Thanksgiving Point - Tulip Festival, by Lamiaa Hadi

Okay, I know the suspense was a killer but here it is - the Tulip Festival, by Lamiaa Hadi

Hi everybody!!! This is my first time writing for this amazing blog, and I am writing about the Festival of Tulips.

Mama Laurel planned it for us with Ms. Laurie, it was so much fun being with the other exchange students, so we started our tour as everyone else, looking around, discovering the beauty of Seema’s favorite flower, taking pictures, and enjoying the nice weather.

So as a part of an AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, we decided to roll down the hill, It was so much fun, we felt dizzy in the first time, but even though we couldn’t stop, it was so way fun.

We took pictures by the waterfall, we watched a little show of tap dancing, we went to the shops and we got a bag of 15-22 donuts, it was YUMMY!!!!

At the end, Mama Laurel and Ms Laurie let us to do whatever we want for an hour and half, so Seema, Cammy, Darby, Amrin and I decided to just hang out and chit chat!!

Photos from the day (captions by Mama Laurel)

Cammy stealing the show from the 3 tulips - Seema, Darby & Lamiaa

Darby trying a Hijab

Here you have Lehi (Utah), Germany, Malaysia, Japan, China, Morocco, Sugarhouse (Utah), and Pakistan.  Ever so Multi-Cultural in front of the waterfalls.

Seema with a coke.

Girls chilaxing.

End of the day - ready for some nap time in the car!!!

Cammy being either nice or mean to Lamiaa???

Sisters rolling down the hill.

Monkeys rolling down the hill.

 Okay - Laurel here, I just want to point out that Lamiaa sent NO photos of any tulips!!!!

For those that wanted tulips in this post - here you go, from me!!!!

I know the pictures of the kids having a blast are so much better.  At least you got a little of both. 

Gabriel says S*&% in church!!!

So I have been telling this story a lot lately and I thought the 3 followers of this blog would like to hear it BEFORE the big Thanksgiving Point day re-cap that Lamiaa Hadi said she was writing by Saturday - she didn't of course say WHAT Saturday, so stay tuned...

Anyway... my Gina Larson - who I could say SO much about here and I never really know what to call her so I am settling today on MY Gina Larson - sounds good.  She invited the silly monkeys Seema, Lamiaa and Gabriel to do a presentation at her LDS Young Women's/Men's group at their Wednesday activity.   Now I don't worry one tiny bit about these presentations as they have done MANY. I did get some traditional treats to share and that is about it.  Of course being a slacker mom, I have never stayed for a presentation and this time I did. 

Gabriel started off the presentation talking about Palestine and how close he lives to Bethlehem and showing pictures of his city etc.  He talked about his experience in Utah and what all he has done and did a very nice job of showing who he is and his values and culture.

Then he started talking about American teens / students perception of all of them as exchange students as they are from the Middle East or for Miaa a covered Muslim woman - well he explained that many people think they are ALL terriorists and they are NOT.  He said what do we look like we are carring  bombs and going to blow up S*&%.   I secretely hoped that the audience of young adults thought with his accent he said ships.  I think they got it though.

In the car I hit him - ever so gently on the shoulder - and said, Gabriel, you don't say S*&% in church.  What the heck (or close to that) were you thinking.  He says, I don't know it just came out.

We all giggled and said the only thing Gabriel has in his backpack is chocolate, not bombs!!

The moral of the story is - you decide.

Photos from the night.

A few fun things we have done this Spring!!

First, for my followers, we are still waiting on the mistaken absence to be excused - thanks for reading my rant, I get that it is a small thing, but still gets me fired up if I think about it.  According to the Principal he is quote "working on this".  So far 2 weeks...again, you can't fix stupid...

MOVING ON..
We have done a few fun things and some firsts - so in random order... the first jump on a trampoline..

The wonderful, Christopher Katis took the kids to an Orthodox Greek event that happens the Friday night before Orthodox Greek Easter.  They had a wonderful time seeing traditions and ceremonies of another religion.  BUT - everyone likes a good jump on the trampoline prior to heading to church.  All of these monkeys had never been on a trampoline.  I think Seema & Lamiaa spent as much time on their bottoms as they did on their feet.  You can see from the faces that they were having fun and from the hand position of Lamiaa, I think see is trying to stay standing vs. pulling the other down...I think!

Another fun event... Beauty & The Beast.  For those of you have have seen the Disney movie, you would love the live musical.  The costumes, lighting, music and special effects are truly AMAZING!  Alex & Joe invited Seema to use Grandma Elaine's :( seat.  And the cute Brent Jensen was trapped in Vegas..so both girls were able to go!!!  Thanks Alex, Joe & Brent for making this happen.

ANOTHER FUN NIGHT...

Laurie, the PAX coordinator in Utah County invited all the kids to come and participate in the Renaissance Festival at her children's school.  It is a wonderful charter school that has a huge focus on diversity and international affairs.  They teach Chinese, Arabic & Spanish at all school levels.   The monkeys were asked to have a table and then do a short presentation.  Look how cute they are.

See... we have FUN!!!

Coming Soon Easter & Spring Break.... Gotta hop...

Another MOVIE NIGHT!

We have been good so far in hosting a Movie Night once a month - and November was no exception!  Our busy weekend with Disney On Ice and horses was capped off with Movie Night. It is so much fun to watch these kids as they become more comfortable in America and with their families.  Truly a priviledge to have all of them in my life.

Seema and Cammie with too much candy!

Mimi and the girls!

And if the weekend was not busy enough, Seema had a Foods & Nutrition assignment due. It was to make soup.  I don't make soup - never found the right seasonings etc. So I enlisted Myra to help with this assignment as she is a champion at soup making.  They made cauliflower soup - and Seema liked it

 
Thanks MYRA!!!