Tele-Pictionary

This is my all time favorite party game.  Okay, it's actually my favorite game, period.

Directions:

1) Give each person in the group a pencil and a stack of papers equal to the number of people playing.   

2) Number each sheet 1 through N.

3) On their first sheet each player writes a sentence or two about anything then passes the stack of paper to the person on their left.

4) The recipient of the stack reads the text, puts that sheet on the bottom of the stack, converts the text into an illustration on the next sheet, then passes the stack to the person on their left.

5) The new recipient looks at the picture, puts that sheet on the bottom of the stack, converts the image into text and passes the stack on.

6) Repeat steps 4-5 until the stack is returned to it's original owner.

7) When all are finished, take turns laying out and reading aloud the text-image-text-image sequence on the floor or a table.

8) Laugh really hard.

+++++

Overnight, he went from hairy hippy to shorn skinhead.

It was a clear and starry night when hobo Brian finally cut his hair.

The travel weary hobo gazed to the stars and moon as a tear gently slid down his cheek.  Raising the scissors to his hair, he thought of his Nazirite vow, what it meant, how he had failed.  His small pouch of possessions slid limply to the ground behind him.

As she left her lover's grave, she shed a tear as she sheared her long luscious locks in mourning.  But really, it was so no one recognized her from the bank robbery.

Bonnie rose from the dead to give herself one last haircut (your hair grows when you're dead, y'know) while Clyde drove the truck away with all the money.  The bastard!

Brian's Favorite Read-Aloud Kid Books

Maggie loves most of these books but this list isn't for the kids.  It's for me and you, the parent or other adult who reads to children.  A good read-aloud book makes it fun for you, which makes reading special for them.  So I guess the list kinda is for them.  Without further ado:

The Three Little Pigs.  A classic in any version so long as that big bad wolf keeps uttering his menacing refrain: I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!  Will there be enough room?  The ABCs get a little ambitious when they all try to climb the same tree.  A good one for younger kiddos and those learning the alphabet.

 Fox flusters a friend with infuriating tongue floppers.  You can't really go wrong with Dr. Seuss but this and Mr. Brown are definitely top notch.

Oh the wonderful things Mister Brown can do! Read it like an over-enthusiastic J. Peterman (Elaine's boss on Seinfeld).

A simple one that begs you to drum on the pages and sing-song your way through it.

But who is this creature with terrible claws and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws?  He has knobbly knees and turned-out-toes and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose.  Probably the most advanced on this list, Donaldson's modern classic has wonderful rhythm and repetition, a clever ending and an aurally inviting cast.

Wee Wa Wee Wa Rooty Toot Too!  Every page has it's own color that, along with the listed objects, gives the mood for the reader.  Filter it through your inner Miles Davis and you've got a winner.

Boynton is another safe bet for quality read-alouds but the Pookie books, which really hinge on the caring character of Pookie's mama (who, in my imagination, is delightfully ebullient, Southern, and full-figured), are especially enjoyable.

Even without a passable Grover impression, this postmodern wonder, which is about the very act of reading this very book, is a riot.  I dare you not to have fun bringing Grover's over-the-top fear to life.

Hope you enjoyed the list and maybe even found yourself a new read-aloud.  Let me know your favorites in the comments!

Merry Christmas from the Rushes

We hope you had a wonderful day celebrating Christ's birth!

Some outakes:

Word of the Week: Ah-poe

Ah-poe: (noun) any substance, composed of carbohydrates, water, fats, proteins and water, that can be eaten or drunk by animals, including humans, for nutrition or pleasure.

"Ah-poe!!!"

Word of the Week: Toothtaste

Toothtaste: (noun) a paste or gel dentifrice used with a toothbrush as an accessory to clean and maintain the aesthetics and health of teeth

"I need more toothtaste on my toothbrush."

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you are inspired to do the same, leave a link to your moment in the comments for all to find and see.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you are inspired to do the same, leave a link to your moment in the comments for all to find and see.

This Conversation Has Legs

Sitting in the Haggen cafeteria across the booth from Magnolia she occasionally gets excited and kicks.  My knees happen to be occupying the space she is intending to kick so I say "ow" and explain to her that she is causing me pain.  This happens several times.

Nearing the end of our meal I turn to clean Kaleia, who is in her car seat on the table.  Magnolia is done eating and has turned sideways, facing out of the booth, and starts muttering to herself.  As I give Kaleia the ol' you-can't-get-away-from-me-if-I-really-smoosh-your-face wipe off I hear Mags scolding, "uh uh," then I feel a kick, followed by an emphatic "uh uh!"

I turn to give her the stink eye but she is already facing away from me again.  

"Maggie, what are you doing?"

"I'm talking to my legs." 

Why is the Driveway Red?

Magnolia, as we are about to pull out the drive: "Papa, what's that?"

I look back at her in her car seat to see where she is looking: up through the sun roof.

"The sun?  Magnolia, please don't look right at the--"

"Why is the sky red?"

nervous, concerned laughter

"Papa, why is the driveway all red??"

Word of the Week: Classroom

Classroom: (noun) 1) a room or place, especially in a school, in which classes are conducted. 2) An outfit worn to create the appearance of a particular period, person, place or thing

"Mama, can we go to your classroom at your gool?"

"Last night, I wore my dog classroom."