How to Get a Girlfriend

M brought a book home with said title for her reading today.  How kindergarten reading material has improved since Dick and Jane!  The book is actually written and illustrated by 3 elementary school boys, so it is a real hoot.  It's full of all kinds of useful advice such as reminding boys of the need to brush their teeth, shower, and go to the potty before playing with the girl.  And resisting picking one's nose during wooing.  C grabbed the book immediately and read it to us--by far the most enthusiastic he has been about reading anything...ever.    He took the above suggestions in stride but was offended by the recommendation to "do a writing workshop so you can write her a letter of love."  It was unclear whether the offensive part was taking a writing workshop or writing a love letter.  But then came the page with the drawing of a boy and girl...kissing!  C denounced such a scene immediately and loudly in his 4th grade for-public-consumption outrage, declaring the idea to be DISGUSTING.  It was so bad, in fact, and it was so critical that we heard it, that it was worth repeating (loudly) three more time.  And then the clincher, C proclaims:  "I have a girlfriend too, but she hates me."  I'll have to check with T on how you would rate that relationship status on Facebook--probably "it's complicated."  Well, all of this is going to be DISGUSTING for a few more years and then it will remain complicated for a good while longer.  So in the meantime, I'll abide in the good advice of those precocious kids and continue to brush my teeth, shower, and go to the potty just to impress T.

Frozen on Ice

That would be the ice skating version of the movie Frozen for those who look askance a repetitive titles.  Disney on Ice has developed yet another way to cash in on the Frozen phenomenon--complete with $15 snow cones!  (In commemorative cups, of course.)  T got tickets for us to go in Greensboro.  We all had a great time.  E danced along most of the show.  M stood and watched (except when the snow cone was more compelling) the whole show.  And there is something endearing about thousands of kids (and a few parents too) singing "Let It Go" at the top of their lungs to accompany the choreography.  The next day M asked 4 times if we could see it again.  When I offered to let her watch the movie instead, she replied, "I don't like the movie anymore, I only like the ice skating." 

And speaking of Frozen, we enjoyed Thanksgiving in PA with snow!  The kids got to go sledding on Wed and Fri; C and Opa made snowmen.  Opa's was oddly tilted.  His friends would probably say it was tilting to the left, I think it had osteoperosis.  At one point, Oma noted that Opa probably hadn't washed his hands because "he thinks he's allergic to water."  M responded skeptically, "Mommy's allergic to everything and even she's not allergic to water."  Can't slip one past her!
 
There have been several recent discussions at the dinner table of several fourth graders and one kindergartner who are Santa skeptics.  At one of the discussions, C called for a vote and delivered a unanimous pro-Santa landslide.  C and M agreed that their skeptical classmates were at great risk of not getting Xmas presents.  Definitely not a risk worth taking.  And I've heard it's even worse--if you don't believe in Santa, you have to buy presents for everyone else.  Bummer!

We put the Xmas tree up on Thursday evening.  C wanted to do it every night of the week but then didn't want to help on Thurs.  Of course, once we finally got him to put up of some of "his" ornaments, he had a good time.  M and E had a blast hanging ornaments.  E had earlier helped me put up the stockings and window ornaments.  She's been asking me to pick her up so she can see the ornaments higher on the tree.  And gives me instructions on when and where I should move so she can see the next section of the tree.  She tells me whose ornament each one is and if she doesn't like where it is, who put it in the offending spot.  So beware of our crew at Xmas--not only is Santa watching you, but so his little enforcer.