28 Weeks

24 pounds and 28 weeks in, I feel at my maximum capacity. The heat of the Alentejo isn't helping either. Freddy has even pointed out that his baby brother "is out of space."

We haven't made any name progress other than to rule out suggestions made by other people, but Zita has been organizing clothes and nesting right along with me.

Stanford Campus Tour

During our first week in California, the little kids went up to the city for a night leaving just me and Moojie with the day to ourselves. I seized the opportunity to get in a serious Stanford campus tour before tour groups descended upon it. It's normally a little more bustling that what you see here.

Moojie has been to Stanford many many times, and in fact the last time we were there he spent the day in a stem cell lab to see science in action.

 This visit was different. however, because Moojie starts high school in a few weeks and college is actually something to start thinking about. Plus, the campus is " a real city" as my niece Anna calls it, and is so big that it would takes weeks to walk the whole thing. We started at the quad and Moojie was instantly in love with the place, and picked up on all of the familiarities of home- palms, red tile roof tops, the exact same trees we have in our garden at home, and of course, the ever captivating arches. Perfect weather didn't hurt.
 






We walked over to the Rodin sculpture garden where we were disappointed to learn that the early morning get up and go culture of the Bay Area does not apply to the Stanford Art Museum. An 11am opening time is worse than Portugal!  The garden itself could occupy a whole day so all was not lost.

It's hard not to love this place. In fact, when the tour was over, marked by my inability to walk any further, Moojie remarked that he didn't know how anyone would want to go any place other than Stanford.  Mission accomplished.

Stay tuned for part two. I returned with Pai and 5 of the cousins for a visit to the top of  Hoover Tower. 

Signs That Siblings Are Spending Too Much Together

This is Freddy's bedroom door.

A Beach Day in Comporta

About an hour and a half south is a little gem of a beach town called Comporta. It's the next beach town down from Troia that we visited back in November.  I wrote about it here and here.

We live so close to the beach, but this area is worth the drive because the water is warmer, the sand is white and Carribean-like, and sometimes it's just good to get out and do different things.


This beach goes on for miles and miles so even though it's high season and more crowded than usual, there's still plenty of space to run around and even hold your own Olympic long jump competition.

Moojie won.

 Freddy launched himself too soon

 

Zita gave it a good effort, but couldn't compete with Moojie's long legs. 

The kids ocassionally re-fueled, but mostly they spent the day in the water.

 

The little kids loved getting thrown into a wave just as it broke. Moojie is holding Freddy off to the left here, waiting for the right wave to come along.

Our brother-in-law/uncle/brother rented a nearby beach house where we relaxed by the pool and watched some Olympics from late afternoon until dinner.

At night we ate at the Museu de Arroz, which is in the Comporta estuary. The area is completely unspoiled and beautiful.  

 On the doorstep of the restaurant

Over 12 hours after we left the house in the morning, we made the drive home as one tired, but happy bunch.

Alpine Lake California in Photos

 Another day in the mountains, another lake. I wrote a little about our trip to Alpine Lake here, but I didn't have all the photos to go with it.

These ducks had fluffy little ducklings paddling behind them, but I only got a picture of the mummy ducks. 

21 week bump

 

Note the dog being towed behind this man. I think this was my favorite scene of the week.

When It's Hot

We slip ´n slide

Here's how: 

Get a running start 

 Slide away

 Smile for the camera

 and then stop for a drink

Zita Baking