tidbits

Funny things about the kids...

Anna is quite a good reader and she can really read just about anything. She was attempting to read a book above her level, and the words of a fairly long sentence were "naval vessel." Keeping pace and not missing a beat, she said, "nasty verb" and kept going.

Howie and Anna got a T-Day letters from Grampa and Gramma Schmidt. Anna happily read aloud her name and address on the envelope. Howie looked at his and howled, "Hey, I don't see my name!" He was looking at the back of the envelope.

We were talking turkey (literally, not figuratively) and asked the kids if they wanted to see the turkey. Howie ran over the fridge, and Anna stood back in trepidation. She wouldn't come into the kitchen. She obviously thought she'd be seeing feathers and head, the whole gambit. I told her, "Don't worry, honey, it's wrapped in plastic." Of course, after seeing it, all excited, she asked Papa, "Did you kill it?" With kids, it always comes down to the gory denominator.

Here's hoping you have a gory-less day! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

booty dance

Another proud moment in the household...

We host a church group in our home every Thursday evening. One night, after all the parents with kids had departed, a few adults lingered to talk. During the conversation, Howie, who was supposed to be getting ready for bed, came into the hallway. Wearing nothing but a t-shirt, he proudly did a "booty dance" for our friends.

Snippets

Howie: "It's not on the M.U." (It's not on the menu)

Anna was crying hysterically after losing her balloon into the sky. She was inconsolable and sobbed speaking to her floating away balloon, "I remember the fun times we shared."

moneybags

Howie ran around the house today collecting all the loose change. From dressers, pockets, desks, rooms, you name it, he found it. His yellow plastic bucket was nearly a third filled with all manners of coins. I came upon the scene after he finished. (Thanks, honey, for letting me sleep in today!)

Howie reached his hand into the bucket and rattled the silver and copper goodies. "Mom, can I buy a toy?"

"Howie, where did you get all that change?"

He didn't miss a beat: "The Internet."

Oh, greaaat.

love letter

Anna, "Dad, we're writing you a love letter."

Howie, "Yeah, a love letter."

Anna, "How do you spell 'stink?'"

Howie, "How do you spell 'poop?'"

Auntie Cyd and Uncle David visited!

PRESCHOOL GRADUATION!!!

Movies and Dates...

So, we've gotten to the stage where Anna not only knows the date, but she's noticing that things happen on certain dates.  For instance, "Kung Fu Panda" starts on June 6th.  

Anna comes running in the computer room.  "Mommy, Kung Fu Panda starts tomorrow!  We have to go!"

Me, "Well, we've got school..."

Anna, "School's gonna slow us down!"

LOL!  Whatta crack up!  She keeps these dates written in a pad of paper in her room.  June 20th is written down for she and I to attend the American Girl movie, while Howie and Dad do a "boy thing."

  

Beach Pics!

Webkinz

We have entered the world of Webkinz.  It's a millennium leap from being Webkinz-free.  First of all, we couldn't go to church today until the Webkinz were in their beds and asleep.  We had to ply Webkinz, I mean Anna and Howie from their terminals (we have two now at home, BIG mistake!) to get in the car and there were tears, whining, and shouts of protest.  I'm not saying who was doing what.  

Now, Anna's all over the Webkinz thing.  She has a Yorkie named Rain (spelled "rian," because she entered it herself), and an Alley Cat named Rainbow.  She's got them dressed up in sunglasses, bows and footwear, and their rooms look like the My Pretty Pony illustrators met up with the Color By Design guy to create some kind of elementary schoolgirl madness.  She keeps winning those games and earning points to buy more stuff.  And, this is just the first 24 hours!

Howie on the other hand is working really hard with his dog, a Samoyed named Doby.  He's not getting very far, but his room hilarious.  As frilly and pink as Anna's rooms are, Doby's room is a frat boy's dream replete with sports themed furniture and an air hockey table.  The overall layout is pure bachelor-esque with a lamp at the end of the bed next the air hockey table.  No need for Doby to travel far.  Howie is really good at 'puter air hockey, too.  He has excellent eye-hand coordination, and even today killed his first fly with a fly swatter.

So, we're in the land of Webkinz.  And, after helping Howie out a bit today with a game and purchasing the air hockey table, I WANT A WEBKINZ, TOO!       

  

Trip Fotos

Loungin' and watchin' Nickelodeon at Granny's: the child's rocker belonged to Howard's dad, George when he was a lad.

Courtesy of Cat's Fast Feet: A Different Kind of Carpool

at the Hollywood Star Cars Museum in Gatlinburg, TN.

Goofin' around at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation; the plane is the same type as George H.W. Bush flew in WWII. Notice the oil pan underneath? Plane was recently flown.

Visit to Anna Sprind, 98 years old on March 28, 2008.

Happy Easter!

So, the kids awake to little plastic eggs filled with tidbits of candy leading each to a basket containing a hotly desired toy. Easter Bunny scored, big time.

Howie gets to his, jumps up from the floor where he's been collecting eggs, throws up his arms in the air and yells, "I love you, Easter Bunny!"

Maybe it loses something in the translation, but his enthusiasm and earnest sincerity made it hilarious.

Jesus' clothes

Last year Anna noticed the purple drape over the 9 foot cross in front of the church we pass near her school. She said to me, "Jesus left his clothes on the cross."

This year, she understands things better.

She said, "Jesus left his clothes on the cross because he didn't need to take them to heaven when he died."

You Never Sausage A Goil!

Anna was sent home today from school (Fifth's Disease), and so Howard and I took the opportunity to eat lunch with her. She was acting "all that" and then some as she ran from the table with a mouthful of string cheese talking about what she needed to do in the other room. Howard said to her, "You saucy girl!" And she shot back, "Don't call me a sausage girl!"

Punctual Princesses Only Need Apply

So, we're in the car and Howie says to me that he will marry the girl that shows up to the ball.

What?!?!

Yes, he will marry the girl that shows up to the ball, but not if she arrives late. If Rachel (a preschool friend...apparently a "friend") shows up late, he will not marry her. And, even if Courtney (a known preschool "friend") shows up late, he will not marry her. Only the girl that comes to the ball--but not late--will he marry.

Rrrright...

This is what life looks like when your big sister has filtered everything through Disney Princesses.

This morning I made sure to play Transformers with the guy.

Welcome!

Welcome to all things Anna and Howie! Please enjoy this new blog to keep informed on the two littlest Lewises (and sometimes their 'rents!).