They're cute.
They're funny.
They're weird.
They're smart.
They're grumpy.
They're lovable.
They're mine!
Oh gosh! I'm almost 30! Should I be scared? I guess not. There really is no turning back and honestly, I don't care. The only thing I care about regarding age right now is that it's soooooooooooo much harder for me to lose weight. Sigh.
Oh well, I had a pleasant enough birthday. I received many birthday wishes from friends and loved ones and Gabriel took me out to dinner and then to the movies. Other than that, it was a normal work day, heh.
On Friday my parents had a little celebration here at home for me and several friends came over. That was nice ... plenty of good food, drinks, and company!
My goal for this next year of life is to not slack off. Oh yes, and to read more. It is difficult for me to keep up with the daily demands of work, parenting, university, marriage, etc. But as exhausted as I usually am, I will have to make the time to attend to everything, no matter how small, so that it doesn't snowball into a huge problem. I do have enough problems as it is. Don't need to create any more for myself. Let's see how that works out, hehe.
Technically.
Which means crisp, sunny (DRY) days with beautiful skies!
And coconuts?! We couldn't believe how big the coconuts from our tree grew this year. The biggest they've ever been yet! Our tree never bore large coconuts since we live in a landlocked state and the nearest beach is a good 450km away.
My brother picking the coconuts:
Happy with the coconut:
My brother being weird:
The girls were so excited with the whole process of picking a coconut, cutting a hole, and drinking the milk (and then eating the meat) since it was from our backyard.
Yum!
So meaty:
Alina's school cancelled this year's Festa Junina due to the junior high and high school students not wanting to participate, etc. Huge disappoinment! They did have a small celebration for the 5th Grade on down. It wasn't as cool as last year's, but it sure was better than nothing. Even though she wasn't completely better from the tummy bug she'd had earlier that week, Alina was still able to participate in her group's dance, play, and eat a bit, so it was fun.
We called it Festa Junina # 1 because we're still gonna go to the one at Laurie's school, which will be in the beginning of July. Yay! More fun! ... and good food. :)
Starting the dance (Alina's the one in the greenish dress):
Posing with some of her friends:
Nothing better than a big, fluffy dress to spin in:
More dancing:
Waiting in line with a friend:
Concentrating on "catching" a fish to win a prize:
In line for another game:
Blowing bubbles:
The 5th-graders' dance:
Another pose:
Playing:
Alina's best friend came over during the holiday and we took them to the movies to watch "Madagascar 3" (so fun!). The girls played for the rest of the day while I studied for an upcoming test. Many places close on Friday to extend the holiday, but alas, where I work did not. Boo-hoo.
We had a great time on Saturday though. First we went to Laurie's classmate's birthday party and then we went to a sort of country fair. It was called ExpoCachaça, but aside from the booths selling and giving samples of 101 different kinds of cachaça, there was a beer section, a dairy section, a typical foods section, a horses and cows section, AND a little petting zoo, aside from all the other things which I forget now.
We didn't stay long because it was the end of the day and the girls were already wiped from jumping and running around during the party. They looooved the little zoo though, and Laurie loved the HUGE tractors that were on display. Both of them went for a ride on a pony and got to play on the tractors. Needless to say, we all arrived home exhausted!
And here are some pictures from that fun day.
At the birthday party:
Striking a pose:
Looking for Laura:
Waiting to sing "Happy Birthday":
The birthday girl (Minne):
Gobbling the sweets:
Looking at the adorable puppies at the fair:
They were asleep:
Goin' for a ride:
Scary smile:
Alina's turn:
Happy girl!
Messing around:
Goats:
A calf:
More goats eating:
Donkeys:
A mini pony:
More ponies:
Llamas:
The end!
These past couple of months have been rough for us on the health front. Sigh. First, Laurie got an awful cough that lasted for a few weeks. Simply put, she had an allergy to pollution and sinusitis, poor child. After taking a ton of antibiotics for a couple of weeks she got better, only to get sick with a tummy bug a couple of days later.
All of that was finally over when Gabriel has an asthma attack and is bedridden for a day or two. He gets better, and then Alina comes down with a horrid tummy-bug-virus-thingie for several days. She missed school for most of the week (this week), precisely when they're gonna have the Festa Junina and she had to practice for the dance.
I got the same yucky bug in the beginning of the week and was bedridden for one whole day. I had a test that night, the last of the semester (thank God!), which I couldn't miss. Ack! Dragged myself through the test, though I'm quite sure my brain stayed home, and plopped back into bed as soon as I got back. Thankfully, the awfulness was short-lived and the next day I was feeling good enough to go to work (which had kindly piled up).
Alina's school dance is tomorrow and I'm hoping she'll feel alright. Poor thing, she's been looking forward to it for a whole year (since last year's party, heh) and she'll be extremely disappointed if she doesn't go. Festa Juninas only come once a year, and even though she'll go to the one at Laurie's school, she won't participate in the dances since they'll be only for the students.
Speaking of viruses, my computer at work crashed earlier this month. Thank God I had a fairly recent back-up of important files so hardly anything was lost.
Conculsion: viruses are a pain, be they in your body or in your computer!
It had been unusually warm for a few days last week, so we were able to enjoy a beautiful sunny afternoon at the nearby amusement park. Since the park is across the street from the famous Saint Francis church, we took the girls there as well and then had a yummy snack.
Waiting in line:
Bumper boats!
Alina's favorite ride:
On the ferris wheel:
A view of the Mineirão soccer stadium in the distance (on the right):
A sweet pose:
Now a silly face:
Concentrating on "driving" the jeep:
An ice-cream pose:
Yum!
Inside the chapel (we couldn't take pictures of the interior of the church itself which is full of paintings and works of art of Portinari):
Another shot of the stadiums:
More poses:
Whatever:
Having a lovely time by the lake: