you say potato, i say potato...(not quite the same effect when typed).

it's valentines day! sometimes i just look at all the cheap chocolate the kids bring in and think, "you really should've saved your money." but then i put on my best game face and 'my thankful motherly voice' because they are doing all they know to show appreciation, and they need to know that the thought does in fact count. so on my way out to the car, i was pondering what to do with all the extra chocolate and stuff. when i got to the parking lot, one of my 5th grade co-workers said she gave hers to our counselor...good call, why didn't i think of that? i hate it when people think of all the good ideas before i do!

i love the homemade stuff! although...the glass rose that glows and changes colors is pretty awesome!

 but my favorite of the day was this nifty little package that my co-science teacher gave me! you smash the bag, and then the package starts to expand..and all of a sudden, the bag busts open, and out pops this little bitty hand-sized balloon!! coolest thing ever!!

it was like a bag giving birth to a balloon and then sacrificing itself as it burst forth so that the baby balloon might live...i'm sure there's a devotional in there somewhere...

on the way home, i had to stop at tom thumb for the ingredients for salad i am taking to our little luncheon tomorrow. it's my favorite salad...a smoked salmon, spinach, fruit....with a zing- homemade vinaigrette type dressing...anyhoo, the point is, when i stopped, i saw but did not fall to the temptation of playing the claw..

i really wanted creepy spock!!

think of all the fun one could have with creepy spock. i mean, he could be a pass around at school...like a teacher flat stanley...only not flat and not stanley. hmm. in fact, i may have to stop in tomorrow with a handful of quarters and try my luck if he's still there! non-buyer's remorse..

tomorrow is the planting of the potatoes. we'll see how that goes. first i have to dig up whatever is in beds 5 and 6. just following orders. hopefully i can get to school early enough to prepare, and then work on it during my science classes, as it fits in with our current topic of soil. hands on will be good for our kiddos. and good for me, because they'll get their hands dirtier than i will. AND we'll get potatoes!

tomorrow is the day that will perhaps change the face of assessment and feedback in the classroom forEVERmore! i cannot wait to have the all in learning master pro come to teach young grasshoppers...(kung fu..anyone? anyone??) best worst-acting show ever! thank you, 70's!

enough is enough...tonight we sleep, for tomorrow.....we plant potatoes.
julie