3 Year Old Wisdom

I saw this on facebook this week and loved it!  Tonight I had to post it for my cute little three year old who refused to go to his Sunbeam class today.  He has always LOVED nursery and church so I couldn't figure out why he didn't want to go today.  This is what he told me:

"In my new class we just have to sit and sit."

Aha!  I'm thankful my 3 year old is a able to verbalize exactly what the problem is!  Nursery was fun and engaging but Sunbeams was boring and full of expectations he couldn't reach.  There wasn't much I could say to that.  I agree whole heartedly with my little guy.  It's completely developmentally inappropriate for preschoolers to be expected to sit quietly in a chair without moving, touching, or doing anything that stimulates their little mind, while a teacher stands in front of 75 kids and tries to hold their attention.  I've struggled with that reality every time I've stepped foot into Junior Sharing Time.  The Early Childhood Educator in me can hardly handle being in the room.  I love that my little three year old could put the problem into words.

For the record, I did still try to get him to go to class.  I really talked up how fun it was and how they sing songs in his class.  His response was this:

"They put up a picture.  Sing a song.  They put up a picture.  Sing a song.  It's Lame!" 

at least we know where he stands on the topic.  :)  I love my opinionated little three year old.

Education Rant is now OVER. 

True Friends

 True friends like these two don't grow apart.  When they get back together they pick up right where they left off.  I loved that Brianna showed up at our house with a rainbow loom in hand!  Kelsie is obsessed by rainbow loom bracelets and they immediately headed to her room and commenced making dozens of bracelets.  It made me smile to see how they were living hundreds of miles from each other but they still love the same things and pick right up like it was just yesterday that they saw each other!

All the kids needed a picture with their favorite friend, Brianna!  We all miss Brianna and love having her here for visits!

Merry Christmas from TRidge Elementary!

 Emily's class all got to decorate their own gingerbread houses.  I went to help and it was SO fun.  It was the first time I'd helped in my kids classes this year.  I've been too sick with the pregnancy to help in their classes and I've missed it so much.  Being at the school helping is one my FAVORITE places to be!  Gingerbread houses and 32 3rd graders made it extra fun!

 My cute kindergartener.  He loves school and I LOVE his teacher.  I popped in unannounced and she invited me in and put me in charge of an activity so I could help with the party and feel involved.  Super fun to see Carter's shocked face when he saw me there!

 We got lucky and ran into this cute 6th grader in the halls as she was judging the hallway decorations for a Student Council contest they are doing.  Student Council has been so great for her!  She loves being involved and has been responsible for so many things and keeps up with it all, on her own.

 Here's Carter's cute Christmas gift to John and I.

Cleaning out the backpacks after school I found this cute note to Santa from Emily.  That's my sweet Emily.

The Nativity

 Here's this year's nativity crew.  John, Carter, and Ethan as wisemen.  Emily as angel.  Kelsie and Matson as shepherds.  Ashtyn and Mason as Mary and Joseph.

 Carter presenting his gift.

My little shepherd boy looking up to his big sister.

Christmas Wishes

 Merry Christmas Eve.  Here are the kids requests for Santa this year:

Matson: "everything I see on TV"

Carter:  A Dog

Emily:  a pink soccer ball

Kelsie:  socks

At least Kelsie will be one happy girl tomorrow morning.  Matson has stayed true to his request and has told everyone who asks that he wants, "everything on T.V."  He is a marketers dream come true!

That's my crazy little three year old.  His final words to me as I tucked him in tonight:  "Mom, I think Santa is going to bring you coal!"  :)

Emily's Invite

 

Emily's "Minute to Win It" Party!

For Emily's 9th birthday party we did a "Minute to Win It" Party.  I was still sick when we started planning it and had no idea how I was going to pull off a party so we went with dad's party theme idea.  (Emily thought it was the greatest idea she'd ever heard!)  I wasn't super excited about it but I was wrong.  We couldn't have picked a better party for my competitive, energetic Emily.  It was perfect for her!  She loved every second of the competitions! 

 Here's the master of ceremonies.  John was the energy behind this party and led the games and fun.  He even found an official "Minute to Win It" countdown which was super awesome.

 We divided the kids into groups did 10 "Minute to Win It" rotations.  Some of their favorites were Stack the cups, Face the Cookie, Dice Stack, and Marshmallow Head.  It was so fun to see them working together and cheering each other on. 

 This was their all time favorite.  Their partner had to throw marshmellows into the bowl on their head.  It was a hoot to watch them jumping around trying to catch the marshmellows. 

 That was what Emily looked like through the whole party.  Couldn't wipe that smile of her face.  She was jumping up and down, screaming, smiling, and having the time of her life.  She is SUPER competitive and this was the perfect party for her.  She loved it!!!  I sat and watched her the whole time.  It was so fun to see her SO excited and happy! 

 Our last competition was "decorate your cupcake in a minute".  Then we had root beer and Fanta floats, opened presents, and ended with a Pinata!  Here's the gang for her 9th birthday.

 The Birthday Girl

 Em and Liz.  Love this picture of these cute friends.    They've been at each other's parties since they were three!

 She got lots of nice gifts and the Rainbow Loom was the favorite!  She was so excited!  Kelsie and Emily have been happily making bracelets ever since.  And yes, they are talking about turning it into a bracelet business, but I'm really trying to downplay that big time!

 Rainbow Pinata filled with clearance Halloween candy. :)

 She ended her fun day with her favorite dinner:  Panda Express!  She LOVES the chow mein!  It was a busy, fun day to celebrate our spunky little Emily.