5th Grade Culture Party

To celebrate the end of our first Social Studies unit on culture, our class had a culture party. Students wore traditional clothing from their home culture and brought games, food, and music to share. Above, three students play an Indonesian version of Mancala. Below, students learn a German Stretchrope game.

No class party would be complete without treats. The food selection at this party was especially rich, with items from Costa Rica, Korea, the Philippines, the United States, Mexico.... yum!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Stevens!

Ben and Linnea were married on October 4. It was a beautiful day in every way. One of the most touching parts of the day was hearing the vows that Ben and Linnea wrote and pledged to each other during the wedding ceremony. The reception followed at the Monona Terrace in Madison.

All dressed up and enjoying dinner - my brother Jon, me, and cousin Dan. The flower bouquets were stunning.

The Stevens ladies - sister-in-law Theresa, bride Linnea, and me.

A Reunion of Family

Family members came from near and far for Ben's wedding. It was wonderful to see everyone! Above, cousins Jacob, Laura, and Emily help wash dishes after dinner. It's amazing to see how much they have grown up since I saw them last. Below, Aunt Sarah, the Uncle Davids and Matthew ham it up after dinner.

A Reunion of Friends

This month I made a quick trip home to the States for my brother's wedding. During my week in WI, I had a chance to get together with some very dear friends. It was so good to see them and our time together really encouraged me.

My Aunt Susan and Uncle Mark hosted a dessert evening at their home for me, providing an opportunity for me to catch up with friends and share a bit about teaching at VCS in Austria. We ate apple strudel and compared cross-cultural experiences. It was a wonderful evening of friendship and laughter!