Annual KAUST 5K

We were able to partcipate in KAUST's annual 5K again this year.  Casey and I both finished under 35 minutes (each pushig a bike chariot).  Marcella jogged with us for about half of the way.  It was a cool morning and we had a lot of fun visiting after the run with other parents while the kids enjoyed some water fun and bouncy castles that recreation services put out.

We spent the afternoon relaxing: Marcella crashed on the couch, Theresa crafted, and the twins did dress up and puzzles. 

 

I recently put this end table in our foyer as a puzzle table- it has been great having a surface to work on puzzles without having to move the puzzle for eating or some other set up.  I brought several large puzzles back with us and am looking forward to keeping them out while we work on them for a few days.

Eleanor loves wearing her veil and long blue gown- she is our Fancy Nancy!

Marcella and the Kings

I had planned to purchase some gold wrapped alomond roccas to put out on Three Kings Day but Marcella surprised us by making a beautiful Three Kings box and placed all sorts of treasures inside including some of her St. Nick gold coins.  She did this all on her own in the morning not even knowing of my plan.  She also made us a lovely Playmobil Nativity.  Happy Three Kings Day!

Happy 2012

Well, we are all settled back into our KAUST routine.  The Christmas break was wonderful and so restful.  It was cold most of our visit and we are having cooler weather here as well.  It is great being able to wear long sleeves and pants and not break into a sweat.

From the pictures below you will see our hotel room in New York....we ended up having to stay a night there due to a flight change.  This surprise extended layover was actually quite fun for us- the kids loved being in a hotel and we got to take a nice taxi ride around Manhatten.  The airline paid for our hotel (two connecting rooms) and food which made the delay much more bearable.  The weather was below freezing the entire 24 hours of our layover so we triple layered the kids and myself while Casey braved the weather in short sleeves.  Hopefully, if this happens again, we will get to see New York under warmer conditions; Central Park looked fabulous but it was way too cold to enjoy this trip.

Our tomato plants were in full production upon our return and we are still enjoying them.  We have planted another round as well.  We love sprinkling them with our German rosemary salt.

Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas Eve

Double Tree Hotel-extended New York layover

taxiing around Manhatten below freezing

tomatoes round one

tomatoes round two

Farewell 2011!!!!

We will be heading back to Texas and family in two days so I am posting my final 2011 entry.  It has been a wonderful year.  We are so thankful the kids are enjoying life here and are all happy and contented.  Marcella told us just the other day that after crafting, school is her next favorite thing!

Here is a little group of pictures to end the year with:

I recently attended Theresa's Open House.  We had to bring items and pictures from home representing things Theresa does with family and friends.  At school we decorated the inside of a box with the family items and the outside with the friend items.  I am so glad I work right next door to her school- so convenient!

Last weekend we made a nice little "Tape Town."  The whole family got involved- the twins loved taping!  Eleanor liked filling in spaces and connecting, Eben liked making lines,Theresa made a nice "pile" of blue tape for the lake after outlining the rug, and Marcella worked on the Duplo buildings.....

Mommy and Daddy helped with the twists that tape sometimes makes...........

This is our tomato and pepper pot garden.  The back pots on the porch are basil and oregano.  The garden is doing incredibly well and we feel that when we return we will have fresh veggies!  We can't wait!

Winter Concert

The girls had their Winter Concert last night with a theme of Blue Green.  It was a wonderful performance and we were so proud of both of them. 

Theresa's class had the longest song to sing and as with her K-2 Showcase in the Spring she was center stage!  It was so much fun to watch her sing and do the moves!

Marcella took center stage as well by not only singing a solo, but singing a solo of a song she wrote while at a beach field trip!  It was incredible- first we saw a brief video of her composing the song, and then we listened to her sing with the class.  It was an echo type song called "The Pipe Fish Song."  After she led her classmates with the song she invited the audience to join in- what a performance!

Tis the Season

Just sharing some pictures of the Christmas happenings here.  We've been making Gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, and stockings!  Thank you Tante Lisa and Tante Rita for the sprinkles!

Odds and Ends

This post is just a bunch of loose photos for you all to enjoy.  Completely themeless.

Here is the girls' Duplo Pyramid- we hope to go visit the Land of the Pyramids in the near future as our San Marcos neighbors will be moving there soon!  Small World indeed!

Above we see Eleanor's First Braids- done by Daddy!!!! 

I love how she was holding her Bunny Doll Rapunzel.

Here is Eleanor with some new goodies from Ms. Sheila and Ms. Irene from Building Blocks. 

These two sweet ladies are always bringing their Beautiful Girl, as they call her,

new pretties for her long goldens.

Here is Mermaid Theresa- she came down one morning all fancied up.

Finally, here is Marcella, dispalying her worldy projects from a recent Unit of Inquiry with a topic of

Cultures and Celebrations.