Wordless Wednesday | He’s Going to be a Street Performer…

Happy Wednesday!

Don’t Get Between Me and My Tooth Fairy!

Harrison has lost his SECOND tooth! Being the Bad Blogger I am now days, that has come and gone just like his first tooth.

But not forgotten.

At our house the Tooth Fairy MAKES an appearance.
(And leaves four shiny sliver coins – because gold coins are harder to come by now days.)

Harrison received a sweet little book from Grandma last school year. It was perfect timing, honestly I hadn’t really put a lot of thought into the Tooth Fairy yet. Well there was that moment some time ago when I realized I didn’t have a tooth fairy action plan and panicked – and then conveniently forgot about her. By the time he lost his first tooth in August Harrison was ready with his expectations!

Oh, the book came with a little pillow!

And a pocket in it large enough to hold four quarters.

Harrison read his book and made the plan. Coins. Only coins.
GOLD Coins. (but I talked him out of gold) That’s all he wanted. (actually one coin was sufficient for him – just like in the book. He was set to go! But he’ll accept four.)

As for the tooth fairy…

Well, she is a bit flaky. She forgot to stop by for the second tooth. (yeah, that didn’t go over so well) I can safely say she fell asleep on the job! oops.
BUT… technically, Harrison lost his tooth as he was going to bed that night…late. The tooth fairy was already out for the night’s work and picked up the tooth the second night. That’s how they work, you know.

Lucky for [the Tooth Fairy], Harrison doesn’t put the little pillow under his pillow. He leaves it on the shelf next to his bed.   Boy, is it easier for the Tooth Fairy to reach it there! (I’m just sayin’)

I just wonder where she leaves those teeth after her late night of tooth pick-ups?
No. Really. Where are the teeth?

 

I understand everyone has their opinion on the tooth fairy and Santa Claus and the Easter bunny, etc., etc., etc. Harrison’s school friends have already told him she doesn’t exist. I think a part of him believes she doesn’t exist. (and it doesn’t help when she’s a no-show!) But conversations with him and his long, thoughtful contemplations over the matter leave him pondering it all;  and I will tell you one thing…

DON’T GET BETWEEN HIM AND THE TOOTH FAIRY.

Hands On Art

When I was a little girl, I loved art projects at school. I still remember making an “African mask” out of aluminum foil molded to my face and then painted them with bright paint. I drew, painted, colored, glued and even molded with clay – art was a routine part of the curriculum.

A lot has changed since then.

Fortunately, now days, Harrison experiences unique art projects through a volunteer-run program called “Hands on Art”.  Hands on Art provides children an opportunity to experience different mediums of art as well as learn about famous artists as they create.

I volunteered in Harrison’s classroom during their Hands On Art project, Tumbling Tiles. Harrison loved the project; his tiles took a life of their own, each one connecting to a different “world”.

But he couldn’t take his artwork home.  The children’s artwork is kept and displayed in local restaurants and at the schools events throughout the year.

As we walked home Harrison asked if he could make another set of tumbling tiles.

Easy-peasy! I have already have cardstock squares and oil pastels. He immediately got to work on his own personal set of tiles.

Then he had me record videos for some special people.

If you can't see the video in your email click here.

 

Hey, maybe he’s going to be a teacher!…

Wordless Wednesday | A Creative Force

Finally.

Yes Finally, we fully enforced the practice of no TV or video games during the weekdays.
Not that it was ever a babysitter or we were lazy. Nooo – not us!

I can say that our house is more peaceful and the boy is always busy with something.
One day was three hours of picture drawing and narrating that truly were story boards.

With him, a picture really is worth a thousand words.
He just can’t spell all of them yet.

Then there are the days when he becomes a creative force to be reckoned with!

 

Or a creative force to be thrown into the tub for a good scrub down…

 

Wordless Wednesday Here.

Wordless Wednesday | Mom! I LOVE Reading!

I think those are three of the most important words any mom wants to hear.

After 'I love you', of course.


Happy Wordless Wednesday!

First Grade

It could have been a rough start, really. He'd spent the last month being overly emotional about everything from the flavor of his toothpaste, to too much chlorine in the pool at camp. The constant high emotions were starting to get the best of me.

We asked him a couple times if he was excited about first grade starting soon,
"No, I'm scared my teacher will be serious and mean."
That summed it up. And nothing we could say would ease his mind. He's stubburn that way.


I have NO IDEA where he gets it.

Even his eating habits leading up to that fateful day had begun to deteriorate. He was quickly becoming the pickiest eater on the planet. Kindergarten had gone extremely well. We all loved his teacher and she had told me she was placing his with the perfect teacher for him. She totally "got" his personality and embraced it. I trust her and I believe last year really set a positive tone for success in elementary school for Harrison.

His first day of school was August 30; which happened to be the same day the GID was going in for an outpatient surgery. What timing.
We walked Harrison to school that morning and I didn't even bring a camera for that "first day" shot. (I think I was feeling as overwhelmed as Harrison.)

Yeah for camera phones in the 21st Century! ...we have one picture to treasure from that morning.

One quick shot as he made his way to his classroom. The first day of First grade.

The two of us left and went directly to the hospital for mapping and Pre-Op. The day flew by and before I knew it, it was time to leave to pick Harrison up from school (the same time the GID would be going into the actual surgery).

I arrived at the school gate and only waited for a moment before Harrison came running and jumping into my arms with joy gushing from his being.


"I LOVE First Grade! It's awesome! I love my new teacher! She is so NICE! She's even nicer than my Kindergarten teacher!"

And there it was.

I dug my face into his little neck to hide the stream of tears as my body heaved with an emotion I couldn't control.  I was so happy. So relieved. A weight lifted off my shoulders. Soon after, I made my way back to the hospital to pick up my husband, all was well with him, too.


Two days later, Harrison rushed around before school in an excited frenzy, "Today is my FIRST day of exercises!!" 

Every morning the first through fifth graders have morning exercises before they start the daily classroom routines. Harrison was ecstatic to finally be a part of it.

 Peeking around his teacher, he throws me one last wave goodbye.

I think it's going to be a good school year.

Photostory Friday | Did You Know #4- T-Ball Season

Harrison played T-Ball this Spring!

Yeah, I'm a bit behind...

Anyway, Harrison enjoyed the experience and I thought I'd share just a few revelations of the game. Like how that ever-popular baseball pose seems to just come so natural- regardless of age... or experience... just saying.

There is always time for a dance {while-you-wait-for-some-action} routine!

Let me tell you, it only takes one simple distraction to unhinge this age group's attention span...like the Goodyear blimp, or more importantly (and I quote) "THE MOON! LOOK, THE MOON!"

Or dirt.

Boys and dirt - need I say more.

But really, at this age, it's all about the snacks...

And the playground after a game.

Because, remember - There's no crying in baseball!

Plus we absolutely loved our coach; he really worked well with the boys at each of their levels of ability ...and attention spans. He rotated them around the bases throughout the three innings of the games to give them an opportunity to learn each of the different positions.  Thanks Coach!
In the end, it was a fantastic first year of T-Ball

To see more of Harrison's Season, feel free to click on the slideshow.

If you can't see the slide show in your email click here.

Then go visit  Cecily for more Photo Story Friday posts.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli