My week.. Won't you join me?

I have decided that I feel like life is going fast. Although part of me just wants to get through the next six weeks, another part of me might want to remember all this running around and craziness. So, I am going to post the everyday going-ons around here-just so you can get a taste of my life. If you choose to follow me this week, you will see that I am very lucky to have so much help...I could NOT make it without it.

Today is the perfect day to start this experience. Tuesday..my day "off."

This morning I hear Emily's 6am alarm clock go off. Seconds later she hits the snooze button and returns to dreamland. I think, "phew..a few more minutes to sleep." Then I hear Totoro begin crying in his crate. He has heard the alarm clock too, and does not understand the beauty of a snooze button.

I get out of bed and let the dogs out. As I am walking down the hall, I notice that it is not 6am it is 5am. Crud! I try to put Totoro back in his crate, he starts crying loudly because he is up for the morning. Not wanting him to wake everyone too early, I get up with him.

The kids get up one-by-one. Em has early morning band, so we leave the house at 7am and pick up Lauren and Nicole. On the way out the door, Em mentions that she is supposed to bring a special snack because at school they are going to watch, City of Ember. So, I drop the girls at band (that is a picture them going into school..dark because it is early..sorry) and hit the closest Holiday. Since I am there, I decide to get myself a hot chocolate and I applaud myself for not getting the free KitKat with a purchase of a drink. Then, as I am checking out I notice the Cadbury Creme Eggs are out. I decide to buy one for later...after all I didn't get the KitKat, right?
I drop off Em's snacks at school...walking through the school looking like I just fell out of bed. Of course, the teacher is already in the room. I get to talk to her...again looking like I just fell out of bed.
I get home in time to pick up Ry to bring him to school. *I will add here that Erik offered to drive Ry and Trenton this morning, but I said no... because, I wanted my write up to be authentic*We drive to Trenton's house, pick him up and then I drop the boys off at their school. (Totoro comes for the ride).I get home from dropping the boys, read a quick book with Andrew (we were supposed to read it last night, we forgot) and walk him to the bus.Next, it is time straighten the house a little and start homework, beginning with typing up the notes from large group and sending them to my lead teacher. Today I also I want to do my documentation from yesterday, plan my small group on story-telling for Wednesday and maybe Thursday, finish my write-up on my literacy lesson plan and type up a small writers workshop exercise, watch and evaluate a video of me interacting with the class, run to Staples to buy some rings for the children's journals, and organize my notes from my observations of the physical domain of a specific child in my class. Sound fun?

So everyone needs a break right? When my friend Lori texted and asked if I could play someday soon...I said "Today. Lunch would be great." We hit Panera (one of our favorite lunch spots).
It was a fabulous time. I needed the break. Thanks Lori.
Tonight it is pick up Andrew from a play-date, pick up Em from dance, help Ry with math homework, find something for dinner. Surprise! I notice Ry's shoes are literally falling apart. I tell Ry we are going to Famous Footwear to buy him new shoes...engage in a 30 minute discussion about how shoe shopping is NOT just for girls and he IS coming with me..we go, we get the shoes. Finish my homework-or at least what I need to get through tomorrow-and I am off to bed (It is now 10:54 and I am off to bed).

Andrew's Questions

I have two quotes from Andrew-just to help you see how his mind works:
#1. A few days ago we were watching something on the internet and a commercial comes on for the 5 hour energy drink. A lady comes on the screen who is struggling to wake up in the morning, doesn't want to exercise etc. Then she drinks 5 Hour energy drink and she is amazingly awake and going for the day.
"Mom, can we get that? I could use it, I am SOO tired in the morning. That would help me be ready for the day."

#2. Yesterday we were out to lunch with all the Minnesota Hamers.
Andrew: "Mom, who would you rather be married? Grandpa [Bill] or Dad?"
Me: "Um, let me think about that..(very short pause) Dad."
Andrew: "why?"
I feel like here is where I tried to explain that you don't marry your parents, but he didn't accept that answer....
Me: "Well, he is my age."
Andrew: "Who would you rather be married, Grandpa Bill if he was your age, or Dad?"
Me: "Dad."
Andrew: "Why?"
Me: "He is smart"
Andrew: "and?"
Me: "He is clever."
Andrew: "and?"
Me: "He is funny."
Andrew: "and?"
Me: "He is handsome."
Andrew: "You are not saying what I am thinking."
Me: "What are thinking?"
Andrew: "He is PERFECT."
Then he puts his arms around both of us with a big smile.My next question should have been: "How much did Dad pay you for that?"

Distraction

Life has begun again. Gone are the schedule-less days of the holidays. We are all back to school. The kids have places to be and homework to do. I have places to be and homework to do. Even though we are running around all the time, there still seems to be dishes in the sink, and the pile of laundry in the basement is scary. This semester, I began my student teaching experiences. In my EC/ECSE program at the U, I have a total of four student teaching experiences to complete (early childhood, early childhood special ed, birth to 3 and a primary grade). I am now student teaching at the lab school on campus in a 3/4/5 year old class. So far it has been all about getting to know the children and the room etc. Lesson plans and lead teaching are just around the corner. Needless to say the next ten weeks are going to be super busy.

To help us/me forget all the millions of things that we/I are supposed to be doing, I am posting a Totoro (toe-toe-row) video. Sit back and watch a cute playful puppy and some happy kids.

Meet Totoro

We have been tossing the idea of getting a puppy around for a while. So, when we found this guy we decided we would just go look. Does that ever work? Has anyone ever gone and just looked at a puppy? Meet Totoro our newest addition. He is an eight week old Malamute/German mix. He is a good mixture of playful and sleepy. He is just plain adorable. We love him already.

Gingerbread Picture Search

Last Friday, I got to go help the first graders make their gingerbread houses. They look forward to this day each year. These first graders dove into this project.
They piled their houses high with frosting and candy. Not to mention the frosting and candy that ended up in their tummies (and mine-yummy).
Each house was unique and the kiddos took pride in their work. It reminded me of doing this same project with Ryan and Emily. I thought it would be fun to show the houses that Ry and Em made in first grade too. So I started going through old pictures. I found a picture of Andrew's house he made in preschool.Look at the baby face. I kept searching and somehow I ended up in a folder of pictures of baby Ry.He loved that lion towel thing..I miss Provo and our old apartment and old times. When we were living there, I NEVER thought I would miss Provo. But I do. That's the power of old photos. Back to task, I soon realized that a first grade picture of Ry would not be in the same folder as these little Ryan pictures, so I skipped ahead and found these. I had to pause again. Cute little Em all dressed up. She loved princess dresses and babies. I also found this picture of Em all dressed up for picture day in Kindergarten. Emily in her early years of fashion. Now, she has put away her fancy dresses and can be found in sweatpants EVERY day. I decided I should just give up on the gingerbread houses. Crud, time is flying by these days!

Homework and family Unite!

As I have mentioned, I am going to the University of Minnesota to earn my Master's degree in Early Childhood Education and in Early Childhood Special Education. This has been a BUSY semester. I have had a ton of homework, but today I would like to share with you my most fun project yet.

The assignment was to find a child, get to know them and plan three activities/lessons based on their interests. I chose Fiona. I feel lucky to live so close to most of my nieces. It was great to spend good one-on-one with her. I had to put together a powerpoint, but have no idea how to post a powerpoint, so I am going to recreate the basics of it for you. Bottom line: I love these pictures of Fiona and I want to share my adorable niece with everyone.

Meet my niece, Fiona
Fiona is an out-going 31 month old. She loves playing with balls, trains and other toys. Her favorite places to go are grandma's house, the zoo and the library. She can be often found helping her mom and dad around the house.

Meeting One: Exploring Play-Doh

Fiona Quotes: "I do making tiny holes." "I have a duck." "It's spinning." "I'm screwing."

During our first meeting, Fiona explored different ways to make holes in the Play-Doh. I introduced different tools that would make different kinds of holes. She experimented with each of them. The Play-Doh drill was her favorite. She consistently went back to using this tool to make her holes in the Play-Doh.

Meeting Two: The Drill Set
Fiona Quotes: "Look Cathy, I'm doing it!"

Our second meeting's activity was based Fiona's interest in the Play-Doh drill. She gradually filled the entire board with bolts using the drill and a hand screw driver. While she worked, we talked about simple patterns, colors and counting.


Meeting Three: Making Cookies
Based on Fiona's fascination with tools and my knowledge that she likes to help in the kitchen, we made cookies during our last meeting.Fiona Quotes: "I'm stirring." "It's spinning." "I can tap it." "I made a big hole."

Fiona was able to add the butter, flour, sugar and egg. She used a spatula and an electric mixer to stir the dough. As soon as the dough was formed into a ball, Fiona began making big holes in the dough with her fingers (just like during meeting one).

Once the cookie dough was made, it was time to roll it out and cut the cookies.

Fiona's Quotes: "The big one is heavy." "I made a rocket ship." "I want to cook it."

Fiona wanted to use the tiny rolling pin. She cut out rocket ships, tiny hearts, mittens and stars. She then carefully transferred each cookie on the cookie sheet to bake them. While we were waiting for the to cook, Fiona told me the different ingredients she used to make the dough.

The powerpoint went with a super long, more detailed write up. I will spare you all those details.

Thank you Fiona for spending time with me. Let's do it again ASAP!

Noah's Ark

I now have a teeny tiny more of an understanding of what it was like on the ark. Animals, animals and more animals. This past week, Emily gave her brothers an early Christmas present. Let me introduce you to Rocky, Speedy and Hermes. Rocky hides most of the day, Speedy is fast and Hermes loves to explore. Yes, even hermit crabs seem to have personalities. That puts our pet numbers to six. But, this weekend we have a guest staying with us. Rodeo is spending his Thanksgiving with us while Erin is out of town. We couldn't be happier. Rodeo is a calm loving little guest. But this is not all...This is not a picture of our Thanksgiving dinner. Becky's family, who happens to be our wonderful neighbors, have chickens in their back yard. This morning Emily and I got to go over and check on them. We fed them, watered them and generally made sure the chickens were having a happy holiday. Ashley, Nutmeg and Marlin's reactions range from mouth-watering interest, to oblivion, to a dignified ignore.