Peter

Peter, Peter, Peter . . . .

I could tell you how he has all these hard classes he HAS to pass this year to graduate (because he failed 3 of 4 during the Spring semester).  Or I could tell you about how he was going to get a job all summer and doesn't understand why people didn't know he was at home waiting to be hired.  (His application attempts were few and weak.)  I could tell you that he is driving with a learners permit and has grande plans to have a car and a licence when he turns 18 in October.  Yet he doesn't have a job and well no one here is going to hand him a car or pay for his insurance.  I could lament over how he has no friends I ever see and how he rarely leaves the house.  But what has prompted me to write is this . . . 

During PE on Thursday while playing football in the gym Peter injured his knee. (He is not playing football for the school due to poor grades.)  Peter wouldn't talk about it even though I could see something was wrong.  I learned the details Friday when the school nurse called suggesting I pick him up. She thought he should get off it because the knee was pretty swollen.  Later that day we ended up at a Sports Medicine Emergency Care.  I went in thinking he would tell us it was sprained and all would be well by Monday because that is what happened about this time last year.  However after examining Peter and hearing his story, the doctor is predicting that it is a torn ACL. Torn ACLs require surgery to repair. Peter just wanted to know if he could drive home (Answer was NO) and I just wanted to lay down on the exam room floor and cry. He is to have an MRI this week and we are to follow up with another doctor. There are lots of reasons why this all feels like a bad thing.  But after my high carb meal at Cook Out, cleaning house, Pandora Hymns station, and conversations with Jesus I am feeling less overwhelmed and more hopeful.  I am choosing to trust God will use this for Peter's good and no doubt mine as well. None the less if you think of it this week, I appreciate your prayers.  

My Classroom

A year ago I transitioned to working at First Baptist Day School full time.  For over two years prior I had worked there part time in addition to my special needs preschool job. I had been working as a one-on-one aid in the summer and head of After school Program in the school year.  So last year I was doing both of those roles in addition to assisting a teacher in a 3 year old class whenever I wasn't needed with the other.  It was fun but a bit disjointed.  This summer when that 3 year old teacher moved into a different role, I was given the position of the lead teacher for that class. So now I am in one role all day.  This summer I lead her kids in our summer program while prepping the room to receive a new batch of 3 year old's August 1st.  The former teacher had been in the room a long time and there was a lot of "unearthing" and "rearranging" needed.  The room felt busy and I had a specific vision for a calmer room setting.  Through the help of friends and co-workers along with some good thrift store finds and craft store coupons, I was able to create a learning space in which I am delighted to spend most of my day.  Want to see????

Inspired by a picture on Pinterest and helped by friends (Thanks Nydia) my door into the classroom
was turned into a Caravan Camper.  The flags have the names of the children.  The plan is to decorate
according to season.  Someone recently referred to my room as "the retirement home "
(because of the camper and peaceful interior.)

So the tinfoil was an afterthought developed when the hole I cut out of the paper was bigger than
the square window.  Just goes to show that sometimes acting out of necessity can make things better.

The pennant banner is our birthday calendar.  Each one represents a month and has the names
of children who have birthday's that month.  My bulletin board boarder and
circle time calendar all came from the Dollar Tree or Target $1 bins. This
area (just below out of sight) is known as "the gathering spot."
It is home of dancing, yoga, stories, and circle time.

I love my circle time chair.  A $15 thrift store fine with about $15 of paint.  Pillows were given to me by Gwen.
I snagged the easel for $5 at a yard sale to learn it is an expensive Pottery Barn easel.  In the basket are my
 Dollar Tree rugs that we use for Yoga and circle time.

The "manipulative" shelf was being thrown out by my mom's neighbor. I love this little
manipulative/writing/science corner.  Its a favorite with the kids.  The hornets nest was left
from the previous teacher and I brought in my Aloe plant that was not thriving at my house.

This is what inspired the theme.  I found this table top (without a base) at a ReStore a couple of
years ago along with two old school chairs.  I stored it in my shed waiting for "some day."  Nick, my parent's
 neighbor built the table base. I am so glad I bought it even not knowing what for.

I love my 3 posters from Cavallini Papers & Co.  They add just the right vintage flair.
 I added wood strips on top and bottom to give an old school feel. 

Nick's wife, Gwen has an amazing  fabric stash and had rolls of this polka dotted fabric.
And well it just so happened to match my crazy plum colored wall.  She made us these
fabulous curtains. It adds a little charm and just enough darkness at nap time.  This is
 the space where I hope to put a small sensory table.  I am working on getting one built.

The poster is a color wheel. Left door leads to bathroom.  The cabinet is the art station.  Above is
a bulletin board that serves as command central.  And the door with my hat and apron houses
my well organized and labeled craft/resource closet.  On the shelf, Pete the Cat is guarding our much
appreciated classroom IPad.  Pete moves each weekend.  He is kind of like Elf on the Shelf.
The kids enjoy looking to see where he is each Monday

This is my $10 table that I love.  I made the crate benches with the help of Pinterest, friends, and coupons.
 We use this table for all kinds of activities.  See the black rolling shelf?  It is for my circle time gear and
 it was $3 at a yard sale. Way above it is the ever so valuable visual timer.  The time is demonstrated
 by red.  When the red is gone, it beeps, and the kids all cheer.  Often I hear, "set the timer!"

This is the home living center (left side) and library (right). I was determined to replace
the plastic kitchen previously in my room.  Again with help and donations from Nick and Gwen, I got
a very fun vintage home living center that the kids love.  The chair in the library was $1 at a thrift store painted
with 50 cent jar of  Home Depot ooops paint.

The kitchen was a kids tool bench I bought for $1 at a thrift store.  Nick worked some carpentry magic, Stephen
painted it, and Gwen made the super cute curtain.  I painted this table hiding in my shed to create an Island/crib/
cash register stand. The storage bench was Gwen's discard and a favorite hang out.  

I love my classroom.  When people stop in and say, "oh how peaceful," I am like "yeah! That's what I was hoping for."  The best part of the room though is the staff and kids.  I work with a couple of great ladies who aid the peaceful vibe and keep things moving. And the kids are FABULOUS!!  The people truly are what make this room a great place to be.

So it happens.  I come and go.  The last few months have been busy, hot and I just haven't been motivated to blog. No good excuse.  But then it really is no big loss.  We all know I do this for me.  I am just grateful for those who humor me and look at my ramblings.  I do have a few things I would like to say and pictures to share so I am going to try to do some catch up in the coming weeks.  Today I am going to start by sharing pictures from dad's 80th birthday.  Dad turned 80 on July 6th and on the 3rd Mom and I surprised dad with a little cake party at the club house in their senior subdivision. We were all surprised by the turn out of 60 plus people.  Though we weren't sure when dad first arrived if he appreciated our efforts, he seemed to really enjoy the celebration.  As always mom was very thoughtful in her planning and did a great job putting this together. There were folks representing many aspects of dad's life including current and past neighbors, co workers from several jobs, friends from church, and other people who have been a part of our lives here in Gainesville.  Thanks Tammy for the great pictures that documented the event so well.