Laundry, Milkshakes, and Aliens

Yesterday was Laundry Day. After the clothes were all washed--and strewn about my bed--I considered what a gift it would it would be to TravelDaddy if he came home and didn't have to clear a place to sleep between laundry-fresh underwear and shirts contend with piles of unprocessed laundry. So I folded all of the clothes. I put away all of the clothes.

All in one day.

It was a momentous occasion. There may have been some singing and dancing to mark the accomplishment.

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We drove by Chick-fil-A the other day, and apparently they're running some sort of milkshake promotion because the entrance is nearly blocked by signs depicting the creamy sweet treats in life size.

"Can we have a milkshake, Mom? Plleeeeaaaase?" they all asked in unison.

"Why would I spend all that money on milkshakes," I replied, "when I can make you one at home..."

Why, oh why, did I say that? A simple "No" would have sufficed. (I may have done well to correct their "Can" to "May" also. Because I'm helpful like that.) Since then, it's been, "Mom, when are you gonna make us milkshakes?" "Mom, today are you gonna make us those milkshakes?"

Well, the day finally came. Yesterday I made them milkshakes. Which they we drank through licorice straws. Because I'm a cool mom like that.

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Incidentally, the licorice is left over from Mama's Magic Bag, which accompanied us to the movies on Tuesday.

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We sipped our milkshakes yesterday through licorice straws as I conducted my first Write Share. As you know, I've been doing a lot of reading lately, brushing up on my teaching writing skills. Besides the Writing Workshop I'll be teaching downtown, I've also mentioned I want to institute a little WW in my own homeschool academy. (WW stands for Writing Workshop, not to be confused with World War, although there are a few of those in my house every now and then.) I served a dose of it yesterday (Writing Workshop, not World War).

The night before, I printed out a bunch of handwriting pages from Donna Young and stapled them together like books. The next morning, the inevitable question came: "What are we doing today?" I handed them the books and said, "Guess what? You get to write your own books today!"

They all did pretty well. The older three wrote stories about their Webkinz. Apparently, they have been telling stories every night in bed which they are acting out with their Webkinz by the light of the moon--or a flashlight as it were. The Princess wrote and "read" a riveting story about aliens. It went like this:

One time there was 3 little aliens, and they were up really high in the gray room in the stadium. Then they go to the next room and the next room and the next room and the next room. They did all the stuff that was all in the rooms. They did coloring on paper in there and dancing in there. They had dinner in the other gray room and played games in the next and painted in the next. Now it's over.

"What is the title of your story, Audrey?" I asked.

"The Aliens are Lost," she replied.

"Lost?" I inquired, puzzled. "Where were they lost? I didn't hear that in your story."

"Oh...They got lost in the baseball stadium and then they found the other stadium. Now it's over."

The Stadium

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I've been schlepping around a big ol' spiral journal for the last couple of days. I'm going to require my Writing Workshop students to keep Writing Notebooks, so I thought I should practice what I preach and actually carry my own around. You know, since I'm living the Writing Life and all. Don't get me wrong. It's not like I can't/don't write without a laptop staring me in the face. Usually when my bloggy voice is narrating in my head, I just pull out one of a gazillion hotel notepads and jot my thoughts on it with one of a gazillion hotel pens. (God bless the Marriott and all of its offspring!)

My eldest daughter is somewhat the same. I have in fact purchased several writing journals for her, but they just end up stuffed under her bed. I know this for a fact because last week we did a purge in her room, and I discovered them all along with many other "things". But that's another story. Anyway, since she can't keep track of a Writing Notebook, she also jots things on whatever paper-type product is around. Here are some of the random thoughts that were swirling around her writing brain during our trip to Kentucky:

(These first few were triggered by the saying at the top of the hotel notepad: Leave a trail of genius.):

to: Thoose who need it

Leave a trail of genius...to those who need it. So rest your head in a good bed. To be the one to leave the trail of genius.

Rember it's hard to tell the dumb from the genius. So be cautios when chosing. Even those who look dumb may not be. Never judge a book by it's cover. Evreything is not what it seems. Be very careful through life. Those who may seem good might be bad.

Genius is in the heart and mind. Thoose who seek it may find it.

The soul and heart mind are powerful. So use them in the way that is good to evreyone.

1% smarts + 99% insperation = genius

The voice can hurt more than you think. So don't hurt people with your bad words. Encourage people with your words. It can make someone's day brighter.

If someone hates you do not hate them back. Tough (Though) you are sometimes wanting to give into the hatred. Resist the tempting push it away. Love your enmies pray for them at all cost.

Popcorn Rules!

to: those who need help

Pay attion to nature and nature will pay attion to you. To help the outdoors is to help the human race. So help and protect it for the good of you and your loved one's.