Catching up leading into the holiday weekend

I took my camera to the fireworks last night and found pictures I had not posted yet.   I took rocket to a concert in early Aug- the Kidz Bop concert.  this is the group of kids that sing the current popular songs, but with the words cleaned up.  Rocket and I like them because he learns all the songs and I don't have to worry about the lyrics being inappropriate for him to sing out loud.  It was a awful humid day and the concert was in the pavilion, where it like an oven.   We were up at this level, but I noticed during the concert that the lower level was fair empty on the sides.  At intermission, I asked one of the event staff if we could move to an open section and he allowed us to move.  it was so much cooler. 

 

 Another soccer practice, another hot, humid day.  UGHHHHHHH. Rocket is in the orange shirt with the blue socks.

Last Saturday, after Rocket's soccer game (see pictures below), I took the kids to see the kick off weekend for high school football.  The games were being played down at the University.  The day was 100F (40 C) and so humid, it was awful for us in the stands, I can't imagine how it was for the football players.  Falco's team is in white and the rest of the fans for his school are in the stands you see- sitting in the hot, blazing sun.  We sat with the visiting team's fans, in the shade.

The concourse behind us channeled the wind, so we had a good breeze.

The negative of this day was that I left my wallet in the car, so I had to walk back to the car at the start of 2nd quarter.  By the time I got to the stadium, it was half time and the rain was coming.  The wind picked up and we watched the dark clouds start to move in.

 Half time was just ending as the lightening started.  That means the game is delayed for at least 30 minutes.  The rain came down in sheets.  the folks on the other side had to scramble to get to shelter while we were covered.

The rain kept up for another 30 minutes.  As the teams were coming back out on the field and stretching, lightening started again!  at that point the game was delayed until 4 pm and I told the kids I was too hot and tired to stay.  they agreed and walked back to the car in the gentle rain.

Monday night after Falco gave his talk to the younger scouts, I took the kids to get ice cream.  I had some happy kids.

Sunday morning breakfast before church- at McDonald's

 

Sunday, the Sunday before Labor day, is the end of summer firworks bash.  I have not been in about 15 years, but with 2 teens and a preteen, I figured we could do it.  My friend Lisa came along too.  One decision was where to see we could sit.  Lisa usually sits on the wall, but it is so packed with people in that area, there was no way I was taking the kids in that area.  So I did some checking and we ended up at Smale Park

 

 

We had no problem finding a spot in the shade, near the water

The green space was totally open.  the packed area is ahead of us

My favorite bridge

Falco and I took a walk across the bridge- these are the boats lining up to watch the fireworks

see the blue under the trees- that is our spot.  Rocket is waving at me.  Across the river is the hill by the Aquarium and that is the hill I sat on 15 years ago-never again.

The bridge.  this is the prototype for the Brooklyn bridge.  I think I have posted the history of the bridge, but if I have not, I will post another time.

my teen model

 

Looking back at the packed area on the Ohio side of the river- Lisa usually sits in there. This is about 3 pm in the afternoon.

Looking toward Ohio

around 8 pm, Lisa and I left the kids for the final bathroom run, when we got back, this is how Falco looked.  He had given some of our water to a grandma who needed some water for her kids), the lady gave him 2 dollars and it inspired this look

and this look

and this look

 

 

The fireworks started at 9:05 and were great.

 

A seperate post with more fireworks coming next (the rest of the rest of the pictures are on my phone)

 

 

 

 

 

Last Saturday, 27Aug, Rocket had his first soccer game.  Yet again, temperatures were 90 F (like 35-40C)at the start of the game at 9 am.  We took Pablo and an unbrella to stay cool.  Pablo ended up using the umbrella when I would not keep walking him around the park

 

Mam came to watch

Falco came too

 

Those boys were hot out there.  The ref decided to shorten the quarters and give them longer between quarters to allow them time to recover.  Rocket's team won 7-1, with the other team needing some players from our team to use as subs. (when is that going to end).

Rocket was his usual defender position.

 

In the last quarter there was a lot of walking by both teams.  it was brutal.

 

So now we are caught up, except the additional firework pictures.

 

Love and hugs,

Deb

it feels like it has been weeks since I posted, but it has only been a week- School days fatigue has set in

It has been a busy back to school week/weeks.  As we all settle into our routines, we are struggling to get our balance. Falco has joined cross country (XC) at school and that puts some wrinkles in the afternoon/evening activities.  He gets done with practice around 5 pm, which is sometimes after Rocket needs to be eating in order to get to his practices on time.  It will work out- we will get it all straight

 

I have to pull the pictures from Facebook/digital camera of the football game/deluge we attended over the weekend. To say it was an adventure is an understatement.

 

Monday night, Falco spoke to the Weblos and senior Weblos.  One of the criteria they have is to speak to a scout from another country (how most scouts can do this is beyond me).  Falco sent me some pictures that I printed for him to make a poster and we all headed over to listen to him speak to the boys.

Explaining things. Yep- this entire body language is something I see regularly.  It is usually when he is running out of words and I need to pay attention to help with some additional wording or ask some questions so he can come at the response from a different angle.

 

at the end, they all wanted silly pictures, so the DAB for your enjoyment.

the serious picture- this one will be at the boys blue and gold banquet at the end of the year.

Before the meeting, this was the picture of Dancer.  She had early release at her school on Monday and Tuesday.  She got home at 2- about an hour early and this is what I found when I come out to unlock the door for Rocket.   She was out cold.  I felt bad that I had to wake her up, but I had some moms coming over at 5:30 for a PTO meeting before we all headed to see Falco speak.  She was very soundly asleep. 

Tuesday, it was soccer practice for Rocket.  Only Pablo and I went to the practice. Pablo was enjoying the long grass- he laid in it to get cooled off and to "hunt" some small rodents.  He did not catch any rodents, but he scared them and was trying to find them as he heard them moving through the grass.

Last night, we had a Spanish dinner picked by dancer and prepared by everyone. 

Last week, we had an Austrian dinner (plaschicken), which is a crepe type pancake with fruit filling or nutella.  It was great.

I am liking these international dinners where we all help cook and we all choose the food so everyone has something they like for dinner.

 

Dancer is working on grating tomatoes for "Pan con Tomate"

I was working on cooking the potatoes for  "tortilla de potatas"

Falco was working on shrimp for "Gambas al ajillo".  Rocket tried one shrimp and he liked it, but then decided he did not like it.  I think I need to put shrimp into our budget every once in a while so he gets used to it.  He said it tasted like chicken, which is typical in the US.

 

In terms of English dishes/names, these are Bread with tomatoes, Potato omelet and Shrimp in garlic sauce.   Rocket was helping too, I just missed getting a picture of him.

this is a typical scene at my house- the teens staring down at their phones- texting friends.  I am this close to taking phones away during meals.  Both Falco and Dancer bring their phones to the table and breakfast and start texting, both have been told to put the phones away.  At dinner, they are pretty good, especially since they are usually focused on what music to play and which songs to listen to next.  They are quite funny at times starting and stopping songs as they "argue" over the merits of the music.  Back to the phones- definitely something that is starting to annoy me, of course my nephew and brother do the same thing when they are over for dinner, so it is nothing new to me. 

this is dinner last night. 

today is 'Join scouting" day in the US.  Rocket got to wear his uniform to school.  I have to go work at sign up this evening.  I love my scouts.

 

All in all- if I could figure out how to eat dinner in 15 minutes on some nights so we could all eat together, it would be helpful.  I am mindful of the fact that eating together as a family is one of the best things I can do for my kids. it just seems so rushed.

 

Some funny things that have happened so far:

1. Dancer will start talking about things from Spain- like food to try and Falco will jump in talking about making the dish, etc. and she will just look at him like he has grown 2 heads.  Then she will say "how does an Austrian know about Spanish food?"  She is completely amazed that he knows her favorite foods. 

2. the music and laughter- they all like to listen to music and it is not uncommon that I find them all in one room, dancing, listening to music and laughing about things they are talking about- this includes all 3 of them.  I need to get some pictures of it, it is such an awesome thing.

3. Falco knows how to cook everything- he is truly a chef.  If he changes his mind about staying for the entire school year, I am going to find some cooking classes for him so he can learn some new dishes.

 

 

I think that is all for today.

 

Love and hugs,

Deb