Magical Day

Teresa couldn't decide if she wanted princesses or fairies for her party. Why not have both?

Parabéns Teresa!

Skivvies!

The weekend was scorching...egg frying on the sidewalk...hot, hot, hot! Our homemade ice cream sandwiches melted before we could package them pretty. We went to a birthday party and all the kids played in their undies. Inspired, we did the same at home. Nothing helped.

And we sweated through the weekend....sticky and sweet.

Arco Iris

Leona (1) and Eva (3): sisters sharing the best kind of kid's party...cheerful and colorful rainbow theme was the sweets request.
We even got to join in on the fun...thank you Ilana for the invite!

Under the Sea...

We may be back from the beach but I could almost hear the waves crashing the shore while creating these little sea creature cupcakes for today's party!
Happy Birthday!

Far from the Shore

Our first weekend back in the city after our beach hiatus.

A few highlights:

1. Trying to keep with the nature theme, Georgia and I headed to the local park for a picnic lunch. I realized that I definitely have a Brazilian girl when she didn't like the peanut butter and jelly sandwich I packed and, upon arriving home, asked if we were having rice and beans for lunch.

2. How to stop your parents from an insignificant bickering session? Color your face with magic marker and smile at them with blue teeth....

3. Felipe and I stepped out for our first date night since before Sebastian was born: dinner out with couples who understand leaky boobs and rushed checks. We raced home to an infant with closed eyes...the very first five hour straight marathon of deep, deep sleep!

4. It seems that everyone misbehaved just a bit this weekend (see #2). Georgia had to be carried out arms and legs wailing from the movies on Saturday while our faces burned red and everyone stared. Her fellow moviegoers (under the age of five) did not appreciate her kicking the back of their seat and shouting while they tried to enjoy the show.

The joys of parenting....wouldn't trade it for the world. Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Congrats to Saskia for the opening of her new pet shop....loved doing the cookies!

Princesses

The year starts off with a round of Princess (and frog) parties!

Parabéns Princesas Teresa e Malu!

Balance

We arrived back in the city late Sunday evening--barely hitting the pillow and up again to the sounds of city life outside my window. Hours return to passing like minutes as my life assumes its frenetic pace. I stretched multi-tasking to the limit today. Did I really breastfeed Sebastian while frosting a cookie and pretending to watch Shrek with Georgia?

The challenge for 2011 remains: how to do everything without forgetting the sound of rain landing on a leaf....

Art Therapy

My sweet Georgia picked up a nasty virus here at the beach. We've spent the last days without a grain of sand pinched between our toes: locked inside with the doors open and the sounds of the waves cunningly crashing the shore in forbidden invitation.

In the need of an afternoon project, I picked up some large tee shirts and fabric paint at the local bazaar. And away we painted, cutting the tees into little dresses--beach cover-ups. Slapping paint messily on the backs of shells and star fish and pressing them into the cotton.

And the day passed (without fever). And when the sun had rendered our designs crispy-dry, we rewarded ourselves with a quick jaunt to the shoreline.

Tomorrow it is full-on beach gear....my girl has recovered!

Concha

Yesterday Georgia strung seashells on colored strands for everyone in the house.
"What's your favorite color?"

SPF

We decided to turn around and head back to the beach. Georgia is on school vacation and Brazil is in high summer holiday mode. Naturally, at two months, Sebastian goes with the flow.

Sharing

It has been almost a month in the new home. The boxes are pretty much all unpacked, with exception of the books which do not have shelves.

But there is still so much to do to make it ours. It is a five year project...a test in aesthetic patience (80's style bathrooms). For the moment, I am just thankful for the extra space for my growing family. There is plenty of room to run from the toy room to the kitchen for a snack. The sound of two year old bare feet "pitter pattering" across the floor is joyful.

And, even though there is room enough for separate bedrooms, I am enjoying the thought of my children sharing quarters. We've made a raindrop mobile and hung some clouds. And tonight Georgia, as I put her to bed, questioned, "This is Georgia and Baby Boy's room?" "Yes", I said.
"It's pretty, Mommy." She mused.

And before she closed her eyes in their new room she mentioned. "The toy room is mine. Sebastian is too little to play, okay Mommy."

Operti

Here's to starting out the year with plenty of love and good energy...a revisit to Biba and Zola's wedding.

This is how every wedding video should be...congratulations Operti...Belissima!