Home Alone with the Girls, Dinner at Culvers

We were all up early, around 6:30, and Jill and Drew left around 7:10 on a very foggy morning. Their flight leaves at 10:30 and I hope it leaves on time for DC. The girls got up just before they left, and watched a couple of tv shows, a nice relaxing way for them to start the day. We spent the morning at two soccer games, at the local Y Recreation Center. Halle’s group was a riot, especially Halle, who seemed totally unaware, refusing to chase the ball, even when it came her way, and standing and watching most of the time. I am not sure what instincts are at work, whether she is afraid, shy, fearing to make a mistake, or look foolish. She could be a good athlete, just needs to coaching and confidence. Hayden’s game was similar, as she stands mostly, arms held up in Davis style, and though she occasionally touched or kicked the ball, she was mostly afraid to engage the ball, or be aggressive and chase the ball. Again, I am not sure why, as Sierra, her best friend, though a two year veteran, is very aggressive and savy, as a player. I wish it would wash off on Hayden. She appears very shy, lacking in confidence, afraid or unsure of what to do. Driving twice to the rec center was scary, as you could hardly see 20 feet in front, and had to cross a couple of major high ways.
Sierra and her sisters came over after the game and they played downstairs for at least two hours, with no arguments, no crying, which is neat. Evie made them a great snack of yogurt stuffed strawberries, apples, and cheese, and they devoured it, loving the strawberries especially. Staci picked they up at 4:00, stayed to talk for 20 minutes. She seems really comfortable with us, which is neat, and likes to talk…she is really a good friend for Jill, a great Mom.
I took Cody and the girls out for a walk; Hayden ran with him most of the way, and since the rain had stopped, and the fog had lifted, we stayed out for about 45 minutes. Hayden really seems to enjoy walking Cody, even wanted to go farther, but we saw a group of boys with paint guns, and she wanted to head back to the house. She fell once running with Cody, skinned her knee and hands, but didn’t cry which was neat.

For dinner we headed to Culver’s, a new restaurant from Wisconsin, that Hayden loves, with their butter burgers. The burgers were so so as were the fries, but I would like to go back because they have a great menu, with walleye snadwichs, barbecued pork, pot roast sandwichs, even roast beef sandwiches, which I think will be better than the burgers. It is a pretty interesting set up, filled with fresh, young looking guys and gals, no low trousers here…just a brief taste of America in the 50’s actually, so it seemed. They had fried cheese curds on the menu, something I want to try next time.

We go home, the girls watched some tv, and since they were really tired, we put them to bed around 8:30. Hayden and I started reading a book, Walk Two Moons, by Sharon Creech, and on the first page, the little girl talked about being ‘pulled up like a weed, and moved to Euclid, Ohio.” What a shock, and I find out that the writer actually grew up in South Euclid. The book is actually quite well written, funny, with a great descriptions. Hayden seems to love it.