You Might Be a Preschool Teacher If...

It's Wednesday.
Hump Day.
I hate it when people call it that.
It sounds completely inappropriate and I know I'm not the only one who thinks that.
Come on, people.
Let's be honest with ourselves and each other.


YOU MIGHT BE A PRESCHOOL TEACHER IF:
1. You know your exact head measurements in construction paper.
2. You know the exact proportions of a playdough snowman.
3. You haven't called it a "bathroom" or "restroom" in ages...it's a potty.
4. You inadvertently remind adults to use kinds hands, inside voices, and say "May I please".
5. You speak loudly. No matter what. It can't be stopped. Ever.
6. You turn everything into a motivating song.
7. You buys stickers habitually.
8. You're addicted to children's books.
9. You know the percentage of the chance of rain every single day.
10. You can be found in public on any given day with stickers and/or paint on your face that you forgot/didn't know about. 
And last but not least,
11. You can't decide if you love or want to murder Laurie Berkner


Did I forget any?
:)
Happy Wednesday!

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

Had to throw a little Les Mis in the title there to catch your attention.
You're all obsessed.
Shame on you.
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
That includes Jean Valjean.
(Mom.)


HELLO again, I hope you all are enjoying January! Can you believe that it was one short month ago (4 weeks, that is) that we were all in our Christmas jammies eating our goodies from our stockings and waiting until the last possible moment to get cute for Christmas dinner?
I certainly can't.
My husband and I had this conversation today that I feel certain has been echoed all around the world right about now...
"Honey, didn't I get you a ______ for Christmas?"
"Umm....Yes! You did!"
"And where is that, exactly?"
"Umm....not sure."
"Great."

Are we the only ones?
I feel like we're not, but with us you honestly just never know.


Today in class (with my 2&3yearolds) I was mourning the passing of Christmas and lamenting how long we have to wait until it comes again.
My children were looking at me with great concern and began to attempt to comfort me.
I think they were planning an intervention during naptime.
They were whispering about me.
Mutiny.

Speaking of my class, they just kill me.
(Not literally, the mutiny thing was not for real.)
But they make me laugh nonstop.
They're just.
I mean.
Really something. 

For instance...

We were doing this great activity where I help the kids use painters tape to make a design on their paper. They place the tape down, paint on the paper with watercolors, and when the tape is lifted, it has left a blank space and makes interesting designs and, incidentally, blows the kids minds.
I work with the kids one-on-one during this learning time, so I was talking to one of my girls, and we were talking about the properties of the tape, and I was attempting to get her to use her senses to explore it.
Me: "Suzy, how does the tape feel to you?"
Suzy: "Um....sad."
Me:"...............................................................................right. Ummm.....what does the tape feeeeeeel like when you touch it?"
Suzy: "Well...uh...happy."
Me: "Sounds good. Here's the paint. Knock yourself out, kid."


Also, it snowed this week, so that was VERY exciting.

Adorable.

Also, I got CPR Certified this week.
But Adonis has forbidden me to ever do CPR on him.
What is his problem!? He doesn't trust me.
But he'll be unconscious, so it's not like he can stop me.
So I guess I shouldn't worry about it.

Today, one of my children said "Ms. Lacy! Look! I built the state of Virginia!"
I answered him a little absentmindedly at first and said "Cool, buddy! Good job!'
But then I turned around, and this is what I saw.

No lie.
I was impressed.
My kids are geniuses.
Except for the girl who thinks tape has feelings.
Just kidding.
We're all geniuses.


One last thing--it snowed a lot today (by a lot I mean 2 inches) and it was amazing!

CUTE.

Alright.
I'm done with my Kid Quotes and other such nonsense for the day.
I've got a lot of snow-playing to do tomorrow! Gotta get my rest.


Love you all.

-Lace

This and That

I like how the frost lingers
in the shadows
of the this's and thats
when the sun creeps up&up
in the morning.
 **********

I've had Les Miserables music stuck in my head for days and days.
Today I kept singing "He tells me that I have a soul, How does he know..." (from the part where Jean Valjean is trying to process this immense grace he has received from the priest...)
Anyway, my kids at school were looking at my like was crazy.
Shouldn't they be used to it by now?
DON'T THEY KNOW ME AT ALL!?

My class of two-year-olds just kill me. They're all just so rolly-polly. And smart and good and happy and chunky and squishy and smart and sweet.
And they love me.
(Except for when they give me that look right after I've burst into loud, passionate song at an inappropriate moment during our school day.)
But other than that, they love me to death.
One of my favorite moments of my day is when I first get to work, and they're all hanging out in our classroom with another teacher who gets there before I do...
And every day, without fail, they run to me screaming "MS. LACY!!!!!!!"
Except for my one little jewel of a child named Ramiah of calls me "MY LACY!!!!!"
I mean...wow.
What better way to start your day!?
I mean really. Think about it.
Can you imagine walking into your office and all of your coworkers running to you and screaming your name with looks of joy on their faces, hugging your legs while you struggle to maintain balance....

Actually, it's just occurred to me that mine is pretty much the only job in which this is appropriate.
For you, it would just be weird.

And you'd look at them all like this. 

Anywho, I love my job.

I wish I could show you pictures of all my kids at work, but that's simply not allowed.
Poo.

But I CAN show you pictures of THIS.

So anyway, you know how God does that thing where He's like,
"Let me teach you something about me and about how I want you to live your life."
And you're like "Ok, God! I totally get that! I can do a good job of that. Thank you. Yes. Amen."
And then He's like "Great! I want you to do it right now, in this really crazy situation that you did not see coming before we talked about this the first time. Do what I've ask you to do. GO."
And you're like "Ok WOW, God, aren't you going to let me at least get some practice in before you just throw me in the deep end here, God!? Come on!"
And He's like "You literally JUST told me that you were willing to do this. And to obey."
And you're like "Yeah but...I mean...uh...right. Ok. Yes."

Am I the only one this happens to?

 Surely No.



I hope all of your New Year's Resolutions are going well!
What are they?
Do share.

I've been brain storming about some things to blog about, some things that people might enjoy reading...
This one has been a work in progress for a while now.
In case you couldn't tell.
(notsomuchjustkidding)

I hope you all are snuggled up somewhere warm.
I'm about to go read some Francine Rivers in my bed.

 Love you. Really I do.
Goodnight!

Things Learned, Things Hoped For

Can you guess what one of my New Year's Resolutions is?

YOU GOT IT! Updating my blog more often. 

Things Hoped For (or "Goals for This Year")

Stay in the Word. 

I'm starting a bible study with some amazing young women whom I adore. 

We're going to study the Parables of Jesus.

We start next week, and I am so excited!

Eat Healthier. 

Pretty self-explanatory, just don't ask my why I have a picture of a giant broccoli stalk in my arsenal of picture. 

Kiss this baby more.

(This is my nephew, Copeland)

Take more great pictures.

I'm going to try to do 365 self portraits. I'll probably forget. Often. But that's ok with me if it's ok with you.

Things Learned:

ONE:

 I have a theory that when you're married, because you have someone to share all of your thoughts with, you may stop sharing them with yourself. 

Does this make sense? 

I bought myself some really cute journals, and I'm going to start doing some more journaling. It's so good. It's cleansing. 

Share your thoughts with yourself. 

TWO:

This one's a little difficult to articulate.

I think that we all have those people in our lives that we feel are somewhat responsible for us. 

Moms. Dads. Husbands. (I would say wives, but I'm fairly certain no men read this. Much less married ones.) 

Teachers. Church elders. 

These are all people that we trust or have trusted with certain aspects of ourselves. 

Our growth. 

Physically, Mentally, Spiritually. 

But sometimes, those people don't do a good job. 

Just  because they're people. 

 

Our church elders are snotty. 

Our husbands are confused by us. 

 In those moments, the Lord has lovingly reminded me that, while He has given people to help me grow, I am still responsible for my OWN growth. 

We can't always wait for help from others. 

I have to take the initiative.   

 Now, this may be a big fat "duh" for some of you guys. 

But it has just rocked my world. 

 

He has blessed me with this incredible sense of EMPOWERMENT lately. I mean wow. 

It's like..."I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR!"

It's like..."LOOK OUT WORLD, HERE I COME!"

And other such statements. 

THREE:

Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

Goodnight, friends. 

More to come.