Vacation!

This is the last day of school before vacation. Even though we only worked three days last week because of ice, this week has made up for it - I swear each day was three days long. I had high hopes this morning because of heavy fog that we could skip this last day - but of course we are here and ready to work! My grade level has a sing a long this morning for 20 minutes, a Christmas tradition we started at Lincoln many years ago. The music teacher plays piano and I get to choose the songs. At Lincoln, the whole school sang, here the whole fourth grade and some of their parents who can get away for a little bit. The principal insisted this year that we not sing any "religious" songs. I will miss the sweetness of hearing 200 rambuncious 10 year old voices singing reverently Silent Night.

Blessed Holidays

As the last days of school before Christmas wind down (and the kids wind up!) I am prompted to let each of you know that I think of you often and hope your holidays will be very special this year. Dan and I got to spend Saturday shopping part of the day, visiting Emily and her parents another part of the day and lastly, watching the musical version of "It's a Wonderful Life" at Ames City Auditorium. Robert was part of the orchestra and their church partnered with several other churches in Ames to put on the production. Although I missed seeing Jimmy Stewart in it, it was a great experience. The music was powerful and the message good as well.
Laura and I baked cookies while Emily napped in the afternoon and Dan and Rob watched a movie. We decided it was a good day's work and although everything might not have looked like the magazine pictures, the cookies tasted pretty good. They will be eaten tomorrow for "Treat" day here at school.

Long time, no write

It's been a while, hasn't it? No excuses - just regular stuff. I have started tutoring three days a week, both before and after school. It's not really tutoring, but instead teaching an intensive phonics based reading program. Our district got a grant to pay for materials and pay for us. The groups are small, three or four at a time, which is what is recommended. Consequently I have been trying to get to work by 6:00 each morning and can't leave in the afternoon much before 5:00.
The weather sounds as if it might be real nasty for tomorrow. Our superintendent is the last one in our whole area to call off school. Friday everyone around us was delayed because of the ice but not us. I wonder if the bus drivers are paid extra for driving on icy roads in the dark? I am sort of counting on tomorrow off, though, as it sounds as if it will take down power lines again. This time we have stockpiled some candles and firewood, so we hopefully we won't repeat last year when we were without furnace for 4 days. If we don't have school maybe I can get all the projects finished for Christmas. Every time I finish one seems like I get three new ideas to work on!