Today began the newest "year" in the day care calender. The Monday before Labor Day, at least at my school, all of the classes transition a large amount of students up to the next class. It's preschool Move-Up Day. The day started off rather quiet, not as many children in by 8:30am as had been in previous weeks. No coaxing children down from bookshelves or tables. No removing various non-food items from mouths or other orfaces. No children participating in a 20 foot dash from the front of the classroom to the back whilst wielding a L-shaped block in one hand and a large Lego piece in the other. I had one fight regarding sharing items and that was it. Quiet.....almost too quiet....

Don't worry, I'm realistic. This calm will not last for long. A tsunami of late registration children will swarm our building any day now. Anything we need to do to keep us the "#1 school in the country" as far as profits are concerned. Yes, a bit sarcastic, but money-making seems to be more important than the holistic approach to the education of the young child. At least for my company it is. But I digress. I stay because of the children. And I put my faith in the fact that God has a purpose for me. As for now, His will is that I stay where I am. There is something to be learned or a person who needs me for whatever reason.

I trust that God will open up a window for me when He's ready to. See Proverbs 3:5-6

What I Like About My Job- Reason # 1

It is always the kids. Kids are sooo funny. When I watch them play, it continues to amaze me how there little brains work. And I also wonder where their inspiration for things comes from. What I enjoy the most is when the (good) unexpected happens.

Take today for example. My favorite little redhead, Teddy, comes in clutching his mum's hand as always until he sees me. He always has something to discuss with me and his mother prior to her leaving for the day. Today's topic was lunch. "I brought my lunch today." he says. (Tuna was being served at school and Teddy doesn't do tuna.) "It's in a brown bag with my name on it." "Fabulous," I said. "Is it bologna?" Teddy grins and nods. His mom says "And Lucy decorated the bag." Lucy is Teddy's older sister. " I hope you like it". Teddy says.

Fast forward to about noon-lunch time. Teddy gets his bag, empties out his bologna and cheese Lunchable pack and proceeds to give me the bag. "You can have it." says Teddy. Above Teddy's name and classroom is a drawing of a woman with red hair, a red shirt, blue pants, beautiful blue eyes with gorgeous eyelashes and a nice smile. Next to this woman is written "Hi, my name is Miss Holly." Even though my hair is blonde and my eyes are green, I matter so much to him that he had his sister draw a picture of me. I wanted to cry I was so touched but instead I smiled. I thanked Teddy.

Sometimes, it's the things like Teddy's lunch bag that just make me glad I do what I do. His lunch bag is now on my refrigerator door between Donovan ad Ethan's art.

Thanks Teddy! I love you too :)

The Strangest Sound To Me

It's just about ready to become midnight here. I have been experiencing the strangest sound all day long. I hear it upstairs, downstairs, in the basement, outside in the front, in the back yard. It's everywhere. The same sound.

You know what that sound is? Silence. Yes, silence. No children are in my house right now. There are only 3 sounds I hear:

1. The crickets singing outside
2. Twitchy and Nuzzles running around their cage.
3. Ron watching Criss Angel Mindfreak.

That's it. The reason? My mother and father took the boys on an overnight trip to see the Lackawana Coal Mines up around Scranton, PA. I hope they are enjoying it. I am very thankful that my parents take the kids overnight sometimes to give us a break. It is so obvious how much they love and adore their grandsons. I was able to get a lot done around my house today, given it was such a beautiful day for it. I enjoyed it. But tomorrow night, I will be looking forward to the return of my sons, telling about their adventures into the mines.

Until next time. Return to work will be soon, so more adventures to come

How Can You Possibly Say That?!?

Ron and I have been on vacation this week. Today, we took the kids to the movies. Ron and Donovan went to see the latest Harry Potter movie, while Ethan and I saw Ratatouille. I read the Harry Potter book that is currently in the theatres, so I do know what is going to happen. I just thought the visual effects would be too scary for Ethan. Anyway, we caught up with each other afterwards and I asked Donovan if he enjoyed the movie. "Yes Mommy" he said "but it was really long."

Too much talking in HP and not a lot of magic going on. Pitty! He probably would have enjoyed the movie I saw. Quite a bit of slapstick going on and it was very visually stunning. The animation in this movie is quite detailed, as if you were watching REAL people. But unfortunately, no wand wars with evil wizards. No Dumbledore's Army there.

Too long, eh? He should have tried reading the book-all 800-plus pages.

Happy reading Donovan! Until next time.

Beaches Are Great Classrooms

My husband and I took the kids to Cape May NJ for a day at the beach. Although it was very hot and relief only came when going into the water, it was a lot of fun.

Being here got me thinking about how so much learning can be shared with a trip to the beach:

Watching the seagulls fight each other for the scraps of bread crumbs left by beachcombers (biology)

Counting up the number of times you were knocked on to your arse by rogue waves (mathematics)

Scooping up rocks and shells off the sand for examination (geology)

Making a sandcastle complete with tall towers, moat and dragon (art)

Trying to figure out the inflation rate of a small bottle of water that is $.89 at the Wawa up on Route 9 but is $2.00 here right next to the beach (economics).

Seeing how much fun daddy is having being buried in the sand up to his shoulders whilist getting sunburn all over his face (psychology).

Ahhhh.....who needs classrooms when you can learn so much in a day at the beach? Think the Cape May Beach Patrol is taking teacher applications?

Neither do I.

Siblings

When I watch my own kids interact with each other, I know that karma is getting me good. My poor mother! I can't imagine what she felt constantly breaking up the fights Amber and I had (complete with scratch marks on skin and clumps of hair in our fingers). Now that I am the mom, I get to experience first hand the sibling fighting. Boys fight different than girls-theirs is pushing, kicking, hitting and punching-no scratching or hair pulling per se. But the good thing is that in a few minutes time all is forgotten and they are best of friends again. What a wonderful lesson all of us could learn from that! After conflict, we get on with things. I don't want to sound sexist here but women do an excellent job of holding grudges. Jesus never held a grudge. If He did, then what He did for us would have no meaning. So, if we can, take a page from my sons fighting-forgive and move on.

We are brothers(and sisters) forever. Let's remember that when we have a conflict.

God Bless You!

Welcome!

Greetings. Salutations. Bon jour. Hola! Welcome to my blog! I thought this would be a great way to keep in touch with all who I like to keep in touch with. This blog will primarily be about my life as a working mother of two sons, one husband and two hamsters out here in the beautiful rural landscape of Parkesburg PA. I hope you enjoy my adventures. Feel free to respond. Thanks for coming by.