Rainbow Fish

Alternate post titles:

• Adventures in Unit Studies
  
• A Moral Misunderstood
• Wires Unplugged
• The World's Longest Blog Post Ever
  

Having finished up our foray through the children's Bible, I am beginning to form our day around popular literature.

We read several versions of Three Little Pigs the week before last. We compared the versions, talking about how the stories were similar and different. I included The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (which is from the wolf's perspective), but it was over their heads. We also read Piglet-heavy portions of The House on Pooh Corner. We looked up information about pigs, talking about what made Piglet and the three little pigs "just pretend." We drew pictures of real pigs and fictional pigs.

This past week we read Rainbow Fish and used it as the basis for several activities.

First up was a coffee filter craft from DLTK

We colored the filters with markers, sprinkled with water, then dried them:


Then we cut them into the shape of fish and glued on aluminum foil:




Later in the day I made up a puppet for each of the characters and the kids retold the story. Each of the fish was double-sided, so that we could demonstrate Rainbow Fish giving away his shimmering scales.



I know that many parents worry about the supposed Communist leanings of this book (look here and here and here, or better yet, just read the reviews over at Amazon). I think those worries, however, are based on a faulty understanding of both Rainbow Fish and Communism itself.

The Rainbow Fish is about sharing. Self-donative love, if you will. Even my three-year old understands that this story is not about fish. Fish do not talk. The story is about people. Similarly, the "shimmering scales" are a metaphor. I would argue that the scales symbolize our God-given gifts. The scales are what makes the rainbow fish special, and they are his gift to share with the other creatures of the sea. When the rainbow fish refuses to share, he is hiding his light under a bushel, but when he shares, he is glorifying God(referencing Matthew 5:15-16). In other words, his sharing makes the world better, and to keep them all to himself is selfish.

Rainbow Fish has no Soviet-style government demanding redistribution of shimmering scales; a fellow sea creature (the octopus) merely advises him that doing so is the right thing to do. There is no communist requirement that everyone own everything, just a fish who individually does the right thing. This is no more communist than donating your wealth to charity is.

Okay, I made up the stuff about God-given gifts and self-donative love. That's just the way that I read it and explained it to my kids. But the same goes for the people who say the book is about Communism. It is a cute story with beautiful artwork and a message that children will understand (as long as their parents don't overthink it for them).

The ladies popping over here from Unplugged are probably starting to wonder what all of this has to do with pipe cleaners or wires. Does this cut it for you?




Using some hard-core supplies, I made a set of numbered fish with metal hidden inside. Then, at Agent 002's direction, we tied our Fridge Phonics machine to utility wire as a fishing rod (we initially used a fridge magnet, but it was not strong enough to lift the out of the pool).



We kept score by adding the numbers on the fish, which allowed the kids to work on numeral recognition and comparison in an active and fun way. None of the kids are ready for addition yet, but Agent 004 understood that to win she needed to collect the biggest numbers. It was very funny listening to her advising F (who does not yet understand the relative value of numbers) on strategy.

Tickle Me Obama

At a Super Bowl Party last night, Agent 002 was giggling so hard that one of his older cousins called him Tickle Me Elmo.

He responded, "Tickle me more, Obama!"

So our son has no idea who Elmo is, but comes up with Obama.... maybe our kids should watch more television ;)

Creative Maintenance

You may have noticed that I have been blogging more regularly.

That is one of my resolutions for 2008. Not that I have blogged about that, because one of my other resolutions is to spend less time at the computer. Contradictory? Yes, but it has been working so far.

I have some interesting posts in "draft" status -- about books, marriage, and fish -- but you won't see any of them until I finish tweaking the blog design and apply labels to select posts in the archive.

Drop me a comment if you like the new template, or if you have any constructive criticism. Do you like the color? I am fond of the third column, but haven't figured out how to balance that with a wider post section.

WFMW: Diaper and Panty Storage

It is Wednesday again, which means that it is time for me to pass on bits of home-management advice. To find out what others know, check out Rocks in My Dryer.

If the core principle of home organization is that everything must have a place, and that that place should be near its point of usage, than y'all will love my diaper and panty displays.

I have been to some homes where the changing table is off in the master bedroom or nursery. Not so at casa warillever -- it is located smack dab in the center of the home where it doubles as the playroom toy shelf. This way I can wipe off wee bottoms while everyone else plays happily within my sight.

The drawer on the middle shelf holds a week's worth of diapers in all three sizes, and extra stock is stored in the closet off stage left.

Now with potty training, things became a bit more difficult. I want F to get used to going into the bathroom for "those needs," even if she has already had an accident. But I didn't want pullups and dry pants and underwear all over the counter. My solution: a pretty basket that all of her "items" go into.

The basket fits right on top of our "tomorrow drawers," and actually classes the joint up a bit.

The warillevers do Washington (2008 ed.)

We just returned from our annual pilgrimage to our nation's capital for the March for Life. We go every January, arriving a day or so early to see the sights.


Washington is wonderful in the winter -- the crowds are smaller, the weather is quite pleasant, and the pandas are more active. Plus Uncle 7 has a bit more spare time to be our tour guide. This year's tourist highlights were the National Zoo, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the National Building Museum, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

For anyone with toddlers or budding engineers, the Building Museum is a must-see. Here is a 7-foot tall arch that we built:

Eggs Unplugged

Several of my e-friends post a themed project every Monday, and I figured that I would give it a whirl this week. You can check out their projects (and others) at Unplug You Kids.

Our afternoon projects are always open-ended. I merely puled out two egg cartons, opened the bin of oddball supplies, and let the kids' imaginations go.


Even Baby P got involved, moving ribbons on F's abstract rainbow piece. I made a boring ole' person with a cotton ball head. Agent 004 took my idea and ran -- she has cotton ball people sitting on an egg carton bus. Agent 002 thought that the bus looked like a stop light, so he made a similar structure, but colored his cotton balls red, yellow, and green.

I love to see how the ideas flow.

Next week's theme is "pipe cleaners." I can't wait to see what we come up with.

I'm a Grammy!

It is official -- Agent 004 is Kayley Warillever's mommy for ever and ever and ever.

In a ceremony that mimicked Cousin P's adoption finalization to the "T," Agent 004 signed her Cabbage Patch Kid's adoption certificate yesterday in front of a judge (me). Then, just like we did for P, we had tea and cake to celebrate.

Updated 1/30/08 to include a picture of me holding my first precious grandchild.

I Always Considered Myself a Piglet

Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!

First Blood

There have been a lot of milestones over the past week.

• P's adoption was finalized, and he also began to walk and got his first tooth.
• Agents 002 and 004 have started writing phonetic words to go along with their drawings -- "LD BG" for ladybug and "PgLeT" for Piglet.
• Cousin F has started writing "F"s spontaneously and recognizably every time she gets hold of a crayon.
• Agent 004 and Cousin F had their first knock-down, drag-out fight. Okay, not their first, but the first one in which one was covered in blood and the other needed an ice pack. Who said that boys are rough?
  

There once was a Mommy named B

I haven't shared any poetry in a while.

There once was a mommy named B
Home with baby and toddlers three.
Four kids and a cat,
Plus a man that's all that,
Who wouldn't want to be me?

more limericks at Rocks in My Dryer.

Grand Adventures

Not that this is anything new, but you may have noticed that I am behind on my blog posting. I have a good excuse this time, I swear. We have been out of the country on a grand adventure -- five days in the Canadian backwoods.

Okay, not really the backwoods, but we did spend five days playing outdoors in Canada. Grandma's Christmas present to the entire clan was a 5-day stay at a ski resort. Our home for the week was a luxurious log cabin ten-minutes from a large alpine ski resort and within a national park (or is that parc national?).

It was amazing, astonishing, extraordinary, incredible and lots of other initial-vowel adjectives. Did I mention that it was really nice?

The big kids (which includes Agent 002) spent three full days skiing on the mountain, while the little folks (including Agent 004) tried out the bunny hill and explored the village.

Aunt K, Uncle Ichabod and I got a chance to head out on cross-country skis for an afternoon while the dads took the kids snow-tubing.

A marvelous time.

Now to explain the dearth of blogging. Have you ever packed for an outdoor cold-weather vacation? On the day after Christmas? While trying to keep the rear window unobstructed for the six-hour drive?

Impossible, I tell you. Well, not if you have mr warillever around. He pulled out the van's back bench and built a ski rack along the floor. Then we piled our baggage on top of that. It was an act of sure genius. We managed to fit eight pairs of skis (we each have a pair for cross-country and downhill), as well as snowsuits, mittens, hats, clothing, and Christmas gifts.

And then there is all the work after a trip. Laundry (loads and loads of laundry), finding places for all of the new toys that generous aunts and uncles gifted, and dealing with young children on a post holiday, post-vacation let-down.

But the laundry is almost done, the toys are mostly away, and the children are falling back into a normal routine. And it really was a grand adventure.

Thank You, Santa!

A note from the Agents to Santa:Merry Christmas, everyone!

I Thought I was Worth More than This

Pholph's Scrabble Generator My Scrabble© Score is: 16. What is your score? Get it here.

What with a "W" and all.

The House of Seven Chimneys

I love living in an old house.

Character, as they say.
That, and drafts.But it looks pretty under the snow, doesn't it?

The Christmas Factory

The workers:









Our production line:










And the final product:

The Price of Living in Paradise

Winter hasn't even started, but I think that mr warillever is ready for spring already.
Notice that both of these pictures were taken from inside the house.....

Forget the Elves.....

I know that y'all have seen dancing elves, but how about them turkeys?

Made me laugh. Had to share.

HT: Happy Catholic

Doesn't That Just make You Feel Festive?

A Meal Fit for a Queen

The kids have decided that they are big, so they should cook for me.

Not that nutritious gruel that I cook for them, but good stuff like french fries and ice cream and donuts and candy canes.

As I jotted their proposed menu on an envelope, Agent 002 asked if he could use the list when he drives to the store to buy food to cook for me. Because, you know, he is big enough to drive to the store, buy groceries, and cook a meal, but hasn't quite gotten down that writing words thing.

Yes, I am one of Those People

....who gets very chipper as Christmas approaches.

Christmas Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper.
   
2. Real tree or artificial? Real. The warillever men went out into the woods and killed it themselves.
   
3. When do you put up the tree? We put it up the day after Thanksgiving, but didn't decorate it for another week.
   
4. When do you take the tree down? Just after the Epiphany.
5. Do you like eggnog? I have one glass at Thanksgiving and Christmas. My husband and daughter LOVE the stuff and could drink it by the gallon.
   
6. Favourite gift received as a child? My first bike. My godfather got it for me when was three or so.
   
7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes.
8. Hardest person to buy for? Curt Jester says Jesus, and I think he's right. But as for members of my family, it would have to be mr warillever. Not because he is picky, but because I always want it to be "just right."
   
9. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I honestly can't remember any notably bad presents.
   
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? The real thing, with very cute pictures of the agents as an insert.
    
11. Favourite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life.
    
12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Should I start soon?
    
13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Absolutely.
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Bread pudding.
    
15. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear lights on the tree, but colored lights on the bushes out front.
16. Favourite Christmas song? Silent Night.
    
17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home.
18. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Ruben and Steve?
    
19. Angel on the tree top or a star? Nothing. The tree is jammed right up into the ceiling.
    
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning. And all day. At least the past two years, our kids have played with each gift as they opened it, so gift-opening literally takes all day.
    
21. Most annoying thing about this time of year? That, despite my good intentions, it makes me frantic.
    
22. Best thing about this time of year? The good will and cheer. It is the one time of the year when it is acceptable to be outright giddy about your faith. That we light up our lawns, bring wildlife into our houses, bake cookies, sing songs, throw parties, give gifts, and drink hot wine, all to celebrate the birth of our Lord.
    

stolen from the Curt Jester

Fitting Motto for this Blog

Only the mediocre are always at their best.
Jean Giraudoux