When I grow up ................

Now that school is over, I decided to do a bi-annual assessment of our "rainy day cabinet", to see what could be pitched, and what needed to be restocked. On a bottom shelf, there were two Fairfax County Police Coloring Books which our dear friend Officer Trivett gave to the girls over Spring Break.

Clearly, they came home from the Sully Police Station and dutifully completed their assignment, which concluded with drawing themselves as future police ladies:

Ms. Bean will be an exact replica of her current self, plus a badge and gun ..................

From Photoclass

Little Bee, is planning to become a black hole, minus any facial features, dressed for a Gay Pride
parade on the Moon.

From Photoclass

My Money is on little Bee. I say this, because Ms. Bean would NEVER touch a gun .............

Blizzard Art

The DC area is covered with more snow then I have seen in 30 years. The girls can only go out for a few moments at a time, and then they remember how wet and uncomfortable snow can be and flee to the warm safety of the house. We have been inside for close to a week, living on hot chocolate, wine, popcorn, and frozen pizza. At this point, nothing is where it is supposed to be and all TV rules and bedtimes have been discontinued until at least Monday. It is a free for all!

Today, at the height of a Blizzard that closed down Dullas Airport for the first time EVER, I decided to take a tiny bite out of the elephant and straiten the kitchen table. At the bottom of the piles of stickers, crayons, and coloring books that were stationed in what used to be the "family command center", I found the following treasures. Something tells me that my kids are getting by just fine ................................


Ms. Bean's Solar System. Pluto will ALWAYS be a planet to us!



Little Bee tells me that this is a "house with an interesting window". Who doesn't LOVE abstract art?


Only a wonderful optimist could pull this out of their imagination on a cold, dark, snowy evening .................


Little Bee's "fish in the ocean" ...............

and;

A "world of swirls"


..............I wonder what they could pull off during a hurricane!

Little Bee's New Years Resolution

My resolution is to spend more time with my Mom and Dad.

Ms. Beans New Years Resolution

My New Years resolution is to spend more time with the people I love. Im going to go across the world and visit the people that are in my family but I havent seen them in my whole entire life, because they are in different states.

The worlds BEST present!

Look at the charming note that greeted me this morning!

"Dear Family - I hope you have a splended Thanksgiving. Love, Sarah"

I truly am blessed! Happy Turkey Day!

Sisters in November

Last week, Ms. Bean and Little Bee jumped into their kitchen chairs and demanded pens and paper. They were determined to demonstrate to each other what their sister/family meant to them by making each other a card. Always one to encourage sisterly love, I immediately complied before disappearing into the abyss of the Internet. When I emerged, their were 2 remarkable compositions on the kitchen table.



Above is Ms. Beans drawing. What is more special then spending time with your sister, in a field of flowers, while enjoying a light spring rain in your Sunday dresses? Sure beats
lifetime imprisonment with the rest of us (see Little Bee's masterpeice below) ...............................



On the bright side, they were consistant with the rain.

Sunflowers

By Ms. Bean. Age 6.

Ms.Beans drawing on a random day

Mommys car is driving to my school for a parent/teacher conference. My dad is inside the house and I am waving goodbye in a rocking chair.

Over Heard on a Tuesday Night

(During the 1st Hockey Intermission)

Ms. Bean dials the phone:

"Hello Susie"
"I called to say goodnight"
"I love you, too"
"Mommy and Daddy are watching the Hockey Game, and it is tied, but right now, the Caps are all taking their naps"
"OK, See you tomorrow".

What happens at Papa's, does not STAY at Papa's

The other night I heard the following discussion between Ms. Bean and her "Uncle" Tim -

Tim - "So, how was the rest of your summer"?
Ms. Bean - "Oh, it was GREAT! I got to stay with my Papa and Susie, and my Papa fed me PIE for Breakfast". (pause) "But I only ate the crust".
Tim - "Really? Did he eat pie also"?
Miss Bean - "No. He just read his paper (she spread her arms out to simulate the act of holding a newspaper) and said over and over, "I wonder if this will make Susie mad"?

Don't worry Papa. NO ONE WILL EVER FIND OUT!

Overheard last weekend

Little Bee (while sitting on the toilet) - Mommy, I love you.
Me - I love you too.
Little Bee - Mommy, I love you so much that for your birthday, I am going to draw you a very special picture. It will be a picture of your very favorite thing.
Me - Really? What is my very favorite thing?
Little Bee - It will be a picture of a poop, in the potty. Because that is your favorite thing.

Hmmmmm. I wonder how much that particular peice of art will get me on ebay?

Day 2 - Topsail

So, I forgot the component that uploads the photos from the camera (along with all toiletries, most of our food, and a pair of shoes for Tom). BUT never fear, Bean and Bee took care of the storytelling.

Here is Ms. Beans day from beginning to end. She "awoke, went to the beach, and ate". Her words, not mine.



The best part of Little Bee's day is below. Here she is on the dock at seaTulls with Tom and Ms. Bean (all on their designated colors) after they pulled up the crab pot. In the background is the house, and I am taking photos of the three of them (in blue). You will see the actual photos in a few weeks.



I like vacations better through their eyes anyway!

We're in Topsail!

This morning started our great adventure! Tom and I are on leave for the next two weeks, and are enjoying a few days at Gary and Jana's lovely home in North Carolina before heading to Disney World to meet the Woolcotts for a week long visit with Mickey!

I woke the girls up earlier then I should have this morning (in part because I was so excited) and as a result forgot EVERYTHING that I planned to bring (to include 90% of the food that we prepared and shopped for). So, while Tom Tom is at the grocery store, I had the girls draw pictures of what they did on Day 1 of their vacation:




Ms. Bean merged reality and fantasy to create the above collage. We have a 6-hour ride strapped into her booster, followed by a visit with a mermaid, and then dinner! Hmmmm.



Little Bee was more literal, and captured her wading in the Ocean. The first visit I might add, that she truly enjoyed, despite her terrified tears that filled the whole walk to the beach.

Tomorrow, I will unpack my camera and post some real photos!


XO D

The Driver

For the past couple of days I have been driving Ms. Bean and her friend (Malcolm) to a Theater Camp. I have, for the most part, become completely invisible while the two of them chat away. Once in a while I get to say something, but I am getting the impression that I am an “annoyance that needs to be dealt with”, vice a productive member of the carpool.

I have to admit that I am rather enjoying this role. It both allows me to eavesdrop onto her world and discover what is really on her mind PLUS their discussions are hysterically funny. I promised myself that I would start to write some snippets down so that I would remember them. What better place then my (much loved but rarely used) blog?

Tuesday –

Malcolm – I wonder when that library will be finished with construction. It was big to begin with, now its going to be huge
Ms. Bean – Have you ever been to that library?
Malcolm – No, but I drive by it every Sunday when I go to Church.
Ms. Bean – What do you do at Church?
Malcolm – I dunno.
Ms. Bean – Do you like Church?
Malcolm – Yes. They have snacks.

Wednesday –

Ms. Bean – I really want to be Glenda in the play (Wizard of Oz).
Malcolm – I want to be a monkey, or the Wizard. I could be both because the monkeys and the Wizard are never in the same scene.
Ms. Bean – I want to be a girly character, like Glenda or Dorothy. I DON’T want to play a boy.
Malcolm – Hmmmm. Maybe I can be a Monkey, and a tree that throws apples at Dorothy.
Ms. Bean - (after some contemplation) – Well, if I am Dorothy and you are a tree and you throw apples at me ……. I will just turn my head and walk off stage.

Cant wait to see what Thursday brings.

Overheard

Yesterday while getting dressed to go out for breakfast:

Ms. Bean (appearing in a new green dress) - I am wearing green, and I am from Ireland

Little Bee (appearing with a huge smile and wearing a red dress) - And I, am wearing red, and am from Cherry Picking!

Overheard on a Friday night

Me - "Sarah, your snack is ready"
Me "Sarah"
Me - (progressively louder) "SARAH"
Me - "SARAH! Lets GO!"

Ms. Bean appears in the Kitchen

Ms. Bean - "Sorry Mom. I was just watching Ovechkin go in the penalty box. He hurt a Penguin"

Ms. Bean helps Friends

Homework Assignment - Draw a picture of yourself working well with others to show good teamwork.

Result:

8 years - and counting!

This is a picture of the amazing gift Ms. Bean gave us for our Anniversary tomorrow. She needed to present it a day early, because my Dad is treating us to a GAME 7 - while my Mom babysits tomorrow night! It has been a fast and fun ride, and I am looking forward to many many more!

Tom - my answer still is, and will always be ............... YES!

Overheard from the back seat

Ms. Bean - Leah, Stop acting like the boss of everything
Little Bee - (following pause) I cant be the boss Sarah, I'm a girl.
Ms.Bean - You can be the boss and be a girl Leah.
Little Bee - No. Because girls are Mommy's, and they don't like to work. Only Daddy's are the bosses.

Clearly - I need to watch what I say around the house.

Ms. Beans Homework

Last nights homework assignment was to write a letter to the Principle and tell her what you like about school:

Dear Dr. Zissios -

I like my school. I love my teachers Ms. Jackson and Ms. Youngman. I miss Ms. Dwyer and I am sorry she had to leave. Very sorry. I like Art. I like P.E. Its really fun to go to specials. I like to go out to recess and I like to play with my friends.

This year I have learned about money and counting pennies and dimes and Quarters and Nickles. I go on the computer almost every day. I learn how to read, that is what the computer is for. My favorite Special is Music. I get to sing new songs that I didn't know, like:

1) the Echo
2) Shadow Phobia
3. BFF

I really like my classroom. My favorite center is white board because I get to9 draw whatever I want. Sometimes I even go to the large white board, but we don't do that very often.

My friends are Ovie and Pierce. They are really funny. They play with me a lot and I chase them.

I really like my school and everybody there. Sometimes I am afraid of all of the new kids I see, but as long as I am with my friends I have nothing to worry about.

Love,
sarah

I, for one, would really like to attend Kindergarten classes.