Brown Bear , Brown Bear- What do you See?

This week we start a unit on colors. We read about colors, we wear certain colors on color day. Some of the fun activities I have planned are:

1. I took a muffin tin and put color stickers in the bottom of each section. The children use the tin to sort color bears, pom poms ( with strawberry hullers) and anything else they want to sort.

2. We will play color and shape bingo.

3. We will finger paint .

4. We will build with colorful uniifx cubes.

5. We will play go fish with color cards.

6. We will go on a color walk.

7. We will sort and eat skittles.

8. We will make a Brown Bear Brown Bear book to take home. http://www.dltk-teach.com/books/brownbear/index.htm

9.We will make color collages.

10. We will song color songs.

Lyrics Adapted by Tim Christenbury

We will have tons of fun this week with colors !   

The Mask

Today, I have had on " the mask."  Well, pretty much all week I have had it on. That mask that lets everyone see that I am doing just fine when inside I feel all yucky.  I have been trying to figure out  what is causing this general feeling of BLAH but I can't put my finger on it.

Work is going well.  There are some paperwork things that I need to get a grip  on but other than that, I think we are on cue.  If quality showed up tomorrow I think we would pass.  The kids are all getting used to each other and our routine gets a little more defined each day.  The brightest part of the day is listening to the children's conversations. Amelia announced today that she wants to be a teacher  when she grows up.   When a child says that, I usually start to perk my ears up. I mean, I am pretty much the first teacher they have and if they model a teacher it will be me.  What will she say?   What does she hear me say?  Is she nice to her " kids" as she pretends ?   Then there was this whole situation during circle time that I handled all wrong.  The kids have gotten into a habit when I read a book of laughing after each page.  I mean, uncontrollable crazy laughter that goes on and on.   Every page isn't funny... is it?  So, today we talked about reading books.   I explained that every page is not funny and sometimes we just listen to the words and look at the pictures.  So, I start reading.   Not a sound.   Clara says  " it isn't funny , dont laugh!" in a gruff voice.  Did I sound like that?  Then comes a page that is a little funny and they sit.   Clara says"  Can we laugh?"  Oh my.... what have I done.  YES! L AUGH!  This page is funny.... now after every page someone says - " can we laugh?"  Ok, I take the bad teacher of the week award.  ugh...

Then home.  I love GG my grandbaby so much and I wish for her the fairytale life.  I want her to have a mommy and daddy that love her AND each other.  Is it bad to want that?  Each night when I go to bed, I pray for Addam and that a girl will come into his life that will be amazing for him and for Geneviette.   For the longest I have hoped he and Lauren would get back together but that seems impossible now .   Geneviette is precious.   She deserves a fairytale.

Danielle - the approaching marriage.  Is this guy the one God set aside for her?  Is this the person that will complete her life .  I have all this anxiety.  I wish I could just get peace about this.    Does Justin realize that he is taking part of my heart?  He darn well better take care of it and not hurt her and ....  ugh... again.

Randy.  He has ADD .   He has projects started all over the house. The house is still TWO COLORS. Welcome to red necksville.....  Oh yeah.. Randy has lost 22 pounds.  I can't seem to lose any.  Oh but..I will keep getting up at 5: 20 am walking while he sleeps. 

Ten libraries have called this week to book us for next summer. Then there is that whole Jacksonville wing ding festival.  Why am I not excited?  Is it the thought of living out of a suitcase for 2 more months and sleeping in a Motel 6  that bother me?  Someone spare me.

Randy put a new picture up on the wall today. Six hours later the huge one next to it fell and the glass broke.   Two steps forward... four steps back.

Maybe I just need to go to bed.  Night......

Wait, tomorrow is OVAL day. I need to go get Jelly Beans to sort and count.

Then, I will for sure get to bed early.... right?

This week we are exploring shapes. During free choice time we used things we found around our room to make a beautiful picture with circles.Outside, Randy took us on a walk in the yard to find things that are shaped like a circle. These stepping stones are a circle. This morning at 7 am they were still in my playroom holding down the new adhesive on our " carpet fix." Hint - If you have adhesive that holds down anything bleach WILL dissolve it . :)

Circle Wreath

Circle Walnut

The kids wanted to see what was in it. Randy cracked it open . His hands will be yellow for a week. YUK!

Another Stepping stone.

The bird house has a circle.

We learn all day in so many different fun ways. The children will go home tonight with a circle note asking their parents to join them on a circle hunt at home.

Now- on a personal note. Ever feel like you go in circles all day? I spent the weekend getting groceries and cleaning house. As soon as I got one area clean another area was messy? How is that when Randy and I are the only ones here?

Geneviette

Geneviette got to come hang out in preschool today.  I had a little one gone and seized the opportunity to have her with me.   It takes a little more energy but it is well worth it.   Sometimes it makes me sad that I am having such a great time with all the other little short guys and my own granddaughter  is watching TV  and playing by herself.  She will be old enough to be here all the time next year and I hope that works out. 

Being a grandma is fabulous.

She pained a picture for her daddy and was so proud. I didnt even care that she mixed my paint colors.

She sat with me in my chair at nap time and would whisper " Shhh.. the kids are sweeping."

She ate her supper and then insisted on licking the butter in the little souffle cup. And.. I let her.

She went with me to pick up Kaitlyn from school and yelled " surprise" when she opened the door.

After all the kids left for the day she walked around saying... where kids? I think she believes with all her heart that they live here.

I changed her hair bow THREE  times!

" Who do you love?"  MIA MIA MIA!!!!!!!!!

When I dropped her off at home-- for the first time ever... she cried.  " I want to go to Mias."  Her mommy hadn't seen her all day, so I didnt persist but it broke my heart.  Those little blue eyes looked at me and it was all I could do to fight back the tears. Good thing I am alone now.

Geneviette, I love you and always will.  You will always be my first favorite beautiful gift from God grandbaby.

Funny Breakfast

Elliot: Ms Debbie, what is for breakast?
Ms Debbie: Milk, fruit and english muffins.
Elliot: Do they TALK?
Ms Debbie: No, why do you ask?
Elliot: Because you said ENGLISH MUFFINS, I thought they speak english.....

Rainy Day Fun

Some of the best lesson are learned outside - without a lesson plan.

Walking in the rain with a friend creates community.

If we leave the box off the sandbox the sand will get wet.

Gross Motor skills in ACTION!

Umbrellas keep us dry.

Animals find ways to keep dry.

A huge tree is like an umbrella.

Who's idea was this anyway.....

We journaled about what we saw on our " walk in the rain."

Just thoughts

I am WAY TOO TIRED to really blog today but I somehow find this therapeutic so here I am. I didnt get near enough sleep this weekend while in Texas but still find myself here at work. Isn't it funny how being an adult doesnt allow you to just STOP the world while you play catch up ? I was already planning my day which included a quiet day with the kids, a grocery run and then an early to bed night. Then I opened my email and was reminded I have a meeting this afternoon. That means, RUSH RUSH RUSH as soon as the kids are leaving to the U of A campus. I actually like these people I get to meet with , I just wish it was tomorrow. So, during nap I touched up my makeup and changed clothes. I am the only provider that comes it this meeting so I TRY to look a little more professional. Today that meant, changing out of my crocs - which by the way happened to be one black shoe and one navy one. I have come to realize that this year will be the year of wardrobe malfunctions.

Here is a piece of my randomness for the day/ weekend.

1. I thought JBU kids sign a covenant saying they wont drink. Interesting. Seem they are just like all the U of A college kids I know - and yes, I am including my own daughter in that.

2. One of our servers from the wedding reception asked Danielle to dance and when she would be back in Texas I had watched him watch her all night. He didnt even try to be sly about it. Geez... when did those kind of compliments stop happening for me. Can we have a replay please?

3. Some three year olds are not ready for scissors yet. I DID get them away before the haircut commenced.

4. Randy really missed me while I was gone.

5. When you shop in Ross for two hours if someone hits your car and damages it - too bad.

6. I hope it rains tonight.

7. Randy is doing really well on his diet, I better get busy. flash forward to the wedding in December. " which one is your mom , Danielle?" Oh.. the one that is so fat she looks like a chinese when she smiles..." ugh.

OK, I have let the kids sleep an extra 12 minutes, so I better get them up now and then out the door for me by three.

When is the next three day weekend?