“She had to go to the doctor.” said the substitute bus driver.

*silence*

But he asked.

He noticed and he asked.

What should I be writing about?
What do you think would drive the masses to my site?
What gap can I fill in the blogosphere?
Any ideas?

You can learn how trains work.
You can learn how to be safe around trains.
You can learn how to behave on a field trip.
You can learn the excitement of trying something new.
You can understand the bigness of a train, the speed, the way it feels to ride it.
You can make a connection between something you have seen or heard about, but never experienced before.

All these things are important for kids, Pookie’s group especially.
I like to go on these field trips because often they are just not possible unless the ratio of grownups to kids is about 3:1. I never want Pookie’s class to skip an experience because “they just can’t manage it.” I am a little bummed that I cannot go help Pookie’s class visit the Scholastic Book Fair at the school tomorrow. When they visit the Book Fair (held at the school) they are supposed to make a Wish List of books and then take it home to their parents, who might send in the money for the kids to buy them later in the week or on Parent’s Night. Geetle’s kindergarten class had 4 grownups to help them do this. Pookie’s group will need help too. But I cannot go tomorrow, and that makes me sad. But we will take Pookie on Parent’s Night and help him make a wish list. I hope they get enough other help so that his class’ visit to the Book Fair is productive.

On side note: because I have chaperoned 4 Special Ed field trips over Pookie;s career, I can tell you a few tips for making them successful:

For a safe and sucessful Special Education Field Trip:
1. use a 3:1 ratio of adults to kids.
2. make it short and powerful. No wandering around an entire museum. Just go to one special area and really soak it in.
3. build in some playtime
4. stick as close to school routines as possible
5. bring along some portable PECS cards with common commands
6. mandatory bathroom breaks are a must.
7. remember that the bus ride and lunch are just as “fun” as the other stuff.
8. expect a few sleepers on the bus
9. have an emergency plan for non-compliant kids (waiting on bus, quiet area at destination, way for one grown up to stay with the kid, but still be in contact with rest of group by cell phone)
10. small stuff is fun too. Just riding the train is fun!

We have lost someone very important to our family.

Someone who brought such warmth to our home.

Someone who could always be relied on. Someone who was always there when we needed him. Someone whose fire burned brightly.

Rest in Peace, Beagoodfurnace. Rest in Peace.

You will be missed.

I had it shipped “Site to Store” for free…which is a good thing, since it weighs 40+ pounds and would have cost about $25 to ship. We are hoping that he will use this Martial Arts Heavy Bag Fitness Set to practice his Kyuki-Do. When they get to class early, he always sneaks over to the corner and puts on the Master’s boxing gloves and punches the torso dummy a few times. Its a highlight of his class period. Plus, he does not use much force when he kicks/punches in the air and his aim is horrible. But if the teacher holds a pad in front of him, he will KIA! and smack it hard right on the target. Now he can practice at home.

So, one physical, combative toy and one…..

Thumb Piano from Magic Cabin.

That’s my boy.

Giggles is getting this little wooden toy car. The rabbit is a very bad driver and when it hits something, he pops out. The best part? He says “Watch Out! Oh Dear” with a British accent. Also available at Toys to Grow On.

Geetle is getting a pot holder loom. Its time she learned a trade. Hers is just a low end model, but if she likes it, I want to get her this one some day:
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Available at Amazon.com

Pookie is getting a very cool wooden marble game from Magic Cabin. He loves things like this and will do it over and over. Sure, its a stim. But it makes him happy.

BAGD is getting a Harlem Globetrotter’s Playing Experience…page 77 of the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. Either that or M-Velope Transformable Structure on page 73. I would get him the $1500 Karl Lagerfield Teddy Bear, but he hates “branded” items. He says if he is going to advertise for them, they should pay him to take the T-shirt home. I guess that would apply to Teddy Bears too??

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 the armistice ending WWI was signed between the Allies and Germany. Formerly known as Armistace Day, we now celebrate this as Veteran’s Day. Most European countries also celebrate some sort of day of rememberance on this date. At the time WWI was the war to end all wars, people thought we would never see another war like it. 20 million died. Since it became a holiday it has evolved into a remembrance for all military service.

Do you remember the VFW members who would come to your elementary school this time of year and sell little red tissue Poppies? Remember the school would send a note home and you’d come to school the next day with your $1 for a poppy? The VFW members would go from classroom to classroom selling poppies and might even stay for lunch, sitting 1 or 2 to a table, talking with you and your friends? Afterwards, you would put your poppy thru the zipper pull of your winter coat or leave them wrapped around your pencil for months.

Do they do that anymore?

I doubt it. School security is tight, for good reasons. The world has changed. Even then, us kids did not know why we bought the poppies, except that it had something to do with the old soldiers. We did not know that they were a symbol. A symbol of the end of a war and the world trying to get back to normal, finding peace in the fact that beautiful red poppies seemed to sprout on the battlefields of France and Belgium after the armistace, showing that the time for war was over.

Do they still sell the poppies? I did not see any this year. That’s a shame. I think with proper supervision and screening (which they need for all visitors), schools could still invite members of the VFW in to sell the poppies and have lunch. But, first they need to explain what Veteran’s Day means, what the poppies signify.

I very rarely waste a whole dollar, but I would have sent money in for Geetle and Pookie to by poppies. Its not a waste.

For instance, this is a dangerous reading on the clock:

Because, as she will yelp “Its almost to the 8 (pronounced “eeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!”)

I am considering getting her a teaching clock for Christmas. I found a few on Amazon. Ideally, I would like one that requires her to make the hands look like the reading on our grownup clock and then have a button she pushes which will read the time aloud. Also, something on the face of the clock which helps show how time passes. I haven’t found just the right one yet, but I will.

She is only 5 but she seems to NEED to know this right now. She stares at the clock and tries to make sense of it. I don’t know how to teach her.

She likes to put things in boxes and bags. This set looks sturdy and will someday help her learn colors. She is also going to go nuts over the lids. She is always trying to put the lid on her own cup or back on the milk. A good toy for a 1 year old at Christmas.

I have ordered somethings off of Etsy.com that I am really excited about.

All 3 kids are getting handmade Monster Plush Dolls from HappyCloud Thunderhead. I ordered Mr.Krumpy, Bajingo, and Fluffy. I am not sure who is getting which one, but they are all awesome.

Geetle and Pookie are getting custom Super Hero capes and masks from Baby Pop. Super Geetle to the Rescue! Call on Super Pookie!

Its not really part of a theme, but I also bought a Color your Own Super Hero doll from Serendipity Tree. I like this doll because I know Geetle will enjoy coloring an outfit on it. Then we can toss it in the washer with bleach and start all over again. Cool. Sort of a indie version of a Doodle Bear.

Finally, I ordered an I Spy Bag for the kids. This is a cool concept. Its a fleece pillow filled with plastic pellets and trinkets. You squish and squeeze it until you can see the trinkets in the vinyl window. On the back, there is a list of the trinkets to find. Lots of (quiet) fun. There are lots for sale on Etsy. I bought mine from The Crafting Corner because I like that her bags had an attached list of items on the back. I hate losing pieces of a toy and then having it be unusable. I like that this bag will not become separated from the list of trinkets.

I also got a few things from online cataloges. I am particularly excited about this item for Pookie:
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The boy loves Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. He will LOVE having a tree and letters to use when he sings the song. Its available at Constructive Playthings. I am considering whether he needs the Chicka Chicka 123 version as well…overkill? Probably.