Gotta Travel On

A few people have been curious about this China trip I've been talking about. There's an organization called the Cultural Expoloration of Greater China (culturalexploration.org) that raises money each year to send Seattle area teachers to China during the summer. The teachers can then use their experience in China and integrate it into their classrooms. By seeking teacher who are able to best able to integrate the information in this way (I happen to teach a curriculum for 10th grade that focuses on world cultures and definitely can include more about China) they hope to provide a current world view of China in today's classrooms. The trip expenses are covered by the organization - travel, lodging, tour fees, etc. and the entire trip itinerary is organized by this group. I don't know too many specifics about where exactly we're going yet but the general itinerary states that we'll have ten days in mainland China, two days in Hong Kong, and four days in Taipei. In previous years they have explored the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Tianamen Square, as well as the Terra Cotta Warriros. In Taipei, they've visited Chinese schools and met with current Chinese teachers and students to compare educational systems.

They have an application and interview process. I applied in February, was interviewed in March and heard at the end of March from my references that they had been contacted to provide a reference for me. Then, this week I received an email offering me a spot on this year's trip, to which I obviously said a big, fat "YES!". They are only sending four teachers from the greater Seattle area so to be chosen is a huge honor and I am THANKFUL. To anyone who is skeptical of the organization in any way, another Federal Way teacher went last year and made it back alive with lots of good stories to tell.

The next steps involve writing an article about myself to be published on the culturalexploration website and meeting with the team in May to go over important trip information such as the nitty gritty of overseas travel (getting a visa, flu shot information). Thankfully, my passport is still going to be valid so that's one thing out of the way already. The trip itself will be 16 days, beginning in July and ending in early August. I'm going to be on the hunt for affordable, comfortable, and easily hand washable travel clothing as well as a new water bottle that doesn't leak and...well, let's face it, probably a lot of other things that I'll think up along the way. Send your travel tips my way, please......

Time is Passing

We’ve been a little bit busy the last few months.  Well, busy enough to completely forget to update the blog anyway.  Here’s a rundown of some of the highlights.  We visited Zoolights Christmas week and the kids had a very good time riding in the wagon.  Even with snow gear on, they wished for a blanket to keep them warm….next year we’ll bring one.  We finished the evening with the obligatory ride on the carousel.

Christmas day was a fun day to spend quietly at home.  Grandma and Grandpa Cochran came for a few days and we all had fun watching the kids (especially Camden) excitedly open their presents.

 

January 14th we celebrated Shelby’s 2nd birthday by taking the day off of work and heading to the Seattle Aquarium (compliments of Uncle Neil).  We had a very fun day together and a video is attached here somewhere to watch.  I made Shelby the cake of her choosing and she was more excited about the MnMs on the cake than the cake itself…oh well.

   

 

The following Saturday we visited the Marine Research Center at Redondo where scuba divers were out conducting an octopus census. 

Here’s Camden with a “garage” he made out of the big blocks.

Camden got to go to the Tacoma Children’s Museum on a field trip for school.  Here he is fishing from his canoe.

The Elefun game is actually more for the costumes and props than actually playing….Shelby is so gangster here that is makes me laugh every time I look at this picture.

Matt took the kids one morning to Chuck E Cheese.  It’s so fun the way the kids have fun together.

We’ve had some visitors the past few months.  Our good friends Chris and Amy came for a rare visit before their big move to Ohio.  While I’m definitely happy for their opportunity, I will miss them a lot.

We also had a photo opportunity with Elena and Kim.

 

And, here’s Camden with a Lego model he created of Grandma and Grandpa Lee’s motor home.  Those legs he definitely didn’t inherit from his mother….

We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things

It’s my blog so I can do what I want.  This blog title isn’t actually a song title this time…but an album title.  But I like it and it fits so there you go.

A few weeks ago Bella and her parents came over to play and eat teriyaki.  Bella and Camden had a lot of fun playing together; Shelby had a lot of fun chewing on the Christmas tree ornaments.

Camden has spent the last few days decorating the kitchen.  It has never looked so festive or safe for driving – can you spot the traffic light?

The other night Shelby started a game of peek a boo.  She was done with dinner and I look over and she’s just standing by her chair peering over the table.  It was funny enough that Camden had to get in on it too, of course. 

  Grandma and Grandpa Cochran came for a visit about a week ago.  Grandpa helped Camden make some snowflakes and Shelby enjoyed some cuddle time with Grandma.  They’ll be back tomorrow to spend Christmas with us.

When there are no other kids around, Shelby gets brave enough to play on the tugboat at the mall.  She had fun sliding down the stairs and Camden shouted “canon ball!” and jumped from as high up as possible.

Last Friday we enjoyed a raucous party at Pat’s house.  Lots of kids, lots of desserts, and lots of wrapping paper to pick up when all was said and done.  

  

and, since there hasn’t been a video posted in awhile, here are two.  One of the kids singing on the couch and the other of the kids dancing at the mall (it has a surprise ending…that actually isn’t all that big of a surprise).

 

“C” is for Cookie

Last week we played with the clay for a bit in the afternoon.  Camden was goofing around with the clay container on his head.  We’ve had below freezing high temperatures for the past week so much time has been spent indoors.

Since it is near impossible to get a good picture of the four of us together, we sort of did some in installments.  Camden took the one with Matt in it, Matt took the one with Camden in it.

   

On Tuesday Matt had the day off from work and him and the kids made reindeer cookies.  This is how they should look….

and here’s how they turned out.  A few of them ended up with some extra appendages or unfortunately placed antlers, but they still taste good.