Wednesday afternoon was our classroom party before the holiday break. Each year, every teacher is blessed with additions to the coffee mug collection, given at least six new candles, and receives a few boxes of assorted chocolates, all of which are wonderful gifts!

One of my students is very interested in drawing, especially cartoons, and loves movies, especially those about superheroes. I have switched grades, so this year, I have some of my former kindergarten students. One of them is James. He has a very dry wit, and is blessed with an adult sense of humor, even as a kindergartner a few years ago! He looks like Bart Simpson, right down to the tall blonde brush cut.

At conferences in November, he came in with his mother and we were talking about how creative James is. Then we got on the subject of Christmas. James said he was going to buy me some Vince Gill cd's, and his mom said I probably already had all of them, which I do! James was stumped as to what to buy me (he'd been questioning me about a variety of possibilities for about a week and a half already), so I told him the best gifts are the homemade kind. I told him I'd love a book of Vince drawings. He seemed satisfied.

Wednesday James came in with a flat package, about the size of a half sheet of construction paper. When I opened it, there was James' creation--a Vince Gill Picture book!! The front has some photos that James printed off the internet, with a hand drawn VG logo. James told me he's still working on "faces" so he thought it was best that he just printed Vince's off the internet. He had taken his favorite movies and put Vince into the lead roll, complete with a pencil drawing of all the scenery and the "star" body, with Vince's smiling face cut to fit on the body!!! It's great!!!! There are pages of Vince as Rocky Balboa, Vince as Superman and Spiderman, and Vince as a "Man in Black" from the MIB movie. I just LOVE it!!! It's one of those gifts that will remain a treasure, and won't end up in my annual garage sale!!!

Mary

How sweet. I know what yoiu mean about treasuring it and whenever you look at it years from now, you will remember James. I didn't get any "Vince related" things from my students, though I did get some really thoughtful gifts. One of my students, Matthew, who always has his nose in a book gave me a box of Godiva chocolates as well as a box of chocolates he made himself. As I opened the box to look at them he told me that some of them have nuts in them- one of my other students has a severe peanut allergy that the others are well aware of. I said, "You don't think I'm giong to shere them, do you? I don't share chocolate."- The class, including Matthew, cracked up. LOL

Oh wow, Mary!!! This young man definitely is very imaginative..and to be so young!!! Well, you know you should show this to Vince sometime, right??? I'll bet he would absolutely love it...!!! Such a sweet and thoughtful gift...I'm sure it is a treasure!!!

Bruce's Mom is a retired 2nd grade teacher...each year, when she rec'd gifts from the kids, she would always take what she wanted and put the rest in a pile for all of her daughters-in-law to go thru!!! Lots of candles..haha..and Christmas earrings and Christmas socks!!! She usually kept the candy, tho..LOL!!!

Neat story, Mary...need to put that in a Vince scrapbook!!!

James is such a treasure. I got one of the GOO ornaments featuring Vince from my DIL. She said it was the untimate cheesy gift but I thought it was great. My Grandson, age 3, wanted to hear the song from the ornament over and over and over. He ask who was singing and VINCE GILL was always the answer. Grandson Jack stated that Vince was his favorite singer. The next day we were at Victoria Gardens, a super shopping center in Rancho Cuchamonga, CA, entereing the Jamba Juice the same song was playing. Jack stopped dead in his tracks and yelled, " Grandma, Vince is singing". What a bright kid!

[b][u]
Mary what a neat story that is something you will treasure forever
that sounds like a great book he made up with Vince,
love ya, SHIRL
Lady Gill.

I LOVE those kids stories! Just too precious! You teachers treasure those moments with those bright youngsters. They are such a gift from HEAVEN. GOD bless you for realizing the need to do what you do!!!!

Merry Christmas to you all!!!

Sharon,

On Wednesday, my 4 yr old neice was here, along with my mom and stepfather. She kept reaching up for the Vince Opry ornament. My stepfather was next to the tree and Taylor knew it played music, but he didn't know where the button was, so I got up and turned it on for her. We have some other musical things around, including a Nativity Scene that recites the Christmas story and a Hallmark snowman/snowwoman that sing. I don't think Taylor pushed the snowman/woman on, but she did turn on the Nativity Scene.

Yes, I do have a lot of treasures and priceless memories from over my years of teaching. They are just so darn cute most of the time!!! One of the first things I teach them each year is that Vince "is the cutest boy in the whole world" and that he "sings like an angel".

I had the radio on last week at school while the kids were doing some holiday activities, to the station that only plays Christmas songs. Amy came on, and I told them that was Vince's wife singing. They didn't believe me, until the dj said "That was Amy Grant, or Mrs. Vince Gill." One of my girls piped up and said "You should be Mrs. Vince Gill!!" They are funny, those fourth graders! They make me pictures quite often, and I've received some "Front Row Vince Gill Passes" that they've created, too. I have to say, I LOVE my job!!

Oh my Mary those are priceless stories. Leave it to the children .It's no wonder you love your job..............getting those front row passes.How cute is that ??????