The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Julie has learned that The Lion King CD with which Joe has become acquainted is strictly a musical CD, that Ms. Kristin plays during lunch. Ms. Kristin reports that Joe and his cohorts are intensely interested in good lions and naughty lions. She reports also that each week, she checks out a book or two from the library on CD, in addition to those she checks out in (can it be?!) "old school" paper style.

This past weekend, Julie and the bambini were at the library picking up a book that Julie had requested from another branch, when Joe spied a turn style of books on CD in the children's section. "MOMMY! MOMMY" After Julie reminded Joe to use his inside (and inside Minnesota; no doubt he could have been heard in at least Wisconsin) voice, she allowed that he could select one book on CD. Joe selected The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Upon arriving at home, he sat with the book facing out, teacher-style. (It was as precious as the picture you have in your minds, Fans.) Julie told him since it was just the two of them (and sometimes Clara) looking at the pages, he could hold the book in his lap. When one is meant to turn the page, one is cued by a billy goat "MAAAAA!!!!!" Our Hero listened with rapt attention for the "MAAAAA!!!!!" Ms. Kristin reports that all the kids in her room do the same and are quick to pounce when she does not turn the page. We have a vivid mental image of this as well. After all, three year-olds are on it, like white on rice, when they want to be.

Joe has brought The Three Billy Goats Gruff to school the past two days to share with his friends. MAAAAA!!!!!

Photo Shoot

Today was picture day for siblings at the KinderCare. The bambini were decked out in their matching-but-not-too-matchy-matchy finest. You never know how the shots will turn out so we took a stab at home, too.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

It was a rainy cold afternoon here in SLP and we needed a good post-nap activity to occupy both Joe and Clara for a while, so we decided on a PlayDough extravaganza! The whole family got into it. Joe made a big pancake, Clara was mesmerized by the Fun Factory, Julie made snowmen for the kids, and Ted made spaghetti and meatballs - seen here being manhandled by Clara. Much fun was had, no tears were shed, and an afternoon was filled with fun!

Scarf

Joe's class has been listening, of late, to The Lion King soundtrack on CD. Yesterday, he said to Ted, "Did you know Scarf lives in a cave? He's not nice. From Lion King. The CD." For Fans who may not have seen The Lion King movie (and Joe of course does not know there is a movie, and was a movie first), we should say that its villain is Scar.

Creche

The creche is also on display. Ted is in charge of this and Fans, he really outdid himself this year. Certain of our Fans know well that our creche is comprised of a motley crew, ranging from a panda bear to a tiger. Each year, Ted chooses one animal for each of the bambini to add to the menagerie; this year's have not yet been selected. This holiday season, working from left to right, Ted has created the following areas: angels-we-have-heard-on-high, a jungle, a dessert, a meadow, a farm, and a woodland. The woodland area features a lake made of blue construction paper. For our Fans familiar with the creche from its days at Ted's childhood home at Camel Hollow Road, we know that the question on your mind is "Where is the tee pee?" (Now, for other Fans, the question on your mind is "Tee pee. . .?") The tee pee is on the shores of the lake in the woodland area. The baby Jesus in the middle of it all, between the jungle and dessert areas, in front of both of those areas. Our babies visit the creche after their baths and affect migrations of various creatures--just like the Star of Bethlehem did!