It never ceases to amaze me: how creative the twins can get in their play when I tell them they don't get to watch a video or play on the computer until they clean their rooms. Really.

We read the Palm Sunday story this morning at breakfast including the part where Jesus cleans out the temple. Wil had a lot of ideas and questions. He wanted to know just how many people had to stop praising Jesus to get the rocks to cry out. And he thought maybe Jesus let the animals out of the temple because they were "God's children that Noah saved on the ark." But the one that tickled me was when he said, "Now the churches pass a bowl." It took me a moment to realize he was talking about collecting offerings. He was satisfied with our explanation of the difference between the people selling animals for sacrifices in the temple and offerings given to God for a church's work, and he added his own point that churches give money to help poor people.

Wil noticed today's date was 4-5-6. We love number patterns at our house. I'm so proud.

Re: April Fools Day Edition

I did not know until this morning that April Fools Day could also be called National Holiday for First Graders. Bethy started working on her project last night (rocks on our dining room chairs). Unrelatedly, Wil woke up before 6 and would not go back to sleep. So he and I got up at 630. Then Bethy got up. I think she was too excited to sleep any more. So Christine had to get up to get 'fooled', she who stayed up late scrapbooking.

I did put one of my favorite April Fools on Wil before I got up: Did you know it snowed last night? He wasn't aware it was April Fools Day yet. Ha! Gotcha!

But the joke's on them: there will be mandatory naps this afternoon.

Here's a quick survey of Bethy’s favorite words:

Actually…
No.
What?
What did you say?
Apparently…
definitely

Bethy and Wil have been working on leprechaun traps for school. We were surprised today to learn that Wil's made The State newspaper today! Here's the link to the story:

THEY ‘LOVE RAINBOWS AND GOLD’
Tricky traps for leprechauns
Leaphart students need a little Irish luck to snare the elusive creatures

Here's the pic of Wil's trap (with caption):

Will [sic] Meade’s creation is engineered to catch a leprechaun when he goes for the coin on the yellow paddle. The paddle turns, and the leprechaun falls into the box.

We're proud of Wil and happy for him. Bethy gets recognized a lot at school, so this is fun for Wil. Plus, this kind of creativity is something he cares about, so it's good reinforcement.

The twins and I were talking at lunch about the Bible being the best-selling book of all time. They wanted to know what was the best-selling children's book. Their vote was for Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit because they've been learning about her at school. According to a Publisher's Weekly article in 2001, (that was the most recent list I could find,) The Poky Little Puppy was the best-selling children's book in hardcover and Peter Rabbit was indeed second. Smart kids. Charlotte's Web was the best-seller among children's paperbacks. All four of the Harry Potter books published at that time were in the top 20 on the hardcover list. I wonder where they are now.

As I've written before, we've got the old-school, free version of Hero Machine on our computer. So far, Wil, Elizabeth, and their friends on occasion, have created about 35 different super heroes. Unprompted by me, Wil came up with this Hawkeye uniform on Sunday.

(The black and gold looked much better/truer in Hero Machine. Maybe it was the Paint.net translation to PNG. Go figure.)

Yes, it is nice to be brilliant

I have never liked that oh-so-popular 'If you give a pig a pancake' book. Then it came home as Wil's reading assignment for this week. I'm supposed to listen to it every night? Couldn't face it.

So last night I hit on an ingenious scheme: I bribed them.

We have this thing Christine started called 'The Goblet of Choice' (she got it from some magazine or website or something). You can earn points throughout the week for good behavior. You can also lose points. The Goblet of Choice is awarded (sometimes) on thursday night. The winner gets to pick friday night dinner, dessert, and family activity.

So I asked them after supper last night (and Christine at work), if they'd like to earn a point each. They said yes. 'Wil can earn a point by reading to Bethy while I take a shower and Bethy can earn a point by listening and helping Wil.' They said they'd do it, no problem.

As far as I know, they did. I do know they each marked down another point.

Now that the weather is so nice, we're trying to walk home from school 2-3 times a week. Yesterday Wil was noticeably tired. He walked right into me without seeming to notice. I asked if he was okay. He explained, "My brain was napping." Later at home when I misspoke he asked, "Momma, is your brain napping?"

[double audio files cross-posted from 'interact']

I was going out to the kitchen to record Wil singing the next selection when I caught him singing this one. Decided to capture it with audioblogger and my cell phone instead of Audacity on the desk top. I will, of course, cross post it to 'twinlog'. He's such a sweet boy!

In Bethy news, she said she wanted something about love next, but she wanted Wil and me to sing it...

This is the one Wil sang in the big bed this morning before we all got up.

(The messed-up schedule last 'night', in case you're interested:

• Everyone, including Momma and Daddy who are lying down with the twins, falls asleep by 9pm.
• Momma wakes up ca. 2:30am. Does laundry and dishes while listening to 'Pride and Prejudice'.
• Momma goes to sleep in her own bed ca. 4:30am. Wakes up Daddy, who gets up and works for awhile.
• Wil wakes up ca. 6am, goes to the big bed.
• Daddy returns to the big bed ca. 6:30am to snuggle with Momma and Wil
• Wil sings 'Erie Canal'
• Bethy comes to the big bed ca. 6:35am
• Everyone up by 6:45am
• Daddy, Elizabeth and Wil leave for school and work before 7:30am.

Crazy, but it's been a great day so far.)

Wil's watch

I was eating at Burger King last month and picked up one of those Star Wars watches for Wil. We held it for him until Valentine's Day. He liked it pretty well. The first day or so he was so cute, giving updates on the time as often as every minute, especially when we were laying down reading before bed. It's too big for his little arm, and fairly uncomfortable, so I think he noticed it a lot. 'Daddy, it's 7:53.' 'Daddy, it's 7:54'. He's a sweet boy.

[cross-posted to 'interact' and 'twinlog']

A follow up from Feb. 16 - Elizabeth told me recently that she sometimes finds quiet time for thinking during Independent Reading. I was surprised at how much thought she'd given the matter, although I guess I shouldn't have been. She's reading Chapter books now. Her first is Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel. I'm really looking forward to reading with her this summer. Working at the library, it's been hard to resist bringing every ER (early reader) chapter book home that I think she'll be interested in. We're having a good time reading the American Girls books aloud, and we've discovered that the Groovy Girls dolls have their own series as well. Elizabeth is very into Groovy Girls these days and is already planning a Groovy Girls swimming party for her birthday in July. Fun!

Here's a little insight into Elizabeth's emerging personality: "Mommy, can I tell you something? I wish there was a time at school to be quiet so we can just think about things."

I told her that was a good thought and suggested that there might be more thinking time in 2nd grade. She thought about that a minute and countered with "There will probably be more quiet time, but it will be for more writing in my journal or math or more quizzes."

Wil has taken a new tack on why he doesn't need to go to school.

"Bethy, if I make a Super Beaver movie, will you write it for me?" She agreed.

Proud parent of rock stars

Listening to my flash player on the way home with the twins today. They were rocking out a little to 'One for the mockingbird', then asked me to play it again when it finished, rocking out even more. Then they rocked out some to 'Owner of a lonely heart'. I am understandably proud.

Bethy's allegiances

A couple weeks ago I explained the local high school's symbol to Bethy (you see it on cars a lot).

The Irmo Yellow Jackets . Stylized. Sorta' ugly. Hard to figure out for a first grader. Anyway, she asked.

Yesterday, on the way to church, she saw one of their logos and asked if they had a football team and if we liked them. I said yes they had a football team and they're probably our favorite high school team. I didn't point out that we've never cared enough to go see them play.

Well, Christine was frustrated by this (though, in the interest of full disclosure, she was already on the verge of crabby ;-). We both agree that Bethy has enough 'pert opinions' as it is. Christine wondered why I was contributing to that. We obviously don't see eye-to-eye on athletic partiality, but I didn't really say much.

Still, I thought about it some more. And after a little while, I told Bethy, 'You know, Iowa City West is probably actually our favorite favorite high school, and Irmo's second.'

Christine didn't say anything.

Go Trojans! ;-)

And I see in Iowa City news that the Northwest Junior High Knowledge Master Team:

> claimed its third-straight first-place finish in Iowa and a fourth-place finish out of 776 middle schools that competed

And my 7th grade Language Arts teacher, Rhonda Marshall is advising them. Go Vikings!

Footnote: I have to add West's stats because it's such an amazing school:

• West High teachers average 16 years of experience.
• More than 70 percent of West High faculty hold advanced degrees.
• West High annually leads Iowa in National Merit Scholars.
• Ninety percent of students completing AP exams earn college credit
• Jazz Band has won Iowa State Jazz Band Championship.
• Math Club has won Iowa State Math Championship.
• Iowa State Athletic Championships have been won by many athletic teams.
• West High annually achieves large numbers of All-State Musicians in Orchestra and Jazz Band.
• Graduation rate is over 98 percent.
• Average daily student attendance rate is over 96 percent.
• Overall 65 percent of seniors completed the ACT scoring at an average of over 24.0; Iowa state ACT average is 21.0.

It has begun, already

Lying in bed this morning, Wil said 'Daddy, why do I have to go to school today? I don't want to go. Why do I have to learn that stuff? I already decided in Kindergarten what I want to be.'

I couldn't believe it. 6 and a half is awfully early to be coining that argument. I tried to explain that I didn't really want to go to work, either, but that I had to, and that we learn things we're not sure we'll need because it's good for us and because sometimes our plans don't turn out the way we expect. But I don't think he really bought it.

Covered it some at the breakfast table. Christine was less gentle than me. She asked him if he already knew everything he needed to know about reading and writing and he said yes. She said 'Maybe to be a garbage man.' It sounds harsher in print than it was. Wil wasn't really paying attention anyway. I think he was looking at the comic on the back of the HoneyNut Cheerios box.

Recent twin stories

+ I was washing Wil's face thursday night when I stopped and said 'Wil, does Mrs J. ever stop class to tell you how handsome you are?' and he said 'No.' I said 'I wonder why.' and he thought about it for a moment and said 'Maybe she has too many kids to teach to concentrate on my handsomeness.'

+ We took the twins to 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' yesterday. Their pick and it was a really good movie. We all enjoyed it (though it took Wil to the edge of his scared and sad emotions a couple of times). I'd also played some GameCube with them. I'm telling you that to explain the lack of perspective when, around 4, Bethy asked me to play baseball with them. I said 'I'm sorry, honey, but I have to work.' She said, very matter-of-factly 'Daddy, I don't like your new job. It affects me a lot.' I said 'Do you like having more money?' and she said 'I don't get to spend any of it.' Sheesh.

Wil's hit points

Wil and I have been playing some Battle for Wesnoth (as I mentioned before). Wednesday he asked me from the other room what 6+9 was. I told him and didn't think much about it. Then I heard him saying he had 15 hit points. I wondered where he came up with that number. He had put on his soccer shirt, which was #6, and added 9 (6 upside down, naturally). Fun...