Catfish 2

is the name of the swim level Talmage is working on at the SHARC. He's learned all sorts of skills these past 4 weeks, like back float, front and back glides, kicking and bobs.

Talmage is hesitant about submerging his face - his major obstacle to moving past the Catfish 2 level. That reservation aside, he loves swimming lessons and playing in/with water.

Today was the last day of class. All the kids got to go down the water slide:

with Tessa, his teacher.

They also got to try the diving board. I'm proud o' the T for walking the plank all by himself. After he stood at the end for a minute or so, an instructor joined him at the brink. Check out how he gets down:

International Living

Andrea, from the Madrid region, stayed with us for the past three weeks. She spent the days in language class with other teenagers and during the nights and weekends she spent her time with us and ... we partied. She brought into focus the World Cup, Uno Attack, the Spanish elements in Toy Story 3 and hamburgers.

Sunday evening at the Rose Garden

St. Paul RODEO

Chillin' in the bleachers on a chilly JULY evening with a sleepy chile.

We thought we'd show Andrea what some people like to do in America. After the buckin' broncos I think she was ready to go home. But she was a good sport to stick it out. We probably should have just gone to the mall.

July 4th (er, 3rd) PARADE
Clara and Andrea became great pals.

Please contrast Sydney's hairdo with this hairdo of a good friend's daughter.

Camping: Little Crater Lake

Little Crater Lake IS little. It's beauty lives up to it's namesake.
We also hiked over to Timothy Lake.

Karren bought us a bag of these marshmallows that were as big as your head (and mine, apparently).


It was cold. Later, we found out Andrea was terrified about going camping. But again, she was a good sport about it.

A Quick Gander in Seattle
Looking back, it was a good experience to host a foreign exchange student. We're happy our lives intersected and who knows, maybe one day we'll get to see her again in her neck of the woods. That would be a treat.