Learning With Annie & Emerson

Vacation Poetry

2011-12-28T12:33:00.003-06:00

After Santa,
we all awake to fluttery flakes
flying over John & Deb's lake
Nothing to rake!
Yummy things to bake
like anniversary carrot cake.
Sledding toward the lake,
after skiing, though we ache,
Snow vacations make
an awesome holiday break!

Ski Lessons

2011-12-24T14:16:00.004-06:00

We were so excited to share skiing with our kiddos.

It isn't Annie's favorite thing to do but she is so proud of herself and says, "I ROCK! I skied down a mountain! It was hard but I did it!"

Emerson is a natural for sure!! That boy has no fear and tons of determination!!! That's him skiing down low with his daddy.

Location:McCauley Mountain, NY

Snow!!!!

2011-12-23T12:23:00.000-06:00

This is what we woke up to this morning! Apparently our songs and letters to Santa worked!

The First Solstice

2011-12-22T18:47:00.001-06:00

Here is the story I promised in the last post

Shared by my friend Piaf. It's a story from her childhood.

The First Winter Solstice

Long, long ago, when the sun and the moon were children, they had only one toy to play with. It was the earth. Because they both wanted it, they decided to take turns.

When it was the sun’s turn, the people and creatures on earth felt warm, the crops grew tall and it was day.

When it was the moon’s turn, it grew quiet and dark on earth and the people and creatures rested.

One day, the moon decided she didn’t want to give the earth back to the sun because she was having so much fun, so she kept it for a few minutes longer before giving it back to the sun. The next night, she kept it for a few minutes longer than the last time.

This continued until the nights were much longer than the days. The sun wanted his whole turn back, but he was very shy and not sure what he should do.

On earth, the people began to grow worried. It was getting colder and there wasn’t enough sun for the crops to grow. Looking up at the cold night sky, they were scared, afraid that the night might just keep getting longer and longer until there was no day left at all.

The people decided to make a giant bonfire to call the sun back to the earth. The youngest children gathered twigs and leaves, the older kids carried large branches, and the strongest men and women hoisted giant logs onto their shoulders.

They piled all these things into a big pile and began the blaze. It burned bright and hot, just like the sun.

Looking down on earth, the sun saw the fire and knew immediately that the people and creatures were missing him. The next morning, he took his turn back a few minutes earlier.

On earth, the people rejoiced, for they knew that the warmth and the light were returning.

Jam Session

2011-12-22T16:43:00.000-06:00

We're still waiting for snow. Emerson wrote a very sweet note to Santa wishing for snow. Since its so close to Christmas and we didn't think the post office would deliver in time we sent it chimney mail.

We wrote this song last night. Sing to the tune of "Walking in a Winter Wonderland"

(you can even see my notes on the table)

We're Here in the Mountains
With all the frozen fountains
We're waiting for snow
We just won't say no
Hoping for a winter wonderland
In the adirondacks we played instruments
And pretended it was going to snow
In the morning we'll wake up to snowflakes
And then we'll get tossed out in the snow
We'll side out into the frozen tundra
Will it snow don't ya wondera
In the front yard we can build a snow fort
Before we go to the airport
Walking in the adirondack snow

Happy Solstice

2011-12-22T16:35:00.000-06:00

We celebrated the Winter Solstice this year with a traditional story from my friend Piaf (see the story at the end of post), a yummy dinner, simple winter memories outside and trimming the tree. We had a lovely evening.

Adirondack Mountains for Christmas!!

2011-12-21T18:37:00.001-06:00

Here we are in Old Forge, NY in the Adirondack Mountains. We are wishing for snow but it's so pretty up here that it will be ok if it doesn't snow.

Thank you John and Deb for inviting us to stay in your amazingly awesome home.

Carolers at Great Gram D's

2011-12-21T15:37:00.001-06:00

While we were visiting Grammy's mommy a group of Carole's came to the door. It was super exciting for all of us. It inspired us to carol at Georgia's house, Grammy and Bompa's neighbor.

Emerson decided to go outside in the snow barefoot just to see how cold it was.

Great Gram & Logan

2011-12-20T15:33:00.000-06:00

We had fun playing with cousin Logan at Great Gram Dorothy's house.

Gingerbread Fun

2011-12-19T15:22:00.000-06:00

Grammy and Bompa are gingerbread experts! We are so lucky to have them as gingerbread making mentors.

A Sprinkling of Snow

2011-12-17T12:48:00.002-06:00

The flight was way early but totally uneventful. We even saw a Bald Eagle in the grass as we were landing at Dulles airport. Annie spotted it first. It was Super Cool!!

What a great first day at Grammy and Bompa's. We had a sprinkling of snow and the kids were thrilled. They wasted no time at all getting out there to play!

Location:Rochester, NY

The Land On Top of the Fan Blade by Annabelle

2011-12-08T21:36:00.000-06:00

The Land On Top of the Fan Blade by Annabelle

On every fan in every house there is a land on top of the fan blades. Little people called Ables live in the towns they made. I know it sounds funny but the twirl and spinning of the fan doesn't harm them. This is amazing but from fan blade to fan blade there is a rope they walk across. Well, in this wonderful land there is a little Able who wanted to fly. Ables do not fly. But one year that changed. Well, the story happens like this.

Every year Wolf asks if he can fly but Santa knows that Ables do not fly. One year Santa gave in and gave Wolf a toy airplane. On Christmas morning Wolf said, "I can't fly on that," but he still liked it.

The next year Santa gave Wolf a toy reindeer but the same thing happened. "I cant fly on this," said 'Wolf but he still liked it.

So the next year Santa gave him a toy Pegasus but the same thing happened. "I cant fly on this," but he still liked it.

Finally, the next year Santa gave him a pair of Wings and he said, "Can I fly with these?"
"I bet you can," said his mother. "I bet you can."

So the next morning Wolf set out on a mission to the end of the fan blade and he brought his wings, a canteen of water, a pail of food, a flashlight, and of course, a jacket. When he got there he put his food in a leather bag along with his flashlight. He put on his jacket and wings and hung his canteen of water from his belt. Then he started to run. Faster and faster he went until he felt he wasn't running any more. Then he realized he wasn't running anymore. He was FLYING!

Well, now that he can fly he goes all around the whole house meeting other Ables and their families and friends. Most of the time he spends with his mom and dad and playing with his brothers and sisters. And do you know what he is going to ask for this year? Twenty five pairs of wings. One for each of his twelve sisters, one for each of his eleven brothers, and one for his mom and dad. Imagine how many canteens, pails, jackets, flashlights, and room that will take up!

The End by Annabelle

Poetry by Annie

2011-11-17T21:13:00.002-06:00

Things I Hear In My Life
by Annie

I lay outside in the cool morning breeze,
I listen hard like the little green peas.
I hear whispering grass, waving trees, leaping bass, and the buzz of bees.
I listen hard like the little green peas.