Electrical Fire

Yesterday I was trying to get Moojie motivated to get moving, start studying, go on a run or bike ride- just do anything but lounge around. I used soft encouraging words, coupled with a back massage, and started to drill him on what classes he had Monday (today), what they were covering in each class, and what needed to be done, when he interrupted me with "Mummy! I'm an electrical fire and you're trying to put me out with water!!"

I was a bit taken aback because afterall, I was being so helpful and soft with him. It wasn't like I was nagging :)  He was trying to tell me in a nice way that I was not approaching things the right way.

He explained that he just wanted to be left to lounge, and couldn't he just lounge? If there is one thing I need every day, it's a little bit of time to myself to read alone. Usually it's very late at night, but no matter how tired I am, I have to have a few moments to read by myself.

It clicked with me when he said that, that the weekend afternoons are his time, and a little bit of lounging and doing nothing is exactly what he needs after a long hard week packed full of stuff. I left him alone after that and he went on to play tennis, go on a bike ride, and swim. I still checked all of his notebooks myself, and everything was done, and his books were organized for today. Navigating teen parenting is so much harder than I thought it would be. The hardest part is letting go a little and remembering that kids need to charge their batteries just like we mothers do.

Super Sunday

The morning got off to a rough start due to a late night in the Bairro Alto neighborhood of Lisbon. Nothing wild, just late.  Every time we go there, I just gush at how much I love the area and how I wish I had my camera.

Pai  took the kids to see a cave, as Grutas do Poço Velho,  in downtown Cascais today after lunch. They waited 45 minutes in line, so by the time they actually got down into the cave, it was a bit of a let down. Freddy was happy to have worn a hard hat so all was not lost.

 We spent the rest of the afternoon until 8pm swimming, lounging in the sun, drinking iced tea, and snacking on brioche with cheese. We are taking advantage of every last sunny and warm day before true Fall weather sets in.

 Freddy and Zita  are always making food out of sand and whatever flower petals they can find. What they create is definitely a step up from the mud pies I used to make.

 Moojie had been playing tennis, and couldn't resist a night time dip.

 When I first moved to Portugal, the national obsession with matching one's children annoyed me to no end. What was I ever thinking? Matching brothers is too cute.

 Sorry, one last jumping shot. I took a million and couldn't narrow it down.

Sublime Saturdays

Our 10 year+ tradition of Saturday pancakes has changed to Saturday bagels. It's so much easier, and cleaner, and American. Before anyone worries about the kids' lack of pancakes, we still have them on Sunday. Freddy once again loved his tennis this morning, so we are adding a second lesson on Sundays at 10am.

Lucky Moojie slumbered while the four of us walked around Cascais, bought shoes, ate Santini, and visited a craft fair. Just before we walked across the street to the fair, we briefed the kids with the typical "don't touch anything" speech. Sure enough, they managed to touch and pick up 80% of the merchandise, most of it fragile made-with-love crafts. They just can't hold back. After that, we hit Jardim dos Frangos and picked up lunch for 9.

A woman in her 50s commented twice, that we sure were buying a lot of fries "imensas batatas!" Oh how I love the unfiltered commentary that I get when I'm out and about.

The kids are now all  smashing taking apart an old hard drive, trying to put off homework.

Freddy's first tennis lesson

For 5 years now, poor Freddy has dutifully watched his older brother and sister ride horses, play tennis, swim, go to music lessons, appear in ballet shows, and hardly every complained. He just kept quietly asking "when is it going to be my turn?" I'm not a big fan of putting kids in activities very early, and third children even less so, but 5 is a good age to start trying things out.   Last Saturday, Freddy finally got his turn, and had the whole family watching him. He was so proud of his racket, and shorts, and most of all getting to start a real activity.

 Above: he was so focussed on getting the racket up and over his shoulder, that the little ball just whizzed right by him. Bless his earnest heart.  

The Destak Race in Cascais

This past Sunday was the big Destak running race in Cascais. The kids and I made our way slowly to the finish line while Pai waited with Moojie at the start.  Not only did we make it in time, but the kids had time to play on the beach before it was time to crowd around the finish line and cheer. I love this part of Cascais, and the early morning is the absolute best time of day to walk the streets.

 Moojie did a great job on his first official running race. He ran a 3k in 13 minutes and 4 seconds.

The little kids did this zip line right in Cascais bay, which was "fun but too slow." I kept expecting Freddy to give up on waiting in line, or not want to climb the very high scaffolding, but he stuck with it, and followed through.

 Here's Freddy

Six Years Ago Today- and a Pipocas Update

Out of the blue yesterday, Moojie  (7 yrs old) said to me "I'm not decided yet whether I want to be a footballer, a veterinarian, or someone who works with computers, because I know that if you are an adult who knows a lot about computers, you make a lot of money."*

I thought about his comments and realized that we all have a mental map of the job we would love to do, the job we would be interested in doing, and the job we would do primarily because of money.

On an unrealted topic- Moojie and I are finishing up 20,000 leagues under the sea- our 15th classic this year!

*Moojie has no interest in football, doesn't want to be a vet, and he was right about the computers part.
I love to speculate on what the children will do when they're older and it's fun to look back at what they say and how their answers change ovewr time.  He went through a phase around age 3 or 4 when he wanted to be a cotton candy seller. Zita changes her mind all the time, and I just turned to Freddy  and asked what he wants to be when he's bigger. He answered "paleontologist."

Update on Pipocas: For the first time since the accident, she met us at the gate tonight when she heard the car coming down the street. We were just saying that the saddest part of the accident is not seeing her little nose poking out from under the gate when we arrive.

January 2006

Here's what I wrote in January 2006 with three months to go before Freddy was born. By this point we already knew he was a boy. I used to love reading all about fetal development and what was going on at different stages. I still do get fascinated by it all, but babies on the outside are still much more interesting.

Some updates on the baby at 27 weeks.
Measuring your baby from top to toe with his legs extended, he may now reach 15 inches/ 38 centimetres; from crown to rump he is about 10 inches/25.5 centimetres. He weighs a little more than 2 pounds/ 900 grams. Your baby's eyes begin to open around now. Response to sound grows more consistent toward the end of the seventh month, when the network of nerves to the ear is complete. He also continues to take small breaths and although he's only breathing in water and not air, it's still good practice for when he's born.

We had delicious take-out sushi last night as a treat after Moojie had his jaw and head x-ray for possible braces.
Tinna's package finally did arrive. Zita immedeately put on the silk skirt*, head band, and butterfly sandals. Pai dug into the Rolos and I donned the boppy, Baby Bjorn and snuggled in the blanket. Now I'm really getting excited for the baby to arrive. Now that we have baby things around the house, it actually feels real. That and this massive bump in my lap. No name progress in case anyone is wondering. Don't expect anything pre-delivery date.

I forgot all about that silk skirt. It was a light blue silk skirt that she wore every chance she got. It got so stained and overwashed after a while that I think I had to make it get "lost." Moojie never did get braces, only a retainer, and what on earth was I doing sharing my Rolos with Pai? I must be a pretty nice wife:)