"Just Take the Highway"

Sunshine's daddy works second shift, so each night when she is ready to go to bed we call him so she can say goodnight.  Here is part of the conversation from tonight:

Sunshine: Do you want to come home?

Daddy: Yes I do.

Sunshine: Well, just get on the highway and come home."

Daddy:  I wish I could, but I have to work.

Sunshine: Oh, oh I see! You are at work. Ok, good night daddy.  I love you!

Little Chef: Apple Tarts

Sunshine, Daddy, and I went apple picking on Labor Day and sadly I forgot my memory card for our camera in my laptop.  I was really bummed; every year since Sunshine was born we have gone apple picking.  Anyways, we picked 21 lbs of apples!  Honey Crisp, Gala, and Jonamacs!  YUM!  I am going to sauce the Jonamacs, the Gala's are for eating, and the Honey Crisp we made apple tarts with!  Here is the recipe we used, taken from Cooks.com.  I substituted the crescent rolls with reduced fat rolls to make it was bit more healthy.  We also doubled the recipe to make sure there are plenty to share with family and friends!  Here are some pictures from our baking adventure!


Helping me cut up the apples using a plastic butter knife.  She does a great job cutting so carefully!

Filling the crescent rolls!  As you can see from her mouth she had to have a taste!! 

The tarts cooking in the oven!

All done and cooling!! YUM!

Back to Work

I went back to work on Tuesday from my summer break.  What an adjustment; its not just the going back to work part that is hard.  They moved me into a different building, into a different classroom, with a different co-workers, with a different supervisor.  Get the trend here - DIFFERENT?!  At least I am still paired with my co-teacher Meegan that I was with last year; I am so thankful for her. She is a great person and the ying to my yang when it comes to teaching.  It's hard to find someone like that in the world of teaching preschool.  The classroom they moved us into is DISGUSTINGLY dirty.  I just don't get it. There is literally dried glue and paint all over the shelves and dirt/dust every where.  I am wearing grubby clothes to work today so I can really do some deep cleaning.  I am really excited about the classroom they moved us into though because it is HUGE compared to what we were in last year and we have a TON of windows which I am so thrilled with!  We even have a enough room to set up a small tent and keep it up all year for an "alone zone" for a child who might need a break from the hub-bub of classroom life! My kiddos start on the 16th for a 1/2 day and then are there from 9-1 every day after.  We have a bunch of repeat students from last year because they were not old enough to enter kindergarten, so we have them for another year which is just LOVELY!!  :)

Sunshine is taking is pretty well I think.  I am only working 6 hours a day, where as last year I was out of the house for about 9.  DH has her during the day. He doesn't go into work until 4 so we don't need childcare this year, which I am thankful for because it saves us a whopping $600 a month.  I feel bad though because she keeps asking to go to "school".  I just can't justify it though.  So we are continuing with her swim lessons into November and she has also begun taking dance so that will help with the social piece that I am worried about with her being an only child.   I am also going to start taking some time each afternoon to do a more structured home school program with her because I don't want her to miss out and be bored!

Tiny Dancer: Part I

Sunshine began dance lessons this morning and she loved it! It is a 45 minute class once a week on Saturday morning from 8:15 to 9:00. (If anyone wants to join us to watch, let me know!! Everyone is welcome!) The first 25 minutes of class is tap and the last 20 is creative movement.  She had a wonderful time and can't wait to go back next week!

(Click on the  most of the images to see them larger!!!)

Taking attendance and getting to know each other. The teachers name is Miss Kathy.

Getting warmed up with some arm stretches, side bends, and twisting!

Taking a quick rest after a hug break.  Every so often, Miss Kathy tells the children to come over to their parents for a hug break! So cute!

Now onto the floor to warm up those legs and learn about the parts of their taps shoes.

Now some toe taps and heel digs!

Now time for the train!

See Tiny Dancer: Part II in the next post for more pictures!

Tiny Dancer: Part II

Practicing bowing and waving to their adoring audience!

Hoola-hooping during the creative movement part of class!

Dressing up like princesses and dancing to the Princess and the Frog soundtrack!  Sunshine loved this part!

End of class! Getting stamps and hugs from Miss Kathy! Miss Kathy suggested that we get a stamp book to collect her stamps in for each class! Such a cute idea!