A Friends Special Day

We were invited to attend Maison's 5th birthday today at McDonald's. After I finished my NST, and a stop at Nana's, I picked up the boys and headed to the party. Jake was excited as he knew Daddy was getting him ready for a surprise, but he didn't know it was a birthday party!

Aside from the sun gleaming in the windows, we had a good visit. Jakob enjoyed running around through the play scape. He ran into a friend Mikayla from school- he was upset because he did not get to give her a kiss before we left- he said sighing, "She's my girl! I will kiss her on Monday at school."

Birthday Boy

Jake's Baby

Looked over and saw Jake sitting with his "Baby Kaleb":

Exo Island

Jakob told me tonight that I need to "Go to Exo Island!!"- he is referring to Exile Island on Survivor. Couldn't believe it!

We discussed his uncles (he was talking about them).

He actually wasn't feeling well for about a day, then was afraid that he was going to get a virus and turn all different colors...

Visit to Mr. Barber

Well, it almost happened. Jakob ALMOST got his hair cut by a professional (for the second time in his life). We decided to head to Rocky the Barber in town today to get Todd and his hair cut.
He was excited, even wanted to give him a hug when we got there! Had to wait a bit, but he climbed right up in the chair. Everything was looking good, got a picture in, cape goes on....and the it all begins to go down hill. Needless to say- lots of tears and more crying at home (the norm hair cut experience) while I proceed to cut his hair. Maybe next time?!

Children's Book Week

This week is National Children's Book week. To celebrate at school, teachers and students could dress up as a character from a classic children's book or story. Jake almost made the newspaper! The reporter interviewed him and took his picture...but probably because he is famous from TV, they didn't want to overload the star =). Below is the article from our local newspaper, a picture of Jake we took here in his costume, and a picture of his principle dressed up. Enjoy!

www.cbcbooks.org

Characters mark National Book Week

By JULIE A. VARUGHESE Norwich Bulletin

GRISWOLD -- Lydia* has ladybug clothes, a ladybug bathing suit and about 100 ladybug books, according to her mother, Holly.

So, it was only natural Thursday she would want to dress up as her favorite character from Eric Carle's "The Grouchy Ladybug" for National Children's Book Week.

This week, Nov. 13-19, is dedicated to the written word, and Griswold Elementary School students and staff Thursday suited up as their favorite children's book characters to celebrate.

National Children's Book Week began in 1919, when Boy Scouts of America librarian Franklin Mathiews presented the idea to the American Booksellers Association. The Children's Book Council, established by the association, has administered the week since 1944.

Thursday in Griswold, School librarian Judy Beahan, dressed as the Grinch from Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," said she hoped to encourage students to read classic children's literature as opposed to comic books.

"I think it's more magical," she said, noting the classics recently have had to compete with high-tech forms of entertainment.

Teachers from some grades decided to dress up in themes. Fifth-grade teachers dressed as characters from 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," kindergarten teachers dressed up as "Mother Goose" characters and preschool teachers dressed as "Three Little Pigs."

Holly Santiago liked the fact students got to dress up for one day as their favorite book character.

"It's great. They can express themselves," she said.

Third-grader Joyce* converted her "Blue Diva" costume into a fairy costume by adding wings.

She said she got the idea from "Winx Club," a series of books about modern-day fairies written by different authors.

"I always wanted to be a superhero," Joyce* said.

Her friend, third-grader Tameeka*, came dressed as "Angelica" from "Rugrats" books based on the television cartoon.

"I like her because she's mean," Tameeka* said.

Super Star

Jakob and Grammy made the news on Halloween. I am working on putting the video together to upload to this page. They spelled both his first name and last name wrong.

For now, here is the article from wtnh.com (where you can also view the clip).

Fox sightings prompt Griswold schools to keep kids indoors
(Griswold-WTNH, Oct. 31, 2006 5:00 PM)
Creepy Halloween characters are not the only things putting a scare into students in Griswold.
The threat of foxes is keeping the kids indoors and off the schools playing fields per order of the superintendent.

Two fox dens sit on this hill just above the practice softball field at Griswold High. Too close for comfort for the superintendent who says not a day goes by that someone does not spot a fox.
Supt. Elizabeth Osga, Griswold Schools, says,"We can see them morning, noon, or night. Running by."
Foxes around here are nothing new with the woods and a river nearby but lately Osga says,"They're more visible and they're bolder."

So bold, one was spotted just lying next to the fence of this playground as the pre-k kids were being brought to school.

Jakob*, Pre K, says, "It's not around but there was a fox here, huh? Where is it? That is what Jakob's grandmother would like to know. Sharon*, grandmother, says, "I was amazed to see it that close. I've never seen one that close before - laying' there."

To play it safe the superintendent has deemed this playground and these playing fields off limits. Which means no outside play periods for the kids and the soccer and football teams have had to find other fields for practice and games.

Supt. Elizabeth Osga, Griswold schools, says,"We really wanted to make sure we had all available information before we put kids in a situation of risk."

The superintendent hopes to have the teams playing on these fields again by the end of the week but she wants to make sure those players and those coming to the games are reeducated to know not to leave any french fries or other food sources around which would make these areas more attractive to foxes.
The DEP says there has been no sign that any of these foxes are rabid.

They just appear to be very comfortable around people.

A spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection says the agency will send trappers to the area to catch the foxes and set them free elsewhere, such as a state forest.

October School Happenings & Pics

Here is a peak at some of the things Jakob learned about in school this month:

• The class learned about themselves by making a collage about the things they like, finger painted the first letter of their names, and decorated a birthday cake. They learned their names by hunting around the classroom for their own as well as trying to find hidden names in the sand table. They talked about and graphed their birthdays and clapped how old they are- Jakob was one of the kids who knew when their full birthday was.


• When they arrive to school and get settled, they go to the class library area, locate their "magnetic" name and place it on the board under the first letter of their name


• They have been talking about their family members and have looked at some of the family quilt pieces that have been made. They have also talked about homes and the different types of houses around the world.
  

• In art, the kids made a home out of a shoe box and decorated the inside to resemble with their family inside.

The 3 sticks are us...Todd is the only one with "clothes" on

• In dramatic play, they celebrated birthdays- they wrapped presents, baked a cake, and sang "Happy Birthday!"


• At the water table, they fished for letters and numbers; discovered the properties of "goop"; and also learned about sink and float


• For "Science" they learned that there are lungs inside of their bodies and what their function is


• At the science center, the children mixed food coloring and white frosting to experiment with colors


• They learned about Autumn, and even went on a "trip" to the schools nature trail- they observed the leaves changing and found fungus, slugs, and acorns; they have also gone on walks to measure the circumference of different trees- they also clapped how many inches big the tree was


• They also learned more about the seasonal changes (FYI- they do do celebrate holidays)


• At the sand table they planted pretend bulbs and "grew" flowers

My Baby Brudder

"His name is Kaleb Lincoln Schreier SCH!" ~ Jakob

His Pumpkin

Jakob is so amazed by this "COOOL" pumpkin....

September School Happenings

Here is a glimpse of some of the things Jakob has done in school this past month:

• The children learned about nocturnal animals
• In art they cut our raccoon masks and decorated an owl with different types of feathers
• In dramatic play (set up as a forest schoolhouse), they used the rabbit ears and insects they created
• They "wrote" on chalk boards, and created "words" with magnetic letters
• At the water table, they washed food like the raccoons do
• They created their own story in circle time about pumpkins, a witch, and a princess
• At the science and water tables they learned the concept of warm and cold (they also charted which basin was warm or cold)
• On the playground, they practiced different walks

Family Fun Day

Today was family fun day at school. We were there about 1 hour...and was worth the $4 for Jakob. (I will comment no further, only that I hope the PTO uses the money for a good cause...).

Jakob enjoyed the moon bounce and doing a few crafts.

Later in the day we headed to Toys-R-Us to help celebrate Geoffrey's birthday (they had good sales and crafts for the kids). Jakob wanted to meet the guest of honor so bad, he came out before he was supposed to...only for Jakob to brush him off and be mean because he was scared of him (the costume was like 8 feet tall). Nothing Thomas Trains and the new Curious George movie couldn't cure!

Spending down time with Dad- he is off to Indianna for the week for work.....

Jakob Stew

Jakob was looking for leaves out back to put in his "stew"...these were his favorites and wanted pictures of them.

Hmmm....what is brewing in the pot?

His New Obsession

"Curious George...it's coming to the "veeters" this week!!"~ Jakob

A VW Repair

"Daddy, you fixed the BOLTSWAGON!"

Jakob and his pal Blacky

Jakob continues to enjoy school and gets good reports from the teacher. Yesterday, he had the opportunity of bring home "Blacky". Here is the story behind our fury freind as told to Nana:

Each day a child is picked to take home and share one of two classroom pets (they come in their own bag, a tooth brush, paper, crayons/markers, and a jornal), where they do things with the family and it is entered into a journal. Blacky, had his teeth brushed, went to Walmart, colored, ate dinner, and had a book read to him today (I am tired!). Blacky, is also a relative of Chester- a racoon-, the main character in the book the teacher is reading to the class called "The Kissing Hand". Chester leaves clues in the book and around the class and the children are sent on a "hunt".

We are told that he is bothered come snack time, because almost all of the children have milk (you pay the school .30/day for milk of your choice) and we pack "aqua pods (water)" and a juice box for a drink. Guess I will be sending along "milk money".

One other thing has also come up: When the class is doing an activity that Jakob's understands and is doing and they don't necessarily "get", requiring the teachers help, he gets frustrated with the kids.

Finally

With Jakob all ready, we headed to school! As soon as we pulled in our parking space, he was rearing to go! We waited our turn until we could go into class, and then I signed him in- he immediately ran over to his teacher and gave her a big hug. I looked around a bit, hung up his back pack, and put away his “extra” clothes in his cubby hole. He was roaming around the class- wanting to play with the water table (it wasn’t “open” for service yet); he then saw his classmate Logan painting. The aide put a smock on him and he was off! I gave him a kiss and he looked up with sad eyes, but quickly returned to painting.

I waited with the other parents when it was time to pick up Jakob, a couple of them peeping in the windows to see what was going on. Jakob’s class was dismissed last. As the children/parents are lined up to leave, Miss Corso sings to them “Good bye…Jakob….see you soon” and she tells the parent how the child did during the day.

Overall, he had a great day- painting, socializing, playing outside.

The First Day That Wasn't

Yeah, so Jakob's first day wasn't yesterday....I know what I read though- so now we know what we need to do Tuesday!

Left work, fed Jake his lunch and got a little routine going for school. Got there and there were no cars in the designated parking; walked up to the school and into his class...the preschool team was having a session, but his teacher welcomed him in and let him play for a few minutes. Did I feel like a tard. He was so excited to go, he wanted to leave the house at noon! (He woke up this morning and said that was where he wanted to go (he asked what we are doing/going every morning when he wakes up)).

With the program, they are required to bring certain snacks..so he is learning about "healpy (healthy) foods/drinks". He yelled at Todd when he went to drink a soda at dinner last night and said "YOU CAN'T DRINK THAT, IT'S NOT HEALPY FOR YOU!!".

Here are some of the 50 or so pictures I took yesterday:

"Orientationt"

Headed over to the school for orientation today. After wiping our hands (their is a child in the classroom the kids were going to play in that has a food allergy), signing Jakob in and getting him settled in the room to play, Todd and I headed over to the other calssroom. We discussed what he will need to bring everyday, snacks (no junk or sweets- period...no birthday cakes/cupcakes to celebrate), preschool/school policy. It was good- we were there for about an hour.

Headed up to grab some lunch with Nana- I was able to take care of my craving for French Onion Soup and clam strips. After that we wenty over to get him a few more outfits and a backpack (he picked out CARS) at TJ MAXX. Next stop was Price Chopper.

School tomorrow...

Almost there...

Jakob had his physical/shots today to get ready for school on Friday. He did well....even with the shots- Tawnya surprised him with Thomas stickers. He weighs 37 lbs. and is 38 inches tall.

Birthday Boy

4 years old....