PBS Kids Writers Contest

We finally did it!!! We sent it in!!! In January I came across this contest. I was excited to have the kids do it. So, instead of History and Science (which they get some on Fridays at their enrichment classes) in the afternoons I have been working with them on writing their stories. So, they are due this week, we went and sent them PRIORITY MAIL to PBS KIDS WRITERS CONTEST. The kids are so excited. There are prizes for the top three in each grade level. I have encouraged them, but also let them know there are a lot of entries! It was just a fun, although sometimes challenging project to work on. I think a lot was learned in writing and illustrating. I think that next year we will have to work more on the illustration part. One step at a time. I was quite impressed with their creativity. I am posting them on here, because we won't get the originals back. So in case I loose the written copies I have it on here for later reading. Here are the stories they submitted to the contest (I can post them because they are all sent in by now):

The Gorilla who played the Guitar by John

Once upon a time in a jungle there was a gorilla who like to play guitar and everyone loved to listen to him and everyone was happy. Mr. Tiger thought he was annoying, but the gorilla didn't think so.

One night while Mr. Tiger was sleeping he had an idea. He would go to Mr. Gorilla's house and steal his guitar. So, that night while everyone was sleeping Mr. Tiger got up and tiptoed to Mr. Gorilla's house very quietly.

The next morning the gorilla woke up and noticed that his guitar was missing and he was very sad. So, when everyone came to listen to him that day they just went back home and decided to never hear him again.

But, the gorilla said, "I can explain, my guitar is missing, but I bet we could find it if everyone works together." So they searched and searched for one week, then two weeks, and then three weeks. Finally they found it! And everyone was happy again. Except for Mr. Tiger.

Aliens by Emily

There was a princess, Lily, who was in the castle when something crashed into it. It hit the king's throne. An alien came out of the spaceship. King D said, "Eek!" Princess Lily came running. She said, "Eek, eek, eek!" The soliders almost wet their pants because they were scared.

The Queen was too busy cleaning the castle to hear the eeks! The princess ran to the Queen and said, "Have you heard the eeks? Something has crashed into the kings throne. The aliens started breaking everything in the castle. The princess was so angry she almost exploded.

They did not know how to communicate with aliens. So they just had to learn. Once the aliens were there for a week they realized that the alien was trying to tell them something. They realized that the alien wanted to be their friends. Once they knew that they started breaking things to communicate to him they wanted to be friends. So they became friends with the alien.

Mermaids by Kiley

Five girls were swimming and they saw eleven mermaids. The almost called for their moms, but they didn't because they wanted to play with the mermaids. The five girls played with the mermaids and they got too far out in the ocean. So the eleven mermaids had to hold the girls hands because it was too deep for them. And fish were swimming with them. then they saw six sharks that were the mermaids friends.

The six sharks asked the mermaids what were they holding. Then the eleven mermaids replied, "We are holding kids." The sharks said, "Well, can we be friends with the kids too?" The eleven mermaids said,"Of course, the kids would love to be with more friends." Then the five kids called for their moms to come to play, but since it was so deep in the water the moms could not hear them calling. The moms were yelling for the kids because they didn't know where the kids were. So, then the five kids asked the eleven mermaids to swim back to their moms. Then, when they go to the shore, they asked their moms if they wanted to get ice cream with the mermaids. The moms said no because they were fishing and they were glad to see their kids. The dads came to fish with the moms and the kids said good-bye to the eleven mermaids. The kdis said, "Would you like to have a playdate someday?" The eleven mermaids said, "Yes"!

Added 4/8/10: We were reading the stories the kids wrote and they were excited that they got to have the stories on the blog. Karli had written a story, but I only put the ones that I sent on here because I don't have those copies anymore. I had put hers in her box. She wanted me to add it on here, so here is her story:

Karli by Karli

Karli, the elephant was walking like a chicken. It saw another elephant named Karlockey. Karlockey said, "You need to get vitamins, I have vitamins at home. You need...and I am going to the circus today at 8:28 and I am going to be in the tractor at the circus."

Karli the elephant and the other elephant went to the grass to eat grass in the brown dirt. Karlockey's brother came and asked where she was. "I don't know," said Karli. Karli was looking for some blue and green grass. She was in the garden. She found some at the Piggy Banks house. (In here picture she had lots of smiley faces and wanted me to comment that the smiley faces were ghosts.) The End.

Here comes the bride...

I totally did not just teach them...Here comes the bride, all fat and wide....here comes the groom as skinny as a broom....here comes the usher the great toilet flusher....

I swear I didn't....really!

Sometimes, you just get a song in your head and you can't shake it...

Then you are singing it and it just kinda comes out...

But, I totally did not do that with this song, I swear I didn't!

Google Calendar

Have you ever used one of these? This is amazing! A friend of mine had told me about it and it took me a while to actually try it, but it is wonderful. So many times Jason would want to schedule something and need to call me and check and see if we were busy. I would want to schedule something, but wonder if he had something for work. This combines all of our calendars and color codes them. We also have one for our church and have that as a different color. I add people's birthdays and can have them repeated (automatically) each year. I will be much better about birthdays (at least I won't have an excuse!). Last week I sat down and put my cleaning schedule, breaking it up into a little bit each day, and it repeats each month...forever. Each day I check my task and make sure it is done. I love it. Anyway, it has been so helpful, I thought I would encourage you to check it out and help yourself. I thought my friend was over enthusiastic about it...she wasn't...and I'm not either! Check it out! Here is my cleaning schedule on google calendar:

God's angels..on overtime

These past couple of days, God's angels have been working overtime with my children. I praise God for protection and that he kept them from harm.

A Secret Clubhouse. That is what they thought. What could possibly be under that metal thing. Under the porch. With cement blocks on it.

While I was making lunch Wednesday I sent the kids in the backyard to enjoy the nice weather and to get some spring energy out before we continued on with our school work. John came in to get a flash light. Suspious. I wondered what they were doing. Kiley came in stating that she was going to wash her hands because the "Secret Clubhouse" was so dirt. My curiousity peaked. The story came out.

"We found a sewer opening under the porch mom!" John continued, "Don't worry, we put the cover back on."

Trying not to over react I calmly (all the while freaking out inside) asked to see the "Secret Clubhouse") Under the porch I found my other two daughters trying to put the cement blocks back on the sewer cover.

I told them never to open it again. They continued to tell me that they had a hard time keeping the dog from jumping in the sewer. Forget that, what about them falling in? The lid slamming on one of their heads....we had a nice discussion. I think they understand not to open a sewer grate again.

God sent His Angels to watch over them...and I am thankful!

Yesterday. Busy interestion. Too many cars. Crossing the street with four kids. Angels totally covered my three girls on two different occasions. Lesson learned. Just because one side of traffic lets you cross...doesn't mean that other side is going to stop. Enough said. I screamed as Emily darted out before I could tell the to check the other way. Thankfully, the car was a couple seconds too late. Oh may, picturing it again. Angels watching over us. Other time, Kiley and Karli learned that you can't just assume (although I have mentioned I don't know how many times) that not everyone actually stops at the stop signs. Didn't listen. Darted. In front of a the van. Close call. Everyone was ok. Thank you Lord for watching over us and guarding us with your protection. Lessons learned. A prayer of thanksgiving given us when we reached the car! I am thankful for another day.

I wouldn't trade it for the world

Tuesday. Yep. Tuesdays. They are long. I love them.

I am grateful enough to attend a Community Bible Study. The best part is they have a program that has a bible study along with mine for the kids. I love it. I am able to go and be feed, as well as my children learning how to study God's word. And we learn along with each other. I wouldn't change it for the world...

Tuesdays.

After the wonderful morning we are taken along to piano. Yep. Piano. There are three of my kids that are taking, so with a half hour each we are there for an hour and a half waiting for everyone to be done. I use to try and get school work done during this time. Something that might not have gotten done the previous day or week. Then I stopped. I stopped to enjoy. Them. Yep. Them. My kids. When else do you have an hour and a half to do nothing. No cleaning. No bills. No nothing. Just enjoy them. Today we spent the hour and a half playing tickle monster. We laughed for an hour and a half. I wouldn't change it for the world...

Tuesdays.

Grocery shopping. Four kids. After a long day. Bonding. Learning. Helping. Conversing. Serving each other.

I wouldn't change it for the world.

Tuesdays. I am ready for bed when it is all over. But, with a smile on my face. And I wouldn't change that for anything, even the world.

Kids on T.V.

This morning my family woke up at 4:45 a.m. and headed to Legoland Discovery Center. The kids were so excited for a chance to be on T.V. AND free passes to go back for the whole family! Here is a clip of John during a teaching class building the "Sear" Tower (we all know it is the Willis, but they seemed to not be able to change the name.) Anyway, he is the cute boy in the blue sweater. And my husband Jason is right behind the Lego character (the one with glasses). There is a clip of the girls and I on the actual news, but I haven't been able to get a copy on here year. Check back later.