We celebrated the New Year by throwing a big graduation BASH for Jeff. He earned his MBA just before the Holiday, so we gathered the cousins and Niki organized a GREAT Mexican food buffet & funny games that kept us laughing clear until midnight!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
New Year's Eve
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Bad Idea
We thought we'd try riding the new light rail system that just went into service - they were offering free rides before the first of the year....
George & Debbie (our neighbors) joined us!
But the cars were PACKED FULL! There was standing room only - people were squished in there like sardines. No thank you! So we thought we'd wait for the next one...
So we waited.... and waited....
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Sword of Freedom
Thomas Jefferson Leaderhsip Academy (TJLA) held their parent night tonight where all 17 "Sword of Freedom" class members earned and were given the swords they earned. The class studied the Civil War and were divided into two groups - the Union Army (wearing blue hats) and the Southern Army (grey hats). In this one semester class they:
1. Learned Military Protocol.
2. Advanced in Rank from Corporal through Lieutenant General
3. Held a Civil War Battle Reenactment.
4. Read, Uncle Tom's Cabin, To Kill a Mockingbird, Across Five Aprils, & Abraham Lincoln Biography.
5. Wrote 8-10 papers discussing various government and moral issues such as: My Prime Allegiance, Compromise, Evil for Evil, Is Secession Constitutional?, Is it ever right to break a law?, Was Sherman right?, Prejudices, Mob Rule, and wrote an original poem about the Civil War.
6. Read & Discussed the following speeches/documents - Gettysburg Address, Dred Scott Decision, The Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln's second Inaugural Address, Constitutional Ammendments 13, 14 & 15.
7. Memorized the Gettysburg Address.
8. Each student gave a class presentation on one of the following: Life as a Slave, Food in the Army, Women's Role, Underground Railroad, Doctors/Hospitals/Red Cross, Weapons, Spies, Uniforms and clothing of the times, The army (origination, drills, manpower), Mathew Brady, & Prisons.
9. Memorized and sang three Civil War songs - The Battle Cry of Freedom, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, & Dixie.
10. Watched 5 Civil War movies - Gods & Generals, Gettysburg, Shenandoah, The Red Badge of Courage, Gone with the Wind.
11. Wrote a comprehensive report on a Civil War Hero which were then compiled into a book for each class member.
Now THAT's a loaded class!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
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