F is for FINAL Field Trip

Well, final field trip of this school year that is. If there was an award for "Best Field Trip Location Ever", it would be Crystal Springs Preserve. There are many reasons why. Here are some:

1. It is cheap. (free!)
2. It is very close. (5 minutes away!)
3. It is always run by very nice, knowledgeable, great-with-kids people.
4. The kids LOVE it.
5. It is BEEE-YOOO-TIFUL. (More on this coming.)
6. It goes right along with what we are learning in class. (Animals)
7. It is cheap. (did I already mention that?)

What more can a teacher ask for? Not much as far as field trips go.

The very nice, knowledgeable, great-with-kids ladies split us into three groups. My class went inside first.

We learned about reptiles and even got to see some up close.

I took picture of live snakes too, but I prefer my snakes pickled and in jars. The live ones give me the heebie-jeebies. I blame it on my brother.

Copyright Mr. TV Photography

My favorite was Tebow the Gator. Only because he was being securely held. He splashed us when he was taken out of his tank and got my camera wet. I'll let him get away with it because of his name...

After he was put away, Tebow kept his eye on us. We were informed that when he is too big for the tank, he will be taken to the alligator farm and replaced with a newer, younger, version. I wonder what the next one will be named. (I wonder if there was ever a Wuerffel...)

We were very interested in Slim.

This is a summary of Slim's life: Slim was hungry. Crazy people fed him. He ate a family dog. He was punished and now hangs on a wall.

We had lots of questions for one of the nice, knowledgeable, great-with-kids ladies. She was very patient and answered the questions quite well. Ms. Giggles wanted to know the fate of all the animals that lined the walls..."Did all the animals get runned over by a car or something? Cause they're all flat." I don't recall the answer because I was too busy laughing.

So the second adventure was going on a hike around the springs. Mr. T.V. loved this part. He said it was BEEE-YOOOOO-TIFUL. And it was. We were asked what kind of "domestic" animals we might see. Mr. TV's answer was...TIGERS! I'm sure his first grade teacher taught him that...

Mr. TV got to use my new ladybug magnifying glass. It was renamed "magniflier" because of it being a ladybug and all. He held it up to me and said, "MS. BUCKLER! YOU HAVE A HUGE...A HUGE...PONYTAIL." Yes, I thought it would be much worse than that. The best part was that he had to stop and INVESTIGATE! everything. And I mean stop. A dead stop. As I was walking. My shoulder hurts from all the times he stopped. Did I mention he held my hand for almost the ENTIRE time?

Notice the tight hand grasp. That was him. Not me.









Here is a random Preggo Lady picture:

Here is a random fellow Longoria Lovers picture:

Here is a random Leopard Toad picture. He is sitting close to one of the spring vents. (I think that's what it was called, I was busy getting my arm ripped off...):

My fellow team mate (and one of my "goodest friends") did not have a fudge pop, but seemed to be enjoying herself.

We learned about cypress trees and how tall they can grow. We also learned about cypress knees. Mr. TV carefully guided me around these so I would not fall and be unable to complete the hike.

We saw some wild animals on the hike, too:

This snail was happily attached to the rail. Before we got to him that is. We left him on top of the rail.

At least he didn't fall in the water. Mr. TV named him "Brownie".

Cute Sandhill Crane family. We were so very quiet so that they could pass by.

Scariest wild animal of all. Oh wait. That's just my sister. Nevermind.

The last rotation was learning about watersheds. It was really fun.

Braids was stressed that we had to answer a "TEN POINT QUESTION"..."But we haven't even learned about them yet!" She's concerned like that. I love her.

We got to make our own watersheds (according to directions) and name our town. It was an....interesting creation.

It had the "World's Largest Animals". Please notice the combination of animals. Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my!

It ended up with a crazy amount of bridges so we named it Bridgington (aka Bridge Town).

If I had a choice, I would go on this field trip every single time. No wonder they fill up a year in advance! Guess what Labs. I'm going to find a day to sign up for next year. I don't care if it conflicts with the Master Schedule. (Just kidding, I do care. Joanie scares me.)

When we returned to school we got to use my brand new, given to me by one of my "goodest friends" ladybug kite. It took a few times, but we got it.

The Kindergartners were quite impressed.

It was a fabulous day. I'm tired now. Goodnight. (I apologize in advance for any grammatical/spelling answers. I am THAT tired.)

B is for Bowling

I am sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been a little busy. As well as lacking in funny blog material.

But I'm back. With a story of bowling.

We took our annual bowling field trip today. Guess who I chose to be my bowling buddy. Yes. You're right. Mr. TV. It was actually quite fun.

There were three rules:
1. Behave.
2. Don't bowl better than Ms. Buckler
3. When you do, be very nice to her. Your grades depend on it.
4. I DO NOT LEAVE MY CAMERA ON THIS FIELD TRIP!

Here is the class showing me their Strike Getting Technique.

Guess who I chose to sit with me on the bus. Yes. You're right. Mr. TV. I learned that we are supposed to say "JUMP BUMP" and pop up like a weasel whenever the bus drives over a bump. The 5 minute ride to the bowling alley wasn't really the fun part.

Mr. TV was very serious about guarding my field trip bag. He watched it like a hawk. He also deemed himself "picture taker of the day." I choose my battles.

Here are some pictures he took of me:

Cheese.

Check out that skill.

The flying hair capture was exceedingly funny to him. I'm surprised he didn't yell, "Work it girl!"







He also took pictures of my backside, but I will not be posting those.

Mr. TV insisted on delivering the ball to me. At first I thought it was because he was worried about my strength. I think it may have actually been to speed me up since he went right after me...

So I grabbed the camera:

He had the craziest side ways throw that resulted in a snail-paced roll.

Covering his eyes and waiting. He got a spare.

Which resulted in this celebration.








After all the high-fives, he informed me that he accidentally farted when he did that move. Thanks Mr. TV, for the info.

Freckles had an accident. It looked like this:

He got up, dusted off, and picked up a spare.

He beat me in Game One. Him: 104  Me: 99

Hey, quit laughing. I rolled a strike as soon as it was time to leave.

Freckles and I were also interviewed by a newspaper reporter. That should be an interesting blog post.

Despite the million "I'm hungry!"/"I'm tired!"/"I'm beating you!"s  and the three crying students, we had fun.

When we returned to school, we celebrated Earth Day with Earth cakes.

The marshmallows on toothpicks were the moons. Our story this week is "The Moon". I know. It required imagination.

I told them I wasn't sure which one Paisley licked.

She got her first taste when my back was turned this morning. At least it was the experiment one.

I cut it in half, she helped herself to the side.

Happy Earth Day!

G is for "Got Ya!"

And got them I did. Well, I had help. It never would have worked if I didn't have help.

I got Mrs. Harper first thing in the morning. She came into my room and I acted all frustrated. I asked her if she had read her email to see that we really have to give the math portion of the SAT after all. Right after Spring Break. She freaked. I had to tell her right away. Her blood pressure was rising really fast and she was shaking with fury. Gotta love Harper. 

My darling sister came in to help with Field Day. I made her an accomplice. We put confetti in their reading books and hid the brown chairs outside.

Mr. TV was all about the prank phone calls. "MRS. HARPER! THERE'S A SNAKE ON YOUR ROOF AS LONG AS THE SUN AND IT'S ALREADY EATEN THREE CLASSROOMS IN THE POD AND IT'S ABOUT TO EAT YOURS!...APRIL FOOL!" Mrs. Harper's class all came running out the room to look at the roof.

He improved three more. A first grader in Mrs. Rood's class called us back. "Ms. Buckler, there's a banana on your roof!" Of course we had to run out and look and they, of course, ran out to yell "APRIL FOOLS!" at us. We, being older and wise, had to (of course) go along with it.

If you look closely, you can see my hands on my head. Man, I believed them!












My hand buzzer broke, but the fake ketchup totally got them.

My sister and I had totally obnoxious duck quackers that we had to scare everyone with.

I got Mrs. Burns...kind of.

Coach got me back at Field Day. That whistle hurt my eardrums.

The best part was during the morning announcements. The Morning Announcement Ladies were totally believable. They told the second graders they would have to retake the SAT during Field Day because their tests were lost in the mail. I have a picture of the kids reenacting their reactions. I was too busy playing my Emmy worthy part during the real thing. "You have to be joking me! I'm calling Mrs. Keene right now!" We even got kids in other grades who were concerned for their siblings. Double score!

Field Day was a blast.

Every single kid in my class remembered to wear red. Now, if I could get them to remember to do their homework...

And, of course, we had to mix in the Spring activities. Check out their interpretations of bunnies...

And Hilary thought she'd get to bring home a puppy. Fool.

Happy Easter and Spring Break everyone!