Of our original busking team -- which came into existence in the beginning of 2006 -- only Ana and I were left. And of our last busking team, the four of us girls were left.
Our friend Concéssio really wanted us to record a CD before we disbanded, so he learned how to play the songs and we recorded them a few weeks ago. He then came over for us to take pictures of the remnant of the team (posted below for your viewing pleasure ... not!).
In a way, I'm glad it's all over. We had our fun times, but it was hard for me every time we went out busking. I really don't like singing to an audience, but that was ok compared to how much I disliked raising funds for our missionary work and social project (and consequently having to explain why I have such a horrid accent). As well as having to work twice as much because certain people wouldn't do what they were supposed to.
The only thing that made it all bearable was seeing the lives that were touched and changed through our croaking efforts. I'm gonna miss the friends we made, but I'm sure not going to miss the singing, haha!
Sisters and Concéssio:
Silliness ...
Fatty and pudgy, scrawny and skinny, Concéssio and guitar:
Monkeys! ... loving the tree much? :D
are Alina's favorite snack and last week she made some all by herself ... such an accomplished child!
Last week Alina had asked if we could stargaze some night, so on Saturday we set up a "bed" in the pool area for our stargazing activity.
We couldn't see that many stars because we're in the city, but the girls had plenty of fun looking at the moon and the few visible stars and then romping around in the makeshift bed.
And to end our special evening, the three of us shared a tub of ice cream!
A very tired me:
The moon ...
A ghost:
We three piggies (those are Laura's feet up in the air close to Alina's head):
Well, as most of us know, "all things change, but Jesus never!", so there have been some major changes regarding our move.
Originally, we were going to go to Salvador and open a missionary base there with Gabriel's parents and two youngest siblings. But then his mom's condition worsened and the best place for her to continue her treatment is in São Paulo. So we're moving there as soon as they find a house.
This week was a special one for Laura ... well, it was special for me regarding Laura's progress. I think it was on Wednesday, I was packing the last of the girls' toys and school things while they played with some of the pieces from the dollhouse, when I was pleasantly surprised to see Laura blowing one of the tiny plates (I always tell her to blow her food 'cause it's usually hot), placing it on a table, putting one of the dolls in a chair, and putting the chair in front of the table. That was the first time she actually played with a doll! Before that she'd just walk around holding the doll by any limb.
Then this week she learned how to give an actual kiss on the cheek along with the "smacking" sound. One of these days when she awoke from her nap, I gave her a cracker and she "fed" it to one of her dolls and then proceeded to give it a loving kiss ... such progress!
Oh, and she discovered the joy of lipstick. Alina has a few kiddy ones which you need to smear on quite a bit for some color to show. As you can see from the photos, Laura put on more than enough. She had such a cute, concentrated look as she put on layer upon layer of lipstick (and probably felt like a queen in the process). She was kind enough to put some on me and Alina with her little forefinger.
Here are some photos of Alina during her ballet class in the morning and swimming class in the afternoon.
I had to go to the bank, which is close to the club where she swims, so I took Laura along and from there walked the 6 blocks to the club on this crisp winter afternoon.
Well, technically it isn't winter yet, but Belo basically has 2 seasons: rainy, warmer, mosquitoey summer, and dry, cold winter. It actually rained last week for a few days which was pretty unusual for this time of the year.
Anyway, back to the afternoon, it was lovely enough and the girls enjoyed playing in the club's playground while we waited for the teens to finish their class.
Some of the photos are out of focus and it's very hard to take a semi-decent pic of Laura because she's constantly moving and her cute poses last less than 2 seconds ... not enough time to turn on the camera, let it focus, and take the pic ... sigh.
Swimming without her cap:
Big girl! (6 and a half)
Laura being a nut while Alina romps around:
That's Lake Pampulha in the background:
Setting sun ...
Aside from the awful cramps I had, Mother's Day was quite pleasant. This was the first Mother's Day in 4 years that I didn't go out busking and also the first one in God-knows-how-many-years that we didn't have a special brunch to celebrate it ... talk about change!
I made crepes and chocolate mush for the girls (Love, you'd be so proud of me, my chocolate stuff came out as good as yours!), and then we went over to my grandparents' place for lunch.
I wasn't too thrilled about taking Laura. She's an accident-waiting-to-happen and my Grandma's apartment is just full of breakable, not-for-small-children things.
Thankfully, she didn't break anything, she just decided that she didn't want to sit at the table and have lunch so I had to entertain her and feed her while also trying to eat the delicious lunch my grandma prepared. She finally fell asleep shortly before we left and I crashed out with her.
Alina had fun playing computer games with her cousin and running around barefooted. Oh yes, and she made a cute card for me. Also, my grandma gave all the moms a box of chocolates and my sister made chocolate chip cookies for us ... sure was a chocolate-filled day for me, heh.
The day before we had Bible school at the Project and after the class the kids made cards for their mothers. It was sweet to see them trying to write endearing things to their mom and fussing over how their cards.
Anyway, here are some pics from this weekend.
Alina and Pietro making a macaroni necklace to give to me and his mom:
The younger kids making their cards:
Part of my class:
On our way to my grandparents' apartment:
Being a rascal:
Alina and her cousin:
My grandmother (the kids' table):
The adults' table:
The monkey:
