Debate

Henry started his week off with a new stripe.  He's completed all the white stripes for this belt.  He still has yellow and red stripes to go before the next belt. His goal is to earn the grey-black belt before we move.  He'll have to pick up his pace because it is about 96 more classes before he reaches it.  

He nixed the status quo and got Smoothie King for his reward.  

At CC this week, Josiah had his debate.  He stood against the resolution the the United States needed to change its penal code to abolish the death penalty.  This is team policy debate, so it follows the pattern of 1st Affirmative - Cross Examine - 1st Negative - Cross-Ex - 2nd Affirmative - CE - 2nd Negative - CE.  They learn rebuttals next semester.  Josiah was the 2nd Negative, so his job was to reaffirm all the arguments presented by his 1st Negative partner and pack a punch in the end.  Instead of reading the quotes/data/sources from his notecards, Josiah went off the cuff and spoke extemporaneously.  It worked out for him because the judge said he did a good job.  His team still lost 39-36, but it was by the closest margin so far, so they were happy for that.  The way the team policy debates are set up, the affirmative side has the  advantage because they come knowing the arguments they'll present.  The negative side does not know until the debate starts how the affirmative side will argue.  

Caroline packed her annual shoebox and brought it to Awana this week.  This year she chose a Girl, Age 10-14.  It was easier to shop for someone of similar age as herself - lots of hair accessories, writing/drawing supplies, and toiletries.  

This weekend, Josiah's friend Bobby came over.  The four kids changed the batteries of every light saber they owned and then had a battle in the dark.  They played games inside as well.  Then Josiah and Bobby played some music.  Bobby on the keyboard and Josiah on drums.  The power of technology - Bobby googled the chords of Beatles songs and they got to jamming.  It was a soft rock session with Hey Jude and Now and Then.  

The kids and I worked on some holiday pictures this weekend - our Thanksgiving turkey pictures and our Christmas card picture.  Caroline was not keen on doing the turkey pictures before Thanksgiving and she really didn't want to do the Christmas pictures until after Thanksgiving.  While I appreciate her desire to celebrate every holiday in it's proper time, I'm on a deadline - I need to get things printed and shipped.  So, please put the holiday clothes on, stand by the tree, and smile.  We can share the pictures at their proper time.

We may have to do some of the pictures over again anyway because Shaggy, here, said he is currently "open to the idea of a haircut".  So we're going to jump on that openness.  

Let the holidays begin.