At BTF Stuff Today

Alicia and I were singing "There's a hole in the bucket", with me being Henry and Alicia being Liza, and we had only got up to the straw. When Joab started saying very loudly, "God, WHY? Please God, make them stop!"
It only made the song funnier.


Alicia wanted to put the props in the boys' storeroom. According to Joab there was no space. Sean said that they would just Harry Potter it in. At which Joab said, "Who?" And Alicia said, "Have you being living under a rock?" And then he realised just what he said.


Kallie has gone to visit her family. I am desolate without her. I was at the prop meeting and I told everyone. And then I started singing "She's gone and left me, she's gone and left me, she's gone and left me in sorrow to mourn." Which is from once I had a sweetheart, for those of you who don't listen to good music. (That would be Celtic/folk music.)


"Look there's a Humozine (car may not be what they actually said)!" said Sean.
"Cool!" said Lionel.
"You're regreting sitting in front seat now," said Joab. (I sit in the front seat most of the time so I can hear people).
"What's a Humozine?" I said.
The boys explained it to me. I nodded wisely, and then repeated my question, "What's a Humozine."


I was sitting at the prayer meeting, and looked at Chiann, and said, "It's my birthday tomorrow."
"I know. What do you want?"
I told her, then turned to Amy and said, "It's my birthday tomorrow."
I told everyone.


"I'm getting old." I said.
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-four."
"So you don't want to be reminded of it, if you're getting old," said Robbie (Aussie church Robbie). "Or to be given any presents. Because it'll only remind you of how old you are getting."
"Oh no," I said. "Presents are very consoling. So is chocolate."

WFMW - Music for the day

Most people want their kids to be musical, or at least to appreciate music. The thing is most people aren't musical.

Me, I'm not actually musical, though everyone assumes I am. That's because I sing well, and am not shy about it. But I can't read music, or play any instruments, and my musical knowledge is rather less than I would like.

So how can we get music into our kids?

At kinder I put on a CD every day. I'm the first teacher in my room, I choose the CD. It's usually classical, but occasionally a Celtic or kids CD. And I press play. And then I press the repeat button, and the music plays, mostly in the background, all day.

It really helps the kids 'tune in' and keep calm, and it means that the kids (and me) begin to recognise pieces. One of the kids always chooses the same Mozart CD whenever he is given the choice.

So that's it. I press repeat. It's easy as anything and it Works For Me!

Book Review

Another quick review. I finished The God of Small Things. This is a FICTION book everyone. It won the booker prize. It is very well written, but I didn't like it. Not my sort of book. And not a book that is very moral. So don't go reading it thinking otherwise.

I've bookmooched it, and it's already been mooched. Which is nice.

Random Comments

So, yesterday Rebecca had told me off for how grumpy I was the Sunday before. How grumpy was I? According to one anonymous witness I was "a black hole of emotion". I think that means I was depressing.


At Ruth and Phil's wedding on Sunday, I was asked by a VERY MEAN BOY WHO READS THIS BLOG when I was getting married. Someone said afterwards, "You should have slapped him and said, 'Listen you friend of Job'" but honestly, would I do something like that? I wouldn't think of it. At least not the friend of Job bit.


And please do not ask me if I am ok. Reasons:
1. You just implied that I do not look ok
2. Chances are you will not / cannot do anything if I'm not
3. I find it greatly annoying when about 20 people IN THE SAME DAY ask me if I'm ok.
4. Believe me, when I'm not ok, you all will know about it.
5. You better be prepared to stand in the very long line to get me food. And as that was only one person (you managed to redeem yourself there, both from asking if I'm ok and from your earlier comment Joab)


My dress was a success. I had gone to a great deal of trouble eliminating all of the other dresses. I described my other dresses to anyone who would listen, which was only girls. Not even Keith or Joab would listen to all of the details on my other dresses. But I decided to wear my black Chinese dress. I thought wearing a red Chinese dress to someone else's wedding, a wedding filled with Chinese people, may look a little desperate, even for me.

Anyone Else?

So far only Kal is going to do a guest post for my birthday. Does anyone else want to do one? Hello? Is anybody there?

Pretty please? I want to know that you all think I'm pyschotic. Really I do! And I want you all to SHARE.

PS - I still like presents. :P

WFMW - Crocodile Grip

So, I know that my regular readers are all like, "How do I get my children to write and draw beautifully with the proper pencil grip?"

Okay, not a single one of you has ever thought that. Except maybe Rebecca, and only because she teaches. But one day you will have children (if only because I will nag you all until you do) and when that day comes, you will be so eager to see them write with a beautiful pencil grip.

So, how do you achieve this elusive thing of beauty?

Crocodile grip!

One of my mums taught me this. Her kid is autistic, and they use it at his school. You make your hand into a crocodile. Snap snap snap! Kids love this. Let the crocodile 'eat' the pencil. Help them wrap their fourth and pinky fingers to the side, so that the 'crocodile' is just the first two fingers and the thumb. Then let them write.

Whenever they forget (because they will) just remind them to use teh crocodile grip. And they will.

I even used it on Samuel. And for those of you who don't know Samuel, he's 2. And he can do it. He doesn't do it unless he's reminded, but as soon as he is, he does it. It works wonderfully for all my kinder darlings as well.

The crocodile grip. It Works For Me.

My Aphid Babies

Speaking of aphids, did you all notice my little aphid babies at the KFC Mothers' Day Concert. You know the ones I mean. The four blondes. Yes, us blondes are multiplying. There are now 6 of us, all girls.

And, I'd just like to say, they are EXACTLY like me. At the rehersal all five of us were dancing around, doing flips and cartwheels etc. I thought it was great. I also think that we tried Eleanor's patience.

That is why they are my little Aphid babies. Because apparently aphids reproduce by cloning themselves.

More Quick Reviews

Two more books have been read from my 888 challenge. Yes, I did not exactly finish them all within January. I still have 22 to read. However, I would like to point out that I am reading a whole lot of other books, especially as I can't even FIND all of my 888 challenge books since I moved. However, in reading a few others I occasionally come across one.

So, Billy Budd. It was okay, but I think it would have made a far better short story than novella. There was so many irrelevant details that really bogged it down. Yes, this is the author of Moby Dick I'm critizing. I don't expect you to agree with me, I'm just saying it how I see it.

Insect Ways was a rather odd read. It was in my Maths and Science section, but I could have used it (if only I had known) as a crossover for children's and short stories. It was basically a set of short stories of insects telling all about themselves (and their enemies and relatives) to a small child. The first 10 or so were lovely, and then it got a little old. Some of the later ones stood out - the Spider one was hilarious. Unfortunately I don't think that I can tell you much more about insects than I already knew. Except that lots of things eat aphids and that a lady who used to burn spiders had one explode in her eye and that it was treated with spider webs.

Update on my hand

You know how I blogged about my hand. Well, I first knocked it on Sunday. That would be Sunday the 4th. It was slowly getting better. Then, over a week later, I went to work, and Alana fell off her chair. Onto me. Onto my HAND.

The bone is apparently bruised, but not broken.

I have had over half of this week off since Monday.

That has been nice.

It is very hurting. And it is making me tired, because I keep waking up with it hurting. And that is making me a grump. Even more than usual, which is saing something.

On me being a grump, I shall have to share about the scones.

Jonathon made scones and left strict instructions on how to cook them for our CG. They didn't follow them. The scones were overcooked. I cried. Lots and lots. I was devestated. I sobbed and sobbed because the scones were burnt. It was about the most upsetting thing ever. It took Dhanny and Cass both about 15mins to calm me done.

Of course, it would have gone quicker if they had told me I was being silly and to stop crying. But they were too nice to do that.

I've blogged about being nice before. Don't do it.

Sesame Street

Me:

You Are Cookie Monster

Misunderstood as a primal monster, you're a true hedonist with a huge sweet tooth. You are usually feeling: Hungry. Cookies are preferred, but you'll eat anything if cookies aren't around. You are famous for: Your slightly crazy eyes and usual way of speaking How you life your life: In the moment. "Me want COOKIE!"

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Kal:

You Are Oscar the Grouch

Grumpy and grouchy, you aren't just pessimistic. You revel in your pessimism. You are usually feeling: Unhappy. Unless it's rainy outside, and even then you know the foul weather won't last. You are famous for: Being mean yet lovable. And you hate the lovable part. How you life your life: As a slob. But it's not repelling as many people as you'd like!

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz