President's Day is the beginning of Midwinter Break in Emmett's school district, aka "Ski Week."

They get a Midwinter Break? And then also a spring break? We usually got Presidents Day off, and then nothing else until spring break, which was usually either the week before or the week after Easter.

So we did go to see the cyclists. It was fun but OMG almost as many cars as cyclists. My sister got a great photo of Lance Armstrong, actually. And now of course it's lovely outside, so I'm no longer so scared of the drive home.

In MA, we got February and April vacations (3rd week of each), and then were in school until late June. In in my head it was because of heating bills.

They get a Midwinter Break? And then also a spring break?

Yep. Plus two weeks for xmas. But I think they start earlier (usually last week of August) so it's the same amount of schooldays. Since it's not superhot in the Bay Area there's not the big cost savings you get in the South by keeping the air conditioning off for an extra week.

So even public schools get a week off at Presidents Day in the Bay Area? And I thought it was just for the kids from private schools. I had a whole justification in my head based on how only people wealthy enough to afford private school tuition would consider a week off in Feb to go skiing a NEED. But clearly I was wrong. Crazy. Well we Southern Californians do not get a Feb break.

mac is off for this full week. While they get a break in December, I think this one is the semester break.

Well we survived Hotel for Dogs, but we skipped pizza - too full on popcorn and soda. mac was teary twice in the film. The kids are orphans, are repeatedly told no one wants them, and then they are split up at one point. poor noodle. He seems fine now, but I am staying close and giving extra hugs and comfort. Why must all kids in kid's movies deal with separation from family?

But I think they start earlier (usually last week of August) so it's the same amount of schooldays. Since it's not superhot in the Bay Area there's not the big cost savings you get in the South by keeping the air conditioning off for an extra week.

Ah. My schools never had air conditioning. We went from the Wednesday after Labor Day until the end of June.

Aww, noodle. Yes, extra hugs and comfort are in order.

I don't know why! It's kinda weird, actually.

Awesome about the cyclists, Burrell.

Why must all kids in kid's movies deal with separation from family?

I know! Every movie, no matter what the plot. I don't get it. For the longest time my kids wouldn't watch movies because they couldn't take whatever trauma was thrown at them in the first 10 minutes.

The worst is Nemo, but luckily we had been warned so we knew to skip the opener.

I think the real answer is so that the main character kids are in charge of their own lives, but it often seem unnecessarily mean to the kids watching.