Appreciate Plate

Sometimes you hear an idea from someone and you just feel it.
You know right away you are going to totally embrace the idea. Make it your own, even.....
but give credit where credit is due, of course (thank you, Jenn from Mom Time)
This is one of those times.

James fam + Appreciate Plate = golden idea

The Appreciate Plate is a special plate that rotates to a different family member each time you partake in dinner together. Everyone else has the standard dinnerware... but the designated Appreciate Plate recipient has the AP.
At dinnertime, everyone goes around the table and says something they appreciate about the AP person. Want to see a face glow with excitement? Want a unique way to encourage and uplift? Want to turn a frown upside down?

Appreciate Plate!

Our oldest son, Jon, was pretty eager to be the AP member of the family at last night's dinner. Considering I was taking pictures of the event last night, it would've been nice if it wasn't "Leftover Night" and I could've impressed you all with chicken cordon bleu on his plate or something (you know, like I usually make for dinner). Instead you can be impressed with the total randomness that is his dinner. YUM.
ANYways, we've just begun to rotate the AP and haven't even made it all the way around the table yet. But the excitement is brewing in the James household. There have been talks about what is going to be said about Charity when it is her turn for the plate. There have been discussions about whether Caleb or Matthias will be the next AP beneficiary (do we go by age or place at the table?) Do Mom and Dad get a turn?! (um...YEAH!)
Words are just so potent. With them we build others up or tear them down. I find if I'm not intentional about creating an atmosphere of positive language in our home, than what we're left with is merely a lack of discouraging words.
That's good, but it's not great.
If it really takes 10 warm fuzzies to replace 1 hurtful remark than I'm excited about having the Appreciate Plate circle our table many times over!

10 Things I Learned in the 4K Classroom

I had a great time yesterday going to school with Caleb. Not sure what he thought about having mom there, whispering in his ear every once and awhile, "you are my favorite 4Ker" ....but I was able to learn a couple of things in my 2 1/2 hours there:

1. "I look different" so a kid named Blaise told me.

2. Kaya might look like it's pronouned "KA-ah." But it's not. It's "KI-ah" and she gets really mad if you say her name wrong. Even if you try to soothe her anger by helping her with her fire truck coloring sheet...you're pretty sure she's still upset about the mispronounciation.

3. Birds can, indeed, be larger than horses. (see picture below, drawn for me by Bricelyn)

4. You're supposed to put your paper scraps in the garbage right away. No piles. I violated this rule when I was cutting out paper pumpkins and a kid busted me and huffily threw my pile away.

5. My son needs to learn to write the "e" in his name, hold a pencil, and blow his nose.

6. When you're four years old you have a mental checklist of 3 things you want to be when you grow up. One girl told me very seriously that when she's big she wants to be a farmer, violin player, and artist. You go, girl.

7. There are 2 Calebs in the class. The other one is Caleb P. Apparently that is funny to a 4ker.

Bathroom humor begins this young?

8. My son's teacher is highly caffeinated. She had 2 Mountain Dews and 1 Starbucks Frapp on her desk. This explains how she was able to do the "Days of the Week" jive faster than the kids. I was pretty tempted to take a picture of her desk but decided against it to keep up good parent/teacher relations.

9. I do not know how to cut "in the lines". Remember Blaise? Well, he came back while I was cutting those pumpkins. "Oh. I thought you were cutting in the lines. But you're not." Thanks for those uplifting words, kid. I always knew working with 4 yr olds was one warm fuzzy after another.

10. I'm pretty sure I only learned 9 things. But thanks for scrolling down to see this answer anyway. I had fun and look forward to next month's volunteer day. They better keep me away from the paper pumpkins though. Just ask Blaise.

I would like to thank my son, Caleb, who made this trip into the 4K class possible. I love you more than words can say!