He'll come get you too....

This morning a kindergartener came into drama class very loudly and said "Have you seen my sister today?" The following is a transcript of our transcript of our conversation. (Yes, I took notes)

Me: No, Why?

Girl: She was bit by a dragon.

Me: What?

Girl: A dragon, a dragon bit her right on the hand. (motions to her hand)

Me: Where?

Girl: On her hand!

Me: No, Where did this happen?

Girl: In her bed.

Me: When?

Girl: Tomorrow.

Me: Tomorrow? It hasn't happened yet?

Girl: No, it happened tomorrow, when she was sleeping.

Me: Why?

Girl: He was mad. He came in the window and he bit her.

Me: What did he look like?

Girl: He was red and bleedy.

Me: So, you saw him?

Girl: Yes, the whole family saw him and we had to run away.

Random Boy: I saw him too!

Me: How?

Random Boy: I live in that apartment.

Girl: He does, but the dragon just went away after he bit her. I guess he was just mad.

Me: OK....let's take attendance, shall we?

Sweetness

Beans! Beans! They're good for your heart!

This Thursday is International Night at my school and I am making Black Beans to represent mi orgullo Cubano. One of my favorite recipes for this is by my friend Kikita and when I made them last year, they were very well received. So, I am so ready to make them again this year. This afternoon, I went into the grocery store to buy my (shhhh) canned black beans. As I filled my cart with cans, I noticed that one of them had different colored numbers on the top of the can. I looked at the dates and sure enough, 9 of the cans had an expiration date of Nov 2011, but the 1 odd can had an expiration date of October 2008!!!! I couldn't believe it. I went to the employee working in the aisle and showed her the date. She didn't even act shocked. She simply put the can in her cart and said to me "Well, that's why you need to check the dates."

Fine, I'll play!

I'm a little behind on my post goal, can you tell? Anyway, yesterday was a sick day at our house and when the Ibuprofen kicked in, the kids were doing just fine. In one of those rare moments, Dallas and Addi decided to make a "store" in their room. They wanted me to come play with them. Of course, I didn't want to. But Dallas tried everything to get me to go in there. "Mommy, everything is zero cents", "Mommy, I have your favorite color marbles", "Mommy, we take credit cards" Bless his heart, he tried everything. Finally, he comes in with a little piece of paper and says "Mommy, I know you can't say no to this....here's a coupon!"

Introducing...

Last week, I had a student tell me that his mother was having a baby. Of course, as is usually the case-every other student had to tell me that their mother was having a baby too. One little boy raised his hand. "My mommy is having a baby too...and guess what her name is going to be? Mrs. Prouty!"

Dinner?

Awareness

Today, I ran into Kroger for a last minute purchase. Since I only had 1 item, I quickly secured my spot in the 15 items or less aisle. I was paying for my item (It was Veg-All, all right? Geesh!) when the cashier looks at the man 2 people behind me and his completely full cart and says "Sir, I believe you have too much." The man responded "You don't know how to count." Now, that alone is cause for me to say something as his cart was clearly TOO FULL. But, I stayed out of it because it really wasn't my business. The man then continues "Did you mean in my cart or around my belly?" The cashier said "In your cart." And the man KEEPS GOING "Well, I was gonna say, you're one to talk.....SKINNY." Now, unfortunately, my cashier was very, very overweight. I just wanted to crawl into my skin, but then in an amazing display of complete lack of self awareness or a quick thinking self-protection act, my cashier says "I wish...I just had surgery and I lost 15 pounds and I know I need to lose a little more..." And she went on and on.

By this time, I'm just standing there completely amazed and disgusted at this man who felt it was his right to not just attack her intelligence but her physical appearance. ESPECIALLY when he obviously was not the smartest or the healthiest based on the amount of bagged chips in his cart. UGH! I feel pretty bad for not saying anything. What would you have done?

Kiss My Grits

This morning I was on the phone with one of BFF's Michelle Wells Farmer (maybe you've heard of her). I was multitasking by talking on the phone, making my bed and feeding my kids all at the same time. I made 2 cereal bowls and 2 chocolate milks and carried them to the kids when I heard Dallas. What he said made me turn around with a quickness. Very seriously he says to me "Excuse me, but I didn't order this." I laughed at him and said "This isn't a restaurant, sorry buddy." Michelle heard the exchange and while laughing she says that I should tell him to "Kiss my Grits" (A spectacular reference to one of my old favorite shows, Alice) Of course I do. Dallas looks at me very confused and Addi says "I'll kiss your grits!"

Because it's Necessary

Robert

Last year, at this time, I was waiting with bated breath for my phone to ring. I was waiting to hear that my sister was progressing in labor of her son. Of course, I waited all day to no avail as babies seem to have their own timeline. Later that evening, my youngest sister called to tell me it was happening soon and that since she was in the room (and I obviously wasn't), that she would hold the phone up and let me hear his birth. Now, as I write this, my nose tickles....this is my sign that this memory is going to make me cry a little bit. It was super simple for Debbie to hold up that phone, it cost her nothing. But, to me....being so far away as my first nephew was born....it was worth millions. I GOT TO HEAR his first breath in this world, his first cry. His cries joined with mine as a welcomed Robert Joseph came into the world. Thanks to technology, I received a text message with his picture within minutes of his birth and short of smelling him, I really felt I was there. Oh, how he was longed for! Oh, how he'd been prayed for! Oh, how loved he is!
I didn't get to actually hold R.J. until he was about 4 months old. My body wrought with sobs, I held him close. He so closely resembled my father that I thought for sure that the twinkling eyes WERE that of my dad and that now I had to choose a religion that believed in reincarnation. This little man, so sweet and soft, MY NEPHEW. He turns 1 today and again, I can't be there to celebrate his birth. But webcams, pictures and phone calls will help me be there in absentia and that will be okay.

Happy Birthday Robert Joseph. Your Tia loves you very much!

What's fancy to you isn't to me

So, today I was trying to explain characterization and how we have to pretend to be like someone else. A good example of that is when you're in a place that you have to behave differently. For example....a church, a classroom, a circus. So, I had them pantomime opening a present. First, they did it as themselves. Most of them acted crazy opening it. Then, I had them do it as a child who has never had a present before. Last, I had them pretend to open it as if it was a gift given to them by their very rich grandparents and they are opening it in a fancy restaurant. When, I began the lesson, I imagined opening it at a country club, or at Nieman's cafe or the top of the Stratosphere. Well, apparently this is not what some of my students as I was asked "Do you mean like Olive Garden?"

***edited to say that by no means did I mean to sound condescending or do I look down on anyone who considers Olive Garden fancy. It just strikes me sometimes just how different my school kiddos are.

My first love

Honestly

I can not even begin to describe how irritating it is to take a shower with your kids staring through the glass doors as if you're in some sort of demented peep show.

Mama Monday: He's got a point

In my home this weekend there was a lot of talk about our trip to New Orleans this summer. You see, this July is our church's youth gathering and I am on the planning committee. I am super excited for my children to experience a youth gathering at a young age and see what they have to look forward to. It isn't often you get to be in a place with over 25,000 youth in attendance, all of whom BELIEVE the same thing. It's pretty awesome and overwhelming. Another reason that I'm really anxious about sharing this with Dallas specifically is that when I was pregnant with him and I walked into a mass event I felt him move for the first time. He was moving in response to the loud music. To this day, my boy loves music and singing and I know that the gathering was were he was first exposed to it. So, I want to see his 5 year old face light up when he walks into the superdome and experiences it again. Oh, I'm just all goose-bumpy thinking about it.

This weekend as we are talking about it; I mention that I'm excited for the kids to experience a new city....New Orleans. One of my goals as a parent is to have my kids visit lots of places as my parents did for me. Dallas hears this and says "New Orleans sounds good, but I want to experience Chicago"

Because it's necessary

Theatre Thursday: Put a ring on it

I have a couple of classes that are classes and a 1/3 which means it's a full class (20-24) and another 1/3 of another class. Today, four 3rd graders arrived before the full class. I told them they could chill a little bit before the class could arrive. I heard them get on the stage and start singing "Put a Ring on It" by Beyonce. This alone was fine until I turned around and saw all 4 doing the dance that goes with it. Have you seen it? Not hysterical when Beyonce does it; but side-splitting when it's done by four 9 year olds.

Wordless Wednesday: Why I can breathe in and out

Seriously????

You CAN'T just squeeze a tube of toothpaste anymore? I really have to spend $19.95 for that. Idiots will buy anything (editorial disclaimer: If you have bought this, you are not an idiot, so please let me know how this neat little gadget works for you)

https://www.buytouchnbrush.com

If you're Happy and You Know it.

I don't know if I'm raising a pleaser or what; but lately all my girl can ask me is if I'm happy. She will get really close to my face and say "You happy, Mommy?" and she will repeat it and scream it until I yell "Yes, I'm Happy!!!!" to which she replies "Then I'm happy too!" and goes along her merry way.
I figured out how to use this to my advantage. When she is doing something I don't care for, I look at her and say "I'm not happy" and then she gets very serious and stops the bad behavior.
If that doesn't work I deny her some cake.
Hey! Whatever it takes is my motto.

New Posts

Yeh, Yeh, Yeh...I'm gonna try to post more often in 2010.
But, seriously, I think I'm gonna aim for Monday-Thursday. My busiest, but most bloggable days.
Mondays will be = Mama Mondays (posts about my sweet little monsters and the hilarity that ensues.
Tuesdays will be = Tantrum Tuesdays (posts about stuff that's getting me all pissed off)
Wednesdays will be = Wordless Wednesdays (where the picture will say it all)
Thursdays will be = Theatre Thursdays (posts from the drama that is my drama classroom)

This is my goal and I'm already behind one day.