+5 points for the Johnsons

Who correctly described the icicle phenomenon in the previous post:

"They started growing straight down, but then because of the weight (or some other perturbation), the branch they are growing on was bent, and the icicles got pointed a different direction (and you can see that now they are continuing to grow straight down)."

Water Flows Downward

But icicles don't always end up vertical. 5 points if you can explain the shape of the icicles in the second photo.

Technology Hurts

This young lady spent an obscene amount of time on her snow day off of school this week trying to make it into the top ten of the toilet paper dragging app on my iPod Touch.
She succeeded (and even came in 2nd), but later discovered the price of that glory:

iBlister.

Kicks from Calvin

Calvin was playing a computer game but Peter sent him off to get ready for bed. I took advantage of the vacated computer by opening a new tab to check my email. Calvin raced back in his pajamas and skidded to a stop with a look of extreme dismay when he saw me and NOT his game. The following conversation ensued:

Me: Don't worry Calvin, your game is still here [toggle to the other screen to show him]. I'll be just another minute.

Calvin: [through gritted teeth] That makes me really want to kick you.

Me: Well, if you do kick me, you won't get to use the computer at all tonight. And you'll have a big timeout.

Calvin: [after considering this] And maybe even a big FAT timeout if I kick you hard in the tummy [where he knows my incisions are healing] or something.

Me: Yeeeessssss.

Calvin: Hmmm. Then I better just wait patiently, huh.?.

Me: Good idea.

And he did.

The whole thing was Runaway Bunny-esque.

***

In other Calvin news, he often gets bored and asks for something to do. Yesterday, I gave him a blank piece of paper and told him to draw a picture of a toy he really wanted, stipulating that it could only be one toy. He drew this and labelled it (which tickled me pink):"A robot that can get me toys"
My favorite is "gyit" for get.

The Trouble with Angels

The trouble with angels is that sometimes they develop a stubborn streak. This little angel decided to throw a whole crop of sleeping troubles at us this week after 20 blissful months of near-perfection in the sleep department. Now we're dealing with refusal to take naps, refusal to go to sleep at night without a fight, night wakings galore, and way too early wake up time.

I hope to be able to report progress soon. But in the meantime, enjoy photos of the cutest angel jammies ever, followed by the cutest footwear picked out by a toddler ever, and I'll remind myself that she really is still an angel.

She brought me these mismatched socks (mine) and her moon boots, so I put them on her and she pranced around for a whole afternoon.

Snow Wars

Everything got cancelled today, so we spent a lovely New England storm day fighting. Ivy fought gravity as she struggled to find her center in her "C'mon guys, wait up!" snowsuit.
Bryn and Calvin discovered they could find giant premade snowballs in the drifts made by the plows. This took their snowball fights up a notch. Even Ivy got into the action.
Peter and I fought with our driveway snow, each taking a turn with the shovel. Our sainted neighbor even brought his snow blower over and did that part at the bottom where the plow had come by.

The kids fought and conquered a dragon (upper right photo). Perhaps you don't see the dragon? This may help:

And of course, any good battle needs a bunker, so while Peter took Ivy in for her nap, the other kids and I built a great big snow cave. I'm thinking about sleeping in it tonight.

Luckily, peace treaties were signed, and we sealed the deal with a ceremonial cup of cocoa. Ah, the rigors of war.

She's got Rhythm

...As in, iambic pentameter sort of rhythm. Well, to be more precise, she alternates two iambic dimeter lines with an anapestic trimeter line until the end when she has a couplet with back to back iambic tetrameter. It's complicated and jazzy. Introducing The Wedding:

Fa-la-la-la-photos

More here.

Baller-Ivy

Ivy handed me the tutu that my mom made for her and demanded I put it upon her right that instant. The following performance ensued:

Four-Eyes

Bryn wears her fashion eye-wear every chance she gets. She calls them her "decoration glasses," and even sneaks them on after hours in bed to read. They aren't prescription lenses, she doesn't need them, but oh how she loves them. Next year's stocking stuffer: fake braces.