Fall Break Trip

For the extended Fall Break weekend, eight of us headed to Carinthia, in the south of Austria near the Austria-Italy border. We stayed in a guest house with beautiful mountain views. We hiked, read books, played games and watched movies.

This was one of the picturesque views around the guest house. The weather was gorgeous all weekend long and the fall colors were brilliant.

We enjoyed cooking meals together at the guest house and eating around the big dining table. It was great to have plenty of time to sit and talk after eating, to enjoy the leisurely pace of vacation.

We ventured into Italy, to Venice, one day. What a fabulous city! Around each corner we'd stumble across another quaint view. Here Sandi and I pose by one of the main canals. Our whole group had fun exploring the city. We ended the day with dinner together at an authentic Italian restaurant. What a wonderful weekend with good friends!

Indoor Recess

It's been a beautiful fall here, but we finally had a rainy day and were forced to stay indoors for recess. These two girls enjoyed a break from their studies over a game of checkers. The girl on the left came to VCS in third grade and the girl on the right is new this year. They have become very good friends and love to spend time together.

Fall Festival Fun

Students and families filled the school for Fall Festival, an evening of carnival games capped off with a choir concert. Here a second grader prepares to go fishing at the fish pond booth. What will she catch on her hook? A good sized...piece of candy!

These girls were former students of mine last year. The girl in the middle is Austrian and has transitioned into an Austrian middle school this year. She came back to visit her VCS friends and teachers and was proud to report that she is doing very well in her new school.

These are some of my current fifth grade students. They are full of energy and love being together and fun events like this!

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!