As a Child

Today everyone went to school. Caleb stayed home with a cold on Friday, but he was back at it today. I am amazed at how going to preschool and working with the children who are not judgemental can help to lift my spirits. I wasn't really looking forward to today. I was/am a bit tired, but when I left preschool, I noticed that my spirits were lifted. No wonder we are told to become "as a child." I love my teaching job!

Claire's Fisrt Days of School

On Claire's first day of school, she insisted on wearing her Santa hat. As you can see, she is carrying her sweatshirt, and she is cold outside. She was a trooper this year. She was at the preschool all last week while I was trying to organize everything for the start of school. She and the other teacher's child played really well together. They felt like they owned the place. I am very impressed with how well they are transitioning to being a member of the class and not just the only two there.Our first day was a lot of fun. We actually had orientations on Monday and Thursday, and the first day of school on Tuesday, the first day of school on Wednesday, and the first day of school on Friday (not Claire or me).

The girls were really good about just doing what they were told. During orientations, there were children who didn't want to leave. I think part of it was because our girls were still able to play. This happened a couple of times, so I walked over to the girls and told them it was time to go. They both stood up, took my hands, and walked out of the room with me. No questions asked. It made it much easier for the other children to leave. Once we had to actually get their bags and sweaters and walk almost out the door. They were little troopers.

This is Claire second first day of school. She is with her friend Claire. Thanks Nessa for the picture. The girls are in the same primary class at church and were in the same school class last year, too.

Fishing

The boys had the opportunity to go fishing the week before school started. They had the job of finding worms. We went out back into our garden (we didn't get it planted this year) and started digging. No success. I went out and started digging. No success. Then I started wondering where the worms were. We went to the front yard and started moving the mulch. Success!

Caleb was quick. I would use the shovel, move the dirt (mulch), and uncover the worms. He would quickly grab them. Some of them would try to get into a hole, and he would dig down and grab them. It hurt my back to be hunched over a shovel looking at the ground.

I think the boys had a good time, and they even caught a couple of fish. That always seems to make it better.

PRESCHOOL - a very stressful place

Today at preschool we had circle time when we came inside. One of my little boys sat down cross-legged and put his thumbs and his fingers together, pointing upwards, and took some deep breaths. It looked like he was meditating. Then, the next time we sat down, the same boy sat with his legs straight out in front of him and put his hands to the side with his fingers touching his thumbs. First they were pointing down, and as he took a deep breath, he turned them upward and closed his eyes. I didn't think that anything we did was too strenuous. I guess I am not a preschooler though.

Last, the same little boy bowed to me before he took the sticks out of my hand. I could get used to that. In fact, maybe I will institute it. I will make all of the students bow to me. =D Just kidding.

Tattle Tell Targets Take Two

So, Eli and Emily had shots. I thought that last time Emily was exaggerating about taking her band aids off so that the boys would not hit her. No sooner than we walked in the door, Eli walked by Caleb and showed him the band aids on his arms. Caleb punched one arm. Then Eli turned around and Caleb saw the other one and punched it, too. How mean.

I never did see the band aids on Emily's arms - I guess she knew it would happen to her.

Brett's Surprise Slumber Party

So, since Brett's birthday is close, we were going over to some friend's house for dinner. I got some balloons over there and some streamers, too. I only got them there about ten minutes before Brett got there. Brett would have been there sooner, but I kept him on the phone. He called me as I was walking out of the grocery store, and his computer was already shut down and he was ready to walk out. I kept him talking because he was just going to go to our friend's house.

I didn't let him leave work until I had dropped off the party stuff.

We did dinner, and had stacks, and more snacks, and more stacks. We did birthday cake, and we had more snacks.

All of the children fell asleep on the couches, and the grown-ups stayed up and played game. Brett won our game of Settlers of Catan, and did a victory lap.

After the game we just sat at the table and talked. It was 4:00 a.m. and the grown-up boys went down to watch Monte Python, and we were conviced to spend the night. I went up and fell asleep in the master bedroom, all four of my children were asleep on the couches on the maid floor, and then the grown-up boys were all down on the couch.

In the morning, we finally got out of the house about 11:30 for breakfast. When we finally got home we all took naps - we were tired.

A Five Year-Old Boy

Our visitor has the pallet of a 5 year-old boy. Yesterday we had fish for lunch, and I asked him if he liked fish. He said that he might. Well, the fish was bad - it was cod, and we are not really cod fans. It was rubbery and dry. My family, who normally eat fish, complained about it. Emily and Claire did eat their fish, however, they did have an inch of ketchup on top of it. Our visitor took one bite of fish and then passed it to Claire. After a little while, he said, "I have eaten more fish tonight than I have in the whole seven years of marriage."

We started asking him what type of things he liked. Earlier we talked about it and he told us he had the pallet of a 5 year-old. We asked him about bread, whether he was a wheat bread or a white bread eater. I looked at him, he didn't say anything, but the look on his face said that he is a definitely a white bread eater. I said that and Brett was shocked.

We made omelets for dinner and we called his wife to ask her what was a slight stretch and something that we might be able to push on him but not push him over the edge. She wants him to eat onions.

O.K. for the omelets, we had little bowls with different things in it, onions, peppers, cheddar & pepper jack cheese, and sausage. Our friend just wanted sausage and cheese. Brett & I sauteed some onions & peppers and then we made our omelets. I let our friend have a bite after the onions were cooked and sweet. He didn't really taste them.

He is making dinner tonight for us. We will be having chili - without onions.

A Visitor

We have a vistor staying with us until his house is ready to move into. He will be moving into his house in October. His wife is not here, she is at home waiting until the house is ready.

I took these pictures when we came home from church. He went up to "grandma's room" and called his family. He is on the phone with his son who is eating a very big burrito. Yummy.

We can't wait to meet his family.

This post is for his son. Your daddy loves you!

First Day of School

The first day of school always brings with it some nerves.

Caleb was a little nervous that he would have older students (high school students) on the bus with him, and that they would break his cello. Well, he did end up having high school students on his bus, but his cello survived. He had a great first day. Many new adventures as he walked the halls of the middle school. More freedoms as he was able to walk by himself to his classes. More responsibility as he has to keep track of his own schedule. All in all he had a good day! Emily started a new school, also. After she got dressed I asked her if she was going to wear new clothes, and she told me that she wanted to wear her princess shirt. I guess sometimes we need to be reminded that we are princesses (and princes), and her first day at the elementary school was one of them. When I asked her how her day was, she replied, "BORING!" She did fall down and scrape her knee.
Eli was excited to go to school. He wasn't going to a new school, it was just the same thing as last year. In fact, his class is right across the hall from the one he was in last year. He was excited to see that he didn't have to share his locker with anyone, but he did say that he hoped his class didn't get any new students (he knew which locker they would be assigned to). Eli walked out with old clothes in his hand, and when I asked him if he was going to wear new clothes, his eyes lit up and he ran back into his room to get them.
I was excited to send them off to school. The experiences they will have and the growth they will experience will be fun to watch.

Short Video Clip

Here is Caleb's duet that he did with a girl for competition. Enjoy it!