First of all, Alex is requesting that I post his Angry Birds story boards for Luke. When Luke was here, he said that when he grows up he is going to invent new Angry Birds games and levels. Alex applied for a job at Luke's future company and since then he is busy coming up with ideas. He has photographed his ideas to pass along to the boss.
Football Angry Birds (Packers, or your favorite team)
Post edit: Just after I finished this post Alex brought in a drawing and asked me to make a copy of it to give to his art teacher tomorrow. I took the paper to copy and it was his new theme park....Angry Birds World. And now he is bringing me clear contact paper to laminate his picture so I must go again.
And how about some more oddball Alex? You never do know what Alex will come up with next. The other day he was looking at Halloween costumes and then went to the table to color. We had a good laugh when he walked into the living room like this.
Speaking of Halloween, we are struggling on the costume front this year. It was much easier when I could tell the kids what to be. I think we are finally ready to order tomorrow though. I hope.
Now let's talk school for just a minute. School is going pretty well. The kids have good teachers and lots of friends this year. For the first two weeks Alyssa loved school so much that she hated the weekend. Now she is back in her usual why weren't we born with everything we needed to know so I wouldn't have to go to boring school attitude.
You know I don't love school either and September is always gruesome. We are tired and running like mad to try to keep up with everything but I am sure we will fall back into the routine eventually.
I will say that the best thing I have ever done to reduce school day stress is pull my kids off the bus this year. That may sound backwards to many of you moms out there for whom the bus lifts a huge burden, but it is working for us. I was always a wreck on school mornings. I was so grouchy to my kids and I am not usually grouchy to them. Trying to run on the bus schedule was frustrating to me. I would start watching for the bus 10 minutes or so before it came, all while telling the kids to hurry up, brush your teeth, hurry up, stop yelling (all while I was dang close to yelling), hurry up, be quiet, don't wake Chloe up, get your shoes on, you have two minutes, HURRY UP! I was in a foul mood every morning and usually shoved the kids on to the bus just as it was ready to pull away and then went in the house and felt awful because the only interaction I had had with them so far that day was ugly and rude. They were the ones who chose to ride the bus, but I asked them if we could try driving to school just to see how they liked it. They love it! We still leave around the same time that the bus comes but our mornings are on our schedule now. I don't have to watch for the bus or worry about what time it will come. I don't have to worry about them waking up Chloe because I have to wake her up anyway to drive them. We get up at the same time as we have every other year but our mornings feel more relaxed and we get to have a few calm moments to chat each morning as we drive to school.
While we are talking school, here is Alyssa in her first day outfit again only she wanted a picture now that it is cold enough for the tights and long sleeved shirt that were supposed to go with the outfit.
Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: A human that makes money or the racing sausage that wins the race at the Brewers game.
Q: What is something special about you that we might not guess?
A: I am a human and you might think I am a real life alien.
Funny Girl!
I think that about concludes today's random sampler of life in the Johnson home.
14 comments:
Chloe is too funny! I love the silly things they say at this fun age.
As for the bus, I TOTALLY get it. I just recently had to explain that same thing to a couple of parents who could not understand why I would rather drive me kids to school.
Katie, I am glad I am not the only one who understands how adding more to my schedule alleviated rather than added stress. I was talking to my friend Jen last spring about how stressful school mornings are and how frustrating it is to miss the bus when I had an epiphany and realized that I could just take the bus out of the equation. If I am not waiting on it in the first place, I can't miss it, or stress about it. Plus no more mornings FREEZING at the bus stop. I just walk in to the garage and drive. When we get there I just pull in one side of the parking lot, the principal walks over and gets my kids out of the car, gives them to a teacher who walks them in and I drive away nice and warm. Most of my friends here start an hour later than we do so maybe getting to the bus on time is not an issue but we start early when my cranky hours have not yet worn off, but this has definitely helped.
Spongebob right? Heck, run with it. Have you seen the prices on costumes these days. I remember back in the good old days when we'd go through the bin and figure something out or make something with what we have. I'm still trying to convince my kids to do that!
Bus schedules are kindof hectic. I'm sure as cooler weather approaches I'm going to get a lot more moaning and complaining. Today was actually the first day I got it.
Sorry your weather is cooler. I love Fall just wish it'd stay nicer a little while longer, winter is SOOO long! And I don't live in Wisconsin!
And Angry Birds. Wow run with that talent Alex, maybe you'll be the next millionaire!
Haaaa, Alex is some creative character. Mike would be impressed with his AB levels. That man is obsessed with that game. I'm over it. Alex's Spongebob costume
Pols about as nice as Annie's s'more costume from last year, so why not let bim use it? Goodness I haven't even started thinking of Halloween. Can't believe how old Alyssa is looking. She is one pretty girl. Chloe cracks me up.
Chloe has the best answers ever! "A human that makes money sounds like a great goal!"
I love Al's angry bird levels and picture. He is so creative! Luke will hire him for sure.
I could just repeat what everyone else has said. For some reason or other I never picked up on just how creative that son of yours is. I think his costume is perfect if it will survive until Halloween - even if it doesn't, I'll bet he'd be happy making another one. But I am very impressed with his creative genes!
Alyssa looks like a model, and Chloe continues to crack me up! Love your wonderful family and am so grateful we get to know them through the blogs!
Also, thanks for sharing about the bus dilemma. I assume the kids are still riding home on the bus after school? You are wise in recognizing the source of the conflict and getting rid of it!
Those angry birds setups are seriously impressive.
I wish I could drive Abi to school. I mean, I could but she loves the bus. I would much rather drive her up and watch her go to her line.
Jen, Yeah, I played Angry Birds for about 30 minutes when the phone was new and was then so sick of it! Seth and the kids stayed interested for a few weeks and Alex is still obsessed with the idea of it, but usually sets up his own courses and games now. I don't know what it is about that game though...people love it!
Julie, They do still ride home on the bus. For the first week I picked them up and they told me they wanted to go back on the bus in the afternoon. There is a drop off zone in the morning but not in the afternoon so you have to get there 30 min early, still usually park way down the street and walk to the school to get them, which is fine for now, but in a month or so...brrrr. Plus, the bus makes it to our nieghborhood after school before we were able to get there driving so now my life is easier in the morning and the afternoon.
Cheryl, we were commenting at the same time. I never wanted my kids to ride either but they begged. As long as there are no issues on the bus, let her ride. The novelty may wear off eventually and then you can drive her but don't feel guilty about letting her ride. I let so many people make me feel like a bad mom for letting my kids ride the bus and I shouldn't have.
My grandsons are obviously totally genius. I just wish they could have thought of Angry Birds FIRST. Chloe should be Chorizo for Halloween, or possibly an alien. Maybe Alyssa can fit into your cheer outfit now. I know you were 16 when you wore it but you were very small. I miss my kids.
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Luke typed the above to Al.
He says, "I love those angry bird levels. Can you build a level called 'Angry Birds Eagle' where an eagle crashes all the pigs?"
I drive Emma to school too, but I must admit it's not to make my life easier or to alleviate stress. I do it because I am lazy. I don't want to wait with her outside in cold or inclement weather waiting for the bus. I don't want to even worry about being dressed and presentable most mornings (and yes, this is even starting school as late as she does). I like going into the garage and climbing in the already warm car. As far as I'm concerned, I'll never have her ride the bus, but again, that for me, not her. I'm just selfish that way! ;-)
Julie.....Let Chloe know that living with the humans is hard enough. Becoming one may be too ambitious.
Take care,
Dad
Your kids are soooo cute! Everything that I see and read about Alex makes me wish that he and my boys could still be friends because I think that they would have a ton of fun together!
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