Jibber Jabber

Here are some cute things that happened recently at work:

My class and I were talking about how they need to be on their best behavior (our class was chosen to be taped for our school website) and show the "world" how 6 and 7 year old act. I told them that even though their teacher was chubby, she could run fast and for a long time on the treadmill and they just better be on their best behavior. Then one of the boys raised his hand and said, "Yeah, my grandma is chubby too and she can really chase me, pretty good for being chubby." I was cracking up!!

I always tell the kids to fold their arms when they are in line, it's the one thing they just fail to do. I can't stand it!! If their arms aren't folded, they flail and act crazy, so that's why I constantly ask them to fold their arms. Anyway, I started taking away Fun Friday minutes every time I had to tell them to fold their arms. And just to get them going, I'll say, "Don't make me say the "a" word!" and then I'm not really saying the word, which would cost them minutes, but I'm still reminding them to fold their arms. So we are in the hallway, on our way to lunch, and, as usual, some of the kids aren't folding their arms. One of the boys notices and says, "You better fold 'em or else she'll say the "a" word." My principal was right there in the hallway and heard it, and then turned and looked at me like, "What is the "a" word?" I told her before she could ask me what it was, and then she laughed and walked away. Whew. That could have gone really wrong.

One of the first grade girls take FOREVER to do any work. I mean it'll take her all morning to do her journal entry, and it should take 15 minutes. I have to bargain with her snack to get her to finish anything. I normally don't like to use food like that, especially when some kids don't have a lot of food at home, but her mom said that was what worked at home, so every once in a while I tell her she can eat her snack when she finishes her work. And it usually takes her half the amount of time. Anyway, this particular morning, she was frustrated with reading the directions on a language arts sheet, and she slammed her pencil down, threw her hands up in the air and said, "That's it, I can't read, Ms. L. call my momma." I asked her what her momma would say, and she said, "I don't know, but she'll come get me and take me home. I can't take this learning stuff in first grade." That was the hardest thing to keep from laughing. The problem was she is super smart and she got used to not being challenged in kindergarten. My class is advanced, so she's appropriately challenged, and she's just not used to needing help. Poor girl. She adjusting now. I told her mom later on what she said and we both had a good laugh.

I could write so many more scenarios, but I'll save them for another time. Did anyone watch Desperate Housewives last night??? I'm dying to know what is going to happen next week, the natural disaster and all. And Gabby & Carlos are so screwed. I love it that Lynette's mom is living with her gay ex-husband, they make cute roommates. And Andrew!! I felt bad that he was feeling left out, but when he told Bree that he forgave her, I love it!!!! I know it's ridiculus to be that into a nighttime soap opera, but I love the show and it's an hour a week I don't have to deal with reality. Isn't that why we watch TV in the first place?? Go ahead, make fun of me, but you all know you watch something you are ashamed of. I love The Hills (even worse), Grey's, and Brother's & Sisters too. Go on, make fun, I can handle it.

Once my dinner digests, I'm getting the big maglight out and going into the backyard to find my running shoes that the puppy hid. I had them sitting on the back porch because I stepped in her poo pile on Friday. I let them dry up and then I was going to clean them Saturday, and I forgot. I let her out this morning and I see one shoe covered in snow (oh yeah, we got our first snow last night), and I don't see the other shoe. ANYWHERE. It was dark, but I didn't have time to get the flashlight and look. Now, I have time. And if I don't find it, the dog is in the penalty box for a while. Expensive shoes, gone to crap!!!