Today was an Institute Day at my children’s elementary school. I’m still not exactly sure why, the week after Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, our kids are off school on a Monday.
I’m told the teachers are receiving extra training on these days (isn’t that what summer is for?), but I don’t recall ever getting any reports on what they’re learning or where.
What I do know is that Institute Days and half-days create havoc in my work schedule.
This time, I decided to skip the hassle of finding a sitter and took a vacation day. And I’m thinking it’s an option worth taking again if I can swing it.
It helps that the kids let me sleep in…a bit. And they didn’t clamor to be fed right away, so we ended up – three cooks in the kitchen – making Alvin & the Chipmunks banana pancakes. My Future Farmkids decorated their chipmunk-cakes with chocolate syrup hair, chocolate chip eyes and noses, and Twizzler mouths and bows (for the chipette).
With that lead up, we went to see the Squeakquel (for a second time), which I think should earn me some sort of good mommy badge.
My favorite part of the day was really the only thing I had planned, a late afternoon reading hour complete with snack and hot chocolate picnic in the living room. The kids draped themselves in their Snuggies, then brought the seats – a stuffed shark and pillows – spread out the picnic cloth and settled in for a riveting few chapters of Half Magic.
The best part came at supper, when we were sharing our happy things. My son picked as his happy thing, having momma all day today and our reading picnic.
My daughter’s happy thing? Seeing the Squeakquel.
Virtual Farmgirl 