Mr. Suzuki's Birthday

Friday is Mr Suzuki's Birthday, Abegail's first grade teacher. Since about the end of January she has told me she wants to get him a present. (For those of you who don't know Mr. Suzuki is the best first grade teacher in the whole world) I said that's fine what do you want to get him? She says, "I want to get him a new pair of shoes." I said oh, does he need new shoes, are his shoes worn out? No, I just want to get him shoes. Maybe I can ask him what size he is. I said OK. So she comes home the next day and says, "Mommy, he is a 9 1/2." I said good to know. Friday they don't have school so tonight we went out to get her class candy for Valentines Day and a gift for Mr. Suzuki. She had by this point decided she didn't want to get him shoes. I said, how about socks? No, he doesn't need socks. I said, how do you know? "Because he wears socks everyday." So we went through the toy aisle. Abegail, I don't think Mr. Suzuki wants a barbie. I said how about candy. "No he doesn't need candy." She wanted to get him a talking bear kind of like one she gave Grandma Charlene for Christmas but they all played love songs, I'm thinking probably not the most appropriate thing for a first grader. Finally after 30 minutes we settled on a glow in the dark fan and a happy birthday bear. And yes we were late for church school, but then again its all for Mr. Suzuki. Did I mention he's teaching kindergarten next year???
Oh, EMMANUEL......
Quotes from Abegail
Abegail: Mommy, Mr. Suzuki's mom made him a necklace of flowers from Hawaii.
Mommy: His mom lives in Hawaii??
Abegail: Yes.
Mommy: Why does he live in Minnesota if his Mom lives in Hawaii?
Abegail: We live in Minnesota and Grandma Marian lives in New York. Sometimes that's how it works.
Mommy: Oh, very true.