Photo Dump

May February be as sunny and Spring like as January. We are quite attached to mornings soaking up sun on the grass. Too much rain just won't do!

Good Days In The Sunshine, But Mostly In The Kitchen

Mooj came down with the flu, and now Freddy is the next victim. We had a few days break in between, but I'm ready to be at a point in life when I don't need to make note of someone's last dose of medication.

It has been sunny, warm, and Spring like with mornings spent outside. The usual afternoon hustle of getting kids where they need to be and the dinner time rush is every day, but somehow it's easier in good weather. 

Seb maybe sort of might have turned a corner, behavior wise, and seems to have settled down a bit. Routine, routine, routine. That's what he needs and that's what he is getting.

I got lost for two days in the Serial podcast after resisting strong suggestions from just about everyone. Now there is a void that is not being filled by other podcasts that I've tried since. Just like the defendant in the case, I really can not recall what we have done for the last ten days. Last weekend? No idea. Last week? No clue. 


My perception is that I spend 90% of the day in the kitchen making meals and snacks, and then cleaning up after meals and snacks. I'm sure it isn't true, but if someone asked me where I was on any given day and time, the most likely answer would be "the kitchen" with "the car" as a good back-up.


 Seb will eat anything blended and called "ice cream."  Yesterday's "ice cream" was banana, plain yogurt, rasberries, and strawberries frozen and then blended. Before I could even get his face clean, we were already cracking eggs for a blueberry upsidedown cake. The big kids arrived shortly thereafter four lunch a which point I grilled turkey for them. See what I mean about the kitchen?

 Caramel sauce for the upsidedown part:

 Almost finished product

 I regretted this later when I saw that Seb smeared bluberry sauce all over the guest bedroom pillows.

The kids arrive in 45 minutes for lunch so I have to get down to the kitchen :)

Blazer Hoarders Annonymous

I might need to start a local chapter. After going through my closet and pulling out any blazers I haven't worn for more than 5 years, I quickly came to 9.  It's safe to say I won't be behind an office desk any time soon, and if in the distant future I ever were, I would surely use that as a reason to do a little shopping. 

It feels so good to make space in the closet! 

Next step, puzzles and toys. 

Miss Zita Is Twelve

The biggest sign that Miss Zita is getting older is her more relaxed approach to her birthday. We had one cake, one dinner, one celebration. Hard to believe, I know, but it's true.

She wanted to re-do her room as her main present so we painted the walls, took out the rug, got new curtains (still to be hemmed), and a request has been put to our resident carpenter (Pai) to  built her dream window seat. I actually wanted a window seat for our family room so I'm jumping in and doubling the wood order :) She had also replaced her pink and green quilts with gray blue matalese covers over the Summer, so the whole theme ties in with those.

On to the actual day.

I set up her presents in the dining room instead of at the foot of our bed. What she really really really wanted was a one-piece pajama suit. Apparently they are all the rage.
Freddy got her two boxes of Nerds candy, and Mooj took her out to lunch.
She added a lot to her Vista Alegre china servisse- 9 dessert plates, 3 dinner plates, and a serving dish. She most definitely isn't going to need china on her wedding registry.

 She got her requested smoothie for breakfast.

 Kind of cold for smoothies.

 News flash: 12 years old is too old to wear this button to school, but not too old to humor dear old Mom for a picture with it.

 Her dinner request was tacos, which I made for the kids. I also served two types of enchilladas for the adults.

The cake was red velvet with every last crumb consumed, leaving not even a sliver for breakfast the next day. She had her Godparents, and two to other cousins for dinner, bringing the total to 17 people. I finished the clean up and resolved that is would be the last big dinner at our house without a second dishwasher.

Pai is bringing Zita and some friends to the Alentejo next month instead of a party (we are majorly onto something here) so that was the extent of Zita's on-the-day celebrations.

Next year we'll have two teenagers in the house. I'm going to hold onto this year and freeze time if nobody minds.

Time Flying

The first week back at school flew by. It was sooo good for Sebby to get his routine back and the biggies were all happy to reunite with friends. I always feel like Christmas is the peak of the mountain and from then on out, the focus turns to Summer and Spring travels. We're looking into Italy, Yellowstone Park, Jackson Hole, Utah, and California. 2015 is going to be an amazing year for us. 

Moojie got his cast off on the 9th and was never happier to just jump in the shower without the wash-cloth trash bag process  before hand. His arm looks small and gross, but it does invite a lot of questions. I don't think he minds :)
This picture doesn't really show the second scar, but you get the idea. 

He met a potential physical therapist this week so we have to get that organized. In just a week, his mobility has improved a lot, but he still can't straighten his arm or rotate it properly.

 

These cheeks after a nap are so smoochable and inviting I can't stand it. What a cuddler he is.

 

I painted the play kitchen with chalk board paint to combat Sebby's waning interest. Not only did it bring Sebby back to playing with it, but Freddy has fun drawing too.

 

 

  Our construction is finished! As soon as it stops raining and little sun shines through the clouds, I'll get out there and take some good pictures. The parts we didn't restore stand out now more than ever so phase two planning (and budgeting) needs to begin ASAP. 

 

A Few More Shots From The Alentejo

If Seb didn't already idolize Moojie, he sure does now. He became the go-to person for motorcycle sitting. 

 I always know when Seb is getting tired because he starts hollering for Moojie. He even does it when he's already in bed, but fighting sleep. 

A few nights ago Moojie appeared at the foot of the bed after Seb had been crying "Mooooojjjiiiiieee" for a good few minutes. As soon as Moojie got there, Seb stopped crying, looked at Moojie and then said "make a pizza! piiiizzzzaaa!" We never know what's going to come out of his mouth. 

The new riding school horse doesn't have the same handsome nose that the other horses have and therefore can't fit into any bridles. The kids had to settle for being led with just a halter. 

That's my Zita girl in the distance. 

A Boy And His ( Borrowed ) Dog