Thomas

I met with Thomas' teacher this week and we both chuckled when she brought up a reading comprehension test the Thomas recently took. It was a multiple choice test where he was to fill in the bubble next to the correct answer. He got all 20 questions correct, but apparently Thomas didn't read the directions because this is what his test looked like. The letters A-D were the bubbles. Thomas' notes are in RED...

According to the selection, what was the reason the Pilgrims did NOT have regular meals when they first came to America?

A. There was not enough food. -No way

B. They had a lot of work to do. -Yes

C. They were too cold to sit and eat. - Only in winter

D. Tables had not been invented yet. -Silly-but true

What is the MAIN idea in the paragraphs 11 and 12?

A. Buffalo horns made the best spoons. - uhh-NO!

B. Spoons were first made from clamshells.- funny-but true.

C. Pewter and silver spoons were very valuable. - Nuh-uh!

D. Spoons were made from many different materials. -YES!

Which of the following sentences BEST describes the main idea of paragraph 20?

A. Scratching fleas was common. - no

B. It was rude to have lice or fleas. -funny

C. Scratching at the table was bad manners. -Yes!

D. It was impolite to share food if you had fleas. -very funny

According to the selection, which of the following was MOST necessary for eating in colonial days?

A. a fork- the opposite!

B. a chair- NO!

C. a barrel- I don't think so!

D. a spoon- Yes

Based on the selection, how did Pilgrims put salt on their food?

A. with a knife- YES!

B. with a salt shaker- Laugh!

C. by dipping food into the salt- the opposite

D. by dipping their fingers into the salt- NNOO!

In the selection, if a Pilgrim family had only one chair, who would sit in it at mealtime?

A. the father- Yes

B. the mother- No

C. the oldest son- Maybe so! -(no)

D. the youngest child- No-way!

Thomas' Second Pinewood Derby

This week, Wayne has spent his spare time helping Thomas' pinewood derby car design come to life. Thomas sketched a slick, simple design; no tail fin like last year. He and Wayne got to work sawing, and shaping the car, painting it a slick red with a royal blue "T" on the hood, adding some weight, adding the wheels, and aligning it just right. It looked like a winner and both Thomas and Wayne were pleased with the way it turned out. Wayne could give a lot more detail, and maybe he will, but for me it was nice seeing them create Thomas' car together, and that process and cooperation is actually my favorite part.

It's amazing what a big deal this race is for the kids. It's really the highlight of the year for the Cubs & today's race was really fun for all of the Cubs. Thomas' car ended up taking 1st place at the Pinewood Derby. Next up: Regionals!

Caroline and Wesley

Last night I was tucking Grace and Caroline in bed and we got on the subject of Jesus' resurrection.  This is how our conversation went...

Grace: Because Jesus was resurrected we all can be resurrected.

Caroline: I do not want to be...what's that word again?

Mom: Resurrected

Caroline: I do not want to be 'nesurrected.'

On Easter Sunday Caroline and I watched "Testaments," a beautiful movie of Christ, his life, death, resurrection, and visit to the Americas.  I had a clue what was bothering Caroline, but I asked...

Mom: Why don't you want to be resurrected?

Caroline: I don't want to get bleeded all over.

Mom: Oh, Caroline, resurrection isn't how Jesus died, it's what happened to his spirit and body after he died.  We'll probably all live to be old, like 100.

Caroline: Or 67.

Mom: Even older, and we'll go to sleep one night and wake up in heaven.  We won't die on a cross like Jesus.  I promise.  When we die our body is buried and our spirit lives, and when we are resurrected we get our body back and never get ouchies again.

Caroline: Like your mommy?  She was...what's that word?

Mom:  Resurrected.  No, my mommy hasn't been resurrected yet.  She's like an angel watching over us and blessing us.

Caroline: I know.

~~~~~~~~~~

Wesley was flipping through his Red Sox book yesterday....

Joy in Service- Easter thoughts

Recently a friend from church who I'll call Mary, lost her best friend, her father. Feeling a desire to support her and show her we love her, we asked the children at church to make cards for Mary. They traced their handprints, drew pictures, and wrote simple uplifting words of kindness. I took Caroline, Grace, and Wesley with me to deliver the cards along with some spring tulips. As we drove to Mary's house, the girls talked about how they worked on their cards with their friends at church and recalled this woman's name and circumstance. When I brought a dish to Mary's father's memorial service, I asked Mary if she got the cards and flowers. She said she'll save them forever, and went on to recite some of the sweet messages from the children. She said it was so touching and meant so much to her. Isn't it wonderful that service doesn't have an age requirement? We're all on this earth together to help one another know the Lord's love. All one has to do is look into the eyes of a newborn to see that heaven is near.

As I think of service, I am so thankful for the countless examples of service in my and Wayne's heritage, in our present family, and among our friends and loved ones.  Our family has found joy and gratitude in giving and receiving such kindness.  When asked to share a time when someone has shown kindness to them, this is what our children shared.  Christina remembers when she started going to her new school that a girl befriended her. Thomas remembers when his friend Michael gave him 50 cents to get ice-cream at school.  Grace said that today her friend, Josh helped her clean out the candy in her jacket pocket.  Caroline said that her Sunbeam teacher, Sister B taught her about Jesus.  All of our children acknowledged in their own way the gift of Christ's atonement.

This Easter, as we celebrate the blessing of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, may we find ways to show our gratitude by forgetting ourselves in His service. This world could use all of the joy that service brings, and the realization that this joy is nothing less than a measure of the Lord's healing love.

Happy Easter!

What's on your family playlist?

Now that my early Mother's Day gift has been sent to my siblings, and my secret project is out, I can do some explaining...

I was playing around on iTunes the other day and got in a sentimental mood thinking of the songs that used to play in the house I grew up in, in the family van on road trips, and in general all through my childhood. We had plenty of Mormon Tabernacle Choir and instrumental music, but I was thinking of a less reverent mix. I made a playlist labeled "Remembering Mom" because like most families, my dad was at work all day, so we were most influenced by mom's musical taste (we'll make one with you in mind, dad:)).  I love the memories that come to mind when I blast this playlist and go about doing what otherwise would be mundane housework. My kids get a kick out of some of these songs too.

Wayne had some printable CD's on hand, and had crafted a CD holder out of a Cheerios box to hold the CD in when it went to print.  I used this classic picture of my mom on the top of the CD's.
For posterity I'm posting the thoughts that come to mind with each song. 

1.  "Hooked on Classics"

2. "Top of the World"- this was a favorite Carpenters song in our family. We memorized it and sang it at the top of our lungs on road trips. Think 8 track tape and a VW van.  This very well may have been playing when we swerved to miss an oncoming car and my brother Dan flipped from the back of the van to the front.  This was before buckle up laws.  It was probably Dan's best acrobatic move to date.

3. "Little old Lady from Pasadena"- favorite Beach Boys song. I'm sure we only knew the line "She's the little old lady from Pasadena!" I especially remember singing this at our grandparents' house when we were there on many occasions to swim on hot So. Cal summer days.  Grandma brought out lemonade or popsicles and in season we'd eat fresh blackberries from their yard.

4. "Time Stand Still"- My brother, Dan was an incredible drummer and a huge Rush fan through his teenage years. He also went into minimal conversation mode through those years. My mom, seeking to somehow bond with him, went with him and my dad to a Rush concert to see what the fuss was all about. As you read through this playlist you'll realize just how far from her comfort zone (or my dad's really) Rush was, but that's the beauty of the story. She had a great time and was impressed with the drummer. We were all impressed with our parents, and that outing has become a beloved parenting moment.

5. "Sweet Caroline"- Mom, along with all her friends, loved Neil Diamond's voice. If she were alive today she'd have his voice on her GPS.  This was a favorite song.

6. "Sing"- Another Carpenters favorite. My mom taught this song to the primary kids in our ward and it was a hit with them too.

7. "America"- More Neil Diamond. This played a lot at our house, especially when we were in the So. Cal dance festival and this song was the big group number.

8. "We Got the Beat"- the Go-Go's. Mom was in a girl band for a church talent show. They lipsynced this song and had one of the best acts of the show. This is on my to-do list....it looked like a blast!

9. "Part of the Plan"- Dan Fogelberg.  This song reminds me of when my mom taught the older teenage girls in our ward.  They adored her and called her "mom." She saved their wedding announcements and kept in touch with them over the years. She was a good leader and friend.

10. "It Takes Two"- Donny & Marie Osmond.  We were faithful watchers of the Donny & Marie Show. We'd throw down our big mexican blanket from Tj, add a huge bowl of air-popped popcorn, and gather to sing along and enjoy the show.

11. "Teach your Children Well"- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. I loved hearing this song and still do.

12. "The Golden Rule"- Carol Lynn Pearson (My Turn on Earth). This song is hilarious, and we sang it so loud and often you'd think it would sink in.

13. "My Story"- Carol Lynn Pearson (My Turn on Earth).  We sang this tune a million times as well.

14. "What One Man Can Do"- John Denver. We listened to a lot of John Denver. I especially remember these songs on road trips and camping trips.

15. "Annie's Song"- another John Denver favorite.

16. "I am your Child"- Barry Manilow. Mom loved Barry Manilow. We had nicknames for him that I won't mention, but at least us girls had fun learning some of his songs and singing out with mom.  

17. "We've Only Just Begun"- Yet another Carpenter's favorite. Did I mention that we loved the Carpenters? We did.

18. "Greatest Love of All"- I probably need to apologize to my brothers for putting Whitney Houston on the playlist, but we all remember mom making an amazing slideshow (pre-you could do this via computer days) for her RS class. The stars of the slideshow were the kids from church, so she was essentially showing this to their moms. She set the slideshow to this Whitney Houston song as well as "I am a Child of God." It was beautiful.

19. "Moon River"- We loved old movies and Breakfast at Tiffany's was one of our favorites. Audrey Hepburn sings this in the movie and on this recording. We memorized it and sang along.

20. "You Are So Beautiful"- Joe Cocker. Mom wanted us all to feel like we were beautiful inside and out. She didn't remember that being an important message in her childhood home, and so she tried to offer us self confidence. This song reminds me of her desire to get this message across to her daughters.

21. "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again"- Phantom of the Opera. Mom LOVED Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables. She blasted these soundtracks over and over and over and over. I always think of mom when I hear this song.

22. "End Title (Karen's Song)"- from one of mom's favorite movies, "Out of Africa." 

Project in the works....The Beantown Menzies' playlist.  What's on yours?

Signs of Spring

Traditions.  Traditions can give us a sense of belonging, they can strengthen family unity, and can be simply a fun way to celebrate together.  We're careful to make sure that our family traditions are worthwhile, and something we all enjoy.  Traditions are as big as how we celebrate Christmas and as small and simple as gathering each evening for family prayer and scripture reading.

Inspired by the LaP family, we started a tradition of finding signs of spring...

Tonight we decorated a poster with things that remind us of spring. Christina thought of a robin, umbrella, picnics, caterpillars, and green trees. Thomas thought of baseball, hummingbirds, and frogs. Grace thought of tulips, easter eggs, bunnies, and butterflies. Caroline thought of green grass and pansies. Each picture is labeled and there's a line underneath for whoever sees the object first to sign their name and the date. The LaP family now has children living all over the USA, and they call mom to tell her when they've spotted a crocus, a daffodil, a rainbow, etc., and she keeps their signs of spring paper up to date.  It's a fun and simple way to celebrate saying good-bye to bare branches, snow, and the chill of winter, and to celebrate discovering all of the beauty that spring ushers in...as a family.

Happy Spring!  Love, the Beantown Menzies