In one hour school is finished for the year. Being Tuesday, today was also my Walking Bus Day... and we woke up to rain. I'm not talking drizzle or gentle showers; I mean the kind that pelts out of the sky as if it's mad at you. And of course (today of all days) I also woke up late (managing to somehow ignore all annoying requests for food/TV/hair gel).
THEN - horror of horrors - I realised that I had yet to package up the teachers' Christmas Gifts.
Panic stations! Thankfully Mr G didn't have one of his umpteen business brekkies to go to, so he packed the lunches while I ran around the house trying to find just one of our many pairs of scissors to cut up the cellophane.
I had made Rocky Road on Saturday, and Miss Fab (a.k.a. Princess) helped me bake Christmas Cookies on Sunday, so it's not like I wasn't prepared at all.
We were actually early for the Walking Bus! Dash was meant to wait until we got to school to give Ces his package... but of course he couldn't wait. Merry Christmas! he blurted and shoved the thing into Ces's hands. Ces was delighted and surprised: "I'll get fat!" he exclaimed.
As if! Ces is a local legend, a grandad and father of five. He tragically lost one of his kids to an accident and began volunteering to "drive" the walking bus every day, as a way to stay connected with children. He's one of those gruff old guys, he loves to tease and growl but the kids love him. Merry Christmas Ces, I hope it's a good one!
Here's Miss Fab delivering the goodies to her very appreciative teachers:
The kids found out their teachers for next year and got their school reports yesterday. Dash has a male teacher for the first time - a sporty Englishman - and he is buzzing! Can't wait for Year Three, he says.
Miss Fab's new teacher is an American from Florida - apparently she is lovely and very creative (yay!) so it is looking like a great year next year for my lot.
Here's a few words from their school reports, which made me feel rather proud...
Dash: "...is a caring, sensitive and energetic student. He works very hard across all curriculum areas and has made pleasing progress. It has been gratifying to see the curiosity and enthusiasm he puts into a topic..."
Miss Fab: "...has had a very positive start to school. She has many friends in the class and her social skills are one of her best assets... she is keen to learn new things and makes new children feel very welcome and is comforting toward them... well done on a great start to school!"
(adapted from the Desitute Gourmet, Parenting Magazine recipe)
- 1 x 375g packet of chocolate melts or buttons
- 2 Tablespoons of Kremelta (vegetable shortening)
- 1 1/2 cups of unsalted nuts, coarsely chopped*
- 180g marshmallows cut in chunks
- 1/3 cup glace cherries, halved
- 1/2 cup rice bubbles
- 1/2 cup dessicated coconut
- 1/2 packet of white chocolate buttons, melted, to decorate (optional)
Melt the chocolate bits and Kremelta in a heat-proof bowl over a pot of boiling water; stir frequently until chocolate becomes liquid
Spread into a roasting pan lined with baking paper. Refrigerate until completely set; then drizzle white chocolate over the top if you like. (Allow white chocolate to set); cut roughly into squares.
xx
