Ellie the Swan

This week we are working on the letter Ss.  We kicked off the week with Arin drawing this picture and writing this very short story.  She revised the story several times before settling on the finished product.  The first draft included a dinosaur that wanted to eat the swans, but she decided that sounded too scary, so the dinosaur got the cut and was recasted with a best friend fairy instead!

Ellie the Swan

by Arin

Once upon a time there was a teeny, tiny swan named Ellie.  She was the only swan that could run fast.  She loved to swim and dive and eat frogs and flies.  Her best friend was a fairy.

The End!

Arin Brings Home a Four Leaf Clover

Arin Brings Home a Four Leaf Clover for Her Mom

By: Arin Peterson

One day, Daddy, Arin and Ella went out for a walk.  Then they found a bunch of four leaf clovers and they put them in their hands to bring home for Mommy.  Daddy wanted to take the long way home, but Arin said, "No, we want to go the short way."  Then Ella Jane got so tired and she wanted a snack and a drink, but there was none for her.  They were walking home from the lake and when they wanted to get home, they had to go around it.  Once they got all the way around it, they were done with their walk and they drove home in their car.

Once they got home, Ella said, "Close eyes, Mommy" and then "Surprise!" and they showed the clovers to their Mommy.  Mommy said, "They are so beautiful!"

Then Mommy, Daddy, Arin, and Ella went outside to play and climb some trees until a storm started.  They stayed home and then they read some books and played with their mother and daddy.  After that, the storn was gone and they went back outside to play.  Then they lived happily ever after.  The end!

A Shark Ate Mommy

I am not sure if I should be delighted that I got the starring role or be disturbed by this story.

A couple of days ago, Arin drew this picture and brought it to me.

Arin: This is a picture of you, Mommy.  You are at the beach.  A wave crashed over you (notice the blue scribble marks over the person).  You were swimming in the ocean and you did not camouflage in, so a shark came and ate you. 

Me: A shark ate me?

Arin: Yes, a shark ate you.  Some fish camouflage in, so sharks do not eat them, but it ate you.

Me: What happened to me after the shark ate me?

Arin:  You were in the shark's belly and then he spit you out, but then another shark came and he ate you.  Then, he spit you out too.  There were only two sharks.  Aren't you happy to be at the beach?

Me: No, not if I am going to be eaten!

Arin:  Well, it's just because you fed the sharks, that's why they ate you.  They thought you were food!