live and learn from new experiences – such as pet parades!

This weekend I’ve certainly seen and done a lot of different things. First we went to see the pet parade organised by the Kiwanis. It was sometimes hard to tell the kids off the pets as they were all dressed up – some of them being the annual “celebrity appearances” such as the hot dogs. Then we did the grand breakfast no 2 of the day in the famous local pancake houses. Hawaiian waffles, Mickey Mouse pancakes, French toast and some non-sweet platters too.

Add a new parks, about 10 house visits (we haven’t quite decided if we are really house-hunting but this is fun anyway), some Portuguese virgin carrying and marching couple of times past our house (we could not find any event notice for this and still wonder what it was), yet another (more cultural) Chinese Moon Festival where miss. A was performing chinese poetry (and got her reward from the Chinese poetry contest). And now I found myself baking with miss C. pancake the Finnish style – one giant one in the oven. Served with the “queen jam” (mix of raspberry and blueberry jam) or sugar on top.

After such a busy weekend one can only say thank god it’s Sunday night and a week of recovery at work is about to start!

Commentators working hard. How cute is this old-fashioned truck from the local produce market – and  I love that embroidered umbrella these ladies had!

We are talking about them hot dogs here

Kids in the carts, pets in the carts – no discrimination on the type of pets one could bring

Hawaiian waffles, French toast and Mickey pancakes – this was actually our first pancake brunch as a family in the US (outside anyone’s home I should add)!

The enigma of the day since we could not find info on this event – the Portuguese parade (incl. marching band) on the way to pick up kids with giant rosaries and some sort of virgin float. I would be interested in hearing what this was all about.

Moon festival with Chinese poetry, singing, dancing and kung fu (and speeches of course!)

Happy miss A. with the 2nd place award from the Chinese Poetry contest that took place a month ago or so

Pancake a la Finnish style – just one large one baked in the oven

A slide ready to be served and topped with the “Queen Jam”

Some of the photography credits go to my sweet little miss Anaïs and her great little Canon pocket camera (otherwise great but the battery has become a bit short-lived)