Beautiful Moments at School

When J. started to cry and admitted it was mainly because he was worried about his Orange TicTacs he had lost while playing 'stuck in the mud'...

When B. called out to tell me everyone was ready to read and to remind me to bring my glasses...

Sitting in school meeting with A. on my lap and B. and E. snuggling in on either side...

L.'s enthusiasm in the Conflict Resolution session...

I.'s complete attention when reading Half a Million Horses out-loud for the Tuesday afternoon community session...

B. getting a little bit scared and asking if it is time to read The Giant's Necklace yet?...


Max's intelligent and insightful comments and analysis of the current conflicts...

The Vulture.

For as long as I remember Dad has recited a rhyme to us kids. It goes something like this:

The Vulture.
The Vulture eats between it's meals
And that's the reason why.
He very rarely ever feels
As well as you or I...

It goes on, but this is the part I remember the best and it's what I think of every time someone says the word Vulture. Just today I thought of it.  A mother of one of the Kids I teach said to me her child was sure my name is Jesse Vulture, "it looks sort of like an eagle". Despite her mother's diligence in persuasion she remains adamant that is my name, she even states that Maris told her it was and as you know "Maris is always right". Her Mum tried to put a positive spin on it and couldn't find one, but I'm cool with it. In fact I think it's a little bit of awesome.


P.S: Coolest looking vulture don't you think?

Two for the Price of One: Mother's Day and Dad's Birthday.

Dad's Birthday feel on Mother's Day this year, it was a lovely day of delicious food (venison roast; warm pumpkin, and feta salad with beetroot jam; pear, rocket, and blue cheese salad; and three milk cake with the thickest cream on earth for desert). 

The last time this happened, we were very young, digital cameras were the family's new toy, it was one of those nights which I will always remember which was full of unabashed fun!

These were the results:

Nathan, Alec and Me

 Alec, Simone and Nathan

Samuel 

 Robert

 Lucy

 Alec

 Nathan

 Nathan, Alec and Me

 Monica, Simone, Nathan, Me,  and Alec

 Nathan and Alec

 Nathan, Tom, Alec and Me

Nathan and Me

 Nathan, Alec, Me and possibly Simone's hands?

 Alec

 Nathan, Monica, Simone, Me, Alec and Peet

 Monica, Me, Simone, Alec and Nathan

 Monica, Samuel, Nathan, Me, Simone, Alec, Peet and Louisa

 Peet, Alec, Nathan, Daniel, Monica, Me and Simone

 Monica, Me, Simone, Peet, Alec and Nathan

 Alec and Peet

 Monica, Nathan, Me and Peet

 Simone

Simone

But do you know the best thing about having Mother's Day and Dad's birthday on the same day? They both validated helping with dinner as it was the other's day. We should do this every year!