The Nutcracker Ballet

I was really excited to take our family to The Nutcracker for the first time this Christmas.  We got dressed in our Christmas best and headed to the show!

We had read several Nutcracker picture books from the library in anticipation of attending the ballet, so we would all be familiar with the story and characters.

Even so, after a few minutes of listening to the orchestra play while this sign was covering the stage, Ashby leaned over to me and hesitantly asked, "Mommy, is this all that it is?'  She flashed a relieved smile when I explained the show would be starting soon!

The ballet did not disappoint and we all enjoyed ourselves!

Love having these new experiences with my little people!

Christmas Assemblies

We were pleased to attend the kids' annual Christmas programs before the start of their holiday break.  Sadie's class recited Luke 2:1-20 and sang a Christmas song.  She confidently recited all her lines and was full of poise up on the stage.

The First Grade

Mrs. Shelby's First Grade class

Sadly, the K4 class was not given the opportunity to participate in the Christmas assembly this year.  Ashby was initially very disappointed, but was happy to sit with her classmate and good friend Olivia through all the performances.

When the Fourth Grade took the stage, Finley had been selected in his choir class to play the handbells for their song.

He had practiced diligently in the class and took his part very seriously.  They did a great job!

And isn't he looking handsome wearing a jacket for the first time?!

The Fourth Grade

First Snow of the Season

 

Our first snowstorm of the year did not disappoint!  It snowed for about 12 hours straight and dropped 13", which I'm sure set some sort of record for Richmond.  Thankfully the snow arrived on a Sunday, so there was plenty of time to pull out our snow gear from the backs of closets and head outside to play.  

We took the kids to a nearby sledding hill for a couple of hours after lunch, and then they spent the rest of the afternoon playing in the yard.  I was amazed at how long they all stayed outside.   

Ashby stayed well-hydrated by eating a ton of snow and sucking on icicles.

Armed with kid sized shovels, snow brick makers and sleds to transport mounds of snow, the kids set to work making forts, snowmen and our now-an-annual-tradition sledding ramp down the front steps and front yard.

The next day everyone was off of school and it was beautiful outside.  The sun was shining, the air was still and everything was covered with a foot of snow.

So out they went!  Finley especially loves the snow and spent hours outside playing and creating.  All with the promise of hot chocolate when they finally came back in.

More icicles to consume

And fort building

Snow swinging

Making snow soup......although she informed me it was actually "poison disguised as soup, to feed to the bad guys if they come to take us over."  This girl has an incredible and amusing imagination.

I didn't get a good picture, but it was a pretty sight to see this little guy's red head flitting through the winter branches.

This is what I got when I asked her to smile.......

Hard at work trying to get a snowman started

Three days of snow sure was fun but mommy wants to know, when will they go back to school??

Veritas History Day

This year for History Day we had a Medieval knight (swordless, because no swords allowed at school!), Pocahantas' sister, Matachanna, and Ashby dressed as a Nurse Practitioner.

Ashby's Junior Kindergarten class was instructed to dress up as someone in their family....get it, from the "history" of your family?  So we chose Grandma Chris, who was a Nurse Practitioner for many years.

Finley's 4th grade class got to participate in the highly anticipated Medieval Feast as a part of their studies this year. Knights and ladies, dragons and wizards, all gathered to feast, dance and recite their Beowoulf poem, which they had worked on memorizing for several weeks.  The students had been learning a line dance-style of dance for several weeks in music class, which involved the boys and girls holding hands and sashaying together, much to the chagrin of many of these 9 and 10 year olds.  Finley wasn't too bothered by the experience, but it was clear to see that lines are being drawn across the genders that many have no interest in crossing.

Best buds in 4th grade.....Zack, Finley and Josiah.

Finley and Will (as a dragon, waiting to be slain)

Costumes still intact at the end of the school day!

Sadie squuueeezed her toes into these moccasin boots we had, which really stopped fitting her last year but completed the outfit so well, so she made it work!

The boys in Sadie's 1st grade class, dressed as historical figures from early American History.

And the girls in Sadie's 1st grade class...Kendall, Daisy, Cara, Kai, Gentry, Bayla and Sadie.

Ashby's Field Trip

I was so happy to go on Ashby's first field trip to the pumpkin patch.  She had been counting down the days and heard a lot from her older sister about how much fun she would have!

Most of her classmates picked a small pumpkin they could easily carry back to the hay wagon by themselves.  Not Ashby.....she searched out one of the largest, roundest ones she could find!

She was particularly excited about "growing a pumpkin"....I didn't have the heart to set more realistic expectations about the tiny seed she stuck in her plastic pot of dirt.

Everyone had a lot of fun running through the corn maze......

.......and the moms were particularly proud to not lose any kids before we found our way out!

Jumping, rolling and playing in the corn kernel bins is always a big hit!

Making a "corn angel"

Ashby loves to make and be with her friends, so she is really enjoying the social side of going to school.  It is fun to watch the beginning of these friendships, knowing they will grow and last for years to come.

Jumping for joy about Veritas K4!