and then there was light

This week, Simon had to do a project for school in which he had to construct a building. He got to choose the type of building and the materials.

He chose something he named the "eco center" because he'd been reading about "green" buildings in a magazine. His building has a green roof with a rain garden and a compost pile, a water barrel, and no air conditioning. 

Simon: The building also has no electricity.

Me: Really? No lights, or anything?

Simon: No, it has lights.

Me: How are they powered? Don't they need electricity?

Simon: No, they don't need electricity. They use solar power.

The TI-83

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN GREENBELT AND COLLEGE PARK — Simon loves his graphing calculator. Unfortunately, no one in the family knows how to use it.

That left Simon alone to read the thick instruction book and figure it out.

By dinner time, he was graphing circles!

Letter to a penpal

In Simon's class, the kids were asked to write a letter to "Lilly," a character in a book they had read. Here is Simon's letter:

Dear Lilly,
I love math! I am in first grade. You can come to my house if you want. I have one computer. There are a lot of bookmarks on the computer. I live on S--- Road. I know a lot about math! Do you like math? Maybe some day you will.
From, Simon

Sasha Obama, age 7

Me: [much excitement, crying, jumping, singing, carrying on, & etc.] ...so, all the Obamas will move here: Barack, Michelle, and the kids, Malia & Sasha, who is about your age.

Simon: Do you think she likes math?

Hedging Bets

Yesterday on the way home, Simon announced that his tooth was loose. 

Me: How exciting! Do you know about the Tooth Fairy?
Simon: I don't think she's real. I think it's your parents who put the money under your pillow.

Me: Well, we'll have to wait and see!

Simon: I know. The first night, I'll put my tooth under my pillow and we'll wait to see if she comes. If she comes, great. If there's no treasure under my pillow the next morning, I'll put the tooth under my pillow again, and the second night, you and Daddy can put the treasure under my pillow.

Should I still read the book?

I am reading an 800-page book. It's called The Mitfords  and is a collection of letters sent between the 6 infamous sisters over many, many decades. 

Simon loves 800-page books, just as a general rule.

Recently, he picked up my book and flipped through it.

He hands it back to me: "Just so you know, A few of the sisters die at the end, and the whole family falls apart."

Excited to talk about math

Location:

The dinner table

Simon: May I be excused?
Sarah: Why don't you sit for another minute and talk with us.
Simon: Talk about what?
Sarah: Well, you could talk about your piano recital today. Or about Halloween.
Simon:
Sarah: Or Math.
Simon: Math!
Sarah: Okay, we can talk about math.
Simon: Yay!