Celebrating Nana's Birthday

Yesterday was my mom's birthday and naturally, the kids had to make her a cake. This is a tradition in our family. The cake is always their favorite flavor--chocolate with chocolate icing (no matter what the birthday honoree's favorite flavor is!). After icing the cake, Ellen and John put sprinkles and some of their toys on it. John had fun licking the bottom of Lightning McQueen and then running it through his piece of cake and ice cream. We had fun watching him!

(I am so excited to have figured out an easy way to post photos from Picassa to my blog!)

Planting Flowers and Searching for Bargains

Yesterday I went to the plant nursery and bought some pansies and mums. Most of my summer flowers were long past their prime and it was time for some new flowers. It has been raingint off and on this week, so the planting process was a little muddy. The kids tried to help, but really and truly they mostly fussed over who was going to dig in what pot.

It was also half-price day at Goodwill yesterday. I made a run to two stores, but only bought things at one. The lines were long. I got some great bargains on books, clothes, and a couple of other items. What I really wanted was a neat chair for my classroom to serve as an Author's Chair for the kids. I spotted a purple upholstered chair at the second store, but didn't buy it. I am kicking myself. But at the time it seemed a little dingy and really didn't sit that well. Now, I think that it might have worked. I could have cleaned it up and the kids wouldn't have cared about the comfort factor. Maybe next month...

Labor Day and Prayer Requests

Well, it's Labor Day and we have been in school for exactly 20 days. I know because we count the days of school every morning! (One of the perks of teaching K.) I am pleased to report that while I have a few kids who are definitely "out of the box," I have a great class! Somehow I always seem to get the kids who think a little bit differently than the rest of the crew--have a little bit more imagination, maybe even a little bit smarter, and definitely more interesting than your run-of-the-mill five year olds. I have learned that these kids are square pegs that do not fit in round holes and the best thing that I can do as a teacher is to keep a sense of humor!

My co-teacher who was on medical leave is expected back this week. She is still having some tests run, as well as some physical therapy, but for the moment she's feeling good. I will be glad to be working with her again, but I will miss her daughter-in-law who filled in for her. I really enjoyed getting to know Heather!

If you are reading this and you pray, please keep my friend Angela in your prayers. She is a young army mom of two who just found out that she is being sent to Iraq in December. Also remember Tonya, an acquantance of mine--one of the parents at school--who is a young mom with breast cancer. Both of these moms are in their mid-30's and have kids in the preschool-early elementary ages.

I'm going to go rest up for a bit before we go over to Nana's to swim and eat supper.