Sing Out, Louise!

Today was supposed to be our little before and after school care Christmas performance.  I pulled together a bunch of sweet Christmas poems and five Christmas carols and the kids have been practicing and decorating the stage (where our child care is conveniently located) and yesterday things got a little tense as we all realized that we were only one day away from the play and we still hadn't made it all the way through a rehearsal without a stop.  I was nervous because we weren't able to get a microphone from the school, and while the kids seemed excited about doing the play, when it actually became a reality their nerves were getting the best of them and I could barely hear their soft little voices over the hum of the gym air conditioning and buzzing of the fluorescent lights.  My directorial patience was tried as I tried to keep practices going when the lure of Legos and markers was only inches away, and I felt a little swell of pride when we made it all the way through an acapella version of Silent Night.

Then, this morning I woke up and logged onto the school report website to discover that school had been canceled in our district because of snow.  On the one hand, I feel a little sense of relief.  There is a pretty high degree of possibility that the show would have been an absolute catastrophe--I honestly had no idea there were so many verses to learn in Up on the Housetop for one thing--but the kids have been talking about a Christmas performance since Thanksgiving and it makes me sad that I wasn't able to deliver on it.  And quite frankly, I think the world was looking forward to my directorial debut!

Of course, all of those thoughts ran through my head in the five minutes it took me to dry my hair after the shower I'd already taken and then crawl back into bed to sleep for another four hours.  Since then I've done a bit of homework--all I have left is one paper before I finish my third class and then have two weeks off for the holidays--cleaned the kitchen, and watched Love, Actually and Britney caroling on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.  Quite frankly, as much as I hate the snow itself (that actually turned to rain around 10 am), I could get used to this whole snow day thing.

And if you're wanting to see a little snow, here are some pictures from our very cold and snowy (but beautiful!!) day in Leavenworth.  I don't think my feet have ever been as frozen as they were when we got back in the car to go home.  I was seriously worried about frostbite for about ten minutes there.

Just a pretty farm house we passed on the way.  I thought it looked like it should be on a Christmas card.

Colby made fun of my umbrella until I explained to him that snow is just frozen rain, justifying the use of an umbrella.  Then he still made fun of me.

The prettiest Santa I've ever seen.  I told him he was lovely because I thought that sounded more masculine.  Colby laughed at me.  Noticing a trend?

Did I mention that it was cold?  And that I almost fell down about nineteen times?

Warming up with peppermint tea and a hot buttered rum.  I really wanted to like the hot buttered rum, but I wasn't totally won over.

Baked goods and hot chocolate are just more my style.





And the main event--the town lighting.  It was a beautiful lighting ceremony, complete with Christmas carols and a big countdown, and despite the fact that I couldn't feel any of my toes, I really did enjoy our snowy day in Leavenworth.

Oh, and Colby was there too!

So, that's been about all of the excitement around these parts lately.  My birthday presents have started trickling in--so far a gift card to Nordstrom (SCORE!) and a mystery text from my parents about a gift that will arrive some time in February and then once a month after that for two years.  I'm thinking Puppy of the Month club?  I'm doing a snow dance for another snow day tomorrow and the forecast is looking promising, then this weekend birthday celebrations will kick into high gear with a schmancy dinner at Matt's in the Market followed by a performance of the Nutcracker, and then a high tea with friends on Sunday afternoon as long as the wintery weather doesn't interfere.  I'm so excited about presents and tasty food that I don't even care that I'll be officially well past the hump of the "early 20's" and embarking on my journey into the later years.  I have a feeling they won't be so awful, but that's another post for another day.  For now I'm going to enjoy my last few days of 25 and enjoy the rest of this wonderful day off!

Comments

[The Incubator]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! Love, love the photos -- Looks just like Baton Rouge about a week ago!!!! Agreeing with you on that Santa -

[Becky]

Aww - such a sweet set of photos. It looks like it was so much fun! Mitch and I recently went to the "Wild Lights" display at the zoo (in St. Louis) and there's something about walking around a light display that makes you feel like a kid again. :)
Becky

[ashley.]

Ha!

What a great entry.

See, being a teacher will ROCK. Because you have summers off, as well as snow days and breaks!

Woohoo!

[Brittany]

Yay birthday. Your present will most definitely be late, but it will be there!

[Becky]

I think you got your wish today -- it's even worse than yesterday (or at least it is up here). We were planning to go to Leavenworth this Saturday but now it's too cold and the roads will be nasty. Maybe you guys can do an encore in January for your show?

Keep me posted about Sunday and whether we're still on :)

[katelin]

okay that christmas festival looks like so much fun! i miss the snow and all the wintery fabulousness that comes with it. and hope you have a most amazing birthday celebration that goes all weekend long :)

[tasterspoon]

Agree - hot buttered rum sounds way better than it is.

I love that there's snow falling in those pictures. It's a winter wonderland!

[simplypink]

I'm sorry the snow day wrecked your program. I'm sure it would have been a big hit. A wise colleague once told me to never worry about programs because to their parents, kids are cute just standing on a stage.

Birthday presents....wow! Enjoy! :)

[Miss Musing]

I just found your blog! It's great. Thanks for sharing all the beautiful pictures. I'll definitely be back :)

[Becky]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[Jessica]

Okay that is awesome. I love your pictures and yes that Santa is very pretty. Jealous you guys got a snow day, they need one for people with office jobs too.

[Mandy]

Have I told you recently that you take some really spectacular photos?

And yes, the Santa you picked out is/was pretty. :)

[Shannon]

Happy belated birthday! Your winter outing looks mighty fun.

[sara.jane]

Those photos are great! Make the farm house into your Christmas card next year and put a little clear glue on the roof of the house with some glitter---pretty snow! The Santa was lovely-you were right :)

[trishk]

I grew up near Leavenworth. I remember when the tree lighting was only a one day event, the first Saturday in December.

Living here in Florida I miss the snow every now and then. But then I get into my pool in December and that feeling goes away!! LOL

[RisibleGirl]

I *love* *love* *love* the photos! You're totally right about that Santa- he's gorgeous (and so are you!)

Having you over for Christmas Eve was really wonderful. You're just like part of the family to us.

xoxo

[E.P.]

I'm loving these photos, even though it was ridiculously chilly! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!