Smiles 365:365

It's been a year of two halves - Swiss and English. Lots of smiles along the way - tears too or I wouldn't be human, but lots of smiles and laughs.

Happy New Year to you all and thank you to my lovely boys for providing so many of the smiles, many unrecorded. 

I'll leave you with some of my favourite pictures from this year. But I'll be back tomorrow, by popular demand, with ...

MoreSmiles365!

And here's the link to all the photos from the year!

Smiles 306:365

I've been to Darwen! And 'the Lisas' were reunited!

Very smiley!

And look at those hard and cupboards! I didn't take a picture of the wonderful

AGA as I was too busy warming my bum on it ;) 

Bonfire and fireworks in spite of torrential downpour - including innovative use of a broomstick to 'nudge' a non spinning CatherineWheel (to cries of dismay from children well versed in the Firework Code!) and some highly amusing 'firework reenactments' from the younger guests. 

Brilliant time had by all! Thanks for having us!

Smiles 269:365

Today I have smiled as two friends updated me on their lives post-ISW.

I smiled at the enthusiasm of Y3 to "play with" 2D shapes and write stories in my Spanish lesson.

I smiled when I found that I did have enough Spanish books after all - hurrah!

And I had to smile at the inability of some kids to talk 'quietly'; it seems that some just don't have a 'little voice' or a volume control.

Biggest smile? Looking out of Isaac's window and seeing that my very special rose bush, that has lasted nearly 2 years without me looking after it and looks in need of some TLC, has a yellow rose on it. Love you Dad x

Smiles 175:365

 I'm not entirely sure that John actually does any work when he goes to Denmark judging by these photographs. But they did make me smile as they are of rather good, and they're also of Helsingor, home of Hamlet.

And that reminded me of last year's Grade 4 performing said play; they rotated parts so that Jude ended up playing Ophelia at the point where Hamlet yells at her 'Get thee to a nunnery!'

Smiles 165:365

What a day! 

It was Teachers' Appreciation Lunch at ISW today when the PA prepare a meal for the staff as a thank you for all their hard. This year it was moved from the penultimate day of school to the teacher only day after the last day which meant that teachers could enjoy their meal without worrying about an afternoon of teaching. They certainly enjoyed their  Indian feast today - and we enjoyed the leftovers. And Prosecco of course. 

I think it's a great way to say thank you and recognize the efforts of staff throughout the year in educating encouraging and nurturing our children. 

The room was beautifully decorated and as we cleared up, Anu decided I needed to be dressed in a sari. A beautiful blue one too - and then we all ended up dressed in saris. I now feel the need to get one as I loved it! And what a wonderful memory to take with me as I left ISW for the final time. 

And then, the best news that we've been awaiting for too long - Isaac has a place back at his old school. HURRAH!! 

So that was the cue for more Prosecco! 

Smiles 164:365

Today's smiles are dedicated to "friends and divas" at International School of Winterthur. Term ended today and goodbyes are so sad... But we've shared some unforgettable times that can never be taken away. 

So here's to you all, my Prosecco girls xxx

Smiles 162:365

I always smile on the bus when I see this sign. I particularly like the 'do not saw the seats' image. I mean, isn't that the first thing that you think to do when to get into a bus?

Grade 4 presented Macbeth in Schloss Hegi this afternoon. In the original language. Brilliant!

And I liked this quotation from Sir Edmund Hillary.

Smiles 161:365

Lots of smiles today. 

Jude graduated from PYP at ISW. 

Isaac won the award for his Grade for the highest grade average over the year. A fiercely fought battle it was too!

Very proud of my boys. 

And smiles (as well as some tears) at my last Zumba class. I'm going to miss the Zumba girls - and that includes Caro and Maqui! I may go to Zumba again but nothing will ever match Zumba with Miranda - window cleaning, light bulb changing, dancing with George, 'dulce de leche', Waka waka and bullfighting is only the half of it. I'll miss you xx

Smiles 159:365

ISW graduation.

A trip to the Badi.

And a bubbly footspa.

Triple whammy of smiles!


Say cheese in other languages
In Japanese you say Sei, no! / はい、チーズ！ (hai, chiizu!)

Smiles 154:365

Penultimate Zumba today - and this song always makes me smile. It reminds me of Carolina and Maqui, and  I like the song. What's more, it's not too tricky a routine either!

Isaac's technology project was part of the Design Fair this evening - looked good. Also liked the automaton that Tabea and Diandra had made - Psy and his dancers.

No sunshine today but it didn't rain. So that's something!

Say cheese in other languages
In Indonesian you 'say cheese'  or Katakan keju!

Smiles 142:365

I have to say that I am currently far from smiley but this is about finding smiles in every day even when you don't feel like it so here's today's picture. "The escape party" with the photos organized by Carmen and signed by everyone there.

And Hello Kitty played her part too. 

Smiles 136:365

Wahay! Mum's night out. I'm not sure that Sanook in Winterthur was quite ready for the us but we had a great time!
Too late for much more than photos but we smiled LOTS!

Smiles 123:365

The ISW Red Run was this morning and there were lots of reasons to smile.

The whole school together dressed in red.
The race went off without a hitch.
It wasn't too hot or too cold - and it didn't rain!
The BBQ was ready in time.
There was plenty of cheering!
Lots of money raised for the Red Cross in Switzerland.

Several Mums ran, and Julie (PA President - I must bow!) and I managed 16 or 17 laps - the most anyone did was 20 - in an hour so we were pleased! We were pretty pleased when we finished, though we immediately switched to 'feed the kids' mode and took our place at the BBQ table! And I became The Doughnut Police, making sure that each child only had one doughnut (numbers were tight!) Chocolate, caramel, vanilla, raspberry and just-sprinklens-no-filling?

Say cheese in other languages
You could just tell someone Lächeln in German to get them to smile...

Smiles 116:365

Things that made me smile today
The box of chocolates above was given to John but he is kindly sharing them!
RedRun training was fun as usual, and I had to smile at the Grade5s who dragged themselves around despite looking as white as sheets from tiredness!
The DP students who were having a 'Keep your hand on the wall' competition and suffered the indignity of having water balloons thrown at them, and then Lisa and I added ice cubes to the mix!! I'm wondering how long they lasted - are they still standing there now?
The boys receiving their German certificates - Sehr gut bestanden for both of them!

Say cheese in other languages
In Finnish - you say Muikku (vendance) Sano muikku!

Smiles 115:365

I'm a very proud Mummy today as all Jude's hard work over the last few months culminates in his PYP Exhibition. Here's Jude (and his partner Jordan) telling my friend Miranda all about the causes and effects of air pollution. I had no idea he knew so much about it!

Apart from smiling with pride, I had to smile at all the comments from others about him including from the Principal's husband who declared "your son's something else!" and another parent who called him " a "little professor."

Say cheese in other languages
In Denmark, you don't ask people to say cheese; Sig 'appelsin' means say 'orange'

And here's Jude's video explaining how to create Smog in a bottle.

Smiles 102:365

Pop art themed cupcakes in Vollenweider! I may have to buy one tomorrow - looked at them for long enough!

Other smiles today
I completed the reorganization of adult fiction books in the ISW library - very pleased!
The inaugural Red Run training session went well despite a torrential downpour midway through and some crafty sabotage of the relay race by EY/K/G1 who collected letters from other lanes as well as their own!
Curry for tea :o)

"Say cheese" in other languages
In Belarussian - Ўсміхнуся! (Wsmikhnusia!) - smile