playing catch up...

This has been a crazy year so far - but filled with fun things that we enjoy, so we're happy.

We just finished Winter Quarter at the ELC.  This was a wonderful group of students.  They were all so positive, kind, and eager to learn.  We had a great time and I hope to get most of them back next quarter!

Charya, Jieun, and Mili - sweet ladies!

I'm starting to forget the names of students that I've had in the past - so I'm listing them here.

Front: Mili (Peru), Guadalupe (Mexico), Flory (Guatemala), Maria (Bolivia), Dana (Phillipines), Martha (El Salvador).  Back: Theresa (Mexico), Me, Charya (Cambodia), Luis (Guatemala), Elena (Peru), Nawal (Jordan), Jieun (S. Korea), Prabanjalee (Sri Lanka).   Not pictured: Lilian (Brazil), Silvana (Brazil), Manuel (Mexico), Teresa (Mexico), Ming (China?), Hyung (S. Korea).

 

Mariha, our foster daughter, went back to live with her mom earlier this month.  She lived with us for 7 months.  It was a tough 7 months, but we learned a lot of valuable lessons and were glad that we got to know her.  We were also glad to be part of a reunification - she was so excited to be back with her mom.     

We had a party for her the night before she left.  We invited some of her friends from the neighborhood and had pizza.  The kids all signed a pajama shirt for her.  I think they had a great time - if the screaming, giggling, and running through the house are any indication - they had a blast!

Ryan is playing Lacrosse this year and I have to admit I really love it.  It is so fun to watch.  I have really missed watching him play soccer - he was on a competitive team for about 5 years and when it ended I was pretty sad.  Lacrosse has kind of the same feel as soccer - the fast pace and the intensity.  There are some great kids on the team and the coaching staff is so positive and encouraging.   He is doing really well and seems to love it. 

We went to a tournament in Boise two weekends ago, and one in Salt Lake this last weekend.  It has been a little crazy, but so fun!



Em was in the spelling bee this year.  She took 5th - which was very exciting.  She had some tough  words like encyclopedia and scientific.  I can't remember the other words she had but she got out on "futuristic" .  She claims that she hates that word now.  :)    We were very proud of her!

 Ryan organized a basketball team with his buddies and Em played Junior Jazz.

Em's class had a contest to see who could make the most creative Valentine's box.  She raided the recycling can and created this:

 You could drop the valentines in and then watch them fall to the bottom.  She won the contest by one vote!

 Grandma sent another awesome Valentine's box this year.  The kids opened it when I wasn't there so I didn't get pictures. grrr, they should know better!  They loved making the candy suckers and decorating the house with cute stuff!

 

I think this long winter is getting the best of everyone!  Em and Bailey got creative with the garbage again and made giraffe and owl costumes.  Such goofballs!


They also had "dork night" where they dressed up like dorks and watched a movie.  They're pretty good at keeping themselves entertained!

Another Monster Concert:

We LOVE the Monster Concert.  It's the main reason we send Em to the YC, which can be a complete pain.  This year she got to play two numbers and did great!