School Lunch

I always have fun eating lunch with kids at their schools.  Each January I begin the trek to the different elementary schools we have children attending.  There are 22 schools I will have visited this year.  Most of the time I am in the schools on Wednesday.  I think when I write my book (yes, on my "bucket list" is to write at least one book), it may take more than one chapter to expand on the things I learn at lunch.  I am going to list just some of the things I learn......

• how kids interact in the school environment (as opposed to church and church activities)
• how they relate to the peers
• who their peers are at school
• what their teachers think of them (or the cafeteria lady)
• what they like to eat and what they don't like to eat
• what happened at their house that morning or the night before (sometimes good but sometimes sad)
• how they view me- often in how they introduce me- which often makes me feel really good- "this is my friend from church Mrs. Tara"
• many interesting things about their teachers, friends but most of all parents.......in my book you all shall remain nameless but man oh man the innocence and honesty of kids- tee hee- it's awesome

If I were to be the "cafeteria lady" .......

• I might be broke all the time- how it pains me to see the kids who have to put things back up because they don't have the money for that item
• I would outlaw television (cartoons) EVER being played during lunch
• I would pray the noise and behavior issues in the cafeteria would not get to me and I could remain "nice" - which most places I visit the environment is really neat! (yes, I do realize I am in the cafeteria once a week and they are in there every day, all school year)
• I would figure out a way for little ones not to have to begin lunch at 10:30 in the morning..... I know it is a tight schedule but come on (it makes for a really long lunch time when you begin then and the last lunch is at 12:40)..... if I wouldn't look silly I would take a seat cushion

Kids in their environment are awesome.  I love it when I get to sit with them at their regular lunch table.  Most schools that is not possible because we have way too many kids who attend there- and I can't bounce back and forth from tables.  However, it is amazing when we get a table for our group and they say "I didn't know you go to First Baptist".  I like to see them connect. 

Oh yes- and I always take my lunch.  No offense cafeteria ladies of the world- I always did and always will.  It is just better that way ......

Tomorrow the homeschool are coming to me- whoo hoo! Lunch with all of them here at the church and guess what??? They are bringing lunch- woot woot!

Have a great afternoon!

Breakaway Camp

Just realized I never told you we had a great weekend at Breakaway Camp. This is our group picture- the banner above is from another camp not ours. I will post more about this great weekend later! Just thought I would share the great group with us at camp!

Another Overnight!!!

Well tonight I am headed to the Knxoville Zoo for a program called "Bedtime with the Beasts". Right about now I am thinking I am crazy. Well yes I will be tired tomorrow and it will take me a day or two to recover BUT it is so much fun. I will get to be at the zoo with animals at night- yipee! I will get to see kids interact with kids, some with their parents but most of all get to know some of them a little bit better. Fun stuff. We leave at 3:15 this afternoon- stop and eat dinner and then head for the zoo. We will return home about 1:15 tomorrow afternoon. Glad I have LOTS of chaperones for this event. Also the weather is calling for the rain to stop and it to be a really nice night. I had better go pack my bag and put on my walking shoes. My little secret to making these nights even more bearable- I take my camping cot. Sleeping on the floor - is just a little too much for me these days! So when you are in your nice, comfortable bed tonight going to sleep in the quietness of your home...... think of me on my cot, listening to little girls whisper and giggle. Fun stuff and memories made await me....................

I am a Survivor..........

of an overnighter with 22 Kindergarten - 2nd graders! Wow what an awesome night. We had a lot of fun. Our hosts Alyson and Jasmin were great. They had a fun night prepared for us- fun stuff. If you have not been to the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga, TN I encourage you to check it out- www.cdmfun.org . If you are ever looking for an overnight trip this is a good one. Everyone was sound asleep by 12:45 which is pretty good since bedtime was midnight. Not to much giggling - well the boys may have been awake but they were pretty quiet if they were. Actually, everyone was ready for bed and didn't have a hard time falling asleep since they were worn out from being "detectives" and from the fact they were up way past their bed time (and if I already didn't know this many of them felt the need to tell me - and boy were they excited about it).
I also purchased my first Webkin. The kids were excited about that and in the gift shop told me ALL about them. I have tried to try my new lil webkinz out (a cocker spaniel) but I can not get the website to work. Even after downloading the "flash" program. Oh well- another time.
Kids are very funny- I learned way TOO much about some of them last night and their little thought processes. One interesting observation the majority of boys stayed in the "inventors" section or the dinosaur digging. The majority of the girls time was in the performing arts and art sections. Don't get me wrong they all visited each area- just noticed where they seemed to spend the majority of the time (although not true for every child). They all loved "moneyville" upstairs. It was a lot of fun- they got to print out money with their picture on it, play "bank", learn about counterfeit money, make money rubbings, play a pretend stock market (which all the adult chaperones loved more than the kids, even me)! They like the market, the lemonade stand- well just the WHOLE upstairs.
I SURVIVED and now need to find my bed!

Late Nite with Luna

Well tonight I am taking a group of Kindergarten - 2nd graders to the Creative Discovery Museum for a overnight trip called Late Nite with Luna. This morning I am thinking these things are getting way harder than when I first started. Most of all I am thinking sleeping on the floor- ugh. I am praying all kiddie boos make it all night. We go to bed at midnight- so hopefully all will be well and maybe I will get some sleep. We will see!