Roller skating and the first day of school

OK- right away - let's get it on the table, I am a slacker mom or at least a new mom. I was so busy running around this morning making sure we got out the door on time that I forgot to take the first day of school picture. So I took one this afternoon of the tired Mariposa with everything stacked up after I signed a billion papers for her teachers.



Mariposa had a great first day- or at least a typical first day. She arrived on time (yea mom), she found a friend to have lunch with, she found her ride home (car pooling with the family across the street). So all is good!!!!!

She did mention that her French teacher could not remember french words during class and kept saying "I forget the French word for that". So this should be good in terms of funny stories through the year. Yesterday we attended the welcome party for all the AFS students. We were a park I had not been too- quite the experience for the kids getting there and then finding out we were an hour early. Oh well, we got to enjoy the views in the park.

Bug made some new friends- like this young man from Denmark

And this young man from Spain

And this young man from Egypt

It was a great time and Bug was the hit with the German speaking girls- according to Mariposa. It was a good time.

This is Bug sound asleep after our adventure getting to the park. nothing like not goggling the directions and only having very complete directions from a friend, but not having all the directions- as in having a picture to refer to. Little man took a 20 minute nap in the car and Mariposa and I stood outside and took pictures of him and the scenery.

Our city with the river. I remember why I love this city- awesome views, water and big city stuff with a small town feel.




Saturday we went roller skating. Bug skated once around the rink and then decided that he had enough. So he was the picture taker.

Momma skating by

Bug having Fun with Tulip

Tulip- not her name, but you know every one gets a nickname on this blog. This Tulip, she is here from Japan. Mariposa and Tulip had been thrown together because her host momma and I used to work together and she is our liaison. So the girls are thrown together about once a week but they attend different schools.

Bug in the midst of being mad at me that I would not take us home since he did not want to skate.

Mariposa and Tulip skating. This was Tulip's first time skating, Mariposa is an old hand at skating. I think the girls had a good time.

Love and hugs,

Deb

too tired to post pictures tonight

I am just too tired to deal with the camera tonight.

Bug was exhausted, basically had a meltdown, sugar crash at the end of the exchange student picnic- apparently I am the MEANEST MOMMA IN THE WORLD according to Bug. Oh well to that. He went to bed early and shockingly (NOT) was asleep in 10 minutes.

I am waiting to put the teenager to bed too. She has a 6:30 am wake up in the morning for the first day of school. I feel like that commercial that Staples runs as the their back to school sales start.

The exchange student picnic was great- but I probably can not post any pictures as all the folks at the picnic had name tags on. So to protect privacy, no pictures from the picnic. Bug spent the first part of the picnic playing soccer and Frisbee with the "big boys", he spent the rest of the picnic playing cars with another little brother. It was great.

I am off to veg and watch football.

Love to you,
Deb

Bug's Pictures and some from Lulu

Lulu sent me these first 3 pictures. Bug is pretending to be me: working at my desk. I guess Bug does pay attention whenI am on my call on Wednesday evening with Australia.

Writing notes- so I don't forget what we talked about.

Typing - maybe running reports or answering emails or IMing other folks at work

Yea- work is all done. Please note- Bug is at my sister;s house in these photos, not on my work computer. He is not allowed to touch the computers at home just becuase I think he treats them like toys. I am still trying to teach him that my work computer is ALWAYS off limits.

On Thursday, Bug also has his camera- we had 3 pople in our group and 3 cameras. These are Bug's photos, with some help from Momma in a few cases.

Motos- these were for the preseason football game- they escorted the visiting team buses to the stadium.

Eating ice cream- Mariposa treated us.

Playing the fountains on the square.

Silliness.

The main foutain in our city.

My kids by the fountain.

At the top of the tallest building in the city (at least for the time being).

Some of the views.

The football stadium

This is the trstate area- 3 states, one directly across the river and the other on the right side of the picture as the river curves away (looks like a bright spot)

Bug took about 50 pictures of his feet, eyes, and nose. The boy is fascinated with his own body - which I guess is good. Tomorrow I will post pictures of skating and the picnic.

Love and hugs,

Deb

Hanging out together and with freinds

Yesterday, we took the afternoon and headed over the aquarium. The place was empty compared to the weekend, so we had a great time wandering through and seeing all the sights without trying to move though 100s of other folks.

These are my silly kiddos making faces behind the jellies. I have a few more pictures, but I need to lighten them up so you can see the kiddos. Frog rider - Nene.

The sea turtle. we loved seeing the turtles, we were running back and forth through the tunnels snapping pictures. Another plus to having few people in the building.

frog prince and princess

today we headed to the zoo, Hermano, Vaca daddy and Vaca momma came too. It was great seeing the boys playing with each other.

Mariposa on the Manatee.

Hermano on the white Bengal tiger


Bug on the Bengal tiger. There was lots of tiger roaring on this ride.

Alligator buddies. Bug usually refuses to sit on this statue- but I guess he feels braver with Hermano.

Measuring their height against the tiger display. Hermano was kneeling down.

Best Buddies. "let's hold hands" and then they were off and running down the hill to see the bears.

The gorilla boys.

we went to see the cheetah run- something we had never done before. Mariposa became the best buddy for Bug and Hermano. It must be a teenage girl thing. The boys were determined to mess up her hair, untie her shoes, and basically use her for their own amusement. Poor Mariposa.

This is what we saw most of the day from the boys- them busy talking together and just focused on being together, the rest of us watching them and just soaking up the fun. It was so cool to watch them playing and being together. Even though they don't remember being together, I think at an underlying level, they know and feel drawn to each other. Hermao's Momma, Vaca Momma, thinks the same as me. It is jsut so neat to see their friendship grow and their bond deepen each time we get together.

The kiddos at the start of day- it was already hot and humid. We spent 6 hours at the zoo and we sure felt it. Bug fell asleep in the car, and then he took another 1.5 hour nap, I took an hour nap and Mariposa said she dozed for about an hour.

The zoo had turned on all the misters including the ones in the kids play area. Bug and Hermano were stopping the mister and getting themselves soaked in the process.

Tortuga Nene

Tortuga Hermano

Even Mariposa had to cooled down in the seal mister.

The whole gang, Vaca Momma, Mariposa, Momma, Bug, Vaca Daddy and Hermano.



After our naps, we headed out to different football games. Bug and I headed to Jason's game. Mariposa headed to her high school's game which was played at the local college stadium. I am sure Mariposa will have pictures on her blog of her game.

before she left, Mariposa asked if there would be cheerleaders at the game- YEP and then if there would be male cheerleader- YEP.

The football game from our seats- the top of the bleachers.

The score- nearing half time- 49 to 0, with the visitors winning. I saw on the news that Mariposa's game ended with the other school winning. So the season is off to a rough start. But, on a high note, Jason performed at half time with the band and they were AWESOME!!!!!

well, we are sleeping in late tomorrow and then heading out to roller skate in the afternoon. Mariposa has a "back to school bash" at church tomorrow night, so another busy day for us.

Love and hugs,

Deb