Disneyland, Alaska, and a Special Surprise

Lots has happened in the last few months. I meant to blog sooner but have been putting it off waiting for my new computer to be ready. (My old one is slower than molasses). So now that the new computer is here, I have no more excuses!

3RD ANNIVERSARY!

In July we celebrated our 3rd anniversary. My brother Chad happened to be in town for the one night only, so we let him take us out to Montana's for supper. There was these silly hats that they made us wear for the occasion. I would love to put a picture on but cannot find it. Sorry!

TRIP TO DISNEYLAND

Then in August, we found that our company had a change in ownership. As part of the change, they required us to go to California to meet our new bosses and since we were there, encouraged us to spend a day at Disneyland.

Even kermit has his own walk of fame star!

City walk near Universal Studios

The "Nature" trail was so funny compared to the real crocs and such we saw in Belize.

I didn't go on many rides since I tend to get motion sick. But Chris loves rides. The way the day worked out was perfect...We did some "nicer" rides in the morning at Disneyland then went to California Adventures for the afternoon where the bigger rides are. I was so tired by then that I just wanted to sit and rest while Chris went on the bigger rides. Perfect!

ALASKAN CRUISE!

After returning from LA, we had an Alaskan cruise with Chris' family planned. This has been planned since oh I think spring sometime. It was a nice way to spend a vacation together with Chris' family (his brother, wife, kids, and parents). Yup, the entire entourage was there!



I thought it was terribly funny that for the emergency run through with your life vests and all, they had us gather in the casino. Ha! All these sophisticated people gathering in the casino and wearing funny looking outfits.
Chris and his brother spending some bonding time together in the pool.

Me.

Chris and I took a dance waltz lesson. I remember my mom teaching me some waltz steps in our kitchen when I was growing up in Harrison Hot Springs. We had a design on the lino that was perfect for learning the waltz. They didn't have such a neat design on board the cruise.



The kids did great at the 2 hour meal at the evening dinner. Of course, though, they did not attend every night as that would be too hard. Rather, they feasted up on the buffet dinner available in another area of the ship for some evening meals.

Chris and I all dressed for evening dinner

Chris' parents looking fabulous, dressed for dinner. Ps: his parents just moved to Kelowna this month. It will be nice to have them here.


The evening theatre show was amazing. They re-inacted a shorter version of Phantom of the Opera amongst others.


Port of Call -- Ketchikan

My father-in-law




Chris and I went to see the Lumber Jack Show.



The Hubbard Glacier. We got about within a couple hundred feet before we had to turn around. Amazing!

But hey, it was cold. It was Alaska after all!

Chris and I also took a tour bus to see the Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau. It took a half hour to get there, a half hour to view it (although we could have stayed longer but I had to meet someone back at the boat soon) and a half hour back. I was so glad it worked out!

The boys needed to exercise!


The boys went up the tram to the top of some mountain in Ketchikan.

While the girls watched from down below.


On Ice Strait Pointe, the boys had to skip rocks. It is just something Priebe boys do!

And Chris looks to first base. It is clear and he takes the shot!

On one of the last nights at sea, the dinner staff did an amazing presentation of the desert item. They called it a Baked Alaska. I have never had Baked Alaska before and so had no idea what it was. But in my mind, I thought they said "Baked Alaskan Salmon" (I thought that because there is such things as Baked Salmon and Alaskan Salmon and I just stuck the word "salmon" in there even though nobody actually said the word salmon). So I was then convinced that we were having salmon for dessert. And I couldn't figure out why they would do that to us!!!! I don't even like fish that much...for dinner it is okay, but really for dessert!

I asked the waiter: does this have fish in it? He says no but I don't believe him. And I ask again. He says, it is ice cream. I still don't believe him. Ha! But truth is truth whether you believe it or not -- so I learned that lesson. I was very thankful that it was not fish, but I couldn't figure out how Baked Alaska Salmon was ice cream. Baked Alaska is neopolitan ice cream with a lemon meringue on top. And it was very funny when someone at our table asked it they had anything else available for dessert and the waiter said that not only did they have Baked Alaska, they also had Neopolitan ice cream. Ha!

SPECIAL SURPRISE

And if you managed to read through this entire blog you get to read the best news of all -- I have gained about 10 pounds in the last month.


(Can you see the bigger tummy on that picture?)

Due to the cruise? Maybe; I did learn to ignore the "I'm full" signs on the cruise. But, really, the doctor is quite happy with me as this means that our baby is healthy!

We are having a baby! That's right, a new little Priebe for the world to enjoy. We are due at the end of February (about the 25th although I am shooting for the 29th!).

The doctor told me the other day that it was a boy. But what does he know? I mean, he was just a dentist and not a baby doctor. And he didn't do anything special except look at me and say "how far along are you". When I answered, he said it was a boy. He just had a feeling! But really, we have no clue at all.

June 2007

In early June I went with my mom to a retreat at Capernwray School on Thetis Island. One of the things I looked forward to the most at this retreat was spending time with my aunts. Only three (out of 6) of my mom's sisters could come. But it sure was a fabulous time. There is a reason, that they stick the Dyck ladies (and their friends) out at the last cabin at the edge of the camp. They are soooooo noisy, even till late at night. Never expected this from a bunch of ladies who are supposed to be grown up. Glad I went.

Cory, Betty (my mom), Auntie Annie, April (my Uncle's wife of just 1 year)

My first time kayaking...I really enjoyed it.

We've also babysat for Kim and Lance one evening. (Lance is Chris' brother). They had it nicely planned out. We have to get up at 4:45 am in order to get to work on time, so Kim arranged it that we would watch the kids in the evening and then her dad would come over at 8pm and watch them while they slept. That way Chris and I could go home and get some sleep. What a smart sister-in-law.Katie was a doll

Chris invented a flying paper airplane, launch pad, refueling game for the boys

Ethan thoroughly enjoyed it

That is a shuttle (made of paper) on the other side of Chris' gut.

Of course, the photographer does not get to be in the picture...but I assure you...I was there!

On our way home

We are in Rocky Mountain House this morning. Will be stopping in
Nordegg to see my first church and then at the camp there. Hopefully
a stop at Bow Lake and then on to Kelowna. It'
s been a nice road trip.

Graduation

After seven years I have finished my degree. Officially it is a "Masters of Arts in Christian Studies". Although I have grown quite a bit through the program it sure is nice to be done.

So what's next? Well Cory and I are going to go on a road trip to Alberta and then May 1st we start working for my brothers company again.

Had to turn the heater on

We are back in Canada today. I started up our car and one of the first things I did was turn the heater on. Wow, what a change. From 40 degrees in high humidity where I got a little sunburn to trying to figure out where I put all my sweaters.

School and Tutoring

Most of my days here in Belize are very busy between volunteering at the school, then after school, travelling from one house to another to fit in 2-3 or more hours of tutoring.

I arrive at school at 8:40, and split my three hours there between the kindergartens, the grade 1 class and the grade 2 class. I usually pull the kids out of class and work one-on-one (in the storage room -- only room available) with them in a particular area of study that they are having trouble with. Usually reading or spelling.



Kenny's reading has improved dramatically over the last few months.

In the afternoon, I travel from one home to another tutoring students. Sometimes we do homework, but mostly I like to review important concepts like times tables, do some practice reading, and spelling. I have been trying to learn about different styles using those in my tutoring and volunteering.
For example, I ask the student to make the numbers 3, 6, 9, 12...and so on from the 3 times tables, out of play doe. I may then ask him questions such as "which number comes between 12 and 18?" or "Which number comes after 33?". This for of questioning also him to spend extra time looking at the sequencing. We then say the numbers forwards and backwards. Everytime we finish a sequence, we take one number away. Then we say them forwards and backwards again. In the end, he will say them about 12 times in that short period of time (forwards and backwards), the last time without having any of the numbers in front of him. Using the play doe seems to help him as he gets to spend extra time, in a creative fashion, working with the numbers -- rather than just writing them out. If you can count by 3s, you can do the 3 times tables. Next week: the four times tables.

(See the play doe in the picture?)

I also lead chapel this last week. My puppet Marty and I were playing "catch" in a museum where this crazy statue holding a banana was on display. It seems that the banana was already but even though it had not been peeled. Hard to believe. We equated it to a Bible story in which Doubting Thomas would not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead unless he saw it with his own eyes. At the end of the show, you find out that the statue (who comes to life) is very hungry and eats the banana. Low an behold!! The banana was indeed already cut even before he peeled it! In fact, the banana pieces fell all over the place. And later another teacher stepped on it!

The school science fair happened a week or so ago. I took special pleasure in asking the kids I work with to show me their projects. Some unique and challenging projects were presented, including Mikaylas discovery how friction effects the speed of a car.

Wesley's demonstration of a water wheel.


And these boys showed how an egg will be sucked into a bottle when the fire is looking for oxygen.
I asked this student's mom if I could teach him over Christmas holidays since 2-3 weeks off was such a long time, especially when we had just started a new reading program. The first time he came over was hard for him (after all, he is on holidays). However, after that first time, he has loved coming over. He now asks his mom, of his own volition, if he can come. And his mom looks at me and says, "what do you have at your house that he likes?" A lamb! Yes, a little bribery seems to work wonders. He comes and reads and then gets to feed the lamb. Now what will I do that Lily the Lamb has been weaned?


Another student, I asked her mom the same question, if I could teach her daughter over Christmas. As this German mother saw me working with her daughter, she asked it I would teacher her too! So now, I also spend about 2-3 hours a week with the mom, helping her gain better reading skills, and at the same time explaining what these English words mean. As an added bonus I have been teaching her how to help her children with their school work. The children do not get much homework at these young grade levels and yet there are certain areas they may be struggling in. I have been showing her how she can do things at home to help. I never fully realized before how much the parents need even this type of training, especially when the parents are all German, and their kids are attending an all English school. For this parent, she is also taking "grade 1" in the evenings at the home of one of the community members. For her, then, she has the advantage of knowing what the special sounds are, how to mark the vowels and so for. Many parents, even parents who speak English, would not know these things since they are specific to phonics and Abeka curriculum.


The game we are playing here is kind of like Uno except with words and sounds. You have to match the vowel. Hot -- Sock -- lots...etc. And use a "Swap" card to switch vowels. I found this resource in England and ordered it off the web. They also have a software version to which you can add your own words. I have used it before in learning spelling words.