EMMA'SKISMSLIST

I promised I'd find something cute and fun to blog about and I am delivering...o.k., I think it is at least. For all you first time mothers of 5-7 year olds that are just learning to read and write...never, and I mean NEVER throw a way a piece of paper that *looks* like it just has practice letters on it!

My daughter Emma looooves writing, always has, up until the last few months her notes never made sense and usually looked like a malfunctioning typewriter. I found this on the floor, under the kitchen table and just about threw it out. But, as the curious mother I am, I had to try to read it first.

I circled what I thought were single items, then deciphered.

Title: EMMA'SKISMSLIST - Translation "Emma's Christmas List"

1. nEWti-re - A "new tire" for her bike

2. STUFEE CHIKEN - a "stuffed animal chicken", we call them *stuffies*

3. ArtSPLiS - "Art supplies"

4. FlOWeR - no translation needed, good spelling!

5. teeset

6. MY little Ponie's

7. Sooeen Stef - "Sewing stuff"

8. slinky

9 apickr of a hos - this one stumped me as the letters were backwards so I took it to Emma and she said it is "A picture of a horse" for her wall.

And that is one great Christmas list!

~*~

Anyone who knows me well, knows that numbers and I do not get along. They actually created a class for me my senior year to fulfil the requirement needed to graduate called Basic Math. There were 5 students total, if that. Now as humiliating as it is to admit this on my blog, I can completely function as an adult. I can find percentages, shop sale prices, find costs per ounces/pounds...you know the stuff you NEED to know. I am not dumb, just do not throw algebra, geometry or calculus at me. I flunked Algebra 1. Mr Timmer was a kind sweet soul with chalk in the crevices of his large hands. He spent lots of time with me, but my mind just blocked up this wall and well...I graduated acing Basic Math.

So now, here I am 16 yrs later and a math teacher being drug through math class again. Not just the grade level I'd *prefer* to teach but preparing to be drug through high school AGAIN, kicking and screaming. That is one area us homeschooling mothers benefit, by the time our children graduated, we have been to school as many times as we have children. I have gone through 3rd grade 4 times...bring it on.

SOOOoooo, my 6th grader comes to me Friday with "Mommy, I can not find my Math DVD with Mr. Demme and I need to learn dividing fractions"

O.k., don't panic...stay calm...I can pull this off. "Dear, Mommy doesn't have time right now, I am helping Emma, can I help you in a while?" (It was true!) "Um...sure, but I am already a lesson behind because I can't figure it out." {in walks Daddy home early from work, the math whiz} YEAH!!! I look up and blurt out "Honey your home!...Jessie is dividing fractions today!" Paul snickers as he knows my handicap well and immediately understands my underlying plead. "Oh, and Jacob is having trouble with long division(I can whip out a long div problem in seconds, btw, it is explaining it that I am not good at) My blessed hubby who truly *completes me* takes off his hat, throws the mail on the counter, sits down, grabs a pencil and starts in. 45 minutes later I have two happy children looking forward to math next week and all assignments completed & turned in. {sigh}