Under the Big Top

I really need to be better about keeping up with my blog. I think it is a great way to reflect on what went on and what I could do to be a better teacher.

Last week was a pretty good week in my class and I didn't even share what went on. The theme was Under the Big Top. That means all the activities that we do revolve around the circus. We talked about the jobs and animals that you might see at the circus. It was a pretty fun time. At the end of the week we had a Circus and watched the movie "Dumbo". The Circus consisted of children pretending to be lions while the teachers tamed them and had them do tricks. Then we had acrobats ( the kids) jump through hoops, tumble, and walk on a tight rope (which was plank on the ground). The kids really got into it, especially the part where they got to pretend to be lions. I almost got mauled!

One art activity that I came up with was pretty neat I thought. I took pictures of the kids and printed them out in black and white. I drew clown faces on them and the kids colored and glued yarn on them. Some of them turned our really well while others scared the daylights out of me. Below are the pictures. Tell me what you think!

We Wu Ho Co Wa!

Tonight I had dinner and great conversation with one of my favorite people ever! Wendy Lee! We talked about everything from fond memories of angry vaginas to the ever changing complexities of our love lives. After talking, 1lb of velvetta, a 12oz can of Rotel, and 1/5lb of beef we were off to the movies. Wendy hasn't seen The Sex and the City Movie and I haven't seen it recently so that's where we went! It is a great movie and look for any excuse to see it. What? I'm not ashamed... ok maybe a little.

Staycation

Today I was reading a USA Today article and ran across the newest “buzzword” - “Staycations!”

Defined as a trip taken closer to home but for long 3 or 4 day weekends versus spending weeks away from the house.

I am taking a 10 day staycation as we speak. My staycation destination: My Close Friend's Apartment! She is out of town so I am taking care of things, including Tiva the Diva. It is rather nice having a place to myself. I often find myself in these Zen Moments where I can clear my mind. You wouldn't believe what's going on in my head. It is a mess, just ask my psychiatrist. lol

The only negative about my staycation is I still have to work. Boo! Oh well it's a chance for me to earn that cheddar. Hopefully I will have some funny stories soon! I have a few tidbits of humor but I want to wait till I have enough to post a full blog of laughter.

Honeybees Vs. Seahorses

In nature a Seahorse would be able to take down a Honeybee out in the wild, however that was not the case today. It was field day today at work and my Honeybees dominated! We were scheduled to duel the Seahorses. We got super excited. With bandannas on our heads and war paint on our faces we marched out to the battlefield. Little did the Seahorses know that we were there for blood! We arrived to face our foe. We could see the fear in their eyes, and I think one of them actually peed herself. Here is schedule of what went down:

1. Tug of War: Honeybees Dominated! I even thing a few Seahorses are missing limbs.
2. Relay Race: Honeybees Dominated! My boys threw a few elbows, but I happened to look away at the time...
3. Hula Hoop: Tie. 3 year olds can't Hula Hoop, or at least none of the ones at my child care center.
4. Water Balloon Toss: Honeybees Dominated! Not only were the other kids wet from the balloons, but also from their tears!

Here are some pics of my kids:















Child M getting ready to catch a water balloon, while Teacher A looks on in awe.
















Some of my Honeybees. The calm before the storm...
















Waiting to "sting"!
















This kid actually throws and catches better than me! And he is 3!
















Don't let this cute face deceive you, her nickname is "The Demolisher"!
















Getting ready for the water balloon toss.
















This was taken 5 seconds before I had to go change into dry clothes.
















On the way to victory! The pics are out of order and I am too lazy to move them.
















Good Catch!
















Another wolf in sheep's clothing waiting to pounce on the competition!
















Who's gonna win?
"HONEYBEES!"

Shoe Fly...

Today at work while I was leaving a dad picked up his little one. I could tell he was a little frazzled so I asked him how things were. He told me his story:

"Mom is out of town and left me with my 2 boys, ages 1.5 and 3. It is my first time to be alone with the 1.5 year old while the 3 year old is at school. I thought he would be fine if I left him on the toilet for just a second while I grabbed my ringing cell phone. I answered the phone and I was my wife calling to check in. While I was talking to her I heard a flushing sound, followed by, "I am stuck"! I raced to the bathroom to find my 1.5 year old's foot stuck in the toilet. I really didn't know what to do so I just pulled hopping his foot would just pop out. It did, but along with it was a blood curdling scream. I took him to the doctor and I had sprained his ankle. When I was loading him into the car I took off his shoe and placed it on top of my car. Needless to say I drove off with his shoe on my car. As I turned down 2222 to come pick up my 3 year old I saw the shoe fly off my car. So now after I pick up my 3 year old I have to go back and fight traffic to save a shoe".

I felt bad for the guy so I followed him to the side of the road where the shoe lay in the middle of the road in a high traffic area. I pulled up behind and told him I would watch the kids while he made a dart for it. I was mostly there in case he got plowed down by a car.

Spash Days!

It is the official start of summer at the preschool I work at. That means that we now have Splash Days. So twice a week I have to change 13 three year olds into their swim suits, sunscreen their entire body, walk them out to the small playground, let them play in the sprinkler, dry them off, walk them back to class, and change them back into dry clothes(all in 30 minutes). Sounds easy? Wrong! Not only are children hard to manage, but try doing that while prying them off a sprinkler system. It was crazyness! There were that few minutes of bliss where the kids were playing in the water and everything was going well, for a moment. Then Child A shoved Child B aside because they were hogging the water and Child C was complaining because they didn't want to be outside and then of course there was Child D who decided to take off his trunks and streak across the playground. Don't even ask me about Children E thru M, who knows what they were doing while I tried to settle a fight and wrestle clothes onto a naked body all at the same time. Needless to say Splash Days = Extra Strength Tylenol. At least Splash Days are only twice a week. That give me 3 days to recover and hatch a plan to make Splash Days go more swimmingly...

String Apparatus Idol

So one day my close friend, Jackie, and I went shopping in the late evening and there were not many places open. We ended up in Best Buy playing Guitar Hero. If you recall from a previous blog Jackie bought Guitar Hero and was suppose to bring it over whenever she came over. She has yet to do that since she bought it. Here are some pics from that night when we first discovered Guitar Hero at Best Buy. Enjoy! By the way, I had the highest score that evening.

My close friend admiring my mad skills!

I am so good that I can play with one hand and scratch an itch at the same time.

I even impress myself!

Jackie is in the zone(not AutoZone).

My close friend Wii-ing it!

Pitkin Pics!

Here are the pictures from when Jackie and I babysat my niece Ava Rose Pitkin!

The cutest butterfly ever!

Playing on the floor.

Tickle Monster!

Smooches!

Ava is over the smooches...

Ok, one last smooch.

Chilling out with Uncle Jesse.

Leggies!

Jackie and Ava!

Say Cheese Ava!

Say Cheese Jackie!

Kung Fu Hustle

I am watching the most ridiculous movie I have ever seen in my life... and I love it! It is called "Kung Fu Hustle". The plot and choreography in this movie is truly spectacular. Words cannot describe. You will just have to watch for yourself. "From Justin to Kelly" move over! I have a new favorite!

Tiva the Diva

I am house/dog sitting for my close friend while she is out of town visiting her sister and brand new nephew. Check out her blog for a picture of the little monster, and yes all babies are monsters, except my niece Ava Rose who is just plain precious.

House sitting at her apartment is pretty nice. Not only is it closer to my work but she has a pool! You can trust that I am soaking that up while I can. She also has a cute dog named Tiva who is definitely a diva. If I ignore her too long she come over and starts whining. If I stop petting her she will scratch two layers of skin off my arm until I start to pet her again. She also has to sleep right next to me. If I move over in the middle of the night, Tiva moves even closer than before. It's funny because when Tiva sleeps she is passed out! Last night I was against the wall and Tiva was obnoxiously close. So I pushed her over hoping she would get up and move. No movement. I was afraid I smothered her in my sleep with one of my fat rolls, so I checked to make sure she was breathing. She was and I was relieved. I physically picked her up to move her over. She did not move a muscles and stayed asleep the whole time. It made me laugh a little. I thought only people passed out that hardcore.

Ava Rose

I had the great pleasure of babysitting my new niece Ava Rose! Even though I was a last minute choice it was still a great honor. She is 2 and 1/2 months old and soooo cute! It was a really easy day. All she did was eat, sleep, and poop. Man, does she have the sweet life. I took my friend Jackie along to keep me company. It was fun, we played the Wii that they had there and during nap times we battled in Guitar Hero. While the baby was awake we took turns watching her while the other played a game on the Wii. She was really a good baby and loved to watch me box in Wii sports. She even tried throwing a few punches here and there. Jackie took lots of pictures so once I get them from her I will definitely post them.

There was one really funny part about babysitting. I was holding Ava in my arms and after a little while she fell asleep. I was getting ready to put her in her crib when she let out the loudest old man snore I have ever heard. I was a little taken back on such such a tiny thing could make such a loud noise. It wasn't long before I was laughing uncontrollably. I tried to fight it in fear of awakening her but I couldn't. My whole body shook as I tried to fight the enormous belly laugh that was forming in my bowels. Ava is over my shoulder so I took her to the bathroom mirror to see if my good vibrations had waken her. They had and she had the most puzzled look on her face. That made me laugh even more. The giggles finally subside and I finally get Ava down for her nap. It has been a long time since I laughed like that. I think a little pee even came out.