From the mouths of babes...

Mom: Ellery...what did you do at school today?

Ellery: (silence)

Mom: Did you have fun?

Ellery: (silence)

Mom: Tell me what you did with Ms. Mindi.

Ellery: (silence)

Mom: Ellery, if you'll tell me nothing else, will you at least tell me if you liked it??

Ellery (looking at mom like she's not very smart...): Well, what's not to like??



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Kyle: Ms. Lori, this fire drill is scary.

Ms. Lori: It's OK, buddy, we're just having a practice.

Kyle: Well, what would do if there was a real fire?

Ms. Lori: You tell me. What would we do if we had a real emergency?

Kyle: We get the heck out the house. But I still don't like it.



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Jack: I had the chicken pox once.

Kyle: Well, where did you get those? Were you hanging out on a farm?



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Kyle: Ms. Carly, I'm going to stand up, but I'm not going to be singing today.

Lauren: Well, that's your choice, Kyle.
(This is especially funny if you are a teacher, and hear yourSELF say this a million times a day! We always say Lauren could run the school without us...this is further confirmation of that!)

Yep...that's a clothespin!

Teagan really does not like the smell of our play doh. She says it makes her "gag", makes her "sick", and makes centers "no fun". Today was a play doh day, and Teagan was instantly put off by it. She told Tori in no uncertain terms that she would NOT be playing in the play doh, which Ms. Tori said was fine. However, when the others started playing, Teagan couldn't resist. She came up with a great plan all by herself...see how happy she is playing in the play doh??? Never mind that the clothespin was only clipped on the tip of her nose...she could still totally smell the play doh!

I FOUND IT!!!

Today, our friend Lynde started with us in the Green Room. She is so very sweet and eager to please!! When we are trying to get the class' attention, you will often hear our teachers say, "Find my face." Lynde totally thinks this is a game...so everytime today that I said, "Find my face." Lynde would spout back with, "I found it! It's right there under your hair!!!" And then she would clap like she had really done something. So cute!

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And then...
Jack: Once I had chicken pox.
Kyle: You did? How did you get chicken pox??? Were you hanging out on a farm???

It's gonna be tough with no pockets and only one sharing hand...but we'll make it!

So, we're underway here for another year!! It's been fun so far, and we just keep expecting more and more fun to come along!

A cute little story to share about one of our new friends, Teagan. Teagan is a big helper and loves to get caught being good! So we very quickly needed to acquaint Teagan with our WOW program. (For those of you who have been with us before, you know all about WOWs and honeysticks...for those of you who don't know...just you wait and see!) So Ms. Tori sat her friends down and was explaining how when you do something great, you get a WOW (green slip of paper) or a honeystick to place in your pocket (an evelope type pocket on the wall). Teagan, and all of them really, were most excited for the opportunity to get a WOW/honeystick. It took no time to catch Teagan in the act of being good, and Ms. Tori said, "Teagan! Here's a WOW for your pocket!" Teagan lit up, then took the WOW from Tori. Then, as she looked down over herself, her shoulders slumped in disappointment. I saw this happen, and said, "What is it, Teagan??" And she says, "Well, I just got my first WOW. But I "weared" this skirt today...and it doesn't even have any pockets." I explained to her that her pocket was actually on the wall. She got that wonderful light back in her eyes and said, "OH...well I'm glad I don't need to BRING a pocket everyday!" I love it!! I love how their little minds are so literal to what we say! Regardless, Teagan got that WOW in the right pocket...and has added many, many more to it since!

Also, today Ms. Tori was heading outside with her class...trying to beat the rain. Just before they go out, Tori always reminds them to use their "sharing hands". She said, "Everyone hold up your sharing hands so I can see!" Little Ella holds up one hand with a band aid on her finger (she's OK, Amy & Mark...I couldn't even see the boo-boo...but it was there in her mind, so it had to be addressed!) and she says to Tori, "Well, one of my sharing hands is broken." Tori reminds Ella that that's OK, she has another hand that will still share. Ella goes, "Yeah...let's hope I use that one today!"

Let them be little...

Today, Harrison wasn't feeling well, so he came up to my office to lay on a cot. I was sitting next to him talking. He said, "Ms. Lori, I think I won't be able to come to Pirate camp tomorrow. I'll probably still be sick." I said, "That's ok, buddy. You need to rest." He goes, "Yeah...do you think you'll have it next year? Maybe I'll come for it then." I said, "Just think, next year, you'll be getting ready for first grade!" He said, "What color is that room?" I explained that we don't have first grade at LEP, and he said, "I've noticed an extra room in the back...a gray room...you know gray around the door." I told him that was the closet, and he asked how big it was. "Maybe we could have first grade there." I said, "It's not that big, buddy." He said, "Well, I think we should talk to Ms. Sally and see if we can just have first grade in the blue room." Finally, I told him, "You'll be so big by then, you'll be getting ready for your new big boy school." And then, he made me tear up when he said, "I want this to be my big boy school...I love it here." He was quiet for a little bit, then he said, "We can talk more about it later. I'm going to close my eyes...you just keep rubbing my back." Oh, how I wish they stayed little...

Ms. Lori, how can you be so cruel??

Yesterday, as Nolan was leaving school, he tripped and fell. He looked like he was going to cry, so trying to distract him, I said, "No, no floor! You don't hurt Nolan!" He looked up at me and said, "Not the floor, the tree." (Meaning the huge plant in the front office.) So I quickly said, "NO, no tree! You don't hurt Nolan!!" Nolan walked very quietly to the tree, started petting it's leaves and said, "It's ok, tree. It was just a accident (ass-uh-dent)." He kept looking at me like I was so cruel to talk to the tree that way...I actually felt a little sorry for the plant! It takes these kids to keep me sweet. (For those of you who know me well, stop laughing..I'm very sweet!!!)

Magnificent Moms

Ahhh...Mom's night is complete, and it was a success! Now that most of you have your Mother's Day books that we made (whew!) I wanted to share a few funnies that happened while we were working...

By far, the BEST answer I got to any of the questions was this one that came from Josie:
Me: How are you and your mom alike?
Jo: We both like TV
Me: How are you and your mom different?
Jo: Well, I'M smart.

Alli told me that she loves how her mom is "squishy". If you've seen Alli's mom, you know she is super fit and there is no "squish" to her anywhere! I think it's Alli's way of describing her mom's soft personality. I love that!

I giggled at many of the ages given to you ladies...everything from 2 to 100.

The favorite foods were funny too. Lots of you moms are eating a lot of pasta according to your kiddos!

The overall favorite thing you all like to do or are good at is taking a nap...and I'm right there with you! But there were some other good ones, too, like "Give me a bath" (Kian), "Play PacMan with me" (Riley), and "Chasing daddy!" (Nadia).

I liked to hear what it is that your kids think you say to them a lot! Most of them said some form of "I love you." However, Alli said her mom says "Hi, Alli" quite a lot. Jasmine's mom asks her to clean her room. And Tessa's mom tells her to go to her classroom! (Considering Tessa has only been with us 2 weeks...)

I hope you all enjoyed the "How do you know your mom loves you?" question. It really is the small things you do!

Thanks again to all of you who were able to make it tonight. We were excited by the great turnout, and the children truly enjoyed it. Tell me you all didn't go home chanting "A Tooty Ta, A Tooty Ta, A tooty ta-ta!" What a great night!!

I hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day! You all deserve it! Thanks for being the great moms you are, and in turn, raising phenomenal children! We're grateful!! Happy Mother's Day!