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...

Feliz Natal

Last week the kindergartners had their holiday concert.  I bawled like a baby (don't judge - it was their first school concert!), and I must say, listening to Christmas carols being sung by your child in both English and Portuguese was A-MAZING!!!  To say that I loved it would be a gross understatement.. but then again I am a bit biased! ;)

Miss B's performance (she's on the left hand side, 2nd row from the bottom and 3 to the right):

Mr H's class (he's on the left hand side, middle row and surrounded by girls!):

 The grand finale with all the kids:

After the concert, we were able to spend time in the classrooms with the kids.  It was one of those perfect days! :)

My sister was in town from the States (our 1st visitor!!!) and came with us as well.

The kids made calendars for us with pictures of them at school throughout - such a fun idea!

And for the sake of all the Grandma's who have been patiently awaiting, I even captured a few short clips from the day (only 3 of the 5 uploaded correctly.. sorry!)! :)  FELIZ NATAL!!!

My dryer ate it...

When our things finally arrived, none brought with them as much immense joy as did my front loading washer and dryer!  Okay, really just the dryer.. we had the wonderful, oh let's just call it "cultural" experience of using a Brazilian dryer these past few months.  The entire unit could probably fit inside the barrel of mine!  It took TWO 170 minute cycles to dry ONE LOAD.  I'm pretty sure it is the equivalent of holding a hair dryer up to your wet laundry.. though that might even be faster..  Needless to say, this sad excuse for an appliance will not be missed!  What was that?  I believe it was that sweet musical tune that plays when yet another load has been thoroughly dried in less than 45 minutes.. Mmm hmm! :)

Poor little sucker never did have a fighting chance...