Christmas Day Lunch

Decorating the Christmas Tree

We've had waffles and hot chocolate/coffee for breakfast and the tree is decorated . So far so good on Christmas Eve! 

🌲🎅

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December So Far

Just when we think we have exhausted every single park possibility in the area, we find a new one. Seb is a climber so this is just the right level of dangerous to keep him interested. 

It has been so warm and sunny that we haven't had to deal with putting the trampoline away or getting a cover for it. Both Freddy and Sebby go straight to it in the mornings before or after breakfast. 

 I brought a pretty depressing Christmas tree home and I couldn't bring bring myself to put it in the living room and make it our official tree.

 Chillier nights mean a lot of card games at the table in front of the fire. Tomás and Freddy are my best card players (Zita is not a fan :( )  with Blackie and Prosciutto taking a lap when it´s available.

 Prosciutto will not give up on his lap-dog phase.

The boys and I had a great day at the Expo last week on a gray, but balmy day.

 Sebby was beyond excited about riding in this car.

  We never get pumpkin patch pictures so I thought I would at least attempt a "tree lot" picture. Doesn't Sebby look happy to stand there and smile?

 We thought it was too risky to take an already wrapped tree so the lady kindly dragged this one to the back and wrapped it for us.

We were all too happy to bring this tree in and get the lights on straight away.

 My phone is full of Prosciutto-Sebby cuddles. I look tired in all of them, but this is cropped nicely. It also gives a good view of Sebby's self haircut. We had to shave his whole head.

Rugby has been tough going. Mooji's team lost two games in a row  by one and two points, respectively. For both games they had more tries than the opposing team, but lost in the last minute or two because of a penalty kick. Still, it is a huge improvement from last year when they wouldn't have had a chance against these top teams. 

Next weekend they play their rival Cascais, who they already beat last month. Mooji has a concert the night before the game and I'm  sure it will be last time he goes to a concert before a rugby game. Let's hope his allergies don't act up :)  

Christmas Train

The Christmas train was up and running for a few days until it just stopped working. My well of patience has run dry for train troubleshooting, and Moojie's has too. Such a bummer. 

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Christmas Eve

We didn't get our anual family-in-front-of-the-tree picture this year.  As soon as we arrived at Christmas eve dinner, I asked my sister-in-law to take our picture.

 It was at this point that I said "wait, let me take my scarf off."

 and then Sebby decided he was done. So there's a wrap on another fabulous family photoshoot.

French cuff shirts work beautifully with Moojie's cast.

 Keeping Sebby from opening presents was not a delightful experience until we gave him a foam sword. That kept him happy until around 10pm.

 Zita chose and shopped for her whole outfit this year.

 I have a huge feeling of relief that homecoming dances and the prom don't exist in Portugal. Once a year Christmas dress shopping is plenty.

 Waiting for dessert...

 By 11pm, a few of the little cousins put on a music concert. Poor Fred was a little tired to be playing cello at that hour, but he did a great job.

 This was the least blurry shot of Zita.

By 11:30pm , Seb was still awake and had long since short-circuited. I slipped out to the car and cuddled him into my shoulder where he fell right to sleep. I slowly started to freeze without my coat, but didn't want to move Seb.  I reached around in the dark, finding only a Roman guard costume that I covered myself with until the rest of the family came out to the car.

I was so happy that we have no Santa believers anymore which meant no charade of sneaking downstairs to fill stockings and put presents under the tree. Everything was done. Even so, it was 2am before we got to bed. 

Christmas day pictures still to come.

Christmas Day At The Beach

The weather has been beautiful beyond expectations. 

For three years in a row, we have done this Guincho walk at Christmas which seals it as a traditon, I think. It's the best way to work off the abundance of yummy food we've been eating. 

Christmas Magic

We just finished decorating the tree, brining down the presents, and setting the table for our big Christmas lunch tomorrow. I didn't want to have to worry about getting ready for lunch amidst the happy buzz and glow of morning presents. 

Zita and Freddy just crammed in last minute practice sessions of clarinet and cello, respectively, for their Christmas concert for extended family tonight, and they are both ready.

The best news of the day was that my mom's box arrived, full of presents for Moojie. An Amazon box also made it just in time. The six of us drove into Lisbon to pick them up before dropping Pai and Freddy at the ferris wheel. 

It's sad without my mom here, but I'm more grateful than ever to have the six of us together. 

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! 

(I moved our little Charlie Brown tree onto a table to give it more presence in the room. It's also more visible when one sits at the dining room table.) 

Back To School And Little Updates

Mooj had his first full day back at school yesterday and then went straight to Lisbon with his rugby team to watch their game. He only got home just after 11pm so it was a very long day.

On the healing front, his staples have been bothering him, but there is a possiblity they will come out today for his weekly check-up. We have no idea what is going on with his bonés or the inside of his arm.


Zita had her school Christmas play on Friday where she sang and played clarinet. I have no pictures since Pai went to that while I went to Freddy's Christmas choral concert that was happening simultaneously.

I rushed out the door with Seb, leaving the camera by the front door, so I only got vídeo on my phone. I absolutely love these shows. Freddy has another one for his school this afternoon, and I'l be ready with my camera this time. That will be the last formal activity of the season. Then its pajamas and card games in front of the tree until January.

Zita has inherited my mom's ability to create centerpieces out of nothing. She took clippings from what is left of our poor garden and made the dining room more festive.

 More of Zita's touches

 Freddy has three songs to learn over the break. It's still a trick keeping Seb from trying to pluck at the strings and "help" Freddy practice.

This is how Mooj rolls now. It looks odd, but his arm doesn't fit in any sleeves, and it is too cold to leave it unzipped.

I took this last picture for my mom and sister who joke that Pai is never seen without a book in his hand. Seb is taking cues from Pai and carried this dictionary around for the day.

Kicking Off The Holidays

Last night, Mooj had friends over for a poker night that lasted until 2am. It has given us all the card playing bug. What better time than Christmas holidays to gather by the Christmas tree and play cards? 

Christmas Pictures

Freddy was the most enthusiastic and earnest gift giver this year. He went shopping with my mom and bought gifts for each and every family member. He was so excited to give out gifts and watch everyone open what he chose. 

I got this beautiful heart shaped alarm clock that now has pride of place on my nightstand. 

Moojie got a can of tennis balls from Freddy, and he gave Zita a bracelet making kit. I'm already wishing I had taken more pictures on Christmas morning.

We did Christmas crackers over breakfast of cranberry blueberry bagels. The jokes are so entertaining to read out and it keeps the mood lively and full of laughs. 

Whereas last year had a strong tennis theme, this year was an apparel and electronics years for Miss Zita. She's top to toe in new things, but was happiest to join the rest of her school in smart phone ownership. 

We had Christmas  lunch at my brother in law's house where we had a third and final round of presents and another big meal of shrimp bisque and duck rice. 

Freddy and Zita helped my mom set the Christmas breakfast table at night so I could spend my Christmas morning enjoying the moment. I already miss the perks of pampering that come from having my mom here.

 When we are back to civilization, I'll write my annual best gifts of 2013 post. 

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas.

 

My mom and Zita snuck out like elves and bought a new, still little but at least alive Christmas tree.

 Sebby crawled all over the presents on Christmas morning, clamouring for the tree and so happy with what he was seeing.  He was just as hapy to carry presents around and take tags off as he was to have anything new.

These little shorts with suspenders are pretty much a requirement of little boys in Portugal. I only put my (baby) boys in these shorts for Christmas, but when I do, we can never stop remarking how cute they look.

 These are all so ridiculously blurry because Sebby never stops moving.

There are lots and lots more photos, but I'm in my new cozy robe, and soft fleecy jammies, and there are two little boys who are up and ready for some Boxing Day fun.