Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Woohoo!
So, five years ago, today, I set about starting this blog. I'm surprised and happy that I have managed to not completely abandon it along the way. :D The girls love looking at all the pics from when they were smaller and so it's serving part of its purpose. I still plan on posting both of their baby pics ... just waiting untill I graduate because then I'll have more time to do that. Yay!
Friday, January 17, 2014
Trip to Sao Paulo and Christmas
We had a good, uneventful trip to SP and back with the girls behaving for most of it. They're angels ... when they're asleep. :D
Stopping for lunch at a restaurant/farm. The girls looooooved the place! There were ducks, chickens, peacocks, turkeys, a kitty, cows and horses nearby. So fun to watch!
We arrived in SP Sunday afternoon, spent the rest of the day at grandpa's house playing with cousins, etc. Monday we went over to my friend's place and spent the day there. She and I went to the movies at the end of the day (watched the Hobbit, yay!) and Daddy took the girls over to grandpa's place again. Tuesday evening, or better, Christmas Eve, we all got together for dinner. It was the first time Gabriel's entire family was together, all the siblings, wives/husbands, and kids. Quite a crowd, heh. The kids had plenty of fun playing together, good food was had, and we were in great company.
Grandpa José with most of the grandkids:
The ladies:
The whole gang minus baby cousin Deryk:
Opening presents Christmas morning:
Alina already engrossed in her Wimpy Kid book #8:
Playing with cousin Leticia:
We spent the rest of Christmas day at grandpa's place all together. The kids got more presents and we had a pretty fun secret santa. Headed back home the next day, Gabriel's birthday, and arrived in Belo in time to get ready for the birthday party of one of Laurie's classmates.
On our way back, we stopped at a distillery, got some yummy cachaças, and had a tour of the place. Very interesting.
The sugarcane juice fermenting:
Barrels of rum! Yum! :)
Stopping for lunch at a restaurant/farm. The girls looooooved the place! There were ducks, chickens, peacocks, turkeys, a kitty, cows and horses nearby. So fun to watch!
We arrived in SP Sunday afternoon, spent the rest of the day at grandpa's house playing with cousins, etc. Monday we went over to my friend's place and spent the day there. She and I went to the movies at the end of the day (watched the Hobbit, yay!) and Daddy took the girls over to grandpa's place again. Tuesday evening, or better, Christmas Eve, we all got together for dinner. It was the first time Gabriel's entire family was together, all the siblings, wives/husbands, and kids. Quite a crowd, heh. The kids had plenty of fun playing together, good food was had, and we were in great company.
Grandpa José with most of the grandkids:
The ladies:
The whole gang minus baby cousin Deryk:
Opening presents Christmas morning:
Alina already engrossed in her Wimpy Kid book #8:
Playing with cousin Leticia:
We spent the rest of Christmas day at grandpa's place all together. The kids got more presents and we had a pretty fun secret santa. Headed back home the next day, Gabriel's birthday, and arrived in Belo in time to get ready for the birthday party of one of Laurie's classmates.
On our way back, we stopped at a distillery, got some yummy cachaças, and had a tour of the place. Very interesting.
The sugarcane juice fermenting:
Barrels of rum! Yum! :)
New Year Tragedy
My sister's pesky but lovable cat, Pepper, came to a tragic end shortly after New Years. Sinff. He was the cutest kitty ever! Poor, poor, thing. He is dearly missed.
In other animal news, Alina's bunny, Honey, is still alive and kicking. Progress! :D
In other animal news, Alina's bunny, Honey, is still alive and kicking. Progress! :D
Friday, December 20, 2013
Christmas Celebration
We had a lovely small Christmas dinner last Sunday, just our family and a couple of friends, before my parents traveled. The kids got to open some of their presents and I'm happy that we got to have my mom's delicious food once again. :)
The girls and their friend Henrique (they'd spent the day in the pool, hence the messy/bathing suit clad look):
What's left of the feast:
Dining:
Laurie the next morning with her special Minnie Mouse headband that Grandma gave her:
The girls and their friend Henrique (they'd spent the day in the pool, hence the messy/bathing suit clad look):
What's left of the feast:
Dining:
Laurie the next morning with her special Minnie Mouse headband that Grandma gave her:
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Christmas Happenings/Non-happenings
This year the Christmas season has been pretty different. We don't have a Christmas tree, we won't be spending Christmas here, we didn't have Panetone yet (they're stupidly expensive this year), and we're not gonna have my moms' delicious fruitcake, sob.
Ok, the lack of a Christmas tree is my fault. I really didn't feel like going through all the trouble of setting it up (and then putting it away) being that we won't even spend Christmas here since my parents will be spending it in the States with my other siblings. But the rest isn't. :D
We did stick to one of our Christmas traditions, though, and took the girls to see the lights at the Praça da Liberdade. Oh right, and we made cookies. Although this year we did something different and made them for the kids at the nearby orphanage.
The girls and I took the cookies there today, along with a bunch of books and toys we'd separated for them. The kids absolutely loved them and were oohing and ahhing over the christmasy shapes. When we left Laurie said (translation): "We made the kids happy, didn't we? Because the cookies were veeeeery yummy!" She gave her school bag as well (since it'll be too small for next year) and told the guy who was showing us around, "I used it every day this year. Now one of the kids can use it every day, too."
There were quite a few babies, mostly newborn. On our way home Alina, out of the blue, says, "When I grow up, I want to adopt a little baby orphan." So sweet. I think it has to do with the fact that she's rereading the complete series of Anne of Green Gables, and if I'm not mistaken, Anne's daughter, Rilla, adopts a baby during/after the war, something like that.
To protect the children's identity, we weren't allowed to take pictures (some of them come from abusive homes and are waiting to be sent to relatives), but this visit has been the highlight of our Christmas season so far. The girls have so much! They go to a super good school, have a loving family, a roof over their heads, an abundance of food, etc. I want them to realize that and learn to reach out to those less fortunate. Not just at Christmas, of course.
Ok, the lack of a Christmas tree is my fault. I really didn't feel like going through all the trouble of setting it up (and then putting it away) being that we won't even spend Christmas here since my parents will be spending it in the States with my other siblings. But the rest isn't. :D
We did stick to one of our Christmas traditions, though, and took the girls to see the lights at the Praça da Liberdade. Oh right, and we made cookies. Although this year we did something different and made them for the kids at the nearby orphanage.
The girls and I took the cookies there today, along with a bunch of books and toys we'd separated for them. The kids absolutely loved them and were oohing and ahhing over the christmasy shapes. When we left Laurie said (translation): "We made the kids happy, didn't we? Because the cookies were veeeeery yummy!" She gave her school bag as well (since it'll be too small for next year) and told the guy who was showing us around, "I used it every day this year. Now one of the kids can use it every day, too."
There were quite a few babies, mostly newborn. On our way home Alina, out of the blue, says, "When I grow up, I want to adopt a little baby orphan." So sweet. I think it has to do with the fact that she's rereading the complete series of Anne of Green Gables, and if I'm not mistaken, Anne's daughter, Rilla, adopts a baby during/after the war, something like that.
To protect the children's identity, we weren't allowed to take pictures (some of them come from abusive homes and are waiting to be sent to relatives), but this visit has been the highlight of our Christmas season so far. The girls have so much! They go to a super good school, have a loving family, a roof over their heads, an abundance of food, etc. I want them to realize that and learn to reach out to those less fortunate. Not just at Christmas, of course.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)