When Worlds Collide

What happens when the Rainbow Magic Fairy world and the Harry Potter universe collide??  You get:

Hadley the Harry Potter Fairy

Special edition!
More fairy friend's then ever!
POW!


Wow.  This fairy's signature pose might be Madeleine's finest contortion ever.

Cannot.  Wait.  To read this one!

New American Girls

Julia is creating an American Girl "catalog" featuring dolls with challenges, whether physical or mental.  Despite their uphill battles, however, these dolls have an upbeat attitude and an optimistic character!

Nellie McDoogle
Salem, OR
Age 11

I can't walk well.  I have cerebral palsy.  In my free time, I like to draw and play the flute.  I always manage to walk, even in hard times.

Emeryn Avi-Ava
Helena, Montana
Age 12

I was born with diabitees.  Everyone thinks I eat super unhealthy; I don't.  I enjoy ice skating and reading.  I never let anything drag me down.

Rosa Miles
Phoenix, AZ
Age 11

I've always had trouble sitting still.  That's because I have ADHD.  I like to sew and swim.  Even though I have trouble sitting still, I'm always able to find the way through.

October Goodman
Needham, MA
Age 10

Having asthma means I have trouble doing certain things. I enjoy track and ballet.  Though I have trouble breathing, it doesn't bother me.

Eliza Sweet
Austin, TX
Age 12

Uveitis is hard to handle.  I have to wear an eyepatch sometimes.  I like to horseback ride and write.  Even though I have uveitis, I'm always able to see the good.

Ava Strinetski
Orlando, FL
Age 12

As a kid growing up with dyslexia, I've always thought I've been behind in school.  I like to do gymnastics and knit.  Although I have trouble in school, everything ends up being okay.

Lucy Awaki
Honolulu, Hawaii
Age 10

Having anxiety is hard, because I'm afraid of so much. I like to surf and snorkel in my free time.  Although I'm afraid of lots, I'm not afraid of finding out who I am.

Adara Roseank
Juneau, Alaska
Age 11

I have trouble learning in a classroom with lots of people, so I'm in a 4 student classroom.  I like to go sledding and skiing.  Even though I'm in a 4 student classroom, I always find a way through.


I love this catalog!  What a sweet sentiment in showing how kids rise above various challenges.  Even if Julia did seem to be grasping at straws when she gave one of her dolls uveitis (which just happens to be the very issue for which Auntie Shannon went to the doctor yesterday.  No coincidence there at all.)  If these dolls were real, I would totally be buying them for my girls!

Items for the Wash

This morning, the first thing Madeleine said to me had to do with her bed linens.

MADELEINE: Mommy?  Today can you wash my blanket and my sheets, because for some reason, my blanket smells like a YUCKY kind of popcorn.
ME: Uh...okay.
MADELEINE: Yeah.  And can you wash my sheets too, because it MIGHT be my sheets, or it MIGHT be my blanket making my sheets smell like a yucky kind of popcorn.
ME: Sure.  I can wash them today.
MADELEINE: Okay.  And Mommy?  How do you even GET the...the...the...
ME: The comforter?
MADELEINE: No.  The MATTRESS into the machine.  Do you, like, FOLD it up and stuff it in?
ME: You don't wash the mattress, honey.
MADELEINE: Yes you do.
ME: No, honey.  The mattress is the thing you sleep on...like the cushiony part of the bed.
MADELEINE: I know!  But you take that part off and wash it.
ME: No, you don't wash the mattress in the washing machine.
MADELEINE: Well, Auntie Shannon does.
ME: No she doesn't.  That part doesn't go in the machine.
MADELEINE: But you take the mattress off the bed when you wash the blankets!
ME: If we took the mattress off the bed, you'd be able to see below right into your bedside drawers with your toys in them.
MADELEINE: I know!  That's what you do!

I have *no* idea what she's talking about.  I never take the mattress off the bed when I wash her sheets.  And I didn't this time, either.  She now has clean sheets and a clean blanket, so let's hope it's not her mattress that smells like a yucky kind of popcorn, because I didn't fold it up and stuff it in the machine despite her insistence!

And Yet Another Book

A new book by Madeleine is in the works!

Contrary to what it may look like, this is not a book about two zombies staggering into each other.  It is a book about two human friend's!

So far, this is all I've seen:

Chapter 1.  Who's the new girl? 
"Bye bye sweaty."


Madeleine got really mad at me because she asked me to read this aloud.   Apparently it was supposed to say "Bye bye, sweetie."

She has since corrected the spelling, and is in the midst of writing something that sounds really exciting, based on this exchange:

MADELEINE: Mommy??  Uh, how do you spell "Equalizer??"


I can't wait to find out more about what Sweaty is up to!

The Kids Design Things

Julia has been into graphic novels lately, having recently finished several by the author Raina Telgemeier.  Clearly, this inspired her to do some comics writing of her own:

Meanwhile, Madeleine drew this:

I won't lie.  I'm a little bit sad that the loveing egale is all into Ethan but couldn't care less about me.  I could use a little loveing egale love over here, too, ya know!

Shopkin Play

This is how my kids play Shopkins together:

Julia's Show

Julia was really proud after school today: she had done such an exemplary job writing her "show" that her teacher had read it aloud to the class.

I was trying to figure out what "show" Julia had written - a tv script?  A play? - but when I looked through her folder I understood.  The assignment read:

"Rewrite this 'tell' so that it is a 'show' (feel free to make up and add extra details):

Tony met his new teacher, Mr. Harold on the first day of school.  They greeted each other and Tony knew his teacher was going to be mean."


Here is Julia's "show":

"Tony stepped gingerly into his new classroom.  Life in Michigan was going to be different than in California.  'Hello, I'm Mr. Harold.  You must be Tony.'  Mr. Harold's cold, dark eyes flashed.  'This school is wonderful, Tony.  I'm not lying!'  Mr. Harold promised.  Tony picked at his reddish-brown hair.  He wanted to say: 'Then why did I just see a mouse?'  But he didn't.  Mr. Harold was a man of lies.  The floorboards creaked as Tony took his seat.  'Now class.'  Mr. Harold began.  'If you get an answer wrong, detention!'  Tony was not going to like this year."


She sure did fee free to make up and add extra details!  We even know where Tony just moved from, and what color his hair is, and that there's a mouse in the classroom. 


As I sat discussing this with Julia this evening, Madeleine decided to butt in and ask TOTALLY relevant questions.

ME: Did the class think your "show" was good?
JULIA: Yeah...some people laughed at the "detention" part!
MADELEINE: But MOMMY!  What about "B math??"
ME: Well, I'm proud of you, Julia!  You did a really good job.
MADELEINE: But Moooommy!  What about "B math?"
ME: What?
MADELEINE: What about - Oh!  I mean...but Julia!  What about "B math?"  I mean!  Wait.  Julia.  What about "A math?"

I have know idea about "A math," nor about "B math," and I certainly don't understand what that has to do with Julia's "show," but since it turned out the question wasn't actually supposed to be addressed to me, I guess I'm off the hook!