Scenes From A Nap

Backing Way, Way Up

I never finished getting the rest of the Alentejo pictures posted, or the start of school, or September, or, or......

Let's just ignore that the camera was in a funny mode and has kindly added a purple tint to the pictures. I assure you the grass isn't purple. 

Zita and Pai headed out on a walk, hand in hand. These platanos were planted over 20 years ago and have finally started to grow passed the just-planted phase.

 Again, no purple hair on the horse, just the camera. I begged the boys tro get together for a picture with their Stetson hats on. Didn't happen.

 There is a small bike, just right for Freddy. It took a while for him to get the hang of it, but he had a blast.

He underestimated the power of the engine and wound up riding against and onto the wall, flying off the bike, and crashing to the ground, all unscathed. 

We went around visiting some of the cows who were bottle fed by the kids and have now graduated to roaming the hills and grazing on grass. 

They don't look very big from far away, but they are huge when standing right next to them.

At least once a year, we take the kids for a swim in the river at base of the Marvão castle.

Crazy how the SF Bay bridge is a mess and this Roman bridge is as sturdy as ever.

Seb at the far side of the bridge. 

 Marvão castle

 I forgot Seb's floatie so Mooj and Zita came in very handy. Sebby has been a little obssessed with Mooj and his "amigos." Whenever Mooj has friends over, Seb runs out to the gate and says "my amigos are here! Olá amigos" They are pretty good sports and throw the rugby ball around with him, and also let Seb ruin their ping pong games. I'm worried he'll get a rude awakening in school when the other children won't be quite so forgiving.

 They tried to get him swimming by himself, but he was not convinced and mostly just sank. It didn't help that the water is ice cold.

We're trying to work scheduling magic and free up a weekend to get back to the Alentejo with Prosciutto. I can't wait to see how he'll react to the cows, horses, and other dogs there.

We're In Love With Prosciutto

Scenes From My Lap

Look Who The Stork Delivered

Alentejo

This is our last trip of the Summer before school starts. It has been almost a month since our last vacation, so naturally it was time :) 

There are hundreds of ripe wild peaches on the trees and scattered everywhere we walk. Zita gave the trees a good shake, and then we collected what lay all over the ground for jam. It's been too long since we made a good stock of jam. 

Seb has developed a teeny tiny healthy fear of the horses, but continues to be obsessed with them. There are two new foals who are still very timid around us. 

Zita has been here all week occupying herself with riding lessons every day at a local stable, sewing, cooking, and going without TV or a phone. We were dying to see her and so happy to finally hug her tight last night when we arrived. 

I only have grainy iPad photos so far...

Sebby is saying "lift me up! I want to ride it! Lift me up!" 

17th Birthday in Photos

Moojie's birthday formula is pretty simple. Every year I give him a few clothes, socks, a ball/toy/game of some sort, a Dairy Milk Bar, and then a big surprise present. 

Zita got fancy and added a Lindt bar to his chocolate gifts. Sebby gave hime his toy- a boomerang for the beach. 

 His big present was a mini fridge. He's been asking for one for two years, at least, and we have always said no. This birthday rolled around and I was completely out of ideas.

He was totally surprised and so so happy when he saw the box.

Mooj lounged the afternoon away on Guincho while we got ready for hosting his friends for dinner. 

8 rotisserie chickens, a lot of snacks, and a mountain of cupcakes fed the crew well before we sent them on their way around midnight.  

I didn't get a picture of his room that Zita decorated the night before. Freddy made him a sign and taped it to a white board on our stairs, so Moojie  would have birthday greetings when he came home in the wee hours of the 28th.
 We had just emptied the last of the dishwasher, and dried the last wine glass the next day when guests started trickling in for the family birthday lunch. Is anyone tired just from reading this? 

 I made his favorite chocolate truffle cake and chocolate satin frosting that got resounding approval from our immediate family, but mumbles from his great grandmother who commented "the ice cream was the only dessert worth eating." Always good to hear zingers like that after going to so much work. 

 Seb was not going for the idea of a photo shoot after seeing the ice cream come through the dining room door. We got him a plate and gathered around for the first of many pictures where I look like the resident shrimpo. 

Lunch wrapped up at 5pm or 6pm, we went straight to take the kids swimming, and then collapsed around 8 that night. Writing this all out has brought to my attention that every birthday re-cap ends with me collapsing in exhaustion. I hate leaving a messy kitchen before bed, but on that Saturday I simply could not. 

On being 17: It is sort of a silly year, wedged in between 16 and 18. Mooj has kind of seemed like a 17 year old for the past 4 years or so, but what is getting to me more is the fact that we are rolling into his SENIOR year in high school. Mooj continues to be a part of the rare group of teenagers who floats through life, happy as could be. He loves his life. We love him. What more could we ask for?