Science Center Field Trip Part I (aka the hair explosion)

I am enjoying all these end-of-the-year field trips I get to attend. This week Firstborn's class went to the Science Center, a hands-on, kids' museum here in our city. There is a big static-producing ball. Firstborn got to have a turn seeing what it might do to her hair.

Big Ben got to go along, per his sister's request. He was interested in all the exhibits until he found the "Reaction Time Driving Car." That was the end of his exploring; he found what he wanted. The only problem was that he could not reach the brake, so his reaction times were quite slow. Let's just say he will fit in well with Turkish drivers!

The Oasis 6th grade class!

After touring the museum, we took our lunches and had a picnic on the beautiful lawn. Big Ben had turned his hat backwards to be just like the big boys.

And more than one Turkish teen glanced at our pretty, soon-to-be-teen girls. I think you can see why...

International Representation

Our school hosts an international day for elementary students. They dress from a certain country, bring a typical food dish, and play games from countries all over the world, all represented at our little school.

This year, Twinkle Toes and Miss Middler represented Malaysia. They took satay with a spicy peanut sauce.

Firstborn represented her favorite....Singapore. She took satay with a chili-garlic sauce. All these pretty native dresses are compliments of our dear Auntie Lai Chan!

And this year, for the first time in 6 years, a Campbell represented good ol' USA! I tried and tried to get Sweet Cheeks to be a hillbilly, with a pillow stuffed in her overalls, but she opted for the cowgirl getup. She took strawberries with powdered sugar for dipping. Humboldt, Tennessee, is the official strawberry capitol of the world! There, her great-grandparents owned a beautiful plantation-style home; her grandad grew up as a boy; and her mom even marched in a parade for the Strawberry Festival in 1984!

Happy Memorial Day to all!

Piano Recital

We had a lovely piano recital last week. The girls have worked so hard and have been taught by wonderful piano instructors this year. Sweet Cheeks took lessons from one of our high school seniors, Holly. My hat's off to her...giving a lesson to a 5 year old after a long day at school! Holly could not be at the recital, as she was on the senior trip to Fetiye, Turkey.
Realizing she might be a little nervous, I suggested she ask her older sisters' piano teacher, Mrs. Park, to sit on the bench with her while she played her little song, "I Can Do It." Without missing a beat, Sweet Cheeks said to me, "Well, she doesn't even know my song! How can she help me?" I love that girl's logic! I ended up sitting by her and she did just fine!

Firstborn played "Fandango," a Spanish folk dance song. She nailed it! I was waiting for everyone to get up and start a hat dance it was so good!

Miss Middler played a song called "Sounds of Switzerland," with her hands all over the keyboard this time!

And Twinkle Toes played a Spanish folk song called, "La Raspa." It was super!

Here are the girls with their lovely teacher, Mrs. Park. Well done, girls! I'm so proud of you!

Too In Love To Eat

One morning last week Big Ben woke just before his two little friends came over. I put him at the table for breakfast just before they arrived. The doorbell rang, and he was so excited he didn't want to eat. That was a first. I thought to myself, "He's so in love with those girls, he didn't want to eat!" Then it occurred to me that it would be a cute blogpost thought so I went in to take their picture.

Here is what I found...a full medical examination underway. Big Ben was directing her to his one mole on his belly, which he proudly calls his "boo boo."

Look at her eyes! He doesn't seem to mind female doctors a bit!

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Big Ben racked up at the rummage sale last weekend. A pistol, an oozie, and a couple of lightsabers are all in his possession now. I am not sure who is having more fun...his sisters who dramatically fall down dead, Big Ben who seems to know exactly how to use them, or Campbell Clansman who frequently plays with them! (My friend Barb in Singapore told me that since she was from the hippie generation she banned guns from her home...then her 3 boys chewed their breadsticks into rifles. She suggested if I ever had a boy, just give him a gun and get it over with!)

Happy Birthday, Israel!

It is our joy to host one Israeli student at our school. His parents were sent here by the Israeli government on official embassy business. They are dear. Last week, Israel celebrated its 63rd birthday. We were honored to be invited to the reception celebrating that. The food, the music, the company we enjoyed very much. And I'll admit...the high security excites me a bit. Even our invitation had to be scanned as we entered. (CC and I saw them scan it last year, so for kicks, we got out Twinkle Toes' new game, "Clue: Secrets and Spies," used the ultraviolet light scanner in it, and lit up our invitation to see what it said!!! It doesn't take much to entertain us!)

And it didn't hurt to find a chocolate fountain on the way out...

I would love to picture our student here, but for security reasons I should not. He is very special to us. Although we have different faiths, he is intrigued as to why we know so much about his country, history, and people. Through his people, I am blessed, that's why!

Zoo Day: Class PIctures

Just before we left, we took pictures of the students by the zoo's fountain. Here's SC's class and her wonderful teacher, moving back to Iowa this year.

Here's our class (the Pre K). My friend K, on the right, is their full time teacher. Adam, a senior and in the center, helped the class during his free period this school year.

And then of course...how we really are...

Zoo Day Part III

After seeing the zoo and having lunch, the children were given time to play. Sweet Cheeks was happy to have her brother tag along.

He was happy to be there.

I snapped this picture of SC as she came down a slide. As soon as I took it, I noticed how very much it resembled her baby pictures. But she's not a baby now....she's turning 6 this summer. CC and I have said that no matter how many might have come after her, she'd always be the baby. Anyone else out there have a 'baby' of the family who is not really the youngest?

This sweet girl will always hold a special place in my heart. Long story, maybe you've read about her in my letters before. CC and I were given the joy of naming her. We named her "Ceylan," which in the Turkish Bible is the name given to the little girl Peter raised from the dead. She surely is a miracle, as well.

Zoo Day Part II

As I mentioned yesterday, the zookeepers were wonderful with the children. This keeper had found a turtle and let the kids see it up close.

I think Sweet Cheeks' little African friend wasn't too sure about it. (By the way, I plan to convince that child's mother to let her stay with me when they move back!!! She is SO CUTE!)

I think this pictures speaks for itself....something about three little monkeys...

Amid the animals and children, I noticed this granny taking a break and knew I had to get her picture.

Tomorrow: play time at the zoo!

Zoo Day Part I

Each year the K4 and K5 classes have a zoo field trip at the end of the year. It's always been my favorite....little faces wide with wonder at God's creation around us. For those of you in more progressive countries, there are parts of our zoo that might disturb you. There's no "Cat Country"...it's a big cage. The advantage is that we can get very, very close to the animals. Unfortunately, recently there was a tear in the chain-link fence separating the lion and tiger. It was not repaired, and the tiger got a swipe at the lion's jugular vein, resulting in his death. (I did keep an eye out for similar holes that might connect the tigers to people!)

The zoo with my little boy was a new experience for me. As soon as we neared the double fence with a grassy area for lions, Big Ben promptly started climbing the fence to get in. I was speechless for a moment. My girls would have NEVER! .... anyway, I explained we could not climb the fence. He said, "Why?" (new word of the week). I said, "Because it is dangerous." "Why?" "Because the lion might eat you." He froze in his tracts, brain wheels turning. From then on, each animal we visited...flamingos, ostriches, zebras..."That eat me, Mama?"

It was a beautiful day with very few guests visiting the zoo. The zookeepers were so friendly and let us enter the giraffe area at feeding time. Here, Sweet Cheeks is pictured with a British-Serbian friend and a friend from Oman.

I actually considered hiring Teyze to keep Big Ben for me at home, so I could be ALL MOM to Sweet Cheeks that day. However, SC was devastated and insisted her little brother come. So, Batman came.

More zoo pics tomorrow!

The Feedy Twins

Our school hosted a rummage sale last Saturday. My friends K and J had some really good stuff for sale, as their kids are just slightly older than mine. The biggest hits of the day for us: rollerblades for US$7; school clothes for my soon-to-be-junior-high-daughter; books. And K had several large bins of Webkinz...no computer codes included, just adorable little stuffed animals. My girls were excited to use some savings to buy some very low priced new furry friends. Just as we were leaving, Twinkle Toes thought of her sister Sweet Cheeks, who was not with us and didn't get to pick out one. She said she knew just the one to buy for her...the little penguin with the cheeks just like her little sister. Sweet Cheeks already had the round-cheeked bird, which she long ago named "Feedy the Birdy" (as in, "Feed the bird." We think.) Jokingly, Campbell Clansman suggested she name her new penguin, Feedy the Penguin. She thought it was a lovely idea. So now we have Feedy the Penguin and Feedy the Birdy.

Spring Events

Is your Spring busy? Ours is! Here are a few things we've been doing...
This was our Annual Staff Picnic. (I managed to get one photo that day...glad it included two handsome guys.)

Mother's Day!

We have two new mommies-to-be on our staff. My two friends and I hosted a baby shower for them.

Here are the cute mommies-to-be, from South Africa and Turkey.

So, what are you busy doing?