Kindergarten Drop-In

 

Today I drove an hour to visit the classroom where my daughter is interning in a Kindergarten classroom as part of her requirement for the MAT program at Lee University.   The environment in her school is delightful.  It is obvious the teachers enjoy their coworkers.  The students seemed very happy, too.  Here is Amanda getting parent/teacher communication folders ready to send home.

 

She demonstrated the active board to me.   Many of you probably know it is a white board on the wall that is actually an extension of your computer so the entire class can see.  However, you use a special "pen" on the touchscreen to interact with the software.  It is a LOT of fun - - both for the teacher and the children.

 

(Those are not birthmarks on her neck but rather some of the pictures being projected on the board.)  Here is a small section of the classroom.  As you can see, each child has his/her own locker.  Over each two lockers is a wide storage cabinet for the teacher's supplies.

Today was 'Show & Tell' Time.  Here is one stuffed toy eager to escape and be seen by all and cuddled by her owner.

One parent brought the family's new kitten because her daughter asked if she could.  She was so thrilled to have a feline friend - - - - had been wanting one for a couple of years.  The little girl decided to petition heaven with her prayers and a kitty showed up under her house within a week.  How could the parent deny the child?

My daughter said that I was her show and tell.  They asked why she brought her grandmother!  However, I am the age of their grandmothers and they couldn't quite grasp the concept of their teacher being my "baby".

A couple of things really impressed me - - - besides the obvious great job my daughter did teaching the children.  The first was each child was allowed to pick a plastic bag of "goodies".  Evidently each Friday, a local ministry makes up enough 'sacks' of snacks for the students.  There are up to half a dozen items.  They can take them home or leave them at school for afternoon snack time.

The other was the simple spiral-bound notebooks each child received within the last two weeks.  They are given assignments for journaling - - anything from completing a sentence to doing picture math problems.  They can also write or draw in them during their free time because it is their book that they get to keep and take home at the end of the year.  Those simple notebooks were treated like prized possessions.

After school, my "baby" and I went for a snack at a local restaurant that had these items on display for sale.

Log Sculpture

 

 

Yard Art from Tools like Shovels

 

Being in school every day with young, very active children takes a lot of energy for the teachers but it is exciting to see how much they are learning.  It was a FUN, relaxing day for me.  I had a GREAT time!

Buy truth - don't sell it for love or money; buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight.  Proverbs 23:23

Peek a Boo

 

One of the exhibits we like most at the Chattanooga Aquarium is the penguin exhibit.  The background is a mural.  This is a statue with Bill peeking around from the back.

The penguins below are real and not super clear since they were taken through glass.

Below these rocks is the swimming area.  This penguin seemed to be playing a game with my husband. It was looking straight into Bill's eyes.  First its head was above water.

 

Bill would look into the penguin's eyes and it would pop under the water and then back up.  They repeated this about a dozen times and the penguin really seemed to be having fun!   It smiled and so did we!

 

And here is a fun outside picture.  It is the awning/roof over the entrance to the Mellow Mushroom Pizza Restaurant - - located a couple of blocks from the aquarium.

 

Why the Coca Cola tops?  Because Chattanooga was the world's first Coca Cola bottling plant in the world. 

You heavens, praise him; praise him, earth; Also ocean and all things that swim in it. Psalm 69:34

Library Meeting

Some of the church librarians in our county met for a scheduled meeting at this church today.  Many of the Baptist churches have this look but the newer ones do not have cemeteries anymore.

 

Our program was fun.  The director and I collaborated on an original skit that involved a visit from the "Library Doctor".  She entered in a lab coat - - and I wore a paper knee-length disposable gown over my clothes.    We had a few "jokes" in the skit but the line that went over the biggest was "at your age" which we repeated more than once.

Refreshments are generally served and today was no exception.  They served a delicious breakfast.  Two of the favorite dishes were a cheesy hash brown casserole and also the Duncan Hines Apple Cinnamon with Oatmeal Granola Topping Muffin Mix.   The ladies decorated with some cute homemade bird houses and these beautiful paper plates and napkins that were purchased at Hobby Lobby.

Like many of the rest of us, their library is sponsoring a winter reading program for adults.  Their theme is Winter Wonderland and used the following to decorate the top of their window display - - - so simple but so very pretty.

 

Before coming home, I ran a couple of errands - - - - one to Kohl's where they are still having their insanely fabulous clearance on winter items - - - many at 80% & 90% off - - - plus I had a coupon for 30% off my entire purchase!!!!   I got a $50 blazer/jacket for $7.

And this (statue) is on loan and parked outside one of the grocery stores.

 Have you ever seen a real Clydesdale?  They are beautiful, majestic animals.  I know they used to pull delivery wagons but I still hate that most people think of beer when they see them rather than a gorgeous horse created by God.

Hast thou given the horse strength? Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?  Job 39:19

Chattanooga

 

Yesterday my husband said, "Why don't we go to Chattanooga for a while in the morning.  We have the season pass for the aquarium and the weather is supposed to be beautiful."  As the weatherman had told us, the sunshine would be plentiful today and abundant on Sunday!  The temps were high forties.

The boat you see above was part of a competition a few years ago to have brick sculptures done by local brick masons.  They are fun to view and many are comfortable if you want a place to sit.

Here is a picture of the aquarium.  You probably have seen it in my blog before since my sister and I visit it every couple of years.

There are two buildings.  This one is the River Journey.  To the right is the ocean journey.  It is the one we chose today.  You begin on the top floor in the Tropical Cove.  Look at these beautiful flowers.

 

 

 

 

 This is the area where you see the Hyacinth Macaws.  They are gorgeous and fun.  They seem to talk to you and you can see, they always look like they are smiling.

 

And I have more pictures but will save them for another time.  Bill and I had a good half-day mini vacation - - - a great break from our busy weeks of winter work.  Then tonight, we helped celebrate a birthday for another friend who will be 60 tomorrow!

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers . . . Psalm 124:7a

New Library Blog!

"We've only just begun . . . "  a new library blog at my work.   If you have time, you can check it out.  If not, it's okay, too.

http://libraryfbc.blogspot.com/

Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.   Romans 12:2a

Computor Tutor

 

I have wanted to learn how to change the appearance of my blog for a while.   And I want to know how to add pages as well as list posts on the side alphabetically.   I tried to figure it out myself but could not.  So today I went to visit some experts.   We met here.

This is the family's business.  You may have visited their link before to see the pictures of the dogs they groom and/or board.  They also have a doggie day care which is quite popular.  Visit this blog to meet my expert teachers!  These young ladies are beautiful inside and out and some of the sweetest Christian women I know.  THANK YOU for helping me!

So look for some changes in the future (the current look of my page was just practice) - - - - and hopefully our library blog that will launch this week or next at the latest!

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  James 1:5

Cake & Cards

This tasted much better than the picture portrays.  I baked a German Chocolate Cake in a Tube or Bundt pan.  After the cake is done, you must refrigerate it and make sure it is cold before you can frost it  - - - and yes, the frosting fills the hole in the middle of the cake.

Some of you who are my age have probably made this frosting recipe.  You use a small package of instant pudding.  We like Chocolate Fudge when you can find it.  Mix on low with one cup of VERY cold milk and 1/4 cup of Confectioners Sugar.  Remove the beaters and fold in the small (regular size) thawed Cool-Whip with a spatula.  Immediately frost the cake and put it back in the refrigerator.  This cake tastes like chocolate heaven to us.  Question - - - how old is my Tupperware cake plate?  When is the last time you have seen gold-colored Tupperware?

This next one is for our local friends.  Do any of you have this?

 

If you do have a Cooke's Reward Card, are you having them scan it each time you shop?  I do and did not realize when you accumulate 400 points, they reward you with a TWENTY DOLLAR gift card!

What a great surprise at the end of a shopping trip!

Get wisdom - it's worth more than money.  Proverbs 16:16a  The Message