TOO MUCH IS JUST RIGHT

Ellery: That Vanilla Pistachio soap smells so good! Sometimes I overdo it. Well...I always overdo it.

THAT'LL SHOW HER

Ellery: I want to show Lizzie how much I love her and not just for her iPad and phone.

Mom: How are you going to do that?

Ellery: I'll wear my special shoes!

A WISH GRANTED ALMOST INSTANTLY

Dane and Maggie were poised at the edge of the Alderwood Mall fountain, ready to receive their wishing pennies.

"What are you going to wish for?" Aunt Monica asked Maggie.

"I'm going to wish for a stuffed animal teddy bear," Maggie said.

"Dane, what are you going to wish for?"

"I'm going to wish for a penny to throw in there," Dane declared.

MY LITTLE GRAMMARIAN

Ellery and Mom were getting ready to go to the zoo.

"Here's your shoes," Mom said as she handed them to Ellery.

"It would sound better to say, 'Here are your shoes.'" Ellery corrected gently.

Ellery had been sick all week. She told me sadly, "I feel a little unconscious in my belly."

***

When she returned to school after missing a whole week, Ellery was very excited to see everyone and to have everyone see her. It happened to be Valentines Day, however, and her classmates were all buzzing about what kind of valentines and party snacks they had brought.

Disappointed at their lack of interest in her, Ellery said tragically, "It's like I don't even exist!"

WHAT DANE SAYS

Dane discovered a cut on his foot. He immediately called Mimi to tell her all about his "short cut."

Dane and Mimi were playing with beads. A little later, Dane asked, "Mimi, could we play with those beetles again?"

Dane: Mimi, could you give me too many crackers?

THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SOLVE A MATH PROBLEM

Ellery was working on her homework.

Kim has 7 toy cars. Sam has 6 toy cars. How many toy cars do they have? Show your strategy for solving.

Ellery drew herself with a talk bubble saying, "Mom, what's 7+6?" and Mom with a talk bubble saying, "13."