Aunt "Fancy Schmalancy" Comes Back!

Watch out Aunties! Aunt "Fancy Schmalancy" (named by Tad) is working over time to be their fav! She spent part of last week here again on business. Oh, how we *LOVE* her! And not just because she comes bearing gifts, like this super fun cooperative game (Hoot Owl Hoot).

Or because she spends the night braiding our hair for supreme wavy style... But because she let us have a sleepover out in the guest house with her. Seriously. Party all night. 

And no Aunt Cindy trip is complete without her calling card, a special bath time  treat for each of us! Superkid got a *rocket* and Tad got a *robot*! I got a super huge bag of joy!

We love you CINDY! Come back soon and often!

Sew, What's Next?

This girl's appetite for sewing simply cannot be satiated. She is always looking for another project. Here are 2 of her recent favs.

Aunt Jenny bought her a sewing book for Christmas with lots of fun projects. One was a little holder for an iPod. We made that first... but there was one problem, she had to always hold it. You see, her iPod is *ALWAYS* with her. She started brainstorming solutions like sewing on a belt loop or a shoulder strap. Then we found a cute purse pattern in her book. We simply sewed the iPod holder on the front of it. She never takes it off. Ever. Now she can boogy around the house all day long belting out her favorite Bangles and Arlo Guthrie tunes ("Walk Like An Egyptian", "Manic Monday" and "Alice's Restaurant"). The kid has good taste.

Last weekend she worked on a very important project. Baby brother's silky blanket. It is pretty much the most important brother thing ever, at least for 2 out of 3 brothers. Just ask Superkid about "Silty" and David about "Silfy". Abz chose soft cuddly alligators on one side, and dreamy green silk for the other. Seriously lucky little baby.

Beautiful Borax

Superkid has been studying for the MCAS exam that is coming up in a couple of months. In one of his prep books he came across this gem of project in a reading comprehension section:

Making Snowflakes:
Pipe cleaners
String
Jar
Tablespoon
Borax
Pencil

1. Use pipe cleaners to create a snowflake shape.
2. Tie a piece of string to one of the edges of your snow flake.
3. Get an adult to pour boiling water into a jar.
4. Add 3 tablespoons of borax, one at a time. Mix the solution each time. Make sure the solution is clear before adding the next tablespoon.
5. Tie a string to a pencil. Then put it over he jar so the snowflake hangs inside, but does not touch the bottom.
6. Sit the jar overnight. Be sure not to move the jar for 24 hours.
7. Remove the snowflake from the solution and hang wherever you wish.

We knew we had to do this project because #1 who can pass up crystal snowflakes? And #2 the project involves BORAX! We were really excited because Uncle Naters works as a land manager on a Borax mine. Aunt Minudrs has been extolling the virtues of Borax ever since he started his job. You may know that Borax is awesome at taking the stink out of your towels in the laundry, and makes one of the all time best medium for crafts and experiments, but did you know that it is also awesome ant bait?  Well we couldn't let this pass us by, so everyone made one!

We let our crystal snowflakes grow for 2 days!

Spectacular!

Pokemon Guru

Superkid is *NUTS* about Pokemon. My first clue was when he came home with a stack of intricate illustrations with lots of notes written below. He had even made a little paper box for his collection. He probably has about 50 of these homemade cards. One day as I was driving him to piano lessons his mouth motored away about his latest creations. Of course his homemade cards have lots of "Damage" points, the more the better. If you didn't know, the biggest number you can have these days is "google-plex".  All of the Pokemon also have "Health Points" and then some cards are "Boosters" which give you 20%  more points. There are also "Traitor" cards that allow you to spy on your opponents cards. I was amazed at his vast collection, intricate drawings, and detailed information. He is always looking for inspiration for a new card. For some reason we were talking about Phoenix. When we explained that a Phoenix is a bird that can rise from the dust and live again he was out of his mind! He couldn't wait to go make a "Phoenix" card to go kick butt at school. Talk about "Resurrection" points!

He never asked for any real Pokemon cards until he brought the matter to Santa a couple of weeks before Christmas. I thought about suggesting he buy a few with his allowance, but then I didn't want the real cards to stifle his imagination.

Every Friday, the kids have free time at school and play and trade with their cards. One week it happened, Superkid came home with a real Pokemon card. I knew the transition was inevitable.

Superkid got a pack from Santa for Christmas and it had some pretty neat cards in there but apparently not any coveted "EX" cards. He looked at Target for another pack of cards but didn't like the chances of finding an EX buried in a  pack... and didn't want to take out a loan against his allowance for the next month to get it.

Pops suggested E-Bay. Superkid found the KYUREM EX card up for auction with 10 bids and about 20 minutes to go. He set his bid and spent the next 20 minutes trying not to jump out of his skin. 10 seconds before the auction ended he placed his bid. I didn't think he stood a chance in the world. I have lost many an E-Bay bidding battle, against far less contenders. But this was his day and he WON!

I checked my e-mail today and told him according to E-Bay, the card had shipped. He said, "I wish E-Bay had hands so I could give it a high-five!"

With any luck the KYUREM EX will be here before the big 3rd grade Pokemon show-down Friday! Waiting for it to come is worse than waiting for Christmas!

Mr. Opinion

Little Chief's favorite question these days is, "What are you doing?" If I say I'm peeling potatoes he responds, "Peeling potatoes! I HATE peeling potatoes!" If I say I am folding the laundry he says, "Folding Laundry, I HATE folding the laundry!" Invariably he says he HATES whatever I'm doing then giggles and runs away. 

Come to think of it, I'm not a big fan of peeling potatoes and folding laundry either.
What is fun is playing, "Hide and Seek Ponies". 

That could turn a 2 thumbs down day into 2 thumbs up!

Religious Instruction

Driving home from church Tadpole announced, "I'm going to flood the house." Naturally concerned, I inquired, "Why would you flood the house?!" He reasonably said, "Because Sister Harrop is not my teacher anymore, my tears are going to flood the house."

Seriously, Sister Harrop is the best teacher ever. We love her. She turned Sunday from a tantrum fest to the best day of the week 2 years ago when she became the Sunbeam teacher at church. She followed the class last year into CTR4s... but sadly Tadpole has entered a new phase of his life. CTR5. Sister Harrop substituted the class today, so keep your fingers crossed for next week!

Besides, there are still a few things Tad needs help understanding. 

His prayers usually offer good insight...

"Heavenly Father, if there is something you want me to do, you should talk a little louder. 

I can't hear you!"

The Happy New Year Club

Tadpole and Abizella were absolutely determined to make it to the New Year and join Superkid in bragging rights of being tough enough to stay up until midnight. They also are both notorious for falling instantly asleep the second their heads hit the pillow. By 10:30 Tadpole was at the end of his rope and started begging Pops, "*PLEASE* can't you send ALL of the kids to bed?!" He did not want to be the only one who didn't make it to the zero hour. We're giving him an "A" for effort anyway.

Abizella, despite the irony of spending the night sewing a sleeping mask, graduated into the New Year's Club. Her first year. She is very proud.

We spent today recovering... and of course going to the Curhan's fabulous New Year's Day party! We would have taken pictures, but we were too busy stuffing ourselves with quiche, lox and goodies. Such a great holiday tradition!