Easter Egg Hunt

Easter is always such a joyful time for me because it is a reminder that Jesus is alive. It's also a reminder that I am alive in Christ as well. You should hit play on the song I'm linking here and listen to it while you read the rest of this post.

Saturday was the Easter egg hunt for church. After a lovely bicycle ride to campus, I arrived at Brushy Forks at noon to help set up and hide the two thousand eggs we had. That's right, two thousand eggs! It was a beautiful day to have an egg hunt. The sky was full of interesting clouds and the sun was shining.

The hunt was divided by age groups and because of low turnout most kids left with a booty of treasure. I feel sorry for their parents.

In addition hunting eggs, our associate pastor told the Easter story using eggs that had little tokens that represented parts of the Easter story.

Hiding the eggs was particularly fun because there were so many to hide. Although most of the eggs were just tossed in the grass because the places to really hide them were limited, I did get some laughs watching the three-year-old hiding eggs. He was a big helper.

While most of his egg hiding probably looked like this picture,...

...he also chose to bury some eggs. In fact, we had to go back later and unbury them because kids were not thinking to look in the ground for eggs.

I got a bit sunburned, but all together the day was enjoyable. 

N.B. This picture was taken two days after the burn so some of the red has dissipated. No worries, though, I have pulled my sunscreen out and put it in a visible location so I remember to wear it from now on.

I hope your Easter weekends were fun, safe, and focused on Christ.

Cheers!

P.S.

Here's a picture I dug up of this kid helping set up for last year's egg hunt.

A Weekend of Love

Who says Valentine's Day is only for couples? This year, I took the servant approach to celebrate this day of love.

On Saturday evening, my church hosted a Valentine's dinner for the adults in the congregation complete with catered food and fun games. I and four other single gals, including Captain Something Fun, watched the children while their parents participated in the dinner. We had seven children from two families ranging from seven months to ten years old. The children were served Little Caesar's pizza, which I've discovered children prefer over any other kind of pizza. The rest of the evening was a mixture of games, coloring, singing, and cuddling. Captain truly shined by teaching the kids some fun games and leading us in silly songs. I rather enjoyed playing with the seven-month-old, who was full of smiles.

The special project of the evening was decorating cookies. It was funny because I went in one room and mixed the icing while the other three gals kept the kids in a separate room. Apparently I wasn't fast enough because children kept trying to break in and see what I was concocting. Before I brought in the icing, I tried to lay down some ground rules. On the cuff, the ones I came up with included asking when you wanted to switch icing colors and waiting your turn. I felt smart for laying down those rules. The one I forgot was to not lick the knife and put it back in the bowl. That rule quickly got established.

One child declared that this icing was the best he had ever had. Funnily enough it was basic Pillsbury icing from Wal-Mart. I think the colors tricked him into thinking it was special.

I decorated the blue one. A three-year-old decorated the other broken bits. He immediately broke all of his cookies before decorating them. I guess hearts weren't his thing.

Most of the cookies were consumed before any pictures were taken, and I was definitely glad we waited until later in the evening to dispense the sugar. One parent took one look at his daughter and laughingly declared that she had consumed too much sugar, but he was appreciative that there was childcare so he and his wife could have a child-free evening together.

Another special moment for me was when I read a book to the older girl in the group. She chose a book of Bible verses, but told me I didn't have to read the verse addresses. Even though the reading only lasted a few pages, it was sweet to have her cuddled up next to me listening to me read.

Here's what happens when the icing colors all got combined.

On Sunday, actual Valentine's Day, I was greeted at church with a beautiful long-stemmed yellow rose by a friend. It is one of those special varieties that don't require water and last forever. After church, I drove to Richmond to watch a play with my brother's girlfriend. She teaches high school choir and some of her students were performing in a community theater production of various love songs from Broadway. Some songs were very well done and some reminded me that this was a community theater full of youth. During the first act, I kept waiting for something familiar from Phantom, RENT, Grease, or the like. Finally, I was rewarded with a song from Phantom of the Opera, even if it wasn't performed with as much emotion as the original. I got nervous at the end when I saw several people line up on the stage that they would try to close with Seasons of Love from RENT. It just seemed too cheesy to close with that. Thankfully that wasn't the case. Overall it was a good show.
After a scary drive home from Richmond in the snow, I stayed home and enjoyed a couple of cookies to finish out my Valentine's evening.

No secret admirers. No special valentines notes. It was still a good weekend.

I'm still feeling 22...

So as you might have guessed from the title of this post, I am currently jamming out to some T. Swift while finishing up some of psychology homework. The perks of being an undergrad I suppose. I would probably be up dancing right now if it weren't for the fact that there are people besides me in the dorm common area. I have not made a post in a while. I know, I know The Farmer's Daughter is probably very disappointed in me...
So since my last post a great deal of awesomeness has happened. Instead of writing in paragraph form, like Granny Eyre would probably prefer I am going to start listing.
1. I turned 23. WOAH. Exciting right? I am losing focusing writing I got distracted ahhhh.
2. The Lego movie is AWESOME, Seriously I enjoyed the movie for the most part. I had my hesitations about it but those were overcome.
3. I have officially been offered a real job that is not the mart of wal! Woot! I have had two interviews today one lasted 3 hours and the director did not even watch me she just let me loose in the center which was actually very exciting. I would really enjoy working with children even if it is not the CDL. But the job offer I got is working with mentally disabled individuals just helping them learn basic every day things that we might take for granted. I am kind of excited about the potential of this job because it is different individuals than what I am use to but I think I am up for it if God calls me to do this. I also applied at 2 other daycare's here but have not heard much back from them and I am not sure how much more harassing them I should do.
4.  There is a new little friend in my two year old classroom at work. I can't say much more except that they are super cute and adorable.
5. There are so many song lyrics I could insert in this post but, I can make the bad guys good for a weekend... , I better not though... But I'm FEELING 22!
6. I should not become a statistician, like ever. It is all gibberish to me.
7. I graduate in 16 days HOORAY!!! Finally
Okay that's all folks no more news on my end. Until next time Captain Something Fun signing off.

It's the Small Things

So Granny Eyre informed me that is my turn to make a blog post, who'd a thunk it. Anyways my life has been a bit busy with classes, work, and church these past few weeks. I took the GRE (secretly known as the Grueling Rhino's Examination). It was interesting exam which I am not allowed to disclose much information about so I will try my best not to go into too great of detail about that part of my day. Which incase you were wondering I have had a fabulous weekend. It started around 5 oclock when all the children went home early for various reasons so I was able to shut down the classroom and leave early. Then meet up at church to eat a home cooked meal of lasagna and spaghetti, with a bit of salad and bread to go along with it. It was very scrumptious! The plan was to watch God's Not Dead, which after the third viewing can still say this is an excellent movie that I would recommend any one to watch. It was about 930 when the movie was finished but the night was still young. A group of us from my sunday school class where still awake and up for anything so of course we had to play Apples to Apples. I get too competitive with this game but I still enjoy it even if I only received one green apple card :(. I wake up Saturday morning ready to conquer this monstrous exam that will decidedly determine my future education plans eek. Granny Eyre spent the night because it was late and on her way to leave she handed me my own personal GRE ready bag filled with chocolate, mints, and Bubbles! I must say for those of you who do not know, I seriously hate taking exams of any sorts. It is not the content questions that bother me just the sheer amount of time it takes. I cannot sit still for long amounts of time like that so I tend to just rush through exams. Probably not the best practices to use. It did not help that I am a bit sick and runny noses are not conducive to taking exams either. In happier news my little friends at work have been super wonderful, exciting, and adventurous lately. We play lots of games and sing songs. I am going to teach you all some of these songs the next time we are all together especially the Farmers Daughter because I think she could use them in her classroom as well. Sometimes I get stuck on songs and just listen to them on repeat all day long. Right now that song is Jesus, Only Jesus- by Philips, Craig, and Dean. It is very good song that paints a picture of what it is like to know/have Jesus with you. As I mentioned in a really long ago post, if you have any songs that you like you should share with me because I love music! Another wonderful thing that has happened is someone in my dorm did my house duty for me this week :) I am not sure who or why but someone cleaned for me and it is very much appreciated because it gives me time to breathe. That is it for now. Peace to you all!

Riding the Bus

This past week has been crazy! I started working as a bus monitor, and so far I really enjoy it. I have worked on a bus with special needs children, as well as a bus full of elementary school kids, mainly riding with them in the afternoons. Since I have never been a bus monitor before, I have had to really get to know the rules on the bus and make sure that everybody follows them. Even though the buses have most of the same rules, they all operate at least a little bit differently, mainly because of the drivers' personalities and the personalities and individual needs of the children. Due to this, I really have to stay on my toes whenever I change routes. 

Although I was a Child & Family Studies major in college, I spent more of my time inside the classroom learning about children than actually being around them. However, I have gained some experience recently in being around children. I talked to the elementary school boys about their toy cars, four wheelers, and dirt bikes, while the little girls asked me how I got my hair to look the way that it did and how old I was when I got my ears pierced. One little boy raised his hand just to tell me that he thought I was pretty, which I believe took a lot of guts and made my day. For the most part, the children have been well-behaved, which has made it easier for me to adjust to my new job. 

In other news, I have been helping one of my friends remodel her house. I have pulled carpet and tack strips, sanded down plaster that was used to patch holes in the walls, and stripped wallpaper. I have been going there in my free time and trying to get as much done as possible. Although I enjoy working on home remodel projects, I will be glad to see her house whenever the walls are painted and the new carpet has been installed. Because that's when the decorating can begin! 

If you want to know more about what has been going on in my crazy life, then feel free to contact me. Even though I'm not a very private person, I still don't want to put all my business out for everyone to see on the internet and would prefer if we talked one-on-one! Haha! Also, if you have any advice for how to keep misbehaving kids in line, then I would appreciate that as well. I know a couple of the 20-somethings have quite a bit of experience in that field. 

I apologize for this post being so random, but I felt like I needed to post an update on here, but am also too tired to re-read it and edit it like I normally try to do. Hopefully, I will be able to do better about making regular posts in the future. 

Until next time, 

Miss Ellaneous

A week without children

I feel kind of lame seeing everyone else post pictures of their cool adventure and I never have anything to share. Perks of strict confidentiality rules I guess. This week as been very different from what I am use to and today was a first. I worked my first ten hour long shift, and am I beat from it. This week was called "In Service" I've heard that term before going to public school I knew it meant something along the lines of teachers having to be at school but students weren't there. My eyes were opened to a different world this week. I got to see the behind the scenes workings of what preschool teachers have to go through to be prepared for an upcoming school year. It's not just a relaxing week of laziness like I thought when I was younger. Teachers have lot of manual work and mental work to do to get ready for the new set of children to arrive. I did enjoy the week, I got to bond with my teachers on a different level and it was beneficial to those work relationships. I also learned this week that Goo Gone is some magical stuff! I scrubbed so many cabinets and cubbies looking brand new now. I am excited for the children to come ready to learn and play! I sure have missed them a whole whole lot this week. And some of my littler friends are coming back from their summer breaks so that will be super exciting to see how much they have grown and developed since I last saw them in May.
In different news this week also brought a little spontaneity out in me. I was reading the newspaper yesterday when the farmers daughter text me asking if I wanted to go hiking. her and her man friend were going to the pinnacle and being the nice friend that she is invited me and misc ellaneous along. It was a very enjoyable evening hike with good company, even though there was a missing person somewhere on the trail. Also we had dinner together before the hike that was scrumptious even though the restaurant of choice did not have fish and chips or bacon for a BLT. All and all I would have to say this has been a good week. Next week I am hoping for more interesting stories to tell you all but until then you can deal with this piece of awesome.
Captain Something Fun
signing off 

Convivial

Here's to hoping the interweb doesn't crash on me before I get this written. I have not posted in a while, I apologize for that. It is not from lack of ideas, I seem to have plenty of ideas, I just don't know how to finish them. I have a folder full of unfinished post on my desktop.
Today was convivial! I just googled synonyms for enjoyable and that word seemed most fitting. It started out as just an average Thursday. I got out of bed at 8:38 and made it to work by 8:52. I typed sign in sheets for the classrooms to get ready for the fall semester and then I went to my older kid classroom to help with naptime duties, all part of a normal days work. I even went to lunch at my usual 1:36 time. Enough about the mundane part of my day. When I got back to work just in time for snack time the kids came up to me and said guess what Miss Amanda we are gonna get ice cream. Oh my goodness, I was excited almost as much as the kids were. It wasn't the ice cream itself that I was excited about. It had more to do with the fact I was getting to go on another great adventure with my little friends. About thirty minutes later, little flutes in hand out marched 8 little three and four year olds along with myself and the two lead teachers. The ice cream shop was only about a ten minute walk for us but it was convivial! I am surely going to miss these impromptu field trips and outings my class takes. I am truly blessed to be able to work with such great children and two very willing and able teachers. It does sadden me a little bit because when I mention these spontaneous outings to other labor students they tell me that they wish their teachers would do things that my class does but they are unwilling to step up and do different things with the children. Nobodies perfect, I know that, I just wish that some people would just take the initiative to get up and do stuff at least for the children s sake.
Tomorrow is my last day with this particular group of children. Never again with these same exact children be in the same classroom together and that is a bit sad. I have been with some of those kids since before they were two years old and watching them grow up and move on is hard but also rewarding experience to watch. I wish there wasn't strict rules or I would take a group picture of my kids for yall to see them but unfortunately no can do. Well I am getting sad thinking about children transitioning and moving on so I better stop now.
Signing Off,
Captain Something Fun

Learned Things

So I have been learning a lot lately. I can blame the learning for the reason behind not blogging so much these past couple of weeks right. I won't go into great detail about what all I've been up to, but I must say it involves writing many papers and cleaning dishes among other things. Instead I have compiled a list of things I have learned. Here it goes. 

1. Water and laptops do not mix. (You might lose everything including a 20page research paper)

2. Backing up files is very important. 

3. Children never get tired of playing tag. ( neither do I! )

4. One and a half year olds are the best cuddlers. 

5. Three year olds need nap time. (If missed they might get really aggressive and overly sassy)

6. Chocolate chip cookies are the most sought after dessert at the cdl. (It is hard to find even a small crumb floating around on that one special day of the month)

7. Field trips are a good break from the monotony of the everyday. (Added bonus is the interesting learning factor)

8. Best friends are amazing. (Shout out to Granny Eyer)

9. Surprises are the best when unexpected! (Granny Eyer came up for a visit/break this week. She didn't tell me she was coming though until she was at the house. It was happy)

10. One mans trash is another mans treasure has some truth behind it. (Yard Sales anyone?)

11. If a three year old tells you that his grandpa is driving the bus, he is probably telling you the truth. 

12. Bubbles and chalk are very entertaining. 

13. Showers are surprisingly relaxing. 

14. The old wives tale, bad things happen in there's might not be completely true. 

15. Fireworks are LOUD. Nuff said. 

16. In a water ballon toss size really does matter. 

17. Selfies don't make a lick of sense. 

18. Organization is key. (I've lost that key somewhere…)

19. Raisin bread typically has cinnamon in it. (If you are allergic to cinnamon you would especially know this and would be able to smell it out for someone who might not know.)

And last but not least

20.  God knows what He is doing even if I don't. 

Peace be with you and may the odds be ever in your favor. Until next time, Captain Fun Something signing off. 

Field Trip

Hello Friends! Random thought here as I begin to write, I think that the word hello should have a w in it at the end. Okay now back on track. This past week and half have been interesting, at least that is what my brain is telling me. I have had the privilege of going on a field trip with the three year old's to explore some on campus. It is fun walking with the children in the same places that I have trod on these past few years. After seeing the fossils and being very fascinated by the pendulum in the science building, we walked to the fountain where the children splashed around a little bit. I had to resist the urge to get the kids wet here. My favorite part was neither visiting those places nor climbing the tower by WoodsPenn. (Mind you a couple of the kids asked if there was an elevator and I had to laugh). My favorite part of the field trip on campus was playing tag in the quad. I don't know what it is about running around being chased by a person three times the size of you but three year old's love it.
Think bubble time...
(I love it too though. Just running with all you've got, not caring a bit what other people are thinking. Just being free. I think that is why I love working with children.)
End think bubble...
All in all I would rate the experience as one in the happy category. While playing tag the kids tackled me to the ground and started jumping on me. Not the greatest experience in the world especially when they sit on your face. I decided since the got me good at tag I would get them back so to speak. Later on that day I had a break so I went to the dollar store and got a bag of water balloons. An hour and 55 water filled  balloons later it was on. Actually I shared all of my balloons with the class and they had a blast. It is a shame though it only took them five minutes to go through all those balloons, if only it had lasted longer...
Since I have been seeing post with pictures in them I decided to put a few in my blog this time around. Enjoy!