Crete.....

Well, as I said before working overseas has a few drawbacks but many benefits.  This past week we took advantage of the best benefit and traveled!  Saudi Arabia celebrated EID, which is a very important holiday.  Schools closed for an entire week and we took a plane and traveled to Crete. ( I found Crete by looking at Pinterest.  I am sure it was a pin by Jenny Depew.  Thanks for the idea!)  We took over 600 photos.  It was BEATUTIFUL!  I tried to narrow it down, so here are a few of my favorites. 

  Party House!  We celebrated Zoe's 13th Bday, Sara and Jake's Baby Shower, and Bryan's 40th! 

 Here is the blue house.  Our family was in the green house, but this one was cleaner so I snapped some photos. Both houses were the same.

 Praying Mantis

 I miss our home! 

 This pirate shipped came into view while Jake and Bryan were snorkeling.  Can you see them in the picture?

 Pirates!  "Are they real momma?" asked Carter

 That splash was made by our Kiwi friend Sam.  He was the young buck of the group and showed up the old men by jumping off the cliff twice!

 My friend Ngiare.

 The Sommerville Family!  They are always full of smiles.

 Goats everywhere.

 Jake, Sara, and baby traveled all the way from Washington.  It was great seeing them!

 Clear Water!

 We stopped at a pottery shop and the owner let the boys make clay fish.

 The ice cream melted really fast!

 We had to pay a fee to drive this rugged road and then a goat was asking for his own fee.  The boys loved this.

 I bought someone a Christmas Present!

 Kiwi Rebecca and the boys. 

 We raced thru the streets each day pretending we were in the Italian Job.

 Hmmmm.....I am not sure about this 40 year old husband!

 This very old women was so cute!

 I couldn't pass up buying the pink camel.  They haven't found it if it is a boy or girl, but real men wear pink, right?

 Sometimes I feel like Carter doesn't look like us!

 We took this photo as we left.  Good bye Villa!  What a great place to hang out with friends and celebrate so many special events.  This trip has made for many lasting memories and great friendships.

Carter's Glasses

 Two more pictures to add!  We couldn't leave out the pictures when he was actually wearing the glasses.  These help him read!  :)

Carter's Open House

Rebecca's Point of View: About every 6 weeks each grade level has an open house to show off their learning.  Bryan was able to go since it was during the school day, but I got a sneak peak yesterday since my class is Big Buddies with Carter's class. I am so impressed by his classroom!  There is so much reading, journaling, and discovery happening.  I loved the poster of the day they made pancakes!  They walked to the grocery store and discussed what is needed for pancakes.  They then paid and came back and made some cakes!  He is in a classroom with 13 students, 1 teacher, and an assistant.  It is amazing what you can accomplish when you have a class this size.

 

Carter's Point of View:   This is my journal.  It is a picture of the earth. (He has the Johnson Art Genes!)

 

 This is my friend Llama (I am unsure of the spelling). 

 You wear these glasses when we have choice time.  These glasses help us read the room.

 We made bowls out of recycled paper, paint, and glitter.  We were learning about man made resources.

 These are my raccoons.  This is the Kissing Hand Story.  It is about Chester and his mom gave him a kiss on his hand.  She did this because he didn't want to go to school.  Then he wanted to go to school.  He always felt the kiss in his hand. 

This is me swimming on a motor boat in P.E. We did races.  

My teacher's name is Mrs. Malik.  I like her.  She is a good teacher.  She is good at everything.