Mad Libs

I remember when I was a kid, my friends having these little pads called "Mad Libs" and everybody cracking up at the silly little stories that they would create. I never got them. I didn't think they were funny. I still don't get them, but my kids LOVE them.
Surprisingly, I have also come to enjoy them. Not because I think they are funny, but because my kidos are "doing English" and don't even know it. Their writing skills are improving and they are unaware that their dear sweet mama is teaching them anything.
In case you have never experienced a "Mad Lib" story, here is how it works. Inside the pad are a bunch of stories with key words removed. Before you read the story there is a list of words you need to complete. They ask for nouns, verbs, adverbs, place, verbs ending in ing, numbers, plural nouns, etc. Then you read through the story adding in the list of words you just created, making the story nonsensical.
We started out with simple choices, like red for adjectives and quickly for adverbs. But since we done a bunch of them, now they are getting more creative like daintily and exuberant.
While watching the snow fall yesterday, they pulled out the "School House Rock" DVD and watched all the English themed ones so they would be ready for more "Mad Libs".
This is pretty cool for me. My little one, while reading out loud for me said, "That's a good word, I need to remember that." YES!
Now, I still don't get the humor of these. We have about 10 now and there subject matter runs from Star Wars, to outer space, to survival scenarios. There have been stories that they want to go figure out what the real answers should be. BONUS! And it has been a great family activity. Everyone sits together and we go from youngest to oldest or inside out or in alphabetical order, filling out the list. Then they giggle their heads off and say "Can we do just one more Mom, ppppppleeeeeeeeeeeassssse?" And I will say, "No more fun today, go pull out your math books." and they never even know what I have done. Hee hee hee.

2012

I have always been one who likes to keep busy. Not cleaning or working or cooking or anything like that, but busy. Busy with fun projects, busy with the kids, busy shopping for great deals, busy serving friends and family, busy running the kids to this lesson or that, busy planning this trip, busy planning that garden. You know, busy.
But looking over the past year, I look at all the things we did and didn't do and I, in the spirit of new year beginnings, am going to make some changes. There are a few things that I am passionate about, and somehow those things seem to have been lacking my attention. Time to refocus.
My goal is to focus more on things that are going to grow my kidos into the mighty men and women of of God that I want them to be. This means we need to finish some the projects we have started. It also means spending more time outside instead of on the many electronic devices we have accumulated. (I do love my NOOK!) It also means spending more time studying. Not just school, but more Bible and self improvement things. It also means spending more active time being nice to one another.
I have a stack of sewing projects, knitting projects, recipes that I have gleaned from the many blogs I follow. In fact I have thought of starting a blog about the things I found on blogs. But alas, not yet. I have to actually do these things and not just have them in my favorites list. So that is one of my goals, get that list cleared out.
And of course, get off some weight, get the house cleaned, organize my stuff, de-clutter..blah blah blah. Still don't like those things, they aren't fun, but I do need to do them all so, yeah, I guess I'll add them to the goal list.
I had a friend ask me, if I were the director and producer and actor in the movie of the rest of my life, what would I want it to look like. Last year was full of sadness and joy, being with extended family and missing those who have gone on to be with the Lord. It was full of taking care of mom in law. I learned more about myself and those around me. Being apart from my children during those times, I have been able to focus more in my mind the way I want my life to look.
Most importantly, I want to be surrounded by those I love. I want to be an accomplish-er, not just a dreamer. I want to be focused, not just busy.