Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Yesterday I (Cindy) had my Thanksgiving day festivities in part with Kindergarten. Here are a few pictures....

....The first is of the entire group. We started in the morning cutting up apples (all 40 kids) with plastic knives. They did a FANTASTIC job! Then we did our own thing as seperate classes and came together again near the end of the day. We had decided that Kinder would be Indians and that P-4 would be the Pilgrims. So we wanted a group shot of our little Indians and Pilgrims coming together in peace...well mostly...they ARE 5 and 6 year olds so there can never be total peace. Grin. The second picture is at the end of the apple cobbler making time. I had a "cooking class" to make the crumb part of the cobbler. They had fun (I hope.) I did even if they didn't. At the end of the day we ate the apple cobbler, then we went into the Kindergarten room to read The Very Hungry Catipillar. This is a picture from Katy Mejia's (the kinder teacher) point of view as she read the book. We had a great time and they did a great job throughout the day, but MAN and I glad it is over. 40 small children in one room with knives (even if they are plastic) is reather stress inducing. Emily is having her feista on Friday I will make sure we get some pictures of her class on here as well. (Even if mine are cuter!)

I promise we will post a blog soon about our trip to Paracas. We need to upload the pictures onto the computer first.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Cindy and Emily Leinbach

update, long overdue...

Hello all! Today I will be sharing with you some pictures from the last couple of semesters and telling you about them.

This first picture is of my (Cindy's) classroom. We did Noah's Ark for Bible time. We started by putting up the ark part. Then the next day we talked about and added the 'water'. Then on Wednesday we talked about the dove being sent out, and we made our own doves and added them. Then on Thursday we colored and added the rainbow and talked about what the rainbow means. In the States when you see a rainbow flag it is a symbol of the Gay and Lesbian movement, here in Peru when you see it, it is the flag of the Inca Empire. But we Christians know what it REALLY means! God is faithful and merciful.

The next several pictures are from Family Day at MCS. We had a lot of fun. There were games, prizes, inflatables, a trampoline, bowling, and lots of yummy food. We had a great time. The idea behind Family Day is that the parents take control of the event and plan and execute it. All the teachers were given jobs to do throughout out the day but that was it. I had three hours of supervisory duty at the trampoline. It was actualy a lot of fun. Here is a picture from the trampoline on Family Day...this group happens to all be my P-4's. From left to right we have: Daniela in the pink, Ximena (Pronouned He-mana) in yellow, Luciana in white and blue, and Samara in Pink facing the camera. I think that head in the foreground is Carla. They had such fun jumping together. Most of the time we had a mix of grades in together but it just happened that the next seven people (that was my limit 7 in at a time) were all P-4's so they were happy to be jumping with their friends.

While at Family Day I finally found a clown that I am not afraid of! His name is Caleb and he is the youngest child of Kristie and Ivan Ashby. Ivan is the Elemetary Principal, and has four kids, three gilrs and then Caleb (no he isn't doted upon at all). Not only that but he is also the cute little blonde haired blue eyed fair skinned baby that is so revered and loved here in Peru. Sometimes the poor kid can't even walk across the patio without being accosted by a mob of students wanting to fawn over him. He was so cute that day that both Emily and I posed with him. Here is Emilys... Aren't they cute????

Okay so here are just some other pictures of the day for you to enjoy I am not going to detail these so just enjoy as is...

Hello from kinda sunny Lima...

Hello from Lima.

With just a little over a month left of out first year here life is going fairly well.

I am feeling pretty good. I have my good days and my bad days, I am having more good days than bad days so that is good. I continue to work through finding the right meds in the right dosages with my doctor (Dr. Harrison) but I feel good about things. I am able to teach my class and do most of what I plan. Whereas three months ago I had so much I wanted to do but was unable to physically move enough to do those things. I also feel that I need to receive some positive affirmation that I have less than 30 days of school left and ALL my children are alive and I have not even maimed any of them! (Some days this is a major miracle...sigh)

We are gearing up for the Christmas program...here in Peru there are two big things each school year that have to be BIG. They are: Mother's Day, and Christmas. It should be fun.

Well I need to go and cash a check so I can go replenish my meds for the next month.

Hope all of those who read this are well and that God blesses you.