mo willems

this kooky series has sparked a lot of fun and reading aloud around here lately...

mo, known for his Knuffle Bunny and Pigeon books,

has paired a neurotic elephant and an insouciant pig as the dearest of friends.

these friends get involved in situations like:

the stories are simple, but not stilted,

sweet, not cloying,

and

HILARIOUS!!!!

seriously.  my reluctant reader eagerly takes on each new book with 

an interest usually reserved for ice cream.

i dare you; go find yourself a kid, take it to the library to find an elephant and piggie story.

beware, take it home to read...or risked getting kicked out for your theatrics.

self portrait

esther playing whiffle ball at the school winter carnival.

(she couldn't remember the name of the game, so she drew us a diagram)

frosty blades

edgar has completed his first series of skating lessons.

lizzy ( and daddy too) coaxed him along for 1/2 hour each tuesday afternoon.

six weeks weeks later, he is well on his way to a brand new skill,

having earned a yellow participation ribbon for his efforts.

the look of pride on his face had me rummaging for my hankie.

~~~

another boy was testing his skates and skills that day as well;

a young veteran soldier.

he and edgar were on the bench at the same time...

edgar's little hockey skates,

 side by side

 a prosthetic 3/4 leg/skate system.

~

yellow ribbons.

gratitude.

pride.

ballet, any style.

the girl's ballet class;

a study in free-form fun.

birds of a feather

the girl & mme robin, on esther's last day of JK.

this remarkable woman shepherded both an a.m. and p.m. gaggle of kiddies through the demands of JK with boundless enthusiasm and sensitivity.  

she shared the opaque world of junior kindergarten with each and every eager parent, 

 and more than once brought me to tears of pride and wonder.

thank you, robin.

i have my fingers crossed for edgar in 2011...