Preschool Gems

Last week I finished up a seven week practicum in a 4- and 5-year-old preschool class. The preschool I was in is a play-based program, similar to Montessori. This means that they believe (and I definitely agree) that children learn through play, so they set up intentional play stations and the children are free to do basically whatever they want for most of the day. In the class I was in there were 20 children and 6 teachers so the teachers could facilitate and guide the play to help the children learn about numbers, letters, colors, sorting, sequencing, problem solving, science concepts, conflict resolution, etc. while they played. It's actually really cool. I definitely recommend putting your child in a play-based preschool program that uses the philosophies of Developmentally Appropriate Practices (or DAP) if you get the chance.

Here are some of my favorite preschooler quotes from the time I was there:

"The bug died. He's with Jesus now."
We're sailing to the promised land!" (while playing on a "pirate ship" that was set up in the dramatic play area)
"We're going to planet penis!" (We think he meant Venus...)
"The guinea pig has hair like Dominic!"
"You can't eat that! We haven't said the prayer yet."
"Teacher, do you go to church?"
"It's turning into BEER!"
"Teacher, I want some string too." "What can you do to get some?" "You can get it. I know you're just going to give it to me anyway."
"Come with me." "Where are we going?" "It's time to go on our mission."

Obviously we had a large percentage of LDS kids in the class. Let's just say, I was sad to leave. This week I started kindergarten and I already miss all my preschoolers. We'll see if kindergarten brings as many laughs.

These Girls Are Hilarious.

Seriously. I wish I was as funny as them. And as talented.

...And this is what happens on a boring Monday night when Hilary's husband is out of town. Don't we make such a great team? There will most likely be more where this came from... Dun dun dun!

Blogs of Note

Need another blog to blogstalk? Check out two of my favorites:

www.cakewrecks.blogspot.com
Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Horribly, Hilariously Wrong

Her description: "A Cake Wreck is any cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy, inappropriate - you name it. A Wreck is not necessarily a poorly-made cake; it's simply one I find funny, for any of a number of reasons. Anyone who has ever smeared frosting on a baked good has made a Wreck at one time or another, so I'm not here to vilify decorators: Cake Wrecks is just about finding the funny in unexpected, sugar-filled places."

This blog contains daily photos of cake wreckage from bakeries all over the country. Every Sunday she posts "Sunday Sweets" which are the exact opposite of cake wrecks. These weekly posts spotlight beautiful, creative, and extremely impressive cake designs. Check it out! Who doesn't love cake??


Next up: www.myregisblog.com (Yes, that does say regis.)
My Religious Blog: The Substandard Works of a Utah Mormon

If you enjoy puns and laughing about the funny things Utah Mormons do, then you'll love this blog. Example: "If you have always wanted programming that would seamlessly combine the faith and sacrifice of the early saints as they crossed the plains with the fast paced action of martial arts and Western justice, then you’re gonna love the new TV show I am developing for KBYU called Pioneer Children Sang As They Walker Texas Ranger."
He doesn't post very often, but the blog is worth reading through if you need a good laugh.

Enjoy!

Rest in Peace, Stephanie Meyer

This is an obituariy written for Stephanie Meyer, followed by some clarification.

http://www.2snaps.tv/9818783

http://www.2snaps.tv/9818797

In honor of the woman that has corrupted our nation's youth. Hope your husband enjoys having a blood-sucker for a wife.

:)

Quotes of the Day by Christine

Rachel: (reading study guide) "Define wisdom."
Christine: "It's what you get when you're too old to have good looks!"

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"It's not bad, it just needs some help..."

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Brooklin: "I'll have you know, I only used tape and crayons."

Christine: "Maybe next time you should use your brain."

YouTube Debut

Last Sunday was my good friend Emily's birthday. Being poor college students and not being able to afford to get her anything for her birthday, Phebe and I decided that we should write her a song. So we did. I wrote the lyrics and Patrick helped us put it to music. Pretty sure it was the best reaction to any gift I've ever given. Emily loved it! It was way ridiculous and seemingly random, but it was perfect for Emily. You probably won't think it's funny if you don't know her, but it is actually quite genious. Enjoy!

Emily's Birthday Song

Performed by Patrick Farrington, Rachel Nell Pearce, and Phebe Findlay

Stalker

I love my roommate. This is a wonderful song that she introduced me to. It's called "Stalker" by Goldfinger. Read the lyrics and listen to the song. It's wonderful. Probably because I love stalking people. It kind of defines my life.

She calls me on the phone

Hoping that I’m home

(And that I’m all alone)

But when I say hello

I only hear dial tones

(She thinks that I’m her own)

Outside my window she crept

Watching my every step

ooh ooh ooh

She’s following me

ooh ooh ooh

She’s out of her tree

ooh ooh ooh

She’s off of her rocker

I wanna marry my stalker

Sometimes she says she’s my mom

Looks like she doesn’t belong

(She’s my own peeping tom)

Flowers everyday

The cops they tell her to stay

500 feet away

She sleeps on my door step

She hasn’t heard me yet

ooh ooh ooh

She’s following me

ooh ooh ooh

She’s out of her tree

ooh ooh ooh

She’s off of her rocker

I wanna marry my

I wanna marry my

I wanna marry my stalker

This morning she wasn’t there

I hope she still cares

I almost gave up hope

but today I awoke

To a private note

She said she’s going to jail

For going through my mail

But she'll stay on my trail

ooh ooh ooh

She’s following me

ooh ooh ooh

She’s out of her tree

ooh ooh ooh

She’s off of her rocker

I wanna marry my stalker

Finding Neverland

A few months ago, I had the magical experience of being in J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. I won't get into details, but the main concept or theme behind our show was that of rediscovering your inner child and letting that part of you play a role in your life. Throughout our rehearsal process and the actual production, the whole cast planned and participated in "inner child activities" where we indulged in fun playtimes of our past. The experience was definitely a fun one, but not entirely unique. It was unique in the fact that I was getting to do it every day with a wonderful group of people who I love dearly, but unoriginal in the sense that I've always held on to that aspect of myself. I've never been afraid to allow myself to be a child-- to play silly games, color with crayons, carry around coloring books and play-doh, and use my imagination.

Through my experiences with Peter Pan, I was reminded of how to find Neverland, but the best adventures I have there are when Neverland finds me. Let me explain.

Yesterday when I came home from work, I ended up in the backyard with my two little sisters-- Graci who is almost 4 and Makenna who is 2 1/2. I pushed them in the swings for a while and sat in the grass, but pretty soon I found myself chasing hyenas and dinosaurs, fighting pirates, and flying through the sky as Graci's imagination worked freely and quickly. We were Peter Pan, Wendy, and Michael for one minute, then pirates or Indians the next. A soccer net quickly became a cave when we were being chased by rampaging hippopotamuses, and the grass transformed into the ocean as we flipped our mermaid tails and sang "Part of Your World." We fought off monsters and beasts of every variety, and even had a brief Spiderman sighting. I was saved my magic drops of potion more than once, with Graci as Peter Pan (or sometimes Wendy) leading the way. The adventures went on and on, and only paused when it was time for dinner.

It didn't take an organized activity to take me away to far off places. Instead, all it took was my little playmate allowing me to have a peek into her constantly moving, creative mind. Thank you, Graci, for always bringing me back to Neverland.

-hiding in the cave-

-killed by pirates-

-fighting the dinosaurs-

-being a lion-

-flying through Neverland-

Quotes of the Day

Rachel: Hey Graci! Can I take a picture of your pretty hair?
Graci: Yeah. I wanna make a silly face!!
(Pulls sides of mouth with fingers and rolls her eyes)
Graci: ...Those were my crazy eyes.

Makenna: RAAAAACHEL!!!

Graci: What, Kenna?

Makenna: I want Rachel!

Graci: I AM Rachel!!

Pony Express

I don't know why, but I find this to be extremely funny. Watch it a few times. You'll laugh. (I tried to just post the video, but apparently I'm an idiot and coudn't figure it out, so you'll just have to click on the link)

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/digital-short-pony-express/1037141/