Chuckling to myself

Yesterday I started scrubbing, priming and painting the walls in my family's living and dining room.

Last night I painted the far wall a cheery sky blue.

This morning as I set about giving it another coat and considering the line where the blue met the white ceiling I had, "a moment".

I chuckled to myself and started painting white clouds along the border of the ceiling.

This is certainly not the first time I have done this action. But, up to this point, clouds have been contained in children's bedrooms.

As I painted, I grinned and shook my head a bit. Then I stood back and considered the affect. I must confess the whole look made me smile.

My eldest, who was playing her handheld Nintendo game system, looked up midway through my craziness and said that I'd been at Enchanted Care too long. (We have murals everywhere at school.)

I laughed. I hadn't even thought of the connection.

Regardless of their source of inspiration, the clouds make me happy to look at them.

My eldest said that now the, "deed is done", I should just go ahead and paint them on the other walls as well. I don't know about that... but, I do know I'm leaving the ones I have so far.

My youngest daughter smiled and said she liked them. My little guy of course can't tell me what he thinks, but I say he likes them!

I know I do.

Teacher friends!

It is fun to go to teachers' meetings and talk to my fellow teachers!

Yes, I did just say I find something good about meetings!

Of course, there are twenty thousand things I could be doing if I didn't have to go, but... I really enjoy the professional camaraderie that meeting together fosters.

I especially enjoy collaborating with my friend Laura. A "newbie" like me, she is full of enthusiasm and fun ideas. We share Center ideas, discipline tricks and even afternoon recess duty! On Fridays we try to get our kids together for fun activities.

It is truly a blessing to be able to toss ideas around or discuss a tricky situation with another teacher!

Just the other day, I was fortunate to talk to my dear friend Bev. I worked with Bev for four years as a teachers' aide and I count her among one of my favorite people in the world.

Bev is not a "newbie" she's taught "forever".

She has an idea for every situation, a story for every problem I can encounter and a generous heart!

Her passion for teaching is contagious and her willingness to listen is a blessing. (Not to mention she has dittos and teaching ideas for every concept I must teach and she SHARES!)

There is nothing quite like the challenge and blessing of teaching.

There is also something very special about the people who love to teach. Not only do they love their students, but they love their profession and are happy to help those of us just joining the game!

Today, on Thanksgiving, I thank God for my "teacher friends" the "newbies" who commiserate with me when I'm tired and the experienced veterans who share the joy of the craft with me!

Thanksgiving eve

As I sit typing this evening, I am tired but very happy.

We had a non-curriculum day at school.

It was delightful.

• Early this morning, some of the older children helped me put up a new bulletin board and chatted me up.
• We played with our Science room pets together and even made paper airplanes.
• One of my little girls brought me flowers in a lovely basket shaped like a turkey and we only spilled water at lunch!
• No one bled at recess and the fussing was at a minimum.
• My lost library book never did turn up, but I did make a really neat Snow Lady that looked like me for our new bulletin board. Next week my kiddos will add their own snow kids for me to watch over.
• I just found a really fun Hanukkah web site, I think my kids will like and I can't wait to start my plans for December. We are going to celebrate traditions all around the world.

Volley ball and lesson plans

I sat on the edge of the bleachers today literally holding my breath as the last points of the semi-final tournament game were played. My eldest daughter's team won in the third set!

The game was a nail bitter as the teams were evenly matched and were both playing well. Today favored my daughter's team and I was so very very happy.

I really do believe that if you play well there is no disgrace in losing.

But, who wants to lose?

A hard won victory is amazing to witness. Tomorrow the team faces the only undefeated team. Since it is a double elimination tournament, they will have to beat them twice to claim the title.

It may happen and it may not. (Though I would relish a victory for the girls last game together.)

Most of the team has played together for five years. I have watched them develop from young children into young woman. From girls who couldn't make a serve go over the net to ladies who have no problem serving, setting and spiking. The joy on their faces during their final victory cheer today made me smile all the way through. I am so proud of all of them. They have come so far. Learned so much.... had so much fun.

Tomorrow as I watch the final moments of my daughter's elementary team sport participation tick away, I know I'll feel a bit melancholy. I have enjoyed every moment spent in the stands.

Tonight I sit doing the lesson plans that could have been done today, but... I do not regret the time spent with the young woman who makes me so proud. My eldest is a good kid... a fun kid... I am so glad she's mine.

Tired... but happy Halloween

Today my Kindergarten kids:

Trick or Treated at the "Little Kids' building"

Played with puppets

Listened to Halloween music

Played with rubber bugs and spiders

Watched an Alvin and the Chipmunks Halloween video

Had donuts for morning snack

Played outside in leaves I brought to school

Went on a spider egg hunt (yellow and orange Easter eggs with spider rings inside)

Made tiny ghost puppets and pumpkin puppets

Got covered in tattoos

Made race car and doll foam crafts

Watched Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin

and then had an amazingly yummy snack!



Whew.... how's that for a run on list? We had so much fun. I wish you all could have seen how good my kids were when we visited the younger building. We talked about being quiet so we wouldn't, "scare the babies" and about using our good manners. I was so proud of them! There were thank you's all the way through the building and only quiet voices! Yay for Kindergarten kiddos!



Playing in the leaves and tattoos, cookies and silly movies.... it was such a wonderful day! And my kids looked so cute in their costumes! Me? Ah.... yes.... I was a gray sweatsuit clad bunny complete with ears, a tail and fluffy slippers. Let me just say that if your hair is a little damp, you should never take off your head band! (...I didn't but, when I looked in the mirror at lunch break, I had to chuckle when I took the ears off to tuck in a stray unruly lock.)



I love Halloween... and I haven't even passed out our candy yet!

Spider Day!

Spider hats...

...construction paper, staples and glue...

...accordion folded legs and big silly eyes.

The smiles on their faces were worth the work.

We read about spiders.

We wrote about spiders.

We even drew spiders and did math worksheets with spiders!

I showed the kids a website that showed the life cycle of a spider and we made a poster for the wall.

I even learned new things about spiders! I never knew that spiders could regrow legs and that they "moulted" as they get bigger!

Hmmm.... tomorrow is "rat" day.... I wonder what we will discover.

Spiders, rats, bats and cats!

This week every day will have a theme. Monday will be "Spider" day! We will read spider books, color our own book of the Itsy Bitsy Spider and even sing a rockin' version of the song. We will add using thumb print spiders, learn about their life cycle and even make a crazy hat! The other days will be just as likely to inspire fun. I hope my kids have a wonderful time and learn things too! The crazy kiddos won't know what to think. Each morning I'll be adding a little more to our decorations too, so by our party on Friday it should be very festive!