1.  The enormous possibility in a first grader’s unopened, fresh pack of crayons.

2.  An entire school hallways teeming with nervous, excited, giddy first graders going into their brand-new classrooms for the first time.

3.  Crisp, smiling teachers ready to greet them warmly upon their arrival at orientation, even though they probably feel like they have a million things to before school starts.

Beautiful.

YourTurn:  If you could have an Easter Basket made for you by anyone living, dead, or fictional… who would it be?

Answer in the comment section, or better yet answer in your own blog and just tell us to come visit you.

Tonight, after I put Eli’s pj’s on him, I wanted to put on my own.  So I asked Eva to read him a story while I went to change.  He’s been really fond of Good Night, Gorilla lately so I gave her that one.  While I was in the other room, I heard her reading it to him very sweetly and energetically.  Then it was Eli’s turn to “read” the story to Eva.

Soon, Eva poked her head into our bedroom. She cupped her hands around her mouth and said very quietly, “He can’t read.”

At least she didn’t shatter his illusions!

Thanks for being sweet, you two.  It was a good Friday.

Want to be down with the latest preschool style? Eli is so cool that he’s even invented his own slang. Now you, too, can be cool like him!

fresh adj. 1. satisfied. 2. full 3. satiated

Used in context:

DAD: Eli, do you want more cereal?

ELI: No. I’m fresh.

or

GRANDMA: Was that a good supper, Eli?

ELI: Yeah! I’m fresh!

EVA: I love you, Daddy.

I love you more than anything in the whole world.

Except Barbies.

Hello, everyone!

You may have noticed a bit of a decline in the amount of new posts around here. Sorry about that!

I just wanted to “officially” say that this blog is going to take a little break.  I hope that you’re a subscriber so that you can pick right up with me when I resume posting here.

Nothing’s the matter, it’s just that this is a peak “busy-ness” time for me and something had to give.

So that’s why you haven’t seen anything much here lately.

In the meantime, you can keep watching for new pingbacks on the St. Francis Project.  Folks are writing some great stuff about that.

I hope things are going well for all of you and I look forward to resuming blogging here soon.

There has been some great writing for the St. Francis Project so far, and I want to make sure you haven’t missed it!  I’m going to list some of the writers here and I really encourage you to visit them and leave a comment.  I’m sure you will be impressed with the quality of what you find.

Where There Is Hatred Let Me Sow Love

The Power of Forgiveness

The Saint Francis Project and a Greater Sulfur Crested Cockatoo

The St. Francis Project

A Prayer for Peace 

Wendy’s Wanderings

and even a Week Two post (way to go, Jean!):

Finding and Bringing Joy

(If you posted, let me know. This is all I can find in pingbacks and Technorati. Also, if you’re participating, considering sharing some of this link love with your fellow participants.)

It’s not to late to get involved in the project.  In fact, I haven’t even written my first post yet!  We’re officially in Week Two of the project, and here is the breakdown:

Week Two: February 10-16
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


Week Three: February 17-23
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

Week Four: February 24-March 1
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

What toy would you never give away?

Ummm…my monkey. George.

What do you take to bed at night?

My animals.

What’s your favorite game?

Playing Bob the Builder.

What’s your favorite restaurant?

Um, Chinese.

What would you buy first if you had a million dollars?

Elmo.

Who’s the smartest person in our family?

Ummmm. Eva.

What makes you mad?

Eva.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

(makes plane noises)

(as interviewed by my wife, Brooke)

How tall is Daddy?

Um, big.

What is one thing Mommy is always saying to you?

“Play Power Rangers.”

 How do you know Mommy and Daddy love you?

Kiss.

 What’s your favorite TV show?

Spiderman. (Although at first he said, “Hannah Montana.” I said “Really?” And then he said, “I’m just kiddin’ mommy.”)

What do you like best about your pet?

She can talk. (“Maisy can talk?” “Yeah.”) And she loves me.

What vegetables do you like best?

Chips.

What’s your favorite book?

Um, George of the Jungle watch out for that tree.

What is your favorite candy bar?

Um, chocolate.

What would you like on your next birthday cake?

Spiderman!

What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?

Watch Finding Nemo.

(as interviewed by my wife, Brooke)

If you could have one super power what would it be?

Ummmm….a transformer.

What chore did you do last?

Ummmmm….I played with my costumes.

What is your favorite song?

Ummmmmmmmm….Jingle Bells.

How do you get to school?

Ummm…on Monday.

What is Daddy really good at?

Stories.

 What can you do better than Daddy?

Play.

What’s the nicest thing you’ve done lately for someone in our family?

Drawing.

How are you like Mommy?

We feel bad cause we can’t fly.

How are you different from Mommy?

You wash your hands.

 How old is Mommy?

America Junior!