Sesame Peeps

PÈEPS DE RÉSISTANCE: Early this a.m. the kids assembled the Peeps pieces into the finished product. We had the cereal boxes CJ and Annabelle painted as buildings, the Sesame Peeps made yesterday, the sign Annabelle Photoshopped, and some Contact paper as a base/street. We wanted to shoot it this a.m. when the light would be streaming in our big east-facing windows. Our first batch of photos wasn't acceptable. Bert and Ernie just weren't "popping." (BTW, I was really impressed with how discerning Annabelle and CJ's eyes were regarding good and bad photos.) We shot and re-shot and re-shot. Annabelle wasn't happy that Bert and Ernie's hair wasns't showing up. We needed lights in the building. I do believe it was the FOURTH photo shoot when we decided to open use flashlights to light the apartment building so that you could make out Ernie and Bert. Annabelle was a trouper - balancing on a rickety stool on one foot, holding her arms at a crazy, unnatural angle just to get a good shot. That's my girl! ;) Ultimately, Annabelle picked the photo to use, and touched it up in Photoshop, using primarily the clone stamp, magnetic lasso, shadow/highlight, and blur tools. We got done with the shooting and 'shopping about 10:15 - well ahead of the noon deadline to enter it into the Seattle Times' Peeps contest, right?? ... But before you could make a submission, you had to register for their site. And wait to get a confirmation email back, and then login to the site and then submit. Well, we registered, submitted Annabelle's email address, and waited. And waited. And waited. It was only about 10 minutes, but it seemed like forever with the clock ticking away. Finally, we got it and uploaded the picture. Phew.

THE BACKSTORY: I wanted the kids to get some writing in today, but was drawing a blank about a story starter. DUH. I finally realized that they should write a story about the Sesame Peeps. CJ wrote: Cookie Peep is waiting for cookies to be delivered. Bert is talking to someone. Big Peep is starting to walk to his nest. The Peep is crossing the road to his castle. Oscar the Peep is saying "scram!" to everyone. Ernie is playing in his room. Annabelle wrote: Once upon a time ... Cookie was standing by the door, waiting for something to do. "Hey," said the Peep. "Why don't we play musical stairs!" So they did. "Hey," said Oscar the Peep. "I can't play." "Why," they all said. "Because I don't like coming out of my trash can," said Oscar the Peep. So they played catch.

BANDITS AND ANIMALS: For their Musikgarten homework, the kids had to make illustrations of something they remembered from the "Musicians of Bremen" story they were read during last week's class.

I apologize that the photo is so bad of CJ's work, as its story was interesting. His illustration recalled the point in the story where a bad guy was waiting outside for his friend who was in a house robbing the place. CJ's Bad Guy Outside thought bubble was a picture of the bandit inside coming out = 2 years? In other words, the guy outside was growing impatient. :) Annabelle's picture incorporated the animals in the story - the rooster, the cat, the donkey and the dog. And her picture smelled good 'cause she used her Mr. Sketch markers. :)During the parent participation part of today's class, teacher Nancy conducted an ambitious 4-part orchestra (parents on recorders, kids on glocks and other chime-y percussion) playing a song about a cuckoo clock. It was ridiculously complicated and amazingly impressive when we got it after about 2 minutes. :)

WE ARE THE FREAKIES: Recently I moved my Precious Freakies Magnets from the Up Up High side of the fridge to the eye level of the stove. This did not go unnoticed by CeeJ and Bee. CJ, especially, has been interested in them, as he is interested in ANYTHING that is a Complete Collection.

Today CJ wanted to know all about the Freakies. The best way to do that was to hop on YouTube. After watching the advertisement, I had the kids try to name each of the Freakies. They need to watch the commercial few more times.