Vinci, Italy with Daan's parents

Finally, summer arrived and we were looking forward to our trip to Italy, where we would also meet up with Daan's parents. We made a few trips together, one of which was Vinci. 

Vinci's birth home

Farewell Westlake Elementary Party Iris

As said yesterday was the official part of the Culmination and today it was party time, which the classes of 2011 celebrated in a park nearby ...

in line for the picture cube ...

Girls against the boys with flag football ...

Iris' Culmination at Westlake Elementary

In the US children usually move on from 5th grade to 6th grade by leaving elementary school and moving on to Middle School, it is what we would call the 'middelbare school' in Holland, only here we move one year earlier. This is a big thing and celebrated both formally (speeches, songs, recognition) as well as informally (party).

Later on Iris also received an Award for Academic Excellence signed by President Obama, because of her good grades. Which we think is a big achievement for someone who didn't speak a word of English less than a year ago. We thank her teacher for that too. She couldn't have had a better teacher for her first year. But she herself, as well as Bibi and Tyko, worked hard this year and all did so well.

Iris with some of her best friends.

In the "thank you for your helping hand" Iris thanked many of the people she is thankful for for being in her life. Not everyone fitted of course ...

Middle School - Bibi honored

Tonight some students were honored at the Middle School that Bibi goes to and Bibi was one of them.
I did realize I need a better camera because you'll need to find here as my zoom isn't that great - but that was a proud moment for her as well as me. She has worked hard this year to catch up with not only the language but the culture, the different way of teaching and writing ... and she did it with perfect grades. Well done Bibi!