The Zimmer Zoo

Reading to My Kids – Book Review: Magic Tree House Series

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Nancy

When we went to Vermont, my goal was to bring a Ramona book with us to read a chapter or so to the kids each night before bed. (They’re used to made-up stories from Mike…I’m just not that creative!)

I forgot to bring the book.

Step in Uncle Jason. He brought a book over (without knowing what my goal was) saying that Cousin Grey really likes the series, had we heard of it? I hadn’t, but I’m SO GLAD that he introduced us to it!

I’ve heard that The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne currently has about 45 books it it. (Yikes!) And I hear that she’s still writing. So we should be set for a while!

The first in the series is called Dinosaurs Before Dark. This one is the must-read since it sets up the whole series. In a nutshell: Annie and Jack find a magical tree house. It’s full of books that transport them to places when they make a wish on a picture in a book. For example, in the first book, Jack opens a book in the tree house and sees a dinosaur. He wishes he could see one in real life and Viola … he does.

We read this over 3 or 4 nights while in Vermont. Two to three chapters a night. And the kids couldn’t get enough. They begged for me to buy the book so we could have it at home – not realizing that there are more in the series and they could have new adventures with Annie and Jack. I hopped onto ebay and did my thing…we now have 15 of these books (mostly in order…)

We started reading the second one, The Knight at Dawn, a few days ago. Since we’re home now – and nothing compares to Daddy’s bed time stories – I’m reading to them before Daddy gets home from work…and they’re choosing another chapter over turning the TV on (be still my beating heart!)

Other than my kids really enjoying these books, the thing *I* like about them is that there’s an actual plot. It’s much better (for me) than reading the same silly little book over and over (not that there’s anything wrong with That’s Not My Princess…), and I’m finding that I want to know what’s going to happen next too!

Thank you, Ms. Osborne, for writing such wonderful stories for my whole family to enjoy!

Filed under: kids, reviews | Tagged: books, Dinosaurs Before Dark, elementary chapter books, Kindergarten chapter books, Magic Tree House, Mary Pope Osborne, The Knight at Dawn | 3 Comments »

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Nancy

Maggie’s thoughts of Makeup Gym classes got me to thinking that I haven’t posted many kiddo conversations lately. Here’s a dose of the latest.

Logan to Mommy: “You’re single cuz *I’m* married to daddy.”

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Burke: “Will Maggie and I still be twins if we don’t have the same teacher next year?”

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Maggie to Daddy: “You crazy old man!”
(LOL!)

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Burke: “Daddy, did your mommy name you ‘Daddy’?”

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Burke to Maggie: “I will eat you!”
Maggie to Burke: “Please don’t; I am a good guy.”

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Logan (somewhat remorseful): “I ate a kid.”
After biting a playmate at EI playgroup.

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Burke to Mommy: “Your coffee smells like it was sprayed by a skunk.”
Not quite how I’d describe Creme Caramel…

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Maggie (singing): “Follow the Elephant Row, Follow the Elephant Row.”
Pretty sure that’s supposed to be ‘Yellow Brick Road’ …

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Logan: “Daaadddddy! Daddddddy!!”
Daddy (after walking upstairs): “Yes, Logan?”
Logan: “I want Mommy.”

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Logan: “Mommmmmy! Mommmmy!!”
Anyone (thinking they’re being helpful when I’m busy): “What do you want, Logan?”
Logan: “I want Mommy.”

Filed under: kids | Tagged: funny, kid conversations | Leave a comment »

Way Back When-esday

Posted on July 28, 2010 by Nancy

Cheryl over at Twinfatuation hosts this one. Go on over to see who else is playing – and join in too!

These come from July 28, 2006. Burke and Maggie were 1.5 years old.

Oh, and Maggie had the Chicken Pox from her vaccination a few days before!

Burke

Maggie's Recorder

Filed under: twins, WBW | 1 Comment »

Make-Up Gym Class

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Nancy

Burke and Maggie have been going to a gym class each week for the summer. Since we were on vacation last week, we did a make-up gym class for the one we’d miss.

When we got back into the car after it was over, Maggie looked at me and said in a really sad voice, “But mom, they didn’t put any makeup on me.”

…pause…

“OH!!!” *giggle* “Maggie, make-up gym classes just mean that we are going to miss one and they’re letting us go to another one at a different time…not that they’ll put blush or lipstick on you.”

LOL! She’s too cute 🙂

…and that may also explain why Burke really didn’t want to go at first 😉

Filed under: Maggie | Tagged: gym class, kid conversations, kids brains, make-up classes | 4 Comments »

Makes My Monday: Jammies Outside

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Nancy

Mike and the kids are playing a rousing game of Freeze Ball (a cross between freeze tag and dodge ball)…in their jammies! (Well, Mike’s not in his…)

A few weeks ago, Mike pointed and said “Hey look! Elvis!” to distract them. They have no idea who Elvis is, and until yesterday, tried the same tactic …except it came out, “Hey look! Goldfish!” tee hee

Freeze Ball, Jammies, and Elvis – all rolled into one – Makes My Monday.

Cheryl over at Twinfatuation hosts this one. Head on over to see what else makes people’s Mondays (there are always some really good ones!)

Filed under: kids, MMM | Tagged: Elvis, freeze ball, freeze tag, goldfish, Jammies, PJs | 2 Comments »

Lessons Learned

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Nancy

So, we’re new to this whole gardening thing. I mean, sure, I watched my dad plant his football field-sized garden when I was a kid…and helped pick things… And we had some tomato plants the past two years… But this year we actually PUT a garden in. Well. Two gardens.

A football field-sized garden is a wee bit daunting, and a Square Foot Gardening book landed in my lap at Christmas, so that’s the way we decided to go (at least for one of the gardens). It’s amazing to me the difference in the two gardens – the one we put in first is actually taking longer to grow (and we even – mistakenly – put cucumbers in both)! And the loam we used is incredible. I don’t think I’ve seen beans grow faster. We’re definitely using loam again next year!

We also put some vine-type plants in the raised bed…perhaps a mistake (although there was no mention of it BEING a mistake in the book). Don’t get me wrong…the melons are doing really well – they’re just taking over the onions and, well, everything else. One solution may be to put a trellis or two up so the vines go UP and not all over the place (and to keep a close watch that they DO go up…) The book says you can even grow pumpkins this way – you just have to make sure the trellis is sturdy enough for all that pumpkin weight. Perhaps next year.

My sister mentioned that they planted various rows of beans about 10 days apart. huh. That’s genus. Beans throughout the summer instead of a butt-load all at the same time!

I don’t know if I’ll do broccoli and/or brussels sprouts again. We haven’t gotten any of those (yet – it’s still early), so I don’t know if the taste will outweigh the OMG GROSS caterpillars that were in those this year.

And I was thinking to myself that I should be keeping a gardening journal – but then thought “wait – I’ve been writing in my blog…doesn’t that count?” So…we’ll see if anything gets on paper.

I do have to say that I am loving the raised garden bed. We’ll probably be putting in a second raised bed next year. Weeding is SO MUCH easier! Although – there’s still that one thing in there that I just need to yank. I’m pretty sure it’s a weed (and not an herb like we thought we planted there). It’s taller than all of the other things we’ve planted, so it HAS to be a weed. 🙂

Filed under: garden | Tagged: garden, Lessons | Leave a comment »

Saturday Snapshot: Keys

Posted on July 24, 2010 by Nancy

This is where I put my keys all week while in Vermont.

Logan decided that the keys he found should go there too.

Cheryl over at Twinfatuation hosts this one. Go over and have a look at what others are doing on this beautiful Saturday.

Filed under: SS | Tagged: keys | 1 Comment »

Friday’s Fotos: More Vermont Fun

Posted on July 23, 2010 by Nancy

We hung out on Cousin Grey’s swing set:

Logan Swinging

All Four Kids in the Clubhouse

We also hung out in Cousin Grey’s Rocket Ship. (Uncle Jason is quite creative…)

At the Rocket Ship

Rocket Ship Fun

Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment »

Look How Far We’ve Come

Posted on July 22, 2010 by Nancy

Burke and Maggie have been getting swim lessons from Aunt Meghan while we’re here in Vermont.

After 4 lessons, they can now put their face in the water and blow bubbles, kick their feet, and dog-paddle their arms…sometimes all at the same time!! (with the help of a noodle…) I’m impressed with how quickly they’ve become comfortable with it all.