just when you think the couch is full enough, there is always room for one more…

(and the reading never paused…so sweet)

(and thank you, mr matt, for breaking the myth that boys can’t wear pink)

:: :: ::

just when you think you’re too young to read the words, the story comes out anyway.

:: :: ::

just when you think the box will be used in the block corner, it’s hauled to the cozy corner for a place to read in.

:: :: ::

read, read read!!!

it is well known by now that valentine’s day at preschool is a special time.  red and pink, cards and flowers.  lots of “i love you” and “you’re a good friend” and “roses are red.”  good stuff.

:: :: ::

instead of finding their name tags to stick on top of their photos (they stick with magnets when the picture card is on the cookie sheet), there was a note that said, “No name tags this week.  You’ll find out why later! {smiley face}”

well later, we put a little smarty candy on each face instead of the name tag.  then we ate them.  : )

:: :: ::

we have a valentine exchange…or hand out.  meaning you don’t have to bring valentines to get some.  everyone gets some!  you don’t have to bring any!  even though everyone did, you didn’t HAVE to!  what an amazing concept!

:: :: ::

we had lots of valentine goodies.  there wasn’t just one party day, so that meant that every day felt like a party!

:: :: ::

our valentine corner was in it’s last week.  some of the supplies were used for a spontaneous cutting corner that i never found out more about.  but man, it was in.ten.tio.nal.

and by the end of the week, we used everything to make the biggest glueiest valentine we could make!

:: :: ::

there were fake roses in the dirt table.  thank you, newton et cetera shop.

the valentine corner evolved into a flower shop by two little friends.

and joy of joys, look at that inventive spelling.  my heart flutters.  “OPEN TODAY. FLOWERS.”

:: :: ::

we kept going with our play dough table having some new fancy muffin tins.  however, this day these girls were making special “garlic sugar sprinkles.”  mmmmmmm.  i might add that one of these friends is the same one who made me and mr rob play dough gravy some time ago. : )

:: :: ::

we played games.  for valentine bingo, we looked at the clip art on a slideshow i made on the computer.  high tech bingo.

and we did the classic color graphing.  i am grateful no one asked me to read their hearts.  some just don’t seem right.

though they do make me giggle inside.

:: :: ::

and so, with that, we move away from the pink and red.  we move towards dr seuss’ birthday, the week our paper snake is to give birth to 44 baby paper snakes, the making of leprechaun traps, easter and all it’s mystery.  on we go.

if i’d had my camera with me, i would have taken pictures of the 13 little bodies following me down the slushy sidewalk.  having just left the chaos of passing out valentines, we were airing out.

if i had my camera, i would have taken pictures of them walking balance beam style on the parking lot curb behind me, arms out to balance themselves.

if i had my camera, i would have taken pictures of the 2 inch deep handprints we could make in that slushy goodness.

if i had my camera, i would have taken pictures of the ridiculously cooperative feat of making a snow baby.  she’s sleeping in the freezer now.

but the picture i want most is of the moment we paused in the sun.  that winter sun that is so penetrating it seems to dull all other noises.  i closed my eyes and whispered gratitude for it.  with the 13 little ones close enough that i could hear them breathing and  that their feet were still, i kept my eyes closed for a moment longer.

then i opened my eyes to see many of their eyes closed too, red cheeked faces turned towards the sun, in a small town, in the middle of it all.

that’s what i wish i had a picture of.

game on!!!  we’re using smarties as markers and we play black out…surprise!  everyone wins!