Eldo and Sparky at School

Elkhart, IN    High:  49     Low:  36       Br-r-r-r-r-r!

Yesterday we went to the grandsons' elementary schools for Grandparents' Day. It's with always mixed emotions when Sparky and Eldo head back to school. We look at it from two different viewpoints. Eldy thinks back about his school experiences as a student, Sparky thinks about her experiences as a teacher when walking into a school. Sparky gets excited to be back in a school, Eldo, not so much so.  :-)  But the grandkids are always glad to see us.

Connor and Papa

Because there's always a student who has no grandparents there and feels badly,  and Connor and Trevor have two of us there when we show up, Sparky always goes to the underdog to help out...the one kid that looks really sad or is even crying because they don't have anybody there on this special day. And there were at least two or three in both the boys' classes today, so Sparky became a "foster" grandma for a little while today. Trevor and Connor didn't mind...Eldy hadn't seen some of the new technology in the classrooms, like this electronic, interactive whiteboard which now takes the place of chalkboards in the classroom. Sparky really enjoyed this piece of technology in the last couple of years that whiteboards came into use towards the end of her teaching career.

The classrooms were packed! Sparky was shocked at that, because parent/grandparent attendance at school functions where she used to work over the years was often poor. LOTS of grandparents in both classrooms today!

We went to Trevor's Grandparents' Day first...Trevor had a hard time putting his Pokemon book down during a lull in the craft activity. Papa is a little peeved....Trevor's teacher reminded him that he doesn't get to see his Papa every day!

Trevor became a little more involved with Papa at that point.....

Trevor's class did a little song about vowels and there was a little disagreement over who was going to start it off....But they got the job done!

Everybody did a little craft activity and had to write a little something about their grandparents. The boys did a great job. And of course, we had to go visit the school Book Fair, which involves a struggle between buying a book that the kids can read versus one they are going to look at the pages and pictures for about five minutes, and then get bored with it. Buy Pokemon Strategies Game book or an age/skill appropriate reader? Sometimes we end up getting one of each! Last year Sparky endured scathing looks from a VERY disappointed Trevor after picking what SHE thought a young boy ought to be reading! After we completed our "homework" for the day, Sparky and Eldo headed over to Elkhart to meet Eldy's friend of 49 years, Mike.

Mike and his wife Barb, shocked the heck out of Eldy with a surprise visitor to their house, another old school chum of almost as many years, Paul and his wife, Sheila. Somehow Sparky missed getting a shot of the couple together, but we all had a wonderful time and amused ourselves in different ways...How many guys does it take to find out the Jimtown's high school football game score?

While the gals played a good old fashioned game of floor checkers....

We had a great time at school today and we had a wonderful time with old friends this evening....As we get older, we appreciate our friends so much more as we are all mindful of how lucky we are to still be here and to be able to share the wonderful connections, memories, and presence of good friends. We treasure these times very much......

GRANDMA Sparky?

That's not news to my girls, Kelly and Kerry...They don't have children yet, but they know I'm a step-grandma to Cate, Connor, and Trevor. Today was Grandparents Day at Trevor and Connor's elementary schools. Luckily one celebration was in the morning, and one was in the afternoon, so we made it to both.

Eldo has been "Papa" ever since they have born. I'm  a new addition to the family and the kids haven't quite decided what to call me. I answer to just about anything. They just call me "Jeannie", and I think that's great! (Eldy's wife passed away five years ago.) The kids have welcomed me with open arms and I'm really glad to be in their lives. They are all delightful kids and well behaved. Anything that gets me back into an elementary school where I spent so many years of my career is a treat for me, so when Eldy mentioned Grandparents Day, he knew I'd be right there with him. There wasn't any way I'd miss that!

First, Trevor's class.....play a little word game, get introduced to Trevor's "girlfriends"....hit the book fair with Trevor, pick out a book that will help Trevor learn to read more but seemed to disappoint him because it wasn't the thick unreadable book he wanted. Sparky had to get back into his favor by promising him a trip to a MAJOR bookstore to get a Lego sticker book.

I think Eldy had almost as much fun as Trevor did at school today.....

On to Connor's school....Connor was outside at recess when we arrived at the parking lot. He saw us coming up the sidewalk and was jumping up and down at the kindergarten fence, yelling, "HI, PAPA! Hi, Jeannie!" We were later entertained by a great display of singing and nursery rhyme mastery and Sparky's favorite part of the school day--snacks! It was hilarious to see how much energy some of the little boys had and their antics while performing had the grandparents in stitches. This little guy was to the far right of the group, and he just carried on without a clue what the other kids were doing. They were all facing towards the teacher on the opposite side of the room, but not him! But you had to give him credit for trying....He had lots of enthusiasm!

Connor's teacher explained the latest teaching techniques that she uses in her kindergarten curriculum and it was great to hear the variety of methods being used to teach the class. Here's "Papa" and Connor....

Papa looks a little apprehensive, don't you think?

We had lots of fun at school today...Well, Sparky did anyway...That's her element--a room full of squiggly, wiggly cute little kids with funny things to say and expressive faces that are so honest and endearing, it makes her want to get back into the classroom! (Too soon! Too soon! We've just begun our travels! laments E.) Don't worry, honey....It was a fleeting feeling...But I would like to sub some time, or volunteer or tutor...and I'm sure some day I will be able to do that. For now, there's too much we still need to see and do......Until tomorrow......Sparky and Eldo