Comings and Goings in February..Sunbeams, Grandkids, Birthdays, Arnold Friberg

It's almost the middle of February and the days never seem to slow down.  

I teach the Sunbeams in Primary. 

 Last year's class was a mix of two boys and three quiet little girls. 

 This year there are six little boys.  Such cute little boys, but full of it as all boys that age are!

I am constantly trying to think of new and creative ways to get their attention.

  Am so grateful for the internet and all the great ideas people are willing to share. 

I am also grateful for a team teacher who helps as we try to teach these little boys.

This last week the lesson was how Heavenly Father and Jesus love us. 

 What could be a more perfect lesson the week before valentines?  

I based a lot of the lesson on the song "My Heavenly Father loves Me." 

 They went on a hunt trying to find the pictures that went along and then they were able to put them in their heart envelope. 

 Hopefully they will remember they are loved.

Days are never dull when spent with Jake, Sam and Dylan. 

They keep me moving!

I love getting up to see Whitney and Wren for a little shopping at City Creek.  

We celebrated Melanie's birthday last week with Whitney's coming up!

Am missing this family, and hoping the snow stops back east soon.  

Otherwise we may not see them this summer as they will be in school til August with all the snow days they've taken. 

 Hopefully

 "The Sun will Come out Tomorrow!"

The perks of retirement!  At 3:00 pm today,

 Jim came downstairs and said "lets go see the Arnold Friberg exhibit!" 

 We jumped in the car and went to Gateway and totally enjoyed his beautiful paintings. 

 He painted in watercolor, oils, pencil sketches..everything.  There were paintings of his I had never seen before.  Loved to see the ones he did as young as seven!

  I loved reading the history behind his work.  

What a gifted artist.  

So there's our mid winter wrap up!  Have a Happy Week.

Who is in Charge???

Last Friday I brought Dylan home for a little late night fun with us. 

 It was the start of a busy weekend. 

He played with Gramps, watched a little TV and then crawled into our big bed with me,

 (which he loves...the pillows and feather comforter are soooo soft.) 

 There he listened to a few lullabies and drifted off to sleep. 

 It was pretty much the only idylic part of the last few days.

 

Usually even the most organized and best laid plans don't go without something happening to mess it up just a bit.  Take my post from Saturday night about my Sunbeam class. 

Of course as plans and lessons are laid out it is always with the best intentions, until you are faced with a group of three year olds. 

 (you'd think I'd know this, since this is the average age of who I deal with 90 percent of my life.)

I had a well planned lesson. 

Beautiful valentine cookies on a stick,

 a valentine card for each child. 

 Stories, a game that went along with the lesson. 

 Music, snacks for when they get hungry, 

 their own little cup for a sip of water, a flannel board story where they helped.

 

 That's where the organization ended.

 

At 1:40 when our primary started

the chaos began. 

 It is the afternoon so these little ones start out a little droopy anyway,

 by the time they get to class half are saying "I'm tired"

(That is if they can even talk!) 

One child tried to escape out the window,

another little boy just wanted to eat the whole class time. 

 He was not interested in anything except when he would get fed next. 

another layed down on the floor

another is eating his shirt

(not the one who is hungry) 

 

My class is broken up into a number of increments to keep their attention. 

 I'll need to double those increments in the future.

 (And practice doing cartwheels and standing on my head to keep their attention.)

 

 To top everything off my contact was screwy and I couldn't see anything,

so my picture story with the storylines on the back of the pictures was totally made up,

 because I couldn't see it, 

 (I had read it a number of times, so I had the jist of the story). 

 

 The title of the Lesson was "My Heavenly Father and Jesus love me." 

 Each part of the lesson reiterated this.  I had them repeat it back to me, so if they remembered nothing else from the lesson they would remember that. 

 When I asked one little boy what the lesson was about,

 he said,

"cookies."

 (Which little boy do you think said that?)  

 I had given him about three tiny oreos and as I gave them to him I said

"who loves you?" answer: Heavenly Father and Jesus.

 Then they got a cookie. 

 

 One fell asleep in my arms during sharing time and another was just about there as she snuggled  close. 

 Hopefully they know I love them and will feel loved and secure when they come to primary.

On to other adventures! 

Yesterday Dylan was shown who the boss was by Sam. 

 Sam is usually sweet and good to Dylan, but he was having an off day yesterday and making sure that Dylan knew who was in charge

 (and it wasn't me). 

Today we had Dylan and Wren over here. 

I guess Dylan, being the older, bigger child was going to show Wren a few things. 

 He did play pretty well with her, showing her his socks,

but explaining to her who is in charge

of all the toys.

..and it isn't Wren. 

I've decided no matter what we grown ups do,

 the kids are really running the show.

Jesus Loves the Sunbeams

 

The lesson this week for my Sunbeams is, "Heavenly Father and Jesus love me."

 

Of course They do!  This is a perfect lesson for this week as Valentine's Day is coming up.  So each child will get a valentine card  like the one above, and then they will be sent home with a valentine cookie on a stick and a special valentine for their mom and dad.  Here is an example.  (Abby don't look)

 

 

 

The kids love using the old fashioned flannel board.  They love to put the  pieces on the board as I tell the story.  I sit on a little chair right down on their level and put the flannel board on the floor.  That way they can put the pieces on easily.  They like the same story told several times and I think this is a good idea because it helps them remember the most important part of the lesson. 

 

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam!

I have been in the Primary Presidency for the past few years.  We were released a few weeks ago and I was put in as the Sunbeam teacher.  I am so excited to be in with these little ones. 

They are a bit nervous as it is their first experience being in a class. 

 Our church is at 12:30, many of these children are tired by the time they come to primary, so that can be a little challenging. 

 I am so grateful to all of those women who have blogs and helps online. 

 There are so many teaching aids to help with lessons, handouts etc. 

 The thing that I find most helpful in teaching the Sunbeams is having time increments

Basically an extension of the nursery, without as much playtime

Easing them into more lesson time each week. 

 Lesson time, craft time, snacktime, playtime, storytime.

 I feel that if they leave with just a small idea of what the lesson is about I've reached my goal. 

 I try not to cram too much in, just focus on the main idea of the lesson. 

 

Today our lesson is teaching that Jesus is Heavenly Father's Son. 

We will talk about how they have father's and how much their dad's love them.  We will walk around in dad's shoes for awhile

I will let them tell me what they do with their dad's. 

They will put flannel board cutouts up while I tell them how Jesus was born

how when He

was twelve his parents couldn't find him. 

Oh my, what would your parents do if they couldn't find you?!!!

We will sing Away in a Manger and Once there was a Baby to the tune of Once there was a snowman. 

 Keeping everything simple.

  I am surrounded by little ones through the week, and this just seems like the natural place for me to be!