I Love Christmas Time

I think that besides Thanksgiving, Christmas is my favorite time of year. Although the real meaning has been horribly distorted by the obscene amount of commercialism and materialism that seems to spontaenously seep from department stores , the overall feeling still makes itself known in the radio station that has been playing Christmas music since Novermber second, the first trip to the closet where all the decorations are kept, and the excitement and anticipation of being with family. Add to this the fact that school is done for the year (it sounds longer than the actual two weeks that we really have off) and its shaping up to be a merry season after all.
I actuall get by quite easily this year, considering its my senior year in high school. I only have three final exams, and two of them are elective credits (choir and spanish) and the other is english, which I've got a pretty good handle on. My course load has not been exactly staggering this year, either. I take great joy in the fact that I can brag to my sisters about not having any homework - for three weeks straight. It's actually a running joke in my family. My mom will ask me "Mike, have any homework?" and I'll just look at her and laugh.
One interesting thing, though, is my government class. It's called "We the People" and I love it. The class centers around the Constitution and how laws are interpreted and applied to our society, in the present as well as in contemporary times. The class goes to a mock debate at the congressional district level (in place of a final exam), and the top two schools from each district go to the State competition. My school happened to be one of them, and our state competition date is January ninth. I'm very excited to go and I feel reasonably prepared.
My family is all doing well, although Katie may have stress fractures in her legs from playing basketball. We're still waiting for the lab results, but we hope it'll be good news. Lexi had her first choir concert on Thursday and she did very well. She is in the advanced "Chamber" choir and had an excellent performance. The beginning choir was, well, a bunch of beginners. That's all I have to say about that.
The boys are also doing well. Nick had a trumpet solo (accompained by the piano) in his Jr. High band concert and was very good. Lucas had his Sixth grade Christmas concert as well and while he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there, he did a good job.
So...I think that's everything. I hope you all (and by that I mean the maybe three people who read this) have a Merry Christmas and to please not get sucked in by the flashy commercials and deals that the stores are having. Also to remember that the actual reason we celebrate Christmas is in the name itself. Merry Christmas, everyone.