Busy, Busy.

I have been gone too long from this here blog! Sorry :( My little stinkers are zapping me of energy. I think they are getting the swing of things, but we've still got a ways to go until my throat doesnt hurt and my eyes dont burn with fatigue at the end of each day.

Today we did one of my favorite projects. We start the year studying our fives senses. Today we talked about the sense of smell. We got to talk about smells we like (roses, grapefuit, watermelon to name a few) as well as smells we don't like (dog's poop, pee and garbage- lovely).

Then, we made smell-y playdough. A kindergartner's ability to be easily amazed is amazing. We mixed up the flour, oil, salt, water and cream of tartar and as we added a few drops of green food coloring, you would've thought i'd performed a miracle. They all cheered, "AWESOME!!!!" Once the playdough was warmed through, I added a few scents (banana, peppermint and rose). The children have to guess the scent. It's super fun and this class was my first to only guess the peppermint correctly. For banana, they guessed bubble gum, trash (seriously!? trash!? i wouldn't do that to you) and an assortment of other completely off-base items. The kids each get to take a piece of smell-y playdough. It's quite fun (and messy). I am now home, tired, from all the energy it took to calm them down.

Ahhhhh.

I woke up this morning to the sun streaming through my windows and a cool breeze reaching my skin. Today is a perfect fall day in New England. Stop and look for a little life miracle today. Here are my miracle moments from last weekend.

Happy Weekend!

Fall :)

Happy First Day of Fall!


Love,
The Kindergarten Teacher in me

The way of the day.

Almost every morning, around 8:12, mere minutes before the children walk through my door I sit at my desk trying to muster up the energy for another day. I want to be at home in my bed, or at least still in my PJs. It feels at though 3:15 in the afternoon is a lifetime away and I doubt that I can make it.

But then, miraculously, everyday at 8:16, my little guys walk through the door, faces grinning broadly, greeting me with a hug, and then I know I can do it. I can teach for another day, another 7 hours. I do have the energy, because of them, to teach.

This cycle is one I am now familiar with, but one I still seem to forget every morning at 8:12. I am grateful that 8:16 always manages to come around.

My Fall Favorites

Over at Mama Kat's blog its Writer's Workshop day. I get to write about my fall favorites, which I would love to do even if it weren't one of the prompts.

My absolute fall favorite is the cool, crisp air that fills New England, pushing out all the summer humidity and heat. I love the changing colors of leaves. I love pulling out old sweaters and my trusty Birkenstock clogs, setting aside sandals for awhile. I love rediscovering clothes I forgot I had during the warm months.
I love, love, love apple picking and the cider donuts that meet me at the end. I love baking apple pie, apple crisp and apple dumplings when I get home.


I love going to Parker's Maple Barn, enjoying the scenic drive and stuffing my face with scrumptious breakfast treats like pumpkin pancakes.



I love carving pumpkins and I love decorating my house with fall themed items. I love filling my home with the smell of pumpkin rolls baking. I think I am going to love cooking and devouring these for the first time.

Fall is my favorite season. Even though it is the end of summer, it seems so filled with hope and the promise of many happy times in the holiday season.