Gabby's Buddy, Emily, or "M"

Emily is Gabby's first real friend, besides her adorable cousins, and it's so fun watching them play. They get along really well, so the parents can talk and have fun. They get so excited when they see each other. It's pretty cute. Here they are picking out some flowers... I was super sick that day so they gave me some roses to cheer me up.

Gabby's School Newsletter 11/30-12/4/2009

Arts and Crafts
Christmas is just around the corner and to prepare for the festive season, the class talked
about Christmas and colours of Christmas. For arts & crafts the Kangaroos made a hand printed Christmas wreaths, Santa’s hat & Snowman picture.




Letter of the week: Jj
This week the Kangaroos enjoyed making different shapes with Red & Green coloured Jell-O using cookie cutter. Best part was eating the Jelly for snacks

Jellybeans Jumping Jj, Jj, Jj Jellybeans jumping Jj, Jj, Jj Jj is the sound of JJ

Winter Ball 2009

Here is the sexy Tebo couple. I wore this dress last year too because I was too lazy to get another one made this time.

Velora, me, and Kamara (she took this herself). Velora is enjoying some Jello-o shots that Ray made.

Ray and I (I took this myself)

Big group dancing... look for Travis and I in the back

Awww, the Cara we all know and love... you know how much I love my people! Not sure what Michael is pointing at?

The ISB Winterball... otherwise known as an adult prom... is a swanky event where the whole staff dresses in tuxedos or fancy dresses- eats, drinks, dances, and is merry. We stayed at a 5 Star hotel that overlooked the Beijing Olympic Game site and I have to say... it was really cool. I had a blast until I started feeling feverish... we ended up leaving early and I had a 104 degree fever that night. I stayed in bed the next day and missed two days of school... I was hurtin' for certin'.

Toby, Debbie, Stuart, and Wesley's Visit to China

Travis and I are so sad that the other Tebo family is leaving... we had a fabulous time. We played a lot of board games, ate yummy food (including a dinner catered by Chef Song) and just caught-up on everything. It was good sharing our "Chinese life" with them... Which includes ayis, cold weather, foot massages, bad drivers, pollution, cheap food and beer, our friends, and work. It was so nice watching the kids interact...not share and share toys, hit, tickle each other, dance around (I got some great video of that!), whine, and sneak out of bed. They ultimately are friends in the end... I especially liked seeing them cuddle up on the couch watching a movie. Wesley was such a trooper! He just ran around with a smile on his face. They're both wonderful boys and Travis and I love watching them grow. I really can't wait to see Gabby's other cousins (Emerson and Langston) and see how much they've changed!

I believe the Tebos had a good time. They did some shopping and got some sweet deals- Toby bought a pair of knock-off prescription Ray Ban sunglassses for 20 bucks, which was cool. They visited the usual (but awesome) "you've got to go" tourist places, such as the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Temple of Heaven. They even went on a rick-shaw ride around the hutongs (villages) and visited a courtyard house. We haven't even done that yet!

Happy Thanksgiving 2009!

It was a crazy but fun filled Thanksgiving Day for us in China! Toby, Debbie, and their beautiful boys flew from Dubai to Beijing... We haven't had family (besides our overseas family) for Thanksgiving in five years so this was an extra special treat. I can't express how great it is to see them! Wesley is walking now and when I picked him up, he just cuddled me and laid his head down... melted my heart! Stuart is becoming such a big boy and is so sweet with Gabby... they are like two peas in a pod. It was a bit of a rough night, though... Gabby's room is pretty big, so it can easily fit her crib and big girl bed, which is what Stuart is sleeping on. We don't have a lot of space so this seemed like a practical solution... Gabby was being really naughty and kept climbing out of her crib. Travis overheard Stuart tell Gabby to go to bed... one time I opened the door and Gabby was completely naked and they were both taking things out of her closet. This went back and forth for awhile. We also caught Gabby in Stuart's bed a couple of times... Poor Stu just wanted to sleep! FINALLY, they fell asleep... but geez- that was work.

Although there were lots of other special people missing, we had a fabulous Thanksgiving... The kids ate macaroni and cheese and the adults ate... what else? Chinese food.

What I am Thankful for this Year:
1. My friends and family are in good health
2. Gabby is becoming such a wonderful little girl and is healthy and happy
3. Job security
4. Having the best husband in the world
5. My best friend, Beth (and Gabby's guidemama) is rad. She has an awesome sense of humor and has an uncanny way of picking me up (via email) when I am down... She does cool things that make me feel special (care packages, birthday cards, etc.) and I'm really grateful that our friendship has blossomed, even though we live so far away and don't see each other that much. 

End of an Era

Gabby figured out how to crawl out of her crib. I was hoping we could do the "big girl bed" thing after winter break when she's 2 1/2 but we may need to do this sooner. Last night, she got out about five times, including twice in the middle of the night. That sucked! The first time she got it it was 1o minutes after we laid her down, she just opened our bedroom door and said "Hi!" It scared the hell out of me! I was just laying there watching TV... Our bedroom is on the top floor, so she just walked up the stairs like the little girl she is becoming... I couldn't believe it. She is really growing up! I put her back to bed and then listened at the door... I caught her in the act! She just puts her legs over and jumps off. Not a big deal to her, I suppose. Needless to say, I'm really tired today. It would be so easy just to have her sleep with us but we are being strong! Toby, Debbie, and their boys will be visiting us this week (on Thanksgiving!) so Stuart will sleep in Gabby's big bed, and after he leaves, we'll do the whole "big girl bed" thing... not too excited about it. I guess I like the confinement of the crib too much.

Gabby's School Newsletter 11/16-11/20

Gabby was the Star of the Week!
* Listening to your teachers
* Helping out in tidying up toys and other school materials
* Playing well and safely with your friend
* Sharing and taking turns
* Being kind to your friends

Group Activity

Last Thursday the Kangaroo class enjoyed building Hh for HOUSE made out of cereal boxes, milk cartons and tissue rolls.

Build Myself a House

Am gonna get me a Hammer

(Tap,Tap,Tap)
Am gonna get me a Hammer
(Tap,Tap,Tap)
Am gonna get me a Hammer
(Tap, Tap,Tap)
And build myself a House

The kids are picking who they will be a secret santa to.

Gabby is on the left!