Anatomy Of Window Removal

Before

After

Very exciting!

Snowfall About The Yard

Today

in our yard

I followed

Hugo tracks.

Evie the cat hunted right along with me.

Our boy wonder climbed up the hill only too...

belly flop upon his sled downward again and again.

Fearless boy. I love him so.

Nap time was approaching...

So I said, "Hey, let's go again!"

The End

Frozen

All three kids have been asleep for a few hours now. Yeah for me! Except, I don't know what to do with myself. I've sat frozen on the couch not knowing what to do first or next or when or where for quite an embarassingly long time now. The days and weeks gone past have been such a whirlwind for me that I'm just not myself. So much to do and yet I haven't a clue where to begin. I need someone to come over and draw out a road map for me. Point me in the right direction. Probably need a good kick in the pants too!

I heard a squaak from upstairs and knew that someone was up. But who? Or, which of the girls? I crept across the floor of the nursery toward their shared crib. No noise to be heard, but a single arm had escaped it's burritto wrapping and was pointing up into the nursery air to alert me of her wakefulness. It was Miss Marlo.

Miss Marlo

Little Miss Marlo has begun to turn the corner on her misunderstoodness.

She has been content during her awake time.

She seems far less anxious.

She still will not wait, one moment longer than need be, when it's time to eat.

She doesn't like to make eye contact. It's something I've begun to notice with her increased wakefulness. This photo shows her anxiety over the possibility of my closing up the milk shop early. I whisper in her ear not to worry so.

She squeaks and sighs like a puppy dog as she nurses.

Finally, she is content to kick around and just be after she has fed.

Home Improvements

We finally decided that this was the year to tackle doors in the arches leading onto the veranda. I am so excited about the amount of light that will soon pour into our living room! Cesar is excited to end the excessive heat loss from the floor below and out this odd, indented wall of our 2nd floor living space. I think we are going to try to salvage these two cute glass doors. I'm hoping that one will work as a door for the powder room. Glass panes on a powder room door?! Don't worry, I've got some ideas!

Sunshine!

Removing the old wall to have access to the new doors will be challenging and fun for Cesar. I wonder if he'll attempt to begin the project this weekend? I mentioned something about saving the old windows from the wall for an outside play house for the kids. I was vetoed. Garbage. It's all going to the dump.


This photo shows part of the old, inside wall with one window looking out onto the veranda. The new door on the left, is hiding one of the old glass paned doors. I wonder what old man Mayone would say about our choice of home improvements on his 1895 copied Italian Villa? I wonder why did he not place doors in these beautiful arches to begin with? While we are on the subject of my house and "why"... Why is there a curving, brick staircase on one side of the exterior of the house with another straight, brick staircase only a few feet over? Why were their 8 outside doors? Why is there only a half basement? Was there really a fresh water spring bubbling up into the basement which was used to keep the milk and butter cool? Why is the staircase from the first floor to the second so narrow and plain? Why is there a regular sized window in my bedroom closet? Why is their no clear, true front entrance? And why couldn't he have thought about a coat closet? Obviously, his wife had not been included in planning the homes interior spacing.

End of the first day and the three doors were framed and in place. No insulation, no hardware, no screen doors, no trim work inside or out... Patience. It all takes patience. And cash.

Remember my post long ago about our house having 8 outside doors? We have added one door and closed two. Our house now has seven doors leading to the great outdoors.

Baptista Weekend

VawVaw and Marlo

Our house was brimming with Baptista's this weekend. January 1st is Jose's birthday and was a lovely excuse for us all to be together once more. This was the first time Tio Rafael and the cousins Charlie and Sofia met our girls. Jose and Carolina wanted to make things as easy as possible for me so they generously arrived with their arms laden with food. I wish I would have photographed my kitchen counters for a visual record of all their planned out meals. It was wonderful and delicious! Thank you!

Hugo received his very first remote controlled car from Vovo.
Rodrigo and I feared for our toes.
Hugo beamed.

Popsha brought yummy treats of Sumol in all sorts of flavors and chourico.

We hadn't seen Charlie or Sofia since their early summer visit due to our not traveling because of my baby bump. Now the girls are out and we were all together. Well, not all together. Our thoughts were full of Alistair, Helena, Ari and Gina far, far away in frozen, western Canada.

Tio Raf gave Hugo Lego Star Wars and Indian Jones for Christmas.
Trouble is, we need Charlie to move in so we three know how to play!

Rafael and Sabine

Charles and Marlo