Kayaking

As a I enjoyed a quiet and peaceful day on the river with my mom, a quote that I heard from my cousin popped into my mind:  "I can never find words to describe happiness.  Maybe it was designed that way, so that instead of sitting around writing about being happy we're out enjoying it while we have it."

I have really been able to enjoy the wonders of a Michigan summer.  The greenery is breathtaking to me.  I have loved the rain and all the wonderful sounds that nature has to offer.

I would say that is exactly what my mom and did a few weeks ago on the Muskegon River...we were out enjoying happiness...

A huge osprey nest near the power lines.

The Muskegon River.

Paddling around in the kayak.

A fly fisherman enjoying the quiet day on the river.

Enjoying a snack break in the shade.

More of the sandy banks of the Muskegon River.

My mom speeding ahead of me!

I forgot how pretty it was...

My mom and Amy enjoying the water and the shade.

So clear and fresh...

"May today there be peace within.  May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.  May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.  May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.  May you be content with yourself just the way you are.  Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.  It is there for each and every one of us."

Whitecaps Baseball

 Just this past weekend, I was lucky enough to be able to see quite a few people from the Houston side of my family.  We all attended a Whitecaps baseball game in Grand Rapids, MI.  Here are few snap shots from our fun and very warm and humid evening at the ballpark!

My cousin Rob giving his best effort at eating the 5/3 Burger.  Apparently it was on the show Man vs. Food.  He actually almost ate the entire 4 pounds of meat. 

Max and Mac enjoying an evening at the ballpark.  Mac decided to borrow Liz's sun hat for the moment.

Mac and his favorite sister. :)

Grandma Houston and I.  She came to stay with us for a few days this week!

Mom, Max, and Katie! 

Some more of the Houston cousins:  Mac, Rob, and Amber.

The Whitecaps won the game in the last inning and they we were able to enjoy a really nice fireworks show!

Mackenzie and I playing around before leaving the park.

Ben & KK's Wedding

I am back to blogging as I finally sit in my parent's house with high speed internet!  On July 15, I was lucky enough to be able to attend the wedding of Katelyn Kearney and Ben Regan.  It was a wonderful day in Holland, MI and it was spent with some great friends from Doha.   There were six of us who attended the ceremony from the ASD.  In between the wedding and the reception, we had a few fun adventures.

The Doha clan at the start of the reception.  Ben and KK are actually moving to Shanghai, China.  We wish them all the best!

My dear friend Ann has known Ben and KK since they both started at ASD.  It was great to be able to spend the evening with her!

Our friend Aaron also attended the wedding in Michigan. 

After the ceremony the Doha clan headed to the local brewery in Holland.

We also went to the Peanut Store.  Ann worked here throughout her college years while attending Hope College.  What a fun place.  Rumor has it that the rest of the clan went back for a second visit...

We all lived in the same apartment building in Doha.  We call it The Bin.  I live on the 3rd floor and the rest of the bunch was on the 6th floor.

For their guest book, Ben and KK had people write a message on a whiteboard and take a photo.  We decided to help remind the happy couple of how much they will be missed in the Middle East!

The breathtaking bride and I.

Thank you for allowing me to share in your special day!  Best of luck to you both and I will be seeing you in Shanghai! :)

Coming Home

I know the lyrics to this song do not describe my situation, but I think the title is quite fitting because I am coming home after almost a year!  This song brings back some great memories with some great family and friends.  I am very excited to be flying back to Michigan on the 14th.  This probably means another grand blogging hiatus...

I will probably post this song again in another three months when I've had enough of home and will be ready to get back to my home in Doha! :)  

So that was my first year as a teacher...

It still hasn't quite hit me yet that school is finished...

However, I must say with all the ups and downs, it was a successful and great first year teaching.  I had some amazing students that I will be very happy to see again in September.  Nevertheless, in the mean time, I hope to enjoy a wonderful summer at home in Michigan with my friends and family! 

I am so grateful to so many people for helping me throughout this school year.  I have learned so much, not only from other teachers, but my students as well.  I know that I will only keep learning from them as time goes on...

The last few days of school we had some fun in class while having a few treats and watching a movie.  I was lucky enough to remember to get some great pictures of most of my classes...

A fantastic 5th grade class.  I will miss them next year!  Best of luck in middle school!

An awesome class of 2nd graders! 

We of course had to take one "serious" picture and one "silly" picture.  It was so hard to chose which ones to post.  So here are some "silly" 3rd graders!

Here is a great "silly" group of 1st graders!

I really enjoyed this group of 4th graders.

I could only post the "silly" picture for this group of 4th graders because that is how we passed most of our time... :)

My other class of 2nd graders.  It was amazing to see how much they grew throughout the year.

My other group of 3rd graders! 

My last group of 1st graders.

This guy is destined to be on the big screen some day...

Enjoying the last day of school with my great 5th graders!

What a wonderful group of girls!  I will miss them! 

More last day of school pictures with some of my 5th graders!

I will miss this one!  What a great student! 

This was the creation of the three girls in the picture above...

They covered the entirety of one of my white boards...

With a wonderful summer scene...

Culture Fair

The third graders here at ASD had a very busy third trimester.  They started a unit all about culture and spent the majority of their time studying about the cultures of different countries in order to prepare for the Annual Culture Fair.  The third graders had their Culture Fair about two weeks ago and it was fantastic!  It was great to be able to walk through the third grade hallway (which is where my classroom is) and listen to the students talk all about their countries and their cultures!  The hallway was divided up according to the different continents.  Here is a quick peak at the third grade Culture Fair for 2011!

One of my students talking all about Peru!

Some more of my students talking all about Colombia, I think.

Check out that guy!

Japan!

Of course the Canadian table was a bit out of control...

Three of my students at their Greece table.

Each student had to create a culture box about their country.  Here is one that a student of mine made for Poland!

Here is  another culture box that another student of mine made about Germany!