Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Kids

 Our Brad spent the night on Sunday because he had to go to the airport very early.  April and the four cherubs were at home and we missed them, but the siblings all wanted to come over to see their big brother.  Granny and Grampy = delighted!  We love it when the four kids are with us!  
 The weather was perfect for Wendy house play!  Millie and Samantha Rose are "just right" playmates.
 Birdie gave a sweet smile!  Aw!
 Here's Sam at the back window of the Wendy house.  
                     Jenny    Kelli         Jeff     Brad
Our four!  Do you see darling Christie, too?  Good Bry? Scott and April are missing.  Our kids and their loves are at such great ages.  I think I've always thought that, no matter what age.  I am so thankful for my chicks!


 Here's a birthday cake for my friend, Gretchen Joanna.  She has a birthday coming up.  Don't you adore Eloise Wilkin?  When I was a child, I remember imprinting some of her illustrations. I stared at them so long that they permanently stay in my head.  The babies. The rooms in cozy houses.  The clothes. The paint colors (the cabinets below).


I know bunnies chew expensive power cords and carpet edges, but I'd still like to have one.  They have such silky ears, such darling faces.  I gave my "chocolate bunny in reserve" to Christie.  She LOVES chocolate.  

We are taking the standardized tests at school.  The kids were squirrel-like yesterday and I had to speak sternly to them, emphasizing the seriousness of the test-taking environment.  They understand, so today should be easier.  
Bill says that a lot of adults don't really know how to describe a paragraph, let alone write one.  Some of my students still have mental blocks when it comes to writing sentences, paragraphs, and essays.  They DO ask good questions, though.  There is hope.
How are your paragraph writing skills?  
Time to get ready and zip off to school.
I hope your day is bright.  I hope you find a good amount of sweetness in this 24 hours.  (BIG hug and a few reassuring pats on the back!)

14 comments:

April said...

Thanks for sharing those pictures, MP! I wish we could have been there too, but we're looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday! Love you!

TexWisGirl said...

glad you had your kids together!

Farm Girl said...

I love seeing your beautiful family. You are so blessed. I do love this time of life. I loved having children at every age, but I think if my life was cake this stage is the icing and I am thankful for all of the sweetness it brings.
I love the girls in the Wendy house. Yes, I still have my old books with the illustrations by Eloise Wilkin. I always wanted my house to look like the ones she drew.
I am glad that Gretchen Joanna is having a birthday, thank you for the reminder.
Have a wonderful day my friend.

ann said...

I have to laugh-- the number of times I went over good paragraph development with my college freshmen. I am retired now, so do I have to good paragraphs? Good luck on the exams.

Nancy McCarroll said...

You are building memories and are such a good role model for parenting. And grandparenting.

Gumbo Lily said...

Like you, I just love it when all of my big kids are home together. What a handsome bunch!

I figured out that having my kids write paragraphs on note cards (index) really helped. Each paragraph (note card) had it's own topic. Put them all together and you have a story. Bite sized!

magsmcc said...

Prince Charming says it's time to pack the boys' books. I resist. How do I know what exactly the right book will be for that bedtime for three whole weeks? Will resist until after St Patrick's when we will have read and reread our dePaola!

I find that the young people I teach/tutor.rear do manage to catch the idea of a paragraph, but what stops them creating them is more a lack of ideas sustained enough to merit breaking their work up. The biggest question of my time as an "educator" has really been about how you teach children to think. I'm not sure that this can be managed inside the constraints of a large group classroom.

Lovely to see your Gathering. Lovelier to feel the joy and wholeness of your Gathering xx Bringing people together- very St Patrick!

Lisa Richards said...

Oh, I'm so glad you were able to have all of your chicks at home for a visit. I've always thought the best age for my kids is whatever age they are right now. Baby pictures are nice, but I love following what they're up to right now. Nobody is more interesting!
Love the Eloise Wilkin pictures. I have one of her books filled with brightly decorated rooms that I just love. I may post some pics if I find the book.
Hope you had a great day!

Left-Handed Housewife said...

Oh, I love those illustrations! I know just what you mean about illustrations imprinting themselves on your mind. I was at the library the other day and there was a reprint of an old book that I had seen since my childhood. It was so exciting to look at the pictures and remember them, even though it's probably been 45 years at least since I saw them last.

I like Jody's idea about writing paragraphs on index cards. That seems smart to me.

xofrances

Leslie said...

What a sweet gathering of family! And you are outside! Yay for outside esp in Co!

GretchenJoanna said...

I love my birthday cake - thank you, Pom Pom! Just last night I put another Eloise Wilkin book into my Amazon cart, I *think* for little Ivy, but I'll want to keep it myself...so maybe I should order two!

Thistle Cove Farm said...

what a sweet post and adorable faces. good for you...having your chicks close.

Heather L. said...

Oh yes!!! I loved Eloise Wilkins when I was little. Definitely very sentimental when I see her works.

M.K. said...

Hello, dear. I'm trying hard to catch up on all my blog reading while I sit here in the hospital with Adam. I looked and behold! Pom had posted TEN blog posts! Eek! I will read them, every one, but may not comment on every one :) Glad your kiddos were home. It's so funny -- I don't know which grands belong to which kids, so to me all the grands are siblings :) Which is kind of nice.

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