Thursday, October 25, 2012

Visitors

It’s Thursday and our friends from Sweden have been with us for almost a week. It’s mom C and three boys, a ten year old and eight year old twins. It is nice to have visitors but oh my it is also so nice to have a quiet house. We are just not used to the noise and excitement three boys bring, along with the crying because whenever there is more than one somebody is always getting picked on.

I’ve tried to make an assortment of American meals, but at that age they would much rather just have what they are used to. So far Maccy’s has been the stop of choice, though two out of three liked KFC original recipe. They are used to wings from MacDonald’s, and were surprised to find ours only had McNuggets.

Even though English is pretty universal in Sweden, evidently being in English class and learning the language are two different things, as there is no understanding, and unfortunately no effort being made to learn anything. We put on Nick TV, which is also shown in Sweden (I thought Sponge Bob was annoying, but didn’t realize the Swedish voice dubber could make it even more so) and the first comment to mom was how do we make the language be Swedish (over there several subchannels are broadcast in an assortment of languages, over here it’s just English or Spanish in Vegas). But they watch it anyway.

Yesterday they all went to Red Rock and climbed, it’s impressive how high and fast boys can get up those rocks. Tonight it’s pizza, and we get to see if American pizza measures up, they’ll probably just want plain cheese, but I’ll get an ‘everything’ for me and see if any of them go for it. Saturday will be the AdventureDome at Circus Circus for a day of rides. The AdventureDome turns into the Halloween Fright Dome at 7pm, but you’ve got to be older to get into that.

We got them Halloween costumes and they can try American doorbell ringing on Wednesday. The group isn’t into sweets, so we’ll see what they do with their takings. We live in an area with no street lights or sidewalks, so B will drive the group over a mile or so to a more traditional neighborhood for their wanderings. With the lack of lights we usually only get three or four groups of kids on Halloween, guess the pickings are better in more dense neighborhoods.

Even though it is cold for us they have been in the pool almost every day. It’s been a cool week, with temps in the mid 70’s, next week supposed to warm up to mid 80’s, but the water is still too cold for locals. As last time, they say the water is warmer than anything they’ve been in in Sweden. I like the pool when water temp is around 92.

12 comments:

Blond Duck said...

What fun!

angryparsnip said...

Fall is the best season in Tucson as I think it is in Vegas... after the blazing hot summer.
I hope to use the pool for a week or two before I shut off the heater but I might have to shut it down sooner than later.

I think it will be great fun to have them go out Trick and Treating ! What a Hoot !

cheers, parsnip

Pamela said...

after raising daughters -- then having 6 grandsons, I know what you mean by noise and just plain raucousness. Yawn..... the quiet is so wonderful when they slam the door and run out.

SOL's view said...

My two daughters were noisy enough! And I do remember when there were 3 of us (myself and two siblings) two always played better than 3.

It's a little disappointing they aren't making the effort to enjoy the differences though. But that's the age group I guess. :)

Kristine said...

Red Rock and KFC. Sounds like a great trip to me! :)

Anonymous said...

I am half tempted to record my three girls when they get going all at once, and you can compare the noise levels...

I bet we'd win. :-/

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Hi Joe, thanks for stopping by in Perth. I totally agree about the 'visitor' thing..a few days is more than long enough haha!

Don said...

Better you than me, my friend! Other people's GROWN children make me crazy; I can't imagine doing three little Swedes. Good luck.

Blond Duck said...

I hope your friends had a good Halloween!

nathalie, avignon said...

What an interesting account. Other people's children - and foreign children at that - are a never-ending source of wonder (or bewilderment I should say). Congratulations on your survival.
I hope they enjoyed the trick or treating. Stay safe!

Frankie G said...

You sound like one really cool guy, Joe. I'll bet they miss being with you.

Rob said...

I was amused when channel-hopping recently to come across Thomas the Tank Engine (much loved by my children as voiced by Ringo Starr) dubbed into Gaelic ("Tomas is a Thrued"). There was a Scottish TV serial years ago called "Tutti Frutti" which starred Robbie Coltrane and Emma Thompson before they were big names. One of the funnier scenes had a bunch of Glaswegian rockers sitting in a hotel room in the Highlands puzzling over "Postman Pat" in Gaelic.