Bedtime Rhyme

Running in the backyard.

Swinging in the park.

Chasing after lightening bugs

Until it’s almost dark.

Sticky chocolate ice cream,

Trucks and trikes, and trains!

Thanks, God, for tomorrow

When I can play again

Happen at your house?

A Dog Named Chew

Jackson just got a dog named Chew

It turned out to be a good name, too,

Chew liked to steal and hide their shoes!

What can we do with a dog named Chew?

Chew stole Grandma's wedgies all feathered and blue.

Grandma gave that dog Chew a good talking to!

What can we do with a dog named Chew?

Chew stole mother's flats from Kalamazoo.

Where they are now, she hasn't a clue.

What can we do with a dog named Chew?

He stole Jackson's gym shoes when he wandered through.

They smelled pretty bad, but what could Chew do?

What can we do with a dog named Chew?

Chew stole to the crib and took Claries' baby shoes

Then he licked her toes for a minute or two.

What can we do with a dog named Chew?

He stole Uncle's wingtips that were almost brand new.

Uncle called the whole family for security review.

What can we do with a dog named Chew?

So everyone met. Mom offered shoe glue,

but Jackson replied that it just would not do!

And Uncle said a time out was long overdue

But Jackson said time out was strictly taboo.

Then Jackson suggested out of the blue

That maybe a new name was what they should do,

and a dog friend to play with to complete the coup.

So the Dog that was previously known as Chew

Had his name changed to Ballyhoo

and his new doggie friend is Hullabaloo!

They're noisy together but one thing is true:

Jackson can (usually!) now find his own shoes!

Traditional Tale Retold

The Little Boy and the Big Sea

A traditional tale from the Netherlands

In a town by the North Sea lived Niels, a little boy who wanted to do a big job.

Niels said to Father, "Can I work in the mill with you today?"

"No," said Father. "You are too small to work in the mill."

Niels said to his brother Simon, "Can I work in the tulip field with you today?"

"No," said Simon. “You are too small for field work."

Generations ago people of the Netherlands put up dikes, long walls, and drained the land inside. They used the good soil for growing food and tulips. So Niels walked by himself down by the dike.

As Niels ran his hand along the thick wall that held out the sea, he found a wet place. Looking up he spotted a tiny hole in the dike and a thin trickle of water coming through.

Niels tried to put mud in the hole to plug it, but the sea washed it away at once. What was the right size for the little hole? As he touched the wet place on the wall with his hand, he saw the answer. Standing on his tiptoes, he reached up and put his finger in the hole.

The water stopped.

He could feel the sea on the other side. He thought, “If I take my finger out the sea will come rushing in.”

The sun set and the evening came. The mill stopped grinding and the cowbells jingled as they headed to the barn. Niels' arm was very tired, and his legs ached from standing on tiptoe, but he would not take his finger out of the dike.

Finally, he heard Simon and Father calling him.

"Niels!" called Father. "We were looking all over for you."

Simon said, "Look at Niels! He plugged the dike and held back the sea!"

Quickly Father brought sand and cement. He prepared the mixture and the minute Niels took his finger out of the dike, his father filled the hole. The town was safe!

Father carried Niels home on his back, and Simon led the way shouting what Niels had done. The town council met that night and made a decision.

"It is hereby decreed that from today on the Official Inspector of Dikes is Niels!"

Niels would not work in the mill or the fields. He had his own very big job.

Big changes in the new year!

Dragon Wings

No sign of them at all!

Victoria Dragon twisted to look over her left shoulder. She turned to look under her right arm. She was already three years and three months and three days old. Where were her wings?

"Maybe there is a magic to growing wings. I'll ask the Great High Wizard of Winged Things!"

Victoria Dragon did a Happy Dragon Dance and sang,

“To the Wizard’s Woods I go!

Wings need magic so they’ll grow!”

She approached his throne and said, “Great High Wizard of Winged Things, I am three years and three months and three days old, and I want to fly. Please give me magic to make my wings grow.”

The Great High Wizard of Winged Things said, “Time is the only magic.”

But when he saw her sad face, he added, “I lost a feather from my wizard cape. Bring me a Fuchsia Feather from the Bola Bird. Your wings will grow.”

Victoria Dragon did a Jumba Rumpus dance and sang,

“Up the Bola Tree I go!

Wings need magic so they’ll grow!”

She clambered to the nest of the Bola Bird and said, “Pretty Bola Bird! Please give me a Fuchsia Feather. I’ll take it to the Great High Wizard of Winged Things. I want magic to grow wings.”

She said, “Certainly, but I need something sharp to weave this last hole in my nest. Please bring me a Used Tooth from the Bat that Flies at Night.”

Victoria Dragon did a Skiddly-ho-ho-ho dance and sang,

“In the dark Bat Cave I go!

Wings need magic so they’ll grow!”

Victoria crept into the cave of the Bat that Flies at Night.

She said, “Swift Bat that Flies at Night, please give me a Used Tooth. I’ll take it to the Bola Bird so she will give me a Fuchsia Feather. I’ll take that to the Great High Wizard of Winged Things. I want magic to grow wings.”

He said, “Certainly, but our cave needs the sweet smell of honey. Please bring me a Thimble of Bumble Dust from the Buzzing Bee.”

Victoria Dragon did the Misty Twisty Toes dance and sang,

“To the Bumble Hive I go!

Wings need magic so they’ll grow!”

Victoria tiptoed to the hive of the Buzzing Bee.

She said “Sweetest Buzzing Bee, please give me a Thimble of Bumble Dust. I’ll take it to the Bat that Flies at Night so he will give me a Used Tooth to take to the Bola Bird so she will give me a Fuchsia Feather to take to the Great High Wizard of Winged Things. I want magic to grow wings.”

She said to Victoria, “Certainly, but our bees could make much better honey if they knew how to dance. Can you teach us how to dance?”

So Victoria taught them all the Happy Dragon Dances she knew. She showed them the Jumba Rumpus and Skiddly-ho-ho-ho and the Misty Twisty Toes. When she was finished dancing she was so tired, so very tired, she lay down in the tall grass, for just a moment. And closed her eyes, for just a moment. And….

As the sun peeked over the edge of the world, Buzzing Bee woke Victoria and said, “Our bees danced from dusk to dawn and our honey is the sweetest ever. Thank you! Here is the thimble of Bumble Dust.”

Victoria took it to the Bat the Flies at Night. He sprinkled it in the cave to make it smell sweet and gave her the Used Tooth. She took that to the Bola Bird. She used it to stitch up her nest – 1-2-3 – and gave her the Fuchsia Feather. At last Victoria returned to the Great High Wizard of Winged Things.

“Here I am!” she called. “It has taken me a whole day and night, but I am ready for the magic to grow wings”

The Great High Wizard of Winged Things took the Fuchsia Feather and attached it to his cape.

He said, “Time is the only Magic, Victoria. Tell me, how old are you?”

Victoria answered, “I am three years and three months and three…no, four days old!”

“Then,” said the Wizard, “look behind you.”

Victoria Dragon twisted to look over her left shoulder. Then she turned to look under her right arm. In the place where her wings should be, she saw the beginnings of where her wings would be. As she watched they grew strong and long and opened to glint in the morning sun. Victoria was so excited she danced all her Happy Dragon dances. Even the Great High Wizard of Winged Things joined in the Jumba-Rumba!

Then the Wizard smiled and said, “Now fly, Victoria Dragon. The sky is waiting for you!”

Down Under Christmas!

Christmas Bush Dance

It's a Down Under Christmas

Down underneath the tree:

There's 1 waltzing wallaby.

It's a Down Under Christmas

Down underneath the tree:

2 koala can-can,

And 1 waltzing wallaby.

It's a Down Under Christmas

Down underneath the tree:

3 bopping Billbie,

2 koala can-can,

And 1 waltzing wallaby.

When it's Christmas down under

Look down under the tree:

4 Devils dervish,

3 bopping Billbie,

2 koala can-can,

And 1 waltzing wallaby.

It's a Down Under Christmas

Down underneath the tree:

 (5) Can you emu?

4 Taz's twirling,

3 bopping Billbie,

2 koala can-can,

And 1 waltzing wallaby.

It's a Down Under Christmas

Down underneath the tree:

7 wombats waddle,

6 quokka (ko-ka) cakewalk,

(5) Can you emu?

4 devils dervish,

3 bopping Billbie,

2 koala can-can,

And 1 waltzing wallaby.

It's a Down Under Christmas

Down underneath the tree:

9 gliding Goanna,

8 Bandicoot bopping,

7 wombats waddle,

6 quokka cakewalk,

(5) Can you emu?

4 Devils dervish,

3 bopping Billbie,

2 koala can-can,

And 1 waltzing wallaby.

It's a Down Under Christmas

Down underneath the tree:

11 walaroo whirling,

10 prancing platypus,

9 gliding Goanna,

8 Bandicoot bopping ,

7 wombats waddle,

6 quokka cakewalk,

(5) Can you emu?

4 Devils dervish,

3 bopping Billbie,

2 koala can-can,

And 1 waltzing wallaby.

It's a Down Under Christmas

Down underneath the tree:

12 dingo disco

11 walaroo whirling

10 prancing Platypus

9 gliding Goanna

8 Bandicoot bopping

7 wombats waddle

6 quokka cakewalk

(5) Can you emu?

4 Devils dervish

3 bopping Billbie

2 koala can-can

And 1 waltzing wallaby.

Happy Christmas, Mate!

Christmas Down Under:

Bandicoot - mid sized rat

Billbie - long nosed rat

Dingo - wild dog

Emu - second largest living bird, flightless

Goanna - monitor lizard.

Koala - tree dwelling marsupial

Platypus - egg laying duck billed mammal

Quokka - kangaroo member the size of a cat

Tasmanian Devil - largest carnivorous marsupial

Walaroo - mix of a wombat and kangaroo

Wallaby - small member of the kangaroo family

Wombat - short-legged marsupial

Fun story for lots of readers and noise!

Lamb in a Ditch

You know the part of the Christmas story about the angels singing and telling about the new baby king. And you know that part about the shepherds running and running to see the baby in Bethlehem. But maybe you don't know what happened between those two parts of the story.

What with the bright lights from the angels and all the singing filling, up the night sky, the shepherds were not watching the sheep too closely. It is not surprising one of the baby lambs fell into the ditch in all the excitement.

So when the shepherds finally came to their senses and were getting ready to go to Bethlehem, one of the sheep looked around and could not find her baby. She looked everywhere and then she saw him, in the ditch.  Well she couldn't leave him so she took hold of her baby lamb, and she pulled and pulled and pulled but that baby lamb was stuck in the ditch.

And the sheep said, "Baa."

And when no one the sheep said, "Baa" again.

Everyone was really busy so the sheep said, "Baa" one more time, and over ambled a little shepherd.

When the little shepherd saw the baby lamb in the ditch, he took hold of the sheep who took hold of her baby lamb and together they pulled and pulled and pulled, but that baby was stuck in the ditch.

The little shepherd said, "Help!"!"

And the sheep said, "Baa."

And when no one came little shepherd said, "Help!"!"

And the sheep said, "Baa" again.

Everyone was really bus  so the little shepherd said, "Help!"

And the sheep said, "Baa" one more time, and over strolled a big shepherd.

When he saw the baby lamb in the ditch, he took hold of the little shepherd who took hold of the sheep who took hold of her baby lamb and together they pulled and pulled and pulled, but that baby lamb was stuck in the ditch.

The big shepherd said "More help!"

The little shepherd said, "Help!"!"

And the sheep said, "Baa."

And when no one came big shepherd said "More help!"

The little shepherd said, "Help!"!"

And the sheep said, "Baa" again.

Everyone was really busy so the big shepherd said "More help!"

The little shepherd said, "Help!"

And the sheep said, "Baa" one more time, and over fluttered an angel.

The Heavenly Host were still finishing up the postlude, and of course no one was listening.

When the angel saw the baby lamb in the ditch, she took hold of the big shepherd who took hold of the little shepherd who took hold of the sheep who took hold of her baby lamb and together they pulled and pulled and pulled, but that baby was stuck in the ditch.

So the angel said, "Alleluia!"

The big shepherd said "More help!"

The little shepherd said, "Help!"!"

And the sheep said, "Baa."

And when no one came the angel said, "Alleluia!"

The big shepherd said "More help!"

The little shepherd said, "Help!"!"

And the sheep said, "Baa" again.

Everyone was really busy so the angel said, "Alleluia!"

The big shepherd said "More help!"

The little shepherd said, "Help!"

And the sheep said, "Baa" one more time, and over scampered a tiny squeak of a mouse.

Well the angles and the shepherd and the little shepherd and the sheep laughed and laughed and said, "Don’t be silly. We who are big and strong can't. How can you make any difference?"

But the mouse really wanted to try so the mouse took hold of the angel and she took hold of the big shepherd and he took hold of the little shepherd and he took hold of the sheep and she took hold of her baby lamb and together they pulled and pulled and pulled.

POP out of the ditch came the little lamb.

The Angel said, "Alleluia!"

By now it was getting really late, and the angels had packed up their instruments so they all flew back to heaven.

And the shepherds and sheep hoped the gates of Bethlehem would not be closed so they could ran to see the new baby king.

But the little mouse just sat in the darkness and looked at the new star in the sky and thought to himself, "See sometimes a little more help is all you need to get the job done."

And that is a good thing for you to remember this Christmas when things get busy and everyone is in a hurry. There may be lots of big things to do, but you can always give a little help. And sometimes a little more help is all that is needed to get the job done.

An easy rhyme for Christmas!

In a stable full of hay

This is what the cows all say:

Moooo, mooo!

Welcome, baby Jesus!

Moo, moo, moo!

In a stable full of hay

This is what the mice all say:

Squeeeek, squeeeeek!

Welcome, baby Jesus!

Squeek, squeek, squeek!

In a stable full of hay

This is what the cats all say:

Meeeeeow, meeeeeow!

Welcome, baby Jesus!

Meow, meow, meow!

In a stable full of hay

This is what the doves all say:

Coooo, cooo!

Welcome, baby Jesus!

Coo, coo,coo!

In a stable full of hay

This is what the children say:

Jesus Christ is born today!

Welcome, baby Jesus!

Hoo-ray! Hoo-ray! Hoo-ray!