It Has Been A Quiet Week

I know I should be grateful that it has been quiet for us this week but, even for a "quiet" week, there was still enough going on that we were on the move a lot.  One reason I think it is so quiet (even though we are busy) is that I am not running back and forth all over the neighborhood to pick up and drop off the kids at their different activities.  Since the school is so close, the kids walk back and forth.  If they stay after school for sports or for an activity, they can just walk home.  Ditto with going to a friend's home or the pool.  In Miami, some days it felt like I drove 100 miles all within our zip code!  It was much warmer this afternoon (93 degrees, felt like 104) so I was a good mom and picked up the kids and a friend of Caitlynne's and drove them home in the golf cart.

School is going well and I continue to be impressed at the services, resources and options that the kids have available to them.  However, the amount of homework assigned has been quite a surprise.  Christopher is getting very little while Caitlynne is loaded down every night.  It has been a struggle for us to get it all done without someone (usually me!) crying.  I am still trying to figure out how to make it all work smoothly.  She is so hot and exhausted when she gets home from school and I want her to be able to relax and cool down a bit before starting in on homework.  However, she goes to bed so early (and gets cranky even earlier) that if we don't start homework straight away, we are pushing it until after dinner and huge meltdowns result.  I guess it will all work itself out in the end but she is just not used to this daily volume and, in addition to the early start time, the new school, etc., it is really hard to adjust to. 

Christopher (and Kevin, as his coach) has his first and second basketball games this weekend and it will be interesting to see how that goes.  72 boys signed up and the league was able to put 10 teams together.  Caitlynne did not make the swim team so that was a bit of a bummer for her.  While she was the fastest and strongest swimmer, her technique was not the best so the coach said for her to polish up and try out again in January.  Since Kevin wants to do a triathlon while we are here, he and Caitlynne are going to take lessons at the pool together.

I invited a group of women over yesterday for coffee and about 10 came for the morning.  It felt a little odd asking everyone had to bring their own coffee cup (our Welcome Kit only contained 5) but we all had a nice time and plan to get together once a week and rotate who hosts. 

All of our friends in Miami went back to school on Monday and the kids were a bit sad after reading emails and facebook postings.  I just keep reminding them how lucky they are to have all of this technology available to keep in touch with their friends and family that are far away.

PeePorn prepared another interesting dinner for us this evening...

At first glance, this appears to be a noodle dish with chicken, shrimp, and peanuts, very similar to Pad Thai (one of our favorites!). 

 However, look at little closer...

And closer still...

Those are not noodles but rather the fruit of a "Pomelo"! 

A Pomelo is a citrus fruit, very similar to grapefruit, that is indigenous to Southeast Asia.  Pomelos can grow to be 25 cm in diameter and weigh up to 2 kilograms.  They are very large!  The Pomelo, in addition to looking like a grapefruit, also tastes like one... just much milder and sweeter.  We have had Pomelos before but just as "fruit" and usually for breakfast or a snack.  I am not sure of its "official" name, but Caitlynne and I did a taste test on this dish and it was delicious! 

This is a photo of a Pomelo growing on a tree.

 A Pomelo with the rind cut, ready to be peeled.

And, finally, the Pomelo, peeled and ready to be eaten:

PS - these photos are courtesy of Kguirnela. 

PeePorn also made a lovely lasagna but I left in the oven a bit too long and am embarrassed to post a photo as it is VERY "golden"!

We are thinking of all of our friends and family on the mid-Atlantic/East Coast and hoping Irene takes a sharp turn out to sea!  I sure do miss watching Jim Cantore on the Weather Channel!