Sunday

Lesa and Kendall brought Javier back to us after being up at their cabin since Friday. Before the Cramers left, we released a female Eastern Black Swallowtail.

Elizabeth told me late tonight that her friend Dan took Ana to see Harry Potter! :-) Dan had tried to call Elizabeth several times to see if she wanted to go, too, but Elizabeth's phone isn't working..., so she never got her messages.

When we had Eugenie with us, and she was attending Memorial High School with Elizabeth and William, the Phy Ed teacher put Dan in charge of Eugenie in that class. He told Dan to protect her from the boys who wanted to date her, and to tell her who would be a good and safe friend, and who would not! :-)

Javier, William, and Hannah watched "America's Got Talent" and also played on their ipods. It was after midnight when they went to bed, but they were not tired and were having too much fun. :-}

Thursday

Javier was the only one from our family that was going to the Mall of America. We arrived at Memorial before 8:30, and talked to Lesa, Kendall, Ryan, and Eva. I did not see Ana.

When I got back home, I found the snacks I had packed for Javier on the floor in the bag I had put them into! Javier said he realized this later when he was on the bus! The snack was also breakfast, and I felt so bad for him!!! :-}

Wednesday

Elizabeth took the boys to Strength and Conditioning, then picked Ana and Bailey up. The girls did fun things together. :-)

After lunch, I took the boys to soccer camp which is held on the soccer field. When I got back, Elizabeth drove Ana and Bailey to the Oakwood Mall. There, they met Justin and his friend, and they "hung out", together.

William, Javier, Hannah and I played a few games of Rumicube. This is the first we have played it, this year, with Javier!

Ana stayed for dinner, and Elizabeth drove her home while Don and I went to a class.

Tuesday

The boys went to their Strength and Conditioning class after trying to finish their game of Monopoly. Christian, a nice young man who has played soccer with Parks and Rec and knows Javier, came up to talk to them as he was waiting to play tennis. :-)

After they got back home, the boys finished the game (Javier won!) and started a new game again with Hannah (William won!). During the game, they ate Natchoes. Elizabeth then left to go somewhere with Bailey.

The boys listened to their ipods and William started drawing. Then they played soccer inside!!! :-D They did this the other day, too, but not for as long. :-} Javier got hit in the eye with the ball, but he's okay. :-}

We had a casserole for dinner (something I just made up, so I don't have a name for it!), then the boys played soccer inside, again. Then they went outside and kicked the ball around while waiting to leave for their soccer game.

At the game, I finally realized that the girl who looked like Ana really was Ana! Eva was kind enough to drive her over to the soccer field so she could watch William, Javier, and Jaime play. Eva's family is also friends with the Cramers, so we all had fun talking while watching the game. They won by one point! :-) Actually, it was the only goal that was made by either team. All the Parks and Rec teams for this older age group are very good. :-)

We got home, and the children played on their ipods and watched a show on tv before going to bed.

Monday

Very, very early this morning, we had a windy thunder and lightning storm. William and I were the only ones who heard the storm! Everyone else slept through it. :-) A few trees and branches fell down. It also knocked out our internet service for a long time. Ana said she did not have internet, either. :-}

Later in the morning, Elizabeth drove Javier and William to Strength and Conditioning. Then she went to pick up Ana. Ana's host family was not home because they were all working. Ana and Elizabeth got lost, but had fun driving around the town of Altoona. They also stopped at Lake Altoona and went onto the beach. :-)

Elizabeth and Ana both picked the boys up and drove them home. Ana helped me release two Monarch butterflies. Then we ate a Salmon mixture on crackers (but mine was on a salad)! :-)

Don came home early and took us all to Big Falls. The water was even lower than the last time we were there, but it was fun! William and Javier tossed the football around with Josiah, a friend of William's from school who was also there. The girls sat in what I call my "spa", and talked. :-) It was 82F and mostly sunny.

Afterward, we drove up to Chippewa Falls to get ice cream at Olson's. They have very good ice cream. We all love it! :-)

We drove Ana back to the Hambrick's home where she is staying. When we got home, we took quick showers. Javier helped William saute onions on the stove top, and everyone helped prepare other ingredients for Fajitas. Fajitas are like a soft shelled Taco.

William, Javier, and Hannah played Spanish Monopoly. They didn't finish the game, so will continue it tomorrow! :-)

Sunday

This morning, we went to Calvary Baptist Church. It is right by Memorial High School where Elizabeth and William go to school. Memorial High is also where we meet for events for the Spanish Exchange group.

Then we drove over to Festival to the Brat Barn where Don's students are having a fundraiser selling brats. The children ate in the car as we drove home. The boys got ready for soccer camp. It is a hot day, but they both said they had fun! :-)

We had pork roast for an early dinner with carrots and potatoes. The boys listened to their ipods, then played several games of Checkers. Then they wrestled, and Earl joined in. :-) It was funny to watch!!! :-)

We went to an adult Bible Study at the Thompson's house. We did not go when everyone was eating because we had already eaten. That did not stop William or Javier from getting some dessert! :-D

Hannah and Natalie played together while Javier, William, and Snyder played video games. Elizabeth did not go with us. She and her friend Bailey instead went to a friend's house.

The children watched a little tv when we got home, before going to bed.

Saturday

Elizabeth, William, and Javier went shopping with Don to Sheels, a sports store. They then had pizza for lunch.

Later, Don played a game of basketball against the boys and won! Don then took them to get ice cream at Cold Stone.

We had steak and potatoes for dinner. Then we watched the movie Star Trek, and another one called Megamind.

Friday

The boys played on their ipods, on the computer, and basketball. They also watched a little bit of tv. For lunch, Don bought brats from his student's fundraiser, and the children ate them at home.

Elizabeth's friend Bailey came over in the afternoon. She will be sleeping over night. We had hamburgers, sausage, and baked beans for dinner.

Damien and Dan, two friends of Elizabeth and Bailey's, came over after dinner. When it got dark, everyone went outside for a bonfire. They made s'mores to eat, and talked. It was almost midnight before everyone went home! They were having too much fun. They were very quiet and well-behaved, so we did not mind. :-)

Thursday

This morning, the boys went to Strength and Conditioning while the girls slept in. :-) It was a real work out for the boys! Javier is more used to doing this than William. :-}

For lunch, we had Natchoes, and corn chips with salsa.

Elizabeth and Ana went to Oakwood Mall while the boys played games on the computer and their ipods.

We ate Lasagna and a salad for dinner. We then went to Bowl Winkles for a night of bowling. Jaime, Paloma, Javier, Ryan, and William bowled together, and Ana, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Ana's friends bowled together. I bounced back between the two lanes taking photos and talking to them all. It was fun!!! :-)

Shelby took Ana and Elizabeth to Eva's softball game in Seymor, Wisconsin. The Cramer's also took Jaime and Ryan to the game because Eva and Kendall play on the same softball team!!! :-) Lesa Cramer, too, knows Eva's family, so Ana is going to a family that is known and who has hosted before. :-) Several years ago, Eva, her mom Teresa, and their sweet Spanish student Paula had come to our house to release butterflies in our back yard. :-)

After Shelby brought Elizabeth home, she went to her room, then came out and sadly said, "My room is empty, again. Everyone is leaving me!" :-{ Two weeks ago, Eugenie left us after staying with us for two months. Eugenie lives in Switzerland.

Elizabeth, Ana, and Eva hope to do things together, so Elizabeth and Ana are happy. I'm sure Eva will be, too! :-)

Wednesday

The boys and I rushed out to their Strength and Conditioning Class. They left the class a little earlier because they left their bathing suits at home, and the last part of their exercising, today, was done in the pool. :-}

All three girls slept in. When the boys and I got home, we all quickly ate lunch. We had Chicken Paprikas and a salad.

Today was the first day the boys participated in one of the soccer camps. Mr. Kite again made sure I knew that Javier was more than welcome to join them! :-) They were at the soccer field from 12:30-2.

I do not know what the girls did while we were gone. But soon after we got home, they all watched the movie Batman. I asked Ana if she could understand it, and she said a little bit. So the movie was a good thing to challenge her with English! :-) Elizabeth's friend, Damien, was also watching the movie with them.

Shelby called to let me know she thought she found a new family for Ana to stay with. We were very sad..., but it will be good for Ana to be the only Spaniard in a family, even though we did not hear any Spanish spoken in our home. Well, at least not by us--Elizabeth Squared spoke a few Spanish words while she was with us, yesterday! :-}

The children ate lasagna for dinner. It was not ready to eat before Don and I had to leave for a finance class we are taking at Chippewa Valley Bible Church. :-{

It was an early night for us all. Don leaves for work early, and the boys have Strength and Conditioning again, tomorrow morning.

Tuesday

This morning, Javier and William went to the Strength and Conditioning class at Memorial High School. There is no Parks and Rec soccer game for them to play, this evening.

We had baked beans, hot dogs, sausage, and potato salad for lunch. Elizabeth brought her friend Elizabeth (we call her Elizabeth Squared (to the 2nd power!)) so we don't confuse the two girls. :-} Well, William calls her Liz, but so far, he's the only one in our home who does! :-D

We went to Beaver Creek Reserve, a nature center where I used to work. The children looked around a little, but mainly just talked and laughed while I spoke with two of my former co-workers. Then we went outside to the Butterfly House which I used to be in charge of.

We didn't have that much time there because the Butterfly House closes earlier than the nature center does. But while we were there, we saw Monarchs, American Painted Ladies (butterflies and caterpillars), one Hackberry, several Meadow and Great Spangled Fritillaries, Cabbage Whites, Mustard Whites, a Comma, and a Red Spotted Purple. I really miss not working there but loooove going back to visit! :-)

We went back inside and the children looked at some of the displays. Some, like the snakes, frogs, and turtles, are alive. Others, like birds, bears, and deer, are not. There are also lots of animal bones, skins, feathers, and other very interesting things there, too. I think Ana enjoyed it. Javier has been there before, and I think was happy to go back! :-)

We left, then drove over to Big Falls which is right next to Beaver Creek. We went above the falls and the children waded in the water. When we go there to swim, we go below the falls, then port across the Eau Claire River to the island beach area.

Then we drove into Fall Creek to go to Weavers. Weavers is an Amish grocery store where you can buy specialty bulk items cheaper, like nuts, different types of flour, and candy. They also sell jams, wooden furniture, baskets, quilts, and other items made by the Amish. Because it is too far to shop there that often, it is a special treat to go there. I especially like to listen to the Christian hymns playing in the store! :-)

We came home, and I made Chicken Paprikas and Nookedli, a Hungarian dish. The children then played Uno as they talked, and laughed...and laughed. It is so fun to watch and listen to them interact! :-) Soon, Elizabeth and Ana will be taking Elizabeth Squared back home, and we will all go to bed.

Tomorrow, the boys have a Strength and Conditioning class in the morning, and one of the two Soccer Camps at noon. William doesn't want to do both..., but Javier does. :-)

Fourth Of July :-)

As usual, everyone ate breakfast at different times! :-) We had fruit salad. Green and red grapes, strawberries, and blueberries--yum!!! :-)

We were trying to formulate a plan for the day. Elizabeth's friend, Bailey, was going to join us in our activities. So we waited until she could come along with us.

For lunch, we had natchos (corn chips with cheese, refried beans, and sour cream) as well as ham and eggs.

After picking Bailey up, we drove over to Carson Park. We saw several of our children's teachers, there--Mrs. Pressler and Mrs. Weiland-Schuster from the elemantary school, and Mr. and Mrs. Chryst, Sunday school teachers. :-)

We went to the Chippewa Valley Museum, and unfortunately just rushed through it. It shows the rich American Indian influence in the area, as well as the logging industry from many years ago. Eau Claire has two rivers that run through it. One is the Eau Claire River, and the other is the Chippewa River. The two rivers join at Phoenix Park. The rivers were used to transport the logs to cities in southern statrs via the Mississippi River. The Chippewa River runs into the Mississippi River which is a very large river that flows south all the way through the United States. :-)

There is also an old printing press (I had worked at Bible Truth Publishers, so this is interesting to me!), ice boxes (non electric refrigerators), old sewing machines, tools, clothing, and much more. There is also a farm section that was added to the museum. It was inspired by a book a friend's father of Hannah's had written. :-) The history of some of the older neighborhoods also is displayed and explained in this museum. Interesting facts from some of the early settlers and towns people is also found here. :-)

The best part of this museum--in the mind of the children!--is the old fashioned ice cream parlor. The lady taking the order looked at me surprised when I told her she'd be taking six orders for six teenagers! :-D

After eating the ice cream, we quickly entered a tiny log cabin home. I can't imagine anyone ever living in something that small, especially during the long, cold winter months!!! We also took a quick look into the one room school. Then William, Hannah and I went over to pet a horse and two ponies that were there.

We drove back home, and William, Javier, Hannah and I had baked beans and hot dogs for dinner. Elizabeth, Ana, and Bailey drove to Phoenix Park and around town and took photos. They also went to the grocery store. I still have not heard all that they did, but they must have eaten something because they did not want any dinner! :-}

Dan, a good friend of Elizabeth and Bailey's, lives near us. He came over and they all watched a movie on tv. Then Don came home from work, took a shower and a quick nap.

Don took Javier, William, Hannah, and me to Phoenix Park to watch the Fireworks. While we waited for it to get dark, the children threw an American football around, then walked around and played in the park while Don and I read. William and Javier later told me a little boy asked if he could also play with them, so they all threw the football around until it got dark. :-)

Elizabeth, Ana, Bailey, and Dan drove over to Robbins Elementary school and played on the playground. Then they went over to Dan's house to be with his family. Dan's mom baked cookies and they were given cookies to eat. Elizabeth also said they played with sparklers in the yard and talked to Dan's father and younger brothers. She said the youngest boy was all ready for bedtime. He asked his mom and the girls if he could give them all a good night hug, so they all hugged him good night! Elizabeth said he is a really sweet little boy! :-)

It was a fun day! :-)

Sunday

Today, we went to Chippewa Valey Bible Church (CVBC). Elizabeth introduced Javier and Ana to her former Youth Group leader, Rachel.

On our way home, Elizabeth drove while I got to be a tour guide. I pointed to the area along the Chippewa River where we had our Host Family Picnic, at Riverview Park. Then Elizabeth drove us past Phoenix Park where we usually watch the 4th of July fireworks. Next, we drove up to Mount Simon Park, which is also right along the Chippewa River. Phoenix Park is right along--as well as between--the Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers.

We had grilled cheese sandwiches, tomatoes, and pickles for lunch. Then William, Javier, Ana, Earl (dog) and I went to Lowes Creek County Park for a walk. Unfortunately, it was very buggy and we got bit by a lot of mosquitos, so we did not stay long.

We had six Monarch butterflies that we had raised that needed to be released. Javier, Ana, and William helped release them. We had two females, and four males. More will be "eclosing" from the pupa (chrysalis), soon, so there will be more we will be releasing over the next few weeks. Hopefully a few of our Eastern Black Swallowtails will eclose while Javier and Ana are still here!

William, Javier, and Ana took turns playing Othelo while I made dinner. Then Hannah joined them, and they played a few games of Uno.

For dinner, we had grilled chicken, home made potato salad, and a green salad. In the evening, the children played on their ipods and watched episodes of The Twilight Zone.

It's A Girl!!! :-)

Today, we got a new addition to our family! Welcome, Ana!!! :-)While we were at Big Falls swimming on the Eau Claire River, Shelby picked Ana up and took her to Alma, Minnesota. It is very pretty, there. There are also locks there along the Mississippi River for boats. Shelby said they only saw small boats, though. :-)

Shelby also took Ana to Durand, Wisconsin. There was a jazz music festival, there. But the people there were old, Shelby told me, so they did not stay. Instead, Ana went to the Oakwood Mall in Eau Claire with Shelby. Shelby had Ana look at items and stores that she might like to shop at in the Mall of America because it is cheaper to shop at the MOA! :-)

Later, I will post more photos up on Facebook. :-) I do not have much space up on my blogs to post too many photos. :-}

Saturday

This afternoon, we went to Big Falls. It was a beautiful day--sunny and nice and warm. :-) When we left, we went up to Chippewa Falls for Olson's Ice Cream. We love their ice cream! :-)

When we got home, Shelby and Ana were waiting for us. Now we have two children from Spain, just like about a month ago, we had two children from Switzerland with us! :-) I am very happy! :-) I love children, and I love having them in my home! :-)

For dinner, we had tacos. We also had chips and salsa. After dinner, we watched Rapunzel. It is a funny movie we like to watch. :-)

Friday

We all admired the second batch of Monarchs before I brought them over for our elderly neighbor's mother to help release.