Monday, May 24, 2010

Hot Tamale Heads to Kinder

If we thought no day could be more thrilling than the annual Easter mEGGa Hunt, today came very, very close. The Hot Tamale was not only in heaven--she was in the very best parts of it where people eat dark chocolate bon bons by the carload and still keep a cut six-pack. She was so exhausted from exuberance that she requested a nap. At 11:30.

Kindergarten! Land of tripping, slipping, jumping, dancing, singing large-ish little folks. With five days left until summer break, these kids had a bad case of kinderitis and Hot Tamale did her best to keep them even more distracted. Entertain them, she did. Mrs. Gigi loves having bite-sized visitors to spice things up in class, so we decided to introduce HT to the world of alphabet puzzles, home centers, and dull scissors.

"Let's show Hot Tamale how we do calendar. I'm looking for a very quiet boy or girl sitting in their spot." And HT sprints to the carpet. She picks the Qq to sit on, which is perfect since Owen is home sick. She stays there, criss-cross apple sauce, for about 43 seconds and then she's off to inspect backpacks in the cubby area. Oh how big kids straighten up for littler ones! One mommy in particular, Penny, knew exactly how to woo the HT:

"No, Hot Tamale, sit down and look at Mrs. Gigi. Can you dance with us? Let's read this book. No, you can't eat it. [To me with utter confidence.] I have a little brother and a little sister. My mom really wanted a boy and he's the last one. I KNOW how to take care of babies."

Can I take you home in my diaper bag, Pretty Penny? Delicious! HT half listens to the days of the week and skip counting songs and half pesters the big boys (who really want to play with her but don't want the other big boys to know it). In just over four minutes my extra spicy Hot Tamale has demolished the morning routine.

The rest of our hour-long visit HT tippy toes around the room with an entourage of at least five kindergarteners giving her the down low on Oscar the Grouch, alphabet buckets, and how to use the in-class potty. Had P.E. not interrupted the morning, she would easily be reading Dr. Seuss by lunchtime.

Hot Tamale soaked in every ounce of attention showered on her. Hip hip hooray for our second best day ever!

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