Busy! Busy! Busy!

We have had a busy 7 days this week.  Today is a day of resting, watching Survivor, laundry, cutting hair, planting some Banana Trees, and then heading to the beach for sunset.

I wish I had pictures to show you of our week, but I guess a story will have to do.  Where should I start?

Carter: Carter finally joined a football (soccer) club.  He has been wanting to join for about a year now!  We took the bus to Jeddah to buy  him soccer shoes, shin guards, ball, and a bag.  None of these were needed, but he was so excited.  This club meets once a week and parents play with the kids.  When we arrived that kid shot out onto the field and dribbled the ball back and forth firing it into the goal.  He was so fast!  I had troubles keeping up with him, and this was only warm up.  The kids playing are 3-5, and it is just a group of teachers wanting this age group to get some experience.  Carter took this time very seriously and is excited for this Sunday.  Both of us are in charge of snacks and coming up with the activities.  He wants to make everyone turkey and cheese sandwiches, which are his new favorite food. 

We also had Carter's first conference.  We are so proud of how he is doing.  He loves writing in his journal and had some precious journal entries. He is also reading and becoming quite the classroom reader.  I am so thankful for his teacher and being in a classroom with only 13 kids.  (There are 10 teachers at kindergarten to keep the numbers low.)  

 

 

Cameron: Cameron is keeping extra busy, but keep in mind that all if this is right after school and we are home by dinner.  Cameron is in the middle of his football (soccer) season.  He plays on Team Chelsea and Bryan is the coach.  They have games each Saturday morning that last 20 minutes.  The kids are a sweaty mess afterwards, so I think 20 minutes is just long enough.  We can ride our bikes to the football pitch (field) and be home within 30 minutes.  Cameron also starts baseball two days a week.  This is a school activity, so he will be doing this on the school field.  Baseball is new to the community, and not many kids have experience playing.  Bryan is also helping out and so is our neighbor Mr. Kelly.  He is also the P.E. teacher at our school.  Cameron is also in a badminton club at the recreation center that meets twice a week.  He loves it! 

 

We also had Cameron's conference.  He is doing great and has adjusted so well.  He has so many friends, despite his two best friends moving away.  I am noticing a lot of learning progress, so now we just need to build some confidence!  He is doing quite well with his laptop at school and is learning to research.  Please feel free to email him at Cameron.johnson@thekaustschool.org as he loves getting email. 

 

Bryan: The most exciting part of our week was that we finally received one of our shipments.  It was our air shipment, which was nothing from our actual home, but things we had ordered.  It turned out that almost the entire shipment was Bryan's.  We were all so excited to open it and then each box was for Bryan.  He got a bike, bike trailer, golf clubs, bike tools, and lots of underwear!  We are all hooked on Ex-Officio underwear, and he bought 16 pairs!  I am not sure why so many.  We also ordered some for our friends.  I would say we are probably known as the strange Americans that love underwear!  Oh well, it could be a lot worse.

 

Bryan took his golf clubs right away to the golf course without a golf bag.  He had a box!  I am so embarrassed for his friends that were with him.  I think the golf pro was embarrassed and let him borrow a bag until our sea shipment is delivered. He now leaves his clubs at the course.  They clean them and keep them in a locker.  Good grief that guy is spoiled!  He turns 40 and you would think he became a Prince!

 

Bryan is also participating in Movember.  It is a big deal around here and emails are constantly being sent to see how the moustache is growing.  It is to support an awareness of prostate cancer.  I will post a picture once he begins to look like a hairy wolf!  There are a lot of rules for this competition, so he has to do some grooming this weekend.

 

Me: Well, I made it through my first conference week!  I have 15 kids from 7 different nationalities.  It was quite fun meeting all the parents and learning so much about their views on education.  So many families were so appreciative of me being their child's teacher.  It was a rewarding and exhausting week.  We do not get time off to conference, so all of this has to be fit in after school.

 

I have started working out with  my neighbor who is a personal trainer.  She is kicking my butt! The first week I couldn't even sleep without feeling pain.  My body was on fire!  However, I love this feeling and realized I have been lazy for far too long!  I hope to be in good shape before I hit 40, and I think I have a triathlon in mind for next summer.  I have been swimming laps, which has always been my weakest area. 

 

I am also enrolled in a 4 week class to get my PYP certification.  This is the first workshop and I believe I will have to do 3.  I am hoping on at least one of them I can travel and do the course in a weekend.  They are offered all around the world and I get a professional development budget.  I am sure these next few weeks will be intense and busy! 

 

Well, doesn't that sound busy?  Our boys are so skinny, but did you notice they never stop moving! They are constantly exercising.  I am working on adding some good fat to their diet.

 

Hope everything is well with all of our friends and family.  We will post some pictures soon!  I think the heat is cooling down a little, which will allow me to get some outside pictures.  (Cooling down means mid 80 with 80% humidity).  Things are getting cold around here!