The 4th of July, 2010

After church, Elizabeth brought Javier over to see Jevon and Danica.

Javier also got to meet the "new" pastor for Salem Baptist Church. Pastor Steve came to this church shortly after Javier went back to Spain, last year. Pastor Steve English used to play (American) football for college at Iowa State.

We went to Carson Park for the 4th of July. There are usually a lot of things to do here. It was raining, so it made things more difficult. The horses that came here went back home because they were frightened and also were not happy to be in the rain.

We walked through the Chippewa Valley Museum. One section of the museum has Native American Indian items. The Ojibwa was the local tribe in the Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls area.

Native American Indians were very artistic. :-)

This is a closer view of the picture above.
Elizabeth, William, and Hannah are part Arapaho Indian. Don sometimes even looks Indian, even though he is more German, English, and other nationalities. :-)

The farm exhibit is inspired by a book written by one of Hannah's friend's fathers.

Javier said this sewing machine reminded him of his Grandmother's! My dad had a Singer sewing machine that he later gave to me. My dad was a tailor in Hungary, Paris, and in the United States.

Dick was a "cook" who guided us through the kitchen of the logging camp exhibit.

Javier, Dick, and William

Nick played the fiddle in the bunk (sleeping) quarters. Nick is the father of a student who goes to school with William.

We had ice cream in the old fashioned ice cream parlor in the museum.

Elizabeth was volunteering in the Chippewa Valley Museum. She was working with children.

Paul Bunyan, Javier, William, Elizabeth, and Babe at the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp in Carson Park

We played with glow sticks while waiting for the fireworks to begin! This was Javier's idea to make the (modified) Olympic rings! :-) They also tossed the (American) football around. We watched the fireworks in Phoenix Park.

You can see the fireworks reflecting in the windows of the RCU building between Javier and William.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Today, the children finished their game of Risk. They also played Crokinole with Elizabeth.

Then they played Spanish Monopoly! :-)

We were going to go swimming at the pool, but we had a problem. First, we could not find either Javier or William's pool passes. Then we found Javier's, but still could not find William's. Then we found William's, and Javier's disappeared!!! By the time we found it, again, it was time for Leza to make dinner!

We had chicken stir fry for dinner.

After dinner, the boys helped take care of Snoop. Snoop is our neighbor's dog. Our neighbors are in New Jersey for their daughter's wedding. Snoop remembered Javier from last year even though they only met once or twice!!! :-)

We also watched William's snake eat (previously frozen) mice. Jake is a fox snake, also called a pine snake. We have had her since she was a baby.

Playing on Ipods, again... . They stayed up until 23:00!!! They were having too much fun!

Friday

After breakfast, William and Leza had appointments to see their chiropractor. Javier remembered coming here last year. :-) Here, William is working on a crossword puzzle while we wait.

Después del desayuno, William y Leza tenían citas para ver su quiropráctico. Javier recordó venir aquí el año pasado. :-) Aquí, William está trabajando en un crucigrama mientras esperamos.

The children *began* to play Risk..., but never finished playing the game because...

...we went to Big Falls!!! :-)

Big Falls is on the Eau Claire River.

Crossing the river to get back to the van, the bag that had our shirts opened up..., and clothing and towels fell into the river! Don got back into the river to help Hannah carry the bag back to the shore. :-)

Al cruzar el río para regresar a la furgoneta, la bolsa de la camisa que se había abierto ..., y la ropa de cama y toallas se cayó al río! Don regresamos al río para ayudar a Hannah llevar la bolsa a la orilla. :-)

We got sandwiches--and "curly fries"--at Arby's (a fast food place like McDonalds). Then the children played basketball and watched the movie "Batman". It was a fun day! :-)

Tenemos bocadillos - y "papas fritas" - en Arby's (un lugar de comida rápida como McDonalds). A continuación, los niños jugaban baloncesto y visto la película "Batman". Era un día de diversión! :-)

Note: I am using a translater on line, again. I hope this translates correctly!

Nota: Estoy utilizando un traductor en línea, una vez más. Espero que esto se traduce correctamente!

Thursday

This morning, after breakfast, the children played Crokinole.

Then we released lots of butterflies--Monarchs, Red Admirals, and a Milbert's Tortoiseshell.

Javier is holding a Red Admiral butterfly!

Milbert's Tortoiseshell--it looks like a cat's face (upside down, here)

Monarchs

Playing with each other's Ipods :-)

Basketball!

Tacos for dinner!Before the game
Ryan was here, too--he was running around the field!

Jaime and Javier!

Cole was *mucho* happy to see Javier! :-)

Javier and Jaime are Here!!! :-)

Jaime sees Host Mom Lesa!

Lesa and Jaime :-)

Hannah, Elizabeth, Leza, William, and Javier are reunited!

Hannah, Javier and William in the van

Toby (cat) is happy to see Javier!

Earl cried when he saw Javier! Earl did *not* want to share Javier with Toby. :-}

Playing with Ipods... . :-}

Hola! Javier and Jaime are here!!! :-) William told me Javier fell asleep very quickly--after Elizabeth, William, Hannah, Earl (dog), and Toby (cat) left him alone! :-) Thank you *mucho* for sharing Javier *and* Jaime with both our families!!! :-)

Soccer 2010!!!

Back: Kelsey, Megan, Kris, Jack, Jordan
Front: Kim, Annisa, Coach Danny, William, Teagan, Nate
This is your new team!!! :-)