2018 Week 27: Basking in Basque

Our activities this week revolved, for the most part, around events and activities on the Basque-month calendar.

Sunday evening the boys followed Esther, a neighbor friend who lives half a mile down the road, to swim in their pool along with the other Basque students.

Monday both Koch's Basque guests, Jon and Xabi, got to explore Dove's Crossing (Stephan and Karen's farm), tour the ice studio, and taste Stephan's cuisine.

Elijah is staying with us to be a friend to Jon this month, and Malachi and the younger ones are keeping Xabi entertained. My "Basque grandsons" taught me how to say it in euskera, their language--Nere illoba euskaldunak 

Elijah, Malachi, Xabi, Jon

Tuesday, we showed Jon how to make BLTs, took the boys for an afternoon of fun at the Splash House in Marion, and then to hear Dennis Quaid and the Sharks. An exciting day with no pics.

Wednesday, the boys joined Kristie's Fourth of July annual holiday family ruenion picnic.
Meanwhile we had friends over who live in Uganda and are visiting the US for the summer.

The Tuggys

The kids all enjoyed the zipline but I only watched the oldest take off.

Later in the day we joined Sam's family for the Muncie fireworks display. There was time for frisbee and fun in the park before dark.

Jude and Zion riding the buffalo

The local resident geese by the river watched us invade their park. I think the picnic experience was rather new and strange for our Basque boys. 

And the fireworks were probably nothing to write home about, considering that in their big city they have an annual week-long fireworks competition! Can't beat that. However, we later watched the video captured by the hovering drones, and that was more impressive.

Thursday started out slow and lazy. We watched a movie with Dennis Quaid in it--Soul Surfer, a very moving story. Jon had seen it twice before, but not in English. He's been to the famous international surfing competitions in his country, in Zarautz.

That evening the Koch men and boys went to and Indians game in Indy.

Right to Left: Mike, Sam, Elijah, Jon, Xabi, Stephan

Friday, Naroa's host family invited the kids to swim in their pool. They had to try out the trampoline first. Naroa (on right) is visiting Upland for the second time. Ainhoa on the left is the older college student or graduate who accompanied the group.

While they were having fun, we were enjoying food and fellowship at Ivanhoes with dear friends living now in the very town our illoba euskaldun (Basque grandson) is from.

The day was not over. Stephan and Karen came over because her parents wanted to try out the zipline! I went down for the first time also! Who said we were too old for such things?!

For Red, our consuegro  once was enough. Co-in-law (consuegra) Dolores was ready to go again!

Saturday, was the planned Koch-out, so as hosts we were focused on food prep and entertainment. I only got one picture of the kids enjoying the outdoors. Looks like their own variation of corn hole. We heard them ziplining, but didn't watch. We were engrossed in after-dinner conversation (sobremesa) with the adults.

"Our boys" spent the night at Sam and Kristie's. The end of a very full week.

In the midst of all that "basquing" we were able to keep up with our regular reponsabilities and routines. Amazing indeed!