A Wee Bit of Everything

This week was all over the place.  Or maybe we were all over the place....I'm not sure.  It started out okay, we were actually a few minutes ahead of schedule as the week began.  Then fifteen minutes after I dropped Liam off with his beloved sitter, she called to say she had to go to the hospital.  I turned the car around and picked up Liam just as he was finishing breakfast.  By that time it was too late to take Henry to school or to get a substitute for my first class.  I brought both boys to work.  Luckily, one of my colleagues hid them in her room because she didn't have any students at the beginning of the day.  We narrowly missed my principal as we exited the building an hour later (a substitute was secured by then).  He never, ever comes down to my wing of the building but as I left my classroom with the boys' jackets, I ran into him entering my neighbor's classroom.  Fortunately he did not notice that I was holding a Spiderman hat and a size 5T coat.  I retrieved my sons from their hiding place down the hall and we left for preschool.

By the time Henry and I dropped off Liam, there were only 90 minutes left in his school day.  After a quick trip to Target, we were back to pick him up.  The three of us went to lunch before returning home for the afternoon.  At 10 pm I got the call that I needed to take the next day off as well.  This time Henry went to school and Liam (who doesn't have class on Tues) stayed with me.  I hate missing work but it was a great opportunity for us to spend time together.  Now that he is 5, Liam is able to have his own library card.  We signed up and he checked out 29 items!

Speaking of books, Henry finished his first book report of the year.  In kindergarten he did some really fun book responses.  This one was fairly simplistic but I appreciate the lesson in discipline and homework responsibility.  He read the chapter book in one sitting and seemed to enjoy it.  I don't have him read a book because he needs to do a report; instead, I wait until I observe him reading a book that lends itself to the assignment.   Then I suggest completing the report that day.  I don't think he should pick up a book because he has to write something.  I believe he should pick up a book because he wants to enjoy the story.

In other news, the boys somehow convinced me to take them to the Build-a-Bear store on Saturday.  I don't know what happened.  One minute I was on Google getting directions and a Groupon to a children's museum and the next minute I was driving to the mall.  I did have two Build-a-Bear coupons and I asked both boys to contribute some money from their piggy banks.  For the most part, I don't expect them to spend their savings (or in Henry's case, allowance) on toys.  Still, once and a while, it's important that they part with their money in exchange for the next thing they just "gotta have".

They love this place and even I will admit, everything there is adorable. There's lots of stuff  for boys.  Liam chose Star Wars pajamas for his lamb's outfit.  Henry dressed his puppy in a Captain America suit and mask.  Oh, yes, this corporation saw me, and thousands of other parents, coming.  And they were ready for us.

Dressing the animals after printing birth certificates (and paying big bucks!)

And finally, here's another thing my children didn't eat.  Spaghetti cakes.  You make them in muffin tins and they are quick, adorable and healthy.  They have lots of protein thanks to the cheese and eggs as well as plenty of veggies thanks to the red sauce and grated carrots I managed to sneak in.  I had two and the dogs each had one.  We all thought they were delicious.  Except Henry and Liam.  They refused to do more than take a "no thank you bite".  Instead, they each had an apple, a glass of milk and an early bedtime.  I have the pickiest eaters on the planet!  UGH!