Reasons to be Cheerful: It's the end of term! #R2BC

Thanks once again to Jo for hosting the linky for December. Hopefully people will find plenty of reasons to be cheerful in this festive season! I am actually on the right day this week:

1) Teaching

Got my formal report and in every area I have improved and in most have moved up a grade which is great to know. I have plenty to work on in January with my new keystage but ended on a good note. Lots of lovely cards and pressies from the children with I think 4 variations on the spelling of my surname... Best comment:

Thank you for teaching us about Islam I've really enjoyed it.

I have agreed to run a French club next half term which is really exciting too.

2) Christmas Service

Term ended on a beautiful note with the Christmas service at church. It was very traditional and included solo singing, musical instruments and readings. Obviously I can't share photos of the actual event so you will have to make do with the beautiful advent ring:

3) The Hobbit

We are big Tolkien fans in this house so just had to see the latest and last Hobbit on the first weekend it was out! A family vote meant that we saw the 3D version and we were all dead excited waiting to get in:

It was amazing piece of cinema with scary bits, great fight scenes and reasons to cry! Wonder what Peter Jackson will do next...

Reasons to be Cheerful: Feeling Festive Edition

Feeling bit down tonight as my last book sale just about covered the costs... Shame as its been a good Christmas fair season really! So I need to cheer myself up with positive blogging:

1) District Scout Carol Concert

This is the first full year my son has been in Beavers so we all went along to the annual district carol service at our parish church. This the first time I've been inside the building since we moved here in 2010 and I was very impressed (I've put a few photos on Flickr of the wonderful Christmas tree festival). It was a lovely service with traditional carols and readings plus awards to Beavers and Cubs. 

There was also a collection of backpacks and school items to donate to Mary's Meals Backpack Project. The charity feeds over 800,000 children a day in Malawi and surrounding countries and they also send school supplies in backpacks. Great to have the children remembering that Christmas is not just about receiving but giving too.  

This is my son posing by one of the wise men in the nativity scene as he is going to be one tomorrow in the nativity:

2) School Christmas Production

The juniors at my children's school always but on a musical production every Christmas. This year it was Hansel and Gretel complete with gingerbread house:

My daughter unfortunately missed auditions as she was off sick so opted for being back stage crew. The whole thing was so well performed with all children from year 3 to year 6 taking part. I have to say that the backstage crew did an amazing job and the head even called for them to have an extra round of applause at the end:

3) New hair do

I finally found time to get my hair cut today! Loads of compliments at work from staff an students (probably shows how awful it had got!). Been challenged to use straighteners more often by 2 colleagues:

So why are you smiling this week?

Carolling

Tonight I've been out carolling with my aunt's village carollers. We visited lots of homes and outbuildings to share our singing with as many people as possible. In return they plied us with wine and minced pies!

 

It was lovely singing to a range of people from a wide eyed toddler to the grandparents. A real festive feel and we raised £175 for a local charity that provides music therapy.

 

I have no voice left but it was an amazing evening.