The Quiet Observer

So I had to wake Diddles from his nap yesterday to take him back up to dermatology. The P.A. we've been seeing was perplexed and so she had to bring in the M.D. who is fabulous at his speciality, but lacks a bit in the bedside manner arena. No matter.

He recommended a different lotion which is $15. The Eucerin we normally use on our dry skinned boys is "only" $10 for roughly the same amount. Anyhoo, they also gave us a script for yet another steriod cream which is supposedly stronger and greasier. We'll see...

While we were hanging in the room waiting for the doctor I noticed the P.A.'s diploma on the wall...she graduated from the same school as me, with the same degree, the year before I did. Made me feel slightly inadequate but perhaps she's looking at me with my two kids feeling the same things? I dunno. We chatted about professors and how they've changed the name of our major. Good times.

We left the doctor and had a few errands to run. The snow came while we were inside Babies R Us. We stopped by the Redbox for Wall-E on our way home and Easton watched that while Dalton bothered me as I made dinner.

At bedtime Dalton acted like he wanted Jason to rock with him before bed. Normally it's me that does it, but Jason does it plenty and obviously does it when I'm not here. Dalton is so cute because he likes to smooth out a "Cuddles" to lay on and tells you he wants it "nice". Then we snuggle, sing some songs, whatever, and before he's ready to fall asleep he either says, "Bed" or "I ready". Sooooo cute. Then we'll put him in his bed and that when the "Nigh nigh. I yuh you!" comes. I love that part of my day. And last night Dalton asked for Daddy by refusing to come to me waiting in the chair. Apparently he changed his mind however and cried and cried for awhile. However, I'd snuck out in the storm to go to the library before it closed. I drove all the way there with 15 minutes to spare till closing...only to find they were already closed!!! I was super bummed because I was rushing over to get the copy of Breaking Dawn (4th in the Twilight series) that was finally on hold for me. Argh! I came home and did nothing instead. Actually, I was on Facebook for a bit and then entertained myself by putting random words into the search feature on my blog and reading the old posts that came up.

This morning Easton and I had big plans...I sat in on his class today and observed. They warned me it was going to be a screwy day but with Jason already home with D I wasn't going anywhere. They all started with their works and it continues to amaze me how calm and organized the Montessori rooms are. I mean, it's a room full of 3 and 4 year olds but you'd never know it from the noise level. It's great. They did their works independently as all the kids arrived. Once they were there they sat for "line time" and took attendance and sang a good morning song and did the pledge of allegiance and such. Then at 8:30 they all lined up and went into the church to practice for their Christmas program. First they had to get in order of height and out of the 17 children at class today (2 were absent) Easton is smack dab in the middle height-wise. 8 kids on either side of him. That's fun. Sometimes I feel like he's short. Jason feels like he's tall (probably cause he's taller than Jason was). Then all the preschool kids in the other classes joined them and they praticed their songs and hand motions. I was really glad I got to see because I'm afraid for the program Easton will pull the same thing he did at church a few weeks ago. Oh well.

After practice it was back to the classroom where they had works and snacks and a special art project all going on simultaneously. The kids just know what to do. They know they take turns at the snack table and so every once in awhile you'll see a kid clean up after themselves and go back to doing work and another kid, having just cleaned up his work, will go get his snack stopping first to put on a smock and then wash hands. They pour their own juice, they serve themselves, they clean up after themselves. The teachers don't have to stand over them and coach the whole time. It's amazing to see them being so responsible.

Easton did a few works that were rather impressive. He was the only one doing the spindle box which is a mathy lesson. It introduces the concept of zero and seems easy enough but you have to do it right and even though the kids are 3 and 4, they're not all there yet. I saw Mrs. M giving a lesson on the "bead stair" to another kid and was surprised that the student found it challenging. At his conference in October Mrs. M told us that Easton was one of just a few in his class who could do it properly. And what is funny now is that Easton stacks his bread crusts like that anytime he has bread. I whispered that to Mrs. M today. She was amused.

It was nice watching some of the work the kids do, it was nice to see how Mrs. M is with the kids. You can tell which kids are more challenging for her. She is less patient with them. I was kinda surprised, to be honest. Luckily, Easton does not seem to be on her bad side at all. And I don't think it was just because I was there because she still had to correct him a few times, "Stay in line, Easton" or "Did you forget something?" when he didn't put his rug he was working at away.

The kids worked on art projects for the parents. They had a choice of a wreath, snowman, or mitten. When it was Easton's turn he said, "My dad likes to make snowmen with me" so that's what he chose. I haven't seen it yet, though.

About a half an hour before school was over Mrs. M turned on her music box and the kids know this means to put their work away and clean up their spots and go sit on the circle rug. Again, that was majorly impressive to me. They just know what is expected of them and they do it. While in their circle time Mrs. M led them in a few songs. They each got a few jingle bells to play. Then she turned on a CD and they danced to a couple of songs that had instructions in the lyrics "move like a spider" "wiggle one foot"...that sort of thing. That is when they get to let loose and be normal, silly, 3 and 4 year olds. I got the impression they did the dancing instead of going out onto the snowy playground today. Soon it was time for pick up and Easton got dismissed first. I was so glad to be a quiet observer today!

After school some of the mom's converged and discussed a group gift for Mrs. M for a Christmas gift. Eek! I hadn't thought about that one yet. And then the room mom told us about the upcoming Christmas party for the class. Easton and some of the other kids played nearby in the snow while we talked. Easton was the only one laying down in the snow, though. What a goob. He's in jeans and a sweater...not waterproof and we had to stop by the 'brary so I could get my book finally! Oh well. We got home to Jason and Diddles and J decided he needed to go into work rather than working from home the rest of the day so that's what he did.

Easton had a couple discipline issues when we got home and I hear Dalton had put himself in a time out earlier this morning after Jason told him no and that he was being naughty. I think it's the snow. It makes them extra rascally. :)

I need to start dinner in the Crock Pot and then Easton and I will be watching a movie. Well, I'll probably sit next to him and start my book, honestly. Sorry for no pictures today. Maybe next time.