Happy Soldier Day!

Hugs to our favorite soldiers-Grandpa & Papa!

Poor Sparky

Have you met our sweet puppy SPARKY Brinkley?

No.....I'm serious-this was her recent portrait.

Well-might as well be anyways.

Look at our poor girl.

Sweet puppy had surgery (to the tune of $300) a couple days ago to remove a rapidly growing tumor that was on her head.

I was given the horrid job of taking her in to the vet. It took all I had to not shed a few tears FOR her! When we walked in, she instantly started shaking....like uncontrollably....like seizure style. I've never seen anything like it. Even the receptionist felt bad for her, and we hadn't even checked in yet!

She kept pulling me to the door whimpering all the while. Ugh. It was almost more than I could bear. 

Unfortunately-this is the second time the stupid tumor has placed itself in this spot. Last time I was told it was a "no big deal benign growth that would have eventually fallen off!" Whatever. $90 later.....

So when it grew back instantly and even bigger-this was alarming. I asked for a biopsy this time & clearly they needed to take wider margins this go round. Because of that, poor B had to be sedated and left all day alone. :( I hated it-but secretly, I think Mike hated it more (and was glad he had work as a distraction). Of course, HE was the "good guy" and the one to pick her up and love on her. Who am I kidding-he's her all time FAVORITE person, I knew that ride home would make her the happiest. 

She looks so sad. But Frankenweenie style or not-she's still beautiful isn't she?

Update: the tumor was benign....something about a hair follicle and "we got it all this time"???? Hmmmmmm. Sure-well, there better not be a 3rd time folks!

Like a Handprint on my Heart

Emma got ready this morning in her "American Flag" dress & soldier jacket...Bryce knew something special was happening at her school today-and it had to do with soldiers. He begged to go watch. I couldn't have been prouder. OF COURSE I obliged :)

In the cafeteria we found soliders holding papers covered in crayon filled "Thank You" sentiments, 90 year old veterans in dress blues holding construction paper soldier doll cutouts, and kids lined up to shake the hands of their heroes. It was moving to say the least. 

The kindergarten kids made their entrance by marching & singing "When Johnny Comes Marching Home".

Too cute. Then they joined the rest of the student body by singing songs to honor the Veterans. Even if you aren't a sentimental person, watching grown men cry at the gesture from the kids, was a DEFINITE tugger on the heartstrings! 

There wasn't a dry eye in the place by the time the assembly was over an hour later. Before we left, Bryce went over and gave away a couple hugs to some "Grandpa Soldiers" and said his own Thank You's. Of course, I cried the whole way out the school door to my home front door. lol. What else is new? Still, there is definitely a spot on my heart where today's memory was left. I am one gratitude filled American-for these men & women who defend our freedom as well as the phenomenal school my munchkin attends-where they see the importance of teaching patriotism to our youth & the ways we can show respect for our country.

Rock the Vote!

Today is election day here in the good Ol' USA. Our candidates of course are Barack Obama & Mitt Romney. However, in Kindergarten today-you'll also find election themes in full effect!

Emma walked in to school today to find a voting booth!

She was given a Voter Registration Card, and ballot.

I was given the job of maning the voting booth. The kids came out, showed me their Voter ID card & "signed in" (which was their name writing assessment for the day-clever). I asked them a few voter statistic questions-like girl or boy, am or pm kinder & which teacher they have. 

Then they were sent to the booth to vote for their candidate: 

Scooby Doo

or 

Sponge Bob

They cast their ballot & came out of the booth to recieve an "I VOTED" sticker-which was a major highlight for most of these munchkins :)

Bryce was there helping me volunteer for the day, so he was able to participate too. He couldn't wait for his turn! Both Em & B told me later that they voted for Scooby (to my relief) because Sponge Bob is "naughty". Apparently they DO listen & retain the things I teach them :) Happy Momma moment.

What a great day of learning the importance & privilege it is to be an American Citizen!

Dia de los Muertos

Welcome to Day of the Dead-Ellensburg/Preschool Style!

I really wanted to my kids to earn some culture this month, especially with the halloween holiday in full effect all around them. Dia De Los Muertos was the PERFECT outlet for it. In science, we decided on a lesson of "Bread of the Dead" or the effect of yeast in the bread making process.

My good friend Laurel is a science teacher and master bread maker (I am NOT) and so I had her come in & teach the lesson for me! The kids had a blast. 

I made their usual lab notes worksheet & she had them make a hypothesis about which temperature of water the yeast would like best. Their choices that they tested were: Cold H20, Warm H20 and HOT H20.

It was determined that it was WARM H20 that worked best! So-let the bread making process begin!

Each kiddo kneded their dough, made an x of BONES & we plopped it in the oven. The end result was pretty cute. :) and boy did they scarf it down! A HUGE success!