Love is in the Air

I know, right...it's only the middle of January.  I haven't even broken out the cute decorations that I got at the Teachers' Warehouse, yet (we have a "store" where I live that is stocked with free stuff for one's classroom...I will write about that soon).  So, we were doing a little Read to Self this morning (though our urgency for learning is waning).  I was walking around conferencing with my little friends.  I meandered over to the classroom library (currently undergoing a transformation a la the Clutter-Free Classroom project), and what did I spy?  Two of my little friends holding hands while they were reading.  Friend one is new to the class and friend two likes to be rightbyme (seriously...I need a little space, friend) all. the. time.  I don't actually mind because, if it didn't cross some sort of professional line, I'd take him home with me (and not just because he tells me, "I love you as a teacher," every day.).  Friend one immediately said, "He's not bothering me."  Friend two said, "We like each other."  I said, "That's great that you are friends, but we really need to keep our hands to ourselves...especially during reading time."  They looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders (as if to say, "Let's just humor her.") and scootched to opposite sides of the library.  It was the first display of affection in my class this year.  And given that Valentine's isn't too far away, I'm sure it won't be the last.