Glimpses of Everyday Life

Here we have our "girls" Cleo ( light one) and Lucy (black one). Everyday they come with me on my run, they live for it. we run through the orchards and end up at the small river, where they get to splash around, and drink up for the run back to the house. I of course can't just stand around, so while they splash I squat.

Here we have a peek at Lorenzo and Alessandro playing Mancala on the kitchen floor. Our kitchen, like yours, I am sure, is the central hub of the house, and many a game is played in it. Unfortunatly even futball (soccer)

Alessandro working hard at Matematicas, yes on the kitchen table.

Matt is learning to play the piano, Isabella is actually the one giving him his lessons, he is doing very well... Ottavio gets to be the benefactor of all the piano players in our house. One of his most fav things to do is to sit on their laps while they play. Bella, Lorenzo, Alessandro, and Matt have all held him whilst playing. He is quite content to sit and enjoy.

Another pause for Ottavio

I am not sure if it was the struggle that brought Ottavio into this world, the fact that he is most likely my last baby, or if it is just that he is soooo SWEET! But I need to pause for him and give him another highlight on the blog. I know this is unfair to the others, but I will make it up to them, they are easily bought off with some form of dessert.

Ottavio is now 8 months old and doing wonderful. He has quickly learned to imitate Dante in reguards to tantrums, and for all of you that know Dante, well, need I say more? He will stomp his feet thrash his little head and cry crocodile tears. Good thing I have a tough outer shell!

This baby stops all the old ladies on the street; not 1 can pass the pram without gooing and gaaing over him, and I have even had a couple of offers to have some prearranged marriages.

Lovig babies is easy, letting them grow up is the hard part. I am soaking in every minute.

Beauty at the Market

The local markets are one of my favorite places to go in Europe. I love watching the locals, and especially tasting the fresh produce. Here in Portugal we found a small, quaint market, but what this little market lacked in size it made up for in variety. It boasted live birds to salted fish, fresh fish to homegrown honey, lots of colorful veggies and plenty of herbs. I could have stayed here all day. The climate was perfect and the people were friendly. I espicially loved this little old man. he was happy to pose and he just seemed like he had such a simple happiness about him.

Beautiful Beaches

The beach was just a stones throw away from our resort, so needless to say that is where the kids wanted to go all the time, one day the temp. was so warm they even stripped down and went in!

It was time well spent I have to admit. The beaches were beautiful, they had no tall high-rises like the coast in Spain, so they looked very natural and pristine, the country was very clean, no litter any where, and because it was off season there were NO people, just how I like it! The kids ran around like wild bulls just released from their cage, shoving their pockets full of seashells, something you can't do any more in California, while Matt and I "chilled".

We were even lucky enough to get a half decent family photo. When did we get so big?

Gitano

I have been trying to get a photo of this guy for a year a half. He is always out on the streets with his burro and wagon. I am assuming that this is his only means of transportation, as he drives in the streets right along with all the cars and no one seems to be bothered or think it strange at all.

He was more than happy to stop for me to snap his photo, and lucky me, he even offered me a ride. Too bad Matt and the kids were waiting in the car, I might have actually taken him up on his offer. How many times in our life do we get offered a ride on a burro pulled wagon with a local gypsy in the streets of Spain??

Baby it's Cold Out There!!

Winter has come to sunny Spain, and we ARE feeling it. Not only do we have to bundle up to go outside, but we bundle up inside too. Our house is a dream in the summer when it is a blistering 110 degrees, but it is a frigid nightmare in the winter. He sure looks happy about it though!

Track Meet

Matt got some AWESOME photos of Bella. She is looking like a superstar! She placed 1'st in her 60 meter run and 2'nd in the hurdles, unfortunately she scratched on her long jump...

Alessandro placed 2'nd in the 50 meter dash and Renzo placed 4'th in the shotput. Max is actually at every practice with them and can lap them all pretty easy, but he is not competing this year.