School Photos

Sakhalin International School Group Photo

Nursery  1 & 2 Class Photo

July Independence Day Celebration

Our compound held a mult-national independence day celebration on July 4 to accommodate all of the different nationalities here.  Canada - July 1st, USA - July 4th, Venezuela - July 5th, and France - July 14th.  They had a bouncy house for the kids, hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, games for both kids and adults, and a fireworks show.  We had to leave early because Adam was tired and wanted to go home, so we watched the fireworks from our house.  We had a great time, but it would have been nice to have had some sunshine for the event...but at least it wasn't raining!

Adam on the bouncy house

Getting ready to race 

Sack race

Right before he fell!

With Theo after the race

Getting ready for the 3-legged race with Elisa

Elisa's Daddy helping them out!

Shane and Amanda watching the races

Fireworks over Olympia

Tokyo

Some pictures from our trip to Tokyo:

Adam with the robot floor cleaner in the mall

Tokyo harbor at night

Adam at McDonald's

Adam at the Aquarium

Adam and I on the train

Nini at the Imperial Gardens

Adam at the Imperial Gardens

Adam at the Toyota showroom

Of course he found the racecar

Playing at an arcade

Tokyo harbor and Lady Liberty

Nini posing with the Statue of Liberty replica

More Pics from Nini's Visit

Adam is really into playing the Wii now.  As a change of pace from the Star Wars game he normally plays with Shane, I suggested we all try bowling out.  Well, he kicked our butts!  It is a fun game, but a little troubling when you get beat by a 4 year old.  He was so proud of himself!

I love the look on Adam's face

Adam getting yet another strike

Final score....Adam is pointing at his awesome 195

We went into town for dinner one night, and when we called a car to take us home, they sent a bus!  We felt pretty silly being the only 4 people on the bus!

Shane and Amanda riding the bus home from dinner

Adam on the bus

Nini on the bus

Nini Visits Sakhalin

My world-traveling 85-year-old grandmother, otherwise known as Nini, came to visit me for a few weeks.  Once she was over the horrible jet-lag associated with the 16 hour time difference from Houston, we ventured out into town and took some walks around our compound.  The weather in Sakhalin during her stay was unfortunately cold and wet, which is quite a change from the triple-digit temperatures she was experiencing back home in Texas.  We had a great time having her here....thanks, Nini for coming to visit!

Nini and I walking around the compound

The walking trail....it can get steep in places

"snow roof" construction....my house is being worked on today :)