I can't believe how fast this summer has flown by. Tomorrow is the beginning of the school year and summer has just gone by way too fast. Almira and I spent yesterday morning at school at middle school orientation. Almira is going to be in 8th grade and will be taking Honors Math (Algebra 1) and also Honors Physical Science, both which will count as high school classes. I think this year will be a little bit scary for her, as she didn't really know anyone in her grade. Thankfully she has some friends from last year that will be in 7th grade. She will still see them in the halls and will play soccer with them.
We just came back from a little short vacation and I will be posting some pictures soon. Our translator from Kazakhstan, Masha, was about to come to the US back in July. Along with her was Svetlana's daughter, Masha, who is 16. We left home Friday morning, August 8th and headed to New Orleans. We spend the evening in New Orleans and stayed at the Hilton on the river. That night we walked all around the French Quarter and let the girls take in the sights. Saturday morning we got up, had breakfast and headed to the Aquarium of the Americas. The girls really seemed to enjoy it and about 12:30 left New Orleans headed for the beach. We took a side trip through Gulfport and Biloxi so Masha could see the devastation from the storm. Most of the beautiful houses that sat facing the ocean were just wiped away. It still makes me so sad to drive through that area and only see steps leading up to houses that are no longer there.
We finally arrived at the beach at 5:00 on Saturday afternoon. The girls headed down to the beach and stayed until sunset. Sunday morning was spent just walking on the beach and enjoying everything. Sunday afternoon we headed out on a 4 hour deep sea fishing trip. We didn't catch too many fish, but the girls all got to reel in a few small spanish mackeral and a few bluefish.
We went back to the condo and then headed out for a nice evening dining out. We went to a new place in Gulf Shores we hadn't been before. I think it was called DeSoto's and it was wonderful. It is a little blue building behind the Souveneir City (the big shark mouth). It was just wonderful. Me and the two Mashas got grouper, all grilled or broiled in a different way. It was just to die for.
Jon had to leave early Monday morning and drive back for work. It was raining when he left a little after 6:00 a.m. so I went back to sleep for a little while. Everyone was kind of lazy that morning and we finally decided to head into town and do some shopping at the outlet mall.
By Monday evening the rain had let up and the girls all headed down to the beach to play one last time in the ocean.
We had such a good time and it was so hard to say goodbye to both Mashas on Tuesday in Jackson, Mississippi.
Hope everyone has enjoyed their summer and has a great school year.
Till then,
Kathy
We just came back from a little short vacation and I will be posting some pictures soon. Our translator from Kazakhstan, Masha, was about to come to the US back in July. Along with her was Svetlana's daughter, Masha, who is 16. We left home Friday morning, August 8th and headed to New Orleans. We spend the evening in New Orleans and stayed at the Hilton on the river. That night we walked all around the French Quarter and let the girls take in the sights. Saturday morning we got up, had breakfast and headed to the Aquarium of the Americas. The girls really seemed to enjoy it and about 12:30 left New Orleans headed for the beach. We took a side trip through Gulfport and Biloxi so Masha could see the devastation from the storm. Most of the beautiful houses that sat facing the ocean were just wiped away. It still makes me so sad to drive through that area and only see steps leading up to houses that are no longer there.
We finally arrived at the beach at 5:00 on Saturday afternoon. The girls headed down to the beach and stayed until sunset. Sunday morning was spent just walking on the beach and enjoying everything. Sunday afternoon we headed out on a 4 hour deep sea fishing trip. We didn't catch too many fish, but the girls all got to reel in a few small spanish mackeral and a few bluefish.
We went back to the condo and then headed out for a nice evening dining out. We went to a new place in Gulf Shores we hadn't been before. I think it was called DeSoto's and it was wonderful. It is a little blue building behind the Souveneir City (the big shark mouth). It was just wonderful. Me and the two Mashas got grouper, all grilled or broiled in a different way. It was just to die for.
Jon had to leave early Monday morning and drive back for work. It was raining when he left a little after 6:00 a.m. so I went back to sleep for a little while. Everyone was kind of lazy that morning and we finally decided to head into town and do some shopping at the outlet mall.
By Monday evening the rain had let up and the girls all headed down to the beach to play one last time in the ocean.
We had such a good time and it was so hard to say goodbye to both Mashas on Tuesday in Jackson, Mississippi.
Hope everyone has enjoyed their summer and has a great school year.
Till then,
Kathy
