Get ready, everyone! The little darlings are coming back next Wednesday! I'll have a whole new class of philosophers so I'm sure we are in for some laughs. (Don't be too alarmed if there are a lot of crying stories in the beginning. Cursive writing and multiplication can be quite stressful for a nine year old.)

(Mrs. K just called with this one she remembered from our zoo trip the other day.)

Jacob: Oh my God! Look at that!

Mrs. K: Jacob, it doesn't sound very nice to say "oh my God." Why don't you try saying "oh my gosh" instead?

Jacob: Okay. Sorry. (pause, thinking) You know God?

I just remembered this from yesterday...

Angelica: Mrs. B, remember how you said we should dream big?

Mrs. B: Yes.

Angelica: I do dream big. My dream is that I will marry Justin Bieber when I grow up. I'm gonna MAKE it happen!

This is my final post of the school year. The little darlings went home today and I am officially on summer break!!!! WOOO HOOO!!!

(We are sitting in a circle on the floor as I go around the group saying something nice about each student. During each comment, Jacob interrupts...)

Mrs. B: Tessa, what I have liked most about you is that you are so independent. You are always smiling and busy, but you never need to be the center of attention to be happy.

Jacob: (Interrupting) Like me! I need lots of attention.

Mrs. B: Yes, Jacob. That is true. So, Tessa, as I was saying, you are bright and fun and...

Jacob: (AGAIN) I'm gonna miss you, Mrs. B.

Mrs. B: I'm going to miss you, too, Jacob. (long pause) Ummmm...what was I saying?

It was zoo day yesterday. Lots of funny stuff was said but, sadly, I was so exhausted at the end of the day, I couldn't remember anything. This came back to me this morning while getting ready for school.

Tour guide: (somewhat quietly) As you can see, we are being stalked by the tiger to our right. She is crouching low in the grass and her ears are flat. Do you see the camouflage of her coat? That helps her stalk us without being noticed.

(quiet ohhhhhs and ahhhhhhs)

Tessa: (loudly) WE CAN SEEEEEE YOU!!!!!

Girl in front row: Mom? (suddenly embarrassed) I mean...Mrs. B? Sorry. I called you mom. I meant Mrs. B.

Mrs. B: That's okay.

Other girl in front row: Yeah, it's okay. She's our mom away from mom.

Normally, my classroom is very tidy and very quiet. Not so, today. We were making memory books complete with pictures of all our adventures throughout the year. Of course, the children were noisy, messy, and very happy.

Mrs. B: (to the class) Aren't you all impressed that I'm not freaking out about the chaos?

Class: (no reply, too busy and too loud)

Mrs. B: (to Jacob, who is standing right next to me) It's all driving me meshugana, you know.

Jacob: (patting my hand) I know exactly how you feel.