Hello, Summer Vacation!

Another year is in the books.

 The first day of 3rd and 2nd Grades.

Last day of 3rd and 2nd Grades.

We are now off on a 2-week road trip around the Balkans.  Enjoy your summer and I will be back as soon as we get stateside.

Sports Day

Each year, during the last week of school, the kids participate in Sports Day (aka Field Day).  They slather themselves in sunscreen, pack a gallon of water (or two) and sport their team colors so that they can compete in different track and field games, with a few old-fashioned grade school favorites thrown in for fun.  This year was no different, save for the fact that I was allowed to attend.  The P.E. teacher asked if I would come and document the day for the school and I jumped at the chance to be a part of perhaps the most fun day of the year.  I took thousands of pictures (not kidding) and a smattering of videos and have just spent the past two days culling and editing and putting together a video for the assembly at school this afternoon.

I loved looking through all of the photos and seeing the smiles on all of the kid's faces.  They had such fun.  I had such fun.  I give you the photos of the day and if you get to the end, the video I put together for the assembly.  Be kind in your reviews, I am a photographer, not a videographer and have never put a video together before...

Sports Day 2017 at BIS CC...

 

 Not sure about this running thing.

 But I'll do my best...

 Checking out last year's winner...

 A tie for first puts her in the finals.

 I tracked this one down (they were all over the place) and watched her for a bit...

 By then it was lunchtime so we all took a moment to sit, relax and catch up with our friends.  Because after lunch, it was the sprint finals.  Stinkerbell had not made it to the final heat for her class, but she did get picked to do the relay.  MadHatter, on the other hand, would be running in the finals to see who was the fastest girl in 3rd grade.  We gathered the whole school into their color tents to watch.

 The Red Bears as represented by MadHatter...

We watched the littlest kids run their races first and then it was time for the 3rd-grade sprint finals.  MadHatter wasn't too sure about it but said she would give it her all.  And boy, did she ever!  She came in second in a photo finish (not my photo) and she was so proud of herself!  And so was I.  Her first race and I think she is hooked.

   

Thanks to one of the mothers in the crowd, I have it on video!

 Then it was Stinkerbell's turn and even though she really didn't want to run in the heat (it was super hot and sunny) she did her best and pulled out second in her leg of the race!  Way to go Stinkerbell.

 Exhausted!

 Sarah tallied up all the points for the day and the Red Bears took 2nd Place for the whole day (there is a theme here).  So proud of my Bears and so glad I could be there to enjoy it with them.

The school video...

Transportation Stations

MadHatter's class is just finishing up a unit on transportation so we put their learning to the test and took a tour of Munich using various modes of transport.  From the tram, to the U-Bahn (subway), to the bus, to our feet we covered many, many miles and all parts of the inner ring learning a bit about the history of some of Munich's more famous landmarks.  I am so glad I got to tag along as a chaperone because many of the places we went, I had yet to visit.  It was our last field trip of the year but I can't wait to see where next year takes us.

Learning about the church, it's destruction and rebuilding.

Almost all of the fountains have drinkable water.  It was HOT so we stopped at many of them.

A 3d map of the city center.

MadHatter standing in the Devil's footprint inside the Frauenkirche.

At Alter Hof (monkey tower is the dark tower on the right) hearing the story about a monkey stealing baby Ludwig IV and carrying him to the top of the tower.

Tired adults at lunch.

Olympia Turm - the highest point in Munich (viewing tower is 200 m up) - gives you the best 360 degree views.

{Almost} 8!

We jumped.  We cartwheeled.  We flipped and flopped and threw ourselves at the walls.  We battled.  We fell.  We laughed and played and celebrated.  And then we collapsed from exhaustion and replenished our bodies with sugar (what else are parties for?).  Stinkerbell declared it the best party ever (until next year).  Happy Pre-8 Stinkerbell!

One pleased as punch (and flexible) 8-year old (to be)!

This one shared her birthday with Stinkerbell as it was her actual birthday!