Keiki Field Trip: The Bus.

Today we had (at the preschool we call it) an in-house field trip. Usually our in-house field trip means that we stay in the school, however this time we didn't really stay in the school, we went on the City Bus! We didn't really need any parent participation. We we out to the front of the school and then "Aunty" told us all about what the bus is about and all about the safety, etiquette, and rules about being on the bus, how to get on the bus, and how to act like on the bus. 

Then we all got on the bus and we were able to take a short ride around Kailua! It was a lot of fun. I love how it was such a simple thing...riding the city bus...but the kids loved it! All they had to pay was a penny! And that was because we wanted them to know what it was like to put money in the ticket box, and then say, "Transfer, please!"...it was super cute to watch! I loved this in-house field trip! It was super fun for the kids and it reminded me that the simple things in life can mean so much to a child who is experiencing something that they don't normally wouldn't, like a ride on the city bus!

On a side not, I was SUPER proud of all my keikis! I am currently potty training some of my little keikis (more than half of my 16 children!) and I have to admit that I was worried that one of mine would need the bathroom at the most inconvenient time! But we all made it with no accidents. And so yes, that makes me one proud teacher! :)

Firefighters to the Rescue!

Today the firefighters came to our school to show us their trucks and tells us about what they do. They also told us about fire safety and how to stay safe in general. I always get nervous whenever there is a field trip--in-house field trip or out of school field trip. Although I adore this age, early 2 year olds, it's still very nerve-wrecking when I have to take my little darlings out of the "safe zone" of the school campus, because 2 year olds, as we all know, can be very, very unpredictable. I believe that "my" keikis are very well behave, and today they proved to me that my beliefs were true. :) I am so proud of them. Not only did my darlings sit through the whole demonstration, but they listened to me while we went around the trucks and explored the different sections that the firefighters were showing us.

I liked how he put on their fire uniforms on...and then while his mask was on, he encouraged the children to give him a high-five to show them that even though they have a mask, and they might sound a bit scary, they are safe. I liked how he did that just in-case something happens and they have to go into a burning building to get a child and their masks might make them look scary...the children know not to run away from them to be know that they are a safe person to run to.

It was SUPER cute because the children were super fascinated with the huge wheel cap of the tire! They could see their reflection in it and they were loving it!

I love the 2 year old age. I love how they are so curious, how they enjoy learning something new. For the most part, at least my 2 year olds, this was their first time being this close to a firetruck...and it was so fun to watch their appreciation for the firefighters grow. I have a little boy in my class telling me that he wants to be a firefighter when he grows up...and I know that if he puts his mind to it, he will! It was pretty cool because my assistant actually knew the Fire Chief and so after the other classes left, we stayed a bit longer and interacted more with the firefighters, shot the hose, stand in the truck, and even hear the siren...it was a magical moment for my darlings, and I have to say, that I am so proud of them. They are, after all, my darlings. :)

Pumpkin Patch

Today our school had it's annual visit to the Waimanalo Pumpkin Patch! I was worried that it was going to rain, and either we were going to have to cancel it, or we would still go and it would be crazy muddy. Last year we went, and it was crazy muddy. This year was a perfect day to go! We went in the morning and so it wasn't too hot and it was a lovely day.

You had to see it in person, but I love how the pumpkin patch has a view of the ocean on one side and the view of the mountains on the other side! Since I've been to pumpkin patches on the mainland, nothing compares to that...but I love how we can at least have something like this...and it's perfect. The farm is owned by a lovely Christian family who enjoys opening their farm to the public...and they are one of the most down to earth, super nice people that you can ever meet! Super nice!

They had a sunflower maze for the children! I love it! I love being near all those flowers and watching the bees flit from this flower to that...and since this field trip was a parent participation field trip, the parents had to come. My sister brought my niece (who also goes to my school) and her little brother, so because I love them, I told my sister that she could just stay in the shade and enjoy some "me time" while I took her kids around. Some of my other kids decided to come hang out with me...so I was able to bond with their parents more and have a fun time! I let the children lead me around the maze...it was a lot of fun!

I just LOVE how the sunflowers looked against the mountains and the beautiful cloud formations! Like I said, it was a beautiful day!

Here is my lil Kaiboy enjoying himself. It was so hard to take a picture of him because he was wanting to run all over the place! I'm so glad that he isn't allergic to sunflower seeds because he was sticking his nose in the flowers and trying to smell them! I would say that he was having a lot of fun too! :)

One of my favorite reasons to come here is for their ono lemonade! They grow their own lemons and make fresh lemonade everyday! And it is one of the best on the island! My favorite flavor is Li Hing Mui lemonade! So ono! My sister liked the pineapple lemonade and the mango lemonade. Both were yummy too! :)

It's very rare that my Kaiboy will ride in his carrier...but for some reason after walking around, he wanted my sister to carry him in his carrier...and she she put him in, he just kept laughing and laughing! :) Then he wanted to get down and walk around again...which we did. :)

Here is a better view where you can see the ocean in the background. They set aside days where it's school days so that school can enjoy the pumpkin patch without the hoards of public people that love to come here. When it's school days, they do close a lot of the entertainment for whatever reason. We are always welcomed to come back during the weekend to partake in all the games, but for safety sake, since not all schools do the parent participation, they close the games. They have pumpkin shooting games, and launch the pumpkin, and other fun games. You can also ride on some of the animals that they have. :) This picture shows the area where a lot of the games are, so for right now it looks bare. :)

Can't have a pumpkin patch without any pumpkins! :)

Here are some of the animals that they had in their petting zoo area. They had a lot! They had a lot of different kinds of chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, cows, donkeys, llamas, roosters, turtles, dogs, and turkeys, to name a few!

Here is Kaiboy looking at the baby chicks! Which he loved!

A big turkey!

....and my favorite! Turtles and tortoises! I so want one! :)

It was a very good day today...I know that the kids liked it, and I could see the parents liking it too. I like events like this, where parents could meet each other and arrange play dates for the kids and just get to know each other. I feel as if a school isn't only for the kids, but also for the parents too, to get to know each other and to make friends. :)

Field Trip to the Fire Station

My first love: Music.

It was a pretty eventful day here in my lil town of Kailua. More specifically at my preschool. But I love it. I can know for sure that there will definitely never be a dull day working as a preschool teacher! Today the cops came to my school. No, no one was getting arrested! They came to talk to the children about safety and to talk about what it means to be a police officer!

The kids had a blast! The officer and chief that came were both very good with children and they were at ease with all the questions and curiosity that the children showed. They kids were able to sit in the car, hold some of the tools that were on the officers tool belt (of course NOT the gun!), and even go inside the car! The last thing was the siren. The kids absolutely loved that! I love how they came down to talk to the children; to show them that police officers are friends and that its okay to talk to them.

When I got home, I just wanted to start my evening in a relaxing state so I started playing the piano when I got to itching to buy some new music from here. That is a very handy site for getting specific music that you would want. I bought four different songs (two with the same name!). Well, just writing about it makes me want to play the piano ago! So for now, enjoy the music I have added! :) And I will go and relax and enjoy playing my keyboard! :)

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip!

Oh my days! I had such an amazing day! If I didn't have to work my wedding/event job this weekend...I would SO bring DollGirl over to the Waimanalo Pumpkin Patch. As it is, I have already ask my sister if I can bring her there when I am free in a few weeks. I would LOVE LOVE her to go there and experience the farm! It was amazing! It was fun! It was so memorable! I simply, absolutely, adore, loved this day!

So, we all met at the school at 7:00am and then we left around 8:30am. I like how with this school, we encourage the parents to come and spend time with their children, so a lot of the parents went and so we actually didn't have to do anything...but I did pick a few parents and families to hang out with and just spend time with. Since we encouraged the families to come a lot of the families are younger and so they had babies with them and so I helped those with babies...and I had a lot of fun. I am not going to compare the pumpkin patch to the mainland (which I heard a lot of parents doing) because you can not compare the two places...but I do have to say that a place and event has a lot to do with the people that go and the company you keep.

I wish that I took more pictures, but I was having to much fun with the kids to take out my phone to take a picture. Hopefully, I can grab some from the parents or something. I was glad that it was not as hot as I have heard that it could get. There was an overcast, so that was good...because I thought that it was hot, but then I heard that it was a lot cooler.

One surprise that I had was when I got there, my former preschool kiekis where there! I was with my kids and when I am surrounded by yellow shirts (the color shirts that my former school uses on field trips) and I hear "Aunty! Aunty! Aunty! I am here too! Aunty!" It was so amazing to see them! I saw Jackie and former parents of mine and I was so happy to see them and it felt so good to my heart to see my former keiki enjoying themselves and I'm so glad that I had a few moments with them to experience this amazing day with them.

Hopefully, I'l be able to get to take my DollGirl to take more pictures of the place. I heard that it was just a family, a Christian family that lives in Waimanalo that just takes the time to open up their farm to the community to enjoy for the fall season. They provide a lot of games, hayrides, a petting zoo, a cow train, corn maze, lemon trees...and just acres and acres of land to explore. A VERY nice and fun family. I had the opportunity to meet the farmer...and he is a VERY humble, amazing, wonderful person. His family is super nice and very hospitable...just a very, very nice family.

Right before we left, Karlie told me that I just HAD to try their fresh, extremely fresh lemonade with li hing powder..oh my, I have NOT had this amazing lemonade before...it was pretty spectacular! And I am so glad that they sell it at the farmers market because it is an amazing cool drink to have! Definitely on my eternal craving list along with Chinese food, Thai Victory Monument noodles, and gummy bears.

It was an amazing day...I am so happy that I have this day in my memory. I loved it. :)

Five Little Pumpkins

I am not quite sure who wrote the poem Five Little Pumpkins...but since we will be going to pumpkin patch this coming up Thursday, I thought it best to get the children thinking "pumpkins" and so I am in the process of teaching them this cute little finger play poem...and had them to a craft to go with it! The poem goes like this....

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate,

The first one said, "Oh my, it's getting late!"

The second one said, "There are witches in the air!"

The third one said, "But I don't care!"

The fourth one said, "Lets run and run and run!"

The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun!"

OoOoO went the wind and OUT went the lights

And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

For craft time, I let the little ones make their own interpretation of the 5 little pumpkins on the gate. I am hoping to get their fine motor skills strengthen by allowing them to glow the pieces on themselves. Also, I let them glue and place the pieces wherever they wanted.

They had fun, and they actually were pretty good with the glueing! I only had to remind them a few times that they don't need to put too much glue...and they caught on pretty fast. :)

Overall, I am super proud of their work...and they are getting pretty excited about the Pumpkin Patch this coming up Thursday, and I have to admit...I'm pretty excited too! :)