Reading

Listening to Raleigh read is one of the sweetest things I've ever heard. Its amazing how far he's come from the beginning of K - to the end of first grade. Ral picks - and reads- many books I think are too hard for him. If they interest him, he can read it.
On the way to school yesterday Ral was reading a Star Wars book from the CC libraray he had to return. I told him that this summer we would go to the Public Library to get books. I then gave him a little pep talk on how much I like to read, Daddy likes to read....our whole family loves to read!"

Ral looks over his glasses at me and says, "I don't love to read. I just want to impress my teachers."

LOL...he had me fooled!

Roach

Last night was the 3-5 science night at Cove Creek school. They had Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches there. I told the boys about them when I got home and of course Ral was thrilled and wanted to hold them too....Will, not so much.
I just showed the some pictures of them online. Will had a bunch of questions like, "Do they move? Can we kill it? Does it have Madagascar and all the characters on it?"

Today's talk...

There was a van from the early 80's/late 70's in front of us today. Ral had no clue what it was, so I told him it was an old van. "Is it a back in the day van, Mom?"
LOL...Yeah, I guess so Ral.

Will just told me, "Mom, Im going outside with Dad and Brother and Woody. Don't be concerned, ok? I'm not going to get damage to my blood..and bones...and myself."

Mother's Day Tea

Will's words

Will was forcing the new dog to drink and eat. He showed me and asked, "Is that funny?"
I told him that funny was not the word I was looking for.
He looks up and says, "What word were you looking for? Was it clandestine...? Or plethora?"

LOL...yes, we are teaching Will new words each day. He understands about as much as Ral does at times :)

Pictures!

This is what happens when a 4 year old and 6 year old get your camera...

Welcome Woody!

Environmentalist

Ral continues to be my little environmentalist. Earth Day was a big deal to him. He wanted to write a letter to President Obama b/c he wanted to know if he cares about the earth or not. He composed the letter orally, "Dear President Obama, Do you care about the earth? Because I care about the earth. I've never heard you give a speech about saving the earth. I've heard you speak on lots of other things. If you like the earth check yes and if you don't, check no.I hope you love the earth because I do."

I've had to limit Ral's viewing of the oil spill in the Gulf Coast. He told his brother "Mexicans were working on the oil in the ocean and it fell. Now its pouring out and its going to be a disaster!"
I guess the "gist" of the story is there...right?
If he fully knew what was going on and the implications, he'd be a worried mess and think of a whole bunch of other people for us to write!

Conversations with Will

Will has become quite the talker lately. He loves to tell random information....over and over and over.
Some of our recent conversations...
"Mom, do my shoulders come alive at night?"
"Why is the sun getting big? Why is th sun in the sky? Why is the sun following us? Why is the sun behind the clouds? Why is the sun shining? Why is the sun following everyone?"
"When I grow up, I want to be a cheese maker! Is that a good thing? Not a bad thing? Its something I can be? When I'm older?"
"Mom, what lives in the ceiling? What lives in the wood? What lives in the dishwasher? What lives in the fan? What lives in the door? What lives in the phone?"

Language

Ral has a great vocabulary. Always has. Last night I took this for granted. We were at a football dinner with Mike and they gave out tickets for a drawing after the meal. The boys were anxious and after the good meal of steak for us and ham for Will (he kept telling me it was delicous pig!), we left to go get haircuts. The boys were asking about the tickets and I told them that Dad would stay for the drawing.
On the way home Ral kept asking me about Dad doing a "painting thing" and asking me if Dad would paint for us. I had NO clue what he was talking about and tried to get him to explain.
Then I realized that he was talking about the "drawing" happening later in the evening. I explained to him that this type of drawing was when they put all the tickets in a bowl and picked a ticket to be the winner.
Ral then decided that he wants me to get him a bowl of fruit, some paint, and "one of those things that painters use" so he can do some art.
I guess this is a concept we'll have to work on!

P.S. We did not win the drawing!