Funny Catch-Ups

It's been a while since my last post .. . .  So here's a bit of Halloween and Thanksgiving fun.

I was chatting with a little girl just a few days after Halloween, and she was so excited, telling me "I had a costume!"
"What was it?" I asked her.
"A Costume!"
"Was it  a princess?"
 "No."
"Was it a cat?"
"No."
"What was it?"
"A costume!"

Okay.

 Then, a short while later, she told me "I got candy!"
"What kind of candy did you get?"
"Candy!"
"Did you get chocolate?"
"No."
"Did you get lollipops?"
"No."
"What did you get?"
"Candy!"

I kid you not.

I see how it goes.

Me, getting into the fun.

Okay, now we're on to Thanksgiving. I love doing crafts with the kids, and this time we were making handprint turkeys.  One of the boys drew around his turkey (not pictured) and told me a story about it.

"This turkey got shooted in his cage."

"Oh, are they going to eat it for Thanksgiving?"

"No, they're gonna eat it for dinner."

Asking the kids in my Sunday School class, "What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?", I got quite a few different answers: "The turkey", "the bread rolls", "Family", "Playing video games", and...."When everyone leaves". :) 

Then there was "my parents watch the parade every year and they make me watch it. I don't get it! It's the same thing every year!" :)

What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?

Enjoy!

Not a Box!

The kids room where I work is full of toys.  Cars, dolls, books, blocks, dinosaurs, a plastic kitchen, even a playhouse with a curly slide and a telescope.  

All of that was forgotten one day when we were given ...... a box.  A BIG box!  Well, I was given the box, because I was in the process of packing and moving.  But I let the kiddos play with it.  They loved it!  In the box, out of the box, close me in the box.  Shake the box, slide the box, tip it over.  It's not a box!  It's a washing machine, a time machine, a house, a rocket, a tornado!  Everything except just a plain old box.

What unexpected fun!

It's good to know the simple things still bring joy, things like playing in cardboard boxes and laying on the floor, letting a bedsheet slowly settle down over you only to have it billow up in the air again, slowly coming down to cover you... then flinging up again!  I'm so glad kids enjoy the same things I did at their age.

Don't miss out on simple pleasures like cardboard boxes!
And check out these fun books too!  Encourage the kids to use their imaginations.  It can last them all their lives, and they will in turn pass it on to future generations.  :)

Lessons in Diplomacy

Diplomacy - 

noun

1. the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country's representatives abroad.

No, this isn't a political rant.  Though I could go there.  This is me sharing a fun thing that happened at work a week ago. The kids love it when I make Origami things for them, and one day I was making little decorative paper boxes for some of the girls.  They really liked them, and wanted to put other little paper things in their boxes.  

Now, the girls were between 3 and 5 years old, so they were drawing little hearts mainly (and princess Anna from Frozen) to put in their boxes.  Then they started putting little hearts into each other's boxes.  

I should also mention that one girl's family is from Poland and one is from Brazil.

And I thought, "This is a good lesson on diplomacy.  Put hearts into each other's boxes."

So simple, but you can expand on that.  Use your imagination.  What if each country just had love for the others?  Were there for each other instead of at odds with each other? 

Any time you say "I don't like you because you are a _________," you're wrong.  Love each other.  

Let's do what we can to make our little corner of the world a better place. 

Lessons in Diplomacy

Diplomacy - 

noun

1. the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country's representatives abroad.

No, this isn't a political rant.  Though I could go there.  This is me sharing a fun thing that happened at work a week ago. The kids love it when I make Origami things for them, and one day I was making little decorative paper boxes for some of the girls.  They really liked them, and wanted to put other little paper things in their boxes.  

Now, the girls were between 3 and 5 years old, so they were drawing little hearts mainly (and princess Anna from Frozen) to put in their boxes.  Then they started putting little hearts into each other's boxes.  

I should also mention that one girl's family is from Poland and one is from Brazil.

And I thought, "This is a good lesson on diplomacy.  Put hearts into each other's boxes."

So simple, but you can expand on that.  Use your imagination.  What if each country just had love for the others?  Were there for each other instead of at odds with each other? 

Any time you say "I don't like you because you are a _________," you're wrong.  Love each other.  

Let's do what we can to make our little corner of the world a better place. 

What is a Poem??

It's Poetry Day!  Says the list of silly holidays I looked up - just to make the Kids Room a bit more fun. So I wrote out on the white board a limerick I wrote during my Middle School years:

There once was a spaceman from Mars
Who loved to gobble up cars
He ate oh so many
And had a huge belly
Thank goodness he didn't eat ours! 

Limericks are so much fun!  There are so many different styles of writing poetry.  That got me to thinking - some of these kids are really young.  I wonder if they even know what a poem is??

So I decided to ask them.  Many of them, of course, said "I don't know." Many knew what they were but were at a loss as to how to define exactly what IS a poem.  Then there were some good answers, some curious, many memorable.

What is a poem?

"Words that rhyme together." - Sophie, age 7

"It has words and sometimes numbers in it." - Eva, age 6

--  I really loved Adam's answer:
"It's something where somebody makes up something and you have to speak it out." - Adam, age 6

And then there was Eli's answer.  I'm not sure exactly what he was thinking I said or meant, but his answer was by far the most curious.

"It's something that opens up when you go for a walk." - Eli, age 4

I guess a poem could open up inside you if you feel inspired while out walking, but I'm not sure that's what he was getting at.  :)


I also asked the kids "What makes a good poem?"

"Poems are good when you use good words.  Not just regular words.  Regular words are kind of boring." - Sophie, age 7

"A good poem has words that are interesting." - Eva, age 6

"If it's fast." - Kellie Jo, age 8

Fast - and she recited a poem that she'd memorized - in fast speed!  All I could make out was something about apples and oranges.  So I googled "apples and oranges poem" and came up with at least 5 of them right off the bat.  I thought I would share one on that same topic - not that it's the one Kellie recited necessarily, but it's a fun one. Enjoy!

And why not write a poem of your own today?  Go out for a walk, get inspired, and let it open up inside you.  Write it out in fun colored pencils and stick it up on the fridge or a mirror.  :)

Apples and Oranges by "Sunprincess" on poemhunter.com

One apple, two apples, three apples, four
Give me an apple and I'll love you even more!

One orange, two orange, three orange, four
Give me an orange and I'll ask you for two more!

Apples and oranges, let's have some fun, let's compare
And for this contest we gotta make it fair!

Red delicious apples are yummy, and so very sweet
Crispy, or crunchy, they are my favorite treat!

So perfect, and so juicy, delicious oranges are so sweet
Seeded or unseeded, oh yes, I love this treat!

Apples and oranges, are both a yummy fruit
Both can quench your thirst, if turned into a juice!

Apples and oranges are a perfect fruit, in a picnic to share
Especially with your true love, to show you really care!

Apples and oranges, which is the winner of the prize
Eat them both, if you wish to wear a smaller size!

Apples and oranges, are both healthy, and full of fiber,
Experts say, eat them both, so you can be a tiger!

What's in a name?

Names.... I love all the variety in names!  I think it's part of the author in me - I'm always thinking about and researching just the right name for the characters in my stories. Thinking about names, as well, I realized a few days back that YOUR NAME is something you strongly identify with, and don't appreciate it if people make fun of your name or abbreviate it in a way that rubs you the wrong way - and you didn't even CHOOSE it.  Someone else named you.   Just food for thought.

The post today is really due to the fact that I had Moses and Eli in the kids' room today.  I just really noticed that - Moses and Eli running around playing together.  I guess that's because I'm also a Sunday School teacher, and my class recently learned about both these founding fathers of faith. And then I got to thinking - what were that Moses and that Eli like as children?  Children are children, regardless of nationality or era of time.  What were they like growing up?  Moses was in Egypt, being raised at Pharaoh's palace, and Eli?  I'm not sure. But it's interesting to think about. Who were they as children - and who will THIS Moses and Eli be when they grow up?

Every child is capable of greatness.  No matter how silly. :)

Popcorn

Yes, I love popcorn!  It is one of my all-time favorite snacks.

But this post isn't about food at all.

No, it's about a book!

I love books too, and I found a book at a thrift shop several months ago, and it's called Popcorn!  It is full of fun little poems by James Stevenson, and I find it so fitting for the area I live in, and for summer as well, which it finally was feeling like again after a downright nippy 4th of July!!

So tonight I thought I'd share a poem (or 2) from this fun little book!  Enjoy!

Driftwood

Scattered along the beach today

are logs, branches, tree trunks,

boards, sticks, planks, and railroad ties.

When did they get here? 

How far did they come?

How hard was the trip?

How long will they stay?

Some may stay for years and years,

Sinking in the sand.

Others will leave on the first high tide.

But which is which?

When we come back tomorrow, 

We'll see. 

Picnic Table

The hot dogs, the mustard,

The paper plates, the ketchup,

The napkins, potato chips,

The lemonade,

The chocolate cake and ice cream - 

All gone.

But under the apple tree

The table waits 

For next time. 

(Okay, so I'll share one more......)

Pirate

          Out of the fog

               Crept a raggedy cat.

You could tell  

                         By the way he moved, 

You could tell 

                        By the way he turned, 

He was a pirate, 

             And the fog 

                             Was his ocean. 

That's all for now!  Sweet dreams, sweet daydreams!  

Let your mind be poetic as you sit out in the sunshine, and smell the salt sea air.  

Close your eyes and listen to whatever you hear.  Write a few poems of your own.  : ) 

Good night. 

A New Season

It is officially summer!!  (And our town's kiddos are STILL in school....)

But it is a new season, and the days are gradually warming up!  For me, it feels like a new season of life as well, as there have been a few changes in my life these days.  The biggest - at least for now ... stay tuned - is that I'm no longer nannying, as the girls are off on their wagon train adventure that begins the summer for them!  And, since I am no longer nannying, at least for now, I have switched from the evening shift to the morning shift at work, watching the kiddos at the gym.

I've been doing that morning shift for three days now, and I'm suddenly aware of how much time I have in the afternoons/evenings again!  How much I missed this!  My schedule prior to this was - get up, morning routine, check email etc, work on Avon, water the garden, maybe take Hansel for a walk, then off to nanny at 11:00, drop the girls off with their mom at 3:00, run to Walgreens for something to eat later, then straight to work from 4:00 til 9:30.  Then home, pretty much dilly around for 45 min and then go to bed.

NOW!!  Wow, I'd forgotten what I was missing!  Now, it's up (earlier - 6:45), basic neccessity morning routine, eat breakfast and off to work.  BUT!  When I get home at around 1:20, I can water the garden, check email etc., take Hansel for a walk, then go pick up my mom when (if) she gets off at 3:00, and we can run to the thrift shops, then spend leisurely time at home, have dinner, even watch a few shows or a movie to wind down in the evenings.  No zipping home and off to bed! If I'm not running errands, now I even have time again to write!!  It's been so long!

What a perfect season to switch over!
I aim to spend as much time as possible outdoors, working in the garden, exploring trails, having picnics, camping, and so on. And learning the hula.  : )

What are your summer plans?

Raindrops and Mud Pies

   I had a bit of a magical moment last week while watching the girls.  First off, I should say that I have been learning how to do a hula to He Mele No Lilo with my mom in preparation for our second annual summer luau party. It's really fun, and amazing that when we first watch the video, we were like, "Wow - how are we ever going to learn to do all that?"  But we've been learning it a few bits at a time, and we are now to the point where we know the order of the whole hula and are just fine-tuning it!

   That said, back to last week with the girls.  We went outside to play, and after a bit it started to sort of drizzle, but we ignored it.  Then after a few minutes, it really started pouring down rain!  Play moved onto the covered porch.  : )
   And I noticed the very edge of the part of the deck where the cover ended at the side of the house, a perfect line of raindrops.  So I sat on the inside edge under the covered front porch and watched the rain come down.  There is a perfect backdrop for the rain where the twins' family lives - a large green-grassy yard bordered all the way around by evergreens.  Beautiful!  It wasn't cold out, so it was a joy to sit and watch the rain come down.  Then the girls joined me, and we all sat watching the raindrops.  There was a rhododendron just off to the right of us, and fat droplets were slipping down the smooth leaves of the rhodie, and it really just gave me an overwhelming sense of being in Hawaii.  Now, I have never been to Hawaii, but rhodies have always made me think of Hawaii, and I know they have sudden periods of rain there.  So for me, that was as close to feeling like what it actually might be like to be there. It felt magical.

                    

   Rhododendron -  -  -  -  -  -  -  Plumeria.  See?? The leaves are similar!!  ; )
cue hula music .......


    Then the rain stopped.  The girls started catching raindrops from the rhododendron leaves in tiny flower pots and dumping them into a plastic bucket.  Then they decided to plant something.  So they needed dirt, right?  More water in the bucket!  More dirt! Water! Dirt! Another bucket!  (No seeds involved at all here, I can't remember what they said they were planting.  Probably something magical.) Then the plastic buckets were mud pies, fun to squish your fingers into.  And so on.  Just let your imagination rule the play - day!

   Then it was time to get cleaned up to go into town, so off to the hose it was! Rinsing hands and feet and flip-flops, and getting a drink -- yes!  Drinking out of the garden hose!!  ; )  Ah, the good old days!! lol

Fun times!!  Sadly, my days as the twin's nanny are coming to an end --  officially, at least.  Today, in fact, and we are having a party!  Summer is coming, their mommy is off work (as a middle school teacher), and next year they will be in full-time preschool.  Hard to say how things will go in the fall, but in the meantime, summer fun is just around the corner, and we can just hang out!  

What are your fun summer family plans? 

Enjoy each sunny day!  

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Spring!  And the crops are growing!  Leaves bursting out above the soil, and some early harvests, particularly of strawberries!!  The girls and I had a chance to get outside and play, and enjoy some sweetness before it started to rain.  How is your garden?  Do you have one?  A patch of land, or containers like my little backyard garden?  What do you find easiest to grow?  What is your favorite home-grown goodie?

I love the simple pleasures of time outside!  It's timeless fun, unaffected by TV trends or technology.  Don't take for granted the wonderful beauty of the outdoors!  Summer is coming - be ready!   : )

Dancing With The . . . . Kiddos!

I always enjoy the seasons of Dancing With The Stars.  One of my all-time favorites was when Bindi Irwin was on the show, with Derek as her partner.  He is also one of my favorite pros on the show.  (Sad to see he wasn't on this past season!)

Well, since the girls love to play dress-up and dance around, I showed them some of Bindi's dances, knowing they were not inappropriate for young eyes.  And they loved them, especially the ones with the swirly dresses, they told me.  "Again!" they kept saying when the video clip ended.  There were three videos, I think, in particular, that we watched several times that day.

             

Which inspired more dancing!  It is so fun to watch them try to do what the pro/star did in their dances.  They love putting on a show!

Right now, all I can do is watch them and enjoy - I injured my shoulder, most likely dancing with them.  I hope you enjoy their antics too!

Color Running!

I must say, I really do appreciate our town and all of the fun community events we have here.  One such event is the Color Run we had this spring.  Now, I did not get a chance to participate in the REAL one, if you want to call it that.  I was hoping to, for the main reason that my sponsored child through World Vision is from India, where the whole idea of throwing color around to celebrate spring originated.  I was hoping to show her that we were doing sort of the same thing she enjoys doing.  Well, I may have missed the actual Color Run, but the twins' preschool had a junior version of it, and I was glad to be able to go and bring the girls in their white clothes to get all colored up.  I think they may have enjoyed the obstacle course more than getting squirted with colors (white weren't very bright unfortunately) but all in all they had a blast!  Now I have an official Color Run shirt that at least has a bit of splotchiness to it, that I hopefully will wear in next year's event!  :)