Backlog: Christmas Party

Since Christmas rehearsal was done on the day before the party itself, there was no more long wait for the D-day. We arrived early to find the room already dressed up to the nines, stockings hung and even some early students already running around.

There was the beautiful winter scene, a curious little boy, even curious little girls meandering around.

There was time to greet friends, time to play with friends, but soon it was time to start the show, as the Teacher announced the first item in the list of events.

And so the kids put up their cute Santa hats and took up their musical instruments, and they sang and danced, and basically did all their best to bring in the spirit of Christmas (while entertaining all the parents and make them proud!)

There was the usual stampede as the Kids danced, but it was still a good party, with food. Of course there was food!

... and some dining outside, and some playing...

All in all, it was a good party, a great way to end Skool of the year 2011, as we were to have a break for all the Skooling to celebrate Christmas and the New Year holidays. Kudos to all the teachers for making 2011 a great year. We have only the best hopes for 2012!

Backlog: Christmas rehearsal

Once the Christmas crafts are done, it's time to rehearse for the big party of the year, the Christmas Party @ Skool!

There aren't that many good images from the rehearsal itself, as the students are basically running around everywhere (while the teachers worked REALLY hard to get them to practice their parts). Even Kecil got bored after a while. Thank goodness for great company, in the form of other cute little girls in Santa hats.
Stay tuned for the Christmas party post itself, coming up shortly!

Backlog: Christmas crafts

Well, Christmas might be over, with all the associated happenings (the parties, presents, even an epic holiday!), but Mama's backlog of stories is a veritable mountain. So we'll start easy, and slowly, and perhaps, by Valentine's day, we'll finally be done. If Mama does not give up hope first, that is. Still, there is always the effort. So, without further a due... Christmas crafts!

It would seem that, as much as this proud Mama would love to attribute Kecil's anticipation for Christmas purely on Kecil's development, it would seem that the Skool have played a part as well. What with all the Christmas themed craft in the days preceding the holidays.
Some were brought home immediately to be shown off to Mama and Daddy, while others stayed in Skool in preparation for the Christmas party.

Well, whatever the case, this Mama is happy that Kecil had some inkling about Christmas, even if it is mostly about the tree, the decorations, Santa Claus, bells and wreaths. Stay tuned, as we'll try to post details on the Christmas party in the following days.

In the meantime, here's to recovering from the festivities!

Our Christmas tree

 It's a bit overdue, but seriously, who would ever thought it be so difficult to get a nice pic of the tree?

Our tree this year is a sight that makes this Mama happy,
It is still our old tree, already four years in use, older than Kecil herself,
With the same old decoration in red and gold, the very ones we bought after we got the tree,
Just with a slight twist to the placement.

This year, it's bottom heavy! (Do you notice the heavy concentration of red balls at the bottom of the tree?)

The tree this year is not only early,
It was also decorated in collaboration with the Little One, who has, finally, grasped the idea of this huge, nationwide celebration (oh, worldwide. But especially felt here, in a predominantly Christian/Catholic country), called Christmas.

In fact, the tree is also not ... stagnant.
For every now and then, this Mama would find bits and bobs from the tree ending up in various places around the house.
Courtesy of ... ahem... let's not call names, ya?

But it's a happy sight, our Christmas tree this year, as it totally signify yet another milestone in Kecil's growth.

How's your tree this year?

Christmas this year, part 1

Given our not yet finalized, super tentative plan for Christmas this year, Mama thought that putting up the Christmas decorations early might be a good idea. Combined with the fact that Kecil had already learned to 'anticipate' Christmas (no thanks to all the early decorations up around town since no less than 2 months ago!), it really seems like a good idea.
So, fresh from the UN Day celebrations last week, we went to work.

Of course we had to start with first cleaning the house. The dog hair would probably make its way everywhere again mere minutes after we finished cleaning up, but it's the spirit of the thing, no? Besides, the potential of instilling cleanliness in Kecil should not be passed just like that. Especially given how rare the opportunity is given Mama's own ahem... relaxed views when it comes to such things. Ahem.

When the house is reasonably clean, then it's time to take out the tree and its various bits and bobs. Kecil, as you noticed, was so into the spirit that she had to wear the reindeer headband. This Mama thinks it was the carols Mama played on the stereo. Ha!

And since Kecil is big enough to be 'into' Christmas, this year, she also got to help with the decorations:

Well... OK. To be fair, Kecil had always tried to help. The keyword, however, is the word try. Here's some documentation from 2 years back. Apparently Mama was too keen on getting the job done last year that she forgot to take pics.

Ah, I guess those reindeer headband is part tradition after all!

Anyway, back to this year's tree... it would seem that Kecil is very much satisfied with the result of our labor. In fact, between the two of us (well... Mama does most of the work), we managed to more or less put up ALL that needed to be put up from the stuff we already have inside the storage. We are still working on more stuff, mostly handmade, to be put around the house as additional decorations, but we are taking it slowly on that one. After all, Christmas is still some time to go, is it not?

Oh, and as for the tree? Ahahaha... please be patient until Mama is satisfied with the picture, yes? After all, this is only part one of the Christmas series, no? Until next time!