Dick and Jane and Vampires

Back to school and back to work - today was a day to get back into the rhythm of things.  It was tough to do, as there was quite a bit of catching up to go around.  For example, Madison was having a spot of trouble keeping the pace with her keyboard practice - Mrs. Pam was told about our vacation this week, so there wasn't any surprise there.  Madison will catch up.  And so will Daddy, although that might take some time.  We've had a few curve balls thrown at us, one of which being a massive change of plans involving a Christmas play.  Today, he and two other creatives worked together on the overall flow of the thing, nailing down some of the details, and the different scenes that mesh together to make something new and different.  We're getting excited about the project - it's not Daddy's first choice of a theme, but I think it will work out well.  And, it's going to be a theme of the next few months, as you can imagine there will be plenty of practices and coordination going on.  Also, it's pretty much a guarantee that Madison will be involved as a character in some capacity.  She may be an orphan, or she may be a choir member at a church, or she could be a part in a Nativity scene.  Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be cute.

Tonight after music, we did do our homework, which again involved catching up.  We still have some to do there, but she is doing really good with her math assignments, getting faster and faster with them.  Her spelling words are big too, getting to a place where some adults would have trouble.  But Madison just goes through them with ease, it seems.

Dinner tonight was very special, fish and vegetables and rice.  It was quite tasty, and additionally Mommy got some of that pumpkin cider that's available this time of year.  It's delicious, so much so that Madison likes drinking it as well.  Daddy took the bottle with him upstairs when it was time for "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."  It's just the right sort of seasonal beverage!

But that was after Madison went to bed.  Before she went to bed, there was the usual amount of tickle fight, prayer, reading of the Bible, and also reading of a recent addition to seasonal books:  "Dick and Jane and Vampires."

Madison helped read this one.  She's been reading Dick and Jane books for a time now, so this new one was quite different for her.  It is well done - it has that twist of humor in it that could be threatening, but really isn't when all is said and done.  And the artwork inside is just perfect.  To be honest, Daddy enjoys this just as much.  Madison loved the part where the vampire was playing with the kids, pretending to be a baby in the carriage.  Of course, at one point, he turns into a bat and flies off.  And there's a happy ending for everyone involved, so that's good too.

We did watch a movie before bed - forgot to mention that.  It was "The Nightmare Before Christmas," which is one of Daddy's favorite movies.  Madison and Daddy sat together and munched popcorn, taking in the movie.  And then it was off to bed earlier for Madison, still doing a bit of catching up.  That's the theme of the day, apparently - we all have some sleep to catch up on!

With that said, it's time for bed.  See Madison sleep.  Sleep, Daddy and Mommy, sleep.