New Favorites

These little guys are the "new favorites" on the playground at school. Sure, they may be determined to destroy a few of the trees, but who cares when it means that there are thousands of bugs for little ones to catch crawling all over everything? My kids chase these and catch them with the seriousness, and narration style, of the Crocodile Hunter. I laugh when a few of them then scream because they actually caught one (like it moves that fast?). I rescued this one from the "love" of a preschooler and returned him to higher ground after photographing him. You can't save them all...
The Farmer's Market is not a "NEW" favorite, but a returning favorite that is finally open again after closing for winter in November. Fresh fruit, vegetables, local honey, fresh cheeses, homemade bread, spices and teas, flowers, etc. It is just fun to walk around and see all of the bright colors, all of the things that are fresh and crisp, all of the plants, and all of the different things being sold.






Bubbles are a "New favorite" with scented bubbles, catchable bubbles, and a new bubble-blowing machine making their way into our classroom in the past few weeks. With nicer weather, we are sneaking out the playground a little earlier (which preserves whatever passes for my sanity anymore) and these often come along. We have a few rules though - teachers blow the bubbles (we had a few to many fights over the bubbles - and a few too many notes home explaining scratches, bruises, and pissed off kids) and only teacher's touch the bubble machine (you know, I like to send kids home with the same number of fingers they came with. I am odd that way). Also, you can not pop a bubble on a friend. Trust me, it will not be appreciated. Finally, the last rule is that you MUST have fun! :) Even mean dictators of preschool classrooms have weaknesses and mine include bubbles.