Holiday Performance

I told Travis to skip the boy's holiday performance this year. He's never skipped it. He just got back from being out of town. Asking off for work wasn't something he wanted to do. Their holiday program is smack dab in the middle of the day. They offer it at 2 times 10 and 1. It lasts about 3 hours. I'm not exaggerating. Usually I have to take off work, and it lands on my finals week. Thankfully that wasn't the case this year. Sigh of relief!

My parents came. They had my youngest nephew Edison. I was worried that he'd get restless, but he was pretty good! He's used to being taken all different places where he has to be quiet. He has 3 older brothers, and one has Trisomy 18, so lots of doctor appointments, sports events and church that he has to attend.

Me: Edison Smile! :)

I got more cute pictures of Edison than my boys because when my boys performed the photos were grainy and dark.

My Dad and I have always been good at entertaining kids with very little things. My Dad used to make faces on our hands to make them talk, while we were in church when we were little. Ha! Can you tell I didn't pay attention to what the paster said? With Edison we kept passing back and forth nothing. We put that nothing down his shirt, and he'd pull it out the bottom of his shirt, and hand it to my Dad, then to me, then to my Mom, and it would get back to Edison. 

The next day someone sent me this: 

I imagine it's what Edison was picturing the nothing that we were passing back and forth to look like. 

Mica had his first band performance:

They played really pretty good! A beat of music played, while they played. I'm sure that helped them. When they missed a note I couldn't hold the camera still I was laughing so hard. I don't know why I think that's so funny! I guess I just have a twisted since of humor. 

After the band played the room got really dark. I filmed mostly, so Travis could see. 

The school got me with their last song. All the kids in the whole school came in to go around the gym. They all sang a song about togetherness. I cried like a baby. Travis is like, "Why didn't you record the finale?" It was hard spotting out our own kids + there were people standing up blocking kids + I was crying like a baby. 

I had the teacher's gifts. I made them little loaves of Banana Chocolate Chip Bread, June Berry Jam, Hot Coco. Mica and Isaak looked at me and said, "That's it?" I put in a gift card to Dunkin' Donuts as well. I said, "Just don't tell your Father." Travis always says, "I don't know why you give the teachers so much. My parents never gave the teachers anything. You don't get anything." I'm a college teacher. It's different. These kids get 1 teacher everyday for 5 days a week. 

I picked the kids up after their performance. They were so excited to get out early. Many parents swipe their kids out at that time. The kid's attendance isn't jeopardized. 

We went home. I said, "I have to get a good photo of both of you."

Do your kids, or did your kids (when they were younger) have a holiday program?

Tid Bits

1. Thanksgiving is coming up. I'm trying to think of what to do for some foodie art.

Part of me wants to do this Cheese Ball. It will look different though.

Source

I also want to do a fruit, or veggie tray. I wouldn't do strawberries just because when I pick them out this time of year, they seem to be bad. I'd probably do pomegranate seeds, and big holiday grapes.

Then maybe these cupcakes just because they are so fun!

What are you making for this event?

2. Mica and Isaak got to pick out Advent Calendars. They were so excited. They had to go through, and show each other where all the numbers were. Then Isaak sang Jingle Bells in the store. That's better than screaming, crying kids.

3. Our school implemented a thing called a Pro Review for some major projects. My 3rd year class just had one. A few didn't pass, all but one were cool about it. The thing is, in the design field many designer's ideas are shot down. In the past I've had more fail it, and more resist changing their design. This year it's only one. When I told her that it wouldn't fly for the 2nd time she threw a pencil at her desk space. I'm glad we have the Pro Review. It forces them to step up their work.

4. Mica and Isaak's holiday program lands on my finals day again. That's hard. I wish they'd put it in the evenings. Maybe parents weren't bringing their kids to it though. I'll figure it out. I always do.

5. Mica's stepped it up with swimming. He swims laps now. Isaak's stepped down. Have you ever had it happen where you, a child, or a grandchild stepped it down with something?