Holiday Fun At School

Rylie and Bryce have been having so much fun at school the past couple of weeks. They have been talking about holidays, making crafts, and anxiously awaiting the day that Santa comes to school to see them. Every year the owner brings in Santa and his elves for a little Christmas party, and the parents are invited to the party too.

At the beginning of the week the kids bring home their daily sheets, and there is a discussion question and/or an activity listed for each day. Some of the discussion questions have been "What do you eat on Christmas?", "What does your family do to celebrate Christmas?", and "What do you want to get your Mommy for Christmas?" I always try to go over the discussion questions in the morning so my kids are prepared to participate in the discussions.

I was a little surprised that Bryce's sheet for this week was full of discussion and activities related to Hanukkah. I figure that there must be some kids in his class that are Jewish, and if that's the case, I'm glad that it is being discussed at school so those kids are included in the holiday fun. I think it is pretty neat, too. Since I don't celebrate Hanukkah, I know nothing about it, so I'm glad that my kids are learning about a holiday that we would not normally discuss. (As long as they don't ask me for 8 more presents! haha) Rylie brought home a Menorah made out of Popsicle sticks tonight, so apparently her class is discussing it too.

So anyway, while the "crafts" are fun for the kids, my favorite bring-home-project so far is Rylie's letter to Santa...

Can't see it well? Click on it for the full size version.

First off, I'm glad she was honest and checked the"a bit naughty" box. Honesty has to count for some points with Santa, right? Hey, if I have taught my child one thing it is that we never lie. Maybe she actually DOES listen to me!

Of course makeup is first on her list, just like it was last year too. Maybe I'll get her some makeup application lessons to go with that makeup so she can stop looking like this...

I am glad that she loves My Little Ponies like I did as a child, and I'm happy to buy them for her, but she needs another baby doll like I need a hole in the head. That goes for stuffed animals and clothes too. Although I wonder if she would wear the clothes that Santa picks out for her, because she certainly won't wear the ones I buy her.

Apparently she has heard me complain way too many times about my sucky Sprint cell phone service and wants to get me a new phone, and I guess she doesn't like her dad's glasses. I can only imagine the crazy frames she might pick out for him! I hope she knows that if Santa brings another race track for Bryce that she is going to have to give up some space in her room for it!

The funniest part of this whole letter is the whole "crackers and ice water" answer as to what she promises to leave for Santa. Just in case you are wondering where she got this from, we have to leave crackers and ice water out for Dylan, our Elf Magic elf, every night, and I guess she figured that Santa liked the same snack. Big mom fail there for not ever explaining cookies and milk to her. I guess we'll have to remember to do that this Christmas Eve. When I told her what we are supposed to leave for Santa she got this funny look on her face and said "well mom, I didn't know that!" Poor kid. Her teachers are probably wondering what kind of weirdos we are to leave crackers and ice water for Santa!

I just absolutely love Rylie's letter to Santa and it is definitely going in our "keeper" box!

Bryce is most excited about the ornament he made that now resides at the "way top" of the tree at school. He is going to flip when he finds out he gets to bring it home on the last day of school before Christmas!

What types of art projects and other holiday fun have your children brought home from school this month?