On Monday, the kids used their last day of vacation in their own ways. Josiah used his volcano kit. This was a several day project because he had to make the plaster and let it set for a day. Then he painted it. Then he used it as a volcano...several times. He also made sugar cookies to use in their lunches for the week.
The first day back to school allowed them to view, but not keep, their midterm exams. They made A's on just about all of them (at least all I've heard about - I suppose there are some I haven't heard about...). They constantly impress me with their adaptation to school and homework and studying. This semester, Josiah is taking art. Technically, he isn't supposed to take it until next year, but he took it upon himself to email the art teacher and inquire about the class - what sorts of projects they do, etc. She then got him in the class for the spring. Most of his classmates are juniors and seniors. Henry has moved from art to drama for the quarter. Meanwhile, Caroline had drama last quarter and loved it. Now she has music and she was not looking forward to it at all. It's more like music theory. They make the middle schoolers try everything but they can choose in high school.
At the end of the week, report cards were distributed. Caroline, for the second time now, left hers at school. She gets hers in history class, but she's always able to get her history homework done during study hall. So her book and binder (with report card) sat in her locker all weekend. She remembered her grades, however, and she did quite well. She improved in each subject.
Henry was the only child to bring his report card home, and he, too, improved in each subject. His Latin grade, which we sort of discount (because he was put in Latin 3), he improved by 13 points. He did quite well overall. There is very little room for improvement for the next semester!
Josiah has the only excuse for not bringing his home, because he was never given it. Technically, they were handed out a day early, because school was cancelled on Friday for snow!
It started to snow mid-morning on Friday. We were expected to get 1-3" but it felt like we got less than an inch. It was the good snow, though. The kids had a snowball fight and it was very easy to make the snowballs.
Benson absolutely loved the snow. He ran around everywhere. He loved loved the snowballs and would run around with one in his mouth before eating it. We took him out many times to run and by the afternoon he was snoring on the floor.
The snow turned to freezing rain mid-afternoon, so that was the end of our fun. We were very, very happy to play in the snow again.
And then came Saturday. Josiah turned 16! He shocked us all when he slept in until 6:30 a.m. We were all happy for the extra sleep. In keeping with tradition, we hid his gifts around the house with clues.
Dinner was his new favorite restaurant...KFC... When it came time for cake, I went to get the candles but remembered I threw them away in Texas. We improvised and made a 'J' out of a six pack of tea lights.
Josiah spent his day putting together his new desk chair, a Lego kit, and decorating his room with his new LED lights. He was very blessed to get a new camcorder from his cousins so we are awaiting his first video. But what Josiah has played with most of all is his Spiderman webshooter. I was a bit skeptical as to its quality, but so far it shoots pretty well. It has a suction cup with string attached, so it has hit many a window and door so far. 
Despite turning sixteen, Josiah still has no interest in driving a car. He was telling us his plans for college the other day and said he would catch a ride with Todd when he went to work.
We are back to school as normal in the morning. The spring semester has a lot less breaks than the fall, so here we go.
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