Endeavoring

... to keep up.

Psychology test next week.

Group paper to turn in next week.

Freak out session.

So much to learn in too little time.

I do believe every parent should take a basic psychology course. Very complex subject, yet extremely enlightening. You'll be amazed at how much better you'll understand yourself and your children and thereby hopefully do an even better job at parenting.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Our Little Miss Sunshine

Also known as The Destroyer. 

Be it sunshine or destruction, she brings plenty of joy to our lives.

Helping make her own breakfast:

Showing Grandma how she can make a 30-piece puzzle all by herself:

Another day:

She loves to read a story before going to bed ...

And when she wakes up early on the weekend:

Being a monkey:

Her nutty look:

Helping Mommy make carrot cake (she LOVES to mix):

Pondering about life:

And about how much she loves her Mommy :)

I just noticed that in most of the photos she's in pijamas. I guess the reason for that is that usually the only time I'm graced with her antics is early in the morning and later in the evening. Come to think of it, the average amount of time I spend with her is 4 hours a day and with Alina it's 3 hours a day. Sad but true.

School and Stuff

The month before last I was finally able to set up an arts and crafts/play/homework area for the girls. Progress.

Here's something my second grader wrote at school:

Uma Família

Uma família representa amor, carinho, paz, segurança, e confiança. Uma família dár tudo que você precisa: comida, água, roupas e brinquedos. Eles também botam você em boas escolas para você ter uma boa educação e fazer muitos amigos. Tem algumas crianças órfãs que não tem família e estão muito tristes. Nós podemos ajudar elas a serem mais felizes. Minha família é tudo pra mim. Eu gosto muito da minha família e eles gostam muito de mim. 

And here's one of her works of art: 

Daddy and Lili making a school model:

Taking it to school:

Last Saturday the girls and I attended our first mass ever which was held at Alina's school to celebrate Easter and family. The second and third graders sang a song they had learnt the previous week after which a snack was served (everyone took something). There was a treasure hunt and then each family did an activity and the kids gave their moms the cards and little gifts they'd made for Mother's Day. All in all a pleasant morning was had (aside from the fact that we had to be up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday).

Those are the third graders in the back row, but Alina's so tall they put her in the back:

The girls checking out the other kids' models:

There's Alina's:

Activity time:

Laura roaming in the school's playground:

And here are a couple of pics of me looking PG with some friends and my Hubby at our freshman party:

I can't believe the first term is almost over. I have two papers to turn in this month, two evalutions and one test left to take ... aaaaaagh! I should get back to my studies.

Our Day

My wonderful Hubby took me and the girls out for lunch to celebrate Mother's Day (ex-busking team: Cia. do Boi ... divine meat!) after having let me sleep in and preparing a yummy breakfast of crepes with chocolate sauce. 

Alina made me card which she placed by my pillow early in the morning for me to find when I woke up. And Laura, well, she was her normal, rascally self who hadn't the faintest idea of what was going on. She just enjoyed everything the way she usually does. She chowed down her fries, gulped her juice, ate bits of the delish meat we had, and then played to her heart's content in the restaurant's playground. 

Oh yes, and licked less than half a popsicle (the rest melted all over her dress, hands, and car seat).  

With my big princess:

Daddy looking less-than-thrilled whilst Laura tries to snatch the saltshaker (again):

So to all the fantastic mothers I know: Mom, my sisters, sisters-in-law, and friends, I hope you had a special day and felt appreciated for ALL that you do and are!

And here's a thought from the poet/writer/artist Kahlil Gibran:

          You are the bows from which your children

          as living arrows are sent forth.
          The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
          and He bends you with His might
          that His arrows may go swift and far.
          Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
          For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
          so He loves also the bow that is stable.