Making a Wish

Have you ever make a wish while throwing a coin in a water foundation? I sure have. Ryan did this time.
I have already put it up on my Facebook. The response I received were: mother letting me get wet while playing in the water foundation, go on a vacation NOW, and getting coins for the prizes. What kind of a wish do you think Ryan made?

Smores

When was the last time you have had Smores? Just the night before, Ryan asked me a question, "Mom, can I have a white marshmallow, please?" He then had to ask his dad because it was supposed to be Cub Scout a week before (We had to cancel because Ryan had a fever on that night.)

Instead of saying, "No" to Ryan for getting a marshmallow, David had a brilliant idea-- making smores. Doesn't Smores sound yummy to you? This time we made it very simple out of our baking oven.

The boys were checking what was the delicious smell.

Oh, they are Smores!

Ryan got the first taste of melting marshmallow.

Dylan was being goofy in a front of camera.

After they had their treats, they were happy campers for the evening! David and I were one of the them, too. Oh what a summer treat!

Lake Murray

How does going on a field trip with the first graders to Lake Murray sound to you? It was an exciting opportunity for me to walk with my first graders (my son and my student) for an afternoon. This was a perfect day because it had rained a day before.

A half hour before our lunch, we all walked to Lake Murray along with four teachers and several volunteer parents. During our walk, we saw several swans and ducks at the lake. Kids were anxious to feed the ducks. Instead of feeding the swans and ducks, we had our lunch first. Some of them ate at the table under the sun. Others ate under the shade. Both my son, my student and I ate our lunch under the shade.

As soon after we ate our lunch, many of them had forgotten about feeding the ducks. They instead wanted to play all kinds of sports that provided for the students. Kids spread out with lots of supervisions around the park. Ryan started out playing with the bubbles. He did pretty good at making BIG bubbles. For one thing, I was glad he was fair and share with other students by taking turns.

The next thing, he was catching the ball with one of my students. It was not an easy task for him to do because he tended to throw the ball either up in the air or throw backward instead of throwing forward to the player. With my instruction, he did get better by throwing it and catching the ball properly. Not only playing with the ball, he even drew a small pink face on a street walk.

One of his classmates had asked him to come with him. They played on the tree as if they were monkeys. Also, they moved on to another place: chatting to each other by the lake. They continued on playing each other while one of my students were playing with other kids.

By the time Ryan and his classmates split apart, Ryan and my student found a ladybug. Ryan said to me, "Look Mom, I found a ladybug. It is on my arm." He was proudly to share with his friend (my student.) The lady bug stayed on their arm shortly until it flew it away. Once it flew it away, they walked together toward to watching the boat passing by on Lake Murray. It was an awesome to see them sitting together on a beautiful day.

At the end of two hours at the Lake, we all walked back a half hour before the school dismissed. Many of us were pooped out for using lots of our energies under a beautiful weather; the sun. That was the best event to spend times together before the school was out.

Annual Fair

Which amusement park has food, rides, musics and booth? It's San Diego County Fair ! My husband, David could NOT afford to miss the entertainment annually. He grew up by going to the Fair for 36 years! Now, he wanted to pass the family tradition to our sons, Dylan and Ryan.

The first thing the boys see the rides from San Diego Freeway. It excited them because they knew they were going on rides. Who wouldn't blame them ? This time it made a lot easier for all of us because either David and I were not require to attend the rides with them except waiting for them when they get out of the rides. Another reason was both of them were tall enough to go on many rides. In fact, it made them a lot harder to deliberate which rides they wanted to go on with limited tickets.

Thus, they were being like other kids--liked to go on fast rides: sliding down from 50 feet and going on a roller coaster. I especially was worried about Ryan that he would not be able to follow the instruction when he was supposed to keep his body low when he went down on a 50 feet slide. I must say I was pleased to see that he did the right thing by looking at other kids, especially watching his older brother Dylan, who went on a slide first.

The next ride, Dylan chose to go on a roller coaster. I was stunned because he normally does not like to go on a fast ride, especially lots of turns. He giggled throughout the "Caterpillar" ride. He quoted, "This Caterpillar ride is a lot better than going on a Ferry Wheels. I am afraid to puke while going on a Ferry Wheel."

Last thing, they BOTH wanted to go on bummer cars. I kept saying to myself, "Oh no, not again! " I guess it didn't matter what ages they are in. Truthfully, I have seen grown-up attacking each other, too.

Just before we went home, I took a gut to go on a Sky Ride. I normally don't like where it does not have much protection from 60 feet off from the ground especially with the small children with us. Throughout the ride, I had to think positive, and instead talked about what we could see above the ground. It reduced my stress. Yet more importantly, all of us enjoyed the views especially oversee the Pacific Ocean.

June Gloom

All in this morning, we have had peculiar weather, especially in the month of June. In Southern California is supposed to be a warm weather. It turned out to be the opposite. We instead of "June Gloom" almost every single day of this month. I would say we only had two sunny days. It feels like we are in Sweden where it usually have less sun throughout the year.

(This picture was taken in our backyard while we were having an early dinner.)

Packing

School is approaching to the end. It is so hard to juggle: teaching students and packing at the same time until the last day of school. In fact, I have started packing my stuff in boxes. Some of the boxes go to my new school sites. The other boxes are either going to specific school for another Special Education class, Special Education Department and Curriculum Department. Oh boy, it is so complicated. I have had to write it all down so I know where the boxes are supposed to go.

Like I said I have started packing things a week ago, I had no choice except doing this less job for doing this daily for an hour after school. My sons are kept in the Extended Student Services (E.S.S.) That is the only way it speeds me up. Now, I have four more days left to finish packing the boxes before June 19th, my last day of school.

The truth is that it is going to be hard to say good bye to the wonderful staff at Maryland Avenue. I especially will have a hard time saying good bye to my wonderful aide, Jo Beth. She has been incredible by helping me to what I was supposed to with the pre-school and first graders. Shortly after she taught me, I was able to do it on my own with out much of her help.She felt that it was my natural of teaching. However, I wanted to give her my gracious gift. She will be pleased what I got it from San Diego County Fair, because I know she uses spa daily. (Of course, I stole the idea from my parents in laws' backyard.)

Literature Comes To Life

Have you ever thought about involving in "Literature Comes To Life" play? Many teachers have given their students the experience involving in a play, but this was an exceptional. There were costumes, volume inflections and activities. It kept students alert throughout for an hour of a play. My four year old student was able to pay attention throughout the on-going action show. Person There is no doubt that the director was smart enough to absorb the students' short span attention into a longer span attention.

One of the wonderful things about being a young child is the joy of make-believe: bringing toys, dolls, and stuffed animals to life or creating an imaginary friend out of thin air. How valuable to share your new words and thoughts and act out the roles — mother, father, friend — that you are becoming aware of. How exciting it is to imagine yourself a hero or heroine (perhaps Rainbow Fish or Roadrunner's Dance) rescuing the fragile or needy who might require the nurturing of a valiant young child.

My boss dressed up as a Rainbow Fish while there were many other characters were involved in a life play. One of my students dressed up as a Jelly-Fish (I wished I could published in this blog, but I must remain in profession not to violate student's privacy.) This student was SO CUTE and tried so hard to follow throughout the play.

After the first part of assembly ended, my students and I returned to a classroom. But fifteen minutes later, one of the interpreters came up to my room telling me that my older son was involved in a "Roadrunner's Dance." He dressed up as a Coyote. The interpreter was kind to switch and supervised my class for fifteen minutes while I had an opportunity to watch my older son, Dylan involving in a play. I was in time to witness him dressing up as a coyote.

Each student in a play was able to speak it up in a front of the audience. Dylan said, "The snake is hard and difficult with a rattle. (Howling)" Then he ran away from the snake. I thought he was so cute! (Don't we all think of our children being cute in a play?) As a mother, I sure was so proud to see him being in a short play.

Pajama Day

A night before Pajama Day at school, Dylan and Ryan pleaded me to allow them dressing up in Pajama for the day. Of course, I did let them wear it for the School Spirit. They hardly slept well for the night because they thought it was going to be a fun day.

Teachers were allowed to wear Pajama to school, too. I did put the status on my facebook, " Laura is not brave enough to wear Pajama to work tomorrow. Will you be brave enough to wear Pajama to school or work?" Guess what? I received 15 comments on my status. Fourteen out of fifteen comments were brave enough to wear. I did bring Pajama as a back- up. I only would if I saw many teachers wearing Pajama. Only gallant three out of thirty two teachers on the campus wore Pajama !

By the time, we arrived to school. The boys were exhilarated to show their Pajama off to their friends. I could see them beaming toward to friends who wore Pajama. Many kids wore their Pajama than the teachers. I guess it was one of the highlight life time experience.

Egg Shells

One sizzling summer, David, my husband who was five at that time, his eight and a half month pregnant mother put David down for a nap. She went out to a backyard to do some slight garden before his sister Deby was born. The problem was David was not tired enough to shut his eyes. He instead decided to do something mischievously. He tipped toe to the kitchen and to see what was in the refrigerator.

He found a dozen of unbroken shells. He opened it up without his mother knowledge. This time he wasn't hungry for the eggs. Instead, he desperated to do some science experiments. He broke each single egg lightly. Yup, all of the 12 eggs were broken! Each egg faced toward to the running floor fan. The yolks splashed ALL OVER THE WALL ! After he was done, he quietly put each broken eggs back in a carton. What a mischievous child, but clever!

Then again, he went back to his own tiny twin bed. He was pretending to be asleep because he knew his mother was about to come in. As soon his mother walked into the kitchen, she was startled to see the yolks were all over the kitchen's wall. She immediately knew it was David because he was the ONLY person in the house, besides her.

She stomped angrily toward to his bedroom. David was trying so hard to hold his both eyes still. His furious mother was staring at him impatiently. Once he opened his eyes, she bawled and dragged him into the kitchen. Indubitably, he was acting like if he didn't do anything wrong.

How can you expect a five year old boy to clean the yolks out on a high kitchen wall? Thus, it left his eight and a half month pregnant mother NO choice, except she had to do it ALL by herself before they turned rotten.

Sushi!!!

Saturday we scarcely ate during the day, having determined that we were going out to have sushi; we let our bellies get nice and empty. While we were on our way out to have Sushi, our mouth were watering and feeling our growling stomachs.

While we were waiting for our lunch delivering, both David and I had a Miso Soup which I loved the taste of Tofu! I could eat the entire tofu with a fat free cracker! My husband would not dare to eat tofu or the seaweed except for the liquid of a soup. Both Dylan and Ryan had small bowls of original salad.

Dylan decided one of his favorite Sushi: Philly Rolls. He love the taste of Philly Rolls. He would not mind if he had little bit of soy sauce unlike his dad. He also enjoyed eating the Soy Beans and Crab Cheese Wontons. Dylan stated eating Japanese food made him stuffed easily yet love it. Felt good that my eight year old boy loves Sushi, just like his parents!

Ryan had tried California and Philly Rolls. He was not ready to taste for more this time. Instead, he ended up having Terryki Chicken, Rice and Salad. He even liked Crab Cheese Wonton. He eventually will be ready to eat Sushi when he gets older. Throughout his lunch meal, he refused to use the regular kitchen utilizes. For a seven year old boy, I thought it was pretty good for him to start like a real Japanese person: using the chopsticks. However at the end of the lunch meal, he opened my chopsticks which I don't use it at all (Forgive me, I'm klutz on using the chopsticks) and wanted to be silly. He sure made us laugh at the end of a wonderful lunch meal.