Where a kid can be a kid

Off to Chuckie Cheese today for the first field trip of the year. Faith is super excited. This year we are a little more comfortable with her not in her carseat. The bus is designed for little bodies like hers. I think she has fun with us at Chuckie Cheese. She is going to have a blast with all her friends. It is times like these that I wish I wasn't a teacher and could just go along as a parent. That is one downfall of teaching at the same school. I have my own class to take care of. She gets 20 tokens and 2 pieces of pizza. Why is it that the pizza looks good from there but never tastes good. Faith loves the carriage ride. She gets to sit in the carriage while a frog drives her to the ball. She pretends she is a princess. Also she loves the carosel and air hockey. I can't wait to hear about her day.

PALS

Today Faith was tested on her PALS, otherwise known as a pre-literacy screening. So I as a teacher had reviewed the test for my own sake considering I am testing this week also for my classroom, Faith had asked to play the alphabet section a few nights ago so I allowed her to tell me the alphabet upper and lower. I told her that I would not play any other games with her due to the fact that her teacher was going to play with her at school. So today as Faith was tested what did she tell her teacher. "Oh, mommy and I played this game at home" BANG, I just shot myself in the foot. After her completely blowing away the test with all right answers because she is smart, her teacher called me into the class to ask me whether I had already tested her. I informed her no and then continued on to explain that she knows this information (rhymes, text awareness, alphabet recognition, letter sounds, words recognition, and word sounds) because I have taught it to her. Hence the reason why I have asked the director for some sight word books for Faith to read at home. Well as if it wasn't enough to convince her teacher, I now had to report to the director and assistant director. Do they believe me in the fact that I didn't administer the test? I don't know. Is it that they can't believe that she knows what she does? I don't know. Or do they think that over the course of three days that the test has been in my possesion she memorized all the answers to the test. Now her teacher wonders, does she really know it or not? Well I tell you what; if she doesn't know it she is the smartest little girl I've met to pull those answers over the teacher's head. I told them to give her the kindergarten test if they are so concerned that she cheated. She is three for heaven's sake. She knows nothing about cheating. She knows what she knows.

Princess War

I never thought about playing the card game War with a three year old but after thinking about it I said why not. She knows her numbers why not play a game where Faith has to think about what number is bigger in order to win. So the newest game is Princess War with princess cards. Pretty funny. Last night her and Bud had a double princess war. She was beat and he took all her cards. She still was happy though. Champ likes to watch from the sidelines and cheer them on with his squeals of delight. His raspberries are ever so popular these days. Pa Pa would be so proud of him if he seen him. School is going great. Everyone loves their classes including Faith. After having her teacher make her a special helper she is happy to arrive with her friends each morning. She is counting to 50 now. She knows all her letters; upper and lower along with most sounds. I am so excited to see her grow this year. Champ; he melts everyone's heart in the nursery. He is so laid back and fun to be around. He just smiles and talks to everyone. I am enjoying my huge preschool class this year. It is great to have such a big class with lots of opportunities for the children to learn. I am so glad school has started back.

A great birthday and party

We had an awesome day yesterday. Faith was feeling better as a cold has got her down recently. We went our separate ways yesterday morning. Faith went with Bud in order to do her shopping and then they returned to the house to decorate it with streamers and party wear. She was definitely excited to be party planner. Bud cooked pizza for lunch....my favorite. Faith picked out a great present for me; earrings, a headband, a variety package of nail polish (even though I don't paint my nails, she likes her's painted), Encyclopedia Britanica for the computer (Faith is always full of questions), a card in which she wrote happy birthday by herself, and two fruit tootsie pops from her teacher at school. Bud got me chocolate truffles and jelly bellies. Mom got my birkis resoled and some new work clothes. Bud and I enjoyed an evening to ourselves as we ate Olive Garden and went to the book store. I found a Hooked on Spanish program for Faith and school along with a Dora game that encourages learning of colors in Spanish. That is on the agenda for this morning. I love good days and yesterday was one of those.
A birthday
A birthday is a day to celebrate the joy
of all the blessings in my life.
For had I not been sent to Earth
I would have never had this wonderful family to enjoy.
Hear the laughing fill the air
Just look at Faith's messy hair
We dance and sing
We do almost anything
The cake was great
Ice cream cake is hard to make
Enjoy the smiles
See the tears
Naptime is what I hear.
Time to sleep
Another birthday will slowly creep.