Day at the Park: Friends

This guy cooked all those hot dogs and hamburgers for us!

This gal has been with me through it all...since day 1 when the school opened.

This one has, too. She likes my kids, can you tell?

We even made some new friends!

Day at the Park: Reliving Glory Days

It has become an annual tradition to take one Saturday in the Spring, get together as a staff for a picnic, and force the end-of-the-year rush to wait...just for one day at least. Last Saturday we did that. We had real American hot dogs and hamburgers donated by a person who loves us. And after 6 years as a successful school, we treated ourselves to a new purchase...a good ol' gas grill! We had so much fun, and I've got some fun pictures to share the next few days.

After eating our (real) hamburgers and hot dogs, we kicked things off with some touch football. Soon we drew a huge crowd. Turkish kids were all around us, watching, fascinated by this game where you actually touch the ball with your hands!

I was fascinated by the two 40-something year old ECS grads, reliving their glory days.

I must note, that, this photo has not been touched up in any way. He DID catch that ball. Touchdown!

He quarterbacked for awhile...

Can you spot the two big boys reliving their glory days?

Ok, and I laced up my tennis shoes, too. What's the good of being a little sister all those years, with a big brother who taught you how to draw plays on the palm of your hand, if you can't join in? By the end of the day...my nickname was Smokey Joe.

More tomorrow!

Goodbyes Have Begun

One of the hardest parts of being at an international school are the goodbyes each year. Thankfully, they are staggered. Here's a couple of goodbyes Miss Middler is thankful not to have to say this year!

Fifth Grade Fun: Part III

Firstborn did have a few tokens left after the (many) bumper car rides. She wanted to use them on BB. So, she took him to a 'Big Rig' ride, where he is driving a simulated tractor trailer. Let's just say driving lessons are a must for this boy! As you can see in the video, he got mad at Firstborn, who was trying to help him. At 11 years old, she had the good sense to try to get him off the police car, interstate road blocks, and bridge guard rails he was driving over. We had fun watching him. Getting him off of the ride was another story...

Fifth Grade Fun: Part II

After bowling, the kids got to get tokens and ride things or play games at the arcade. For my daughter, the objectives seemed to be the following:

1. Use all tokens on the same ride: bumper cars.

2. Be sad, giggle, and say over and over, "Awww. He's SOOOOOOOOO cute!" when baby brother was not allowed to ride the bumper cars.

3. Make her mother wonder by what standards these bumper cars were regulated (and what size neck brace she might need after her tokens were used up).

4. Ram into every boy in her class. Be rammed by every boy in her class.

5. Repeat this process until all her tokens were used up.

Fifth Grade Fun: Part I

Firstborn's class got to have an end-of-the-year field trip. I was honored to get to be a 'mom' that day and go with them. The teacher divided the class up in three groups. I think I've told you before that the class is heavily weighted with males. It's something like 15 to 5! The teacher gave me all the girls. I got the VERY easy end of the stick! Don't they all look sweet and quiet?

They are! But I also had the little boy with me...who wanted to bowl, dance to the rockin' bowling alley music, and eat the girls' snacks. And yes, he did everything he wanted!

Firstborn's teacher is leaving after this year. I'll miss her!

I had to include a video of the dancing man.

Scottish for the Day

Every year the kids in grades 1 and 2 have "Country Day" where they represent their home country. My little 2nd grader was born in Singapore, holds an American passport, but decided to represent Scotland (we are Campbells afterall!). There were a few other kids representing America, so she choose to be a Scot for the day. She learned so much! She found some real Scottish heroes like Eric Liddell (a Christian Olympic champion who refused to run on the Lord's Day); Mary Slessor (a woman who went to Africa and convinced the tribes there that twins were not a curse of the Devil, thus saving many lives); Alexander Graham Bell, King James (as in KJV)...the list goes on and on.

She got to dress up in a native costume. We scoured the house for a tartan. Unfortunately my only Campbell tartan is in the form of a winter blanket. But we did find this jumper, along with sister's borrowed boots, and a headpiece just for fun.

And she took a native dish. Scottish Shortbread, anyone?