Go Kartli: Tis the season...

Around town, it's looked like a combination of Christmas and New Years and Sunnyside sometime around the end of the football season. People are going crazy getting ready for the big New Year celebration. We'll post some stories and thoughts on the holiday itself after we live through it (if we survive; given all the powerful fireworks being set off every minute by our third-graders, that's a mighty big if). For now, though, here are some pictures of what has been going on in town as various Festivus activities approached, passed and continue to be celebrated.

The town "square" all decked out in lights

The light display from a different angle

One more look at the town's lights

In our host house, Shaen was in charge of decorating the New Year's Tree

Lilit wanted to do her part to "help" but this often involved undecorating and attempting to smash ornaments

Shaen thwarted most of Lilit's attempts

And he deemed Sam as trustworthy enough to be allowed near the tree

Luckily, Lilit found some other ways to amuse herself

The mountains retained some of the snow that we got in December, but most of the rest has melted away

My school devoted much of the end of the semester to decorating the hallways and classrooms

If only as much effort was put in to homework!

Or as much attention given to listening in class!

Sam's school decorated as well

I proved that I earned my kindergarden diploma with my creative gift wrapping

Then I discovered the gift bags in a store in town

Lilit has continued to be adorable. Here she is appropriately decked out in both a "Father Frost" hat and bunny shirt (commemorating the Year of the Rabbit which 2011 apparently is. Who knew?)