Watoto Children's Choir from Uganda

We've been really enjoying our new church since we moved and the Watoto Children's Choir was coming for 2 shows. After each show the children needed to be hosted in our homes. One show on a Thur where they only stayed one night, then back to the church early on Fri. The next performance was a Sunday where you kept them for 2 nites...Mon is their off day. So, we signed up for both. The Thur was easy, we gave them a snack when we got home, then off to bed. We were told they would eat anything, but I really wanted them to like what they ate, not just eat to fill up their bellies..so I asked what they might want for breakfast....I had several options and the one they like the least was oatmeal.They said it was nothing like what they call porridge....ok scrap that, but they did like having scrambled eggs and muffins....deal. So I was up making breakfast for 4 at 7a. We had 3 boys and 1 adult male....Uncle Polly(Kandole Polly Mugagga), Ronnie(Serugo), Jeff(Karugaba), and Theodore(Nsubuga). Each person is given a Christian name and a Cultural name.

There performance was amazing...so much energy...

I got as picture of my assigned kids so I could remember their names.

Along with breakfast, we had to send a packed lunch...Theodore wanted to help make the PBJ's.

(After much conversation I found out they don't really like PBJ's or sandwiches, they had learned to like Lunchables...so for the next lunch that's what they got)

Africans as a rule are veggie and fruit eaters. They will eat fish but very little other meat. I asked them lots of questions on Thur/Fri so I could shop better for their longer stay in 2 days.

The 2nd show on Sunday was just as good (they had done 4 shows that day...wow) Martin/Nila and Nancy/Alan all joined us...it was a lovely evening. Then we headed home with our kids. They went to their rooms and crashed. The next morning about 8a I was up making eggs again. They asked me if we could add onion and tomato to the eggs...sure...what American kids asked for that....goes to show the difference in their diets. They had learned to like bacon also. So we had bacon, eggs, and bran muffins that I added a banana to....they loved it. They said the muffins were like their "sweet bread". Good....even though we'd just been in Africa, we were fed somewhat like Americans, with some differences..we were not fed like Africans eat...so I was still as a loss...but if u ask enough times they will talk. They were very hesitant, they have been taught to be grateful, what a concept, and they look to the adult to answer for them a lot....but finally they would tell me things.

After breakfast our game room became very popular...glad that table arrived 1 week ago. They played Parcheesi (or as they call it Ludo). The played Chinese Checkers, and regular Checkers...  

I played with them too and it was fun to watch them interact. They didn't fuss, they just played for fun. However, when the youngest started losing he took his pieces off the board...he was done...LOL. Then the next one did the same and it was only Theodore and I left...he said..."that's why i don't like playing with them, they will quite"....I had to laugh.

Then he showed us a few card tricks...he was pretty good...and they were curious about games they's never seen before. That room kept them entertained a while...whew.

Regular Checkers...

Denny was teaching the youngest...Ronnie a new game.

After Uncle Polly finally got up and we had lunch, the big meal of the day...turkey, rice and beans, plantains...we took them to Robinson Preserve. Time to get out some energy....

They loved playing close to the water and climbing in the trees... Ronnie said he climbs Mango trees at home to pick them for his mom.

Alas..by evening, we were all tired and we were allowed to rent them a movie...they picked Storks. They do have TV's, but don't think they watch it much and I'm sure they don't have a Redbox near by. Soooo fascinated...mouth hanging open and laughing...too cute.

After an ice cream snack (a combo of vanilla and orange sherbet) they were off to bed and then up early. (They are not much into sweets and don't really care for chocolate at all, I can't imagine, but I do remember paying a CRAZY prize for some Peanut MM when we were in Africa...needed a fix.....LOL.) They asked for Cheerios for breakfast...cool, that was easy and I found out they have Plantains at EVERY meal...so I made more...and some muffins. I think they got full. Packed up lunch and Denny took them to the church. 

They have a few performances in Tampa then head back home after having been here for 6 mths. They were very polite, and soft spoken, but they were also little boys. 

Took me all day to wash all the linens and towels but it was a good time and glad we could help. 

Check out their calendar and if you can see a show we highly recommend it...

Watoto Choir 

Surprise trip to Daytona and Disney

A week after Mom's party she came down here for a week. Mom and I hit happy hour on the beach that nite, while Denny attended a class. The day after she got here my Aunt and Uncle, Hallie and Al, came over for a nite. It was great to see them. We had a nice fish dinner and showed them our Africa pictures. Since they helped us a lot to plan the trip they wanted to see the pictures....it got a bit late, but the next day was Fri....
The next morning, I fixed am egg and sausage breakfast with fruit and kept visiting as I could while I worked. They drove over to Anna Maria with Mom and then headed back home. We got ready and headed to downtown Sarasota for a show at FST....Piano Men. It was a great tribute show to famous Piano Men..Billy Joel, Elton John, and Barry Manilow.....but they played others as well. It was a great show. Afterwards we got some dinner with Dan, Cheryl, Mike and Sandy and really enjoyed the evening. Mom and I had a slow Saturday morning...with a quick trip to Wal-mart. By noon Denny joined us for a late breakfast and some beach time. We laid by the pool and hit happy hour at the Sky Bar...was a nice slow day....then the surprise began.
I decided to take a few days off work and take a short trip to Daytona area. Mom had never been to see Cousin Bill and his wife Debbie at their new place on Daytona Beach...so after some planning with Debbie we had a plan.

So...right after church we headed out...is about a 3hr trip...not a big deal. We went in the back way so we were at the point of crossing the bridge before Mom knew where we were....too cool....she was surprised. We enjoyed a happy hour at their place, compliments of Bill and we grilled steaks and just enjoyed. The next day we had planned to go to  De Leon State Park . It was a gorgeous day and one reason to go was to enjoy the Sugar Mill Restaurant for breakfast. It's a great place where u can cook your own breakfast. You cook anything you order but breakfast meat....we had a blast.

Let the cooking begin.....we were given to different batters...they tasted a lot the same....and we got blueberries and chocolate chips...it was yummy

And then the pancake competition began.....

M-I-C-K-E-Y.......

The starfish and turkeys....LOL

 She tried a turtle....not sure it ever really worked..but it was fun...and very tasty

After we were stuffed we walked a round a bit and saw the park.

An airboat was doing a tour...se saw lots of fish and some manatees...it was so nice, perfect weather day.

Old sugar mill equipment

She's checking out the fish....

It was so interesting...

After checking out this park...we drove over to Blue Springs State Park...known for seeing the Manatees this time of year. It was beautiful, but not too many Manatees, we probably saw about 15 or so, too far away to get good pics...sorry.

 Beautiful old Florida....it was so clear I did get some fish pictures...cool

The St. Johns river here was used back in the 1800's as a freight depot and to ship citrus.
This land had lots of citrus trees and it was perfect for shipping.

We enjoyed learning about what happened here 150 yrs ago. 

Birds sat and dried their wings...

A nice pleasure boat came down the river and we saw lots of kayaks and tour boats. It was a great day to be out on the water.

Then we walked to where the spring head was...u had to look into the water to see where the spring ran into the river, but it was there.

 Interesting info about the spring....

What a great day...it was a bit warm and we'd been walking a while...so was time to head home and have a cool drink. Thanks Deb for all the driving. We got back and just sat for a bit, then Bill and Mom went for their beach walk....she does love walking the beach, but that put her over the edge, had to ice her knee when she got back. We had a great grilled chicken dinner, all took showers and off to bed. The next day we had to head back, but we were all going by way of Disney first. It has changed so much I knew they'd all enjoy a visit. 

So...off to Disney Springs....another great, almost hot, day. We walked a bit, and then had a late lunch at The Boathouse....Mom and Denny posed in front of the amphicar landing....it really is a cool place.

Lunch was awesome, then we needed to walk some more.....around 530p we all decided it was time to head home....they headed north and we headed south. 

It had been a great fun 3 days and 2 nites, but alas I had to get back to work. 

We all slept great, Mom got in some pool time before having to head to the airport....it was a shorter trip this time, but lots of fun....glad you came Mom...see ya on your next trip...love u!