Ring Around the Rosie

Ella went to her first storytime today at the Easley Library. I was determined we were going to do this even though it was @ 9:30 in the morning. We both enjoy sleeping in until 8:30. And to get a shower, dry my hair (that takes forever), nurse her, get dressed, and be ready to leave by 9:15-well, that would take a miracle. We actually didn't leave until 9:30, so we just caught the last 15 minutes of it, but oh, what fun! I actually thought, "I bet I'll be one of the only ones here." Boy, was I wrong. There are a lot of other crazy moms (about 10) who drag their kids to something so early in the morning. (For those of you reading this who think 9:30 is late in the day, and that if you wake up past 7am you've wasted half your day-this is how Will thinks-forgive me, but I am not a morning person.)

The "teacher" was great w/the kids-it was just for toddlers 2 and under (they have other groups for the older kids.) She read a Christmas book, then we did some fun songs w/bells-Ella loved ringing hers-and finished w/"Ring around the Rosie."

Okay, let's park here for a minute. I've never liked this rhyme after I was told it was in reference to the bubonic plaque. I thought, "How awful to be singing a song about how millions of people died." However, after finding this website, and reading some others' opinions, I think I was fed a lie. In actuality, "Philip Hiscock, a folklorist at Memorial University in Newfoundland, argues that the rhyme likely originated as a way of skirting Protestant bans on dancing." Now, that I can agree w/any day. Everyone knows I like to shake a jig once in awhile. :-)
Another interesting thing. After everyone fell down, the teacher and all the other moms began singing this verse:

The cows are in the meadow
Eating buttercups
Thunder! Lightening!
We all get up

I was amused. I thought it was cute but had never heard of it. Appears it's another verse of the rosie rhyme-though some versions are different (just like there are variants of the original rhyme).

Okay, done chasing that rabbit-back to storytime. Ella didn't want to stand by herself-she wanted me to hold her almost the entire time. I think all those kids intimidated her. But I'm sure once we go a few times, she'll be more sociable.

I also picked up a few more books for her. (Our first time going to the library was a couple weeks ago and I picked up Bible Stories Volume 1.) Now I have Read-aloud Bible Stories Vol. 2 and 3 by Lindvall. Big illustrations and simple but accurate stories-however, the illustrations aren't that appealing to babies. But the best I could find. I also got some other books-The Big Red Barn and some books that had tapes or CDs w/them. Thought it'd be fun to let Ella hear some books in the car.
(I know Liz will appreciate that.)

Letisha, do you know of any other Bible books that are good for Ella's age? I know you frequent your library a lot and am sure you have some gems to share. :-)

They're having another storytime at Chick-Fil-A this Friday at 10am. My plan is to go early so we can enjoy breakfast together first. We'll see how that goes.