture.  

Check out that face (and the tears!)  

All is right again after snuggles with Daddy.  And of course Frodo is right in there too!  

Art

Our art lesson last week involved coffee filters, markers and water.  Does it get any better than that?  I got the idea from here.  The process involved folding the coffee filter a few times, spraying it with water so it's quite wet and then decorating it with dots on both sides using a marker.  When the coffee filter gets unfolded, the dots have bled all the way through making a cool design.  The next part of the project was to make a picture using the two circles.  Austin and Samara both thought the sample of the boom box was cool so they went with that idea.  Denver went a different route . . . an octopus.  :)  

Samara's boom box

Austin's boom box

Denver's octopus (he explained that the blue part in the middle is the nose)

Victoria opted out of this project . . . just not in the mood for it.  She may still try it at some point as the coffee filter part was really fun!  

Book Review - Minding Frankie

This was such a nice, easy book to read.  Just what I needed.  I always enjoy Maeve Binchy’s writing.  Whenever I need something light . . . a nice story to sit and relax with, she’s one of the authors I turn to.  This story was about all the various people in a little community in Ireland.  They are all from different walks of life but their lives intertwine and they all end up helping each other and looking out for one another.  I particularly love how this book emphasizes the fact that families are made up of people that love each other . . . not necessarily related by blood.  I fell in love with the characters in this book as they are very true to life.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for something light and easy to read.  

Colour Changing Shirts

This year when Grandma and Grandpa came home from Florida they brought the kids some really cool t-shirts.  They're just regular t-shirts with black outline pictures inside the house . . . but when you head outside in the sun, they explode into colour right before your eyes.  It was still winter when the kids received them so there wasn't much opportunity to enjoy them.  But now that the sun is out in full force, the kids have been able to wear them outside and see the pictures turn to full colour.  

Here they are inside the house:  

And here they are outside in the bright sunlight:  

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for super cool t-shirts!