Field trip

I chaperoned a field trip to a conservation center this week. I was officially assigned to Matthews class and then Renee ended up on my group too.

At first Renee was very clear that she was supposed to be with E's mom and didn't come my way. By the time we got to Fox Alley, about 20 minutes in, she was all mine (or I was hers?). Samuel was in another group and came by for quick hugs and "I'm a big kid, I don't need you in my group" and "next time you can come with me" comments.

Here's how Matthew summed up the day "We went in the forest and there was a SCHOOL BUS" (emphasis his).

On the schools bus

Learning about a type of wasp, unsure about being outside.

Renee trying to figure out why I was with Matthew, sh was with E's mom, should she follow the rule or come with me?

Pretending to be a butterfly

Explaining to the (sometimes older) kids why they couldn't come close to the bird feeder (which she is holding)

Samuel in his group.

Matthew's teacher sent me a thank-you note. Renee saw it and asked what it was. When I explained it was a thank-you note from Matthew's class she wanted to know where hers was. I told her I didn't get one from her class. A few minutes later, she gave me the thanks you note back and said "now its my thanks-you card for Renee, see R E N E". (Yes, at three and a half she write her name). She also underlined the words in the card.

I rumbled down the stairs

This is how Matthew explains the chain of events that led to the bruise on his face.

I was talking to Eduardo, and going down the stairs, and i rumbled down the stairs, boom, and i cry. then i got ice and watched Lion King with mean uncle Skar.

I describe it like this. My parents house has very steep staris leading to the basement, and the stairs have no hand rail on one side for the bottom half of the stairs. We heard noise, then silence, then piercing cries. I ran to the stairs to see Matthew lying at the bottom of the stairs, not moving. (for those who are wondering how I was, my dad had to comfort me as much as I did Matthew). That he only had tenderness in his side for a few days and a burised cheek is unbelievable, and a testament to kids flexibility and resiliance.

A suggestion from Samuel,

Regi's account from a recent sleep over at Abbeywood:


As his bedtime book Samuel has chosen the "First Encyclopedia of Our World" and we read a couple of pages a night. The pages for tonight were: Under the Sea and Coral Reefs



Following is a close transcript of our conversation (I paid a lot of attention!) and the reason for this e-mail. He asked me to write it a a piece of paper and give it to you. I will do so - in cursive!


Samuel: You know, children like to learn things. I have an idea. My class should study all about the sea. Kita Mazal can study the land. Matthew's class can learn about......... space, no..... air.


Eduardo's class could learn all about... reptiles! Yes, that's good.


The Upper el can learn about fruit and trees. No, maybe just trees and how plants grow.


Kita Rimon, Guy's class, can learn about how light works. I don't think they know how it really starts.






Regina: Samuel, I like your ideas.




Samuel: It's not me, it's my brain!

Let's Have Lunch With Tocayo

On the last day of vacation, Samuel asked to have lunch with Tocayo. He got tuperware out so we could cook lunch and take it to eat at Oscardo. As considerate as the idea was, we opted for the easier and speedier option of going out for lunch.

After we went back to Oscardo where, as you can see, everyone had fun in the office and warehouse alike.

Kids in new hats (and the lady who bought them the hats at the Korean grocery store)