School Christmas Traditions

What's not to love about Christmas?

Here is a recap of some of the fun things the girls got to do during Advent, leading up to Christmas.

Longtime Traditions.  

Miss G's Grade 1 Christmas Concert

Tuesday was Miss G's big Christmas Concert Day!

On Monday, the school got to see the dress rehearsal for the Grade 1 to 5 concert, and that's my big chance to figure out the best place to sit for the best concert pictures of my girl.

I managed to sneak down to the gym to catch her matinee performance, and Daddy got to see the whole afternoon show.

Miss A's Christmas Concert

I was just looking at the girls' Christmas Concert picutres from last year, and my-oh-my they were cute!

But some of these ones... well, it's just too hard to pick a favourite year, and so I won't.

This year, Miss A was in the Preschool and Kindergarten Christmas concert, "Waiting for Jesus... Songs from theh First Christmas," along with my Kindergarten class, so I went from teacher (directing the class in song with gestures and my off key voice, but with loads of enthusiasm) to Mommy in as much time as it takes to get 26 kids off the stage and for me to get my big camera hung around my neck.

Daddy was away this week, and scheduled to land in Yellowknife a few minutes before the concert began, so above you can see Miss A searching the crowd for Daddy. 

She had just asked me, "Mommy, is Daddy here?"

Miss A and the Ledge

Christmas traditions are repeating themselves once again this year, and Miss A got to go to the Ledge this year to decorate a Christmas tree, just as Miss G did last year, and as every Kindergarten student in Yellowknife has done for nearly 20 years.

The tree decorating for Kindergarten classes at our school was last Wednesday, December 5th.

I had a chance to come by in the morning to wish Miss A a fun time, but I had to stay behind at school this year, because I had a Kindergarten class of my own to take later that morning! 

Daddy's work is very close to the Legislature building, so he was able to meet Miss A at the Ledge.  This was taken at 9:00 am, dawn... before sunrise. 

Japanese Celebrity

I am fully aware that I have been slacking off of the blog postings lately.

I have a few explanations:

1. Report Cards (my teacher friends will know that this is the only explanation necessary to inspire a full whirlwind of procrastination techniques)

2. Three-Way Conferences with parents and students

3. Advent activities leading up to Christmas

4. Weird stuff

This week, it is my goal to update you on the weird stuff because, let's face it, that's why you love me.

So, today, I will tell you about my day as a Japanese reality TV star.

Konnichiwa!

On Monday, a Japanese film crew arrived to follow around me and my class.  I knew about the filming in advance, as a child in my class is a member of a family that agreed to the filming.

The Japanese show that the crew was videoing for is called... and, truly, I can't make this stuff up...

Miss A's Rabbit Camp

Miss A went on her Rabbit Camp this week.

Last year, you might remember Miss G going on her Rabbit Camp in November.

It was so memorable for her; she still talks about it all the time.

This year, I also went on a Rabbit Camp with my own Kindergarten class.

We went last Thursday.

Eli went with Miss A on Tuesday, and he took some great pictures of her and her classmates learning about the snowshoe hare.

Daddy arrived at school before the bus arrived, and got to see all the Kinders getting their snow gear on.

It was COLD.  Below -30.  COLD. 

Miss G's Journal

It's -20 outside.  -26 with the windchill.  Just thought you should know.

Miss G came home with a collection of school work on Monday.

I want to share with you her school journal.  I love it so much.

I used labels to record precisely what she intended to say in the journal, but I LOVE her phonetic spelling.

Today is Tuesday, September 18, 2012.

Santa is coming to town.

Why can't she write that in September?  Don't even pretend that your kids don't watch Christmas DVD's all year long! 

Happy Halloween!!

Halloween is SO MUCH FUN in a school.  I almost wish it were twice a year... Halloween in April, anyone?

My teaching buddy, Holly and I dressed up to celebrate with our Kinder Kids. 

Miss A was Super A. 

Miss G was a rainbow butterfly.  The Big Kids in the school put on a great Halloween carnival for the Little Kids, and Miss G had her face painted there!

My Classroom Pumpkins

I told you that I would show you my classroom pumpkins.  We PAINTED them this year!

It was the best decision I ever made... carving pumpkins with a large group of kids is hard work!

Mommy's Classroom

My girls are so well trained at school.

When the bell rings, Miss G walks over to Mommy's Classroom to bring her backpack and outside gear (and usually Kid Doggie).

Miss A waits on the bench outside Mrs. F's classroom for me to come once all of my students have been picked up by their parents, and then she carries her things to Mommy's Classroom, too.

You see, the perk of having Mommy as a teacher is Mommy's Classroom, and all that comes with it!

Every Thursday, there is early dismissal for staff meetings and professional development.

The girls LOVE it when they get to stay in my room on their own on early dismissal days. 

I pack them a tasty snack, put on a movie, and they get to have fun.

Sometimes, other teachers' kids come to play, or the girls go play with them, and other times, they play on their own in my room.

I lock the classroom door from the outside, and they stay inside unless they have to use the washroom (right across the hall) or go to see the secretary in the office for help for very important things like for crayons or tape, and sometimes stickers or balloons.

Miss G's Great Race

Holy Busy, Batman... 

Eli has been away for the past two weeks, with one day and two nights in the middle at home, which really just messed up any sense of irregular regularity I managed to establish.

The girls have been busy with school.

Sharing Mrs. F with Miss A

Miss A is an official Kinder.

This means that she has Miss G's favourite Kindergarten teacher (from last year), Mrs. F all to herself (so to speak) this school year!

Last week, I was busy doing the Kindergarten teacher thing, and Miss A was doing the Kindergarten student thing, which was pretty special.

So, last week, Miss A and Daddy came in for Kindergarten interviews, which is a chance for the parents and child to meet the Kindergarten teacher in a one-on-one visit before school really kicks into gear.

 I came down the hall to meet them for our interview time, and this is what I saw...

Miss G, First Grader!

I handled this first day of school better than last year.

I think it's because the teachers are no longer strangers to me, but colleagues and, most importantly, ridiculously awesome people.

And, I haven't JUST moved across the country.

Nor am I teaching middle school for the first time.

Nor am I returning to full time work for the first time since the girls were born.

Man, it's a miracle I survived last year at all!

Greenhouse in Yellowknife

The girls and I have been putting in a few hours at school each day, so I'm not too rushed when school begins, and so that when Eli comes back from Inuvik and the girls are having long school days, we can have regular evenings without me being overwhelmed with start-up school details.

That's the plan.

School Supply Shopping

I love school supplies.

My girls do, too.

We've got school on the mind, since the girls have been "helping" me as I set up the classroom and clean all of the toys and learning materials (I'm a germ freak, what can I say?).

This morning, after breakfast, we packed up to go to Staples to take in Teacher Appreciation Day, and to get the girls their school supplies.

As the girls were getting in the car, I passed them their supply lists, which were in their report card envelopes in June, and happily have photos of everything on the list, so the girls could follow along. 

Once we arrived, the girls consulted their lists.

Not surprisingly, they wanted to get everything in order, so we did. 

And, as we went, they each got to check the items off their own list.

We got things for my classroom after the girls had everything on their lists.

Have you gone back to school shopping yet?

Are you as excited as the girls?

Our Busy August Weekend

This weekend was busy.

I didn't realize it was busy while we were in the middle of it, but it was!

It all started on Friday with Papa's birthday!

On Friday, after swim lessons, I took the girls out to get Papa birthday presents.

They had VERY SPECIFIC ideas about what Papa would like for his birthday, and couldn't wait for Papa to arrive home on Friday evening from work. 

Miss A wanted to get Papa a robot.

"Miss A, why do you think Papa would like a robot?"

"Um.  Papa likes robots.  And, Papa can share his robot with ME!" 

Miss G wanted to get Papa a stuffy to sleep with, and she picked this soft and cute puppy dog.

His name is Patch. 

Patch has yet to spend a night in Papa's bed, because Papa tells Miss G that Patch really likes all of her doggy toys in her bed.

She has yet to argue with his about that! 

Eli and I picked out Papa's cake... any guess who got the duckies?

Papa, Miss G and Miss A. 

We thought about switching the numbers around to read 26, but Papa is very secure with his age and was like, "No way!  I'm 62!  Put 62!"

Excellent attitude! 

I don't think Papa managed to blow out either candle on his own. 

The girls are fast at candle blowing! 

Birthdays bring their enthusiasm for life up about 10 notches to beyond extreme.

Friday night, Daddy snuggled with the girls. 

Please note that Miss G is snuggling with Patch (and her owl), and Miss A has Robot (and her seal, which you can't really see).

Last night Miss G sighed and said, "Papa really loves his presents.  He loves to share them, too!" 

Daddy got some extra special snuggle time on Friday night, because on Saturday morning, I drove Eli to his work early in the morning so he could meet up with the rest of the crew heading to Inuvik (which is far North in the Northwest Territories) for Operation Nanook.

He'll be in Inuvik assisting with the air operations for Op Nanook for 18 days in total, returning the day before the girls' first day of school.

He says the weather is about 2 or 3 weeks ahead of us in Yellowknife, and it is cooling off.

I'm not surprised, because it feels like some autumn air is pushing in here, too!

He is sharing a tent with six other guys, and he says that it is luxurious by many other military standards.

Eli packed well, and sent me this picture of his cot and space within an hour of landing in Inuvik.

They have good food services within the operation itself, and Eli brought his little mini burner for making coffee and other snacks, too.

And, last night, he went fishing with some rare downtime with some of his buddies, so I think he'll manage just fine.

Meanwhile, on Saturday evening, Papa and I ordered in.

On my way back home from picking up our supper, I saw this parked close to my house, and it totally cracked me up. 

Ah, Northern humour.

After church on Sunday, I stopped by my classroom to drop off the puppets and stuffies (reading buddies) I took home to put in the laundry, and to bring home another bag of toys to clean. 

I've been in the school a few days so far to set it up, and I had help on the first day from a good friend Michelle who volunteered to help me move my furniture around. 

Any teacher friend of mine know that Michelle must be a good friend!

It's coming together nicely, and I'll take you on a full tour once it's all set up. 

Later on Sunday, Papa introduced the girls to Jiffy Pop.

They were totally amazed and pumped to pop popcorn this way!

Usually, we just use our popcorn popper (we don't own a microwave, and haven't for many years).

They polished off almost all of the popcorn, and had some help from Papa.

Then, I moved into the kitchen to make a tuna casserole for a family in the community who needs a little extra lovin' right now. 

I'm sure they would appreciate a prayer from you, too.

When I returned from my supper delivery, the girls were on the front deck with Papa and our neighbour friends, all drawing in notebooks.

This is Miss A's Giant.  He's grumpy.

This is Miss G's bird in a bird house.

Maybe next year a family of birds will move into our bird house in the tree in the front yard.

And, on Sunday evening, I finished these dresses for the girls.

This was my weekend project, and likely what made the weekend so busy when I looked back over it!

The girls love looking at fabric, and this was picked by Miss G.

I had to modify the pattern a bit, because the girls are to teeny tiny.

I fully lined the dresses, and I loved the ruffle (called a flounce) on the hem of the dress. 

I'm so impressed with myself!

I had to bind every hem because the fabric was challenging to work with, but the final product looks great and the girls love them.

Oh, and they think they should be fashion girls.

What do you think?

Miss G's Kindergarten Farewell

Miss G is wrapping up Kindergarten, and her teacher, Mrs. F, planned a wonderful afternoon to celebrate the Kinders and all they've learned about cooperation and friendship this year. 

Miss G's class performed for the families in the school's band room. 

The kids were so cute walking in, in a line with their fancy clothes on.

I love how delighted Miss G is every time she sees me at school. 

She is positively thrilled and almost can't contain herself, and I eat it up.

Miss G picked out the birthday dress I made her last year.  She knows how to work it!

How cute is this picture with her little buddy whispering to her before they start to sing?

 I shamelessly sat in the very front row, and to my delight, Miss G was right in front of me. 

I think Miss G is destined to always be in the front row at concerts, just like her Mommy.

Clearly, we're camera hogs; it has nothing to do with height.

The students sang three songs for the families.

Miss G and I missed the first two because she desperately had to run to the washroom, so we hurried and came back in time for the finale.

It was the best song!

The kids sang, "Mrs. F Had a Band," and all the kids had different instruments to play.

Miss G rocked out on the Rythym Sticks, and others played drums, shakers and wooden spoons.

It was awesome!!

I toggled between my DSLR camera and the video camera, as I was on double duty (Daddy is on a fishing expedition with Uncle Emerson and Grampum). 

At the end of the song, on the video, you can see and hear Miss G say, "Mommy, clap now!  Put down the camera!" 

So, I clapped the loudest and cheered.

After that, Mrs. F had a wonderful slideshow of all the pictures from the school year, and the kids loved sitting at the front and calling out, "That's me!" and "Look, it's you, Miss G!"

I have to say that I totally cracked up at the expression on Miss G's face when she got her Kindergarten certificate.

I think it says:

"I spent a whole year in Kindergarten, and THIS is what I get?" 

Then, the celebration moved to the larger Project Studio, where the cake was set up, and Mrs. F had hung some of the Kinders' art creations for us to admire, which I did.

Miss G is wearing the new cross Mrs. F gave to each student to commemorate their Kindergarten year, and she loves it.

I brought Miss G back to the band room once everyone was in the Project Studio for a little Mommy photo shoot of my proud Kinder. 

She posed nicely. 

And, really let her personality shine through. 

We are very proud of her. 

Then, we did partake in some delicious cake and washed it down with ice cold water.  

Miss G loves Mrs F, and we are so happy she was Miss G's Kindergarten teacher this year.

She's the best Kindergarten teacher I've ever worked with!