Different Strokes

Last Sunday night Eric found reruns of "Different Strokes" on TV and got the kids to watch it by telling them it his and mine's version of "The Suite Life of Zach and Cody."  Even though it was super cheesy, it did bring back memories and I could totally remember the episodes from almost 30 years ago!  Finn especially loved Arnold and his catch phrase "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"  Eric explained to the kids how we actually had to watch it on TV at a certain time and would look forward to when it was on each week; how we couldn't watch it "on demand" like the kids can do now.  The kids were amazed by this.  We also talked about how we didn't have remote controls- we actually had to get up to change the channel (Although in my brother's case, he would sit on the floor close to the TV and use his freakishly long finger-like toes to change the channel!) It was truly on of those "We had to walk through the snow to school 10 miles uphill both ways." types of moments.  The kids' concensus was that we must have had a pretty dull childhood! :)  In the course of the conversation we talked about how we didn't even have the internet, cell phones or even cordless phones- at least when we were younger.  We described how the phones receivers were attached to the phone so we had to sit by the phone to use it.  At this point Suzie remembered that Grandma Shauna still has one of those types of phones in her kitchen.  After she mentioned this she paused and then giggled and said, "She's old school."  Accurate description!

So Blogging is back!

I really don't know if it is back for anyone else, but after a hiatus of blogging only occasionally- I will be back to blogging regularly.  Not because I have any adoring readers begging for more but because my parents have decided to go on another mission and the blog is the best way for them to catch up on our family.  So here goes for my parents and anyone else who cares...
Shakespeare...
Our school's annual 6th grade Shakespeare festival was this past week.  Annie was a fairy in "A Mid-Summer's Night Dream."  She did a great job. 

The Shakespeare festival is a wonderful tradition that has been going on for years at our school.  It is kind of like the "pinnacle" of the students' elementary school years.  The 6th grade teachers have done  a fantastic job of making it something the younger grades look forward and aspire to.  Last year Annie was in a 5th/6th grade split that was taught by one of the teachers who started the festival and has perfected it over the years.  So Annie got to participate in the festival last year as well.  This teacher retired after last year and I was so grateful that Annie got to experience Shakespeare with the famed Mrs. Johnson.  But this also caused me to be a little wary this year because Annie's current teacher is a first year teacher and I wasn't sure the festival would be up to the same level as before.  Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised at how well Annie's new teacher did.  The plays were great.  There were a few differences- like the number of plays the class did- but overall the class did a fantastic job, which I know is often a direct result of the teacher.  Being a teacher myself, I made sure to let Annie's teacher know how well I thought it went.  I can't imagine taking on something like Shakespeare- especially as a first year teacher.
Funny Annie story- recently I was taking Katie to her violin lesson and Annie was in the car.  Katie asked for a piece of gum.  I reminded her that she wouldn't be able to chew it for very long.  Annie asked why and Katie told her that her violin teacher doesn't allow her to chew gum during her lesson because it could fall out on the violin.  Annie replied, "I think my piano teacher appreciates it when I chew gum."  I asked her why and she said, "Cause I think my breath stinks when I count out loud."  (Annie's piano lesson is in the morning and I think quite often she has morning breath when she goes to piano.:)
Katie never ceases to amaze me.  The other morning I went downstairs to make sure Finn was up and moving so he wouldn't be late for school.  He and I leave for school about the same time and if I don't hear him stirring while I am getting ready, I usually go downstairs to check on him.  Well this particular morning I found not only him awake in his room but also Katie.  The scene I walked into was Finn staring intently at Katie while she was sitting on the edge of his bed with her knees tucked under her chin talking.  When I walked in Finn turned to me with a look of amazement and said, "Katie has been explaining the distributive property to me.  I didn't even know what that was until the 7th grade!"  I looked at Katie and she was proudly beaming about blowing her older brother's mind with her math prowess.  She even drew a picture to demonstrate.

I tell you what, this new math curriculum is serving Katie well!

Now onto Finn.  He recently received his Life in scouting.  I have to be honest here- I really don't know what that entails or its full meaning except that it is the last step before you can start working on your Eagle project.  I always feel guilty when I go to courts of honor where Finn gets awards because they always give a pin to the mothers and make a big deal about how so often it is the mothers who should receive an award as much as the scout because of how much the mothers do to help their boy scouts.  But truth be told, Finn was born to be a scout because I do very little when it comes to his scouting.  He makes life easy for me!
Recently we were driving in the car and the song "I'm Still a Guy" by Brad Paisley came on and Finn turned to me and said, "This song is about me."  But then it got to the part about the french painting and how the girl sees beautiful art and the guy just sees a naked lady.  Finn gives me a sideways glance and says, "Well except that part."  All in good time my pubescent teenage boy, all in good time!
Last but not least, Suz!  My last post was all about Suz so I'll keep this short and sweet.  Suzie and her BFF, Hannah were playing at my house.  They decided they wanted to do a workout video- my main form of working out these days.  They started the video and a few minutes into it they decided they needed to go get bottles of water.  I walked by and noticed that when they got water they also decided they needed a little workout snack as well.

 

Yep-those are chips next to their water.  Every time they would pause to get a drink they would also have a few chips.  Now that's my kind of working out!  "I like pop!" (That last comment is for my sisters!)