Game ON!!!

Football.  Not to be confused with "Futebol" (which you may know as "soccer").  No, I'm talking good old fashioned American Football here.. not something even remotely valued here in Brasil, but with such an amazing turnout of soccer players, there isn't much need to care.  That being said, the NFL (despite Brazil's lack of interest), still goes on, and there seemed to be a rather large grouping of American or American-affiliated men who didn't want to be left out of all the traditional pre-game fun.

Thankfully for them there was a gathering of about 10 or so full fledged teams geared up and ready for some flag football.. once you pass the threshold of 30yrs of age, your bones don't take too well to be slammed on the ground!  Princess P wanted to make sure the opposing team was plenty buttered up so they would be kind to her daddy.. don't mistake her for a traitor.  Although it may look like our 22month old was shamelessly flirting, I assure you she had nothing but strictly strategic intentions in mind.  Such a clever little princess!

Sadly after losing game 1, the pressure was on for game 2.. loose two and you're out of the tournament! :(

My man looked pretty fly out there reliving his glory days!   ..and he got to be lucky number 7.  :)

...but after all was said and done, the other team had a professional player as their QB which I swear shouldn't be legal, but definitely made it fun to watch! :)

That is NOT panic on their faces, but rather an ever so slight concern for their fellow man.. we managed to leave with only one injury (a dislocated finger) on the entire team - not too shabby!

This wasn't your average pull ribbons off each others' pants charade - they had some legit trophies up for grabs too!

Even though we didn't secure a trophy, it was a FUN (ok, and maybe a smidgen HOT!) family day!

You rocked it boys!  Next year, that trophy is as good as yours!!! ;)

Rebel

People have birthdays in Brazil.  A crazy phenomenon I know!  But I never realized just how different we celebrate!  Miss B just turned 6.  SIX!!!  I'll save you the sob story on how time flies and I'm really not okay with it..

Our typical traditions stayed the same of course.. breakfast in bed? Check.

A lunch out with mom? Check.  And YES!  We even have a McDonald's here (naturally her food of choice) - and dare I say that I like it more here?!  I don't know why, but everything seems fresher, less processed.. maybe I'm over analyzing this one..  Either way she was happy and it was a GREAT afternoon! :)

Birthday party?  Check.  But this one is where the differences come into play!  At your traditional Brazilian birthday party, the average family spends THOUSANDS.  Yes, THOUSANDS!!!  It's like a mini wedding reception, but for kids!

Option #1: Rent people to come and play with the kids so the parents can hang out and not have to worry about a thing.  You also need to rent a performer (magicians or clowns, or better yet, a magician dressed as a clown - yes they have them!).  Purchase enough food for the kids, their parents, siblings, and possibly neighbors and cousins too because EVERYONE comes and stays the entire time!

Option #2: Rent out a facility.  There are mini indoor play parks with roller coasters and arcade games that are only for parties.  It comes all inclusive with about a dozen or so people, to again, play with the kids so the parents can relax and hang out together.  Again, purchase enough food to feed approximately 100+ people, and a VERY big cake!

Option #3: REBEL. This was the option we chose as I do not have a birthday trust fund in place just yet...  I went the creative "American housewife" route and chose a theme (it was a mix between "rainbow" and "baking") and went to town!  The kids (18 + my 4 for a total of 22) were dropped off and received one of three different hand stamps to put them in a group.  After everyone arrived and settled their nerves (for 99% of them this was their 1st ever "drop off" party!  The kids were nervous, as were many of the parents.. it's a strange concept here to not have extra help to run the party for you.), we split them into three groups.  I took one group to decorate aprons that they would get to take home, Hottie Hubster took another group to make their own pizzas, while the last group had "free play" in our ridiculously well stocked play room with Amazing V.  After everyone was finished, we rotated groups!  It went off without a hitch!  Then we got them all together to eat their pizzas, and decorate their own cupcakes.  It was a perfect evening!  The other catch?  Quite a few of the kids didn't speak a lick of English, so I had to give directions in both English and Portuguese, and you know what?!  It totally worked!  I have officially just held my very first bilingual birthday party - now THAT is something to celebrate!!! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS B!!!

Feira

I used to dream about going to some quaint little street fair market in a foreign country, making friends with the locals and scoring beautifully fresh food to indulge in later that afternoon.. I no longer dream about that anymore - I LIVE it! :)

Truly, one of my most favorite things about São Paulo is the "feiras" aka street fairs.  There are street fairs for arts and crafts, plants, clothes, and my favorite: FRESH FOOD!!!  While most everything else is insanely priced, fresh food is by far your best bang for your buck - they certainly know how to grow 'em good out here!

I can now say that I have the best butcher crew EVER.. These guys provide dinner and a show - always making sure you'll leave with a smile, or better yet a side ache from all the laughing! :)



Did I ever mention my little sister was in town??  Our FIRST visitor from the states! :)  She was here for the first half of December and we had a BLAST together!  Of course she had to have the pleasure of attending a few of these as well.. :)

You don't get much fresher than this!  Can I hear a HU-RAH for coconut??  LOVE it.

My sweet salsa lady and her lime hubby.  She has a salsa bundle ready for me each week with cilantro instead of parsley - just how I like it! :)

Mangos, papayas, atemoias & maracuja (not sure what those are in English..), you name it!

My sister and I had to get our photo taken with "Strawberry Man.  He is not something I can explain properly to give him sufficient credit.. you'll just have to come on down and experience him for yourself!  Good times.. good times. ;)

This kind and slightly eager gentleman literally fell over himself trying to get a picture with my sister.  Fun for me.. awwwwkward for her! lol

And the main accomplice to this grand work - the Lovely E - one of my most amazingest freinds' EVER! :)

The cutie patootie boys who watch over every one's cars. :)

The spoils from my trip with Lovely E yesterday:

Upon seeing a photo/food opp, two of Princess P's FAVORITE things, she shimmied a chair on over and climbed on the counter for her double debut! :)

..then she went at all the goods!..

Doesn't the variety of colors just make your heart go pitter patter?!

LOVE this.

I know what your thinking - I was once a sceptic too -  "Is fresher REALLY that much better?"  Umm, do Brazilians have the best hair ever?!  ..that would be a YES!  Check it out! - On the left would be a store bought broccoli for more than double the cost of my freshly picked feira broccoli on the right.  And that folks, pretty much speaks for itself!

Lights Camera ACTION

As I was uploading new games on Miss B's Leap Pad this evening (yes, I realize it's 1:40am here), I came across her home video collection.. her sudden sleep deprivation makes so much sense now! lol

Apparently this girl is quite excited for her birthday next week.. I had better make it extra special! :)

..and of course we can't leave out the important things in life!  This girl cracks me up! :)

Better late than never...

I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Christmas and New Years!  Due to the rate of international postage stamps (ok, and the fact that I don't know where a post office is!), we are doing this electronically! :)  Better late than never right??  How's this for procrastinating?!

 MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! :)

SCORE!!!

You know those Christmas mornings when after all is said and done the kiddos are more intrigued by the boxes the toys came in than the toys themselves??  Well, this was NOT one of those Christmas mornings!!!  I am proud to say that we hit the nail EXACTLY on the head this year with Leap Pads (a child's version of an ipad) for Bailey, Hunter & Landon, while Peyton got a active play climber.  I DESPISE mindless video games - sorry Angry Birds! - and feel like a better mom when my kids are at least learning something while I let them play for who knows how long! :)  Turns out these Leap Pads are also great bribing tools.. Children are suddenly going to sleep without countless attempts to sneak out! Wonderful.



Now with all the brain workouts they've been getting on their new "Pads", I had to include something for their bodies too right?? Enter "Just Dance Kids". L-O-V-E. Truly. There are no words for how stinking cute they are to watch while attempting to bust their new moves!!! Landon (quite characteristically) stands there and stares at everyone else like we're all insane, but aside from that, we've all been getting in on the fun! :) 

I hope everyone had as great of a day as we did!  Minus the fact that our Vonage phone didn't work (see http://minutesformama.blogspot.com/2011/12/counseling.html), it was a PERFECT day!!!  MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! :)

Counseling

Dear Vonage Phone,

I hate you.  It probably isn't your fault - I'm sure in the good ole US of A you would perform without the slightest of problems.  Maybe you are out of your comfort zone here, I don't know, but after not being able to speak to ANY family and friends on Christmas my understanding abilities are wavering.  Three hours with a technician today still didn't do the trick.  I am now seriously contemplating "dropping" you off our 14th floor balcony.  You've been warned.

Sincerely,
Mama E

PS. Grandmas & Grandpas, brothers & sisters, friends - we are alive and well I assure you.  Wish we could have told you that in person on our trusty Vonage phone, but alas we are having relationship troubles.  I am looking into counseling options to begin effective immediately.  Yeah...