Perhaps you wouldn't guess it, but Elizabeth is incredibly savvy when it comes to playing games, especially board games. I picked up a copy of Careers on clearance at Target this week. It's marked ages 8+, so I thought we'd play a modified version by just playing for the money instead of trying to earn all the necessary hearts and stars to fulfill the "Success Formula." Silly momma. Elizabeth quickly realized that the fastest way to make money in this game is to get your salary up and then go around the board, skipping the career paths, as quickly as possible. When we quit today she had $689,000 and I had a measly $245,000. We're scheduled for a rematch tomorrow, only this time we're going to play by the rules to give me a fair chance.

Recently a couple of people have commented on what a good helper Elizabeth is, and the music teacher stopped me after school yesterday to tell me how nice the twins are. Wil's teacher wrote on his progress report, "Wil is a great student! He has lovely manners and a good work ethic! He is a talented artist." I read it to him twice. It's nice for us all to have affirmation from outside sources once in a while.

The twins will not admit to saying this, but here is the conversation as I heard it:

Wil: Elizabeth, will you please play with me?
Elizabeth: No, I want to play by myself.
Wil: Pleeease.
Elizabeth: No, Wil!
Wil: I'll be your best friend.
Elizabeth (exasperated): You already are my best friend!

Lunch on Friday was fun. We invited Elizabeth's friend Rachel to sit with us because Elizabeth "promised." She also promised Brooke that she could sit with us next time. She has entered the age of making promises to her girlfriends. The sweetest part to me is how seriously she takes her promises. After school Rachel and her twin William stop by to play. Total chaos, but fun. Elizabeth further solidified their budding friendship by giving Rachel one of a pair of necklaces that say "Best" and "Friend." I was proud of her act of generosity.

Elizabeth loved showing me around her classroom. Notable moments included puzzling out why there is a picture of a fox with the letter X, and explaining to me about fiction, non-fiction and poetry books.

It took Wil a little longer to get into the spirit of showing me around his classroom, but then he had a dozen things to say. He also had a funny story about morning greeting. He was paired with Will White. "Hello, Will. Hello, Wil," seemed pretty silly to them. At lunch they were still smiling about it whenever they caught each other's eye.

After School

Me: Wil, what was your favorite part of school today?
Wil: The part where we got to go home.

No one wanted to go to school today. Wil said, "I wish we could all stay home together." But they did pretty well getting ready, and Elizabeth was consoled by my promise to join them for lunch tomorrow. We'll try to finish eating ahead of her class so she can show me around her classroom while it's empty. We like that.

Me: Wil, what was your favorite thing about school today?
Wil: Math.
Me (surprised): Did you say Math?
Wil: Yeah, we did 1 and 2.
Me: You mean you wrote the numbers 1 and 2? Did you add them or anything?
Wil: We practiced writing them, and we drew pictures of one thing and then two things....

Aha, now I understand. Drawing is the key to Wil's heart or at least the way to capture his interest.

First Grade - Day 3

Elizabeth favorite thing: designing and coloring a balloon which she called "Prisas Colorfur" or Princess Colorful.

Wil's favorite: Music class and writing in his journal.

It's only the second day, but Elizabeth is already frustrated about First Grade being boring. "We don't do anything new," she complained. After school, unprompted by me, she pulled out her Usborne Learning Palette and Math problems because, as she explained, they hadn't done any Math yet at school.

First Grade - Day 2

Wil: Why do we have to go to school again? When is this going to end?

First Grade

To Elizabeth,
  You were so bright and confident this morning on your first day of First Grade.  Despite lack of sleep, maybe from excitement or nerves, you hopped out of bed this morning when I began our "Good Morning, Princess" song.  It was a day for hopping, as you wiggled into your new school uniform.  You know you look adorable in it.  You jumped out of the car at the entrance to Leaphart, all ready to go.  I smiled as I watched you chat with the aide that was helping us unload.  Yes, you can carry that heavy bag of school supplies.  Yes, you know where to go.  You didn't even turn around to say 'good-bye' as you headed inside.  Back at one of your favorite places.  Back where you belong.


To Wil,
  I was so proud of you this morning on your first day of First Grade.  You woke up cheerfully - you knew today was a special day.  You got ready for school with little complaining and we were all ready early.  At school, you kissed me good-bye as we said "I love you."  I will always remember your pinched little face as I drove away.  You were trying so hard not to cry.  I shed a few tears myself.  You are so full of hopes and dreams.  And I am full of hopes and dreams for you.

Mission Organization

Mission Organization

Elizabeth to Wil: I've figured out something. Momma is more interested
in the organization part than the decorating.

--

Last night

Wil: Daddy, do you think Secret Agent Barbie is cool?

Me: (thinking fast) Well, I think the 'secret agent' part is cool, but I'm not so crazy about the 'Barbie' part. [Pause to bask in the glow (and relief) of my great answer.] Do you think Secret Agent Barbie is cool?

Wil: Well, I think the 'secret agent' part is cool, but I think the 'Barbie' part is eek!

This morning at 5:45

Wil: Daddy, why can't I go to that Brownie meeting?

This came out of a dead sleep, such that I wasn't even sure he was awake. But he was, and this was the first thing he thought of, poor boy. I have to take Bethy to an organizational Brownie meeting tomorrow morning and he doesn't want to stay home.

I was singing 'Keane' in the car one day and Elizabeth said 'Daddy, where is someplace only we know?' I thought that was pretty cute. Wil said 'I know: Gramma Sue's house.' Last night they said 'Tulsa Oklahoma'.

Today we finally had a summer day like the one I dreamed about before school ended. We did a few housekeeping chores after breakfast, ran errands, ate lunch and then played in the pool until almost 3 pm. Now the twins are going to play while I get a few more things done. Then it will be time for Sean to come home and supper. Maybe we'll get back in the pool after that!

More multimedia twin goodness:

OK, OurMedia didn't work more times than it did. So I'll use YouSendIt and you can get the file for up to a week. After that, if you come around here and want to hear it, email me.

Wil doing Edna Mode from The Incredibles

Bethy doing Edna Mode

Time to warmup this Blogger Images rig!

Ever since I showed the twins (and especially Wil) the UGO HeroMachine there's a constant queue to create more heroes. Here are the ones we've done in the last 2 days (Some of these are copyrighted by Marvel. Hope I don't get cease and desist-ed):






Now this next one is a Wil special. He's mostly designed based on Disney Tarzan.


In Wil's milieu there is also Naked Man, Naked Baby, Naked Woman, Naked Girl, and Naked Dog.

Thanks to the twin miracles of Audacity and Ourmedia, I have some new sound files of the twins to post for you:

Wil singing 'O Leaphart' (their school song)
Elizabeth singing 'ZYX'
Wil singing 'Take me out to the ballgame'

More to come...

Elizabeth's Valentine to God

The first part is fill-in-the blank, but then she wrote the rest.

I love God more than anything!

Dear God,
I love you God!
I can't wate to see you!
I sik dat it will be gate. (I think that it will be great.)
Love, Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a list maker. I found these two lists after she and Wil were playing shopping. Taking care of Wil's dog Freckles was a major priority. Here are the things they needed:

Gosrey lits (Grocery list)
1. peycoo (pizza, originally spelled peesoo but then she erased it)
2. kani kugry (Kanine Krunchies)
3. doGy biGis (doggy biscuits)
4. vegtabro (vegetables)
5. fots (fruits)

TRGit (Target)
1. magi (matches)
2. soov (stove)
3. dusp panre (dust pan)
4. fmondinre (thermometer)
5. medsi fwh (medicine for Freckles)

When asked, the twins disagreed about whether fwh spelled Freckles or his initials: Freckles Rescue Hero. Regardless, I think Elizabeth's spelling is brilliant. She has also begun to enjoy word searches and filling in the squares on Sean's crossword puzzles.