Passion Beads & Egging Friends

I got this great idea from a friend of mine to make story beads that help my kids to tell the story of Easter. I have looked and looked for wooden beads. They were either too much for me to pay or I couldn't tell the size of the lacing hole or they were a size variety pack. So, I decided that I was going to make my own beads out of baker's clay. I think next time I will paint the beads once they are done so that they look a little better.
The kids and I spent an evening rolling snakes and cutting pieces to make these beads. Brantley had the best time squishing the dough. Chuck just loved cutting and counting the pieces. I used a toothpick to hollow out the center. The pencil did not work for me. We baked the first batch of 150 beads only to find out that I did not make the "hole" big enough. I got upset and started to throw them all away only to have my husband get major husband points and offer to drill each bead. Yes, you heard right. Out of the 600 beads that we made he drilled around 250 of them. What a great man! Once the beads were cooled I used a package of sharpie markers to draw the pictures on the beads. The story begins with Jesus coming into Jersulem riding on a donkey. The people waved palm leaves. (palm leaf) Jesus has the Last supper with his disciples. (Bread and wine) Jesus goes to the garden to pray. (praying hand) He is captured by soldiers. (chain) He is nailed to the cross. (nail) He dies on the cross (cross). He is in the tomb for 3 days. (123) On the 3rd day he rises again. This reminds us that we have a new life in him (butterfly). He died because he loves us. His love saves us (heart)
I made them for my class and the 4th grade class to work on during our Friday Friend Session. My kids loved them. 4th grade not so much. We had beads left over so I decided to see if Charlie wanted to give them to some of her friends. We made a kind of "treasure" hunt by placing a bead in a plastic egg and hiding them around the friend's yard. Charlie then rang the doorbell and ran to the car. The first one we tried we were not so "successful" with getting away. We had the best time.
I hope that our friends enjoyed their egging as much as we did. I think that I just might have to do this activity again.

Martin Nature Park

Last year when I scheduled our class field trip to Martin Nature Park I scheduled it on a day when the park was closed. Yes, I am a dork. Yes, teachers (parents, people) make mistakes.

This is one of my favorite areas. This is an area that when the creek is down you can actually climb across the rocks and explore. I really need to take Charlie out here.

Here is a picture of my kids and their wonderful, amazing, awesome parents looking at the 1st picture and begging to go across the rocks.

Some of the huge wildlife that we spotted. There were tons of turtles. They even got to touch one.

This year was the perfect day. It has been raining off and on for weeks. It even rained Wednesday evening but Wednesday morning was the perfect day to go.

How cool is this. We saw tons of geese with their goslings. We had a great time!

Old tales I don't want to forget

I was looking for a post over at one of my favorite sites Just 4 keeps and found this post.

It was so funny at the time that I just wanted to remember it here too. It was from last year's class. I just love Dillon.

"Wed sept 05 2007

I am at school today. I go into the bathroom to check on two of my boys and I notice that one of them has something in his hand. Like any parent, I hold out my hand and tell him to give it to me. I then ask "what is it?" That was a very important question and for once I am so glad this kid did not obey. It was a frog. When I asked him to repeat himself b/c surly I had misheard him. I was very glad that he had kept the frog in his hand. He assured me that it was "not dead or anything." We let the squished up little green tree frog go. I did not point out to this little guy that his frog was indeed dead. He had been squishing him in his hand for 20 minutes prior to me finding him as we were washing up for lunch. I like frogs, don't get me wrong but I would have screamed if one had landed in my hand when I wasn't expecting it. "

That was so funny then and finding it today when Charlie is again having a hard time obeying (She cut her hair again so that everyone would think she was so cute.) I just needed to know that sometimes I really don't want them to obey.

Friday, one crazy week

Last day of school before break. The kids are not the only one that needs the break. I am ready to just spend time with my kids. And, I just want to sleep in and take a nap. Anyway we had our class party. It was the best party I have ever had. It was so organized. My homeroom moms were just fantastic!!! It wasn't one of those parties that things are done to show off how much money you have, instead it was done for the kids! Thank you, thank you, thank you Mrs. Carroll! We had a fabulous party. Here are my kiddos!

After school my kids went to Grandma's and I went to Sam's for our faculty Christmas party. I won't tell details or post pictures but I just love the people I work with. They have the greatest sense of humor. They make me laugh and I just love being with them. I wish their were more time in the day and that we had the ability to spend more time together outside of school as adults.

There is just something to not having to always be the "role" model for the young eyes that we are around every day.

Thursday, one crazy week

I want my kids to grow up giving. Our school has to do a service project each year. The last three years my class has done a stuffed animal drive for the Infant Crisis Center. I love ICC. They are one of the few places that still accept used items. I understand that even poor people need new things but buying a new unwrapped toy is not really something that a 3 or 4 year old can do and it mean anything. I want the service project that we do to be my students and not just their parents making the sacrifice. Our project is that I want each student to look through their stuffed animals at home and choose one to give to a baby that doesn't have any kind of lovey. This is very hard for a young child. I am not asking for them to give away their favorite stuffed animal but still it is difficult. So, Charlie and I sat down with all of her dolls and stuffed animals. She gave one of the plastic sacks you see in the picture. The other sack is some of Brantley's clothes. I was so proud of her. She cut her stuffed animals completely in half. I could not believe her generosity. She was so excited to give something to the babies that did not have a lovey. So, If you every need to get rid of "lovey's" ICC ( www.infantcrisis.org ) is a great place to send them. The unbagged items are what my kids at school gave. I was amazed with their generosity.

Czech Fest

This weekend was the Czech Parade. Every year my school has a float. And every year we walk in it.

Okay pictures like this just throw me for a loop. Do you see the shy look? When is my child every shy? These two could be sisters they look and act so much alike. The older girl was in my very first Pre-K class. I just love her!!!

Here is my fabulous assistant and her daughter. She has become a great FRIEND! I don't know how I would teach without her.

Charlie adores her daughter!!! Don't these two just look like they are about to get into some kind of mischief.

And of course, my little man. He is just getting so BIG!

Ahh, the last day of school

I would have to say that this time of the year is good for kids as well as adults. The last day of school is needed by all, young and old. This is the first time that I have ever been able to check out of my room on the first day. But, did I do it? No, I still have to go back in tomorrow to turn in my final paperwork...I am so looking forward to the summer.