Testing week

This week was EMSA testing (English, Maths, Science, Arabic). Each day there was at least one test that lasted an hour, and the first two days we had a break after the hour test and had another 30 minute test. I will say, being a part of the distribution team this year, the test security we have had home would seem beyond ridiculous here. I will say no more. 

On Sunday and Monday when the testing ended, parents showed up in massive numbers. We had very few students there in grades 1 and 2 because they don't have formal exams. Monday when parents came it was so chaotic that on Tuesday and Wednesday we dismissed all students at 9:30 am, just after the test was completed. I love my job! 

Teachers were supposed to stay until 1 pm all days. But on Tuesday and Wednesday when there was no water in the building and toilets hadn't been flushed, we left shortly after the kids. Some of the out lying areas have water trucks that fill tanks, very large tanks, each week. Seems our water truck forgot to come. So all the teachers were sent home at 11 am because there was no water. 

Outside of school, we really just stayed at home for the most part this week. I decided to cut Millie's bangs. Got them a bit short. Ugh!

She actually thought they were 'bootiful'. 

Tuesday evening Jack built another Lego, still working on the ones he got for Christmas, and Millie tried her hand at darts. It was hilarious because she so carefully aimed and was actually really good. 

Wednesday evening we went to the Richardsons to have sushi.  There is a lady in town who makes sushi for sale every Wednesday evening. You just message her on Facebook and go pick it up. We ordered more than we actually got because there was a slight misunderstanding. However, we all brought appetizers and dessert so no one went hungry, alham (thanks be to God). 

I actually earned my money this week, well kind of. I had to enter grades and check they were correct, as well as be in charge of passing out the tests and collecting them at the end of testing each day. Because we left early on Tuesday and Wednesday, my time do actually work was cut short. On Thursday there were no kids in school except the ones who were being recognized for their academic achievements. We had two celebrations, one at 9 am for the boys and one at 11 am for the girls. I was shunned for not going to the boys' ceremony so I went to the one for the girls. When that was over at half past twelve, everyone went home except me. I stayed until 2 pm finishing grades. This is almost a sin on a Thursday. 

Thursday evening we decided to go to the mall and let the kids play at Fun Farm for an hour while we did some shopping. My neighbor, DeDe, and I are going to have an Easter egg hunt for our kids next Tuesday so I needed some cookie cutters that were Easter-like. 

We had dinner and then headed home. Millie fell asleep, of course. Once we got home we threw the kids in bed and relaxed watching some mindless television. 

Stuart was up early on Friday because his last rugby tournament of the season was in Sharjah. He reminded me that this was the first tournament he played in last year and it was also the day we picked Grammie and Pop up from the airport exactly one year ago. Wow, time has gone so quickly. 

The kids and I went to church and then headed to Dubai with DeDe and her boys, Jonathan and Jesse. We went to the Park and Shop to find some items for our Easter party. We found some things for the Easter gig, but mostly just bought junk we can't find anywhere else. It was a good excuse for a day out and a good meal at Casa Maria's Mexican Cantina. It's a great little restuarant just a little ways from the Park and Shop, and it's pretty authentic. 

When we returned from Dubai we were supposed to go to the women's end of the season pool party. However, Millie was asleep in the car by 6:30 pm and Jack was tired as well. So we skipped the party and the kids went to bed. I waited up for Stuart, but also fell asleep. I'm proud to report that Stuart thinks he might have developed a hernia in his last tournament of the season. How special for him. 

Saturday morning I did the best I could to keep the kids quiet so Stuart could sleep in a bit. I think he managed to sleep in until 8 am, which is about 2 hours past the usual Saturday 'get up' time. 

Once he was awake and we had consumed a great deal of coffee, we walked the neighborhood and visited the 4 garage sales that were going on. It's always at this time of the year that people start selling their things because they are getting ready to go home. I suppose we will do the same at some stage. But for now we are reaping the benefits of others. We bought two fantastic things. 

Two pallets like this, one much smaller than this one. We are going to hang them on the wall going up our stairs and use them as display pieces where we can put pictures and other art. I will post the finished product when it's time. 

This was the other jewel we bought. It's an incredibly sturdy wooden bench. As you can see, it can seat 3 or 4 people, easily. We needed something out in front of our house so we could sit and watch the kids ride their bikes. It's perfect! Now to do something to preserve it a bit. The bench was roughly $40. What a bargain that was. 

After the sales we headed to do our weekly shopping. Once we returned home the kids and I headed to the pool while Stuart sorted out our camping things, getting them ready for our spring break camping trip. 

The pool was full of friends and the kids had a great time as usual. The weekend ended on a good note and the kids were excited for their week with Kayleigh, sadly while Stuart and I are at work. Boo!  Just one more week and then we get a week off for spring break. Thank goodness.