So in May we attended james' cultural fair. It felt a little different this year. His classroom didn't seem to have a country that they studied. It was just a collection of their work from the year. No matter. It's always nice to see what James is up to at school!
The day's learning targets were still on the board.
I spy James!
And closer. He really has embraced that he's a beautiful brown, I guess! (I do stress that at home :)
His desk.
Oh my! He's messy!
Señora Middleton and James.
The parents were told to assemble in the gym for a short 2nd grade performance.
Singing!
And we followed the music to the cafeteria for snacks and to watch dancing!
James did not dance. You know I would have captured that if he had!
2ng grade parents were invited to attend a school assembly, brought to us by the 2ng graders. Their theme was Empatía (Empathy). They sang a song or two, we all watched a video, and the principal spoke about the school's efforts to show empathy.
James' friend Clayton was one of the students videotaped with a message on empathy.
It was a pretty short program. It was nice to see how things like this work in his school.
We didn't receive much communication about the Empathy project. There was one brief, almost hidden message in one of his teacher's newsletters to parents about how students should wear a plain white shirt and jeans for the assembly. Of course James didn't have either of those. The boy HATES constrictive clothing like jeans.. But I did make the special purchases. And then nobody followed it. Oh well.
We celebrated with the Tauers a few days late because Grandma Laura was under the weather. Later in the week she, Uncle Joe and Lisa came over for dinner and presents!
From Uncle Joe- a Nerf drone! Yikes!
First thing James does is try and shoot his uncle!
And then Uncle Joe decides to play.
And then the boxing.
What you don't see is the rough housing and the crying later. James always thinks he can handle it but then it goes too far :(
Jim and James had a surprise for Grandma Laura. James practiced reading his book and then read it to his Grandma.
It's a favorite of ours! The Sweet Smell of Christmas. What a lovely Christmas!
In mid May we were treated to the Cultural Festival at Woodcrest. Last year James' class focused on Mexico and James recited a few lines about Mexico's art. This year we didn't know what to expect because we just received the time and date, no other details. We were lucky that we are on-time people because we realized that James was due in the gym at 6pm for his class' music performance.
A quick picture with his self-portrait.
Waiting for the adults and sound system to get ready...hanging out with friends Sam and Christopher.
The performance. James is in the bottom row, near the middle.
And some videos of the performances, if you're curious.
Back at the classroom, with Señora Sierra. She is wearing an Ecuador soccer jersey, since James’ class studied that country for the festival.
The classroom was transformed into Nigeria, Thailand, and Ecuador.
Frogs...
Monkeys...
A pit stop at James' desk. He was very eager to show us all of his class work and journals.
I LOVE his journal. I need to study this thing and learn all about my son. Here he started to map out his corazón, or his heart. Mom and Dad, of course, and then there are his Abuelas, the Vikings??, and then his Fish. He said he didn't have a chance to finish so of course I'm assuming he'd include his Grandpas, his Tías, and his Uncles...
Rainforest.
Lion puppets.
And a glance at his daily agenda.
Hanging art/work
And back in the school hallway, near the kindergarten area. Last year James' class concentrated just on Mexico.
So it was a fun night to explore the school and cultures! And see James in action- with friends and then singing.
My family doesn't mess around. Presents come first.
(But big thank you to my fellow throwdown chef, my sister Ana, for prepping the meal and dipping into the wine before my M-O-M and Larry arrived!)
James is super polite. He hugged and thanked each person after he opened each gift. I didn't even tell him to do that!
Oh no... Is that a regifted Gnome Chia Pet?
Tia Kiki and Tio Berto sent a present for James. It rained money! He was so thrilled! (Jim not so much the next day when he cut each bill out.. Ha!)
Those are $$$ hanging from the umbrella! James was so thrilled!
And then he got a small box full of money from Grandma and Grandpa. Good thing it was clearly labeled "For College!" And a wad from Uncle Rich and Tia ChaCha!
And a super large water gun? This kid wants for nothing!
Apps- cheese and meat plates, keeping with our French theme..
Coq au Vin for dinner. It might look like a mess on a plate but it was divine chicken and mushrooms cooked and soaked in wine!
After dinner we played a board game that Tia ChaCha and Uncle Rich gave to James. It was really fun! A lot of "would you rather..." questions, giving you a choice between two and guessing what the others would say. Also, some cards had some fun challenges, or dares.
James chose one of those cards and he opted to come up with his own challenge rather than what was suggested on the card. He is creative like that. But he had to think for a minute about what exactly he would do...
He chose to be wild and crazy and shout out to the world...!
That's how we roll!!
Merry Christmas to the Koldens and Hulletts! And to the Esteves family- far away but so close to our hearts! Awwwww...
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