I want the cat power of being dressed for success in my jammies.

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Yesterday, Biyi and I had the opportunity to help out at Ryan's school. The Prep classes each had a half-hour session called PMP (Perceptual Motor Program). They do things like crawl through hoops, walk along balance bars, jump over gaps, all that kind of thing. Biyi and I were in charge of the tunnelball station. The kids turned up in groups of five, and we had coloured dots on the floor to show them where to stand. Naturally, hilarity ensued. My favourite was one little girl called Abigail who chattered nonstop. There were only four kids in her group.

"My surname is Lao."
[After she moved to the red dot] "Red is my favourite colour. I like red and purple and pink."
[When she was at the back, beckoned me in to tell me a secret] "My imaginary friend Ruby is on the dot behind me."

Meanwhile, I popped out to the loo between classes on one occasion, and Biyi explained how to play tunnelball with the aid of the other parents and high school students. I got back just in time to find her telling them, "No, you got it wrong, you all have to go back and we're going to do it again." There is no room for shoddiness in the world of tunnelball.

Ryan, of course, was thrilled to have his parents there. We took him home afterwards. He learns German on Thursdays. Last week they watched a German version of The Gruffalo, and afterwards they made Gruffalo masks and coloured them in. When it was time to go home, he showed me his mask and put it on. My fierce little Gruffalo looked at me, and then started singing:

"EVERYTHING IS AWESOME! EVERYTHING IS COOL WHEN YOU'RE PART OF A TEAM!"

All the Prep students get paired with a fifth grader, their Buddy. They spend time together and help with the transition. Ryan's Buddy is called Georgia. When we were walking back to the car, we passed a group of other Buddies. Ryan recognised one and called out to him, whereupon they all ran over and took turns hugging him. Our little man is apparently quite popular.

Awww, sounds like a great day.

that is so awesome bt.

Awww, sounds like a great day.

Yeah, it was a lot of fun. They're awfully cute at that age.

"Hello, Angus. You can stand here."
[goggle-eyed] "HOW DID YOU KNOW MY NAME?!"
"It's on your name tag."
"...Oh."

So Ryan is a highly adorable child in a school full of highly adorable children? I'm including the fifth graders who have the sense to recognize adorableness.

Ryan is so adorable!!

Man if I hadn't been so diligent last night about clearing the snow in front of my door I might have been snowed into my house. Not badly but at one point I could barely open the door becuase of the drift behind it. Work is not closed so I know I'll have to go in, I also have to go windshield wipers becuase my mine are shot. Yesterday's drive home was slow and very low visiblity.

Altghough at hte rate I'm shoveling out I'll be done in time to drive to work.

Things I've learned this winter: the value of a good snow shovel, the need for better gloves, a need for snow pants, and next year I find someone who can shovel/plow my parking spots.

Nothing like finally clearing a way to get your car out. Then get ready and go out to scrape the ice/snow off, only to find you've been plowed in.

Not just behind my car, but it pushed snow between my car and the drift so I had to dig that out. I think I can now get the car out, not sure if I'll be able to get it back in, especially with more snow and plowing. At this point I'm wishing I hadn't cleared all the snow from in front of my door and just let winter have its way.

I do not miss that stuff at all. I grew up with snow, but left town after I married and have lived in warmer climates since then. I only shovel if I visit my sister and pitch in some.

We had snow in Pittsburgh, Philly, and Richmond from time to time, but not like this year that I recall.

My biggest issue here is that the A/C in my office is too cold! Hurricane cleanup can be a real chore, but thankfully it has been quite a few years without a direct hit for us.

Askye, if I still lived in snow country, I'd totally need this to help clear the snow

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