It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas

One of the benefits of having moved around quite a bit is that we have picked up different traditions from various good friends we have made around the country.  Every time we perform the family Christmas Nativity play we will remember our good friends the Perkes.

This year our Wise Man #2 was very excited not to be a shepherd. (She has been a shepherd every year in various church plays for years.)  Our kimono clothed shepherd could actually read the script, and our little angel just glowed.  Our red clad shepherd made sure his little brother acted out his parts properly. And our Wise Man #1 got to act in the play and not be the piano accompanist.

Not seen in the play is the said accompanist (aka Mom) and the Angel Gabriel (aka Dad.)  We loved having our cousins and their families over as we performed our play this year.  And we tried out one of their Christmas traditions this year: fondue. 

It really is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.  Even with the cactus and sunshine.

Spelling Bees and Band Concerts and Choir

We've hung up our lights and decorated our Christmas trees. We've exchanged names for Christmas gifts, and the giggling and whispering has begun. One more week of school left, and already we've competed in spelling bees, and performed in jazz band, band, and choir. 

What a wonderful time of the year. 

Tomorrow we celebrate Karina's 10th birthday and we'll have a piano recital in the evening. Half the family will sing, or play, in the choir at church.  And Christmas is still a couple of weeks away.

7th grade band concert.

10th grade art show

Jazz band concert

Kindergarten spelling bee--2nd place.

2nd grade spelling bee--1st place. 

4th grade spelling bee--2nd place. 

7th grade spelling bee--2nd place.

What a wonderful time of the year.