Barnyard Hullabaloo!

Toward the end of Kindergarten, B's class put on a play called Barnyard Hullabaloo. The kids were sent home with a note to the parents stating the animal their child chose to be and requesting that we help them make a mask of that animal. The teacher said not to spend any money, just make a mask from a paper plate or something decorated to resemble the animal. When I read the note my eyes probably glazed over and I became possessed by Martha Stewart...because a paper plate mask just wasn't going to cut it! The animal B chose was a sheep dog. A big shaggy dog with lots of yarn and a big black nose immediately came to mind. I didn't follow the instructions exactly; however, I only spent $5.00. I'll spare you all the details...but I spent over 10 hours cutting 6" pieces of yarn, tying each piece of yarn into a double knot at the end, and then poking them through the holes of the mask with a tiny screw driver (the mask was made from that plastic grid stuff used in other yarn crafts. I'm sure you've seen them wrapped in yarn and made into tissue box covers).

The best part was B sitting in the chair next to me every evening handing me each piece of yarn. One evening - after several minutes of silence - he turned and said, "This is very nice of you, mommy! How can I ever thank you?" I told him that knowing he appreciated it was thanks enough. He sat there for a minute and said, "That's not enough." So I said, "Make me a deal...when you are older and have kids of your own, promise me that you will help them with a project and you can tell them the story of how you and I sat together making this one." He replied, "It's a deal, but what if my kids don't pick a sheep dog?" I will never forget our first school project together!


His lines in the play were:
I am the farmer's old sheep dog.
His faithful and loyal best friend.
I've been by his side since the day I was born,
And I'll stay with him right till the end.