Overachievers

 I got 2 calls from the school, each informing me one of my daughters had been chosen as Student of the Month.  I was invited to come and have lunch with the girls and enjoy a small awards ceremony.  So that is how I spent my Thursday.  Lunch with Callie at 10:30, followed by lunch with Delaney at 11:10. The award stuff was done individually by grade, which was a nice, low-key way to do it.  The girls were cute.  But Callie was less than thrilled at being the center of attention.

Note Callie's marked lack of enthusiasm.

Marian has lunch the same time as Callie and I managed to sneak a photo, despite her very effective attempts to foil me. 

Posing for the official shot with their goodie bags.

This kid is a hoot, and she was thrilled to be special for the day.   

Receiving her certificate. 

Delighted to be getting a balloon and goodie bag.

Selfies, By Delaney

Local Shopping Adventure

I like my adventures to be easy.  This week, I needed a few things that they sell off base, so I headed out for that.  I decided to try the store Max Value.  I had heard about it, and I could see the sign from the main road.  However, with the streets here, seeing does not mean you can actually find it!  I decided I was going to try though and I circled closer and closer till I finally found the right road.  Yay me!

Max Value is a grocery store.  They did have a delightful bread selection, but nothing new to try.  I grabbed several of the fat sliced bread squares and meandered around to see what else I might need.

Oooh!  Pre-made lunches!  No, not brave enough to try this.

Definitely not interested in fish. 

Spaghetti?!  No, not really what I was looking for, but amusing to see here. 

Ah, the candy aisle!   

Well, that's not what I tend to think of when I think of candy! 

And this is not what I tend to think of when I think "edible".  No tentacles for me, thank you! 

Now this I could live with.  

Sadly, I guessed wrong.  The green stuff was cucumber, not avocado, and the crab was significantly fishier than any I have had before, and the other 2 were fish.   Definitely not what I had hoped for.

These were rice balls.  I had heard good things about them and was excited to try.  

I started with the ones on the end.  They were pretty good.  Kind of a fried rice with chicken (I think) smooshed into a roll.  The center ones were bean which isn't bad. Then I tried the ones on the other end. 

Eeeewwww.  It was fish.

Trying something new

 I have been trying to get the kids to try some new things, and when I go out shopping off base, I look for things I think they will eat that are a little different.  I'm not that adventurous, so I am not selecting things like squid or tofu squares.  I pick stuff I think I might eat too.  Sometimes, it is tasty, and sometimes not so much!

I thought this one might have a filling, but it was just a plain bread thing.  Marian said it was good, kind of a muffin flavor.  Not spectacular, but good.  She asked for more.

A lavender bread item.  Ooooh! 

With a bean paste filling. 

It was not a hit.

Dan ate the rest of it and declared it to be edible, but not tasty.

Melon Pan is always a hit!  Who wouldn't like bread with sugar crystals sprinkled on top?!

Waiting for the bus