Family Mellmann

Patrick's school hosted a Christmas concert tonight.  It was called A Simple Christmas.  The premise of the title is that the Christmas Story is a simple story, but one that has life-changing implications.  The reason for the "simple Christmas" concert was more of a functional one.  Trinity is without a music director so the planning, organizing, and rehearsing of the program fell to a few teachers, parents, and students. There were no fancy lights, sound effects, or showy sets.  Only a group of kids (like the group above - Patrick's class of fourth, fifth, and six graders) singing Christmas songs and telling the Christmas story as it is told in the Gospel of Luke, in the Bible. Trinity has about one hundred students ranging in age from preschool through twelfth grade.  Everyone had a part in the concert. (Patrick is in the third row, fourth position from the right, and he's wearing a white shirt and red bow tie.)

Today is the day that I get to prepare school treats.  Patrick signed up to take Tiger Cookies to his Christmas party on Wednesday, being hosted by his teacher - at her house.  Not only would he NOT be celebrating Christmas in public school, he wouldn't be celebrating at his teacher's house.  I love small private schools.  Anyway, cookies will be the first project for my morning. The second project for my morning was teacher gifts...festively sprinkled, chocolate covered pretzels (above). Katherine is celebrating "holidays" and "winter solstice" in her Kindergarten by decorating a Gingerbread house.  I don't have pictures because I was busy helping the kids with their decorating, but there is a slideshow here of pictures that Katherine's teacher took.

With only three days left before we celebrate Christmas (on Christmas Eve), the mood is definitely lightening up.  Katherine is having good days at school (something that we celebrate because it isn't a guarantee) and Patrick is starting to get antsy.  The excitement is building.