Snow Day! (But we still had school!)

We finally got a little bit of snow here. It was enough for the kids to make some snow balls and snowmen. We took the kids at school for a walk and then let them play with the little bit of snow that was on the playground! 

Basketball Tournament

Our school was in a basketball tournament at the same place where the volleyball tournament was held in the fall. Our teams all played hard and the Senior girls (what they call the older girls teams-most from our school are 9th and 10th graders) took 1st place!! I didn't help coach, but we did enjoy going to watch the teams play. 

Kate with one of her teachers and some of her classmates

A sweet friend from our fellowship

One of Phil's students 

A friend in Anna's class that drew John

The Switch to Homeschooling

No, we are not homeschooling our children. Yes, we did in the past and, yes, we all liked it very much, but the kids are happy in their new school over here. One of the reasons we came was to support a family that has a daughter that is deaf. For the first semester, she attended the kindergarten class that I teach and had an interpreter in there. With the other interpreter and myself, also a trained interpreter, it was a good fit for the first semester. Her parents agreed that if at any time a change needed to be made, we could discuss and move forward with that plan. Well, after January, a change was needed. Their daughter needed to switch to homeschooling to get more one on one attention that I was unable to provide in the classroom with 11 other kids. 

At the beginning of February, we made the switch. The other interpreter now works with her on M/W/F in the mornings and I work with her on T/TH in the afternoons. It has been a great two weeks and she has done very well with the switch. We have already seen lots of academic progress just in these short two weeks with the one on one teaching. The other interpreter and myself are both so glad to be doing this together and also to have the support of her parents! We are using an extra room in our new house for her schooling. We have two guinea pigs and a hamster that she also loves and gets to pet when having a break. 

The other interpreter made this huge 100 chart! WOW! 

A piggie break! 

John's First Lost Tooth

It happened suddenly and without any drama. John lost his first tooth at dinner. He asked for help all of a sudden and was holding his hand over his mouth. He came to Phil and let him pull a very loose tooth with no crying. Phil said, "John, I think you just grew up a little bit."  With the girls there is always lots of drama and crying, but none with John. Yay for lost teeth and no drama! 

Spirit Week

We had Spirit Week at school to prepare for the upcoming basketball tournament that are school would participate in. It was a crazy week, but the kids LOVED it! As fun as it was, I think the parents and teachers were all glad when the week was over! 

Twin Day! 

Crazy Day!

Future Job Day! 

Pajama Day!