Sunday, February 5, 2017
Sooper Bole
Someone was "sooper" excited about the Super Bowl. In our house Super Bowl night = nachos for supper in the living room. It's the little things...
Monday, January 23, 2017
Firm Voice
Last week Eric and I received this email from Sam's preschool teacher. FYI: News Reporter = it's your day to bring 2-3 items to share for show and tell. Sam brought some gems and a Lego camera to share with the class.
I am emailing about an incident that happened at the end of the day today. At the end of each day, we have our News Reporter go up and share what they have brought. As you know, it was Sam’s day. Unfortunately, Sam was in the block center helping clean up when the News Reporter was asked to come up and share. Another student came up and started sharing Sam’s treasures. We didn’t think anything about it, because we hadn’t double checked who the reporter was, and this student had a great imagination…the stories sounded so realistic! Terribly, we realized the mistake too late, when we saw that Sam had come to the carpet, was sitting and listening (poor kid!) and began to get upset. We all felt terrible about this oversight, and remedied the situation quickly. Sam bounced back so quickly, but we all felt so bad. L I pulled the other student aside and talked to them and then also with Sam. I told him it was ok to be upset and how we were sorry this happened to him. I told him not to worry if there is a mistake to tell us. He can always tell us anything. He nodded and understood. I told him I would also email you and let you both know about what happened. I’m hoping he will be feeling better by the time you see him, but I wanted to make sure you knew. Sorry again about this happening! We will make sure to double check jobs!!
When I picked up Sam later in the day I asked him how sharing went. He said it was good except for one mistake. He said that he cried because a boy took his treasures and he was afraid that he would never get them back. :-( He also said he's not sure if his friend was lying or not because the friend told the class he found the gems in his backyard. I love that Sam assumes positive intent and I also love that his preschool teacher went out of her way to let me know what happened. Mistakes like this in preschool can happen and it would have been pretty easy just to sweep this incident under the rug.
A day later I told Laura this story and she said, "We have got to work on Sam using his firm voice." Lord knows if this happened to her she wouldn't have been sitting on the classroom rug crying. How in the world did I produce two very different kids?! And how in the world will they ever know how much I love and adore both of them for being just who they are?
I am emailing about an incident that happened at the end of the day today. At the end of each day, we have our News Reporter go up and share what they have brought. As you know, it was Sam’s day. Unfortunately, Sam was in the block center helping clean up when the News Reporter was asked to come up and share. Another student came up and started sharing Sam’s treasures. We didn’t think anything about it, because we hadn’t double checked who the reporter was, and this student had a great imagination…the stories sounded so realistic! Terribly, we realized the mistake too late, when we saw that Sam had come to the carpet, was sitting and listening (poor kid!) and began to get upset. We all felt terrible about this oversight, and remedied the situation quickly. Sam bounced back so quickly, but we all felt so bad. L I pulled the other student aside and talked to them and then also with Sam. I told him it was ok to be upset and how we were sorry this happened to him. I told him not to worry if there is a mistake to tell us. He can always tell us anything. He nodded and understood. I told him I would also email you and let you both know about what happened. I’m hoping he will be feeling better by the time you see him, but I wanted to make sure you knew. Sorry again about this happening! We will make sure to double check jobs!!
When I picked up Sam later in the day I asked him how sharing went. He said it was good except for one mistake. He said that he cried because a boy took his treasures and he was afraid that he would never get them back. :-( He also said he's not sure if his friend was lying or not because the friend told the class he found the gems in his backyard. I love that Sam assumes positive intent and I also love that his preschool teacher went out of her way to let me know what happened. Mistakes like this in preschool can happen and it would have been pretty easy just to sweep this incident under the rug.
A day later I told Laura this story and she said, "We have got to work on Sam using his firm voice." Lord knows if this happened to her she wouldn't have been sitting on the classroom rug crying. How in the world did I produce two very different kids?! And how in the world will they ever know how much I love and adore both of them for being just who they are?
Monday, January 2, 2017
Finding Joy in the After Christmas Mess
12 things to remember from Christmas 2016
1. Papa bought a new massage chair. The Green family was extra rubbed down this year at the Long Grove Christmas.
2. Eric surprised everyone with a Wii. Wii love it!
3. Sam got his super fun "narvel" run that he was asking for.
4. We visited the Boyds on Christmas afternoon. Their basement reminded me of the game room at Happy Joes off Brady Street. Very fun and interactive!
5. We went to the Schulzes on December 26th. Grandma was housesitting for a friend and watching over their cat named Nicholas aka Nick. We couldn't find the beloved cat anywhere in the house and finally found him under a bed. Sam reached for Nick and he hissed at him. Sam said, "He sneezed at me. He's a little bit sick."
6. Laura got a Barbie Dreamhouse with a working elevator. I think I was around her age when I got my Barbie Dreamhouse with an elevator. :-)
7. We woke up to Laura barfing in the hallway at Grandma's house. I think it's always interesting to see how others clean up barf and the containers others use for barf receptacles. Laura was a trooper!
8. Laura and Grandma worked on constructing the Dreamhouse while the engineers, Sam, Aunt Liz & I went ice skating.
9. Laura was 24 hours vomit free so we went to Chicago's Science & Industry Museum. We packed a kitchen bowl and towel (just in case). Although Laura wasn't 100% she did really well and we had a great time. Sam got to go inside of a tornado, Laura wanted me to read all of the information next to the exhibits (she's just like her grandpa), & we got to witness a chick hatching from an egg. We love science!
10. We were discussing memorable Christmas cookies which spurred me to look up their recipes. I found a common theme in Grandma Claussen's cookies. They typically had 3-4 ingredients which included peanuts, melted chocolate, milk, & occasionally marshmallows.
11. On the last day of being in Illinois we went skating again so Laura and Grandma could join us. Laura wasn't "feeling it", but Sam sure was. He said, "Just bend your knees, Laura. It's easy." I'm sure that was exactly the encouragement she needed to hear from her little brother.
12. I got a Ninja blender and I've been blending up a storm. Last night I made Dirty Bananas to take us back to Jamaica. Although they were delicious, drinking a frozen beverage in sweatpants next to a fire didn't quite get me out of Iowa.
Tomorrow I head back to work and I still need to take down the Christmas tree, secretly throw away the gingerbread house, and find "homes" for all the new Christmas gifts. Christmas is a wonderful time which is full of anticipation and excitement that symbolizes the anticipation and excitement felt at the birth of Jesus Christ. We often talk about that wonderful night Jesus was born, but what about Jesus as an infant? What about the cluster feedings, sleepless nights, and cloth diapers Mary and Joseph had to deal with when Jesus was an infant? Is that the after Christmas mess for us? Despite the mess, I'm trying really hard to find the joy in the mess even if I have Lego pieces stuck to the bottoms of my feet.
10. We were discussing memorable Christmas cookies which spurred me to look up their recipes. I found a common theme in Grandma Claussen's cookies. They typically had 3-4 ingredients which included peanuts, melted chocolate, milk, & occasionally marshmallows.
11. On the last day of being in Illinois we went skating again so Laura and Grandma could join us. Laura wasn't "feeling it", but Sam sure was. He said, "Just bend your knees, Laura. It's easy." I'm sure that was exactly the encouragement she needed to hear from her little brother.
12. I got a Ninja blender and I've been blending up a storm. Last night I made Dirty Bananas to take us back to Jamaica. Although they were delicious, drinking a frozen beverage in sweatpants next to a fire didn't quite get me out of Iowa.
Tomorrow I head back to work and I still need to take down the Christmas tree, secretly throw away the gingerbread house, and find "homes" for all the new Christmas gifts. Christmas is a wonderful time which is full of anticipation and excitement that symbolizes the anticipation and excitement felt at the birth of Jesus Christ. We often talk about that wonderful night Jesus was born, but what about Jesus as an infant? What about the cluster feedings, sleepless nights, and cloth diapers Mary and Joseph had to deal with when Jesus was an infant? Is that the after Christmas mess for us? Despite the mess, I'm trying really hard to find the joy in the mess even if I have Lego pieces stuck to the bottoms of my feet.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Accident
There was a fender bender on the way home from daycare/school on Monday. As we drove past the scene I told Sam to check it out to try to figure out what caused the accident.
We drove past and Sam said, "I don't think anyone peed their pants." Apparently preschoolers view "accidents" with a different definition.
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Thanksgiving
With both sides of our families celebrating Thanksgiving prior to Thanksgiving break, we have five days of immediate family togetherness. We kicked off the time off with Disney on Ice which Sam kept calling Ice on Disney. The kids were fully engaged and Sam was very concerned how the characters could see where they were going while wearing costumes.
On Thanksgiving we started our own family turkey trot relay tradition. Laura made a turkey baton out of paper and we would run laps around the neighborhood pond with a turkey baton in one hand and a walkie talkie in the other saying "Gobble gobble, over". It was full on dorky-ness, but that's how we roll. We also set up the Christmas tree and outside lights while listening to Pandora's Christmas Radio. We made our own pizzas for supper and put out our Thanksgiving table cloth for everyone to write what they're thankful for. After everyone shared Sam said, "Isn't anyone going to say they're thankful for Disney on Ice?!"
I'm so thankful for our family, friends, laughter, and love. As I looked at the Black Friday ads and put together the lists of who's getting what for Christmas this year, it dawned on me that the things we cherish the very most are free.
On Thanksgiving we started our own family turkey trot relay tradition. Laura made a turkey baton out of paper and we would run laps around the neighborhood pond with a turkey baton in one hand and a walkie talkie in the other saying "Gobble gobble, over". It was full on dorky-ness, but that's how we roll. We also set up the Christmas tree and outside lights while listening to Pandora's Christmas Radio. We made our own pizzas for supper and put out our Thanksgiving table cloth for everyone to write what they're thankful for. After everyone shared Sam said, "Isn't anyone going to say they're thankful for Disney on Ice?!"
I'm so thankful for our family, friends, laughter, and love. As I looked at the Black Friday ads and put together the lists of who's getting what for Christmas this year, it dawned on me that the things we cherish the very most are free.
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Sam's Treasure Hunt Birthday Party
Ahoy! Sam's fifth treasure hunt birthday was a hit! This was the first birthday celebration we've had away from the homestead. It was so nice not to keep the house in "company's coming" condition while frosting cupcakes & setting up games. Eight friends met Sam at the Saylorville Lake Visitor Center which is surrounded by wooded trails, a butterfly garden, & within walking distance to the beach. A perfect setting for a treasure hunt!
The first part of the party was a photo scavenger hunt which led us back the van to get drinks. At the van, everyone got a shovel and we headed to the beach to search for the buried treasure. Yes, I had visited the beach earlier that day and buried a spray painted styrofoam cooler to look like a treasure chest containing party favor bags inside. While walking down the path juggling a shovel and a spray painted cooler, I hoped nobody would call the DNR to report suspicious behavior.
The kids found the buried treasure and when their shovels hit the cooler lid, it broke into a million pieces which got wet sand inside the cooler which compromised the integrity of the favor bags. We were able to keep the kids' bags separate but they all had ripped, dirty bags filled with Rolos candies (gold) inside. Yummy! I'm sure the kids' parents were impressed when they picked up their kids from the party.
We lucked out with fabulous weather, good spirited children, and nobody had to go the bathroom while we were there! This is a good thing because the visitor center has closed for the season and there wasn't a bathroom available except for the woods. We like to live on the edge!
The first part of the party was a photo scavenger hunt which led us back the van to get drinks. At the van, everyone got a shovel and we headed to the beach to search for the buried treasure. Yes, I had visited the beach earlier that day and buried a spray painted styrofoam cooler to look like a treasure chest containing party favor bags inside. While walking down the path juggling a shovel and a spray painted cooler, I hoped nobody would call the DNR to report suspicious behavior.
The kids found the buried treasure and when their shovels hit the cooler lid, it broke into a million pieces which got wet sand inside the cooler which compromised the integrity of the favor bags. We were able to keep the kids' bags separate but they all had ripped, dirty bags filled with Rolos candies (gold) inside. Yummy! I'm sure the kids' parents were impressed when they picked up their kids from the party.
We lucked out with fabulous weather, good spirited children, and nobody had to go the bathroom while we were there! This is a good thing because the visitor center has closed for the season and there wasn't a bathroom available except for the woods. We like to live on the edge!
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| The treasure map had burned edges and was soaked in tea. An old trick I learned from GG. |
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| Happy Birthday, Sam! |
Sunday, October 23, 2016
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