Spirit Week

Spirit Week started out with Merry Monday.  The only requirement was to wear red and green.  We were a family of green.  It was a little rough for K3 that day because it was 19° when we left for school with no hope of getting above freezing before noon.  That meant no recess...on the week before Christmas.  Henry and Caroline came home from school not feeling well.  They powered through because of midterms, but it was a rough start.  The Christmas spirit had not kicked in for everyone that morning, two out of the four... 

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Tuesday was Theme Tuesday - each class got to decide how they wanted to dress.  Josiah's class was a Christmas tree farm and their teacher was the lumberjack.  Henry's class was coal.  One of the kids was supposed to be Santa, but they all ended up being coal.  Very clever of them to wear all black.  Caroline's class dressed as snowmen, as did my class in preschool.  All you have to do is wear a white shirt and stick three black dots down the front and you have an instant snowman.  Henry and Caroline came home from school feeling even worse on Tuesday.  Caroline was all glassy eyed and just wanted to sleep.  Not good when midterms started the following day.

Wake-up Wednesday was next.  Christmas pajamas were the theme.  When we got out of the car, the kids noticed they were all wearing the same clothes.  Definitely unplanned.  This was the start of exams, so it was nice to be comfortable.  The boys each had one exam that first day and a very long study hall.  Caroline had two.  Henry and Caroline started feeling better that afternoon.  Not all the way, but definitely on the mend.  

Thursday was Wear Christmas t-shirts or sweatshirts.  Caroline reused the sweatshirt I had worn on Monday.  Henry got his Santa Spiderman out from the bottom of his drawer.  Josiah rocked his Grinch shirt.  The kids finished up their exams.  Afterwards there were parties for all the Upper School kids.  The girls went to one house and decorated gingerbread houses.  The boys went to another house.  We felt sorry for the host of the boys' party because it had rained a lot that day and I'm sure her plans were for them to play outside.  It was a lot of boys.  At pick-up they had a football game going in the front yard and Josiah mentioned he had played spike ball, so they did get out.  All had a good time and they were very happy to be finished with school.  Christmas spirit was not present the morning of that Thursday and no pictures were taken.  

Friday was Fancy Friday - wear your Sunday best.  The church we attend on Sunday is not exactly fancy.  Like not at all.  So, I told my kids it was Presbyterian Church Sunday best.  We started the day with Lessons and Carols, which was a very nice program.  Each class sang a song and between each, Caroline's class read sections of Scripture telling about Jesus' birth.  The kids were given time to clean out their lockers before they started a mean game of Family Feud.  Rountree House won the game, so that was good way to finish out the week.  

That afternoon, Caroline and Henry enjoyed the school's basketball games.  Unfortunately, Josiah caught the bug and was down for the count Friday night.  It is a very fast bug and by Saturday morning he was already on the mend.  

Christmas week has now begun.  We are very grateful to not have to set alarms.  Benson does not understand the concept of sleeping in, but at least he's cute.

Ice Skating

Caroline finished her Switzerland project and had to make her cookies the evening before.  She had learned during another's presentation that day, that one classmate was allergic to tree nuts.  Not good since the base of her cookies were almonds.  We were not going to change gears that late in the game, so she still made her vanilla almond crescents.  On our drive to school the next morning, we stopped at the grocery store, looking for nut-free cookies.  After quite a bit of looking up and down the aisle, Josiah found Zurich cookies.  Perfect.  She said when she gave her presentation, everyone liked the almond crescents, and she gave the other kid the entire pack of Zurich cookies.  That was nice, but also, we wanted to try them....

Mid-week, Josiah tried out for the spring play.  They finally announced what the play would be - Clue - like the board game.  Josiah got a list of all the characters and their personalities.  He was drawn to Mr Green and tried out for that part.  During try-outs, they had him read for Col Mustard as well.  He was told that if acting chops were equal, they're going to pick the student in 12th grade.  Either way, he'll be on stage whether it is a big part or small.  It should be a fun play, but that's a lot of rooms to design and create.  Henry wants be part of stage crew.  

Caroline spent her Saturday ice skating with the youth ministry.  Much earlier in the week, she mentioned that she wanted to show me how she could skate.  That same sentiment was not felt on Saturday.  I made her turn around for a picture and then I left.  They skated a long time and then went to the deli next door for lunch.  She was a fan and it is now on our list of local places to try.  

We finished out the weekend enjoying a Christmas concert at a church close by.  Josiah learned his science teacher was going to have a solo, so he was eager to go.  It was a big choir and orchestra and it was a very nice concert.  His teacher sang O Holy Night, and impressed us with his vocals.  

We've had some beautiful sunrises on our way to school in the mornings.  Caroline has captured a few.  

Last week of school up ahead.  It's Spirit Week, so it'll be a crazy one with Christmas outfits along with mid-terms. 

Christmas Elves

Unbeknownst to Caroline, she promoted our school for Giving Tuesday.  

The following day, we spotted all three kids in their Service Day photos.  It was good to get a glimpse of the work they did that day.  

As the year wraps up, we have been getting "year in review" things from different apps.  The Spotify app created one, and after it listed all your music listening stats, it gave your Listening Age.  Caroline's age? 19.  Henry's? 28.  Todd's? 71.  And our Josiah?  76.  That's what happens when you listen to The Beatles and Elton John.  A lot.

That same night, Henry took his "listening age" seriously and came to dinner with 'Beer' on the Rocks.  For his sake, I'm glad he thought that was a thing.   Ice Tea on the rocks?  Very good.  Beer?  Not so much.  

Josiah has taken it upon himself to learn how to play the keyboard.  He wants to play Bohemian Rhapsody, but has to work his way up to it.  He's spent the last few days learning Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Let it Be.  YouTube has pretty cool tutorials that almost make it look like a game.  

This weekend, the kids wanted to decorate for Christmas.  Henry was the impetus and he had big ideas.  He wanted decorations in every room of the house.  The three of them were like little elves running around, emptying bins of decorations.  Josiah lit up the stairwell with a garland of lights.  He also put the elves and Christmas mice in various spots.  The absolute best part was when I told Henry, You shouldn't put that Snowman on a dusty shelf.  And that's how my house got dusted yesterday.  (woo-hoo)  The kitchen countertop was cleaned off.  Shelves all over the house were dusted.  I may have them decorate for all the holidays.  Ironically, the tree is still not decorated, but it's pretty as it is.  I'm sure that'll happen in the next few days.  

We're down to two weeks of school!  I think we're all trying to garner enough steam to make it through.