Wednesday, May 21, 2008

News and Notes

Yesterday, I received Nathan's report card after having his Portfolio Conference with his teachers on Monday. They are very pleased with the progress he has made this year in school and feel that he has grown and matured in addition to learning. I am so incredibly proud of him!

Nathan's teachers did share a funny story, complete with pictures: when they were learning about Passover, the teachers talked about wine and how it was made. As a demonstration, a large bucket and grapes were brought into the classroom and the kids were all asked to roll up their pants to take a turn stepping on the grapes. When it was Nathan's turn, the teachers said they turned around and Nathan had taken OFF his pants!! Doesn't surprise me at all, but it certainly suprised the teachers.

Nathan will be in this school for one more year and next year, Sela will be joining him there! She is very excited about attending school at Bet Yeladim!

Last night, while we were out, we received a call from Juhani. The kids are so excited to see him. Juhani and Sarah will be returning to the United States next week and will be here for most of the summer. Nathan already has a list of things he wants to do with Juhani. Here are a few pictures from last summer in Hawaii:


Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Funny things kids say

We had a garage sale Saturday morning. The kids were surprised to see some of their old toys and clothes out on our driveway, but were very pleased when people came up and gave them money!

Nathan and Sela went to my parents house for the afternoon so I could clean up and pack up from the sale. When we were driving home that evening Nathan asked if we could celebrate again. After much questioning, I realized he though we were having a party and celebrating with toys outside and wanted to do it again the following day!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Happy 95th Grandma Helen

Yesterday, we celebrated Grandma Helen's 95th Birthday (which is actually today).
Nathan and Sela were very excited to bring Grandma balloons and didn't care what they said, which is why she has one that says 40th birthday. Here are a few pictures from the party:


Nathan loves to see the birds and fish when he visits Grandmom.

Sela sitting patiently with Uncle Bob while waiting for cake:Here is Grandmom getting ready to blow out her candles:

A birthday kiss:and a beautiful smile for Nathan's Great Grandmother!

Friday, May 16, 2008

FFF: Fun in the sun

This week's Favorite Foto Friday is: FUN IN THE SUN!


The weather here has been rather dreary and rainy. But, we are looking forward to having things clear up soon as next week we meet our family at a cabin in southern Virginia for vacation. Just this morning, Nathan told me that he was sad because he misses his cousins and his Uncle Rick. I think he is more sad because I won't let him use the toys that I have packed away for this trip!


Here are my sun loving bathing beauties from last summer. We can't wait to go to Aunt Sher's pool again!



Monday, May 12, 2008

Our Mother's Day

I received such wonderful and special gifts this year. Nathan decorated a pot and made a paper flower and card for me in school and Sela planted a plant and made a card for me in daycare. In addition, Mom and Dad not only took the kids for the night Friday and didn't return them until Saturday after dinner so I had the entire day to myself, but they took pictures of the kids, put them in frames and bought me gift certificates to get my nails done. I was treated like a queen!

Last night, we had our family Mother's Day celebration - here are a few pics:



In Celebration of Mother's Day

For Mother's Day, in honor of my mother, we purchased gift baskets for the mothers of the students we sponsor in Guatemala. Included in the basket we special food items and things for the kitchen. Here are pictures of the families receiving their baskets:

Miriam Josefina and family:
Luis Alfonso and his mother:

Friday, May 9, 2008

FFF - Mommy and Me

FFF - Favorite Foto Friday
In honor of Mother's Day, I am posting one of my favorite pictures of Nathan, my mother and me. This picture was taken in Oct of 2005 when Nathan was just over 14 months old.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!!