12 Days of Christmas

I have wanted to do this for YEARS...but haven't been organized enough to get it together in time.  I'm pretty sure...no, I'm 100% sure...that when Kayci was in Kindergarten, I dropped her off at school, put together the gifts for her class, then hit a cool store downtown for a teacher gift ON my way to her Christmas party.  That's how I rolled that year.  (Dad was sick, Noble was a baby and also sick for a week at a time every other week that semester...)  Last year I was better, but busy with work so I messed up the timing and ended up just giving a traditional gift.  Nice, but not THIS.

So--this year, I've got it together.  Gift-wise, anyway.  Starting on December 2nd, Kayci has a small gift for her teacher (and her afternoon teacher, too--2nd has 2 teachers) every day until the last day of school before break.  Pretty crazy when you think there are only 15 school/work days between Thanksgiving break and Christmas break, right??  I knew that I needed to gather the gifts this week or I'd never get it done--I've got to be in Houston 4 of 5 days next week.  But that's a different post...

A New Adventure

I found this today on Tip Junkie/Executive Homemaker. It's a daily schedule for toddlers/preschoolers, and she also shares a very honest look at her days (TV time and all--gasp! Usually mommybloggers don't admit to using the shiny box...but I do. Have you MET Noble?). Anyway, why do I need a daily schedule? Isn't that what I do for a living?

Well, yes. But I find myself back at square one...for lots of reasons I'll probably go into later, we've decided to pull Noble out of daycare and keep him home with me. He just BLOSSOMS when he's here, and turns caveman after daycare. It's disheartening. So, there it is. Anyway, I haven't a clue what our days will look like after next Wednesday when he's here with me all day.

Enter Executive Homemaker. Curious yourself? Need a little more organization? Go check it out!

Recycled crayons!

I love recycling crayons! One of my favorite preschool themes is "rainbows" because we get to make rainbow-layer crayons and grate crayons to make rainbows in a bottle. A few years ago, I got my hands on a silicone muffin tin with heart shapes, so I made a TON of heart-shaped crayons, and had lots of fun experimenting with swirls, rainbows, etc.

Silicone pans, though, are pricey, and really, make crayons that are beautiful but too big to be really useful. So I'm branching out--to ice cube trays. Now, don't be fooled (like my friend R)--they look like silicone, but they're NOT and will melt in the oven. So, you have to melt thd crayons and pour them into the molds...which, time-wise, has me yearning for the ease of silicone. I know, I know...

So, here are the pumpkins. This tray came from Dollar Tree, if you're shopping. I used old crayons I had on hand from a display last year, but it's time to find some teachers who will stockpile them for me. If you've never done this before, it takes at least 4 crayons to make 1 recycled crayon--and that's with a small mold.

I started by soaking the crayons. Otherwise, it's a big pain to peel the wrappers.



Next, we peeled the wrappers off and sorted them into color piles.




Then, because I didn't have any tin cans in thd recycle bin, I used a Pyrex measuring cup to melt the crayons in the oven. Give or take, it took about 12-14 minutes on 350.

I poured the melted wax into the tray molds, let it harden for a while, then popped out my new pumpkin crayons.




If you're counting, I only got 27 out of this batch. Well, 24 really since I experimented with wax temperature on a few of them (fail!).



-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

Apples!

-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

No, no, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

TWO of my friends had little ones start Kindergarten last week...and I have spoken to TWO teary Mommys this week who are just broken-hearted that school isn't at all what they expected. As a Mommy, I'm sad. As an educator, I am FURIOUS. But also as an educator I'm way backed up on a tech project right now...I just want to see what advice y'all have for these Moms...I'm having a hard time being impartial right now!!

"Just Playing"

I was just blog-browsing (yup, supposed to be working but needed a quick break) and I came across a Mommy who's frustrated with homeschooling and how it feels...suddenly teaching and learning have become stressful and unnatural. Even though I don't know this woman, my heart went out to her because I've been there as a Mommy and a teacher. I shared the name of this poem, but here it is in case someone reading here hasn't seen it--or needs to see it again. This is the reason behind learning to play*playing to learn. This week I've been reminded at how those words were true 9 years ago, and they're true today...and they'll always BE true. Sometimes the simplest truths are the most profound, no?

Just Playing--Anita Wadley

When I am building in the block room, please don't say I'm "just playing". For you see, I'm learning as I play, about balance and shapes. Who knows, I may be an architect someday.

When I'm getting all dressed up, setting the table, caring for the babies, don't get the idea I'm "just playing". For, you see, I'm learning as I play; I may be a mother or a father someday.

When you see me up to my elbows in paint or standing at an easel, or molding and shaping clay, please don't let me hear you say, "He is just playing". For, you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm expressing myself and being creative. I may be an artist or an inventor someday.

When you see me sitting in a chair "reading" to an imaginary audience, please don't laugh and think I'm "just playing". For, you see, I'm learning as I play. I may be a teacher someday.

When you see me combing the bushes for bugs, or packing my pockets with choice things I find, don't pass it off as "just play". For you see, I'm learning as I play. I may be a scientist someday.

When you see me engrossed in a puzzle or some "plaything" at my school, please don't feel the time is wasted in "play". For, you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm learning to solve problems and concentrate. I may be in business someday.

When you see me cooking or tasting foods, please don't think that because I enjoy it, it is "just play". I'm learning to follow direction and see differences. I may be a cook someday.

When you see me learning to skip, hop, run and move my body, please don't say I'm "just playing". For, you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm learning how my body works. I may be a doctor, nurse or athlete someday.

When you ask me what I've done at school today, and I say, "I just played", please don't misunderstand me. For you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm learning to enjoy and be successful in my work. I'm preparing for tomorrow. Today, I am a child and my work is play.

Have a 'tweet' year!

The teachers at Kayci's school requested whistles...a week ago, this bucket was filled to the brim. :)



-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

woot!

James loves woot!, and today he sent me a link to kidswoot!--we may be in trouble, now. Check it out (you gotta look daily, that's the joy of woot!).

www.kids.woot.com

Oh, Lordy!

There goes my budget...


-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

Getting Ready for School

A friend and I were talking on the phone last night about getting ready for school. When we ended the year last year, we had so many things we wanted to do before--and for--this school year. Now that the time is here, I know there are at least a few things on the list that I haven't accomplished, and a few questions I haven't been able to answer. So now my task is to focus and prioritize...cover the big things and decide when to fit the rest in. But you know, while I'm crazy busy right now, I'm also crazy happy--it's an exciting time to be in PPCD. There are some awesome changes coming our way, and lots of fun things to do in the meantime. I'm so excited about this year, and about getting going! (I know, I know...I always miss the summer as soon as it's over, but that's okay...there are always afternoons, evenings and weekends!)

Upside Down...

I'm at the Preschool Summer Institute this week...and boy, is my brain swimming after just one day. It's like, in some ways, it's like they've turned PPCD upside down--what we used to think is just about opposite of what it needs to be today.

ARRGH. It's wonderful and horrible and awesome and overwhelming, all at once.

I love my job...and I love the fact that we're on the verge of making some amazing changes to make our friends' lives even better. But man, there's a lot of work right now...

Gearing Up

A week from today, I will be done with one of the highlights of the school year--the Preschool Institute. It's a great way to kick off the school year, and I know I'll be SO PUMPED UP about the year to come. I already am, really...we have so much in store this year as we work on evolving our program and empowering our teachers. It's a little overwhelming to think that two weeks from today I'd better be ready to start working with teachers, but we'll cross that bridge soon. Today my first priority is Mommying a sick little guy and making sure his big sister doesn't feel too bored or left out. :)

Dirty Little Secret

Mornings have been kind of weird since James has to be at work and I don't like to take Noble to school until 8:30 (when the 2nd teacher arrives...I know, I know...). Anyway, it's been hard to fit in the little things like, oh, breakfast and a shower for Mommy. It is EXCELLENT play time, though, I have to say...it's a nice big chunk of time when Noble plays really hard, all over the house. But back to the dirty little secret...

The kids and I spent some time at Mom's earlier this summer so I could do some work in Houston. One of the things that amazed me was that every morning, Noble would stop whatever he was doing and run to the TV when Mickey Mouse came on. After like the 3rd day, I started paying attention so I could turn on the TV at that time and buy myself some time to work or shower.

One morning a couple of weeks ago, I was particularly desperate to get a shower and get Noble to school on time, and I remembered that we have a sample DVD of "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," so I pulled it out and plugged it in. Sure enough, same thing...20 minutes of a fairly contained Noble. So now, on the days that Noble goes to school I have a dirty little secret--I turn on the TV.

Hey, I'm not proud. But I'm also not dirty, so win-win, right? :)

It's the climb...

This is Noble's favorite hobby. He climbs on tables, chairs, anything that will get him a foot or two off the ground. Poor DaddyBoy is stressed out over it--he goes around trying to remove anything that Noble will climb on, etc. While I understand that falling off a table could break Noble's arm or leg or worse, at the same time, from a brain-body standpoint, I realize that this is something that Noble NEEDS to do. So now my new project is to find safe ways for Noble to climb. Any ideas, girls?

Look out, world...

2 great things to report today...

1. found an app that will allow me to blog on the fly! will make it easy to upload pics, notes from classrooms as i go...will need to figure out if i need special permissions from the district, etc. or how that works...but still...good stuff!

2. today i get my new iphone--with video! woo hoo!!!

Orange You Glad...

Kayci's birthday was last week, so that means she FINALLY got her Dick & Jane quilt! A new quilt meant new sheets, new curtains, etc...and that has been more of a headache than I ever anticipated. There's the final product...that's sheet set #3 and curtains #2, by the way. The reason I'm posting about this here is that I let Kayci guide the way, and while we did detour into the pink polka dot sheets briefly before we got them home and she realized they didn't match, it worked out that her room is exactly as I'd hoped it would be. Orange is the "pop" color both in his crib bedding and her quilt, and I really wanted orange sheets. The orange curtains were totally a bonus find at Wal-Mart yesterday, and I love, love them against the blue and white! The point is, I could have bought orange stuff and just told her that's that. But she came to that conclusion on her own, and we both win. So, so much more satisfying, doncha think?

Little Moments

Today Noble said two new words: bubbles & splash.

On Wednesday, he learned to float (in the swimming pool).

Last Friday, he learned how to go up stairs alternating feet, holding on to the rail.

These little learning/teachable moments every day...I probably won't remember them. But these are the moments that make up a life, that build a love.

I'm grateful for this life--and this family, and these friends, and this work--that I love.

Party Prep!

Tomorrow is Kayci's 6th birthday party. I can't believe it! She'll technically be 6 next Thursday, but tomorrow she's having a few friends over for her first "real" slumber party. She's so excited! We've been planning the party for months, and I've really been proud of how we've worked it into the budget as we've gone along. Ahem. Until today--when we got everything out to go into the girls' goody bags, I realized exactly how MUCH stuff we've collected. Oopsie. So their goody bags are pretty awesome--Kayci can't wait to get into hers. And then there are the microphones and guitars they'll get at the party...it's going to be a lot of fun, and Kayci and her friends are going to enjoy all of the STUFF! I can't wait--we'll post pictures and video soon, I hope!

Here are a couple of pictures of the goody bags (drying) and the goody bag stuff waiting to go into the bags, and also a picture of the party girl putting together a centerpiece. Notice the Hannah Montana microphone she's wearing...today at Wal Mart she saw these and decided she wanted them badly enough to spend her own money on them for the party. That's a pretty strong argument right there!

Day Two...Still Smiling...

It's day two of "official" summer, and Noble's at daycare for a few hours.  Kayci and I went to the grocery store, and when we got home I sat down to write a report and gave her the option of working in her room or finishing her "job" from yesterday (going through cubbies and drawers to rediscover her stuff).  She went into her room to make her bed, and I heard her in there singing and thought, hmm, why not?  So I reminded her that she can play CDs.  A few minutes later I heard, "can I do karaoke?"...sure!  So here we are over an hour later, and she's just come up for air (and a granola bar--she's got to learn to eat a better breakfast!).  Lunch is in about an hour, then about an hour after that I'll go get Noble and then drop Kayci off at a friend's for a play date so I can head into Houston to work.  

Tomorrow is Wednesday, which means swimming lessons and then shots for Noble in the morning.  I imagine our afternoon will be fairly quiet, then we have tickets to the "Imagine That" premiere tomorrow night.  It's up in the air whether or not Noble and I will go, a lot depends on how he's feeling.  Hopefully he'll be tired and SLEEP through the movie...we'll see!  

Then it's Thursday, so back to daycare for Noble and hopefully a solid workday for me while Kayci plays here at home.  I think if the novelty of being here has worn off by then I'll get out the buckets of soapy water and flyswatters and turn her loose outside.   Or maybe some of that new great sidewalk chalk that comes in the cool colors--those would look great on our spa cover, which she uses as a chalkboard sometimes.  So many options...

My point is, I guess, that I'm talking this through in my head and realizing that I can DO this.   I can be a good mom and have fun with my kids AND get my work done this summer.  So the house isn't Kristi-clean...I'll get over it.  Heaven knows, everyone else has!  

So, we're doing it.  We're having a great summer already.  Woo Hoo!!!!

First day of summer!

I haven't quite decided what I'll blog about here this summer...I think I'll focus on the kiddos and what we're doing here at home. So here we go, on the first day of summer...

This weekend we heard some variation of "I'm bored" several times. Those words--or any variation--are guaranteed to send me right over the edge. So last night as Daddyboy and I sat on the deck talking over the weekend and summer plans in general, we talked this over and came to the conclusion that our life this year has been so OFF that Bitty needs to relearn how to play and keep herself entertained here at home. The child has every toy/game/art supply you name it in kid-dom. This morning she got out a stack of Dick and Jane books after breakfast and started reading. I thought, score! After a while, it started...the wandering, with puppy dog eyes and all.

So then I got a great idea: I told her to get a pad of paper and something to write with, and go through every drawer and every cubby in the office and make a list of what she's got. My thought was that she'd get reacquainted and get excited. My evil plan worked immediately...before she even got to the end of the first cubby, she asked if she could play with play-doh when she was done with her "work." I totally kept a straight face when I told her, magnanimously, to go ahead and play with play-doh now, she could work later.

Hee hee. Day one and counting...