302 Second Grade Fieldtrip

Last week Katie's class went on their first fieldtrip of the year to the Pink Palace Museum. The trip was mainly to see the IMAX film "Under the Sea", but we were able to arrive early and spend almost two hours exploring the museum. Policy has changed, and chaperons are not allowed to take kids away in smaller groups without a background check ... not even their own kids. I do understand why the policy is in place, and it is good that they are looking out for our kiddos, but it is awfully annoying. So, each class was split in half and we walked around as a larger group. I think it worked out a lot better in the museum that way. The teacher (or assistant teacher) was able to tell the group about the exhibits and spend a little time exploring instead of feeling the need to keep moving to let the next group have a chance. The kids are always so enthralled by the museum. Katie has been several times and she still will ooh and aah about the exhibits.

Katie was wearing the most adorable new shirt ... of course you can't see it under her class t-shirt.

Luckily Mrs. Young was there to get them to group pose periodically. Now if we could just convince the kids to stop throwing gang signs (or whatever it is they think they are doing).This picture ... this picture just makes me laugh. every time!

This is the Apothecary Shoppe, which comes right before we freak the kids out with mannequins.

It is an exhibit devoted to medicine through the ages. And why would THIS scare anyone? SERIOUSLY!! I am surprised any of our kids can be coerced into a dentist after seeing this.And a fan favorite ... The Civil War medics tent ... poor guy on the table has a gangrene foot. I can't see this exhibit without hearing the scene from Gone With the Wind in my head "don't cut! DON'T CUT!!! DOOONNNN'TTTTT CCCUUUUUUTTTTTT...."On to happier times ... dinosaurs and woolly mammoths OH MY!!Ms. Young was explaining earthquakes to the kids here. She was living in Arkansas when she felt an earthquake, and she was able to describe it to the kiddos in detail.They insisted on "being scared" in this picture ...Finally we were ushered into the IMAX theatre. Once again, thanks for suggesting to a roomful of 7 year olds that the movie might make them feel dizzy. That is ALL a 7 year old needs is the merest suggestion and they are experiencing the effects.

Most of us made it through the film. Although a girl in front of us had to leave because she was feeling ill. I on the otherhand was feeling incredibly sleepy, so I managed to nod off a few times. Oops.

We had fun, the kids managed to learn a few things, and I checked Katie out of school and we headed off to Atlanta. Not a bad day at all!

224 Zoo Fieldtrip - BYOWA

Bring Your Own Wild Animals Thank goodness we had a short respite from this incessant rain!! Tuesday was the First Grade fieldtrip to the Memphis Zoo. The doc gave Katie a release to go back to school (I don't know what would have happened if she had not) on Tuesday so we were all set to play.

I just had Katie and one other little girl, Brianna. Katie's Plague Friend, Mia was there with her dad and they had two more little girls, Sidney and An-he (yeah, no clue how to really spell it, but that is how it was pronounced, and I should know because I said it a hundred times). I felt sorry for Dustin, and I know Katie wanted to be with her buddy, so we all walked around together. One question though ... how did they expect him to take 3 little girls to the bathroom?? I know, moot point since we were with him, but seriously, do they not think of those questions? They are in first grade, and I know they can go by themselves, but I wouldn't want to turn them loose in the potty.

So, we started off with the exhibit that Katie is always dying to see, Creatures of the Night. Well, we tried to start there, but the building was closed. So we headed to Cat Country, but the crowd was so insane that we decided to head to the middle of the zoo and start where we might actually be able to see animals. One thing that would have been really conducive to animal viewing would be NOT screaming at the animals. No matter how often we told one of our girls to NOT YELL at the poor animals she would yell at the next one. Yes, the animals really want to come to your screeches. This giraffe had the most pointed response to the screams ... he stuck his tongue out at her!

We took the most twisted route through the zoo. If you have been to the Memphis Zoo then you will understand. Hippos, Pandas, Elephants, Sea Lion Show, back through the African animals, on through the monkeys, back to the hippos (and a potty break), the Herpetarium, Penguins, Once Upon a Farm, the Bird House, and Cat Country ... and FREEDOM! It makes a bit of a figure eight. The kids would ask to see the animal on the exact opposite side of the zoo from where we were. At least we had to walk past the animals to get to the requested spot.

No matter where we were, the kids were climbing the fences, or shimmying behind the fences, or running too far ahead. Tapping on the glass! We spent the whole time herding and admonishing and trying not to go crazy. Katie spent the whole time trying to talk me into buying her a Hawaiian Ice, but I wasn't about to buy 5 of them. I did promise her a trip to the zoo very soon with a Hawaiian Ice. But really, we had a great time. We ate our lunch while we watched the Sea Lion Show. The kids picked flowers (if they managed to pull one off before we could stop them). We made wishes by throwing pennies in the stream and rubbing the Buddha belly.I only had to say most things twice, which is sadly an improvement. It was all going so well ... until about 20 minutes before we had to turn them back in to their teachers. It was moments after I took that picture. I had one last juice pouch left, and the girls were running and playing in the "Cave" that overlooks the pumas and the jaguars, all except for one. She was THIRSTY! Oh my, dying of thirst ... so I gave her the drink. AND KATIE THREW A FIT! She said I should have saved it for her. I should have known she was thirsty (while she ran around like a wild thing). So, the day ended like most of them do ... in tears. Although she wasn't mad at me, she was mad at the girl for asking for the drink! Kids think of things in the weirdest way! It only made it worse when I stuck to my guns and told her that I wouldn't check her out when she got back to school. She was going to have to endure an entire hour of school before I would be there to pick her up. OH MY GAWD! I am the worst Mommy ever!

A fitting end to a wonderful day :)

169 A Week in the Weird

Of course I could not leave my hair alone ... I had to lighten it a bit more (and try to repair whatever I did to it with the highlights). I am getting used to it, but it still looks way too brassy to me. I am trying to get used to wearing my hair down, but I do LOVE that I can still pull it back in a ponytail if I need to. And believe me, with my munchkin man around I do need to pull my hair out of the way sometimes! Although he is just as happy to yank a scrunchie out of my hair as he is to grab my hair and pull.

We also did a bit more cleaning. It is a good thing I have such an enthusiastic helper!! Well, until he decided that licking the sponge was the thing to do ... On Wednesday, Katie had her school fieldtrip to the Pink Palace to go to the Sharpe Planetarium. IT WAS SO TINY! I guess I was just spoiled growing up in Atlanta because we had the Fernbank Science Center and I remember the planetarium being HUGE (I just looked it up and it happens to be one of the largest in the United States) ! Although technically, the planetarium actually refers to the aparatus that projects the stars onto the ceiling, not the actual room. So, I did learn something new!! Being a small group, it was much more personal. The class was allowed to ask questions and respond to several themselves. Katie's sugar was out of whack, and she was pouty because I did not understand something she was trying to tell me. She said she wanted to "go to the places with the blocks" and then she elaborated "with the plane". And I was at a total loss for a few minutes until I finally figured out she was talking about the Childrens Museum of Memphis. In front of the museum there are huge letter blocks that spell CMOM ... She stayed pouty for quite a while! In fact, she stayed pouty for the rest of the day. I went in the gift shop after they got loaded back onto the bus, and she was unsatisfied with what I brought home to her. And then she decided to be sassy ... It was NOT a good day!

On Saturday we celebrated Jacob's 7th birthday!
Monday was SUPER busy!! Connor had his check up with the opthalmologist. Connor was MISERABLE! He hates to be confined and I had to keep him in a tiny waiting room while his eyes dilated, and then I had to hold him in my lap and restrain him so that the doctor could look into his eyes. He did good for a few minutes, then he was done. He just wanted to get as far from the doc as possible. Even dangling my cell phone would not make him look to the side. But, eventually we were all done, and everything looks good!On the way home we stopped in the new Joann's. We had picked up a sippy cup to buy, one of those with the liquid and glitter that sloshes around. Connor dropped it and it busted open ... well, at least we know it wouldn't have lasted at home! I did end up buying a huge St. Patty's Day hat and a chocolate bar to share with Connor. I am sure that SOME of the chocolate made it into his mouth ...And I took my new running shoes on their maiden voyage! I even RAN in them! Oh, not very far or for very long, but I did run! I did two laps around the track behind my house. Not in a row of course!! It didn't help that it was 75 degrees. AND HUMID! It is so sad that I am this out of shape. How can I not still have all the muscle tone from high school!? Surely, it could have stuck around for 14 years without any help from me ... Is that so much to ask? To have the body of a 17 year old after having two kids and sitting on my rear for 14 years?? It just ain't fair I tell ya!!

And I am sure that I have mentioned that katie has a style all her own before, but her most recent outfit takes the cake! A Valentine's skirt with hearts all over it, a polka dot tank top, and LEGWARMERS ON HER ARMS!! I tried to talk her out of it, but she was determined to go play with her friends in this outfit. Who am I to stifle her creativity??

I will say that when Chip left for work she was still across the street, so he stopped in the road and she ran to his window to give him a kiss. I had Pretty Woman flashbacks ... I need to go back and watch that movie. It is just such a BAD outfit!! And it kills me that it is so ADORABLE on her!!

At least she can never say that I dressed her like this ... And I am pretty sure that is another home haircut ... Mom, how could you stand me being so CUTE!!??

105 Punkin

On Sunday we had made some plans to go to a pumpkin patch in Hernando with our buddies. Of course, being us, when the day rolled around those plans were still a bit iffy. Connor decided to finally take a NAP after being napless for a few days. (His top teeth are fighting their way through and he has been restless) Toya had a headache that she hasn't been able to shake for a while, and a little man also needing a nap. Charity had to be there for her Dad's business picnic. As long as I wasn't the only one bailing out I did not feel too bad. Then Toya texted me that they would be there in 30 minutes!! Here comes the guilt :) Not that she was trying to make me feel guilty, I just did. So, Connor woke up and I got Katie down from Mia's and off we went. Oh, did I mention that it is about 3pm and the pumpkin farm closes at 5?
Cedar Hill Farm is a beautiful little spot. But, I am sure everyone has been somewhere similar. In fact, we went to an almost identical place a few years back on a visit to Atlanta. Of course the name escapes me, but I am sure Mom will remind me of it tonight. Anyways, Cedar Hill Farm has a hayride, pony rides, a petting zoo, and a corn maize. Also, they have something called the Pigadega 500 ... yeah, it is what you think, a pig race. It looks like a good place to spend a few hours with the family. However, we got there about an hour before they closed.
There was only ONE HOUR left, and they still felt the need to explain to me the "wristband" option. $20 that gives you unlimited access to just about everything. I had 60 minutes, exactly how much "everything" did they expect me to get to do? We ran through the petting zoo to the Pigadega 500, not because I really wanted to see the pigs run but because Toya and her family were there.

Charity was lost in the Corn Maize at this point. We were going to head out to the pumpkin patch to snap some pics of the kids, but Charity said it was so picked over that it was not worth schlepping our way out there. The kids spotted the Hay Fort and we were done. They played there for the rest of the time. There was a kid sized hay maze. Connor loved the hay!

He loves anything he can tear apart with his hands. We hit the Pumpkin Stand on the way out. They had a bunch of dried gourds in the corner so I plopped Connor down for a picture, too bad it was pitch black! The kids were trying to pick up the biggest pumpkin they could find, but we were able to talk the girls into picking more reasonably sized pumpkins. Katie's weighed in at 6.5 pounds, and it only cost $2. Made me wish I had let her pick a biggun! All she wants is the seeds anyway.
Then she managed to ruin the trip ... again! She wanted to go to the store and get a "treat". How in the world do you ask for a treat for being good on a trip that was in essence a TREAT!! I take you somewhere with your friends. You play. You buy a pumpkin. And you want a reward! Not happening. Not today, not tomorrow ... pretty much not ever. Chip has taught her this idea of "treats". I don't mind buying her stuff, but not as a reward all the time. And, if it is going to be a reward, then it should be a reward for doing something! Wow, you were good for an hour. Yippee! Maybe if she can be good for a month ... or smile and pose for a picture with a big pile of pumpkins. Okay, so that is one thing that really made me mad. She refused to pose with the pumpkins. How hard is it to SMILE? You would have thought that after all these years she would have realized the sure fire way to make Mommy happy. Maybe when she figures that one out things will go a lot smoother. I will definitely have to buy her a treat ;)
It also did not improve the day trying to drive a stroller over all those tree roots. Next time I am bringing Chip, gotta have an extra set of hands!!