Saturday, March 24, 2018

On Saturday, Mama was going shopping at Gravois Bluffs, and she invited Nanaw to go along. Nanaw was happily surprised to find that Chase was going with them -- Nanaw loves to go shopping with Mama and Chase. Chase had on his new Old Navy hoodie and looked very cute. First, they went to Kohl's. While Mama was looking at a comforter for Chase, he saw a stuffed Mine Craft toy and really liked it. So Mama said she would buy it for him. Also at Kohl's, Mama picked out an outfit for Jackson Chapman's birthday. Next, they went to Barnes & Noble. Mama bought a Biscuit board book for Jackson and the Green Eggs and Ham Dr. Seuss book for Chase. Mama also bought yummy caramel M&Ms for Chase, which he shared with Mama and Nanaw. On the way home, Chase and Nanaw took turns reading pages of the Dr. Seuss book. In the evening, Mama, Daddy and Chase met Jackson Chapman and his parents and other friends at a restaurant in Edwardsville for dinner and games.

Monday, March 26, 2018

Because of spring break / Easter vacation, Chase has only two days of school this week -- Monday and Tuesday. When Chase and Nanaw got to school Monday morning, they both said Happy Birthday to Alaina. When Nanaw picked Chase up from school, it had been raining hard all day, and Chase followed Audrey's example and stepped in every water puddle he encountered. When they got home, Chase and Nanaw went to Chase's room to watch the Ready, Jet Go show Nanaw had recorded for Chase on Friday evening. Chase got all his stuffed "amamals" out of the bag so they could watch, too. He told Nanaw that they were a family. Chase also managed to multitask with watching TV and playing hockey in the hall. When Nanaw took Chase home, he read the little Easter book he made at school and pointed out which picture went with which page to Mama and Nanaw. Then when Mama and Chase were talking about putting up Easter decals on the doors, Mama said it was almost time for Easter so maybe they shouldn't do it. So Chase says to Mama, "We got this, babe!" and Mama and Nanaw laughed and laughed. Later, when Chase and Daddy were playing soccer in the kitchen, Chase called Daddy "babe." They're wondering where he learned "babe."

Friday, March 23, 2018

Chase got his third quarter report card on Friday, and he's doing well. Here's what Mrs. Herrmann says: "Kindergarten Third Quarter Report for Chase Southerland: We have had such an exciting third quarter! The Kinders are reading now, using all the sight words and skills used to sound out words. They are also writing meaningful journal entries and relating those reading skills to sounding out words in their writing. In math, we are grasping addition concepts well and are starting on subtraction concepts. It is a joy to see what each day brings! Chase is a very sweet and sensitive boy who has many friends. He is a great listener at the carpet and likes to raise his hand to participate. He is working on being a neat and careful worker, especially in his-handwriting. Chase is a bright boy and an absolute joy to teach!" Mama, Daddy and Nanaw agree with all that Mrs. Herrmann says. Chase got his book order on Friday and brought them in to Nanaw's house to look at them. He was very excited about the stuffed animals in the safari book collection. In the evening, Mama, Daddy, Chase and Nanaw went to Culver's for dinner. Nanaw was very excited to have their delicious diet root beer.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

On Thursday morning, Mama texted Nanaw to tell her that Chase said his tummy hurt and that he didn't want to go to school. So Nanaw texted back that she would be happy to take care of Chase all day. When Chase got to Nanaw's house, he rested on the couch for awhile, then went into his room to watch Chase TV. He had some Pedialyte and some crackers, then "little tiny baby chippies" as Chase calls cornflakes. Nanaw asked Chase to get dressed and to clean up his room for the cleaning lady. Nanaw was so impressed that Chase dressed himself and picked up his toys all by himself and very quickly, too. She was very proud. Chase and Nanaw went over to Chase's house for awhile, and Chase fell asleep for about an hour. Then they went to the library, and Chase fell asleep again in the car. When Nanaw took Chase home, she stayed for make your own pizza night -- or for Nanaw, bring your own crust -- Mama bought Nanaw a package of gluten-free pizza dough. The pizza was very good, and Chase won the "prize" for the best pizza.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

When Nanaw took Chase to school on Wednesday, she talked to Mrs. Herrmann about the afternoon field trip. Nanaw usually volunteers in the classroom at the time of field trip so Mrs. Herrmann invited Nanaw to come along to the release of the raptor. Nanaw met Chase's class at Cliff Cave Park and watched as they released an eagle that had been shot and rescued and rehabilitated. There was another eagle there named McGuire who is 20 years old and has lived at the Wild Bird Sanctuary all that time. He's very tame and very beautiful. Nanaw is going to investigate the Wild Bird Sanctuary and see if she and Chase can go visit McGuire. Chase and Drew were under the care of one of the sixth grade boys -- it was very cute. Chase kept leaning into Nanaw, which Nanaw really liked. He said he liked riding on the school bus. It was a great ceremony, and Chase enjoyed seeing the birds.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Another cold day and winter coats for Chase and Nanaw even though it's the first day of spring. Chase and Nanaw were running late, and the bell rang as they were hurrying down the hall. When Nanaw picked Chase up, she asked Chase whether the class went on the field trip to release the birds but both Chase and Mama said that was supposed to be Wednesday, not Tuesday. And later Mama sent Nanaw an e-mail from the principal giving the details about the field trip on Wednesday. Nanaw will ask Mrs. Herrmann about volunteering in class on Wednesday -- probably not but maybe they need help on the field trip. After school, Chase and Nanaw went to the post office, to the tax office where Chase got lots of candy, to the cemetery, to get gas, then to the library where Chase of course went to the "bending machine." Nanaw got to keep Chase for an extended time while Mama took a nap (she has a sinus infection and still doesn't feel well) and Daddy went bowling. Chase asked Nanaw to get out the Lincoln Logs for him to play with. Twice he made houses all by himself -- he did a great job, and Nanaw was very impressed. Chase and Nanaw had a fire and a candle while they ate dinner. Then Nana gave Chase a bath and took him home.

Monday, March 19, 2018

It was cold Monday morning when Nanaw took Chase to school. Both of them hurried into school to get warm. When Nanaw went to pick Chase up from school, it was raining rather hard so Nanaw took both Cardinals umbrellas with her -- one for Chase and one for Nanaw. Chase had great fun jumping in the water puddles, no matter how many times Nanaw asked him not to. Nanaw had originally planned to go to the library after school but decided not to because of the rain. When they got home, Chase and Nanaw played in his room, and Chase watched Chase TV. Nanaw had Chase go through his sight words, and he did a wonderful job. He knew them all and said them immediately -- like he didn't have to think about it at all. Very amazing. Chase told Nanaw that Tuesday is the first day of spring and that he learned that in school today. He had brought the white and purple bunnies back to Nanaw's house but decided they needed to go home with him for an additional sleepover. Chase said maybe they would come back to Nanaw's house on Friday. Chase said he wanted to have a sleepover at Nanaw's on Friday so he could watch Ready Set Go on Chase TV. The first two pictures below are from Friday's St. Patrick's Day celebration in Chase's class.