second day of the festival

after a busy day, Bug wanted to go back to the festival so he could ride the rides.  I told him we could go for an hour.  Needless to say, we were there much longer.  We were there for 2.5 hours riding rides, playing games and talking to friends.  It was a good evening.

 

Bug, excited to ride the rides.

 

 

Bug decided to ride the Pirate swing first 

 

then the dragon wagon (AKA small roller coaster)

 

then he rode it again

 

then off to the fun house

the flying something or other- lots of centrifugal force on this one.  Last year I was almost sick on this ride.  This year it was much better. Last year must have been due to the heat.

 

the view from the ride

 

Bug was loving it

 

and finally, back to dragon wagon to ride in the front.

 

after these rides, and the excitement of another festival goer getting in my face and trying to start a fight, I was ready for games.  Bug won some more prizes, saw friends and had some dinner.  We bought some books and then headed home.

 

Lessons learned from this evening- we need to go to the festival on Friday night or Sunday afternoon- it is much more laid back.  Too many people this evening and too many people who were looking for a fight.  Not my kind of fun at all.

 

Love and hugs,

Deb

Last day of soccer for the summer and school festival

Bug's last soccer game of the season was last night.  he will take the summer off and focus on swimming and Taekwondo over the summer.  He loves soccer and is enjoying being a defender.  Last night he was the goalie and it was a rough night for him.  There were only 2 kids on his team (Bug and the other little boy) and there were 3 kids on the other team, including the little striker seen in this first photo (smaller boy).   Bug allowed 5 goals, but on a positive note, he score the only goal for his team.  In the fall, Bug will start soccer again, but it will be on Saturday mornings.  He will be moving a level and leaving his buddy K behind. 

sending the ball back the other way.  Go Bug!!

preventing a goal by the little striker for the red team.

Today begins the unofficial start to summer here in the US, it is the start of the Memorial Day weekend.  Bug's school church has a festival every Memorial Day weekend.  To support his school, we  have volunteered to work a booth at the festival the last 2 years.  Bug likes this booth.  This year the festival changed how the games are run for the kids, no money at the booths, only tickets.  This means the kids don't have to handle money.  After working tonight, I think Bug and his buddies are ready to work without parents next year.  I think Mrs. S has found her crew for her booth.

Mrs. S and Bug.  Mrs S is the teacher's aide in the kindergarten classes.  Bug loved being in kindergarten, so it is nice to work a few hours with her each year.

One of Bug's classmates who came over to work too when he saw Bug at the booth.

A friend playing at the booth- this is tic-tac-toe.  Roll the balls and get 3 in a row to win. 

Another friend helping out too

Bug showing a kindergartner how to run the game

Across the way was this game- the real life version of Angry Birds. yes, this was a magnet for Bug.

After we finished our shift, Bug headed right over to the game to play it.  It was not as easy as it looks and definitely not as easy as the game on the computer.

 After playing games for a while, Bug and I got some pizza at the festival at 9 pm.  Late night for Bug, but a good night.  We have a busy weekend, hopefully there will be lots of pictures.

 

Bug has 2 more weeks of school before he is out for the summer.  The countdown to the last day of school is on.

 

love and hugs,

Deb

a visit to the farm and only 2 pictures

 

We headed over to the farm today to play and visit with Hermano.  The boys are now at the age that K and I can sit and visit at the park while the boys play.  We don't have to monitor them closely, we can watch from the sidelines, which has a consequence of not taking so many pictures.  To that end, I remembered to snap 2 pictures when we got back to the house. Next time, more pictures.  We started planning for the next trip to Guatemala- December 2016.  2 boys, 4 adults and time in a land we love, visiting friends and family we love.

 

 

 The boys played at the park for 2 hours, then played at the farm for another few hours. Dinner was delicious as always. 

 

It was a great day.  Thanks for hosting us again.

 

Love and hugs,

Deb

Year end pack camp out

this evening was the cub scout pack camp out.  it starts with dinner and fun and then some families stay over camping in the park.  Bug and I are not camping this year, but we will be camping next year for sure.

 

These are 2 of the volunteers- Bug's Den leader Mrs. D and the achievement volunteer, Mrs. J. Between the two of them, they keep the pack running smoothly.

It was raining when the evening started, so the kids were in the shelter with the naturalist learning about trees.  here they are being a tree.  Bug is in the outer bark.  I think they enjoyed this learning.

They learned to identify trees by looking at the leaves.

Just hanging out

The guys cooking the food.

Mr. J rounding up the kids from the open area.  See all those tents.  Next year, we will be in one

Father Tom came to say mass for the families

Father Tom thanking the boys for their card for him.  He is leaving the school and going away to study.  He loves the scouts and has been a true example to the kids at Bug's school.

Bug being awarded his rank badge and arrow points for all his work this year. 

After the awards, the kids had time to play and then we headed to the camp fire for the year end reports and a flag retirement ceremony.  Bug decided this part needed a baseball glove to be complete.

 

throwing the stripes into the fire- first the red stripes, then the white stripes and finally the field of blue and stars.

Bug is one worn out little man tonight.  Hopefully he will sleep in the car tomorrow as we head to the farm to visit Hermano and his family.

Love and hugs,
Deb

Bug's baptism and catching up

Bug is bowling after school for the next few weeks.  He really is enjoying it.

Bug and I went to the POPs concert with J and N back in April.  it was a beautiful but cool morning.

The kids get to try some of the instruments.

The concert was great.  I think Bug and N really enjoyed it.

after the concert, we went across the street to the new park.  It was great and they had free ice cream for all the folks who went to the concert.

Bug was baptised today.  A friend made these delicious cookies.

Bug received some wonderful gifts- 2 bibles, a necklace with John 3:16 written on it, and lots of wishes. 

bug had a good time seeing all his friends and family before the baptism

standing in line, waiting to be baptized.

heading into the pool

telling Bug how much I love him, how proud I am of him and that I was baptizing him in the name of Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

out of the water and into a new life!

back in the worship center after drying off and changing clothes.  Watching the last of the baptisms

The worship band, rocking strong.

one of the bibles Bug received for his baptism