i’m sharing the post i wrote on our home blog…it doesn’t seem right not to acknowledge our preschool celebration without these same thoughts…

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i’m not sure from which perspective to write this.

from mama of a graduating preschooler?

from teacher of 29 kids finishing a school year?

from coworker to two adults who made this year so fun and fulfilling?

from spouse who is turned toward home in a new way?

from director who actually made friends with preschool parents but has no schedule to see them now?

from mama who is recalling the years with the older two in preschool?

maybe from each perspective it is the same.  it is with bone deep memories that i offer this post.  for 12 years i have done my job with my own children wrapped in it.  jerry watches students who were my students make their ways in and out of his classroom at the high school.  every may i wander through my house a while trying to decide how i will spend my time.  i miss the energy of the classroom, i treasure the morning sun of my dining room.

my baby graduated.  i graduated.  we all graduated.

so, summer vacation is officially here.  part of my clean up is sorting through files of photos.  there are many, many projects and activities never shared here, so in the midst of picnics and summer fun, check back often.

WHY have we not done this before?

we hauled the outdoor fire place from home in and made fires for the last three days of school.

there was a bit of experimenting going on (or at least the kids watched the teachers play)…which things crackled the most, look how the paper looks after being burnt, etc.

there was a somewhat spontaneous, teacher guided game of “fireball” where kids took turns tossing a ball of paper into the fire. and yes, major instruction was given on never playing with fire alone, that this fire could catch the whole building on fire, that fire will burn you if you touch it, etc.  in fact, i’m surprised anyone had fun after our “serious” talk.

after the fire burned down a bit we roasted marshmallows.  mr. rob got sticks ready for us since the skewers i bought were a little too short (not sure what i was thinking!).

like father, like son:  max made his own marshmallow stick.

it was a wonderful way to end the school year.  gathered around one of the basic forces of creation, aware of its power, enjoying the heat, tempted to do more than we could, grateful for safety…all of life in one moment.

we’re super busy finishing up the year, tying up loose ends (literally…photos to come), putting final touches on our journals, choosing big art projects to take home, spending time in classroom wide dramatic play experiences (legos in the family corner, play doh at the project table, water at the puzzle corner…chaos!!!), finding little beads that have been sprinkled on the playground, eating up the left over raisins and applesauce…i imagine i’ll reflect on these last couple of weeks in a few days…until then, wish us well.

oh, we’re also making fake casts for all the fake broken arms that are flying through the school.

preschool mamas:  if you haven’t opened a brown lunch sack from your preschooler, go look in the backpack…and happy, happy mother’s day!

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here is this year’s version of mother’s day pins:

there seems to be a little more of a 3D effect than previous years. : )

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our previous years:

2009:

2008:

when i refer to “work time” this means what others call “free time” or “play time” or “center time.”  preschoolers have the room at their disposal to find something to do.  this little guy had several things going at once:

may day flower carrying, ball tossing and play-doh pizza serving (all while he came to the kitchen for a drink).

oh, this was delightful to observe.

families were invited to bring flowers and one of our activities was drawing them still-life style.

we saved the drawings to put in their journals.

flowers, flowers everywhere.