Paper Airplanes

As many of you do, I blew up 18 balloons and put tiny pieces of paper in them with fun things to do. Peep and the Big Wide World episodes (which if you don't know about, you must drop EVERYTHING and check out--click here and then come back to read the rest), bubbles, lollipops, and lots of other minor blows to my pocket book but thrilling experiences for 6 and 7 year olds.

Though I am keeping it interesting, busy, educational, and fun, they are still complaining constantly. I'm like, dude, are you kidding me? Yesterday I brought in cool origami paper and a big book of paper airplanes. I was very clear about the fact that The Rocket was not only the easiest one but also the sleekest and most flight appropriate. But did they listen to me? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo they did not! First they spent precious moments complaining about how I wouldn't just make it for them. I calmly explained that not only did I not want to make 18 airplanes, but that this was a following directions activity. So get on it! They took a l-o-n-g time to make the Hangar and the Stealth, all very cool looking. But they did not absorb nor believe apparently that the Rocket was the secret weapon.

We finished up hours a little while later and I buzzed the office to say we'd be outside working on a "project". Then we took easily 15 minutes lining up, talking in line, sitting back down, lining up again, shoving in line, sitting back down, lining up again. We did a few practice runs and that's when the tears started. My Hang Glider doesn't go anywhere! Yup I know, I solemnly nodded. The Stealth Bomber isn't stealth at all! Oh dear, I whispered. The Rocket however, oh the Rocket, glided through the air like a hawk horning in on its prey. We had our contest. I declared a winner and presented him with a left over pink bubbles necklace. The other kids said it wasn't fair. I said "hey welcome to the real world where sometimes there really are losers. He won fair and square." Some cried, but I didn't back down because hey I warned them. Make the Rocket I said. Listen to me next time.

4 and 1/2 days left for those who like to keep track of such things.