Nap Time Conversations, Part 1...

Laying in bed with Ellie before her nap today, she enlightens me with her thoughts:  "Momma, do you hear that noise?" (Pause to listen for noise) "I think it's my eyelashes!  You wanna hear?" (Then proceeds to blink briskly)

Silly girl!

Computer Art...

This morning I left the girls playing in the living room to go back to my room and get dressed for the day.  They were playing well together, so being the opportunist that I am, I decided to take advantage of their entertaining each other, and put on a little makeup.   But several minutes later I noticed things got very quiet in the living room.  Then I heard Ellie say, "Mollie don't do that!"  So I hurried down the hall to check on them, only to find Mollie sitting inside the top shelf of the computer armoire next to the monitor.  She is an avid climber, and had used the computer chair to boost herself up.  But this was not the worst of it.  She had found the cup of pens and markers sitting next to the computer screen, and selected a blue permanent marker to produce this lovely piece of artwork:

And yes, that IS blue permanent marker on the actual computer screen.  She is thorough, isn't she?  It was hard to be mad at her...she stood there looking so proud of herself.

Luckily, the texture of the computer screen didn't absorb the marker, so it was fairly easy to remove using alcohol.

Unfortunately, since Mollie figured out how to climb up into chairs, this has opened up a new world of no-no's for her. At least once a day I find her on the table, or attempting this feat. And every time, she has this same expression--it's kinda like she freezes, hoping that if she's still enough, I won't notice her standing there:

And here she is totally abusing the Christmas gift my mother-and father-in-law gave her.  I really don't think this is what they had in mind when they gave her this rocking chair:

Oh how I love this girl!

The Magic School Bus...

Last week Mason's school put on their first grade program The Magic School Bus--Back In Time.  Themed around healthy eating and exercise, each class put on a performance from every decade from the 50's to the present.  Mason's class' first routine was set in the 70's and they danced to Stayin' Alive.

 Their second routine was set in the 90's, and they performed to Can't Touch This.  

(I took the next 3 pictures during the performance when it was dark in the room with a spotlight on the stage, and it doesn't help that my photography skills are as bad as the lighting.)  :)

Disco Dancing:

During the finale, all the classes came together to dance to a present-day routine.  Here is Mason on stage break dancing.  He actually has some skills!

 Mason is in the black shirt under the "K" in the word "Back":

Not to be upstaged by big brother, after the crowd dissipated, Ellie had her turn up on stage with an impromptu performance of her own:

...and after we got home, we had two more performances with

M.C. Baby Beat Box...

And D.J. lil' Feisty  Fro...

Word.

Fish Pants...

For the past three days, when Ellie dresses herself in pajamas or play clothes, she likes to put both her legs in one leg hole.  Then she tells me she has to because she's a fish!  She will then transport herself around, either by hopping or squirming with her legs bound together, for about half an hour before she decides that it's too much work to be a fish.  I've given up on trying to change her mind about what she wears out in public (whether it be mismatched clothes, winter accessories on the hottest day of summer, one of Mason's shirts that comes down to her ankles, or boxing gloves on her hands as we walk down the street to pick up Mason from school--on the wrong hands, no less.)  We've gotten many chuckles from strangers and passers-by.  Maybe they see the same thing in her that I do: a determined little girl who is eager to be her own person and finding her own style.  I think she has flare, and I admire her non-conformative spirit.   

Why I Love Having A Seven Year Old...

Reason #356: Because at 7 years old, a little boy doesn't want his Momma to go back home, after she comes to eat lunch with him at school on Fridays, until she watches his entire class go back into their classroom and can no longer see him waving at her.  :)

There's A New Sheriff In Town...

First Grade Christmas Party...

Mason and his wonderful teacher, Mrs. Torres:

Mason's class has a really neat reading loft.  Ellie, and several of the other younger siblings, spent the whole time up there playing and reading books:

Mason and Mollie:

Celebrating Christmas and the end of the semester: