Stories from Ruth

I am not an organized person. I have never claimed to be an organized person. I will never be an organized person and I am perfectly ok with that. Over the past 4 years, as we've started the whole school thing with one, then two and now three kids, I've collected their goodies. Pictures, paintings, stories, report cards, certificates, crafts, handprints and all those other cute things teachers feel the need to send home have accumulated in this house. I think naturally, we collect and record more of the first child's accomplishments than the kids who follow, but I think I've done a pretty good job of collecting the girls as well! They each have a box where their special papers go. Once they are out of the backpack, looked over and praised... they go to the box. If they aren't in the box... they go in the trash. It's hard to put them in the trash, so sometimes those things happen when the eyes aren't around.

Tonight I was adding to Ruth's box and found lots and lots and LOTS of papers in there. Most of the time I crack the lid and slide in whichever paper was deemed worthy of the box, but tonight I actually lifted the lid and looked. It seems Ruth is proud of ALL her work! Even the Weekly Readers had been placed ever so carefully in the box. So, I decided to thin it out while she was in the tub. What I found were a bunch of papers I don't remember ever seeing to begin with. She has some pretty cute stories. I shall write them here to remember them forever!

The dinosaur livd a log tim a go. Som dinosaur eat met. This story is illustrated with a single green long neck dinosaur. They were studying dinosaurs that week. She even made a paper mache one to go in the box!

She studied plants and flowers several weeks back. This picture has 13 colorful flowers at the top of her page. Each flower is labeled "stem" and "petals" and "roots". The directions under the picture read... Plants need sun. Plants need wotr. Plants need dirt.

Here's another step by step instruction from Chef Ruthie... First, mix the cake. Next, bake the cake. Last, eat the cake. They must have talked about writing steps or instructions because all the words are spelled correctly and the punctuation is there as well.

Here's one from Christmas... a picture of Ruth and Santa (someone who has never really been involved in our family celebrations), Dear Santa, I have been very good. Please bring me a present. Love, Ruthie

If I were a gift, I would be an American Girl doll. I believe this was aided as the last line is written in big girl handwriting.

Christmas is a happy time. Rutie (yes, the 'h' is missing)

My favorite animal is a dog. Ruthie

one of my favorites... I like me! Ruthie and there's a self portrait as well.

Penguins can swim really fast. Ruthie

I am thankful for Jesus. Ruthie

I love my Gramo and my GraPo. I love my mommy. (there was an "and" after mommy that was erased. I'm thinking she realized there wasn't enough room for daddy's name and decided to be done instead of trying to squeeze him in.)

If I had 100 dollars, I would buy a Puy. This has a picture of a spotted puppy, so that's what I think Puy means. :)

The Circus is Very old. The Clowns Came from harseback riding. Ruthie You should see the picture of the clowns on horseback!

My favorite animal is a dog. It is a Mammal. Ruthie

I Want to Ride a ElePhant. - not as exciting as seeing the picture she drew of herself on an elephant.... a pretty good one too.

more instructions... First, put on socks. Next, put on shoes. Last, tie your shoes. Again, the pictures are cracking me up. 3 pictures of herself, the first with dangling "socks" from her hands. The second, dangling socks with strings. And the last... really does have little bow ties on her feet.

Today is Monday. It is almost Thanksgiving. The weather is sunny.

I can see a red dog. Ruthie - 4 dogs in a line- red, blue, spotted, and green.

The mice jumped in the jars to paint.

And my very favorite story I found... My mommy wit on a croos. My daddy wit on a croos. I wavd godbi befor they left.

I have got to figure out a way to scan in the picture!