The First Thanksgiving

We had a little mini Thanksgiving with a few friends.

I sure love these kiddos.

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Back To School

Going back to school.
Such mixed feelings and emotions for me.

Two years ago I wrote THIS post about how much I missed teaching.
This year, my feelings are completely different.

My feelings are similar to those feelings in college during finals week.
This is my last year with Matthew at home.
My own personal finals week.

Have I prepared Matt enough?
Does he know enough academically?
Will he be nice to the other kids and help everyone feel included?
Or do I need to use this last year for “cramming?”

I am so glad that I get to be home with this sweet boy.
And so glad that I get to teach him for one more year.
I think I might have a meltdown when he goes to kindergarten.

Here’s to the last year of having this boy all to myself!
And here’s to our last year of Pre-School!

And, oh boy, how this girl will miss her big brother next year!!

Valentine's Preschool Party

Today we had our preschool Valentine's Party.

I'm into the 3rd trimester with this baby, and have a lot less energy these days.

So, we kept the party simple.

We started out with "Don't Eat Pete" and reviewed all the letters we've learned so far in preschool.

(I found a $0.99 box of heart shaped cheerios that worked out great!)

Then I gave the kids some art supplies and let them go to town making unique valentines.

Then we decorated some cookies.

Last we read, "Have You Filled A Bucket Today?" And "Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch."

It was a super simple party, but it was fun.

G is for…well, LOTS of things!

We had preschool this week studying the letter “G.”

After we finished some of the academic learning we jumped in with some fun crafts.

We started out by making Green Gloves.

Then we made Glowing Glass Gifts with Glue.

(I know you can’t tell from this picture, but these actually turn out really cute!  We used little baby food jars and you glue little scraps of tissue paper around the jar.  Next you put a little tea light candle inside and when they light up they look like stain glass windows.  I think this was the kids favorite part).

Next we read “The Gingerbread Man” and “The Gingerbread Girl.”  

(If you haven’t read the Gingerbread girl, you should…it has a MUCH happier ending!)

After we read the books we made Gingerbread houses using Graham crackers. 

Another fun day at Preschool! 

A is for Apple…and Art!

Can I just say that I LOVE doing preschool!?  These kids are so cute!
For preschool this week we focused on the letter “A.”

We made mini apple pies, and the kids did ALL the work!

We made stained glass apples.

We played an apple number matching game.

Later we went to the Bountiful Art Museum. 
Matt LOVED this train.

They had a cute little “kids center” where the kids could make their own art.

They also had a little “I Spy” game for the kids to play as they walked around.

Matthew thought this picture was so funny because it was called “Cock-a-doodle-doo.”

Lindsay didn’t really understand the I spy game but she liked drawing on the paper.

Halloween Party!

Today was Matt’s Preschool Halloween Party.  

I don’t know what I was thinking, but I scheduled the party for the morning after our big donut party.  I didn't plan or prepare as much as I would have liked to, but it was still fun!

We started out by doing a pumpkin walk, where we sang a little song they learned in preschool, and when the song was over, we’d choose a letter that they've learned so far, and whoever was standing on that letter would win.

Next we played a cute game that my sister gave me called “Don’t Eat Pete!”  The card has all these different characters on it and an m&m on top of each one.  Then, we send one child away, and the rest of the kids choose which one is “Pete.”  When the kid comes back he gets to eat one m&m at a time, until he picks the wrong one and everyone yells “DON’T EAT PETE!”  And they all laugh and then it is the next person’s turn.

The next game, was also from my sister (Thanks Heather!), we played spider toss!  And the kids loved that!

Next we let the kids eat donuts on a string, and for some reason, I just couldn’t stop laughing!  It was so funny to watch them try to get the donuts!

Last, we ended with lunch which consisted of sand “WITCHES”, skeleton fingers (ok, I was really pushing it there), pumpkins, green goblin goop, and witch hats.

And for some of the kids, having a picnic in the living room was the best part!

Mueller Park Canyon

For Preschool this week we headed up to Mueller Park Canyon.

The kids had a great time, and LOVED playing in the leaves!  

Great Day!