Spring Field Trip

We got all buckled up and the Spring sightings began before we were even out of the parking lot. We stopped by all the trees to see if we could find buds. Some we did, others we decided were growing and getting ready inside the bark.

We sang 'Popcorn Popping' on the way to PetSmart and talked about why that's a song about Spring. I'm not sure it sank in all the way but when it says "Spring has brought me such a nice surprise" we sang it really loud...if you can't have comprehension, at least you can have volume!

When we got to the store there were some big dogs roaming around on leashes with their owners. These were BIG ol' dogs so all 3 girls sort of half-hid behind me while I tried to make them feel better (mostly I was just talking in that high voice girls use when they see babies or tiny shoes ("what a cute puppy! it's so happy! blah blah blah") and trying to move everyone along quickly).

We saw a dog getting groomed. Of course I turn on narrator mode and start just talking and talking about what the girls are looking at...and of course the groomer lifts up the dogs tail and starts trimming off the extra fur around his...err...rear end. So I'm in jabber mode and all I can think of is "don't say she's trimming off the poo, don't say she's trimming off the poo."

We saw cats, fish, birds, lizards, turtles, and some mice. The birds cages were being cleaned so the big cage in front was empty. Sydney was convinced that's where the monkeys usually were. I didn't know how to tell her that you can't buy a monkey at PetSmart...so watch out Dan & Penny she might be asking for one soon!

At the Garden Center we met a crazy old gardener lady who told us all about how we can't plant apple seeds and expect to get an apple tree. We looked at seeds and picked which plants we would like to grow. We saw buds on the saplings and smelled the pansies.

Now we're home and we just finished making popcorn balls which we'll be sharing with the big kids when they get home.

Happy Spring!

P is for Popcorn!

Today was a great day for Sydney! She was whisked away by Dan (her dad) for a special lunch date and came back with Popcorn. She was so excited to share the popcorn "from Daddy's WORK!" The girls had a picnic outside in back eating it and giggled so loud that the neighbors closed their blinds...old coots!

We also got into some sticker trouble today. You can see Ash Lee on the side of the tv picture and I kid you not, she's saying, "My Mommy loves stickers on the TV!" I'll be sure to send some home because I bet Daddy loves it too...sticker fun for the whole family!

Rules

I wanted to just briefly go over some rules of my home so we're all on the same page of the program.

Toys: If you bring a toy from home it needs to be shared. We can do this by playing together or by taking turns. If it's very special and you don't want to share, please leave it at home. I know this can be unpredictable so I always give the kids the option of putting the toy back in the bag and leaving it at home next time if it's too hard to share. This rule is important to me because I have asked my kids to share everything they own and it breaks my heart to see them be told they can't play with the toys someone else brings.

Treats: Same with toys. If you bring a treat, there needs to be enough to share. I also don't allow sharing of germ spreading treats...licking the same lollipop, drinking the same juice, it all grosses me out too much. I work really hard at providing a balanced and varied diet for the kids. I would love help in this category if you want to send in treats, but it's hard on the little girls to watch someone enjoying a delicious treat while they're eating their whole grain crackers and milk. :) FYI: we do have some food allergies (raw cinnamon, ranch dressing, red food coloring) and some dietary restrictions due to extensive dental work (no gum, sticky candies or soda).

Shoes: We walk to school everyday. They're gonna get muddy. It also takes me forever to get everyone's shoes on. We're working on tying the tie shoes but home reinforcement on independence would be awesome. They can all get their own socks & shoes on (if not tied) and their coats on (if not zipped) by themselves...keep up the good work!

Pick up: I'd like to be a little more professional with this part. Office hours end at 5pm M,T,Th,F and 7pm on Wednesday. We eat dinner between 5 & 5:15 and I start to get pressure from my bosses if their Mom-time (and wife-time) is infringed upon! I only have those few hours to get all of my church meetings, one-on-one kid time, cleaning, shopping and other stuff done before I have to get in bed for the 7:20am restart. I take caring for your children very seriously and working more than 10 hours a day really wears me out!

Sickness: Fevers, vomiting and contagious rashes need to stay home! :) I think the school rule is 24 hours symptom free for things like that and while I'm not going to be super strict, please be nice to me and make reasonably sure they won't barf again! :))) We're all going to be exposed to the same things so the runny noses and lingering coughs don't bother me. Although, it is difficult to do our fun and exciting plans when one of the kids is struggling with a serious illness. I will be sure to keep you apprised by phone or email if I notice a new symptom or if something becomes worse. If I come down with some terrible thing the prohibits me watching children, I'll call you as soon as I can.

H is for Hungry!

Holy cow these girls were starving this morning! I KNOW they all ate breakfast but the only thing I can figure is they're getting geared up for a growth spurt. Mandy mentioned they might be carbo-loading for a triathlon coming up but if so, I'll need to get Scout a drag-resistant life jacket for the swimming part!

Everyone who was THAT desperately hungry received oatmeal until snack time. I wanted to make sure they were really hungry and not just daydreaming of fruitsnacks. Sydney and Scout both took me up on it and since both of them ate dinner here--it was loaded with protein (hooray for tofu)--I have evidence that they're well fed girls! But, by 9:20 (snack time) they were STARVING again. They ate for over an HOUR. I couldn't believe it!

I thought the older boys could pack it away but they have nothing on these girls!

Green-A-Thon

The Green-A-Thon has finished! We spent a lot of time with the color green today and talked with the kids about the origin of green wearing. I don't know how much of my rambling about the trinity symbolized by the shamrock actually sank in but oh well...I tried!

Here's a summary of the green that invaded our lives today.

The things we used that were green:
Celery
Markers
Paper
Apples
Jello
Playdough

The things we made green that were never meant to be such a color:

I interviewed the kids and here's what they thought:

Oatmeal: awesome
Lemonade: tastey
Fingers (whoops): that was funny
Cheese (another whoops...and a bi-product of green fingers): cheese isn't supposed to be green
Ramen Noodles: why did you buy green noodles?

All in all I think the day was a success. Now I'm off to plan our Johnny Appleseed day!

Just Go With Me Here

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We had a discussion this morning: To Pinch or Not To Pinch. There were some who claimed that at school or in other homes, it is allowable to pinch a person not wearing green on St. Patrick's Day. I informed them--with great dramatics--that St. Patrick was a very good man and he would be saddened to think that little children were hurting each other in his name. As an American of Irish decent, I informed them with a tear in my eye, I was saddened for him. I also added that in my home, we don't pinch, punch or poke because of poor wardrobe decisions...because if we did..."you'd all have black eyes by now my little preschool fashionistas!" (hehe just kidding I didn't actually say that last bit--but check out their awesome couture today).

I'm hoping you'll just go with me on the pinch ban...my research indicates Saint Patrick was in fact, a good man and probably wouldn't be too happy to realize we hurt each other for not wearing green. Especially since he wore blue most of the time. :^)