Worth A Thousand Words

Since I am way behind...here goes!  A picture marathon that is not for the faint of heart!

Teaching little brother to color!

Tia Juliana is a true sport: playing in Chloe's new tent that really was not made to accommodate adults!

Are you wondering the same thing I am?  Why in the world did we buy the child a bed?  Seriously.  One particular night she had a hard time relaxing and going to sleep, she fell asleep in the rocker in her room.  Whatever works, I say.

This is the only picture I have of a wonderful evening I was invited to by a new friend of mine.  She is Canadian and has been here in Brazil "forever" (like nine years!).  She is very active in our community and extremely active in promoting a return to normal (aka vaginal) births here in Brazil.  This evening was hosted by a large, federal university and it was fun to be on a university campus for the first time in a long time.  A documentary film that has recently starred here in Brazil about the situation of births in this country was the featured attraction and was then followed by a debate.  This was the panel: a midwife, a representative from the college, a government employee that works at the public hospital where Chloe was born and an activist for another group working towards that has been coined "Humanized Birth."  You may be asking, what is the big deal?  The big deal is that an estimated 95% of births in private hospitals in Brazil end in C-sections and it is not uncommon that women are forced into C-Sections against their direct wishes.  The violence against women in the area of birth and post-partum is disturbing and must stop.  I learned so much this evening and will continue to support their work and events when possible.

Our Six Month Boy Child

He's just about always this happy!

We have officially entered the everything-goes-in-the-mouth stage!

Aren't those chubby cheeks just too pinchable?? 

Milestone of last week was his first meal ever!  This was bananas and he was thrilled.  I could not feed him fast enough.  I managed to film his first meal and he threw a fit between bites because mommy was simply too slow.  After a half of banana I said stop and he cried with disappointment!

He has since added carrots, rice cereal, apple and mashed potatoes to his diet and has yet to spit anything out.  I told his daddy I may have to go to work just to pay for his food.  He LOVES to eat and when we are eating must sit at the table with us.  Yi, yi!

Playing kitchen with sissy.  Or watching her play kitchen rather, but in her mind he is near so it is okay!

The child truly does entertain him and it helps me so so much.

My BIL's birthday cake last week.  February, March and April bring on a birthday marathon for us every year with one birthday after another.  Who would have ever thought I would be the S family cake maker???  I love to bake the cake and fillings but decorating cakes?  That was always my aunt and cousins' gifting, certainly not mine.  Believe me, I am kicking myself that I never took advantage of having so many cake decoraters in my family when I lived in California.  Could have learned a lot from them.  Now I feel overwhelmed and a bit on my own.  I am researching free cake decorating class options because God only knows...I need help!  This is my first try at actually decorating a cake.  Usually I cover the cake nicely in frosting and put sprinkles or shaved chocolate over the entire thing!  Binho's cake was chocolate with sweetened condensed milk mixed with coconut for the filling.

Chloe loves birthdays and is always in the middle of whatever is going on!

I find this picture frightening and hilarious all wrapped up in one photo!

Yesterday was MIL's birthday: we celebrated with a delicious lunch and those who could show up for lunch.  My husband is now on his vacation so was fun to have him there.  A couple others stopped in for their lunch hour.  

Noah with his avo Rosa and bisavo, Ruth

Late afternoon I made coffee and set up for the second round of celebrating MIL!  

My second try at decorating: I have to document my first cakes because someday they will be beautiful and I need to remember my first tries!  I am now obsessed with finding classes to help me on this crazy journey I never imagined I would find myself on!  MIL asked for white cake with pineapple filling.  Never in my life have made such a cake so I called my dear friend, V, and desperately asked her help.  She told me over the phone how to make Brazilian pineapple filled white cake and I did exactly as she said.  It turned out.  Thank God!  Everyone seemed to enjoy it and so I consider it a success.

My husband, his mother and two of her friends who came to have afternoon coffee with us.

Even later in the evening, more people came by and we sang and cut the cake!  Again, Chloe as close to the cake as she can get...or mommy will allow rather!  I barely saved her from running her finger through the frosting before pictures were taken. 

What I love about this picture is FIL's work uniform catching my flash and becoming the focus of the picture!  I tease him mercilessly about his bright, orange work uniform!

Honestly, maybe this is why I don't show up in many pictures.  Ug.  But just to prove I was actually there, here is MIL, Chloe and I...with my eyes closed.  How typical (forgive the sarcasm!).  Oh and FIL's clothes shining in the background!!!

I long ago promised to blog a bit about birthdays here in Brazil.  I find them fascinating.  The parties, that is. Especially kid's parties.  Mostly what I can say is they are horrifically expensive...in my humble opinion, that is.  Because of the lack of space, if you want something for the kids to do, you either rent a few hours at a kids party place (usually starting at R$2000,00 for 50 people) or you rent toys to have at your party location.  We opted to rent the toys: a trampoline (Chloe's personal favorite!) and a small house full of balls. A much less expensive route to go but still an absurb amount of money.  This was the first big party we did for Chloe.  Usually we try to go simple: a Sunday lunch and fun cake table decorated in whatever she chose that year.

This year we invited 75 people and 55 showed up!  Uncharacteristically for us, we did a very Brazilian party. The typical food is "salgados," a non-sweet pastry type ball of either chicken or ground hamburger fried in yes, oil!  Also, typical is the small, individual french bread roll with "carne louca" or chicken, both shredded and seasoned deliciously and placed inside the fresh roll.  This is called "lanche."  The drinks are soda and juice.  We served all fresh, natural juices courtesy of FIL, the professional juice maker of the family.  The food was all good quality and delicious and much enjoyed, even though it is what is served at.every.single.baby.shower.bridal.shower.and.birthday.party!!

Chloe chose the theme of princess and I promise, more pictures of her party to come.  I did the not typical Brazilian thing and put my own decorations together.  Sometimes families hire a company to do the toys, decorations and cake or some such combination.  Again, very expensive.  Again, my opinion!  Another option is renting the 'theme kit' from a store and setting it up yourself.  Often looks very much like this.

Photo taken from Google images

I took a picture from the internet I liked of a princess party and began to showly put my ideas into practice.  My dear friend, Vanusa, helped me with the details that aren't.my.gifting.at.all.  With her help, it all came together nicely and I was pleased.  More importantly, Chloe was pleased.  We went a bit more simple and sweet and it looked like this:

I had an amazing amount of compliments, so I guess it wasn't too simple.  I always am a bit concerned about my simplicity here in Brazil!  I am way too practical and simple sometimes but it works for me.

As for the guests of Brazilian parties, you invite everyone.  Even people you don't know very well.  And if you leave someone out, they will be offended.  I see it as a no win situation: how can you include everyone, even people who aren't close friends or family.  I did the best I could and chose to not worry about the rest. As it has been explained to me, you invite everyone and expect only half of them will show up.  And parties are always come and go at your will.  Chloe's party was scheduled for 4pm.  At 5pm the first guests showed up and the final ones showed up at 9pm!  All very typical.  We cut the cake and sang at 8:30pm.

I am truly amazed by the high cost of about everything in this country.  I am even more shocked by the money people spend on their children's parties (and don't even get me started on education, clothes and toys!).  The more I learn about this country, the more it makes perfect sense that people have two children max.  Our extremely simple, nothing fancy party for our precious four year old cost a small fortune.  It was worth it but suffice to say, next year will be a simple lunch and cake!  And what is funny, she seemed to thoroughly enjoy her party but no more than last year, the most simple birthday yet with just close family and a very simple cake.  The important thing is she knows she is loved.  She doesn't need a small fortune spent on her to know that.  I am glad.  I think I will put that money next year into her college fund!!!

I could share more but I think that gives a good overview of parties in general here in our wonderful, crazy, fun country of Brazil.

Have a wonderful, blessed day,
                                JAMA