Happily Ever After

In class, we finished up the Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo.

I have a new student.  He was not happy about switching schools and being with us.  He kept trying to go home sick and told his mom he missed his old school.  Which is understandable.

Last week, we were almost done with our last Mercy Watson book.  New kiddo got called to the office to go home for the day because his brother was sick and mom was there to pick brother up.  New kiddo happily popped back in a few minutes later.

Me:  I thought you were going home?

New Kiddo:  My mom said I could stay!

Me:  You wanted to stay?

New Kiddo:  I asked her if I could stay and ride the bus home.

Me (picking up Mercy Watson):  Well, I am glad you get to spend more time with us today.

New Kiddo:  YES!!!!!!!!!!!! I was hoping I wouldn’t miss the end of the book!

So.  Three cheers for good books and reading together as a class.  It is simply the best.

Since we had finished our series, we had our “Toast Party.”  Because Mercy Watson LOVES toast-with a great deal of butter on it.

We started a new book by Kate DiCamillo-The Tale of Despereaux.

Now, THIS is a good book.  I recommend everyone reads it.  I started reading a few chapters and then stopped at the end of a chapter.

Kiddo:  Awww, MAN!  You ALWAYS stop at the good part.

Be still my heart.

Mack came to school in teeny tiny pants.  Like the world’s tightest pair of jeans.  I am not sure how he even got them on, but the button kept popping open and he literally could not bend enough to sit down.  They were probably his jeans when he was 4 years old, no joke.

I chatted with the counselor at lunch and she went to grab him to see if she could find him some new pants.

Mack, ever the gentle spirit, was following her into the office, shouting and staring at his hands: “HANDS?!  What is wrong with my hands?  Why do I need new hands?”

Me:  Buddy.  She is trying to see if she has an extra pair of PANTS for you.

Mack:  Ohhhhh.

She finds him some snazzy sweatpants and you would think Mack just won the lottery.

Mack:  Can I keep them!?!

Counselor:  Sure can.

And for the rest of the day, Mack was bending and twisting happily with freedom.

I am going to let you in on a little secret.  At times, I worry about Mack.  And sometimes I am not quite sure if he is even really with me.  I mean, I am completely aware that his little body is with me, because it is always twirling right near me, but I am not so sure his mind is always with me.

I was reading “Tale of Despereaux” and Mack was testing out the new flexibility of his sweatpants.  All other kids are sitting still and look towards me as I read, and Mack is practicing for his gymnastics routine.

In this book, the narrator will talk to the reader.  And here is a direct quote I read to the class-

“Reader.  Do you believe there is such a thing as happily ever after?”

Mack shouts:  YES! I DO!

So.  He IS listening.  And I love him.

***

Kate is still far, far away.  And she probably misses us, but she really misses her dog, Niko.  So I try to send her cute little snaps throughout the week.

Like this one where Niko had slowly crawled up to join me on the couch as I was reading.

Look at that nose.  Love it.

***

The cows are good and the calves are all that is precious in this world.  Hazel would have turned one on the 12th, so that was bittersweet.

I was out checking on the cows and they were all standing around chewing their cud.  And then, without any communication that I could see, they all collectively decided it was time to go and get a drink.

And they did.

***

The apartment work continues.

We put in flooring.  And when I say “we”, I mean David and HD.

I did, however, sweep and open boxes.

Happy Tuesday.