Reflections Awards 2009

McKenzie and Elise both entered the PTA Relections contest this year. They each submitted a drawing and a photograph.

Elise was awarded first place ribbons for both her drawing and photograph at her school, Grove Elementary.

Elise's photograph was taken at Ecola Park in Cannon Beach, OR during our vacation there last summer.

Her favorite animal right now is the hippo. She can't get enough of the hippo.

McKenzie was awarded a first place ribbon for her photograph and an honorable mention for her drawing.

McKenzie also took her picture at Ecola Park. She got some big "Ooooh"s from the crowd at the school district's award ceremony.

Flamingos are all the rage with McKenzie this year.

The school then forwarded their first place winning entries to the district level. It's a shame McKenzie's drawing wasn't eligible to be forwarded on to the district contest. I know I'm biased, but it really was much better than most of the award winners.

Elise won a second place ribbon for her photograph and a participation award for her drawing.

McKenzie won a first place ribbon for her photograph.

The girls were both excited to come home pretty ribbons. We're proud of them for just making the effort.

Conversations with McKenzie

These all took place at the breakfast table this morning.

McKenzie: Sometimes when I'm talking---and this has only happened at home, well, maybe once or twice at school---but sometimes when I'm talking, a little drool slips out of my mouth. But it mostly just happens at home.

When the kids do embarrassing things at home I always ask, "You don't do that at school, do you?"

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McKenzie is always getting after Elise about clearing her dishes from the table.

McKenzie: When I grow up my family's going to have a rule that if you don't clear your dish from the meal before, you have to use that same dish for the next meal.

Me: Did you just make that up?

McKenzie: No, I've been thinking about it for a few weeks.

For weeks.

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Future hopes and dreams.

McKenzie: When I grow up, I want to have 9 kids---5 girls and 4 boys.

Me: Why?

McKenzie: Because I have lots of names to use plus I just want to. There's going to be Dominic, Lexi, Christopher and Chrysanthemum (they're twins and we're going to call them both Chris because Chryssy would be like a tomboy and Christoper wouldn't like Christopher), Trevor, Lola and Kylee (they're twins too), and Sunny.

Me: You're missing a boy.

McKenzie: I have it written down in my journal. Do you want me to grab it real quick?

Me: If you want.

McKenzie, not finished with her breakfast: I'll take my toast. Coming back downstairs. It was Sam. OK, so it's Dominic and then Lexi Lily, Christopher Frank and Chrysanthemum Joy (wait, it's really Joy Chrysanthemum), Trevor Fred, Lola Violet and Kylee Rose, Sam Phil, and Sunny Lupin.

Me: Lupin?

McKenzie: It's a flower. I want all the girls' second names to be flowers.

Me: How come Dominic doesn't have a second name?

McKenzie: I thought my husband could pick that one. Remember my caterpillars' names? (McKenzie's second grade class studied caterpillars and each student got to raise a few of their own from caterpillar to butterfly.)

Me: No.

McKenzie: Well, all of my boys' second names are my caterpillars' names: Frank, Fred and Phil.

Me: Oh, OK. Go brush your teeth.

McKenzie: Oh! I left my toast upstairs!

I can't wait for her to read her journal in about ten years.