Family Vacation in the Dells

After we spent the morning skiing, we drove out to the Dells for our first family vacation since 1999. Our first event was the Tommy Bartlett show. Now, me and my brother used ski at the same time but he never let me ride on his shoulders! Mom, Dad and I got to ride a Military Duck that drives on land and in the water. It was pretty cool.

The Dells are really beautiful.

Dustin joined us the next day... He wrestled a bear and saved my life. Just kidding.

It wouldn't be a Braun family vacation without riding a fast boat! We rode a jet boat called the Wild Thing. It had 1200 horse power, did 360's, and had brakes that would make the water spray over the top...we were drenched by the end of the ride. It was pretty fun.

We went mini golfing.

A good time was had by all.

Skyscraper

I talked my brother (who is afraid of heights) into riding this ride with me. Its 160 feet tall and moves 60 miles an hour. Plus, the seat your in flips around. At times we were falling to the ground head first. It was the best rush of adrenalin I've had in a long time.

I screamed and laughed so hard druing the whole ride. It was such a rush.

After the Skyscraper, we rode the "Hellcat." We were the only ones on the ride. We rode it 3 times in a row until we both felt sick.

Skiing

If you know anything about my family, you know we love the water. This Thursday, I got to ski for the first time in a LONG time! I went with my mom and dad and their friend Adam. Here I am about to get up on one ski......and here I am skiing backwards on that one ski. Ok, not really. We went to a ski show later that week.

Actually, this is all the farther I got up...ha! They had to throw me a second ski...man...I'm out practice. I'll get up next time!

Two skis...
My dad...

Visiting Dustin

Tuesday I went to visit my brother in Pewaukee, WI. He bought me lunch at "Seester's". It was SO good. And the view across the street wasn't bad either.

After lunch, we watched a movie (there are so many movies that have come out since I left!), and then went to a BBQ.

Father's Day

Me and my dad at the beach on Father's Day. We went with the house of boys and it was a lot of fun. The water here is pretty cold yet!

Coming Home

On June 17th, I few back to America. My first stop was in London. It was there I started to realize that I would have to readjust once I got home. For the past year, I haven't been able to understand any side conversations at the grocery store or on the subway (the U-Bahn). For the first time in almost a year, I was able to understand everything going on around me and my brain went into overload!

The rest of the flights went really well. I had hardly any down time in the airports. It was so great to see my family and hug them after a year of not seeing them! After they picked me up we went to Applebee's...where I froze because I haven't had air conditioning in a year. Ha!

My School's a Zoo!

After the award ceremony, we headed out to the Schonbrunn Tiergarten (Zoo). It's the oldest zoo in the world.

They loved it! ...and so did I!

One of my kids said, "Look that one has a ring, he must be married!"

This one was out of the cage...I wanted to scoop him up and take him home in my bag.

He would make that face!

Ahhhhhh!

Many: "oooh ooh oooooh" "eeee eee eeee" "ooooho ooh ooooh's" were heard...and not from the monkeys!!!

Wow! Look at those strange creatures!

While we were watching the hippos one of them pooped, and I'm pretty sure it was the highlight of their day! Boys...

Awards

On the Friday before school was out, we had an awards ceremony. Each student was given awards for things they were good at. Some got awards for academics, sports, music, art, friendship...you name it.
If there were awards for being cute they all would have got one!

One of my students getting an award for all around academic excellence.

I'd post them all but they start to all look the same so I'll spare you.

Here is another student of mine who got the SALT award. This is given to one student who has a heart for sharing Jesus with others and encouraging other students in the class spiritualy. From the first day of class that was this student. She would come back on Mondays and share that she was out in the communty somewhere telling people about Jesus with her family.

Wow, what a great year with a GREAT group of kids. The second grade teacher is very lucky to get such a great bunch. They are so smart and so funny and I will have so many memories of laughing, dancing, cooking and eating with them! I love them all very much!

Prayer Chain

This is our class prayer chain. Everyday, the kids and I sit down and pray as a class. When they have a request they jot it down on a slip of paper. When that request is answered we hang it up. Here you can see it wrapped aroundour classroom. It was a good visual of how God really does hear our prayers and answer them.

M&M's

We've been working on picture graphs and bar graphs and what better way to teach than with food?

At the end, one of my little boys says, "Miss Braun, I don't like the brown ones...can I give those away?" How cute.