Halloween seems like a much bigger deal than what I remember as a kid, but overall, I rather like it. Over the course of the next few days I will find myself helping to throw the branch party , there's the haunted house being thrown at Jason's school, not to mention countless other parties that will be occuring around town.
It's going to be very fun, but I can't help but wonder to what level of giddiness Ben and Brigham will reach over this weekend. I've ditched the survival plan, and all ideas of coping out the window. To heck with that! I'm going to find myself a great witch hat, find some good theme music and concoct up some cookies and popcorn balls. My greatest feat will be if I can convince Jason to dress up as well.
Ben is VERY excited for Halloween this year. When he's not burbling enthusiastically about the upcoming church party or trick or treating, he's happily supplying us with enough pictures of ghosts and pumpkins to paper the walls of our home. These artistic endeavors have made any need to get Halloween decorations completely superfluous. Although he has been cruising through potential costumes at a dizzying rate, he has managed to settle at last upon being a ghost. This, thankfully will be a cinch (not to mention will easily fit over his snowsuit).
Briggy, as usual, has taken Ben's hoopla into stride. The only time he has gotten remotely giddy (thus far) is whenever he spies the Halloween goodies that are festooned across any and every spot at the grocery store. He does enjoy his recycled monkey costume though, and has spent many a happy moment racing around the house doing his best primate impressions. He might be a bit young to go out trick or treating, but as whatever Ben does is the epitome of cool in his eyes, I've deemed it prudent to bring him along the night of.
That's what I really love about Halloween; the magic of racing around in your costume in the dark, the glow of jack-o-lanterns, and the glee of consuming way more sweets than your Mom normally lets you. It may not be a major holiday, but it's one that appeals to the kid in all of us.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Confessions of a Substitute Teacher
This month I've started subbing every now and then to earn a little extra cash (and if we ever want to stop renting, that is exactly what we need!). Jason has proven to be a fabulous publicist; his school seems to call at least once a week these days, while I haven't heard a peep from either of the elementary schools. But in a small town where qualified subs are hard to find, the shortage is to my advantage. This week I'm subbing for the entire week...in math. Stop that laughing all of you!
Anyways, while I'm always relieved-and exhausted- whenever I get home, generally I enjoy going out and sporadically putting my degree to work. However, one thing I've realized is that in the school social totem pole, we subs are the pariahs. As much as teachers love finding an excuse to take a day off, most of them dislike leaving their classroom to someone else. The students will try to undermine you, seeking every and any means to turn the class into chaos. If you don't keep your wits about you, you're easy prey my friend!
Having trained in elementary education, working in secondary is interesting, to say the least. Some days I'm left scratching my head wondering if I was that obnoxious at that age. At times I am unsure what my role is: glorified babysitter, zoo keeper, mentor, or drill sargeant? In some classes I feel like the polar bear at the zoo; endlessly pacing the confines of my cage (er, classroom) ready to pounce upon anything out place.
All said, subbing has been a good experience thus far. The school staff are all really nice, and even some of the students are too. One thing I love is seeing Jason around. Most hallway encounters are as follows:
Me (nodding)-"Mr Thompson"
Jason-"Mrs Thompson"
(The fun is watching the students' reactions anytime this happens.)
If anything, subbing has given me a whole new insight in just why Jason is as tired as he is when he comes home each night!
Anyways, while I'm always relieved-and exhausted- whenever I get home, generally I enjoy going out and sporadically putting my degree to work. However, one thing I've realized is that in the school social totem pole, we subs are the pariahs. As much as teachers love finding an excuse to take a day off, most of them dislike leaving their classroom to someone else. The students will try to undermine you, seeking every and any means to turn the class into chaos. If you don't keep your wits about you, you're easy prey my friend!
Having trained in elementary education, working in secondary is interesting, to say the least. Some days I'm left scratching my head wondering if I was that obnoxious at that age. At times I am unsure what my role is: glorified babysitter, zoo keeper, mentor, or drill sargeant? In some classes I feel like the polar bear at the zoo; endlessly pacing the confines of my cage (er, classroom) ready to pounce upon anything out place.
All said, subbing has been a good experience thus far. The school staff are all really nice, and even some of the students are too. One thing I love is seeing Jason around. Most hallway encounters are as follows:
Me (nodding)-"Mr Thompson"
Jason-"Mrs Thompson"
(The fun is watching the students' reactions anytime this happens.)
If anything, subbing has given me a whole new insight in just why Jason is as tired as he is when he comes home each night!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Book of the Week
I don't know about the rest of you, but here up North it's a bitterly cold long weekend! This leads well into making turkey, pies, and and all those other delectables that go with Thanksgiving dinner. While everything is cooking and filling my home with marvelous smells, the inclement weather also lends itself well to burrow into blankets with a pile of good books. Consider the following for your own reading list.
Trip Down Nostalgia Lane:
I love Tasha Tudor's books, so when I discovered "The Private World of Tasha Tudor" (by Tudor and Brown) I thoroughly enjoyed a glimpse into this author's and artist's life. She is quite unique, living her life as it would have been for us all had it been in the 1830s. The book's resultant photos combined with Tudor's thoughts and musings makes for a memorable read. It's beautiful, and makes you want to duplicate some of that magic in your own home. I for one love the idea of a gingerbread castle instead of the usual cottage for Christmas!
Yearly Delights:
Seeing as I'm on a Tudor stint today, I'd better mention one of my favourites of her actual books as well. "Around the Year" is beautiful, in the usual Tasha Tudor style. Gorgeous illustrations, well-written text depicting one little family's seasonal adventures through the year. Lovely.
Trip Down Nostalgia Lane:
I love Tasha Tudor's books, so when I discovered "The Private World of Tasha Tudor" (by Tudor and Brown) I thoroughly enjoyed a glimpse into this author's and artist's life. She is quite unique, living her life as it would have been for us all had it been in the 1830s. The book's resultant photos combined with Tudor's thoughts and musings makes for a memorable read. It's beautiful, and makes you want to duplicate some of that magic in your own home. I for one love the idea of a gingerbread castle instead of the usual cottage for Christmas!
Yearly Delights:
Seeing as I'm on a Tudor stint today, I'd better mention one of my favourites of her actual books as well. "Around the Year" is beautiful, in the usual Tasha Tudor style. Gorgeous illustrations, well-written text depicting one little family's seasonal adventures through the year. Lovely.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Whiz Kid
Guess who's figured out how to use the computer? I guess it's partly my fault-I taught Ben how to use the mouse. He's extremely fond of Photobooth, and can happily entertain himself for ages taking numerous pictures of himself. To date, we have over a hundred and twenty of them. What can I say? The kid's a natural ham!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Book of the Week
So many books, so little time. Hence my (almost) weekly suggestions to help you separate the wheat from the chaff.
Witty Words:
They say that you should make lemonade when life hands you a sour one, but if that's the case I can't help but wonder what Evelyn Ryan would do. No doubt come up with a witty limerick or two. She is the true character of a daughter's loving memoir titled "The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio-How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less". During the 50s and 60s, with an alchoholic husband, ten kids to raise, and the wolf constantly scratching at the door Evelyn uses her wits and flair for writing to drum up money in her own unique way: winning writing contests for products, be it jingles or why said product is superior in twenty-five words or less. Her joie de vive and pluck help to keep despair at bay, and the resulting story is one of laughter, delight and miracles amongst what could be the dark storms of life.
Cackle, Cackle Mother Goose:
There is a reason why nursery rhymes have endured for as long as they have, and it's because despite the passage of time, these lilting bites of poetry from Mother Goose never lose their appeal to delight. Shockingly, too few youngsters get the chance to meet this wonderful grand dame, and that is a great pity. While books with these rhymes are plentiful, one of the best I've ever found is "My Very First Mother Goose", a collection compiled by Iona Opie and illustrated by Rosemary Wells. Do not deny your kids or yourself the pleasure of this delicious compilation. There were well-known favourites like "Humpty Dumpty" as well as new friends like "Blanket Fair". Like all her books, Rosemary Well's talent for sublime illustrations make this book literary perfection. Here's a new one we discovered and loved on making it's acquaintance:
To all you fellow book nuts, I say "Happy Reading!"
Witty Words:
They say that you should make lemonade when life hands you a sour one, but if that's the case I can't help but wonder what Evelyn Ryan would do. No doubt come up with a witty limerick or two. She is the true character of a daughter's loving memoir titled "The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio-How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less". During the 50s and 60s, with an alchoholic husband, ten kids to raise, and the wolf constantly scratching at the door Evelyn uses her wits and flair for writing to drum up money in her own unique way: winning writing contests for products, be it jingles or why said product is superior in twenty-five words or less. Her joie de vive and pluck help to keep despair at bay, and the resulting story is one of laughter, delight and miracles amongst what could be the dark storms of life.
Cackle, Cackle Mother Goose:
There is a reason why nursery rhymes have endured for as long as they have, and it's because despite the passage of time, these lilting bites of poetry from Mother Goose never lose their appeal to delight. Shockingly, too few youngsters get the chance to meet this wonderful grand dame, and that is a great pity. While books with these rhymes are plentiful, one of the best I've ever found is "My Very First Mother Goose", a collection compiled by Iona Opie and illustrated by Rosemary Wells. Do not deny your kids or yourself the pleasure of this delicious compilation. There were well-known favourites like "Humpty Dumpty" as well as new friends like "Blanket Fair". Like all her books, Rosemary Well's talent for sublime illustrations make this book literary perfection. Here's a new one we discovered and loved on making it's acquaintance:
Davy, Davy Dumpling,
Boil him in a pot.
Sugar him,
And butter him,
And eat him while he's hot.
Boil him in a pot.
Sugar him,
And butter him,
And eat him while he's hot.
To all you fellow book nuts, I say "Happy Reading!"
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