two days

Tuesday Maddie and I began our day with watching Between the Folds.
I wonder how many times, between the two of us, we whispered "wow..." in amazement.

Naturally, that led us to thoughts and supposes that we should be putting Origami books on hold at the library.  Check.

Her mama spent the rest of the morning (and much of the afternoon, actually) trying to put certain butterfly patterns together... to no avail.  Hmmph.

Nevermind that... eventually we were in pursuit of a different sort of paper craft.

Add friends and shouts and giggles over the computer, and there went the day.

The next morning (pre children wake-up) I spent all of my time finishing the 'math play' post.

That must have had some effect upon my mind, for then I was contemplating how the soroban abacus works, and had an Aha!!  I had figured out how to use the abacus.  For simple mathematics.  Up through ten billion.  Excellent.

"Trevelyn!  I figured out how to use the abacus!"
"And this effects me, how?" He asks slowly, as he plays and swoops on the wii.  :)
"Oh!" I said cheekily.  "Now I can share my knowledge with You!"
"Cool." He said.  Distracted, still?  Maybe.  But... well.  ' Course a Mama has to share.

Eventually, we sat with paper, pen, the calculator, and the abacus.
"I wanna show you this, Bud.  It's cool.  D'you want the calculator job, or the adding job, first?"
"I want the adding job!" Pipes in Madd.
"Okay.  Want the calculator job then, first, Bud?"
"Yes.  I'll take the calculator."
And so.

"Cool, right?" I could see that he was pleased with himself, and getting all of this.
"Very cool."  Mmhmm.  :)

"What's next, guys?

Quoridor

Katamino

Quarto

Rumis

Snap Circuits Jr.

 The Complete Tales & Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh.

"Mama... will you read me this?"

Gladly.

It's a fine, fine life.