Oh The Mischief!

Final Stretch

With school starting in a few days, we're squeezing in all the beach time we can. Last Friday, we set out for the park and mid-drive unanimously decided to divert to the beach. 

I have at least 4 beach bags in the back of my car so I can always pull together just enough for a few hours. 

The kids are not wild about taking pictures, but they don't mind doing a few jumping shots. 

Shortly after this was taken, a bigger wave came and soaked me up to my waist. 

We got the last of the school supplies yesterday, and we still need to swing by the school today to pick up their books for the year. 

I'm going old-school this year with a small hardback calendar/agenda. I needed somewhere to jot down all of Sebby's hilarious sayings, and there's just something nice about real paper and pen. 

Happy week! 

Great Toy Discovery

I must record our newfound love of Magformers. My mom got us a set for the plane ride home and the boys play with them every day. I don't even mind getting down on the floor and joining in. 

Just like with Legos, Playmobil and everything else, Freddy now feels like we need more pieces to make the really cool stuff. 

Christmas list has begun: 

1. Magformers 

2. harmonica (LHM) 

Birthday in Photos

Here is the dining room set up for morning presents. Pai and Freddy went out and got hot croissants and fresh juice while the big kids got moving.

Seb was bouncing around with excitement that it was another birthday, because where there's a birthday, there's cake of course. 

 This is the only shot I got of opening presents- the annual Dairy Milk picture.

Zita bought a Vans t-shirt that he loved, and Freddy ordered a credit card pocket knife from Amazon that he picked out himself.

 This is jumping ahead in the day, but there was a big group of friends over for a BBQ lunch until they hit the beach around 5 (no pictures). Just the 6 of us went out for dinner at night, before he rejoined his friends for a night out until 4am. I'm tired just thinking about it. 

 My sister got to join us for cake and singing via Face Time.

 We had one happy Sebby.

 and a pretty happy Moojie too!

I've had a harder time with this milestone than any other so far. It feels like we have only one mile to go in the parenting marathon, only I don't want the race to end! I love having Moojie home and with us for day-to-day life.

 

 

Birthday Eve

It's the eve of Moojie's 16th birthday so we just finished making his annually requested chocolate satin frosting from The Joy of Cooking. This recipe makes three cups, which is enough to fill and frost a double layer cake. 

 The menu is so simple and easy. 

 25 burgers and buns,

 5 pounds of poultry for the grill 

lots of watermelon

 grapes

 salad

 ice cream 

chips 

 I love how low maintenance teenage boy parties are. A party that doesn't make me stalk Pinterest is my kind of party. 

You Know It Won't Be Good When....

Your toddler appears, pen in hand, saying "just on the paper. Just paper." 

I got him paper and thought "how civilized this child is, insisting on paper when most children indiscriminately write all over the walls." 

Only later did I notice this cupboard. Hmmm. Not so civilized after all.   

Good thing I picked up a can of chalkboard paint yesterday.

June Photo Dump

 

Just before we left for California, Zita went down to the Algarve with her orchestra. They camp in Armação de Pêra in a place complete with pool, restaurant, proper showers, and electricity. It's not exactly wilderness camping, which is probably why she loves this trip! They have three performances over the weekend and it kills me not to get to see them. 

Seb was still asleep when I left to drop off Zita at the bus, but I came home to these two sweet boys waiting for me outside the front door.

Here's Zita on her last day of 5th grade,

 and Moojie on his last day of 10th grade

 and finally two weeks later, Freddy finished up 2nd grade

 Here he is opening the end-of-year school show

 Normally shy Freddy is so at ease on stage that it never ceases to amaze us. He also has some stellar dance moves.

 Pai always zooms from the office, just catching Freddy up on stage, has a quick bite and chat with Freddy, and then zooms right back.

I think that about wraps up June. Time to get ready for a new school year.