David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories – Week 8

Here’s this week’s offering from David:

An awesome bird drawing David made.

And one from Nathaniel:

Nathaniel’s pumpkin predictions from class.


David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories is a two projects I’m doing with my kids for 2015. You can read more about it here.

David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories – Week 7

Here’s this week’s offering from David:

A plants vs zombies scene david drew a long time ago. I love looking at this.

And one from Nathaniel:

Some Satrbucks cards Nathaniel loves and a few photos of him when he was much younger.


David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories is a two projects I’m doing with my kids for 2015. You can read more about it here.

David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories – Week 6

Here’s this week’s offering from David:

And yet another card from Ari. Isn’t he awesome?

And one from Nathaniel:

A Window art Nathaniel made in class.


David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories is a two projects I’m doing with my kids for 2015. You can read more about it here.

David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories – Week 5

Here’s this week’s offering from David:

Another card from his friend Ari.

and here it is when open:

And one from Nathaniel:

Spanish colors rainbow.


David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories is a two projects I’m doing with my kids for 2015. You can read more about it here.

David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories – Week 4

Here’s this week’s offering from David:

He has a card his friend Ari made for Valentine’s Day.

it comes out of the pocket:

And one from Nathaniel:

He has his handprint turkey.

it’s shimmery:


David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories is a two projects I’m doing with my kids for 2015. You can read more about it here.

David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories – Week 3

Here’s this week’s offering from David:

This is the other side of the same paperbag from last week.

And one from Nathaniel:

He has his handprint puzzle they made on the first day of Kindergarten.


David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories is a two projects I’m doing with my kids for 2015. You can read more about it here.

David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories – Week 2

Here’s this week’s offering from David:

He has his one side of the paperbag his classmates wrote on last year. all the things they like about David.

And one from Nathaniel:

He has his tricky words (sight words) written in rainbow colors.


David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories is a two projects I’m doing with my kids for 2015. You can read more about it here.

David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories – Week 1

Here’s this week’s offering from David:

He has his breaststroke ribbon and a fortuneteller he made and an origami Admiral Ackbar.

And one from Nathaniel:

He has his checklist from when we visited his classroom and his swimming ribbon.


David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories is a two projects I’m doing with my kids for 2015. You can read more about it here.

2015 – David and Nathaniel’s Books of Happy Memories

In 2012, David and I did a project called “David’s Book of Good Memories.” Even though he whined about it often when we did it, he really loves looking through the book. He still looks through it regularly. And it makes him happy.

So when we were trying to decide what project to do in 2015, both of the kids said they wanted to do another Book of Happy Memories. Nathaniel wanted to do one of his own, too. And it’s David’s last year at this school this year so I thought it would be good timing.

Each of the boys got a Moleskine lego notebook. Blue one for Nathaniel and white one for David. David’s is lined and Nathaniel’s is plain.

The idea is to collect all their lovely memorabilia from school in one place and then to write a little bit about what’s special about each thing.

I am really looking forward to doing this project again. It was really fun for us last time.

Projects with the Boys – Looking Back

As in the years past, I had two different projects for the boys this year. For David, the plan was to take online classes together and write about everything we learned. We did well for the first class. We took algebra together and learned a lot. We then struggled a bunch. We tried to take several other classes in: programming, grammar, and physics. But nothing stuck. We just didn’t seem to be able to get back in the rhythm. I feel sad about it but I am still glad we did as much as we did. Maybe we can do better in 2015.

Nathaniel’s project was considerably more successful. His task was to read me a book a week for the whole year. It started out being tough and slow since he didn’t know how to read but we finished the year strong and he’s an excellent reader now. I am very, very proud of him.

Here is the list of books he read to me:

  1. I Love My New Toy!
  2. The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!
  3. That is Not a Good Idea!
  4. Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!
  5. The Pigeon Wants a Puppy
  6. The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?
  7. We are in a Book!
  8. There Is a Bird on Your Head!
  9. I Broke my Trunk!
  10. Are you Ready to Play Outside?
  11. Should I Share my Ice Cream?
  12. Happy Pig Day!
  13. I Will Surprise my Friend!
  14. Today I will Fly!
  15. I am Invited to a Party!
  16. Watch me Throw the Ball!
  17. My Friend is Sad
  18. What’s Your Sound Hound the Hound?
  19. Let’s Go For a Drive!
  20. A Big Guy Took my Ball!
  21. Elephants Cannot Dance!
  22. Pigs Make me Sneeze!
  23. I am Going!
  24. I’m a Frog!
  25. Listen to my Trumpet!
  26. Pete the Cat – Rocking in my School Shoes
  27. Pete the Cat – I love my White Shoes
  28. Knuffle Bunny
  29. Knuffle Bunny Free
  30. Leonardo the Terrible Monster
  31. Dragon’s Fat Cat
  32. A Friend for Dragon
  33. The Pigeon Needs a Bath
  34. Dragon Gets By
  35. Knuffle Bunny Too
  36. Dragon’s Halloween
  37. The Pigeon Loves Things that Go!
  38. The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!
  39. Lost and Found
  40. City Dog, Country Frog
  41. Drop It, Rocket
  42. Ice Cream for Breakfast
  43. Pete the Cat – Pete’s Big Lunch
  44. Minnie and Mo – Wanted Dead or Alive
  45. Ollie the Stomper
  46. Cork & Fuzz – The Swimming Lesson
  47. Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin
  48. Cork & Fuzz – Short and Tall
  49. Dog and Bear  – Two Friends Three Stories
  50. Waiting is not Easy!

There we go. Fifty books in a year. Not too shabby.

Learning with David – Week 14

This class is by coursera.org and it’s writing class.


Learning with David is a project for 2014 that I am doing with my 9-year-old son. You can read more about it here.

Learning with David – Week 13

This week David and I switched to a class by coursera.org and it’s writing class.


Learning with David is a project for 2014 that I am doing with my 9-year-old son. You can read more about it here.