First day of Hanukkah

He walks in the house with a "delivery" right before he needs to leave.... and says: "Happy Hanukkah"

And so I get an onion pizza with a garlic and Parmesan cheese and a 24 oz. Peppermint late. 

Ok I guess - its not the gift that it matters but the thought of it, right? BUT...

What does that say about me? 

a- I'm a crap food lover with a weird taste

b- Just go ahead and call it  **f a t**

c- My husband has no clue

d- All of the above =)

The cutest jack-o-lantern in the block!

Labor day wkend @ Great Wolf Lodge!

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PICTURES!!!

Now THIS is the REAL meaning of EASTER!

In Brasil we have big chocolate eggs on Easter - that is pretty much it, no candy or stuffed animals or any other toys - just CHOCOLATE EGGS! And that is one of the few things we miss like crazy on Easter.( I miss this one awesome cake too called Colomba Pascal)

The chocolate eggs come in all sizes and of course we always look for the biig ones, as tall as 40 inches! They have all different themes and come stuffed with truffles, bonbons or even toy sometimes...

Every year we get a taste of it because we either were in Brasil until carnaval or mom sends it to us but this year we were thinking it wasn't gonna happen until today! =) Tia Vera sent some with Tati for both kids! =) Can I say they had a blast?

April Fusca Day! =)

Ben keeps "getting" Noah on april fools day so finally Noah says back at him:

"We are not going to a park we are going to the dentist and you are gonna have surgery! - Hahahahah April FUSCA day"


Now let me say - what a harsh joke for a 3 year old to come up with!! And the "Fusca" was just hilarious!
FYI - Fusca is how they called the old WV Beatle in Brasil! Is that kid funny or what?

My 1st father's day without my daddy

We got Dan a Guitar for father's day... he being wanting one for a while and we being talking about it too but he really wan't thinking I would do it without him with me (Thanks Mike for your help!) So he was SO happy! Also last Friday he went to see PHISH in IN, also gave his soul a smile! =)))

Happy father's day Dan! You are a great dad and awesome husband - all the way!

We had so much fun playing Wii on father's day - It's being a hard day - lots of cry! But overall I must thank God for my very good and dear friends!

They were all very concerned. many called, invited me to do things.

It was a good day, but I didn't think or feel any more about da then I would on a regular day.

I danced for quite a few hours - and that is something dad did all the time...

He would enter the room dancing - get home from work, leave his car and dance...

So dad... I danced for you!

Happy 2009!!!!

We had a nice party, it could only be better if Dan could be with us! Here in Brasil New Years is always a big party, everyone has fireworks - it's beautiful! We got just a few part of our family together (about 28 of us), less then usual but still we had a great time! I saw cousins that I haven't seing in 6 or 7 years! It was only my mom's side of the family, but still not all her siblings were there. The menu was awesome, we had so much food and deserts. We all had a blast!

* My mom cooked one of my favorite dishes: Past with pumpkin puree and almods! Yummm!


* Trying to get everyone in the picture!



* My dad & I - I love this man!

X-mas 2008

We had an excellent x-mas! Our family joined in Guga’s family on x-mas eve. During the day I talked to the boys about what x-mas means, we had a nice time at dinner…

Guga and Kadu put together this fun video (that included us too) to play for their family, they had a “funny videos” from both their and our family afterwards, where there was Tia Sandra falling down on the mud, me falling on the snow he boys getting into to trouble! I'm gonna try to post at least the familyvideo as soon as I figure it out how...

Tio talked about stating 2009 with a “Clean cut” look and had a great beautiful speech about cleaning out the clutter in our homes as well about the clutter in our souls.
It was all so cute and well organized; the food was insanely good, of course! This day was the hardest since Dan has being gone. We missed himbad! We called to wish him a Merry X-mas and talked with the WebCam. On the 25th we went to my Tia Sueli's house for a BBQ....

....and of course Noah is up and I can’t finish this post… =oP

* Benji loved the "queso blanco"

Before we left home...

I was downloading the pictures from the wedding and found a few pictures from before we left home. So, a little catch up:

Here is a couple pics of our x-mas card we made to Benji's classmates! I did the first one for the teachers, Noah's MRDD teachers and any other person we don't have a mailing address for. The one in the bottom Benji helped me - he did such a good job, I was impressed! He stamped over 10 of those x-mas trees (this was the nicest looking one) and helped me color them. We had a great time together while Noah was napping.

If you didn't get one of those - please don't feel like we ignored you. I actually got picture x-mas cards ordered before I left for Brasil but for some reason we won't get them until December 21st. Dan has the address and I hope he has time to send them out - if not, by the end of February you should be getting one! =D

Our "cooking group" get together a few times of year and try out brand new recipes, last year, our "teacher" Cindy gave us a cookie press, so this year of course we just had to have a cookie day! Cindy decided she wanted us to bring the kids too, so it worked out perfect to have our "secret santa" between the kids. Even thou Tati is not really into the cooking class she came that day, the kids had fun decorating cookie and I LOVED seing how the cookie press works! It's awesome how many shapes we can do, so perfect and so quickly! I'm totally doing it again when I get back home!

* Noah & Thomas exchanging gifts & hanging out together.

* Benji & Isaac (Benji can't get his eyes out of the cookies) - they had a blast decorating and eating the cookies!

Our October 31st.

We did not trick or treating out and about this year. Despite the fact I’m NOT a big fan of this day, for obvious reasons, I don’t feel comfortable with my kids eating candy from people I don’t know. AT our old neighborhood we knew everyone – literally. Here we barely know the people in our street!
There are some older couples in our street that don’t even try to hide how much they don’t like my kids running around and riding their bikes in the street… =oP

Anyways – last Sunday we did go to T’s church for trunk or treat! And that was so much fun! Benjamin doesn’t like to wear any costume – so we had a Home Depot apron, got some tools and he was a “Home Depot” sales man! He called himself a “Handyman”

Noah had a pirate costume but he also refused to wear the hat, and all the other stuff.

There was this one guy this the coolest stand, he was a “Tailgater” – he had this van full of balloons black and orange and the kids had to go thru it and get a number – he was giving special prizes – there was a pretty cool toy and all.
He was “grilling” these candies shaped as ice-cream, hot dog and hamburger…
But the best was his sign that said: “In case of a tornado – everyone head to Paul Brown Stadium, because we know that nothing touches-down there!” LOL

The kids had an awesome time – Benji didn’t want it to end! Running around with friends and eating candy – what could be better?

So on Friday – the 31st we went to Grandma F’s house for a bonfire with family and friends. Again – imagine – the kids loved it!
We got Jiffy pop popcorn for the fire - marshmallows and hot dogs. The kids played non stopping, we all had again a great time! =)

* Benji getting candy! - And with Grace - the coolest costume! =D
Noah the pirate! Benji & Isaac - best buddies! =)
And even I got tagged as "Wednesday 45 yrs later" The girl from the Adams Family
Little sad - because I'm only 27 - How I laugh or cry??? LOL

A little more from this summer....

Things are happening and I'm not posting because I'm trying to "catch up" from the summer - and I'm getting the feeling this will never happen! lol So I'm gonna just go ahead and get a few more of the bigger events from this past summer and just go back to blogging =)

Here is a slide show with pics from our Labor day picnic with the Lucas family - and a brazilian style BBQ! =)

Here a slideshow of our train ride @ LMM with Grandpa Elan and friends Carter, Collin & Carson! =) It was also very enjoyable for me too! C & I had a good time to talk and relax!

Martha Stewart be careful!!!!

I made it! I being in the kitchen since forever but my “I LOVE USA” CHEESECAKE turned out ok (and seems to taste fine too)

We’ll find out – and I’ll let you know in a few hours after we take it to a 4th of July BBQ we are going this afternoon!!!

Hope you all have a Happy 4th!!! =)

Benji took this pic (I was so afraid he was gonna drop my camera! lol)
And to prove to you I really did it I even took some pics during the process! (Cause I know you won’t believe me Ds!) =oP

So much to sew, so little time…

This turn out to me will turn out to be a very lame post… 

This past week flew by and I had NO extra time. I haven’t sew this much in years – but I’m really into these days. Fixing things is what I being doing but I looking into getting my sewing machine set up downstairs so I can just do bigger projects!

I found this today – it so fits perfect for me right now: 

 

 

I’m also all about labeling! LOL

I got a label machine and BAAAM! Get too close and you’ll get a label! =) I love to organize and this label machine… man! It’s just part of me (as if that made any sense anyways…)

Last week Marie took us out to lunch the Tin Duck – I was really pleased with my veggie burger – it wasn’t a veggie burger but a portabella mushroom burger – lots of roasted vegetables served with fries and coleslaw. Thanks Marie! =)

I can’t wait to have her for lunch this week; I got to find something I can cook that will turn out ok! She is so good at these things and that intimidates me heheh.

Easter:
Was REALLY nice. We had a good time at Francis house for lunch, she cooked some very yummie food and it was cozy and relaxed. Then we had dinner at Cindy’s – and the kids had an egg hunt – they build a bear to take home and had all kinds of fun….   The only bad thing is that I eat like an elephant. Now I feel sick!

News that I may have mentioned before – I can’t remember but a few weeks back we went to visit with Roma – she had back surgery but seems to be doing well.
Also Priscilla is pregnant!!! =) How exciting! =) Congratis Prica!!! =)

Si Regis gave a nice big bag with hand me downs that will fit both boys, shoes… we are all set until fall, and if that wasn’t a blessing – Angela got me a couple brand new pants an a bunch of hand-me-downs from her as well!!! She looses weight and I win a closet! =) yeahhh!  She has some REALLY cute clothes – I’m loving it!

God bless you girls!

About the boys…
Benji:

* It’s more into DIESEL then Thomas these days

* Absolutely LOVES fruits, all kinds, any time! His favs are strawberries, clementines, bananas & mangoes. Also is in love with PASTA!

* It’s 100% potty! Uuuuuhhhu! =)

* Made the transition into a Buster seat and it’s just trilled! =) “Mommy, I have a buster seat just like Isaac’s!!!” The first day he got it inside of the house and just sat there… all day long! =oP

* Asks for ‘pao de queijo” daily!!!  (I finally made to Jungle Jims this weekend to get a bunch of mix!
* Using Portuguese often - at least once a day!
 

Noah:
* is not using sign language as much… and also not talking. I’m not sure when to start worrying…
* Will loudly say “Piiiiie Arrg!” and move his arms like pirates every time he sees one

* It’s an extreme good eater – both ways, good on handling silver and good eating variety. After eating anything he’ll rub his own belly and say “yummy”
* Sleeping awesome 12 hours nights!!!
Oh! Totally OT; Did you notice we have music now? And it changes every time you log in or refresh! =)
Some of my favorites…. LOL

Festival of Lights

I went there with the boys and we met the “Fair - Ponds” there and I forgot my cameraaaaa =(
(Amy, if you have any pics, can you send them to me??? Txs!!!)

Anyways, We got this one to register the day:

It was sooo cold but we manage ok, the boys loved and they were great! We didn’t get to see a lot of animals but we saw an ice sculpture and rided the train - as usual! lo

Chirstmas was…

Fun!

X-mas eve was good. I feel like not everyone that was over here had a good time, but I won’t stress out about it! I did! So did Dan & the boys!

It was us, F+S - The Worleys, K+M , The Pascuals, J+B and Kip, Dani + Kids came later…

It was SO awesome to see Beth! We had too much to catch up… 3 am was early for us!

X-mas day we had a brunch at F’s house very low key.

The kids got waaaay more gifts then we expected – they LOVED it!

70% of the gifts they got on x-mas eve were from K+M so K helped Benjamin open his packages – Every gift he opened he said:

-         This is my favorite! I loved it! It’s all I wanted!

Cute, hu? He said that for EVERY gift! lol

 
 
They REALLY enjoyed their present! I’m SO glad we got noah that Diego Riding thingy… he loves it!