Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukka & Everything Else!

It's actually the day after Christmas.   So I can tell you about all of it, including my lesson with the Elementary School kids.

We went to see them on Tuesday.  There were only four of them there 'cuz the 3rd grade was on a field trip.   So we had 4 fourth graders.  One of the boys came up and said hello to me, just the way he was taught.  He asked Mom first if it was OK, and when she said yes, he held out his hand to touch me under the chin.  It felt so good.  And he was really cute.  I couldn't help myself.  I kissed him on the nose.  He spent the rest of the session petting my back.  At the same time as he was doing the project Mom had for him.

They were all pretty stoked about decorating frames.  I was kinda worried, 'cuz they were all boys.  But Mom told them they could make something as a gift for someone they loved, since this was the giving season.  Then she told them that they could have a picture taken with ME in it.  Then they got really excited.  That made me feel good, that they would like to have me in their picture. 

I knew I had to do a good job for them.  So every time one of them came and sat down to be photographed.  I sat straight as an arrow and looked right at the camera (well, I guess I was looking at Mom who was standing right behind the camera).  I didn't move until the flash went off.  I'm a pro at posing for pictures, you know.

A good time was had by all!

Then we had Christmas at home.  Mom and Dad had their traditional holiday fare:  Steak and Grilled Lobster Tail.  That's what they had at Thanksgiving, too.  I don't really like that stuff, 'cuz nothing ever falls on the ground when they have it.  I like when they have things like pineapples and blueberries that fall off the counter. 

But I can't complain 'cuz they filled my stocking with lots of goodies and I ate them all and then tried to eat my stocking.  Mom took it away pretty quick.  She says we need to keep it for next year.  Why can't she just buy me a new stocking next year?  It was tasting pretty good since their were lots of crumbs left in the bottom of the toe. 

Well I'm tired.  It's been an exhausting Holiday.  I hope you all had good Christmases and are having a good Hannukka and if you celebrate different holidays, may they also be happy.

Love, G

Lesson Plan

I am going back to my Elementary children this week.  So Mom and I have to come up with a lesson plan.  We are supposed to do something to help these kids develop certain "Core Competencies".  There are 7 of them.  Attachment, Empathy, Self Regulation, Affiliation, Respect, Confidence and Tolerance.

We have a big tote bag full of fun things to do.  Mom set them all out to decide what we should do.

She asked me to come over and help her decide which of the activities we should do.

I wasn't having anything to do with that.  I was afraid that if I picked up any of those fun things, I would be in trouble.  You remember how I got into trouble when I picked up a book of Mom's and tried to read (eat) it?  And the golf glove that tasted so good going in (but not so fun coming out)?  I sure remember those things and I'm not about to do something like that with these things.  Not happenin'!

Instead, I sat down and talked to Mom about what would be good to do.  I reminded her it was almost Christmas.  So we decided to let the children decorate some fun frames.  Like the purple flower thing in this picture.  Then we would borrow the Polaroid Camera to take pictures of each of the kids.  They would have something nice to give to someone they love for Christmas.

What is a Polaroid Camera?, I asked my Mom.  She told me that long long ago before I was ever born, they had cameras that printed out pictures right on the spot.  She said she didn't even know they existed still, but apparently they have become quite popular.  They even sell them on Amazon.com, that's how popular they are.    I think my students are going to have a good time when we go see them. 

But I asked Mom, how this was going to develop some of those Core Competencies?  She said, "Well there are a number of things.  First they'll have to decide who gets which frames so they will have to be Tolerant of each other.  Then they'll make a pretty frame for their pictures and hopefully develop more Confidence.  Then we'll let them take a picture with you, G, so they will have to Respect you or you won't sit with them, will you?  And finally, I have some Christmas stories about a puppy dog that will teach them about Empathy.  What do you think, G?"

I told her I thought it would work very well.  I think my students will have a good time and learn lots of good stuff.  I can't wait to go.

Love, G

PS  I'll tell you all about it later.

Thanksgiving

I got to spend Thanksgiving with Mrs. J and 3 other pets.  And then I got to spend Thanksgiving with Mom and Dad!  That's a lot to be thankful for, don't you think?

Here's how it happened.  Mom and Dad left to go to basketball games in Las Vegas on Monday morning.  They told me Mrs. J was coming to get me and sure enough, just after they left, there she was.  She never forgets me. 

We went to her home and she told me ThomCat and Kona would be there to play with me.  I didn't know Kona, but I like any dog who will play with me.  And I liked Kona.  He's smaller than me, but we all know how much I like small dogs.

We played some and had a good time and then came Struthers.  He was pretty cool. 

He's like 91 years old, so he couldn't play with us.  But he's a very wise doggie.  He told Kona and I lots of interesting things.  Someday I'll tell you what they were. 

I got to sleep in the big bed with Mrs. J and Mr. T.  Just like at home.  But then on Thursday, Mom and Dad picked me up and we went home and had our own Thanksgiving.  Which is steak and lobster on the grill and I got to supervise!

It was a good Thanksgiving for me.  How was yours?

Love, G