toys!!!!

Yesterday Senor Onion had a field trip to the Fire station. Always a good time. The kids had made brownies to bring to the firemen and from what I heard, the kids got to see a fire truck and an ambulance go out to help someone. Lights! Noise! Guys putting on equipment and all that thrilling stuff! Senor Onion told me all about the things he saw on the truck (they even got to see inside) and his eye was drawn toward all the electrical/computing stuff. His mind was blown by the fact that they had a computer onboard the engine and there things that hooked up to the truck that were related to electronics.
One of the other things the kids did was bring toys for the toys for tots program. It is one of those good first experiences with service projects that kids might begin to understand, along with a good conversation about giving, and getting their heads around the idea that some people just don't have much. I remember doing something like this with my Mom when I was little. It was kind of funny when talking about it with him. His first concern after learning that some kids might not get Christmas presents is, "What about a tree? Will someone be able to get them a tree???" I assured him that a number of people end up being able to get a tree. He had many questions about why someone might not be able to get presents. Once that was explained, Senor Onion announced he wanted to get some toys for some kids.(he decided there needed to be one for a brother and one for a sister)
I let him have free reign over picking things out in the toy area. He found a Pixar Cars toy. (Lightning McQueen's eyes change!!!) Then he found a Polly Pocket set (that came in a case so it was easy to carry/store all the clothes and accessories) which I thought was pretty nice.
We brought the toys to school and as we were putting it in the bag to bring, one of the parents from the class said to me, "Yeah. I wanted to apologize/warn you about the present that my son gave Senor Onion for his birthday." The toy in question is a construction vehicle that has buttons you can push that make a great deal of noise. Toys that make noise are kind of a bug-a-boo of mine but you know, a present is a present. Plus as Mr. Jenner likes to tell the kids, "yeah batteries on these toys run out kind of fast." Gosh.Darn. The parent told me that her son found the toy and was really really keen to give it to Senor Onion and she said it was a case of not wanting to intrude because her son did pick it out and put thought into it. I completely respect that. But I did laugh that she wanted to offer an apology for the toy. (she is kind of on the same page about the ear-splitting noisy toys) I promised her I wouldn't engage in revenge when it was her son's birthday.

tales of cheese sticks and poster paint

Another day of volunteering in the class. There was a little girl today that was visiting and seeing if she liked the class. Senor Onion went right up to her and introduced himself and held out his hand and shook hers. It was love at first sight for the both of them. I really hope her Mom decides to put her in the class because she had a great time and Senor Onion adored her. He brought her over to the sandbox where they played for a good long while. Then he built towers with her and then showed her the library area. The teacher was smart enough to have the girl sit next next to Senor Onion at snack time. They were both having a wonderful time. She kept asking him to come home with her. She said to her Mum, "I promise to take care of him. Can't he come with us in our car?" (like he was a stray puppy haha) Poor girl threw a tantrum over Senor Onion not coming with her and ran off and threw herself in the grass.
That's right. Senor Onion causes women to throw tantrums over the loss of him.
Poor little girl's Mom.

It is interesting to observe some of his interactions with his friends. With the boys it is rough-housing and constant arguments over who is to be the bad guy and good guy and which super-hero. When he plays with the girls he becomes a care-giver. (offering to make them tea and help them find things they need for their play-house) One day the two youngest girls in the class (Belle and Lulu) were trying to wander off and he got up and gathered them and said, "Come on girls, time for circle time." and then proceeded to herd them back to the rug. His teacher says he is kind of a mentor to the youngest girls, since they are barely three and he is a big five. (dontchyaknow because OMG he tells everyone in the western hemisphere he is five. FIVE.. Just in case you forgot somehow.) I suppose it bodes well that he is incredibly kind to all the women of the world. Be it babies, fully grown ladies and everyone in between.

I was working with another parent (who is a fireman and hosted the kids yesterday at their field trip) and he wowed the kids with his tale of a major fire that he had to fight last night. It was in a neighborhood they don't normally cover but it was one of those fires where they bring everyone in and when they were on the freeway heading toward Wallingford they could see the giant plume of smoke. The kids were thoroughly pleased to hear that the firemen had eaten up all the brownies they brought and had all the energy in the world to fight a big fire.
So there you are. Bring brownies to the firemen.

I am worn out. Chasing after 11 young children (even with a few other adults helping) is exhausting.
Time to relax by baking a million cookies.