What a wonderful day New Year's Eve was at the "Future of the Family" kindergarten.
We had 2 special, added events at this year's celebration:
We read stories from some of the BOOKS that were sent to us by the
Fifth Street Elementary School (Heather Goodhue) in Jasper, Indiana
AND
The biggest part of the children's gifts this year was
HATS AND MITTENS
sent to us by a very special Knitting Group in Jasper:
"Tuesday Knitters".
Members of this group are - Ellen Vonderheide (godparents to our grandchildren), Mary Ann Schroeder (Ellen's mother), Sally Klem,Doris Oeding, Charlotte Schneider, Carol Becher, and Sandra Aronoff.
Thank you so much ladies for these beautiful gifts!
Here are photos of the "storytime" and the caps and mittens:
I know the children wonder about me sometimes. They probably go home and tell their parents "stories" about what the crazy American teacher did every day. Yesterday, one of the books that we read was "Baby Penguins" and I finally got some of them to mimic me - walking like a penguin. What FUN!!!
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Here are some photos of the children in their hats/mittens (aren't they beautiful? - the caps & mittens AND the children!!):
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I know that I say every year --"These are the most beautiful children!!" Well, it is true again this year. Just look at these adorable faces!!
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After we read stories, there was music, of course. Is there ever an Albanian party where there isn't music???!!! The children danced, recited poems about the new year, ate cake, drank juice, and posed for pictures.
New Year's Poems
Yumm -- delicious cake!!
Are we bored yet? When is the dancing going to start?
How about NOW?!?!
Habibe Joins In
Some of the boys quickly got tired of the dancing.
Here are a few pictures of the special guests that visited us during the party.
Belinda is Advije's daughter & One of the First children to attend the kindergarten. She loves school so much that she came to the kindergarten on her first day off from 3rd grade.
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And then we had another special guest: Endrit - Agim's nephew. You will notice, Ellen, that he has one of the hats!! Isn't he adorable?
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So we say, "Good-bye" to 2008 with these last few photos.
When I was reading a story to the children at the beginning of the party, I mentioned that when they came back from their January vacation, we would be reading more of the books that the Jasper school sent us.
One of the children started to cry. I asked her what was wrong and she said, "We HAVE to go on vacation? Can't we come to school for our vacation?" My, how they love school!!!
Habibe made me promise to put a big THANK YOU note on my blogpage. She wanted me to tell you how very much she appreciates all that you do for "her" children - she has 240 children now.
She wishes that she could tell each of you in person, but promises to make you something special to eat if you ever get our way.
I join Habibe and saying, "Thank you for making such a difference in these young lives." I think you can tell how very happy they are by the looks on their faces.
(Everyone tells me that I need to include my photo ocassionally so that folks will know who is behind the camera. I am always too busy taking pictures to remember to get in any of them, so here is the "token" photo for this blog entry.)
Shelia
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