SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY

The children in my Sunday school class collected money today at church for local soup kitchens. They took their empty soup cans from class to class AND around the sanctuary collecting change (and the occasional bill). After collecting, the children seperated the money and rolled the coins. It makes me feel like I'm making a difference when I teach children that they CAN make a difference in the world they live in. What a sense of empowerment.

HAPPY "SOUPER" Bowl Sunday!

COMMUNION

In the Christian faith, communion represents the body and blood of Christ. As a mom and a Sunday school teaher, it warms my heart to hear stories of children that have Jesus in their heart. I think Jesus chuckled when he saw the following:

Easton and Sawyer were playing church. They smashed some bread and cut it into small pieces. Sawyer held the bread up to Easton and said, " Bottom of Christ "

WHAT A COINCIDENCE

Deanna has two beautiful three-year-old twin girls. They embarked on their first year of pre-k this year. Deanna recently shared this story with me, and I knew immediately it was blog worthy.

So, Thursday at school, the letter of the day was M. Abby says, "It's M for you Mommy!" Then, she says, "Hey, Mom. Noah's mom spells her name M-O-M, too." What a coincidence!

Isn't three just an amazing age full of discovery!

IT'S TUESDAY

Three-year-old Davey just started pre-k in January. He is a brand new three. He came home from school on Tuesday SO EXCITED to tell his mom," It's not January anymore. " She confirmed and said, "You're right, Davey. Do you know what it is? Davey's reply, "Tuesday!"

WHAT A TRIP

Most teachers base their lives around teachable moments. That's just what we do. Ms. Mallory, a pre-k/elementary speech pathologist, is no exception. One hectic day after therapy, she was preparing to walk her student back to class. As she lofted her weighted down "teacher bag" over her shoulder, she lost her balance and fell down.

Putting her embarrassment/aches aside she addresses her speech student: What should you say to Ms. Mallory? Her student replies in a very loud & monotone voice: DON'T FALL DOWN!!!!!!!

Although her response didn't go along with Ms. Mallory's attempt at teaching manners, I found it to be very good advice!

GROUNDHOG FOR MAYOR

Some things just go together...peanut butter and jelly, popcorn and butter, cookies and milk, Groundhog's Day and elections....Whoa! Wait a minute. I was on a roll until the Groundhog thing.

Today, February 2, hundreds of people watched as "Phil" the groundhog came out of his burrow to see his shadow. (I live in Illinois, so the natural comparison between politicians and little animals who are hiding underground is just SCREAMING to be made, but...not going there.)Anyway....Phil saw his shadow, which means 6 more weeks of winter. Seriously....is anyone excited about that?

Also today, primary elections were held around the country. When I talked to our 18-year-old daughter about voting she said all that really got on her nerves and she didn't know a lot about it. I did share with her that if she lives in America she needs to be a functioning part of the democracy. Her comment was, "I will never vote!"....Time will tell.

Across town, my friend had a talk with her 8-year-old daughter, Jayden, about elections. During a discussion about today being election day, she tells Mom, "I vote the groundhog doesn't see his shadow."

TRICKY VOCABULARY

I think we can all agree that TV is not a competent baby sitter and kids need lots of exercise and fresh air. But...I'm a true believer that some shows are just FUN to watch with your family. Take, for example, AMERICAN IDOL. The first year it came out, our whole family (all 6 of us) would gather together and watch---EVEN OUR TEENAGERS! It was fun to vote for our favorites and make side "bets" with each other about who would win.

My friend Heather and her second-grade daughter Jaden were watching THE GRAMMYS last night. Mom was explaining to Jaden that some of the girls have extensions in their hair. Later, they were talking about someone on THE GRAMMYS, and Jaden said, "I think she has extension cords in her hair."

Vocabulary can be tricky!