So this is Christmas... and what have you done?

Wow, it's here. The day was spent cooking, and cutting snowflakes and playing spirograph and planning the big guy's visit. We ate soup (corn chowder) and bread and scratched off lottery tickets (and made back $27 and two tickets). It is now 11:17pm and I have had to put Glee back to bed before she reached the bottom of the stairs. "has he been here yet?" but no, I don't want to ruin the surprise. Sure, he's been here, got here just before my shower and just after I finished the coffee cake for breakfast!

This is an amazingly magical time. They both believe so much with their hearts that it all must be true. We did a fairy and mermaid tea last weekend... they left her a magic freshwater pearl necklace (thanks Cost Plus!). Oh, and real live flowers covered in magic dust. They will grace our table tomorrow.

Happy Christmas to you all... and solstice and hannukah and kwanzaa and whatever it is you want to celebrate. Love your family and celebrate!

Report Cards and Christmas Lights

So... Thomas' report card said he is right where he needs to be in all areas except a couple. Those all include impulse control (he needs to follow directions, sit still, listen more attentively). I'll give him a pass on all of those for the first few months of school. He is coming from a preschool class that had vastly different rules, not to mention he's five years old. I am not excusing him... I am just giving him time to figure out the system. I had his conference today with his teacher and she said he is very smart but is working on impulse control. He knows his letters by sight and sound, he is reading (as of October he was reading 15 of the 30 words all kindergartners should know by the end of kindergarten). He's trying. The one thing I will be working with him on is small motor skills aka learning to write clearly. His letters can be pretty sloppy, and I know he doesn't LIKE to do it, but it's an important part of the education.

Glee, on the other hand (sort of), got all E's, which stands for excellent in every single category, work and effort, except one. In writing effort she got a VG+ (Very Good +). I think the only reason she got one VG was so that she wouldn't be promoted to third grade. Seriously, her teacher LOVES her... and I think it is mutual. I have her conference on Friday. I am hoping she will be tested for GATE this year (Gifted and Talented) which just means extra school work, and more learning chances. She needs it.

I spent a lovely weekend in San Francisco, and missed my family more than I should have. It sure is nice to come home after getting away.

I have to say, one of my favorite favorite FAVORITE things of this time of year is to see Christmas lights in the rain. Lovely I tell you. It is now cold, cold enough to wear my warm winter coat and my autumnal scarf. I love it...