Spring Break 2017.....brought fun guests!!!

Brad, Cindy and Ella delighted us by spending Spring Break with us...we were thrilled. After a long bad ride down...they finally arrived about 9p on Sat evening...we had dinner waiting on them. We got them all moved in, had some dinner and hit the bed....was going to be a fun week.

On Sunday they slept in a bit, we went to church and came back home to find them wandering around our new community...seems they liked it so much they decided to not leave all day...so, after some lunch, the big kids headed to the pool and Skybar and we stayed home so sweet baby Ella could get a nap...then we took her over to meet Mommy and Daddy....she loved the water.

Bathing suits with TUTU's...who knew....adorable.

"Whew, so glad to be away from Creme' de la Creme' for a week, those boys just drive me crazy"

Just chillin'...shades and all....

"hey...anybody got a an extra sweet potato pouch, or some milk?"

"just me and Mommy and Daddy for a week....woohoo"

"sand was ok...but I don't recommend it as a snack, Mommy was not happy when I tried it....oops"

"just a little me time"

After some dinner at the Skybar and some Culver's treats,"All that playing made me hungry ...I needed a Culver's fix.....next time, I want my OWN ice cream....ok Mom?"

it was time for baths and bed. I worked the next day and the kids all went to St. Armand's Circle to shop and eat lunch. I had a ladies event that nite, but left the crew grilling pork chops. Tues was a hang out day and Mom and Dad date nite..

"Nanny and I went for a spin around the "hood"....cool place. Mom won't get ready if I'm close by and that drives Daddy crazy....although, Mommy was ready a few times before Daddy this week...always funny to watch them. They had some dinner ready for me when we got back....yum"....then....

"Bath time...I was digging the yellow boat and Nanny said I could chew on it. I think she was being really nice considering I got her really wet when I went a little nuts splashing...but I just can't help myself...I love BATH TIME!!!"

The next day we slept late and played and hung out....lazy days are the best.

"went for a walk with Mom and Dad...I like dressing like Mommy"

 Decided to go to our beach dive restaurant for dinner. We tried to get some photos but it was WINDY!!

Still got some good ones..

I am no photographer...but I had fun trying.

 Sweet Mommy moments....

"Hey guys...here comes the water"

"me and Daddy"

 Nanny and Uncle Denny even got in on the action.

After dinner was time to head home and go to bed....seems vacation is tiring!!

But first a stop at the fish tank...."Uncle Denny look at that turtle...wonder if he knows Crush??"

The next day we also moved a bit slow...

"We did a little pool hanging before dinner...love pool time, but it makes a girl thirsty...whew"

"Daddy turned my pink car into a Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang...it was cool...Mom aka Safety Squirrel was freaking out...but I was loving it. I have a feeling me and Daddy might get in a lot of trouble with Mommy as I get bigger and we wanna do things, but we'll see."

"Found these cool flipflops at Nanny's...humm, maybe I can wear them really well next year"

After pooling we headed home for bath time, dinner and bedtime...but the big folks

  planned for our low country boil dinner...Brad did an awesome job...thanks guys, it was yummy. We'll have to do that again.

Cindy wanted to know how we were gonna eat without plates.....ummmm, she figured it out!!! 

The next day was Eggs Ranchero...again compliments of Chef Stevens....YUM-O!! Then off to Jungle Gardens....

First thing...

"I got to pet an ALLIGATOR...how many 1yr olds can say that?"

"wow that was cool....then up on Daddy's shoulders for more adventure"

"and then....oops...sorry Daddy, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do....MOM!!!"

"hmmm, what's down here....these fish are cool..."

"can we take one home...my Uncle Dessie will teach me how to take care if it....PLEASE??"

Loud birds..but they were pretty

"once again Mommy and I dressed alike...her shirt says...Wife/Mom/Boss...mine just says Daddy's Boss....and yeah...I am, but for now, I let him THINK he's boss!"

Next thing flamingos....crazy birds...

"wow...that was fun...Mom was antsy, but Daddy said..we're going for it...woohoo!"

So cute to watch....

Who knew their legs went kinda backwards...their knees bend forward...wow.

Next was a quick snack and then off to the next adventure...

Huge turtles...so cool

"Mom, can I please get in that pool...those are baby gators, they won't hurt me, we babies stick together, please Daddy...can you talk her into it?" 

Sweet little family watching the bird show...

 The flamingos would just walk around everywhere...

The bird show was really good...all about raptors..

And then about the funny/trick birds....

 They were sitting on perches and in cages everywhere...sometimes they would fly to other areas...

"Daddy got to hold this big bird. I was really sleepy, was past my nap time, but that was cool"

"Finally time to head home, tomorrow we have to go back home...bummer we like it here."

After nap time we went for a quick trip over to the pier...still windy but got some more pics.

Maybe on the next trip it won't be so windy...we walked down the pier and got a nice guy to take a picture of all of us. It was pretty and sunny, just windy.

We bought some lobster bisque and headed home...but a few more pics first

The birds here are so cool..

Brad made us shrimp quesadillas from our low country boil leftovers...man that kid can cook. We were happy and full....love it when you can get 2 meals out of one.

Then we helped the kids pack up, they had to leave early to hopefully avoid traffic going home.

We all had a great week....

Ella said.....

"I liked playing with Uncle Denny...he's funny"

"I even tried to walk to him, I got 2 steps...not bad, I'm getting there"

I loved holding onto this table...next time I'll be walking on my own

So glad you guys came...we'll see ya again soon

Manatee Village Historical Park...a fun Saturday

Finally we had a Saturday with not much on the sched so we ventured over to the Red Barn for a while...always fun strolling and shopping. Then, as we headed back home we saw a small fair happening at the Manatee Village Historical Park...so we pulled in. Well, it was almost over, but we got to look for about an hour....we'll go back another day.

This awesome musical machine greeted us...it was soooo cool

We headed on around to see the other historical buildings..inside the General Store..

They did a great job of having some of the neatest things from "back when"

On to the old house on site...there was a woman sitting on the front porch making yarn, cool

Looked to be the Master Bedroom

Family Room

Bedroom... #2

The kitchen

And outside.............

The Out House....LOL...

He would only demo...not willing to try it out...

The church was beautiful...we'd just missed a quartet singing..bummer

One room ....just like it used to be.

The original school house...

A newspaper from 1936 and a teaching certif from 1917....wow.

The Courthouse was closed, but this was interesting

We barely got to see the boat house....

Carving out a boat...well made back then

The old tools on the wall were amazing.

We've always liked trains....

Cute Conductor!!!

We really enjoyed our short visit...we'll go back one day when we can move a little slower.

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