Boys & Girls

Jason says I should write down all the funny things I hear the kids say at school, so why not on my blog? Here's what I observed during second grade playground duty last Thursday:

Boy taps girl on shoulder and says,

"Hey, are you gonna chase me, or am I supposed to chase you?"

Did you get that, college lovers? Let's be a little more clear on how you're playing the game.

Another one that I will never forget happened last year during first grade recess duty. The bell had just rung, so all 100 six-year-olds were making a beeline for their line up spots--except one.

Little girl tugs on my neon yellow duty vest and says,

"Duty, my b.... hurt."

"What sweetheart? I couldn't hear you," I say, kneeling down to listen better.

"I said, my balls hurt," she whispers.

( I couldn't possibly have heard her right.)

"Um, what did you just say?" I ask.

"My balls hurt!" she says louder, through gritted teeth.

(Seriously?)

"Um, you don't have any balls, honey. But I hope you feel better."

This girl must have all brothers.

Goodbye, Summer

Oooh, I can't believe summer is over. I held onto it as long as I could, but with snow on its way tomorrow, I have to let go. I bought a new sweater to wear on the first snow to make it a little easier. Autumn used to be my favorite season, but not here. It's just another reminder that winter is coming. I remember the day six years ago BYUI asked for volunteers to pull out all the flower beds before the first frost. For me, it wasn't so much a service project as my last chance to soak in all the bright colors before there was only gray. I took home a bouquet of survivors and cried when they, too, died.

I think the trees here hang onto summer as long as they can. They don't rejoice in fall like they do in the Midwest and East--taking on a million golden hues and shimmering like jewels. In Idaho, there are two colors: Green and yellow. It's a dull palette against a gray sky.

And so, I soak up every bit of green I see and resign myself to nine more months of gray ice and gray snow. I can only hope we move to Kentucky or Nebraska for dental school where winter is at least confined to three months of the year!

I have 22 little bright spots with me this winter, though. My first graders give me plenty to do and plenty of love to give and receive. On the first day of school I told them I'm moving to Florida when the first snow comes. (It was so cold on September 1st, I was worried it would be there within days!) I still joke with them about it when we count the sunny, cloudy, rainy, and snowy days on our weather graph. "Zero snowy days! And it's a good thing, or I'm moving to Florida!" And they squeal, "No! 'Cuz then we'd have to go with you so you can still be our teacher!" I just love them. We have fun and we work our tails off, and I'm actually glad we still have seven months left.