LOST . . . Using this summah to truly unplug and be LOST in my children and the hub. As witnessed on the insides of their doors with Sharpie marks, my kiddos are growing like weeds. When did this happen?
So, this summah, we are LOST in one another. . . No scurrying from camp to camp as in previous years. A VBS here and a Sports Camp there rounds out the summah.
Facebook deleted . . . Long summer days and nights LOST in one another, in books, in play, in conversation . . .
Share your idea of LOST in only five minutes . . .
Lisa-Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday: Lost
Friday, June 27, 2014
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Thousands
If you are like me, you enjoy observing people, wondering what their stories are . . . Everyone has a story to tell.
While at the park yesterday, I could overhear a personal trainer and his client.
Trainer: "Your form is a thousand times better than anyone I've worked with. Seriously."
Trainee: "Really?"
Later in the session . . .
Trainee misses punching target and accidentally clips Trainer.
Trainee: "I'm sorry."
Trainer: "It's okay. I've been hit thousands of times."
For me as one who enjoys writing, I think our best "stories" come from those around us and those "stories" we have experienced ourselves. As a reader/observer, the pleasure comes from trying to decipher these stories.
When I asked my hub his take on the above conversation, he replied, "He wants to do her."
When I asked my girlfriend, her reply, "Trainers are salesmen."
What stories have you witnessed? What are your interpretations?
While at the park yesterday, I could overhear a personal trainer and his client.
Trainer: "Your form is a thousand times better than anyone I've worked with. Seriously."
Trainee: "Really?"
Later in the session . . .
Trainee misses punching target and accidentally clips Trainer.
Trainee: "I'm sorry."
Trainer: "It's okay. I've been hit thousands of times."
For me as one who enjoys writing, I think our best "stories" come from those around us and those "stories" we have experienced ourselves. As a reader/observer, the pleasure comes from trying to decipher these stories.
When I asked my hub his take on the above conversation, he replied, "He wants to do her."
When I asked my girlfriend, her reply, "Trainers are salesmen."
What stories have you witnessed? What are your interpretations?
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Book Club Babes: Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab
Miss Colleen's selection of Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab was a hit not only for the book club members, but also the adults. A thriller full of suspense and pretty cool experiments (this coming from a liberal arts person), I read my copy in one night.
Due to the high volume (sweet!) of experiments Miss Colleen's mom brought with her, we changed the mode of discussion. Each member chose a favorite question out of the three written in her journal, wrote said question on an index card, and placed it in a bowl. Members then chose a question (blindly) from the bowl and were given time to think about the answer before sharing with the rest of the group.
After discussion it was experiment time, their favorite.
To conclude, members were given a choice of ice cream flavors including mint chip and double chocolate chunk (the hub was unable to find double chocolate praline) because this was what Nick and Tesla devoured at the end of the book. Takeaway was a sandwich bag full of diluted highlighter juice to be used in a top secret manner of the Book Club Babe's choosing much like Nick and Tesla used it to track the van in chapters 9-10.
Next discussion: Miss Grace's The Puppy Place: Chewy and Chica
Due to the high volume (sweet!) of experiments Miss Colleen's mom brought with her, we changed the mode of discussion. Each member chose a favorite question out of the three written in her journal, wrote said question on an index card, and placed it in a bowl. Members then chose a question (blindly) from the bowl and were given time to think about the answer before sharing with the rest of the group.
After discussion it was experiment time, their favorite.
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| Volcano Kit Purchased at Happy Up |
To conclude, members were given a choice of ice cream flavors including mint chip and double chocolate chunk (the hub was unable to find double chocolate praline) because this was what Nick and Tesla devoured at the end of the book. Takeaway was a sandwich bag full of diluted highlighter juice to be used in a top secret manner of the Book Club Babe's choosing much like Nick and Tesla used it to track the van in chapters 9-10.
Next discussion: Miss Grace's The Puppy Place: Chewy and Chica
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Get Fisk Book Club
This month's title, Pirate's Lair, revolves around pirates working out of the Horn of Africa.
Get Fisk would be the ideal vehicle for the formation of a book club in a work environment (The Literate Lunchers), in an adult literacy classroom, or simply a means to chat with others regarding daily reading. Thus, grab a local bite, your brown bag, or your replacement meal shake, and have a brief discussion regarding the Get Fisk daily read.
Loving Another Woman's Child
Looking back, I see how apparent the reasons of why I became a teacher. Not only am I a "BIG kid" (not a baby goat) at heart, but I have this desire to positively contribute to a child's self worth based solely on his/her unique person, the child as gift philosophy. This undoubtedly springs from my own dysfunctional upbringing where I was placed on the metaphorical back burner.
As a mother, I am blessed to be given the opportunity to express daily to each of my children her importance and ability to impact others through kindness, generosity, and love.
In addition, I have been blessed to have been given the opportunity to love and learn from other women's children. . . as a teacher, coach, neighbor, group leader, and mother.
My children bring home some of the most intelligent, hilarious, thoughtful friends who will undoubtedly improve this world as adults and who do so already as children.
What is difficult, though, is having to say, "I'll see ya later!" to these kiddos when they move away. Unfortunately for us, we have now had to do this two years in a row. As seen in my daughter's second-grade journal, the impact is lasting as the girls mentioned in the journal moved at the end of the previous school year.
Our whole family full of tears said goodbye to Miss C., my eldest's tow-haired, blue eyed, classmate, fellow Girl Scout, and neighbor. In fact, I think we hoped right until we saw the moving truck that perhaps plans would change, and this girl's move would be aborted. This young lady brought much joy to our lives through her gentle manner, helpful ways, and unending smile.
This year, we are having to say goodbye to Miss E. My eldest daughter met her in kindergarten as they were both seated at the "Rainbow Pegasus" table. Miss E., a young beautiful lady with the most distinct voice- low and raspy- also touched the life of my youngest daughter as a reading mentor this past year in school. With much anticipation, Colette readied herself (minus any of the usual urgings) for school on "Reading Buddy Day." In fact, those two are so much alike, I can look into the future and see what my youngest squirt will be like in two years. In return, Miss E. always looked out for my youngest on the playground at school and otherwise as I often heard her say, "Where is Colette?"
Although Miss E. and her family's moving truck is full and headed for the East Coast, I can only hope one day these belongings will find their way back to this area.
How has loving another woman's child impacted you?
As a mother, I am blessed to be given the opportunity to express daily to each of my children her importance and ability to impact others through kindness, generosity, and love.
In addition, I have been blessed to have been given the opportunity to love and learn from other women's children. . . as a teacher, coach, neighbor, group leader, and mother.
My children bring home some of the most intelligent, hilarious, thoughtful friends who will undoubtedly improve this world as adults and who do so already as children.
What is difficult, though, is having to say, "I'll see ya later!" to these kiddos when they move away. Unfortunately for us, we have now had to do this two years in a row. As seen in my daughter's second-grade journal, the impact is lasting as the girls mentioned in the journal moved at the end of the previous school year.
Our whole family full of tears said goodbye to Miss C., my eldest's tow-haired, blue eyed, classmate, fellow Girl Scout, and neighbor. In fact, I think we hoped right until we saw the moving truck that perhaps plans would change, and this girl's move would be aborted. This young lady brought much joy to our lives through her gentle manner, helpful ways, and unending smile.
This year, we are having to say goodbye to Miss E. My eldest daughter met her in kindergarten as they were both seated at the "Rainbow Pegasus" table. Miss E., a young beautiful lady with the most distinct voice- low and raspy- also touched the life of my youngest daughter as a reading mentor this past year in school. With much anticipation, Colette readied herself (minus any of the usual urgings) for school on "Reading Buddy Day." In fact, those two are so much alike, I can look into the future and see what my youngest squirt will be like in two years. In return, Miss E. always looked out for my youngest on the playground at school and otherwise as I often heard her say, "Where is Colette?"
Although Miss E. and her family's moving truck is full and headed for the East Coast, I can only hope one day these belongings will find their way back to this area.
How has loving another woman's child impacted you?
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Lisa Kleypas' Tempt Me at Twilight Book Club
If you liked Fifty Shades of Grey in any way, shape, or form, then this romance is for you (see pages 314-17). Set in the 1800s, this book follows an innocent Poppy Hathaway and a troubled
For the purposes of book club, great-aunt Albertine's steamed apple puddings with drizzled cream sauce, courtesy of Chef Broussard, would be a welcome conversation starter.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Book Club Babes: Frozen
Book Club Babes (a third-grade book club) met and discussed Disney's chapter book, Frozen, selected by Miss Bella. As members arrived, they were asked to decorate a cup to be used for the frozen punch, SoBe pina colada drink (found at Schnucks for $1/bottle . . . score).
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| Frozen SoBe was used as ice cubes to chill the punch. |
After a dinner of sandwiches (which is mentioned in "Love is an Open Door"), a frozen dessert bar was served complete with a cake like the one found in the movie (minus the head statue) and various white/silver-colored treats (thank you Miss Faith for the white-iced snack cakes).
Discussion ensued with thought provoking open-ended questions such as, "What makes a family?" and "What is true love?" to close reading questions such as, "What are the names of the three trolls? Look in chapter 2." One member's question of "What was your favorite scene?" led to third-grade members acting their answers out for the rest of the group. Yes, goosebumps ran up and down my arms and legs as literacy in action unfolded before my eyes. Even first and second grade siblings joined in on the discussion. Be still my heart.
The remainder of book club was spent watching the movie Frozen (okay, I think one member ended up watching the movie in its entirety) and playing; hey, they earned it.
Next discussion: Miss Colleen's pick of Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab
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