(Backup) Almost Christmas

Today was Ellie’s last day of school in 2018. 

Tomorrow is Calvin’s last day of school and holiday concert. 

I’ve issued 5 out of 7 reports and proposals that need to be issued in 2018 (one is in technical review and the other is in editorial review...so close...)

About 40% of the presents are wrapped. The mantle is filled with cards from family and friends. We have more amazon boxes than can fit in our recycling bin. 

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And I’m exhausted just thinking about everything else that has to get finished before Monday. 

And Calvin made a raspberry pie magnet.

Calvin’s holiday concert

Calvin’s holiday concert was today. He got all dressed up and sang his heart out. He was excited he was tall/old enough to be in the back row. After the concert was sweets and treats.

Only two years ago he was the little kid in the front row who cries through the whole concert...

My little baker

Calvin insisted on making cookies on Sunday. But he wanted to make a new cookie. So, I had to get creative with what we had on hand and come up with a relatively easy drop cookie that he could do. So, we came up with a vanilla sugar drop cookie and added some peppermint flavoring. Then he crushed up some candy canes. After he put the dough on the cookie sheet (all by himself) he covered the cookies with the crushed candy canes. So we made a candy cane drop cookie. It turned out really well too. I was impressed with his patience in “dropping” all of the cookie dough. They didn’t end up the same size or uniform at all...but that didn’t affect the taste! 

A sick Calvin visits the fire station

Calvin is sick. He’s doing better today but he has been home from school yesterday and today. 

His school had a toy drive for the past two weeks. Each year the school has a toy drive and then the kids walk the toys to the Altadena fire station to deliver them to a Toys for Tots collection location and meet fire fighters. The field trip was scheduled for yesterday. 

Upon waking up with a fever, cough, sore throat, and generally feeling miserable Calvin was totally distraught that he wouldn’t get to go to the fire station. So I made him a deal that if he rested and was feeling better I would take him as long as he didn’t cough on or touch anyone. He agreed. But he fell asleep in the car on the way to school and during the first two times I tried to wake him up he didn’t want to go...but eventually he woke fully. 

So we joined his classmates and teachers on the field trip. It was a trip to walk the quarter mile to the fire station with 21 kids including a bunch of two year olds. Upon arrival the kids got to see a fire engine and sit in it, met a fire fighter, and got a tour of the fire station. It was a lot of fun. But it totally wore Calvin out. 

Today he decided to take the day to rest and recover. He is feeling better and his fever broke early afternoon. 

Piano recital 12/16

Ellie has a piano recital yesterday. She played two songs: Hungarian Folk Song by Bartok and Nimbus 2000 by J. Williams arranged for piano. She has been working on Nimbus 2000 for almost 6 months and it payed off. The piece is hard yet impressive. Every person in the room was impressed by her playing it and we received it overheard many compliments. 

However, I was more impressed with her maturity as a player with Hungarian Folk Song. During her performance she made a mistake in the left hand and the song was starting to come off the rails. But, she kept playing the right hand and caught the left hand back up. Nobody except me and her teacher knew she made a mistake. And she nailed the last chord. 

Of course it wouldn’t be a normal weekend without racing between activities. We left the recital and she headed to a soccer tournament. Hence there was a quick change in the car.

Mom card

During her school concert I, apparently, embarrassed E by taking photos. I have officially obtained my mom card!

Classroom surprise

I helped the school principal on a school tour today. As past of the tour we popped into Ellie’s classroom. She was shocked to see me as were her friends. I also saw her at recess where she and a couple friends showed me the routine they have been working on at the climbing structure. The routine involved quite a bit of climbing, hanging, and cartwheels.

Webster Holiday concert 2018

Today was one of the highlights of the school year, the holiday concert! Lies class sang beautifully and she got to participate in the instrumental concert as well. She performed two songs on flute. Everyone did so well and it wa a great to see how much her friend and classmates have learned and progressed this year. As usual it was fantastic and her music teacher did such a great job. And as usual the decorations (left over from a McDonalds or Jack in the Box commercial from years ago) also looked great.