It has been another busy few weeks. Last week seemed like a health test. My asthma kicked my butt as it seemed an elephant had decided to sit on my chest. Once the weekend came and after seeing the dr here, I felt better but Tyler was somehow exposed to peanuts at a birthday party even though I was super careful as always! So he was puking his guts out all weekend long.
So after that horrible week for me and weekend for Ty we were all more than ready for this fun filled week to begin. One of the nice things about school here in Baku is that because they do start early (August 18/19) we get a week long break in October and THREE weeks off for winter!!!!!
That makes this week the last one of school for us until the new year!
So Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I spent my mornings helping Grace and Tyler and their classmates get in and out of their costumes for their winter concert. I cannot quite describe the feeling of internal happiness I have had this week being able to just "be there". No strings attached. Just "available" to help the kids. My heart has been so full being able to watch them with their friends learning and growing and being happy. I love that they are still at the age where it is "ok" to see your mom in the hallway and come running out of class to give her a big giant leap and a hug with several kisses! I dread the day they look away embarrassed to be seen with their mom.
After waiting so long to have these miracle babies of mine, I never forget to count my blessings and that fact that I am able to stay home with them while we are here in Baku. I have never wanted anything more than to be a mom. But now that I can be a mom and be with them too, my heart is very full. I don't need anything for Christmas. I have everything I need already.
At the winter concert, each grade level represented a country and sang a song or did a dance to show how that country celebrates winter and the new year. The kids were able to learn about so many different countries and how they celebrate and that is so important to me. I want the kids to learn we are all one in the same. That is a big reason why we are here.....to teach them that even with different families and languages and traditions, we are all human.
The first grade represented Russia! Tyler's class did the Nutcracker Ballet. Each class performed their own song (there are 4 first grades) and then the whole first grade did a song together.
Here is Grace last night. We curled her hair for the concert. She loves to sit at her desk and create. She has been making Christmas projects there for our whole family for over a month now.
Here is Grace walking to school this morning. She found a stick and turned around to use it to sword fight the boy who was following her who happens to be her partner in the winter concert. (Who also happens to adore her and show off whenever able.)
Grace and Ty at school before the concert.
Ty on the way to school. Grace found a orange crepe paper she gave him. He loves to use it to pretend he is part of a different class's ribbon dance that he loves. He has memorized the entire concert, every grade level and their song and wants to be able to be a part of it all!
So after the concert, I headed home for a bite to eat. Then I ran back to school to set up for the kids 1st grade class winter party. Being a room mom I this year for both classes I had to help plan and organize the party. So the kids meet in 1 room after recess and sing holiday songs together and then the teachers split them up into 4 groups. 1 group plays games, 2 do art projects, and 1 decorates cookies. Then they rotate every 15 minutes or so. I decided to be in cookie decorating group because I wanted to make sure Ty didn't get any peanut exposure. We met with a few other room moms/dads and kids last night to bake the cookies all together then today the kids just decorated them. It was fun.
Grace decorating cookies.
Grace's teacher plays the guitar and sings Feliz Navidad for the whole 1st grade. I forgot to tell you he is a HUGE Dave Matthews fan like Grace and Daddy so of course we got him the live CD for Christmas!
A selfie of Grace and Ty and I in Grace's classroom as all the 1st graders got together at the end of the after all the stations were done to sing one last song and get gifts from Santa.
Tyler and Madeline decorating cookies.
The best part of the whole day was walking home when Tyler and Grace were asking each other about their favorite stations.....Grace said definitely cookie decorating but not because it was the most fun, only because that is the station Mommy was at. Tyler then said, me too, Mom today was the best day ever because you were at school!
And thus my heart just melted....
