Moving on Up!

 We moved!

Our apartment was lovely but a little to big for the three of us. Another apartment was open on campus that was the perfect size for us and has a better view of the ocean! With the temperatures dropping we also figured it would be easier to heat a smaller apartment! Here's the grand tour:

 Here's my bedroom. Slightly smaller, but I have a bigger bed and because it was bigger I get to keep the flannel sheets that were on it! Yes!

 Here's the main room. Our new living room, dining room, and kitchen are all the same size as our old giant living room was. It's Much cozier and felt like home the night we moved in!
We've been hosting a financial class on Monday nights and last week the projector was left behind...we made full use of it! See that giant white wall...it was like being at the movies in my own living room! 

 Here's the kitchen. It's only a little bit smaller, but still plenty large. Even after a week here we are still trying to remember where things are! Megan is doing in the dishes in this picture which is ironic because I feel like since we've moved ALL of us have lost the motivation to do dishes. Every time I blink the counter is full of dirty dishes again! Today, I've been working on them in shifts, because there are so many!

The dining area. The sliding glass door leads to the balcony which has a great view of the ocean! We can even hear the waves!

 Another shot of the whole room! We really like our new apartment! We have plans to paint and hang pictures and make it even better!

 This is a terrible attempt at the panoramic view we have from our balcony:

celebrate!

We have finally had some full weeks of school! It feels really great to be back into a routine and busy again! Of course, with all the work we've been doing we also had to take time to celebrate!!!

First, the kids got to have an Art Party! Their good behavior in art class earned them a party that they were so excited about it! They wanted to bring in snacks on Monday for the party which wasn't until Friday! On the day of the party, they all brought in snackS. There was a full cake, cute little 'paint' cookies, and tons of chips. I ventured up near the end of their party to see how it was going. They had to make a picture using the food and then they could eat it. I saw a lot of eating and the occasional picture!  

 They had a great time and that's what really matters! Plus they each got to take a goodie cone with them...I'm pretty sure that was their favorite part!
 Right after the art party where they all ate too many sweets and goodies, I took them to Arabic class; where they run around, jump, and do flips on a trampoline! (It's like gym class only in Arabic) Thankfully, there was no puke!


After the art party, and Arabic class, they had French class.  They have been making castles and finally finished them up!
 This is Adam, Othmane, and Tarik with their lovely chateaux.

 Yesterday, it was time to celebrate good behavior in our classroom! They have been working to fill a jar with cubes which they only get when the whole class behaves well. After filling it we took a vote and they all wanted to have a pajama party! Any day I get to teach in sweatpants and a t-shirt is totally okay with me! I got permission and Friday my kiddos looked like this....

 Well actually, more like this! They were Crazy, Out of Control! But we had a great day! They Begged to bring in stuffed animals also, and I told them they could only bring it in if it fit in their bag. One of my boys says "Wah! Has to fit in my bag? Okay, I will bring two bags." And that's what he did....note the giant Spongebob... Mohamed!

We read to our stuffed animals in the morning, played some math games, and then we watched (part of) the Lion King! (we just finished a unit on Africa/the savanna so it was fitting) (Mid-term grades were also due and our 'fun' afternoon gave me lots of time to get that done! Call it what you want...I call that good planning!)

Here are my boys. The little guy in grandpa pants near the front...it's funny that he's screaming because he often makes me want to do that. He's also the one who puked on me. I will never forget that. Also, Adam on the far right, his pajamas say 'super hero' and have a cape. So adorable!


 And, if you thought the boys looked crazy...here are my girls! Imane, far left in the blue, her bear burped. If you hugged it, it would make a burp/fart sound. That didn't get old at all.

We combined with another 2nd grade class for our Lion King movie because she also planned a reward party for the afternoon. Great minds (and busy teachers) think alike! So we went from this...




To this...

The kids had to go to art and weren't able to finish the movie. But we did watch the part with Timon and Pumba and they all sang Hakuna Matata...which might have been my favorite part of the day!